HPMRS RAILDATE 2 Oct 09

News

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

NETWATCH

After the disappearance of the Peak Rail Yahoo group, and the setting up of a closed membership Google group, an unofficial public group has been set up for enthusiasts of this line: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/peakrail-enthusiasts/

Old maps and photos of Northumberland, excluding parts now in Tyne & Wear: http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/

Nigel Bird's new catalogue (No 67) is now available: http://www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk/html/catalogue.html

The North Wales (Cambrian) Coast railway: http://www.nwrail.org.uk/

British Railways in the 1960s: http://www.britishrailways1960.co.uk/

(Spotter: Richard Buckby)

Numerous wagon diagram books and other interesting official documentation in PDF format here: http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/Prototype.html

Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup

On Your Bike Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis's speech to the 2009 Labour Party Conference: http://www.labour.org.uk/lord-adonis-speech-conference,2009-09-28

Docklands Light Railway A new fly-under, at the delta junction in the centre of the network, that avoids conflict with trains between Canary Wharf and Popular has made it possible, at peak times, to increase train frequencies between Lewisham and Bank.

Croydon A masterplan for the East Croydon station area being developed for Croydon Council and Network Rail includes two new platforms and a new concourse on a raft over the railway.

WSMR

The Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone TOC announced on 24th September that direct services between Wrexham, Shropshire and London will, from the New Year, be operated by Chiltern Railways, a company owned by WSMR's largest shareholder, German state rail operator DB. http://www.modern-railways.com/latestnews/?p=90

GSW Main Line Work on redoubling the five-mile Stewarton-Lugton section of the GSW between Kilmarnock and Glasgow is due to be completed in October ready for driver training to commence. The project involves bringing into use second platforms at the formerly single platform stations at Stewarton and Dunlop. The introduction of half-hourly services from Glasgow-Kilmarnock in December 2009 will be accompanied by other changes on the South Western including recasting of services to Stranraer and improvements on the line through Dumfries to Carlisle.

Netherlands/Belgium The long delayed high speed line from Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam to Antwerp in Belgium partially opened on 7th September 2009 when services began running on the section between Schiphol and Rotterdam. The new 156mph EMUs being built by Ansaldo, however, will not be ready before next summer so until then the service is operated by electric locos restricted to 100mph.

Nigeria The Federal Government's has decided to spend an additional N6 billion to complete the Ajaokuta-Warri railway project, previously abandoned by the main contractor, over alleged non-payment for completed jobs. He said the FG had finally settled the previous outstanding balance of N6.5 billion owing to the contractor. http://allafrica.com/stories/200909250498.html

Poland The Polish government plans to launch the country's first high-speed railway in 2018. Construction will begin in 2014 and the first trains will begin running four years later. http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1067416&lang=eng_news

Russia Work on a 355-mile railway to the Bovanenkovo gas field, which holds 4.9 trillion cubic meters of gas, restarted in 2005 when Gazprom decided to complete the Soviet-era project to open up reserves on the remote Yamal peninsula. The route, expected to become operational next year in time for the proposed 2012 launch of the Bovanenkovo field, runs across the longest bridge north of the Arctic Circle, which was opened on 24th September 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSTRE58N4KW20090924

China Two high-speed lines linking China's Fujian Province with neighbouring Zhejiang Province went into operation on 28th September 2009, greatly reducing travel time from mountainous Fujian to the Yangtze River Delta. The Fuzhou-Wenzhou line shortens the travel time from 15 hours to 100 minutes! The other line links Wenzhou with Ningbo cities, both in Zhejiang. The two lines, 360 miles in total, linked with lines to Shanghai, also cut the travel time from Fuzhou to Shanghai from 11 hours to five hours. Fujian, on the western side of the Taiwan Strait, is an important destination for Taiwan residents when visiting the mainland. Four more high-speed lines are under construction in Fujian to link cities including Xiamen and Putian in 2-3 years.

Meanwhile Montreal-based Bombardier has won a huge contract with China for high-speed train sets. The deal announced on 28th September 2009 is worth $4 billion US. http://tinyurl.com/ydzj5mz

And finally...

Date Time Co Description

14/09 1255 NR

Port Talbot Panel advise that driver of 1B20 has reported members of a stag party jumping out of the train (via the vestibule windows) whilst it was stood at PT3029 signal (due to the Pyle "body" incident which turned out to be a cardboard cut-out of Bart Simpson) and walking back towards Bridgend station. BTP advised (ref. 217). MOM and LOM ETA 15 minutes. All trains on stop. Train Manager pulled the comm. cord and gave the descriptions of the stag party as 3 Incredible Hulks, 2 Spidermen, 2 Supermen, 1 Fred Flintstone and a 118 Man.

14/09 1312 NR

Normal working resumed after BTP have rounded up the stag party and escorted them off railway property.

(Spotter: Richard Buckby)

IN THE NEWS

Award for Brockenhurst station http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_nationalrailawards.htm

Fatal level crossing accident near Georgemas Jn: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8281025.stm http://www.btp.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2951&NewsAreaID=2

Fatality on Cwm Bargoed freight branch http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8281736.stm

Gatwick Airport inter-terminal shuttle stopped for repairs: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8277961.stm

Hitchin flyover (video clip gas works - demolished 15 years ago!): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8282089.stm

West London Extension Railway gains new station - Imperial Wharf: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/imw/details.html

Chesterton rail station 'could open in 2013': http://tinyurl.com/yaxusgb

'Jacobite' loco driver finally retires: http://tinyurl.com/ya6yvxf

"Great Gable" paint job: http://rail-news.com/2009/09/18/second-time-for-ernie/

Wheeldrop for the Severn Valley Railway: http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/09/22/svr-steam-in-for-funding/

Severn Valley loco derails (a different kind of wheeldrop...?): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8281262.stm http://tinyurl.com/y9wqr8p

Volunteers restoring the Brighton Belle: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8284232.stm

Escalating costs of Edinburgh Tram project http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8281360.stm

RAIB investigation into collision on Great Orme Tramway http://tinyurl.com/ycv9tkq

Solar powered blimp: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8271696.stm

Flying boat Centre opened at Pembroke Dock: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8274346.stm

Hampton Loade Ferry: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/8278029.stm

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, John McCrickard, Reg Nerps

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