A sigh of relief all round when the first trains started to run over the repaired Dawlish line.. including the night Riviera, and the first service train, which was scheduled for 0555.
The assurance was given that this repair will last for 200 years, although this was followed up with a "The same thing could happen again, anytime"!!
Enjoy the moment.....
The most romantic way to visit Cornwall, the atmospheric Night Riviera from Paddington to Penzance as seen through the eyes and told in the words of the passengers.
An unforgettable experience. Here's to the return of the sleeper and may it's mysteries keep unfolding...
Headlines
Dawlish railway collapse 'could happen again'.(BBC News)
Rail improvement work means faster trains between Crewe and Norton Bridge.(BBC News)
First Scotland-England cross-border summit staged.(BBC News)
Chicago train crash driver who 'fell asleep' is sacked.(BBC News)
Heritage-railway scheme gears up for a busy 2014.(Northumberland Gazette)
Keighley's heritage railway is used for ‘war’ film.(Keighley News)
From the coast to the highlands: The best British day trips by rail.(Express)
HS2 update: how to protect your interests by petitioning against the Hybrid Bill.(The Lawyer)
Redcar MP backs rival high speed train scheme that promises more for the North.(The Northern Echo)
Virgin Confident of Capital Link Success -Blackpool Gazette
Network Rail
Network Rail appoints new managing director to spearhead £25bn infrastructure investment programme.
Network Rail has announced that Dr Francis Paonessa will join the company as managing director, infrastructure projects this summer. Dr Paonessa is currently managing director UK, Bombardier Transportation. He will replace Simon Kirby, who leaves Network Rail in June to take up the role of chief executive at HS2 Ltd.
Dr Paonessa will lead Network Rail’s infrastructure projects division in its delivery of £25bn of infrastructure renewals and enhancements. The five-year investment plan involves thousands of projects around the country aimed at delivering a bigger, better railway enabling more trains to run, at higher speeds with more seats and better facilities at stations up and down the country.
Mark Carne, Network Rail chief executive, said: “The scale and complexity of Network Rail’s investment programme makes this one of the most challenging and exciting roles in Britain today. Francis brings with him significant leadership experience from the rail industry, including a strong focus on both workforce and passenger safety. I would like to welcome him to Network Rail and know that he will continue Simon’s excellent work as we build a bigger, better railway for Britain.”
Dr Paonessa will be joining Network Rail from Bombardier Transportation where he currently leads the combined new build and services business in the UK, employing around 3,700 staff at eight Bombardier sites and 23 customer locations. He initially joined Bombardier in 2010 as president of UK rolling stock, where he managed the new build facility in Derby, manufacturing mainline and underground trains for the UK and for export.
Whilst at Bombardier, Dr Paonessa has successfully managed a range of large scale, complex projects, and led a major culture change programme. He has achieved a significant increase in productivity across the business and led the teams to win orders with Southern Railways, TfL and the £1.3bn Crossrail deal.
Dr Paonessa started his career with shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft in 1992, initially as a mechanical design engineer. He undertook a number of line and project management roles prior to his appointment as technical director and subsequently managing director of the Portsmouth Shipbuilding Facility. Prior to this he studied Aeronautical Engineering at Manchester University, where he also completed his PhD in Fluid Mechanics.
He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Timelapse of trains at Network Rail's London Bridge station
London Bridge is the fourth busiest station in the country, bringing around 50 million passengers into the city each year
Network Rail - Archive Blog (by Vicky)
Dawlish - why build a railway so close to the sea?
The sea wall at Dawlish started to be built in the late 1830s as a defence against the sea and to provide a walkway for pedestrians between the increasingly popular resorts at Dawlish and Dawlish Warren. Because of this tourist trade, bringing the railway to Devon was an early aspiration for investors. A line between Exeter and Plymouth was promoted by the South Devon Railway and they employed Isambard Kingdom Brunel as their chief engineer.
The original, direct route between the two cities chosen by the company was abandoned because of the cost of major civil engineering works through the South Devon hills and because it went through largely unpopulated countryside. Brunel’s route between Exeter and Plymouth via Newton Abbot received Parliamentary approval in 1844, but this would have to contend with the sea, rock cliffs and steep gradients. The section of single broad gauge line between Exeter and Teignmouth was constructed and opened first, in May 1846, using the problematic ‘atmospheric system’ for its locomotives.
Primarily at sea level, there were major challenges in constructing the line between Dawlish and Teignmouth, around and through the red sandstone cliffs and the construction of the substantial sea walls where the railway followed the coast. The sea wall caused concern from the early 1850s when there were major rock falls from the cliffs. The first breach of the wall by the sea occurred in 1854 when 50ft of defences near Teignmouth collapsed into the sea.
By the late 19th century and to increase capacity, the Great Western Railway – which now owned and operated the line - decided to double the tracks. By 1902 the only part of the line yet to be doubled was that between Dawlish and Parsons Tunnel, which would require the most engineering. Tunnels were widened and the sea wall at Dawlish was extended and strengthened.
With the ongoing problems and cost associated with this part of the line, the Great Western Railway planned new inland routes between Dawlish Warren and Newton Abbot. Construction started on the line early in 1939 but all work was stopped with the outbreak of the Second World War.
The recent storm damage at Dawlish has highlighted once again issues with the sea wall that stretch back over 160 years. In 2014 a new taskforce led by Network Rail with stakeholders from the Department for Transport and organisations from the South West of England are looking at the long term strategy for this line, including strengthening the sea wall but also five potential alternatives to Brunel’s original coastal railway.
European Commission
Mark Carne, Network Rail chief executive, said: “The scale and complexity of Network Rail’s investment programme makes this one of the most challenging and exciting roles in Britain today. Francis brings with him significant leadership experience from the rail industry, including a strong focus on both workforce and passenger safety. I would like to welcome him to Network Rail and know that he will continue Simon’s excellent work as we build a bigger, better railway for Britain.”
Dr Paonessa will be joining Network Rail from Bombardier Transportation where he currently leads the combined new build and services business in the UK, employing around 3,700 staff at eight Bombardier sites and 23 customer locations. He initially joined Bombardier in 2010 as president of UK rolling stock, where he managed the new build facility in Derby, manufacturing mainline and underground trains for the UK and for export.
Whilst at Bombardier, Dr Paonessa has successfully managed a range of large scale, complex projects, and led a major culture change programme. He has achieved a significant increase in productivity across the business and led the teams to win orders with Southern Railways, TfL and the £1.3bn Crossrail deal.
Dr Paonessa started his career with shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft in 1992, initially as a mechanical design engineer. He undertook a number of line and project management roles prior to his appointment as technical director and subsequently managing director of the Portsmouth Shipbuilding Facility. Prior to this he studied Aeronautical Engineering at Manchester University, where he also completed his PhD in Fluid Mechanics.
He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Notes:
Network Rail has taken the opportunity to restructure the remuneration package for this role, with a very substantially lower incentive opportunity than for the current incumbent, whilst still attracting outstanding talent. Therefore, Dr Paonessa will be paid an annual salary of £425,000 with a maximum bonus opportunity of 20%, an overall package that represents a significant reduction in value.Timelapse of trains at Network Rail's London Bridge station
London Bridge is the fourth busiest station in the country, bringing around 50 million passengers into the city each year
Network Rail - Archive Blog (by Vicky)
Dawlish - why build a railway so close to the sea?
The stretch of railway between Dawlish and Newton Abbot runs along the coastline, providing us with some of the most picturesque scenery on the British railway network. It also provides Network Rail with some of the most challenging railway to manage, with serious issues relating to storm damage, high tides, coastal erosion and rock falls – as we have seen this winter.
The sea wall at Dawlish started to be built in the late 1830s as a defence against the sea and to provide a walkway for pedestrians between the increasingly popular resorts at Dawlish and Dawlish Warren. Because of this tourist trade, bringing the railway to Devon was an early aspiration for investors. A line between Exeter and Plymouth was promoted by the South Devon Railway and they employed Isambard Kingdom Brunel as their chief engineer.
The original, direct route between the two cities chosen by the company was abandoned because of the cost of major civil engineering works through the South Devon hills and because it went through largely unpopulated countryside. Brunel’s route between Exeter and Plymouth via Newton Abbot received Parliamentary approval in 1844, but this would have to contend with the sea, rock cliffs and steep gradients. The section of single broad gauge line between Exeter and Teignmouth was constructed and opened first, in May 1846, using the problematic ‘atmospheric system’ for its locomotives.
Primarily at sea level, there were major challenges in constructing the line between Dawlish and Teignmouth, around and through the red sandstone cliffs and the construction of the substantial sea walls where the railway followed the coast. The sea wall caused concern from the early 1850s when there were major rock falls from the cliffs. The first breach of the wall by the sea occurred in 1854 when 50ft of defences near Teignmouth collapsed into the sea.
By the late 19th century and to increase capacity, the Great Western Railway – which now owned and operated the line - decided to double the tracks. By 1902 the only part of the line yet to be doubled was that between Dawlish and Parsons Tunnel, which would require the most engineering. Tunnels were widened and the sea wall at Dawlish was extended and strengthened.
With the ongoing problems and cost associated with this part of the line, the Great Western Railway planned new inland routes between Dawlish Warren and Newton Abbot. Construction started on the line early in 1939 but all work was stopped with the outbreak of the Second World War.
The recent storm damage at Dawlish has highlighted once again issues with the sea wall that stretch back over 160 years. In 2014 a new taskforce led by Network Rail with stakeholders from the Department for Transport and organisations from the South West of England are looking at the long term strategy for this line, including strengthening the sea wall but also five potential alternatives to Brunel’s original coastal railway.
European Commission
Rail
Events
Stakeholder seminar in the framework of the study on the modulation of infrastructure charges to give incentives to equip trains with ETCS
Brussels, 21 May 2014
CHARLEMAGNE building, room Sicco Mansholt
Brussels, 21 May 2014
CHARLEMAGNE building, room Sicco Mansholt
The European Commission has recently launched an impact assessment support study on the modulation of infrastructure charges to give incentives to equip trains with ETCS.
An important part of this process is a stakeholder consultation, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
In the framework of the consultation process the Commission has decided to organise a stakeholder seminar, in order to:
For security and capacity reasons access to the workshop will not be possible without prior registration.
GOV.UK
Electric trains to boost rail services in the north west.
Deal with Northern Rail will provide up to 3,000 extra seats during busiest times of travel.
More trains will come to the north west following a deal between the Department for Transport and Northern Rail to introduce electric trains on the network.
Two 4-carriage electric trains will start running between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton le Willows from December 2014, providing quicker, cleaner and more reliable journeys for passengers. By the end of 2015 an additional 40 carriages will be in service, providing up to 3,000 extra seats during the busiest times of travel.
Thanks to the introduction of these trains, a diesel train will be freed up to strengthen services to Bolton from December 2014, providing a further 200 places during peak travel. A second train will also be released to run on the newly reopened Todmorden Curve.
Rail Minister Stephen Hammond said:
Northern Rail is expected to meet improved passenger satisfaction, reliability and punctuality targets as part of a new 22-month franchise announced by the Department last week.
We're launching a new T.V ad celebrating what a great family attraction our museum is. It goes live on 02.04.14 so keep your eyes out on ITV. Have a watch and let us know what you think.(National Railway Museum on YouTube)
Railway Herald - Railtours
An important part of this process is a stakeholder consultation, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
In the framework of the consultation process the Commission has decided to organise a stakeholder seminar, in order to:
- present and corroborate preliminary findings of the consultation;
- bring together the most interested stakeholders from the sector and Member States;
- gather additional information for the study.
For security and capacity reasons access to the workshop will not be possible without prior registration.
GOV.UK
Electric trains to boost rail services in the north west.
Deal with Northern Rail will provide up to 3,000 extra seats during busiest times of travel.
More trains will come to the north west following a deal between the Department for Transport and Northern Rail to introduce electric trains on the network.
Two 4-carriage electric trains will start running between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton le Willows from December 2014, providing quicker, cleaner and more reliable journeys for passengers. By the end of 2015 an additional 40 carriages will be in service, providing up to 3,000 extra seats during the busiest times of travel.
Thanks to the introduction of these trains, a diesel train will be freed up to strengthen services to Bolton from December 2014, providing a further 200 places during peak travel. A second train will also be released to run on the newly reopened Todmorden Curve.
Rail Minister Stephen Hammond said:
This is great news for passengers and underlines our commitment to transform rail travel in the north. These electric trains will mean cleaner, quicker and more reliable journeys for thousands more passengers between Manchester and Liverpool, driving forward the economies of these two great cities.
The government is undertaking an ambitious programme of investment in the north with the £400 million North West Electrification Programme and the £600 million Northern Hub scheme. This will improve connections, passenger services and help stimulate the local economy.In addition, the deal will provide extra capacity to Bolton and see a passenger train running on the Todmorden Curve for the first time in more than 40 years. I look forward to further improvements as more trains are introduced.
Northern Rail is expected to meet improved passenger satisfaction, reliability and punctuality targets as part of a new 22-month franchise announced by the Department last week.
We're launching a new T.V ad celebrating what a great family attraction our museum is. It goes live on 02.04.14 so keep your eyes out on ITV. Have a watch and let us know what you think.(National Railway Museum on YouTube)
Railway Herald - Railtours
For the week ahead....
Listing offered in good faith. No guarantees offered or implied.
Please confirm runnings with operators.
Please observe Network Rail photographic guidelines.Thank you.
Postponed
Listing offered in good faith. No guarantees offered or implied.
Please confirm runnings with operators.
Please observe Network Rail photographic guidelines.Thank you.
Tuesday 8th April 2014
The Cathedrals Express (Steam Dreams)
- 70013 Ashford (pu) - Tonbridge (pu) - Sevenoaks (pu) - Bromley South (pu) - Kensington Olympia (pu) - Winchester (break/rev) & return
Wednesday 9th April 2014
The Golden Arrow (Great Railway Journeys Of Britain)
- Diesel tbc Eastleigh (pu) - Botley (pu) - Fareham (pu) - Havant (pu) - Petersfield (pu) - Godalming (pu) - Guildford (pu) - Woking (pu) - Kensington Olympia (pu) - Willesden
- 34046 Willesden - Kensington Olympia - Clapham Junction - Canterbury West
- 34046 Canterbury West (pu) - Dover Priory - Folkestone - Ashford International - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia - Willesden
- Diesel tbc Willesden - Kensington Olympia (sd) - Woking (pu) - Guildford (sd) - Godalming (sd) - Petersfield (sd) - Havant (sd) - Fareham (sd) - Botley (sd) - Eastleigh
Thursday 10th April 2014
Cathedrals Express (Steam Dreams)
- 60007 Woking (pu) - Guildford (pu) - Haslemere (pu) - Havant (pu) - Hedge End (pu) - Eastleigh (pu) - Salisbury (pu) - Westbury (pu) - Taunton - Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot - Paignton - Kingswear and return
Friday 11th April 2014
The Settle & Carlisle Railway Partnership Special 25th Anniversary Train (To Be Confirmed)
- 3xDRS Class 37 Leeds (pu) - Skipton (pu) - Settle (pu) - S&C - Carlisle (break/rev) & return
Additional Tour Information
Telephone 017683 53200 or go to wwwshop/scrdc.co.uk/anniversary for more details
Added 01:02 on Monday 13th January 2014Saturday 12th April 2014
The Deltic Aberdonian (52A Tours)
- 55002 York (pu) - Darlington (pu) - Newcastle (pu) - Edinburgh (pu) - Aberdeen (break/rev) & return
Additional Tour Information
7/1: advised that the tour will not now pick up at Morpeth or Alnmouth
Added 09:58 on Tuesday 7th January 201452A Tours have confirmed that this train is expected to run.
Added 19:59 on Tuesday 5th November 2013The White Rose (A1 Steam Locomotive Trust)
- 60163 London Kings Cross (pu) - Potters Bar (pu) - Stevenage (pu) - Peterborough (pu) - Grantham - Retford - Doncaster - York (break/rev) & return
The White Rose Express (Compass Tours)
- WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Hereford (pu) - Ledbury (pu) - Great Malvern (pu) - Worcester Foregate Street (pu) - Droitwich Spa (pu) - Barnt Green (pu) - Coleshill Parkway (pu) - Nuneaton (pu) - Hinckley (pu) - South Wigston (pu) - Leicester (pu) - Loughboropugh (pu) - East Midlands Parkway (pu) - York (sd) - Scarborough (break/rev) & return
The Settle-Carlisle 25th Anniversary Special (Great Railway Journeys Of Britain)
- Diesel tbc Nuneaton (pu) - Hinkley (pu) - Leicester (pu) - Loughborough (pu) - East Midlands Parkway (pu) - Alfreton (pu) - Chesterfield (pu) - Swinton - Hellifield - S&C - Carlisle (break/rev) & return
The Topper Chopper (Pathfinder Tours)
- DRS Class 20 x 2 and DRS Class 37 tnt Crewe (pu) - Sandbach - Middlewich - Northwich - Knutsford - Stockport - Denton - Ashton Moss Junction - Phillips Park West Junction - Brewery Curve - Castleton - Rochdale - Todmorden Curve - Copy Pit - Accrington - Blackburn
- DRS Class 37 and DRS Class 20 x 2 tnt Blackburn - Clitheroe - Horrocksford Exchange Sidings
- DRS Class 20 x 2 and DRS Class 37 tnt Horrocksford Exchange Sidings - Clitheroe - Blackburn - Darwen - Bolton
- DRS Class 37 and DRS Class 20 x 2 tnt Bolton - Westhoughton - Wigan Wallgate - Rainford - Kirkby
- DRS Class 20 x 2 and DRS Class 37 tnt Kirkby - Rainford - Wigan Wallgate - Bamfurlong Sidings Junction - Golbourne Junction - Winwick Junction - Dallam Royal Mail Platform - Warrington Bank Quay - Crewe
Postponed Additional Tour Information
Charter postponed until 24th May.
Added 15:35 on Saturday 1st February 2014Heart Of Wales (Railway Touring Company)
- WCRC Class 47 Slough-Didcot-Swindon-Bristol Parkway-Newport
- 44871 and 45407 Newport-Cardiff Central-Pantyffynnon-Llandrindod Wells-Knighton-Craven Arms-Shrewsbury
- WCRC Class 47 Shrewsbury-Hereford-Abergavenny-Newport-Bristol Parkway-Swindon-Didcot-Reading-Slough
Cumbrian Coast Express (Railway Touring Company)
- 86259 London Euston (pu) - Watford Junction (pu) - Milton Keynes Central (pu) - Northampton (by service train to Rugby) - Rugby - Nuneaton - Crewe (pu) - Preston - Carnforth
- 46115 Carnforth - Grange-over-Sands - Barrow-in-Furness - Ravenglass - Sellafield - Workington (water) - Carlisle
- 46115 Carlisle - Penrith - Shap - Carnforth
- 86259 Carnforth - Preston - Crewe (sd) - Nuneaton (sd) - Rugby (sd) - Northampton (by service train from Rugby) - Milton Keynes Central (sd) - Watford Junction (sd) - London Euston
The Avon Lady (UK Railtours)
- SWT Class 159 London Waterloo (pu) - Woking (pu) - Basingstoke (pu) - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath Spa (sd) - Bristol Temple Meads (break/rev) & return
Edinburgh And The Settle & Carlisle (West Coast Railway Company)
- WCRC Class 47 & 57 Cleethorpes (pu) - Grimsby (pu) - Haborough (pu) - Barnetby (pu) - Scunthorpe (pu) - Thorne South (pu) - Leeds - Skitpon - Settle - Appleby - Carlisle - Beattock - Edinburgh (break) - Berwick-upon-Tweed - Newcastle - York - Thorne South and set down as outwards
Sunday 13th April 2014
Cathedrals Express (Steam Dreams)
- 34046 London Paddington (pu) - Beaconsfield (pu) - Banbury - Warwick - Stratford-upon-Avon and return
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