News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 167 - 30/09/2007
Stagecoach won the franchise to take over certain main line and regional services, one of which is the long-distance Norwich?Liverpool route, commencing operations on 11th November. It has been announced that the new train operator will be known as East Midland Trains (EMT). Its managaing director is Tim Shoveller, who has worked for Virgin, Midland Mainline and Eurostar.
Since 9th September the GroupSave ticket offered by 'one' has been available throughout its franchise area. It was not available in Norfolk or Suffolk previously.
At a ceremony at Norwich station on 21st September the Friends of Brandon Station were recognised for the work they have done to smarten up the unstaffed staton. FOBS secretary Ken Drane is responsible for the much admired flower displays. Brandon station has also just come second in ACoRP's Best Station Award Group, which covers the entire country.
The derelict Whitwell & Reepham station (dating from 1882) and goods shed, adjacent to the former Norwich City to Melton Constable railway line (now the Marriott's Way footpath) has just been purchased by a rail enthusiast who intends to restore it, lay track and establish a working museum. This sale follows an auction in the summer that failed to find a buyer within the guide price of £300,000 — £350,000.
ROLLING STOCK
'one' railway unveils new simulators for Claas 315 electrics and class 170 diesel trains
Keywords: [OneRailway]
On 4th October David Lammy MP, the Minister for Skills, unveiled two brand new train driving similators at 'one's Customer Service Academy in Stratford. One simulator replicates the controls of a Class 315 electric, whilst the other is for a Class 170 Turbostar diesel. Both classes are widely used by 'one'. The similators, which cost a total of £1.2m will be used by new recruits to complement their practical training and by the company's 720 existing drivers for regular refresher training and to learn new techniques such as energy efficient driving, which will reduce the railway's running costs.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 167 - 30/09/2007
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