News archive May/June 2005
National Network
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and
Miniature
Away from the tracks
National Network
New ticket
machines lead to lost fares and staff walk-outs
The introduction of new portable on-train ticket machines has dealt one
a double blow.
The new Avantix machines cost £2,500 each and replace the familiar
Sportis model. The 20-year old Sportis, says one, is cumbersome and
can’t issue tickets for stations with ticket barriers, whereas the Avantix
issues a wider range of tickets and also provides customers with timetable
information. It does, though, take longer to use and conductors can’t work
their way along the whole train before it reaches its destination. As a
result many passengers have been getting away without paying.
The new machines have upset the RMT union, which demanded a “new technology
payment”. It rejected one’s offer of 1% commission for twelve weeks,
and called two 24-hour strikes. On May 21 local services were all but wiped
out, although a limited Norwich – London service did run. Things improved
on June 7: Norwich – London trains ran virtually as normal and there was
a limited branch service, but there were still no trains between Norwich
and Cambridge, nor on the Ipswich to Felixstowe, Lowestoft and Peterborough
lines.
More strikes are planned for Monday, June 27 and Friday, July 15 – and
the dispute may spread, as the RMT is unhappy about the introduction of new
Tribute ticket-issuing equipment in booking offices.
one tweaks timings after complaints
The radical timetable changes introduced last December provoked a barrage
of critical comments. As a result one altered the pattern of several local
services from June 12.
On the Wherry line, the 07.19 Lowestoft – Norwich has become the 07.40
departure, and calls at more stations. The 07.43 Lowestoft – Norwich, strengthened
by a third carriage after complaints about overcrowding, departs at 07.58
and makes less stops.
The hourly Mon-Sat Ipswich – Cambridge service introduced last December
sees all trains calling at Needham Market, Elmswell and Thurston. On the
Norwich – Cambridge route, the 06.33 from Norwich makes an extra stop at
Brandon.
Following calls by commuters and pupils attending local schools for a
more even pattern of morning peak-time trains on the Bittern line, three
departures have been brought forward: the 07.45 Norwich – Sheringham to 07.15,
the 08.45 Norwich – Sheringham to 08.23, and the 08.46 Sheringham – Norwich
to 08.25. In addition, more trains are now calling at Salhouse, Roughton
Road, Worstead and Gunton.
TLGN franchise comes a step closer
The Strategic Rail Authority has begun the next stage in letting the Thameslink/Great
Northern franchise (NRS Newsletter March/April
2005)
by issuing the five pre-qualified applicants with a formal Invitation to
Tender. The five are: Danish Railways/EWS, FirstGroup, MTR/John Laing, National
Express Group and Stagecoach Group.
The SRA will require no train service changes on the Thameslink route
south of London or on the GN route, but the northern Thameslink section will
enjoy an improved timetable, with every peak-time train formed of eight carriages.
Coats of many colours
Many and varied are the liveries in which one’s dmus have been appearing.
The position in May, as reported by the Railway Magazine, was:
oneAnglia (steel
blue, rainbow ends): 156422, 170201-8, 170270
Anglia (teal green): 150213/17/27/31/55/57, 153309/22/35, 170271-3
Central Trains (lime green): 156419
Norfolk & Norwich Festival (brown): 153314
Regional Railways (blue/white): 153306/26
Unbranded white and purple: 156402
At last – direct London trains on Sundays
May 29/30 (Sun and BH Mon) saw buses replace trains between Shenfield and
Witham for the last time. Work on the Chelmsford viaduct marked the completion
of Network Rail’s project to replace nine miles of track between Shenfield
and Chelmsford. Since last September, the £12m scheme has required
part of nearly every Sunday journey between Norwich and London to be made
by bus, but scheduled Sunday services have now resumed.
Dussindale halt creeping up the agenda?
Should a new station be built alongside one of the biggest housing estates
on the Norwich fringe? Local government bodies continue to debate plans
for a station at Thorpe to serve residents at Dussindale and the Broadland
Business Park. The station forms part of the Norwich Area Transportation
Strategy and has the approval of both district and county councils.
The land is owned by Network Rail and the cost of a station is estimated
at about £1.75m. Broadland Business Park would be required to contribute
to access and car parking areas.
Condensate trains turn blue
With GB Railfreight having won the contract to convey trainloads of gas
condensate from North Walsham to Harwich, the first working under the new
regime was on Monday April 4, when GBRf no.66703 was in charge of the train.
The final EWS-operated service on Thursday March 31 was hauled by no. 66006.
Lowestoft celebrated with fanfare
Lowestoft has more to offer music fans than The Darkness! On April 19 three
smartly-attired Royal Philharmonic Orchestra french horn players, two trumpeters
and their conductor arrived (20 minutes late, regettably) on the 11.38 train
from London Liverpool Street. Around 200 onlookers heard them play “Lowestoft”,
a specially-composed fanfare dedicated to the London-Lowestoft through service.
Among the invited guests was NRS member Peter Lawrence in his capacity as
Chairman of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership.
The RPO was marking the start of its three-year residency at the town’s
Marina Theatre.
Prescott to kick-start Thameslink 2000
Deputy PM John Prescott and the Department for Transport are to re-open
a public inquiry into planning issues dogging the Thameslink 2000 project.
The inquiry will begin on September 6, after which it is hoped that the
project will finally be given the go-ahead.
The Thameslink 2000 network will bring new cross-London services to south-east
England, including growth areas such as the London Bridge area, King's Cross
and the airports at Luton and Gatwick. By providing direct access to central
London, it will also reduce the need for many travellers to change between
main line and underground services. It will extend north to King’s Lynn,
and the latest draft East of England Plan draws attention to the effects
on west Norfolk which Thameslink 2000 and the proposed Lynn Parkway station
could have.
Update for station’s working end
Norwich station’s main building and booking hall were refurbished in 2001.
Now Network Rail has applied to repair the platforms and roof in a £1m
programme. If Norwich City Council gives permission, the work could start
in July and last until November. Roof repairs would be carried out at night,
and there would be no disruption to train services.
Another 5-day holiday north of Cambridge
Network Rail again took advantage of a Bank Holiday to carry out engineering
work north of Cambridge – and prolonged the holiday period into the bargain.
From Friday May 27 until the early hours of Wednesday June 1, buses replaced
trains between Cambridge and Downham Market/Thetford and between Ely and
Peterborough.
Fare dodgers’ penalty doubled
With the minimum penalty for travelling by train without a ticket in the
UK having jumped from £10 to £20, Wagn brought in the new charge
from May 23. Although the company has increased the number of its plain-clothes
ticket inspectors, it says the £10 penalty fare failed to deter persistent
fare dodgers. Route Director James Adeshiyan said, “My honest passengers
have nothing to worry about from the new penalty fare. I hope that a £20
penalty will make people think twice before boarding one of my trains without
paying the appropriate fare”.
Adopt-a-station rolled out across one
The Adopt-A-Station scheme which one inherited from Anglia Railways
is being extended across its network.
Stations on the Norwich - Cambridge line, including Wymondham, Thetford
and Attleborough, were transferred last year from Central Trains to one
, and have been brought into the scheme. Adopters are also being sought
for stations in Essex.
44 of one’s 167 stations had been adopted by mid-April. To qualify
as an adopter, a volunteer must use the station regularly and be willing
to fill in an occasional questionnaire. In return, he or she receives a
complimentary travel pass. NRS chairman David Pearce is Gunton station’s
adopter.
Record result for Wagn
Wagn improved its performance figures again for the four-week period ending
April 30. On its longer distance trains, the 99.9% reliability it recorded
is its best result yet, while the reliability of its suburban services rose
to 99.5%. The all-day punctuality figure of 92.9% is Wagn’s best for nearly
five years.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
Mid-Norfolk cancels steam
plans
The Mid-Norfolk Railway has suffered a severe blow by having to cancel its
long-awaited month of steam. J15 0-6-0 no. 65462 was due to be hired from
the North Norfolk Railway and operate MNR trains during May. However the
plans had to be scrapped as Dereham’s pit facilities were incomplete, and
HMRI approval of the new Wymondham run-round loop had not been obtained in
time.
MNR chairman Steve Cushion apologised to people who’d hoped to travel
between Wymondham and Dereham behind steam, and said that refunds would be
sent to those who’d booked seats.
Rebuild for WHR’s Weasel
On the Wells Harbour Railway, which reopened at Easter, work has started
on re-building Weasel to incorporate a diesel-hydraulic drive.
Weasel is powered by an Alfa Romeo petrol engine and was built in 1980.
Since last season much of the WHR has been re-laid with better sleepers
to produce a more comfortable ride. Pinewoods station has been re-surfaced
and equipped with improved lighting for the night trains which are a feature
of the railway.
Your line might cost £1m+, Bramley
line told
A Network Rail report indicates that the Wisbech & March Bramleyline
Committee’s plan to reopen the mothballed 71⁄2-mile long March
– Wisbech line may cost a seven-figure sum. The group has already bought
five ex-Gatwick Express coaches, but it is urged to give serious consideration
to the project’s finances. The line, the report says, should have its own
track at Whitemoor so as not to hinder Network Rail's use of Whitemoor Yard.
There could also be difficulties reinstating the level crossing over the
A47.
Bramleyline chairman Peter Downs said that another way forward might be
for the line to be closed and offered to the group for a nominal sum.
Stock changes at Dereham
As forecast in the March/April issue
, 2-car Pacer dmu no. 141108 has left the Mid-Norfolk Railway. It departed
by road in early May, its destination reported to be the Colne Valley Railway
in Essex. Shortly afterwards another coach, air-braked Mark 2 open standard
(TSO) no. 5497 arrived at Dereham.
The restoration of the railway’s 10-ton rail-mounted crane is complete
and a set of lifting chains has been bought. Three MNR members have become
certified operators after taking a tuition course.
For Seton’s read Wighton
Seton’s Halt on the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, sited at the ex-GER
Wighton station, is to be renamed Wighton Halt. The WWLR’s previous Wighton
Halt, half-a-mile to the north, is no longer in use.
Colman’s van leaves jail
The M&GNRS's unique Colman's mustard van (
NRS Newsletter August 2003)
will not now be restored at Hollesley Bay Prison. The prison was unable
to complete the project and so the van has been moved to the S.O.L.D. (Special
Objective for Local Disabled) project in Lowestoft. The body has already
been parted from the underframe.
Away from the tracks
Partnership promotes car-free
visits
Go there by train and bus – that’s the message of a new series of leaflets
issued by the Widen The Choice Rural Transport Partnership. Each leaflet
features one or more National Trust or RSPB sites in East Anglia and suggests
how to get there using public transport. Among the attractions are Sheringham
Park (reached via the Bittern Line and Sanders or Norfolk Green bus); Berney
Marshes and Breydon Water (train to Berney Arms or Yarmouth) and Blickling
Hall (using the ‘Broadshopper’ bus).
The Widen The Choice Rural Transport Partnership is funded by the National
Trust, RSPB and the Countryside Agency.
New society aims to preserve Cromer box
Plans to convert Cromer signal box into a museum
(NRS Newsletter Jan/Feb 2005)
have moved a step closer with the creation of the Cromer Railway Signalling
Society. The Society was formed at a public meeting on April 6 and hopes
to gain charitable status and apply for grants to restore and maintain the
box.
Membership costs £5 per annum. Membership Secretary Alan Cooper
can be contacted on rjecoop@tiscali.co.uk
.
Travel Centre to sell RTC tours in Norfolk
Two local firms have linked up to promote overseas rail travel.
Travel Centre, which has its HQ in Norwich’s Reepham Road has become Norfolk’s
sole agency for tours run by King’s Lynn-based Railway Touring Company.
RTC, whose Michael Hyde gave a talk to the NRS in February, offers holidays
with steam-hauled trains in countries such as Switzerland, Sicily, Cuba,
India and Australia. RTC managing director Nigel Dobbing said he hoped the
joint venture would result in more local people joining the tours.
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