News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 54 - 29/03/2001
- EAST WEST RAIL LINK [all issues]
- ROAD CONGESTION [all issues]
- RAIL NEWS OUTSIDE EAST ANGLIA BRANCH AREA [all issues]
- RAIL FREIGHT [all issues]
- RAIL ROUTES [all issues]
- ROAD USER ACCIDENTS AFFECTING RAILWAYS [all issues]
- LOCAL TRANSPORT PLANS [all issues]
- Survey of local authorities reveals lack of staff is holding back implementation - not lack of money
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
Please note Steve Hewitt, East Norfolk Travellers Association, Publicity Officer and contact has changed his telephone number to 01493 304717.
EAST WEST RAIL LINK
GB Railways and EWRC select preferred bidder to develop missing link
Keywords: [GBRailways]
GB Railways Group Plc and the East West Rail Consortium (EWRC) announced on 26th March that they have selected Rickmansworth-based Skanska Construction UK Limited as preferred bidder to develop the £200 million missing link in the East West Rail scheme.
 |
Skanska is one of Britain's largest railway civil engineering companies with a strong portfolio of railway projects. It will develop the project to allow the submission management and funding for the preparation of a Transport & Works Order, and will, if public approval is forthcoming, construct a new railway line linking Bedford to the ECML which will close the gap in the existing network of track between East Anglia and Oxford. Upon completion, expected in 2006, it is anticipated that the line will be operated as part of Railtrack's national network. |
GB Railways press release: http://www.gbrailways.com/pr26mar01ewr01.htm.
ROAD CONGESTION
Cambridgeshire is choking on traffic as road vehicle numbers increase by 25% in a decade
According to Cambridgeshire County Council's annual traffic monitoring report (as reported in the Cambridge Evening News), Cambridgeshire has suffered one of the largest traffic increases in the UK, rising by 25% against the national average of 14%.
Ironically, traffic increases are worst at locations where railway stations could have easily been reopened. At the A14 in Swavesey the number of vehicles shot up by 44 per cent and 45 per cent more drivers are using the A1123 linking Huntingdon to Soham. Around 170,000 vehicles enter and leave Cambridge over a 12-hour period every day, while 73,000 drive in and out of Huntingdon, 46,000 through St. Neots, 43,500 in St. Ives and 34,000 at Ely.
Counillor Shona Johnstone, chairman of the county council's Environment and Transport Committee is quoted as saying that the council needed to put pressure on the Government to pump extra cash into the county's road network.
RAIL NEWS OUTSIDE EAST ANGLIA BRANCH AREA
Report for London Development Agency considers railway line under the Thames
Three new river crossings in East London are critical for further economic growth according to a report commissioned by the London Development Agency and published with mayoral support. The study looks at two road crossings at Becton and Silvertown and a tunnel-based rail crossing at Woolwich. The Woolwich rail crossing could be used to link existing suburban rail lines or for extending the Docklands Light Railway.
The report says that public transport services will need cross-subsidy from road tolls. Transport for London is planning to carry out local consultations on the crossings. They could be included in the Mayor's final version of the Transport Strategy - due out in summer 2001.
RAIL FREIGHT
Freight Multiple Units to undergo full scale commercial trials
The DETR announced last year that Freight Multiple Unit (FMU) trials will be undertaken. It is hoped that these lighter, more flexible formations will enable rail to penetrate the largest and fastest growing part of the freight market - FMCG (fast moving consumer goods).
During 2001 full scale commercial trials under 'real life' conditions will be undertaken. Customers wishing to trial the train will be invited to run services along a route of their choosing for a period of four weeks. Both Marks & Spencer and Bulmers have signed up for trials for 2001/2002.
The train, which is based on a German design called the Cargosprinter, will have a number of unique features:
* Volvo Diesel Engines drive four axles.
* Carries up to five 13.6m Intermodal units.
* Payload of 160 tonnes can be transported at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
* Good acceleration enables the Freight Multiple Unit (FMU) to interface with passenger services.
* No need for large platforms -the entire unit is only 90m in length.
* No need for shunting - can be driven from either end.
* Engineering can take place 'off line' as both axles and engines can be quickly removed and replaced.
* Sets of up to seven units can be connected for full train volume needs.
* Isotrak command and control service provides GPS based train location, key vehicle data, performance measurements
and consignment management.
* In-cab communications provide two-way messaging between driver and control office.
* Low emission economic engines.
Details on Windhoff AG web site: http://www.windhoff.de/main_e/bahn/schienen/cargo.htm.
RAIL ROUTES
WAGN to remain on emergency table after 21st May
Keywords: [WAGN]
WAGN is one of just two companies not expected to meet the 21st May deadline for ending their emergency timetables. According to the Cambridge Evening News "rail insiders fear it could be February 2002, before services from both Cambridge and Huntingdon to King's Cross finally return to normal". Railtrack says the disruption to WAGN trains is due to track problems between Finsbury Park and Moorgate stations as they have identified gauge corner cracking in the tunnels at Moorgate. How this can affect the Cambridge trains, which do not use the Finsbury Park to Moorgate spur line, is unclear.
ROAD USER ACCIDENTS AFFECTING RAILWAYS
Road safety barriers to be reviewed after Great Heck accident
Transport Minister Keith Hill has announced that the Highways Agency is to review its standards for safety barriers following the accident at Great Heck. Hill said the health and Safety Executive will lead a working group to examine the circumstances where road vehicles have blocked railway lines.
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLANS
Survey of local authorities reveals lack of staff is holding back implementation - not lack of money
A recent survey by consultants Steer Davies Gleave of 113 Councils showed that the main problem holding them back in implementing Local Transport Plan measures was a shortage of sufficient staff. Eighty eight per cent of respondents cited this reason.
Other reasons were: public opposition to tougher policies - 55%; lack of in-house expertise - 46%; lack of local political will - 34%; lack of money - 31%. When asked if the public was in tune with the strategy, 54% councils responded "partly" and only 28% "mostly".
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
North Norfolk Railway to be filmed for TV documentary
Keywords: [NorthNorfolkRailway]
A crew from Wall to Wall productions will be visiting the NNR on Saturday 5th May to film a 30 minute documentary for the Discovery Channel which will form part of a series on preserved railways.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 54 - 29/03/2001
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