Friday 19th April 2013
The Lochalsh Highlander (Compass Tours)
- WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Balloch (pu) - Alexandria (pu) - Dumbarton Central (pu) - Kilpatrick (pu) - Singer (pu) - Westerton (pu) - Bishopbriggs (pu) - Larbert (pu) - Stirling (pu) - Dunblane (pu) - Perth (pu) - Aviemore - Inverness - Dingwall - Kyle of Lochalsh (break/rev) & return
Saturday 20th April 2013
The Great Britain VI: Day 1 (Railway Touring Company)
- tbc London Victoria (pu) - Woking - Basingstoke - Salisbury (pu) - Exeter St. Davids
- 30777 and 34067 Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot - Totnes - Plymouth - Liskeard - Par
- road tfr Par - Newquay
Additional Tour Information
12/4: 60019 now reported out of gauge Victoria of Salisbury.
Added 12:59 on Friday 12th April 201312/4: 60019 now reported out of gauge Victoria of Salisbury.
Added 12:51 on Friday 12th April 201328/3: 60019 replaces 70000, and 30777 replaces 34046.
Added 14:45 on Thursday 28th March 201315/3: Now vis L&SW from Victoria to Exeter St. Davids. Train terminates at Par, with road connection to Newquay
Added 17:09 on Friday 15th March 2013Cumbrian Mountain & Coast Statesman (Statesman Rail)
- WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Holyhead (pu) - Ty Croes (pu) - Llanfairpwll (pu) - Bangor (pu) - Penmaenmawr (pu) - Llandudno Junction (pu) - Colwyn Bay (pu) - Rhyl (pu) - Prestatyn (pu) - Flint (pu) - Shotton (pu) - Chester (pu) - Frodsham (pu) - Warrington Bank Quay (pu) - Wigan North Western (pu) - Blackburn - Hellifield - S&C - Carlisle (break/rev) Carlisle - Maryport - Workington - Ravenglass - Ulverston - Grange over Sands - Carnforth - Preston - Wigan North Western (sd) - Warrington Bank Quay (sd) - Frodsham - Chester (sd) - Flint (sd) - Prestatyn (sd) - Rhyl (sd) - Colwyn Bay (sd) - Llandudno Junction (sd) - Penmaenmawr (sd) - Bangor (sd) - Llanfairpwll (sd) - Ty Croes (sd) - Holyhead
The Cathedrals Express (Steam Dreams)
- 60163 London Euston (pu) - Milton Keynes Central (pu) - Northampton (pu) - Lichfield Trent Valley (pu) - Stafford - Crewe - Chester (sd) - Bangor (for Caernarfon) (sd) - Holyhead
- 60163 Holyhead (pu) - Bangor - Chester - Crewe
- DBS tbc Crewe - Stafford - LichfieldTrent Valley (sd) - Northampton (sd) - Milton Keynes Central (sd) - London euston
The Wensleydale Rambler (UK Railtours)
- East Midlands Trains HST London St. Pancras (pu) - Luton Airport Parkway (pu) - Kettering (pu) - Leicester (pu) - Sheffield - York - Northallerton (rev) - Bedale - Leyburn - Redmire (break/rev) - Leyburn - Bedale - Northallerton (rev) - York - Sheffield - Leicester (sd) - Kettering (sd) - Luton Airport Parkway (sd) - London St. Pancras
Windsor & Eton Riverside (West Coast Railway Company)
- WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Skegness (pu) - Wainfleet (pu) - Boston (pu) - Heckington (pu) - Sleaford (pu) - Grantham (pu) - Peterborough - Windsor & Eton Riverside (break/rev) & return
Sunday 21st April 2013
The Great Britain VI: Day 2 (Railway Touring Company)
- 30777 and 34067 Newquay (pu) - Par - Liskeard - Plymouth - Totnes - Newton Abbot - Exeter St. Davids - Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads (sd)
- 60019 Bristol Temple Meads Newport - Cardiff Central
Additional Tour Information
15/3: Loco change at Bristol Temple Meads cancelled as tour will terminate at Cardiff instead of Swansea
Added 17:10 on Friday 15th March 2013The Forth Circle (morning) (SRPS Railtours)
- 60009 Linlithgow (pu) - Dalmeny - Forth Bridge - Inverkeithing - Kirkcaldy - Thornton Junction - Cowdenbeath - Dunfermline Town - Kincardine - Alloa - Stirling - Larbert - Linlithgow
The Forth Circle (afternoon) (SRPS Railtours)
- 60009 Dalmeny (pu) - Forth Bridge - Inverkeithing (pu) - Kirkcaldy - Thornton Junction - Cowdenbeath - Dunfermline Town - Alloa - Stirling - Larbert - Linlithgow - Dalmeny (sd) - Forth Bridge - Inverkeithing.
Information provided in good faith. No guarantees implied or offered. Always check with operators to confirm runnings.
Network Rail
Cable theft
The theft of metal, particularly cable from the railway is a significant issue for Network Rail causing nearly 22,000 hours of passenger delays in past four years and costing the rail industry £61 million. The industry has invested heavily in combating the problem and working with other companies and industries affected, such as BT, EON and the Energy Networks Association, it has lobbied for full reform of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act.
Direct costs associated with cable theft include compensation paid to train and freight companies for delays incurred as well as the costs associated with replacing stolen or damaged cable.
Delays from cable theft can have long term impact on the railway by discouraging freight businesses and passengers.
Delays can be distressing for passengers, especially long delays where the train is not moving. Research suggests that train company staff suggested there was a link between cable theft incidents and assaults by passengers because of the length of delays following a cable theft.
Efforts by the rail industry to stop the cost and misery caused by cable thieves are having an impact.
Crimes for the financial year 2011/12 were down 15% to 844 incidents from 995 the previous year. However the total direct cost to the industry, and ultimately the taxpayer and country, continues to rise from £16.4m to £18.3m; an increase of 12% because the thefts have spread to busier and more complex parts of the network.
Dyan Crowther, director, operational services for Network Rail, said: “Our massive effort against cable thieves is having effect. Crimes and delay to passengers are both down on last year. However, they are still at an unacceptably high level."
Network Rail has invested millions of pounds protecting key locations and funding extra British Transport Police officers. This has combined with public support in reporting criminals and improved sentencing in courts.
Mrs Crowther added, “We are grateful for the public support we continue to receive in reporting suspicious activity – both on the railway and at disreputable scrap dealers. We will continue to do all we can to stop these thieves but it is clear the law needs substantial change in order to take away the easy market for illegal scrap. We firmly believe that without legal reform we will continue to see thousands of hours delay and millions of pounds wasted because of these crimes.”
Working with other companies and industries affected, such as BT, EON and the Energy Networks Association, Network Rail has lobbied for full reform of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act and is supporting the bill being promoted by Richard Ottaway MP.
Delays from cable theft can have long term impact on the railway by discouraging freight businesses and passengers.
Delays can be distressing for passengers, especially long delays where the train is not moving. Research suggests that train company staff suggested there was a link between cable theft incidents and assaults by passengers because of the length of delays following a cable theft.
Efforts by the rail industry to stop the cost and misery caused by cable thieves are having an impact.
Crimes for the financial year 2011/12 were down 15% to 844 incidents from 995 the previous year. However the total direct cost to the industry, and ultimately the taxpayer and country, continues to rise from £16.4m to £18.3m; an increase of 12% because the thefts have spread to busier and more complex parts of the network.
Dyan Crowther, director, operational services for Network Rail, said: “Our massive effort against cable thieves is having effect. Crimes and delay to passengers are both down on last year. However, they are still at an unacceptably high level."
Network Rail has invested millions of pounds protecting key locations and funding extra British Transport Police officers. This has combined with public support in reporting criminals and improved sentencing in courts.
Mrs Crowther added, “We are grateful for the public support we continue to receive in reporting suspicious activity – both on the railway and at disreputable scrap dealers. We will continue to do all we can to stop these thieves but it is clear the law needs substantial change in order to take away the easy market for illegal scrap. We firmly believe that without legal reform we will continue to see thousands of hours delay and millions of pounds wasted because of these crimes.”
Working with other companies and industries affected, such as BT, EON and the Energy Networks Association, Network Rail has lobbied for full reform of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act and is supporting the bill being promoted by Richard Ottaway MP.
Level Crossings
There are approximately 6,500 level crossings in Britain; a legacy of a network built 150 years ago when there were fewer and slower trains, and no cars on the road. Network Rail has a national safety awareness and improvements programme investing £130m in closing and upgrading level crossings and a national advertising campaign See Track/Think Train.
There are approximately 6,500 level crossings in Britain. Every day they protect us from one of the busiest rail networks in the world. Level crossings are a result of how the railway was developed over 100 years ago when there were far fewer trains, at slower speeds and fewer people and road traffic. If you were building the railway now, you wouldn’t put in any level crossings.
There are many different types of crossings, all with different safety measures in place from signs, to barriers and klaxons. See http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/types-of-level-crossing/.
Network Rail is investing £130m in the next couple of years to reduce risk at level crossings and improve safety. The ongoing programme of activity includes:
There are many different types of crossings, all with different safety measures in place from signs, to barriers and klaxons. See http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/types-of-level-crossing/.
Network Rail is investing £130m in the next couple of years to reduce risk at level crossings and improve safety. The ongoing programme of activity includes:
- Network Rail’s dedicated community safety team which aims to reduce railway crime
- Level crossing closure programme which has seen more than 500 closed over the past three years
- Investment in upgrading and improving level crossings
- Mobile camera enforcement vans
- National advertising, marketing and media campaign
- Developing better and cost-effective ways of detecting and recording level crossings misuse
- Working with the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the prosecution of offenders
Britain relies on rail freight
Rail freight is vital to Britain’s economic success. It contributes £870 million to the economy and plays a big part in reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
We have published a study into the value and importance of rail freight. It aims to set out the benefits rail freight brings to UK plc and more importantly why we need to continue to invest, plan and grow the rail freight business in this country.
Transforming Manchester Victoria station begins
The £44m transformation of Manchester Victoria station has started with the new station roof part of a scheme to bring the station up to 21st century standards and turn it into a major regional interchange. It will include a better, brighter and more open concourse, a new ticket office, information booth, waiting room and toilets.- Artist's impression of an aerial view of the proposed Manchester Victoria station
(Courtesy: Network Rail)
The project will also include careful restoration and enhancement of some of the station's key period features, including the glazed canopy at the front of the building. The station will be open throughout the improvement programme.
Key elements of the scheme include:
- A new, brighter replacement roof that allows for future expansion of the station
- Improved station concourse area, including a new bridge link to the Manchester Arena, making the entire station fully accessible
- Improvements to the footbridge spanning platforms 3-6 allowing for future growth in passenger numbers
- Sympathetic refurbishment to Grade II listed parts of the Victoria Buildings, (including the war memorial, glass dome, Soldiers Gate and the wall map) restoring them to their former glory
- Refurbishment of the external canopy, new lighting and glazed entrances to revitalise the Victoria Buildings
- Revamp of existing retail spaces and provision of new retail facilities for a better shopping experience
- Improvements to the ticket hall and external improvements to the paving on station approach
- Upgraded Metrolink facilities
Read more about the Northern Hub scheme and Manchester Victoria station redevelopment .
UK Parliament News
Transport Committee - news
ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION– ACCESS TO TRANSPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Transport Committee will hold the its second oral evidence session on access to transport for people with disabilities.
The witnesses are as follows:
Monday 15 April 2013
4.15pm
The witnesses are as follows:
Monday 15 April 2013
4.15pm
- Ann Frye, Independent transport and disability consultant
- Faryal Velmi, Director, Transport for All
- Mike Hewitson, Head of Passenger Issues, Passenger Focus
- Guy Parcker, Chief Executive, Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Steven Salmon, Director of Policy Development, Confederation of Passenger Transport
- Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of UK Bus, First Group Bus
- Tom Stables, Managing Director of National Express UK Coach, National Express Coaches
- David Mapp, Commercial Director, Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)
- Gareth Williams, Director for Regulatory Affairs, Eurostar
- Margaret Hickish, Access and Inclusion Manager, Network Rail
The evidence session planned for Wednesday 17 April has been cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday 24 April at 10am.
Following recent announcements by the Government on the future of rail franchising, the Transport Committee will be hearing evidence from the Minister for Rail, Rt Hon Simon Burns.
The session will follow-up on the Committee’s recent work where it heard from Richard Brown CBE, passenger groups, rail groups and the Transport Secretary.
Following recent announcements by the Government on the future of rail franchising, the Transport Committee will be hearing evidence from the Minister for Rail, Rt Hon Simon Burns.
The session will follow-up on the Committee’s recent work where it heard from Richard Brown CBE, passenger groups, rail groups and the Transport Secretary.
AUSTRALIA: What Minister for Infrastructure & Transport Anthony Albanese called 'the most detailed and comprehensive study ever undertaken into high speed rail in this country' was published on April 11.
National Railway Museum, York.In 2013, we're marking the 75th anniversary of Mallard's achievement with a series of commemorative events, including three spectacular opportunities to see the record breaker united with its five surviving sister locomotives: a family reunion on an international scale.
Only six of the 35 A4 locomotives built survive. We've temporarily repatriated two of them from their home museums in Canada and the US: right now you can come and see Dwight D Eisenhower alongside Mallard in the Great Hall at York, and see Dominion of Canada being worked on by the workshop team at Shildon until spring.
World Heritage & Railway News
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
The timetable for the GWR's first steam gala event since 2010 is now available, for the four days of the Cotswold Steam Celebration, 24-27 May 2013.
This envisages seven locomotives in steam each day, of which six will be operating, one locomotive 'standing by' at Winchcombe and available for footplate visits each day and swapping with one of the operational locomotive during the day....
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