National Network
Stagecoach poised to become
Speculation is growing that
Stagecoach could become
National Express,
saddled by debt and about to relinquish its East Coast franchise to the
government, appears likely to accept a £765m takeover. If it goes ahead, it is thought that the company will be
broken up, and its rail franchises, including NXEA, will be sold on to
Stagecoach, which already operates the East Midlands Trains franchise,
including
March to get rail
recycling centre
Network
Rail’s plans to build a national rail recycling centre at its Whitemoor Yard in March have been approved by
Cambridgeshire County Council. The centre will
save over 50,000 tonnes of materials going to landfill every year, removing
thousands of lorry journeys and providing a source of aggregate for
Cambridgeshire’s construction industry.
Opened
by the LNER in 1929, Whitemoor marshalling yard was
once among the biggest and busiest in
‘The last 90’ arrives
– but lets down City fans
Last
of the 50-strong Class 90 fleet to be logged powering a GEML passenger train,
no. 90026 made its much-awaited debut on Saturday August 15 on the 05:30 Norwich
– Liverpool Street and the 08:00 return.
However
three days later passengers travelling to
Hitchin flyover to
speed up
Fen
Line trains between King's Lynn and London will see fewer delays if a £60m plan
to build a new embankment and flyover near Hitchin receive Department of
Transport approval.
The
flyover, which could be in use by 2014, would lift the Hitchin –
DRS locos and wagons
arrive for leaf-fall duties
On
September 23 DRS locos nos.37087 and 37501 appeared at Stowmarket
with a supply of Railhead Treatment Train wagons from
The
wagons were joined on October 6 by a superpower convoy of locomotives which had
travelled from
Time for tea at West Runton
We need a guarantee on
Beccles loop, says ESTA
The
NRS Newsletter reported in the last issue that NXEA's
plans to introduce extra capacity, and thus comply with the DfT’s
High Level Output Specification, mean that current
The
East Suffolk Travellers' Association is most reluctant to see through
Commuter relief as
ASLEF calls off September strike
On
August 13, the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions suspended the series of crippling
48-hour strikes which had all but wiped out NXEA services, after the company
offered an improved pay deal. However ASLEF then rejected the deal, and
called a six-day-long strike beginning on Monday September 21. Further
rounds of talks reached agreement and the strike was officially called off.
New station pencilled
in at Chesterton
As part of a £500m bid to overhaul
transport in
The station, at Chesterton Junction
where the line to Ely and Kings Lynn was joined by the St Ives branch (now
taken over by the busway), would form part of a
Network Rail scheme to remodel Cambridge, which might become 'Cambridge
Central'.
In
a recent survey
Anita
Miles, National Express East Anglia’s station manager at
Crossing more safely at
Downham Market
Network
Rail has submitted a planning application to build a footbridge at Downham Market station. The lack of a physical
barrier at the level crossing means that pedestrians frequently ignore the red
light and cross the tracks when it is not safe to do so. A new footbridge
would enable NR to close the current barrow crossing, one of the highest risk
crossings on the rail network, and provide safe access for rail users between
up and down platforms. If the planning application is passed, the
footbridge will be in use by summer 2011.
Buses from
Track
improvement work is to take place between
Lowestoft and Oulton Broad South slated by MP
Waveney
MP Bob Blizzard has written to Iain Coucher, CEO of
Network Rail, asking him to improve the condition of the areas just outside
station limits at
Felixstowe record for GBRf
First
GBRf moved a record number of 2,140 containers at the
Cheaper weekend trips
to London
Following
a trial during the summer, First Capital Connect is making its Super-Off Peak
Day Return to
A brighter future for
March station
Just
two of the platforms at March are today in regular use by passenger
trains. The newly-formed Friends of March Railway Station are working in
partnership with Network Rail, NXEA and Fenland District Council to revive the
whole station, including the centre platform's buildings. The group, which has no subscription and is totally voluntary,
plans to open the rooms for public use, maybe creating a small museum or
gallery.
The group works at the station for
about three hours on a Saturday every couple of months, tidying the platform
areas and the old Spalding trackbed. The work
completed so far has received appreciative comments from the public and the
railway industry. More details from Jeanette Milner
(tel. 01354 602134).
Two
On
August 12 a woman standing on the up platform at Attleborough
station died after she was struck by EMT unit no. 158854 forming the
A
man’s body was discovered lying near the A1122 level crossing near Downham Market early in the morning of August 18. The
man appeared to have been struck by a down e.c.s.
working. Shuttle buses ran between
Heritage,
Narrow-gauge and Miniature
Oliver
Cromwell to celebrate reopened Sheringham
crossing
The
Board of the North Norfolk Railway has formally agreed to reinstate
The
NRM-owned 'Britannia'
Upon
returning to Sheringham, passengers will change
over. Due to restrictions on the Bittern Line, each passenger can only
make only one 'steam journey' between
At
Sheringham, EDF is expected to move electricity
cables in October. The remaining work should begin at the end of January,
with
Setback for WWLR's new Garratt
Staff
and funding changes at
‘A wonderful project’
– judge’s verdict at Thuxton
The
first brick of Thuxton signal box’s outer wall was
laid by Judge Peter Jacobs on August 29. The box forms part of a project
to install a passing loop and rebuild the station’s up platform, enabling the
Mid-Norfolk Railway to run hourly departures in each direction when
required. Leading the building team is Bill Collins, who bought the
remnants of the ex-GER East Winch signal box on eBay. Much of the
dismantled box, including roof slates, chimney, ridge tiles and woodwork, is
being re-used on the Thuxton project.
Judge
Jacobs arrived at Thuxton on a MNR train. He said:
‘It is a wonderful project and I am very impressed by how hard the volunteers
work. This is part of our heritage and it is vital we keep this alive.’
For
the latest news about the project see www.thuxtonloop.org.uk
'Under new
ownership' Royal Scot scuppers Bressingham's
loco weekend
The
Trustees of Bressingham Steam Museum have decided to
separate its ex-LMS
Falmouth no.
3 takes over at Brockford
A
new saddle tank has arrived at the
Poppadom diddly-dum
The
North Norfolk Railway's Mixed Traction Weekend on October 3 and 4 saw vintage
diesel locos sharing the spotlight with historic steam engines, including GWR
One
highlight of the event was the NNR's first-ever curry
dining train on Saturday October 3, with Indian cuisine provided by Aylsham’s 'Gate of India' restaurant.
Pannier forges north
to Hoe
The
Mid Norfolk Railway's yet-to-open northern section has had a surprise visitor
in the shape of BRW 0-6-0PT no. 9466. On August 30, just before the end
of its spell at the MNR, the pannier tank took a short demonstration freight
working as far as Hoe, where it was greeted by over a dozen people.
MNR
volunteer co-ordinator Matt Goodrum wonders when last
a steam loco was at Hoe, and what it was.
MSLR pleased with
rolling stock progress
The
Carriage
No.13 with its first class saloon has been completed and is in service, while
good progress is being made on GER No. 140. The 'Loco Coal' wagon has
been completed, restoration of a GER 5-plank open is under way and work is
about to recommence on the the 1869 GER horse box. A
second GER 10-ton steel-framed van has been delivered and is to be brought back
to authentic GER condition. Leasing 'the Works' has allowed rolling stock
restoration to continue in all weather conditions.
Ground
frames and interlocking pointwork have been installed
in the station area, while at the far end of the track the 'copse siding' has
been completed in readiness for the Santa Specials.
Could 92 Squadron have
a new owner?
In
May 2008, some three years after arriving at the North Norfolk Railway, ‘Battle
of Britain’ pacific no. 34081 92 Squadron failed its boiler exam.
Since then it has been out of traffic awaiting a full overhaul and a new boiler
certificate. Owning group The Battle of Britain Locomotive Society has
applied for a Heritage Lottery Grant, putting the repair programme on hold
until the application has been considered.
Although
the BoBLS has received offers for the loco, it has so
far declined to accept any, preferring to carry out the overhaul itself and
retain ownership. However, should the grant application fail, proposals
regarding returning no.34081 to traffic might receive a readier welcome. For
the moment, though, the BoBLS is continuing its fund raising with the aim of beginning the overhaul.
Away
from the Tracks
Wroxham signalbox project launched
The
project to restore Wroxham's ex-GER signalbox and transform it into a
museum has been launched.
On
September 30 invited representatives of local organisations learnt about plans
to refurbish the Grade II-listed box and reopen it so that people can
appreciate its former role. Redundant since 2000, the box contains its
original 50-lever frame. In 2007 it was moved several feet away from the
running line to improve drivers' view of a colour-light signal.
The
Wroxham Signalbox Trust
leases the box and surrounding land from Network Rail. Chairman of the
Trust, Peter Bower, told the gathering that restoration work is expected to
cost £40,000. He thanked the Railway Heritage Trust which has agreed to
fund part of the project.
Marriott's Way bridge
closure
The
old M&GN bridge at Hellesdon which carries the
Marriott's Way walking and cycle route across the River Wensum has been closed for up to 13 weeks so that it can
undergo major maintenance work.
The
bridge, often described as 'A-Frame', is 4.3m
wide and crosses the river in a single 23.8m span. Norfolk County Council
is spending £230,000 to improve it and extend its life. The metalwork will be
repainted, a new non-slip concrete deck fitted, and a new parapet fence
erected. Three years ago a survey found that 345 cyclists used the
traffic-free path into
Decision time for
Vauxhall bridge
It
was once busy with wagons trundling to and from the quayside, but for years the
railway bridge over the River Bure at Yarmouth
Vauxhall has been reduced to a pedestrian route from the station (and latterly,
Asda) to North Quay and the town centre.
Now
Norfolk County Council is to look at different options for the semi-derelict
bridge's future. Possible options include: demolition and
replacement with a new bridge; creating a new cycle bridge through the
structure; and complete refurbishment, possibly to carry public
transport. Sustrans, the cycleways
charity is to be consulted, as will urban regeneration company 1st East and
borough council planning officers. A decision is likely to be taken early
next year.