HPMRS RAILDATE 11 May 07

News

RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society: http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/

NETWATCH

Nick Wheat informs me that Virgin have got around to putting their first nameplate on ebay (for charity) so expect a steady flow over the coming months: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160113690316

Simon Jeffs' photos taken on at the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum and the Spa Valley railway: http://simon-jeffs.fotopic.net/c1272693.html http://simon-jeffs.fotopic.net/c1265796.html

Ian Coster's video of Lord Nelson at Barnes Station on 9th May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reC47vvPIas

All about Clapham Junction: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A13073744

Brighton Festival Fringe: Brighton Station Tours

Illustrated talk on the history, development and hidden parts of the terminus, followed by a tour of the station site with Southern's permission. Best to book...

Entrance Fee: £6.00, £5.00 Running Time: 1 3/4 to 2 hours Age restrictions: not suitable for young children

12th May 11.00AM & 1:30PM 13th May 11.00AM & 1:30PM 19th May 11.00AM & 1:30PM 20th May 11.00AM & 1:30PM 26th May 11.00AM & 1:30PM 2nd June 11.00AM & 1:30PM

http://www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/listings/tours/listing.asp?ev=123&ed=1125

Ralph Rawlinson comments on Chris Grayling's call for disused railways to be protected...

On the face of it Chris Grayling's initiative is very commendable but in practice unlikely to mean anything. If the Government won't sanction the reopening of the Uckfield-Lewes line, which is reasonably clear of obstructions and supported by all interested parties, what chance does any other line (outside Scotland or Wales) have? I also recall that in the 1990s a previous Transport Secretary issued a PPG advising local authorities to safeguard disused lines by restricting their use to paths and cycleways but it was simply ignored. Even when a council has refused planning permission a government inspector will, on appeal, usually rule in favour of the developer.

From The Times 27tht April 2007:

Disused railway lines should be protected from development because they may have to be re-opened to relieve overcrowded roads, according to the Tories. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said that the lines in most urgent need of protection were the Lewes to Uckfield line in East Sussex, the Oxford to Milton Keynes line, the Woodhead tunnel route between Manchester and Sheffield and the Leamside line in the North East.

He wrote to the Government asking it to prohibit developers from building on the routes and demolishing stations. His letter said: "I am writing to ask you to impose a two-year moratorium on the sale of land on former transport routes; establish an independent study to assess the potential of each disused route including old stations and car parks for future transport needs and then put in place long-term protections." Mr Grayling said that many housing developments were designed with inadequate public transport links.

Transport 2000, the environmental group, welcomed the Conservative initiative and called on the Government to set out long-term plans for reopening lines in its rail White Paper, due to be published in July. Stephen Joseph, its director, said: "Reopenings will be needed to serve the many new and planned developments, and also to provide better regional

links. This is about giving people real choice for more journeys, and tackling congestion and pollution. But many of these lines are under threat from development. For years we have been saying they should be firmly protected through the planning system, and we support the Conservatives' call for a moratorium on development and a review of their potential. This should be a non-party issue, and we hope the Government will agree to the Conservatives' request and protect lines for future use."

David Cooke's professional custom painting and model building (USA): http://www.classictrainsplus.com

IN THE NEWS

Derailment hits ECML: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6641579.stm

SWT price hike angers rail watchdog: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6633881.stm

Arriva train fairs rise by up to a third: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6638345.stm

More trains to cure overcrowding: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6640627.stm

New Victoria Line trains tested: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6634541.stm

Another sat- nav related level crossing accident: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6646331.stm

Gloucester/Cheltenham parkway scheme: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6645811.stm

Arriva Wales smoking ban on English stations: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6646599.stm

Airdrie-Bathgate scheme gets green light: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6641725.stm

Stirling-Alloa rail link opening delayed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6643369.stm

Welcome for "rival Eurostar" plan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6629965.stm

Koreas agree cross-border train: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6644151.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6623095.stm

National Express in Spanish deal (corrected): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6598453.stm

(Spooters: Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps)

TV and Radio

Events

See Mainline Steam Tours page for up-to-date info on many of these tours, and others, often with timings.