Safety, finance and HS2 (UK) are the headline makers today, railway news wise, that is.
Network Rail(UK) has closed hundreds of unsafe level crossings in recent times, and now plans to phase out other "deadly" crossings. Safety is on the minds of the Channel Tunnel operators as 19 workmen suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning in the Tunnel...
Financial support has been offered by Japan for an Indian project, but questions remain as to the financial viability of Californian high speed rail, and the proposed link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Meanwhile, the UK's HS2 project meanders on, with supportive noises on one side, and "we're not so sure" on the other! The salaries being paid to senior HS2 executives isn't helping win the argument either ..
There had better be a positive outcome to the HS2 saga, especially since the WCML is going to experience some shut downs for rail replacement etc... (its all about capacity)
And whereas Stoke on Trent is keen for an HS2 station, Birmingham New Street, even with its development , is voted "worst" station..... Oh dear.......
Headlines...
‘Deadly’ level rail crossings to be phased out
Tunnel maintenance workers suffer CO poisoning - Lloyd's Loading List
Japan plans JV firm to finance bullet train projects in India | The Indian Express
Plans For New England Rail Network Continue
China to build high-speed rail for Winter Olympics bid - The Standard
California High Speed Rail Finally Here
Is the RM40bil high-speed rail link on?
HS2 statement
Tristram Hunt: High speed rail station would be right for Stoke-on-Trent... and country
West Coast Main Line shuts for a month
Years of work to travel 7 miles in 2 minutes as HS2 campaigners reveal disruption
Ed Balls: HS2 supporters not yet won argument that cost is worthwhile
Minister defends 'big' HS2 salaries
Crop and shale boom slows American railways - FT.com
New FRA final rule targets more effective rail inspections
Amtrak, California authority issue combined RFP for high-speed trains
CN, New Brunswick strike deal to preserve service on northern line
McLean named CEO of Port Authority of Allegheny County
Metrolinx orders more trains for GO Transit
Several North American ports posted volume gains in 2013
Metro Transit served more riders in 2013
Short-line anniversaries: North Carolina Railroad approaches 165, Vermont Rail turns 50
www.railway-technology.com Updates.....
Blacktown Station to undergo major overhaul
Australian statutory government authority Transport for New South Wales has said that a major refurbishment of Blacktown Station will begin shortly.
MTR signs two contracts to buy 148 new rail cars
Hong Kong metro operator MTR has signed two contracts with Changchun Railway Vehicles and Itochu-Kinki Sharyo-Kawasaki Consortium to buy 148 new rail cars and modify 348 existing units for future operation of East West Corridor of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project.
DHL unveils plans for temperature-controlled China-Europe rail service
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight has unveiled plans to develop a temperature-controlled China-Europe rail service, which will enable customers to use the route to ship weather sensitive products throughout the year.
Vegas X Train delivers two luxury rail cars for Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Railway Express, also known as the Vegas X Train, has delivered its first two luxury rail cars branded 'Club X Train' for Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wensleydale Railway Trust
Scruton Station Platform Appeal
Scruton Station is on the line between Northallerton and Leeming Bar. The first station buildings at Scruton were built in 1864. The building we now have is essentially this earlier building as modified in 1888, though the wooden cabin was not rebuilt as a signal box until 1913. Scruton was closed to passenger traffic on 26th April 1954, and closed to all traffic on 7th May 1956.
In 2003 Scruton Station was completely overgrown. The Trust undertook the restoration project with the support of Scruton Parish Council and the Wensleydale Railway plc, with whom the Trust has made a formal Partnering Agreement. The Trust has entered into a sub-lease of the property, arranged a grant of £75,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust, and has been supported by a major private donor. Other costs have been met by the Trust itself. The work on the buildings has been undertaken by volunteers from the Wensleydale Railway Association, with a substantial contribution from the students of Darlington College, particularly in woodwork, and with further contributions by volunteers from a mental health charity, Workcraft.
The restoration of the buildings structures is now complete and paid for, though there is internal fitting out to complete. The cost of this, including the costed time of volunteers, is over £185,000. However, there are further stages before the whole project can be completed, namely the platforms and the surrounding area including the gates and the station yard.
The Platform Appeal
We must now find £35,000 to reinstate the platforms, which were removed when the station fell out of use. By 2014 we expect that regular passenger services will again run through Scruton. However, without platforms the buildings will have no passenger use.
The platforms in front of the buildings are necessary to stabilise the land, and also to provide access to the buildings. A photograph shows the buildings under restoration a few months ago, and the need for a platform is apparent. The visual appearance of the restored station will require the platform to be built at the original height. This is lower than the height of operational platforms built today. However, the buildings at Scruton are set at the height of the original platforms, and higher platforms would be unsuitable. Unfortunately, we will not be permitted to use the low level platform on a regular basis for boarding and alighting from trains, though occasional use is permissible. The proposal is that to the west of the signal cabin, the platform will rise to the height of a normal operational platform. A short length of ‘compliant’ platform will then take the scheme to the end of the land currently leased by the Trust. This new platform will have to be extended by the operating company to a length of 60 metres of platform complying with modern regulations if the station is to be regularly used for passengers. We shall be discussing how this can be achieved with the operating company.
We must at least provide the lower level platform in front of the restored buildings. Without this, public access to the buildings will not be possible. The platform will be built to look like traditional North Eastern Railway platforms.
If we can afford more than the lower level platform, we shall next build a slope (4m) and a short (6 metre) length of platform at operational height, providing a link to a full length compliant platform. We shall hope to extend this in consultation with the operating company.
The estimated cost of building the low level (30 m) is £27,006
The estimated cost of building the slope and 6m of high level platform is £8,302.
Any surplus from this appeal will be applied to other work at Scruton, such as work on the surroundings of the buildings and the replacement of the unsuitable crossing gates, landscaping the area behind the station buildings, and putting in place a longer operational platform.
In 2003 Scruton Station was completely overgrown. The Trust undertook the restoration project with the support of Scruton Parish Council and the Wensleydale Railway plc, with whom the Trust has made a formal Partnering Agreement. The Trust has entered into a sub-lease of the property, arranged a grant of £75,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust, and has been supported by a major private donor. Other costs have been met by the Trust itself. The work on the buildings has been undertaken by volunteers from the Wensleydale Railway Association, with a substantial contribution from the students of Darlington College, particularly in woodwork, and with further contributions by volunteers from a mental health charity, Workcraft.
The restoration of the buildings structures is now complete and paid for, though there is internal fitting out to complete. The cost of this, including the costed time of volunteers, is over £185,000. However, there are further stages before the whole project can be completed, namely the platforms and the surrounding area including the gates and the station yard.
The Platform Appeal
We must now find £35,000 to reinstate the platforms, which were removed when the station fell out of use. By 2014 we expect that regular passenger services will again run through Scruton. However, without platforms the buildings will have no passenger use.
The platforms in front of the buildings are necessary to stabilise the land, and also to provide access to the buildings. A photograph shows the buildings under restoration a few months ago, and the need for a platform is apparent. The visual appearance of the restored station will require the platform to be built at the original height. This is lower than the height of operational platforms built today. However, the buildings at Scruton are set at the height of the original platforms, and higher platforms would be unsuitable. Unfortunately, we will not be permitted to use the low level platform on a regular basis for boarding and alighting from trains, though occasional use is permissible. The proposal is that to the west of the signal cabin, the platform will rise to the height of a normal operational platform. A short length of ‘compliant’ platform will then take the scheme to the end of the land currently leased by the Trust. This new platform will have to be extended by the operating company to a length of 60 metres of platform complying with modern regulations if the station is to be regularly used for passengers. We shall be discussing how this can be achieved with the operating company.
We must at least provide the lower level platform in front of the restored buildings. Without this, public access to the buildings will not be possible. The platform will be built to look like traditional North Eastern Railway platforms.
If we can afford more than the lower level platform, we shall next build a slope (4m) and a short (6 metre) length of platform at operational height, providing a link to a full length compliant platform. We shall hope to extend this in consultation with the operating company.
The estimated cost of building the low level (30 m) is £27,006
The estimated cost of building the slope and 6m of high level platform is £8,302.
Any surplus from this appeal will be applied to other work at Scruton, such as work on the surroundings of the buildings and the replacement of the unsuitable crossing gates, landscaping the area behind the station buildings, and putting in place a longer operational platform.
Appeal Ends 02 Jul 2014
Other News.....
nrm.org.uk - 15-23 February 2014, Shildon. 9:30am-5pm. Main offer is FREE and non-ticketed (although note car park charges below) The last chance to see all six A4 locomotives together..
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