News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 291 - 30/06/2017
- STATIONS [all issues]
- ROLLING STOCK [all issues]
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- Another bus accident on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway southern section caused by speeding bus
- Soon after Cambridgeshire Guided Busway section to Cambrdge North opens a car gets trapped
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
On 28th June 2017 the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayoral Board allocated £3.2m to complete a GRIP3/4 study into reopening the Wisbech branch. The GRIP 2 study had already been completed.
The East West Rail Consortium is publicising 'Round Two' of Network Rail's consultation on the 'western' section (between Bicester and Bedford), which can be found at http://ewrconsultation.co.uk/ on 30th June 2017. Responses must be received by 11th August 2017. The website gives detailed maps along the route. This consultation follows Network Rail's consultation in September 2015 on its previous plans to upgrade and reconstruct the existing and mothballed sections of railway. Both rounds are pre-requisites for its intended application for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to be granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in order to construct, maintain and operate the project.
During June 2017 Greater Anglia had their first pre-application meeting with South Cambridgeshire District Council on proposals to put in a single deck car park at Whittlesford Parkway to add an additional 200 spaces.
STATIONS
Platform lengthening at East Anglia stations continues
Keywords: [FoxtonStation] [LittleportStation] [ManeaStation] [SheprethStation] [WaterbeachStation] [WhittleseaStation]
Operators across the country are running longer trains to provide sufficient seats to keep up with passenger demand. In East Anglia various platforms have been extended to allow eight- and 12-car trains. In 2017 work at Foxton and Shepreth stations is nearly complete to extend the platforms from four to eight carriages for GTR's Class 287 trains. This is necessary because the front of the train has to be at the platform and the rear four carriages would be across the level crossing delaying road traffic. The up platforms are not being lengthened since the platforms are before the level crossing so that road traffic is not affected when operating longer trains. Network Rail had intended to extend the down platform at Meldreth to improve passenger access even though there is no level crossing but that has been abandoned because of a shortage of money. Of course, requiring alighting passengers to walk to the front of the train is not very friendly, but as the stations are minor the dwell times should not be affected by having all passengers boarding and alighting through just half of the train.
At Waterbeach station both platforms are beyond the level crossing, as is the down platform at Watlington station. Therefore Network Rail will be extending those three platforms from four to eight carriage lengths. At Waterbeach the down platform is on a small embankment and therefore topographical surveys took place in spring 2017 to ensure that the embankment would not be adversely affected if the platform was extended. The all-clear was given and Network Rail has confirmed that the Waterbeach and Littleport platform extension work will commence in December 2017. As Network Rail is unwilling to commit to completing them in time for the May 2018 timetable changes, GTR says that it will stop eight-car trains there from the December 2018 timetable change.
Work will commence in summer 2017 to extend the two-car platforms at Manea and Whittlesea stations to support four-car trains. Currently three-car trains call at both. At Manea station the train blocks the level crossing. The longer platforms will allow Greater Anglia's new Stadler three- and four-car trains to call at the station.
ROLLING STOCK
Greater Anglia reveals mock-ups of its new trains to be built by Stadler in Bussnang in Switzerland
Keywords: [GreaterAnglia]
On 7th May 2017 Greater Anglia publicly revealed the mock-ups of its new electric and bi-mode FLIRT trains being built by Stadler, which will operate between Norwich and London, on the Stansted Express and regional routes. Stakeholders (including Railfuture) and staff were given the chance to look at and comment on the early designs for the trains, which can still be changed prior to agreeing the final specification in July 2017 in order to allow the first train to be delivered in mid-2018 and enter service in 2019. The mock-ups showed first and standard class seating as well as cycle storage areas, a café bar, and a toilet and vestibule area. Obviously the mock-up did not have any committed functioning facilities such as Wi-Fi, plug points and air conditioning.
The 20 Class 745 12-car electric trains used on the intercity and airport routes (including the West Anglia and Great Eastern services) will have around 750 seats, whilst on the Class 755 bi-mode (electro-diesel multiple unit) trains it is ordering there will be 170 seats on the 14 three-car units and 230 seats on the 24 four-car units. Stadler will supply in total 378 new carriages at a cost of £600m, with the remainder of the £1.4bn being spent on Bombardier's Aventra electric trains.
Concerns have already been raised that seats do not align with the windows, and that dwell time may be affected by haing only one door per carriage. Even though the carriages are shorter than usual - just 15.7 metres long because they will be articulated - they will carry as many passengers as a 23-metre train. Having discussed matters with managers, there is a detailed report on the new trains in the June 2017 edition of RAIL EAST from Railfuture East Anglia.
Greater Anglia has also announced that its refurbished "Renatus" Class 321 rolling stock, which will operate until the new trains are ready to enter passenger service. Railfuture understands that plans to introduce air conditioning on the roof of these trains has been difficult because of the weight distribution that affects the train when full of passengers. GA has also temporarily taken some of Great Northern's Class 317 trains (unwanted after the introduction of its Class 387 trains) to alleviate overcrowding. Lastly GA has brought a three-car Class 170 train back into service following refurbishment (including the installation of power sockets) having added six extra seats by making use of redundant storage space.
Greater Anglia plans to use some of the unused sidings at Great Yarmouth station (once secure fencing has been erected) to store the new trains and use it as a base for training staff. There is spare capacity on the route between Great Yarmouth and Norwich to run additional trains. Work will commence in October 2017 to extend the shed at Norwich Crown Point to take 12-car trains.
GUIDED BUSWAY
Another bus accident on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway southern section caused by speeding bus
Keywords: [BuswayAccident]
On 22nd June 2017 a guided bus operated by Whippet Coaches failed to correcly enter the southern serion of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway just south of Hills Road bridge. It was left wedged between a wall and fence with a crumpled frontage and shattered windscreen. The driver and one passenger received minor injuries (essentially cuts and bruises) and did not require any hospital treatment. Whippet Coaches claimed that its driver swerved to avoid two cyclists. The crash temporarily stopped bus services on the busway. This was the third serious accident on the southern section - leaving a bus stranded or damaged - in less than 18 months.
News: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-guided-busway-crash-station-13223534.
Soon after Cambridgeshire Guided Busway section to Cambrdge North opens a car gets trapped
Keywords: [BuswayAccident]
The partially-guided busway route from Milton Road to the new Cambrdge North station - built on the formation of the Cambridge to St Ives railway line - opened on Sunday 21st May 2017. Prior to that it was blocked off to prevent unauthorised acess. Unlike the main busway it is only guided at the entrance and has a pit to deter other vehicles from entering. Any that do are very likely to get trapped.
Around 08:30 on 29th June 2017, around six weeks after opening, a Volkswagen Golf got itself wedged on the tracks near Cambridge North station. There was no damage to the track. Such incidents should not occur as there are plenty of signs in the area. According to a spokesperson from Cambridgeshire County Council, "There is so much signage, all the statutory indications are there."
News: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/yet-another-driver-gets-car-13255622.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
North Norfolk Railway runs second season of dining trains to Cromer
Keywords: [NorthNorfolkRailway]
Following the successful introduction of dining trains operating to Cromer in 2016, the North Norfolk Railway will be repeating it in 2017 operating on five days (5th July, 3rd, 9th and 23rd August and 27th September), having performed crew training on 6th and 7th June. The trains will start at the NNR's Sheringham station, go to Cromer then return all the way to High Kelling ("Holt") and then return to Sheringham. In order to operate on Network Rail's route from the Sheringham level crossing to Cromer it will use the safety case of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which operates trains on the network as far as Network Rail's Whitby station.
Mid-Norfolk Railway changes its Santa Specials to attempt to earn more money
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
The Mid-Norfolk Railway is not in a tourist hotspot and therefore its regular train service barely makes a profit. It needs steam services, diesel gala and special events, especially at Christmas, to keep it in the black and provide funds to renew and enhance the railway.
It had labelled its Santa Specials as 'The Lapland Express' to make it more exciting for children. However, the experience largely remained the same, although numbers and revenue has continued to grow, albeit at a slow pace with 3,600 seats sold in 2016. For 2017 onwards the MNR Board has decided to pay a licence to operate 'The Polar Express', which is essentially an entertainment show for the whole journey from Dereham to Hardingham station and back, which involves the children and their parents. There is no Santa's grotto. Being a show it should appeal to a wider age range, attracting slightly older children while still keeping the youngest ones amused.
Apparently the Polar Express is a very successful franchise and the MNR jumped at the chance to be the sole operator in the south-east of England. It hopes that this will encourage customers from a much wider area than just Dereham and surrounding villages. As a comparison, the Nene Valley Railway sold around 20,000 seats in 2016, the Dartmoor Railway sold 26,000 and the Weardale hit 63,000. Despite having to pay 20% of its ticket sales for the rights to run the service the MNR hopes to make a profit of £50,000 in its first year. This will be a substantial achievement if reached and provide vital funding for the railway, far exceeding what it receives as donations from its members.
The higher-than-usual fares (first class £36, standard class £23) are set by the licensing company. Tickets will be on sale from July 2017.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 291 - 30/06/2017
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