News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 52 - 15/03/2001
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- Public exhibition dates announced for guided busway proposals for Trumpington to Cambridge
- Television news reports
- RAIL SERVICES [all issues]
- Spring-cleaning programme for >Anglia Railways' trains
- Rail Regulator Tom Winsor makes visit to Anglia Railways
- RAIL FREIGHT [all issues]
- STATIONS [all issues]
- WEBSITES [all issues]
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
The relaunched Railfuture website is still being worked on. Railfuture members will eventually be sent an access code able to use a members-only area containing exclusive news and information.
GUIDED BUSWAY
Public exhibition dates announced for guided busway proposals for Trumpington to Cambridge
As mentioned in [Snippets 51], Cambridge Rapid Transit System Ltd are seeking permission to build a guided busway along the dismantled Cambridge to Bedford line from the new £4 million Park and Ride site at Trumpington - construction is expected to start this summer - to Cambridge Station with a junction off to Addenbrooke's Hospital.
The six days of public exhibitions ended on Wednesday 15th March, with a display near platform 1 at Cambridge station. Representatives of CRTS were present to answer questions and a glossy 12-page public consultation document (dated March 2001) was available to take away. The booklet showed a busway with two bus lanes with a service strip to the side and a segregated area for cyclists and pedestrians on the other side. No mention was made of how to prevent other road vehicles from entering the busway or how many new bus drivers would be required.
There was a questionnaire to complete. It had a large number of questions worded so that they could only elicit a positive reaction, but nothing about alternative quality solutions such as a tram or a train. It includes the question: "Do you think that this rapid transit line should be part of a larger network?" which could be used to justify public support for a busway on the St.Ives line.
Copies of this can document and the questionnaire be obtained from:
CRTS, Wellington House, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1BH.
Rapid Transit International PLC website: http://www.rtiplc.co.uk.
Television news reports
A promotional film the proposed busway was shown on many editions of BBC East news programmes during Thursday 8th March, the first day of the exhibition. This featured a computer simulation of a bendy-bus on a normal tarmac road and on the former rail route with a guide/slot in the road. This is similar to theformer conduit system used by London County Council Electric Tramways in London.
RAIL SERVICES
Spring-cleaning programme for >Anglia Railways' trains
Keywords: [AngliaRailways]
Anglia Railways has announced a series of initiatives to improve on-board service standards, including a major spring-clean programme for all its trains (125 mainline coaches, 25 local service coaches and 24 class 170 turbostar coaches) to improve cleanliness inside and out. Additional cleaners have been recruited and there are 15-20 additional on-train customer service staff to look after passengers and provide a more consistent catering service.
Additional staff are also being recruited at Norwich and Ipswich to improve customer service presence at those stations.
Press release: http://www.angliarailways.co.uk/corporate/news/news.asp?story=52.
Rail Regulator Tom Winsor makes visit to Anglia Railways
Keywords: [AngliaRailways]
Regulator Tom Winsor was scheduled to visit Anglia Railways in early March to discuss the further development of rail services in East Anglia and other key issues with senior management at the company. This press release was quickly removed from Anglia's website suggesting that the visit may have been cancelled or postponed.
RAIL FREIGHT
Unfair competition from unlicensed lorries
A campaign to crackdown on the regions unlicensed lorries began on 8th March. There are estimated to be around 570 untaxed lorries in Northants, Beds and Herts and this costs over £1m in lost revenue, as well as unfairly undercutting rail freight.
As part of the scheme lorries in these three counties will be checked for valid tax discs when they come in for their annual HGV tests. The DVLA says the aim of the scheme is to "encourage licensing and to bring to book those who flout the law".
STATIONS
Free car parking at Waterbeach station following floods
Keywords: [WaterbeachStation]
The two-foot deep water in the 40-space car park has long gone, but owing to electrical problems the parking meter is still not operating, therefore offering travellers free parking at the moment.
WEBSITES
Railway website featured in BBC Look East's 'best website' competition
As part of a week-long competition for the best websites in the region, BBC Look East filmed the creator of a website dedicated to rail in East Anglia who sells copies of his photographs of stations, lines and trains on CD-Rom. The winner is announced on Tuesday 27th March.
Competitor's Website: http://www.pictures-in-time.co.uk.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Arup conducts study into linking North Norfolk Railway to Railtrack's network
Keywords: [NorthNorfolkRailway]
Arup, the consulting engineers carrying out the engineering feasibility study, have produced around eight different track layouts for reinstating the link to the rail network via a barrier-style level crossing. The new platform for Anglia Railways' trains needs to be 4-coaches long to allow for two 2-car units to be coupled together if Anglia are unable to supply a 3-car class 170. The proposals include extending platforms 2 and 3, which would allow eight coaches plus an engine, which is ideal for visiting rail tours.
Details: http://www.aejl14.care4free.net/levelx.html.
North Norfolk Railway open day
Keywords: [NorthNorfolkRailway]
The NNR is holding an Open Day on Saturday 24th March. There will be a "behind the scenes" look at various aspects of railway operation, with talks and guided tours to the loco shed and signal boxes. A steam and diesel service will also be operating along the line.
Details: http://www.nnrail.co.uk/volunteers_day.htm.
Share issues in UK private railways
Several of the "heritage" or private railways have share issues running at the moment, although none are in the Railfuture Eastern branch area. All UK residents aged over 18 are eligible to buy shares in these public companies. Note: the inclusion of these details does not constitute financial advice.
The current bonds offer for the Keswick to Penrith line reinstatement (supported by Railfuture) cannot remain open after 28th April 2001. Bonds are offered in multiples of £100, with no maximum, and will pay interest on the 30th of June each year at a rate of 4% per annum (gross). in theory, the full amount shuold be repaid at thened of the term, but there is no guarantee that the company will have sufficient funds to do so, or even to continue paying the interest. The Prospectus containing full details and an application form is available from: CKP Railways plc, 1 Solway Park, Carlisle CA2 6TH.
Website: http://www.keswickrailway.com.
Copies of the Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC share prospectus for the Froghall Extension can be obtained from: Churnet Valley Railway (1992) plc, Cheddleton Station, Station Road, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7EE or phone 01538 360522.
Website: http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk.
Copies of the Wensleydale Railway PLC share prospectus to reopen this line can be obtained by emailing [prospectus at wensleydalerailway.com] or by writing to Wensleydale Railway PLC, 35 High Street, Northallerton DL7 8EE.
Website: http://www.wensleydalerailway.com.
The South Devon Railway PLC is a new company specifically created to takeover the preservation the former Great Western Railway Ashburton Branch in South Devon, running from Totnes to Buckfastleigh. Phone 0845 345 1420 during office hours.
Website: http://www.southdevonrailway.org/Company-Shares.html.
A booklet from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway PLC called "Invitation to purchase shares in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc" to support their ambitious plan to re-open the former Cheltenham-Stratford-upon-Avon main line can be obtained by writing to: GWSR Share Registrar, The Railway Station, Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DT.
Website: http://www.gwsr.plc.uk.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 52 - 15/03/2001
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