Has Sir Peter Hendy Had An Effect At Network Rail?
Sir Peter Hendy joined Network Rail in July 2015.
Is it just a coincidence, but there seems to be a lot more progress on getting the infrastructure sorted over the last couple of months?
Two stations I am following; Lea Bridge and Ilkeston seem to have finally got started.
Sir Peter may not be responsible, but just because he’s there, companies and people have decided that doing something is better than freewheeling.
Is This Rail Project Going Nowhere?
There are no good vibes coming from the Coventry Arena station.
This article on the Coventry Telegraph web site is entitled Ricoh Arena station matchday fiasco could see new train operator take over Nuneaton to Coventry line. This is said.
London Midland says it will have to close the station for an hour after games and major events as it can only provide an hourly service for 75 people due to a lack of trains.
But the DfT has invested about £4.75m towards the £13.6m of improvements along the line and is keen to see the route used to its full potential.
I have used three stations regularly to go to see football in the last year; Ipswich, Norwich and Brighton. These three grounds are all about the same size as the Ricoh Arena and have nearby stations that can cope with large crowds. Both Ipswich and Norwich are commuter stations and run half-hourly eight-coach trains amongst others, away from the grounds. Brighton is a new ground and the service relies on four-coach trains going in both directions to clear the spectators. Of the three Brighton is probably the most crowded.
So I would think that it essential that at least four-car trains should be provided at the Ricoh Arena to ferry passengers to Coventry and Nuneaton.
Six car trains would be better, but as many passengers would just be ferried to Coventry, four would probably be enough.
It strikes me that whoever planned this line, never went to see football or rugby at a stadium close to a rail station. Close to Coventry, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton all have stadiums within walking distance of a station.
Another article in the Coventry Telegraph is entitled London Underground tube trains could be used to sort Ricoh Arena station fiasco.
These Vivarail trains may be a solution, if two three-car units can be coupled together.
But are the platforms long enough to accept a six-car train?
I have found a document entitled Coventry Arena Specific Safety Management Plans, which has been produced by Arup.
In an Appendix, the report details how the fans will be transferred between Coventry and Coventry Arena stations.
An additional shuttle service will operate between Coventry and Coventry Arena on certain event days, at 30 minute intervals. This will provide a 15 minute interval service between the two stations. All services will be scheduled to run from the Up platform at Coventry Arena and platforms 1 or 2 at Coventry (though in times of operational disruption these services can use platform 5). All services will be formed by DMU sets of a maximum of 6 cars. Platforms at Coventry Arena and Platform 5 at Coventry are configured for this length; the other platforms at Coventry can accommodate longer trains.
At least the platforms are long enough!
So it looks to me that no-one told London Midland.
The Docklands Light Railway Goes Metro
The seating had changed on this DLR train.
I think it’s better!
You certainly have more space!
Transport for London’s Visitor Centre At Liverpool Street
One of the things that Transport for London said it would do, when it closed Ticket Offices, was to open Visitor Centres at major stations.
This one at Liverpool Street station has been rebranded. It is one of several at main line stations and airports.
I know it was early on a Saturday, but I was the only person looking at what was on offer.
Looking at the London Pass, I think it could be something that a serious visitor would buy.
I can’t help feeling though, that as time progresses, the Visitor Centres in Central London will see fewer and fewer visitors, as London’s contactless ticketing system, will make travel advice something that can be handled easily by the station staff.
I may be wrong, but I think only Liverpool and Edinburgh have proper Visitor Centres. The one in Liverpool is placed on the platform where Virgins arrive from London and the one in Edinburgh is on Princes Street at the top of the escalators from the station.
Every large destination should have a comprehensive Visitor Centre, especially if they are a major interchange to other trains, trams and buses. The oferinmgs in some places is certainly not good enough.
Lea Bridge Station – 13th September 2015
The progress at Lea Bridge station seems to be mainly clearing the site.
They were even working today, which is a Sunday.
But then the railway through the site had been closed off, as the pictures show.
The Anonymous Widower 