Improvements -actual(Swindon to Kemble, cable theft decline)... improvements- on a wish list.(Ystrad Mynach , Sussex area route, London to Norwich, Nottingham, HS2, London Underground)
In the USA, a 35 year plan for 6 south western states..........
Click on the links...
Headlines
UK
'Smart ticketing' to cut cost of rail travel for off-peak commuters. (The Independent)
Calls for more trains on redoubled Swindon to Kemble railway line.(BBC News)
Network Rail Press Release.
HRH The Princess Royal opens upgraded Swindon to Kemble rail line
Today, Friday 17 October 2014, HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the newly redoubled railway line from Swindon to Kemble in a ceremony at Kemble station.
The project to redouble the line was completed in August and involved Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ installing approximately 215,000 tonnes of ballast, 60,000 metres of rail and 70,000 new sleepers to reinstate the second line between Swindon and Kemble, which was removed in 1968.
HRH The Princess Ro
yal arrived by train at Kemble station from London Paddington at 9am and was greeted by staff from Network Rail and train operator, First Great Western. She then unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the line, which has been in use since the project was completed.
Demand for rail travel across the West and South West is set to continue to increase significantly over the next 30 years. The £45m project, funded by the Department for Transport, to upgrade this line will play a key part in paving the way for this demand to be met and in the future, providing an improved service for passengers, including increased reliability and reduced journey times. The additional line will also be essential to enable trains from south Wales to be diverted along this route when Bristol Parkway station and the Severn Tunnel are closed for electrification work.
Rail Minister, Claire Perry, said: “Continuing to invest in our railways is an important part of our long-term economic plan. Over the next five years more than £38 billion will be spent to get more trains, more seats and more services for passengers.
“Funding work like this is a crucial part of this and I congratulate Network Rail’s dedicated team for completing this important project.”
Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route, who spoke at the ceremony, said: “This project has taken years of patient, meticulous work by hundreds of people from Network Rail, First Great Western and many other organisations.
“Now that work on the line is complete, passengers can look forward to fewer delays and reduced journey times in the future. It also means we can minimise the disruption caused by our electrification work and ensure the region gets maximum benefit from a modern, electric railway.”
Mark Hopwood, First Great Western’s managing director, said: “This improvement work to the network infrastructure paves the way for faster, more reliable services and makes the most of the Government’s planned investment in electrification and new trains. The upgrade is vitally important to improve our customers’ travel experiences for the future – and I thank them for their patience while this work has been undertaken.”
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We have long supported the line upgrade between Swindon and Kemble and worked closely with Network Rail to make it happen. The second line will hugely improve the service and make travelling by rail quicker and easier for people in Gloucestershire, whilst reducing congestion on our roads and helping to boost the local economy.”
HRH The Princess Royal unveils plaque to mark the official opening of the redoubled Swindon to Kemble line (Network Rail Picture)
======================================
Thumbs up for Ystrad Mynach station improvements as politicians pay a visit
The upgrade of Ystrad Mynach station received an enthusiastic reception from two Caerphilly politicians when they visited the station on Friday 17 October to view progress on the £3.6m project.
Wayne David MP and Jeff Cuthbert AM joined representatives from Network Rail, which is carrying out the work, to see how the improvements are taking shape.
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The redevelopment includes a new footbridge with lifts, which will provide step-free access from the station entrance to the two platforms for the first time. This will improve access for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children and cycles.
A new ticket office is being built, along with new passenger shelters on the station’s two platforms to improve customer waiting facilities as part of the multi-million pound modernisation scheme.
The Caerphilly MP and Caerphilly AM met staff working on site and viewed the recently constructed ticket office, part of the new footbridge and the foundations for one of the new lifts.
Wayne David MP said: “I am delighted to see the progress at Ystrad Mynach which will give local people a station they can be really proud of.
“Revitalising the station and improving the gateway to Ystrad Mynach can act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area.”
Jeff Cuthbert AM said: “The regeneration of Ystrad Mynach, which is partly funded by Welsh Government, will create a station which is easier and more comfortable for passengers to use.
“The new footbridge and lifts show we have worked together to provide the disabled access improvements to the station which local people have called for.”
James Jackson, route enhancements manager for Network Rail Wales, said: “We are revamping Ystrad Mynach station to make improvements for passengers which will last for many years.
“As well as improving customer waiting facilities, the scheme will provide a step-free, accessible route for all passengers from the station entrance to both platforms.
“More and more people are travelling by rail and we are making improvements across Wales to cater for increasing passenger demand and help transform the Welsh railway into a world-class infrastructure.”
Transport Minister Edwina Hart announced in December 2013 that Ystrad Mynach station would be regenerated as part of the £24m Wales Station Improvement Scheme. The money will also be used to improve customer facilities at Aberystwyth, Port Talbot Parkway, Rhyl and Pontypridd stations.This is part of a £39m programme to improve rail stations across Wales, with £21m provided by the European Regional Development Fund and £7m Welsh Government funding.
Further funding specifically for access improvements at the station came in March this year as part of the £12m Access for All scheme. Chirk, Llandaf, Machynlleth and Radyr stations will also receive funds as part of the scheme, which will create step and obstacle-free routes to access platforms and enter stations, through new footbridges, lifts and ramps. The programme is funded by £7m from the Welsh Government and £5m from the Department for Transport.
Ystrad Mynach station has remained open during construction and workers have done everything possible to minimise disruption for passengers. The work at the station is expected to be completed by spring 2015. Alongside Network Rail, the principle contractors working on site are Amco Rail.
South East Route: Sussex Area Route Study Draft for Consultation
Work on the South East Route: Sussex Area Route Study began in December 2013 and the document was published as a Draft for Consultation document on 15th October 2014. The consultation period lasts for 90 days and will close on the 13th of January 2015. Details on how to respond to the consultation can be found within the document.
This Route Study has been put together by key industry parties with an interest in the Sussex Area including the train operating companies Southern and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the Department for Transport (DfT), Transport for London (TfL), the freight operating companies and Passenger Focus.
The study sets out a strategy for the Sussex Area which forms part of the Network Rail devolved South East route. The geographic scope of the Route Study covers the Brighton Main Line and connecting routes, the dense suburban network of radial routes in south central inner and outer London and the orbital routes of the West and East London lines. Although the area covered by the Route Study is geographically relatively small when compared to other route areas in the route study programme, the density of service operated through key nodes on this network, most notably Croydon / Windmill Bridge Junction and London Bridge, is greater than in any other part of the UK.
The route is principally a commuter route to/from London with over 60,000 passengers delivered into Central London in the high peak hour alone each weekday, with many more accessing key interchange points outside the centre such as Clapham Junction and East Croydon. As well as the dense commuter operation the route supports high levels of traffic to/from the UK's second largest Airport at Gatwick as well as substantial volumes of off peak leisure travel and travel between important regional centres.
The Study identifies a number of constraints across the network, the most significant of which is on-train crowding on peak services into London Bridge and London Victoria. Other constraints examined include regional and suburban connectivity and access to diversionary routes.
The study identifies a range of choices for funders for Control Period 6 (CP6) to address these constraints, comprising train lengthening and additional services to increase capacity in order to accommodate the growth in passenger and freight services whilst maintaining performance.
In the longer term the Long Term Planning Process proposes a strategy to address the challenge of accommodating the projections for growth, outlined in the four Market Studies, for passenger and freight services through to 2043.
Have your say
If you would like to comment on the Sussex Area Route Study Draft for Consultation you can email us at sussexroutestudy@networkrail.co.ukAll feedback must be received by 13 January 2015 when the public consultation period closes.
See also: Gatwick to London rail capacity to double by 2020.(buyingbusinesstravel)
..and..Six more trains may be added to peak line-up to reduce overcrowding on the Brighton Main Line.(The Argus)
_______________________________________________________________________
SMARTWATER "HIGHLY COMMENDED" FOR HELPING TO SUPPRESS RAILWAY CABLE THEFT.(smartwater.com)
A Smartwater Warning Sign at Wilmcote Station
See also: Derailment of a freight train at Porthkerry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, 2 October 2014 .(RAIB)
Raildate
(Courtesy :Howard Sprenger)
RAILDATE - your free weekly guide to what's happening, what's new and what's on
Read online here: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/
COLOUR-RAIL
The last Colour-Rail slide has been made, and the future is officially digital! Nevertheless,
several hundred new images continue to be added to the website around the 15th of each month.
To commemorate the historical event, Paul Chancellor has produced "The Concise Colour-Rail
Catalogue", which lists every slide they have produced over nearly forty years. For each
slide, it gives brief details of loco number, location and date, and also shows the quantity of
each slide sold (except for some of the very early issues) so that you can see which are the
rare ones. Their best-sellers have sold over a thousand copies but some amounted to fewer than ten. The catalogue is available for £10 including postage.http://www.colour-rail.com/
Read online here: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/
COLOUR-RAIL
The last Colour-Rail slide has been made, and the future is officially digital! Nevertheless,
several hundred new images continue to be added to the website around the 15th of each month.
To commemorate the historical event, Paul Chancellor has produced "The Concise Colour-Rail
Catalogue", which lists every slide they have produced over nearly forty years. For each
slide, it gives brief details of loco number, location and date, and also shows the quantity of
each slide sold (except for some of the very early issues) so that you can see which are the
rare ones. Their best-sellers have sold over a thousand copies but some amounted to fewer than ten. The catalogue is available for £10 including postage.http://www.colour-rail.com/
IN THE NEWS
HS2: Stoke-on-Trent launches business case for station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Network Rail: Debt-ridden train operator’s Middle East contract is its biggest coup yet
http://tinyurl.com/mgydzwk
How Dutch and German train and bus firms are taking UK taxpayers for a ride
http://tinyurl.com/kpq9h9g
Three quarters of UK rail network owned by foreign governments, research reveals
http://tinyurl.com/pfa9h68
Porterbrook changes hands
http://tinyurl.com/laychq3
Railways 'dead zones' for mobiles, report reveals
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Changes to Henley branch service
http://www.henleystandard.co.
Southeastern train service “not good value for money”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Commuters told to expect delays because trains 'not equipped to deal with salt water'
http://tinyurl.com/qzgsvap
Calls for more trains on redoubled Swindon to Kemble railway line
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Secret aerodynamic test facility revealed (Catesby tunnel)
http://tinyurl.com/mervqbn
Ilkeston railway station: Flooding concerns cause second delay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Structural damage 'worse than expected' at Middlesbrough railway station
http://tinyurl.com/nr4p87s
Seaside railway posters make £13,207 in New York auction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Abellio planning steam trains for Scotland
http://tinyurl.com/q73v9a4
http://tinyurl.com/ndkn2x9
Progress report on the Borders Railway project
http://tinyurl.com/nuxmkyq
The nostalgic beauty of blending haircuts with railway history
http://tinyurl.com/o4oq57w
Manx Electric Railway track repairs 'to cost £1.3m'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Bombardier Sponsors Refurbishment of Unique Southern EMU
http://tinyurl.com/pmcreac
Swanage to Wareham rail reconnection works begin
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Class 37 Golden Jubilee (GWSR)
http://tinyurl.com/or8sv22
GWR 1450 arrives at Alresford for Mid Hants Autumn Gala
https://www.facebook.com/
Eurostar rail stake touted for sale by UK government
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
http://tinyurl.com/owbpufh
ProRail to take control of Betuweroute
http://tinyurl.com/lygbj2k
Vienna’s new central station opens
http://tinyurl.com/kzn6l9p
Bushfire derails Zig Zag railway
https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/
Sri Lanka's Colombo-Jaffna railway reopens
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
http://tinyurl.com/m2cnalx
CSX rebuffs CP Railway merger overture
http://tinyurl.com/kppzqfp
Metrolink line to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport to open a year ahead of schedule
http://tinyurl.com/p5yp4eg
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies or changes.
16/10/14- Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition
19/10/14 http://www.
17/10/14- Swanage Railway: Autumn Steam Gala19/10/14 http://www.swanagerailway.co.
18/10/14 South Devon Garden Railway Group: Exeter Garden Railway Show The Matford Centre, Exter, EX2 8FD
All scales with lots of traders, layouts, demonstrators and good catering
Free parking
1030-1630http://www.
18/10/14 Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Branch Line Dayhttp://www.bodminrailway.co.uk
18/10/14- IW CAMRA & IoW Bus Museum: Classic Buses, Beer & Walks Weekend19/10/14 http://iwbeerandbuses.co.uk/
18/10/14- Avon Valley Railway: End of Season Gala19/10/14 http://www.avonvalleyrailway.
18/10/14- Rushton, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: LMS Branch Line at War - 1940s19/10/14 http://www.rhts.co.uk
18/10/14- The Battlefield Line: Diesel Gala19/10/14 http://www.battlefieldline.co.
18/10/14- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Wirksworth Model Railway Show19/10/14 http://www.e-v-r.com
18/10/14- East Lancashire Railway: Autumn Steam Gala19/10/14 http://www.eastlancsrailway.
18/10/14- Middleton Railway: Model Mania19/10/14 http://www.middletonrailway.
19/10/14 Central Southern O gauge Group Model Railway Exhibition The Allendale Centre, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS
5 layouts, test track, 16mm live steam, traders and demonstrators
Lots of parking and very popular restaurant
1000-1600http://csg0g.org/
19/10/14 Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers: Open Dayhttp://wdsme.co.uk/
20/10/14 Newbury and District Transport Group The Community Space, Kennet School, Stoney Lane, Thatcham, RG19 4LL
1915 for a prompt 1930 start
"Denver to Detroit in a Model T Ford" by Peter Yeoman
Non-members welcome
Admission and car parking free, but donations towards expenses welcome20/10/14 Friends of the Cromford Canal: Talk "William Jessop - The Man" by Martyn Taylor-Cockaynehttp://www.cromfordcanal.info/
21/10/14 RCTS Cheltenham Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SY
"Signalling on the G-WR and the Preservation of Swindon Panel" by Danny Scroggins
Starts at 1930
Non-members are very welcome - a donation of £3.50 is requestedhttp://www.rcts.org.uk/
24/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Autumn Steam Gala26/10/14 http://www.watercressline.co.
25/10/14 London Omnibus Traction Society: Autumn Transport Spectacularhttp://www.lots.org.uk/
25/10/14 Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers: Halloween Open Dayhttp://wdsme.co.uk/
25/10/14 Rushton, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: Hallowe'en Ghost Trainhttp://www.rhts.co.uk
25/10/14- Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum: Twilight Trolleydays26/10/14 http://www.sandtoft.org
28/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Dayhttp://www.e-v-r.com
29/10/14 Foxfield Railway: Halloween Steam Cream Land Cruise Trainhttp://www.foxfieldrailway.co.
30/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Dayhttp://www.e-v-r.com
31/10/14 The Battlefield Line: Hallowe'en Night Trainshttp://www.battlefieldline.co.
31/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Wizard Weekend02/11/14 http://www.watercressline.co.
01/11/14 The Battlefield Line: Bonfire Night Spectacularhttp://www.battlefieldline.co.
01/11/14 Swadlincote Meccano and Model Railway Exhibition 2014 Hill Street Church, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
1000-160001/11/14- Friends of the Cromford Canal - Horseboat trips02/11/14 http://www.cromfordcanal.info/
01/11/14- Leawood Pumping Engine Steaming Day, Cromford Canal02/11/14 Engine in motion 1200-1600http://www.middleton-leawood.
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies or changes.
16/10/14- Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition
19/10/14 http://www.
17/10/14- Swanage Railway: Autumn Steam Gala19/10/14 http://www.swanagerailway.co.
18/10/14 South Devon Garden Railway Group: Exeter Garden Railway Show The Matford Centre, Exter, EX2 8FD
All scales with lots of traders, layouts, demonstrators and good catering
Free parking
1030-1630http://www.
18/10/14 Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Branch Line Dayhttp://www.bodminrailway.co.uk
18/10/14- IW CAMRA & IoW Bus Museum: Classic Buses, Beer & Walks Weekend19/10/14 http://iwbeerandbuses.co.uk/
18/10/14- Avon Valley Railway: End of Season Gala19/10/14 http://www.avonvalleyrailway.
18/10/14- Rushton, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: LMS Branch Line at War - 1940s19/10/14 http://www.rhts.co.uk
18/10/14- The Battlefield Line: Diesel Gala19/10/14 http://www.battlefieldline.co.
18/10/14- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Wirksworth Model Railway Show19/10/14 http://www.e-v-r.com
18/10/14- East Lancashire Railway: Autumn Steam Gala19/10/14 http://www.eastlancsrailway.
18/10/14- Middleton Railway: Model Mania19/10/14 http://www.middletonrailway.
19/10/14 Central Southern O gauge Group Model Railway Exhibition The Allendale Centre, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS
5 layouts, test track, 16mm live steam, traders and demonstrators
Lots of parking and very popular restaurant
1000-1600http://csg0g.org/
19/10/14 Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers: Open Dayhttp://wdsme.co.uk/
20/10/14 Newbury and District Transport Group The Community Space, Kennet School, Stoney Lane, Thatcham, RG19 4LL
1915 for a prompt 1930 start
"Denver to Detroit in a Model T Ford" by Peter Yeoman
Non-members welcome
Admission and car parking free, but donations towards expenses welcome20/10/14 Friends of the Cromford Canal: Talk "William Jessop - The Man" by Martyn Taylor-Cockaynehttp://www.cromfordcanal.info/
21/10/14 RCTS Cheltenham Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SY
"Signalling on the G-WR and the Preservation of Swindon Panel" by Danny Scroggins
Starts at 1930
Non-members are very welcome - a donation of £3.50 is requestedhttp://www.rcts.org.uk/
24/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Autumn Steam Gala26/10/14 http://www.watercressline.co.
25/10/14 London Omnibus Traction Society: Autumn Transport Spectacularhttp://www.lots.org.uk/
25/10/14 Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers: Halloween Open Dayhttp://wdsme.co.uk/
25/10/14 Rushton, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: Hallowe'en Ghost Trainhttp://www.rhts.co.uk
25/10/14- Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum: Twilight Trolleydays26/10/14 http://www.sandtoft.org
28/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Dayhttp://www.e-v-r.com
29/10/14 Foxfield Railway: Halloween Steam Cream Land Cruise Trainhttp://www.foxfieldrailway.co.
30/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Dayhttp://www.e-v-r.com
31/10/14 The Battlefield Line: Hallowe'en Night Trainshttp://www.battlefieldline.co.
31/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Wizard Weekend02/11/14 http://www.watercressline.co.
01/11/14 The Battlefield Line: Bonfire Night Spectacularhttp://www.battlefieldline.co.
01/11/14 Swadlincote Meccano and Model Railway Exhibition 2014 Hill Street Church, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
1000-160001/11/14- Friends of the Cromford Canal - Horseboat trips02/11/14 http://www.cromfordcanal.info/
01/11/14- Leawood Pumping Engine Steaming Day, Cromford Canal02/11/14 Engine in motion 1200-1600http://www.middleton-leawood.
International
USA
ABSTRACT:
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today published its first multi-state plan for a comprehensive, high-performing passenger rail network that will support rail planning in six Southwestern states over the next 35 years. This is the first multi-state rail planning effort FRA has embarked upon, making it a model for future regional planning efforts.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today published its first multi-state plan for a comprehensive, high-performing passenger rail network that will support rail planning in six Southwestern states over the next 35 years. This is the first multi-state rail planning effort FRA has embarked upon, making it a model for future regional planning efforts.
“Our nation’s transportation systems must be interconnected and efficient across regions to meet current and future demand,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This study represents a major step forward, and will become a guide post for mobility and intermodal connections throughout the Southwest.”
The Southwest study was developed with regional stakeholders and state agencies considering existing travel conditions and future demand. The Southwest study examines connections to emerging rail markets in six Southwest states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
The study supports development of safe, reliable, efficient, and interconnected multimodal travel options, and envisions a rail network that supports environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It illustrates how connections to local transit, aviation, highways, and other modes can be integrated for travelers on a regional basis in a cost-effective manner.
“Planning is the fundamental bedrock to being ready to compete for federal funding as it becomes available,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “The Southwest study provides a new regional model for other states and regions to follow as they prepare for future passenger and freight rail development.”
The Southwest region’s longstanding interest in creating a higher-performing rail network helped bring the prototype study together. A diverse group of stakeholders—representing state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, transit agencies, Amtrak, freight railroads, and private rail developers—were fully engaged in this effort. Click here to read the study.
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