News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 363 - 30/06/2023
A new report by Transport East and England's Economic Heartland has called for the need for increased rail freight capacity at Ely. The report highlights the potential of a new freight terminal in Ely to boost the capacity demands at nearby Felixstowe Port. See news story.
On Wednesday 5th July 2023 there will be a coffee morning for local residents and passengers at March railway station, organised by Hereward Community Rail Partnership. Free hot drinks and snacks will be provided, alongside activities for children. Rail managers and transport representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the train service and the station from 07:00 until 12:00. The Friends of March Railway Station volunteer group will open the station's community rooms to visitors from 09:00 until 12:00, which includes permanent model railway room. Over recent years the group has raised money and carried out work to restore the old station room interiors, whilst Greater Anglia has redevelop the main part of station, creating an open-plan ticket hall and waiting area, with accessible modern toilets, retail outlets on platform 1, and a larger, improved car park.
The public inquiry into Network Rail's application for a Transport and Works Order for its 'C3R' resignalling project in Cambridgheshire was formally ended on 21st June 2023, some two months after it last sat. The inspector can now complete his report and will then send it to the secretary of State for Transport.
The East West Rail Company has uploaded an animated YouTube video explaining why two additional tracks are required north of Bedford Midland station to support the proposed Bedford to Cambridge railway line.
The Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) has announced that Graham Watts will take over as Chairman of the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust after the AGM on Saturday 16th September 2023. He is currently the Commercial Manager but will relinquish that post at the AGM. Current chairman, Charlie Robinson will be remaining the Trust.
STATIONS
Great Northern improves support for disabled passengers at three Fen line stations
Keywords: [DownhamMarketStation] [LittleportStation] [WatlingtonStation]
Great Northern has launched a new mobile assistance team for Downham Market, Littleport and Watlington stations, in order to improve support for disabled passengers. The team will be on hand within 20 minutes, every day of the week, including weekends, aiming to provide assistance to get around the station or board/alight every train that is running. The service is for an older person with luggage, someone who is visually impaired or someone who needs a ramp to board the train with a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Customers request assistance when they arrive at the station, either by contacting the control centre from the station help point, using the 'emergency and assisted travel button', or by calling freephone 0808 168 1238 or texting 07970 511077. The mobile assistance team members are based at Downham Market (which has part-time staff) and will drive to Littleport or Watlington (both of which are unstaffed).
Government confirms funding for Cambridge South station
Keywords: [CambridgeSouthStation]
Preparation work for Cambridge South station commenced in January 2023, just a few weeks after Mark Harper MP, the Secretary of State for Transaport approved the Transport & Works Act Order for Network Rail to construct it. This was mainly land clearance, setting up work compounds and even erecting new overhead line stanchions. However, the funding had not been awarded to start the actual station work.
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Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 363 - 30/06/2023
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