An edition of more manageable proportions this week...!
BOOK NEWS
Peter Kay's long-awaited London Tilbury & Southend Railway Signalling book is due to go to
print shortly. Copies will be available from him at 12.95p post free - 92 pages, A4 size, 238
photographs. The book examines the Midland, LMS, and BR(E) periods, and took 18 years to
write.
Orders can be placed by sending your address with a cheque to P Kay, 6c Park Road, Wivenhoe,
Essex, CO7 9NB.
NETWATCH
============
Rick Ball's photographs of the Vintage Trains Llandudno tour with Rood Ashton Hall and Earl of
Mount Edgcumbe, taken at Stableford on 30th April:
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com
If you want to apply mechanical interlocking to the points and signals on your model railway,
or just want to create an executive toy with a difference, this is for you:
http://modratec.com/
============
Videos
Bittern renamed 4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" at Kings Cross, 16th April 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZBbgTAMqwY
(Spotter: Howard Benson)
A 'washout' on Canadian National as it happened (language warning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQAiTBoJf3Y
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
Tu-154 struggles against in-flight oscillations:
http://tinyurl.com/6zhpmke
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London Underground
To tackle bottlenecking on the District Line at Earls Court, LUL plan to introduce a new
timetable from December. Weekday services to Kensington Olympia (which carry fewer than 1% of
District Line passengers) will be diverted to Wimbledon. Kensington services will remain
operational at weekends, and receive an extra Overground service each hour from May 2011. LUL
is to replace almost the entire fleet of deep level tube trains with a single type and plans to
unveil the prototype of this next generation in 2015. Hammersmith & Fulham Council are
expecting a planning application for 7,500 new homes on a 77 acre site at Earls Court. Under
the proposal the Lille Bridge Depot will disappear.
Regarding the resignalling of the Metropolitan, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Lines,
Bombardier Transportation intends supplying its Cityflo 650 CBTC equipment, which they say has
been proven in service on 13 metro lines in cities including Madrid and Shenzhen (China). It
is designed to support driverless operation, but there is no indication that that option will
be pursued in London. Sub Surface lines cover nearly 200 miles of track and serve 40% of the
Underground network. LUL say that the upgrade will deliver 65% more capacity on the Circle and
Hammersmith & City Lines and 25% more on the District and Metropolitan Line.
London Thameslink
The five-year plan, commencing in 2013, to transform London Bridge station will get underway
this year with a period of consultation beginning on 16th May with an exhibition at the
station. The bridge that will carry extra tracks over Borough High Street was due to be slid
into place over the recent Easter weekend, and work is already underway on a new bus station,
whilst new rail stations at Blackfriars and Farington will be completed next year.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6345.aspx
GER Thames Wharf Jn - North Woolwich
The North Woolwich Railway completed its line from from Barking Creek across uninhabited and
roadless marshes to North Woolwich in 1847, but it lost its passenger service after seven years
when a diversionary route was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) to the north of the
new Victoria Dock. This new route, which later included the cut-and-cover Silvertown (aka
Connaught) tunnel, was also declared out of use in 2007, but is now to be utilsed for
Crossrail. See an interesting video here (I particularly liked the comment that the tunnel had
to be strengthened because ships were scraping along the top!):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13211392
Gatwick
Work to improve the concourse at Gatwick Airport station is to be brought forward so it is
completed before the 2012 Olympics. The remaining part of the 53m upgrade, that includes a
new platform, improved track layout and signalling, starts after the Games and is expected to
be completed by the end of 2013.
Hitchin
The new 62m flyover mentioned in Raildate 8th May 2009 has finally been approved.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZgF5J2yn7k
South Wales Signalling & Control Centre (SWCC)
Newport Area: According to the May edition of Modern Railways, commissioning of phase 1b (the
signalling in and around Newport station) will take place in May. No dates are given, but two
days of full track possession will be required along with eleven days when two tracks will be
open for trains. The Arriva Trains Wales site shows engineering work at Newport from Saturday
14th to Tuesday 17th May 2011 (start: 14/05/2011 00:00:00, end: 17/05/2011 23:59:00).
Cardiff Area: On 12th April 2011, Network Rail announced that six stations are to gain
additional platforms as lines in and around Cardiff are resignalled. Cardiff Area Signalling
Renewal costing 200m is the third stage of the 450m South Wales Major Resignalling (SWMR).
The opportunity will be taken to amend track layouts and prepare for future growth as well as
electrification. A full possession of Cardiff Central for commissioning is scheduled for
Christmas 2014.
High Speed in Europe
Since the December 2010 start of high speed services from Madrid to Valencia and Albacete,
Spain has taken over the European lead in length of HS lines in use, with 1,948km compared to
1,896km in France. Both countries are currently building additional lines.
Spain
Construction of the new standard (1,435mm) gauge 7.3km long tunnel between Madrid's two
principal stations, Madrid Atocha and Madrid Charmatin, permitting the standard gauge high
speed lines to interconnect, is nearing completion. The existing tunnels are broad (1,668mm)
gauge only and electrified at 3,000V DC.
Israel
Responding to a number of rail accidents and breakdowns in recent months, Transport Minister
Israel Katz said, "I have notified the management of Israel Railways that unless it presents me
with a detailed plan to solve its safety problem within four months, I will close the railways
down".
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000639455&fid=1725
USA
Tenders were to be invited in April for construction work on the first section of Alaska
Railroad's 51km Port MacKenzie Eion, extension. The line is intended to connect the deepwater
port facilities at Port MacKenzie with the ARR main line near Houston.
http://tinyurl.com/6326qxf
Uganda
Plans are underway to reopen Uganda's western line.
http://www.busiweek.com/11/news/uganda/885-ug-western-railway-line-set-to-re-open
Sri Lanka
The second phase of the express coastal line will commence on 1st July, whilst the section from
Kalutara-south to Colombo, enabling trains to travel at 100kph, is to be developed under the
third phase of the project. A new line is to be built between Horana and Kottawa in the
Western Province.
http://tinyurl.com/3z9lwrs
Laos
An ambitious plan build a 7-billion-dollar, 421km, high-speed line linking Vientiane to Laos's
border with China has stalled on Chinese politics and social-environmental concerns.
http://tinyurl.com/623y5w9
============
IN THE NEWS
High-speed train boost for Sandwich and Deal in Kent:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13248962
Latest news of Thameslink construction work in the London Bridge area:
http://londonist.com/2011/05/in-pictures-new-thameslink-railway-bridge.php
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13300616
Fatal accident at Clapham Jn:
http://tinyurl.com/6k2hh7l
BBC article on St Pancras:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13302694
Fatality near Chard Junction:
http://tinyurl.com/6k9r7wl
Leamington Spa railway's 1930s waiting rooms restored:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-13268774
Drivers strikes on LUL:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13274783
Monsal Trail Reopening News:
http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/cycle/monsaltrail.htm
Norton Fitzwarren Triangle developments:
http://www.wsr.org.uk/nortonmap.htm
Duke of Gloucester visit to West Somerset Railway:
http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm
Angry passengers in Argentina attack trains and staff:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13262090
RAIB report into collapse of OHLE on Midlands Metro:
http://tinyurl.com/6fthtqw
Proposal for trams in Bristol
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13292342
Haymarket's the end of the line as trams cash runs out:
http://tinyurl.com/6jjhw2b
Disruption on Argentinean Railways:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13262090
Changes to Manx bus services:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-13253453
New workshop for Friends of King Alfred buses:
http://tinyurl.com/64ofjyl
Free bus to Hillier's Gardens and Stockbridge:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9005830.Free_green_bus_service_to_launch/
Tourism planning for Pontcysyllte aqueduct:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-13280281
Delays to Isle of Scilly Ferry service:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-13264276
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Ted Millward, Reg Nerps, Nick Wheat
TV and RADIO
07/05/11 BBC Radio 4 0607-0630
"Open Country" The Welsh Highland Railway
07/05/11 BBC4 2250-2350
"The Lighthouse Stevensons" Robert Stevenson and the Bell Rock lighthouse
07/05/11 BBC4 2350-0020
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 1/4 The Caledonian Canal
08/05/11 BBC2 1910-2000
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" 1/6 Burj al Arab, Dubai
08/05/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Secret Life of the National Grid" 1/3
09/05/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 2/4 The Worcester & Birmingham
09/05/11 BBC2 2320-0020
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" 1/6 Burj al Arab, Dubai
10/05/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"Time to Remember" Archive film from the 1950s
11/05/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"Indian Hill Railways" 2/3 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
12/05/11 BBC Radio 4 1500-1527
"Open Country" The Welsh Highland Railway
12/05/11 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Galway to Arranmore Island
12/05/11 ITV1 1930-2000
"The True Cost of a Car" The escalating cost of being mobile
EVENTS
For up-to-date information on many of the tours mentioned in Raildate (and others) often with
timings, see the Steam Tours pages at:
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/index.htm
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is taken for
inaccuracies or changes.
07/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Weekend
08/05/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
08/05/11 Basingstoke Festival of Transport
War memorial Park, Basingstoke
http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/browse/leisure-and-culture/events
09/05/11 North East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeological Society
Friends' Meeting House, Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, S40 4AG
Where the Rainbow Ends - The Ashover Light Railway - Origin,
History and Future by Richard Booth (ALRS Chairman)
Commences 1930
14/05/11- ExpoEM
15/05/11 Bracknell Leisure Centre
14/05/11- Derby Model Railway Exhibition
15/05/11 Moorways Sports Centre, Moor Lane, Derby, DE24 9HY
14/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Weekend
15/05/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
16/05/11 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) Filmshow
The Library Theatre, Tudor Square, Sheffield, S1 1XZ
Railways Remembered - the 1950s, Rob Foxon
Starts 1930 (doors 1900)
Tickets: 6.50 (6.00 concessions) on the door.
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
17/05/11 Peak Railway Association (Chesterfield Branch) Slideshow
New Inn, 229 Mansfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, S41 0JJ
Bass Railway Trips, Rodney Pearson
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/ChesterfieldBranch.html
18/05/11 Churnet Valley Railway: Scenic Evening Passenger Service
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
21/05/11- Winchester Cathedral: "Models & Music"
22/05/11 GWR model railway and local GWR exhibition
At the Undercroft, next to the Education Centre in the Inner Close
Admission by donation - proceeds to the Cathedral Music Fund
1000-1730
21/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Weekend
22/05/11 Includes Bachmann Model Club "Trackside 2011" event, 21st May
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
Raildate may be freely distributed without permission as long as no changes whatsoever are made
to the original document distributed by the Editor. You can subscribe to the external edition
here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RAILDATE/
Issues of Raildate up to and including 18th December 2009 are at:
http://www.raildate.net
This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in previous editions of
Raildate.
(C) Howard Sprenger 2011.