The Railway Chronicle: International & UK Railway News Saturday 8th November 2014

High speed rail (HS2) ..some say its an ongoing saga....others say not much point if everything else is still slow.. and others will say essential for growth and future prosperity...

Some disquiet in Mexico about an apparent lack of transparency in awarding the contract to a Chinese consortium.. so a new bidding process in a few months...will Bombardier..or others venture into the competition?

More passengers than ever use Transport for London services......

Click on the links...

Headlines
UK
Train struck object thrown onto railway by vandals.(The Star)

No point in a high-speed rail link if everything else is still slow.(The Portsmouth News)

TIMELINEThe ongoing saga of high speed rail.(The Stoke Sentinel)

Edinburgh trams inquiry given increased powers.(BBC News)

Picture: Courtesy (C) Edinburgh Trams

EXCLUSIVE: New trains but fares will rise, Prime Minister tells Bradford rail commuters.(Telegraph & Argus)

A better railway for the North - Plan a visit - National Railway Museum
A panel discussion hosted by Right Track North and Campaign for Better Transport.

The future of the northern England rail network is up for grabs. In the next few weeks, the Government will announce its plans for future rail franchises for northern England. Will it be growth, investment, improvements - or fare rises, service cuts and savings?
This event will discuss what's at stake with the Rail Minister and experts.

Speakers

Claire Perry MP - Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport

Alex Hynes - Chief Executive, Northern Rail

Chris Dale - Chair, Travelwatch North West

Registration will be from 5:30 and the event will be followed by a reception.
The event is free but please book your place in advance. To register, send your name, organisation and contact details to communications@bettertransport.org.uk.
Find out more about the event's hosts, Right Track North.

Frustrated commuter's 'Arriva Trains Fails' blog makes an impact - and gets him a meeting with train firm's top brass(Wales Online)

Growth in passengers on London’s transport network.(Transport for London)
Press Release....

Combined bus and Tube journeys at highest ever level

The number of journeys on London's transport network is continuing to break records Transport for London (TfL) announced today, with 76.1 million passenger journeys on London Underground and London Buses combined during the week of 22 September - the highest ever level.

London Underground saw 26.1 million passenger journeys, while London Buses carried 50 million passenger journeys - the largest number ever for buses.

Last year's combined Tube and bus record of 75.8 million journeys was set during the week of 9 December, which traditionally sees higher passenger numbers as London gears up for Christmas, and new highs are expected to be reached this coming December. London's population continues to grow faster than any other European city.

The population is expected to grow from 8.4 million today to reach 10 million by 2030. Demand for public transport is predicted to increase by 60% on the Underground and 80% on the national rail network by 2050, compared to current levels.

TfL is delivering sustained investment across Tube and bus services to meet this growing demand.

The bus service is now one of the most extensive anywhere in the world, and more buses, new routes, and more late night services have been added.

Redevelopment work to increase capacity at key Tube stations and make them step-free is underway at Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street, and more frequent services have recently been introduced on the Victoria and Jubilee lines.

The first phase of the modernisation of the Northern line will be completed soon - increasing capacity by 20% and capacity has also been increased on London Overground and the DLR. If service levels are to meet future demand and ensure that the network can continue to support new jobs and growth, sustainable investment must be guaranteed.

Consultations are currently underway on proposals to extend the Bakerloo line and extending London Overground to Old Oak Common and Barking riverside. After Crossrail, operated by TfL, enters service from 2018, London's economy and population will already need Crossrail 2.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London's Transport Commissioner, said: 'Thanks to vital investment and a programme of modernisation we've seen delays cut and more frequent and reliable trains and buses. However, we have to keep looking towards the future, and continue the investment, to ensure our transport network keeps pace with the growing number of people who need it. Only through this can the network continue to be a driver of the UK's economy, and maintain London's position as a world-leading city.'

TfL is making widespread improvements to the network while continuing to deliver huge savings. The £16bn savings and efficiencies programme to 2020/21 has secured savings of up to £12bn. This programme is central to helping to meet the challenge of operating one of the worlds oldest and most extensive transport networks while, at the same time, upgrading and modernising it to accommodate London's rapid growth.

London Underground has an average of 24.3 million passenger journeys a week and London Buses has an average of 46.2 million journeys a week.
The week of 9 December 2013 saw 27.2 million Tube journeys and 48.6 million bus journeys.
From 12 September next year, London Underground will introduce the 'Night Tube' - an all night 24 hour services on key lines on Friday and Saturday nights, which will cut journey times, support the creation of some 2000 new jobs and boost London's economy by £360 million.
During next year, London Underground will be modernising the way customers are served at stations, with staff brought out from underused ticket offices and back offices to where they can assist customers most effectively - in ticket halls, at gate lines and on platforms. There will be more staff visible and available to help customers to buy the right ticket or use contactless payments, plan their journeys and keep them safe and secure, and all stations will be staffed at all times.

TfL plans weekly cap on pay-as-you-go Oyster cards in contactless fare dispute.(London Evening Standard)

Raildate

EVENTS

All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.

07/11/14 RCTS Bristol
St Peters Church Hall, Church Road, Filton, BS34 7BX
"To Scotland for Steam" by Peter Groom
Starts at 1930 (room open from 1900)
Non-members are very welcome
http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/bristol/events.htm

07/11/14- South Devon Railway: Diesel Gala Weekend08/11/14 http://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/News-and-Press-Releases/Diesel_Gala_Poster_2014.pdf

08/11/14 Railway Film Show St Mary's Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland, Newcastle, NE20 9PZ
Archive films (BTF films shown with the permission of the BFI)
Admission free, retiring collection, doughnuts at the interval
1500 and 1930http://ponthistsoc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/railway-films.html
http://www.pontelandstmary.co.uk

08/11/14- Barnsley Model Railway Show09/11/14 Hoyland Leisure Centre, West Street, Hoyland, Barnsley S74 9EH Adult: £4, Concession: £3, Child under 5: Free

http://www.barnsleymrc.org.uk

09/11/14 Mid-Hants Railway: Walk the Line

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

10/11/14 Bursledon Windmill Big Birthday Bash 1400-1800

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/windmill/windmill-eventdetails?id=251094

10/11/14 North East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology Society St Thomas’s Church Centre, Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, S40 3AW
“The Railways of the Upper Derwent Valley”
by Ted Hancock
Starts 1930, £2 admission for non-members

http://www.nedias.co.uk

11/11/14 Great Western Society (Bristol Group) Room 7, BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG.
"Swindon Works – Hawksworth to Hell Fire" by Brian Arman
1930 for 1945
There is no admission charge, but a donation of at least £2 is appreciated

http://www.gwsbristol.org/gwsmeetings.html

12/11/14 RCTS South Wales Old Church Rooms, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF
"American wanderings in 2012/13" by Gordon Davies
Starts at 1930 (room open from 1900)
Non-members are very welcome - a donation of £2.00 is requested

http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/south_wales/events.htm

13/11/14 Monmouthshire Railway Society Lecture Theatre A10, Newport Riverside City Campus
"A Broad Gauge Journey" by Brian Arman
Starts at 1915 prompt, admission for non-members is £3.00

http://mrsoc.org.uk/

14/11/14 Royal Geographical Society: Lecture followed by a light Indian buffet Rheged Centre, Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DQ
"India'?s Disappearing Hill Railways: A Photographic Journey" by Catherine Anderson
Starts 1900
RGS-IBG members: £5, non-members: £10
Booking office: 01768868000 open 1000-1700

http://www.wrrc.org.uk/

15/11/14 Welsh Railways Research Circle John Malkovich Suite, Big Sleep Hotel, Bute Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 2FE
"The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways - Yesterday and Today" by Adrian Gray
1400-1700

http://www.wrrc.org.uk/

17/11/14 Newbury and District Transport Group The Community Space, Kennet School, Stoney Lane, Thatcham, RG19 4LL
1915 for a prompt 1930 start
"Railway Allsorts" by Ken Mumford
Non-members welcome
Admission and car parking free, but donations towards expenses welcome17/11/14 Friends of the Cromford Canal: Talk "My Farcical Career as Liaison Officer on a Cruise Ship" by Colin Bowyer

http://www.cromfordcanal.info/

17/11/14 Peak Rail Sheffield Branch Central Library Theatre (by The Crucible), Tudor Square, Sheffield, S1 1XZ
“Railways Remembered” a film show by Rob Foxon
1900 for a 1930 start
£6.50 on the door or £5.75 in advance

http://peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch.html

18/11/14 RCTS Cheltenham Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SY
"The Rebirth of the Great Western Main LIne" by Stuart Baker
Starts at 1930
Non-members are very welcome - a donation of £3.50 is requested

http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/cheltenham/events.htm

21/11/14 "Picture Postcard Railway Rambles" by Stephen Gay Coal Aston Methodist Church, Eckington Road, Coal Aston, Dronfield, S18 3AW

http://www.coalastonmethodist.org.uk/events/events.php

Courtesy: Howard Sprenger