The Anonymous Widower

Finding An Errant Parcel!

I ordered something on-line for Christmas and realised this morning that it had not arrived.

So I got on to the company and they replied in an hour or so, that Parcelforce had tried to deliver it on the eighth and that they had left a card and taken it to the Post Office.

I searched my hall and I could find no red Parcelforce card amongst the masses of junk mail, that I get. But then I’ve had a couple of incidents like this, where a parcel has not been delivered and no card has been left, from different couriers. I should say that I’ve also had delivery drivers and couriers get lost and end up in the mews at the back of the house.

I think the problem, is that there are several banned right turns and because of this sat-navs send drivers on a roundabout route. If a driver knows the area, it might encourage them to take a short cut and the mews is one that looks a good one. But unfortunately, the far end is blocked.

So as they can’t find my house, they just card one with a similar number and get off out of it.

I then went over to Camden, as I suspected the parcel was at their main depot.

It wasn’t!

But they said, if I could get the Tracking Number, they would find it.

So when I got the Tracking Number, I found it was in a Post Office about a mile away.

It took me about thirty minutes and two buses to get it.

I think there are various lessons to be learned from this.

  • The system of the cards needs to be improved.
  • Sat-nav systems must get better.
  • Purchasers should have easy access to the Tracking Numbers.

But at least no harm was done!

December 17, 2015 Posted by | World | | 4 Comments

‘Encouraging signs’ on Borders Railway Extension to Carlisle

The title of this post is the title of an article on the BBC. This is said.

An MP has said there are “encouraging signs” that the “fantastic vision” of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle could be realised.

Calum Kerr made the claim in a piece written for the Campaign for Borders Rail newsletter.

This is original article on the Borders Railway! This is said.

The good news is that there are encouraging signs we may be able to win cross party support on this. For instance, I’ve spoken to my neighbouring MP David Mundell, who is the Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK Government. He’s broadly supportive and is planning to speak to the Department of Transport in London to gauge its views.

I’ve also been in discussion with MPs on the English side of the border. They’re also warming to the idea. In particular, I’ve had several discussions with Rory Stewart, who represents the seat of Penrith and the Border, and he’s keen on getting it onto the agenda.

I think the involvement of Rory Stewart is significant. I remember him from one of his excellent documentaries called Border Country: The Story of Britain’s Lost Middleland, which was a fascinating history of the lands both sides of the England-Scotland border.

When I wrote If Manchester Victoria And Birmingham New Street Were The First Two Courses, Is Carlisle The Third?, I wrote this.

I just wonder, if whilst they are rebuilding the platforms, they will electrify some of the bay platforms. Or at least do the preparation work!

This would enable IPEMUs to be able to be recharged, if they were serving routes out of Carlisle, like the Tyne Valley Line, Settle to Carlisle and possibly an extended Borders Railway.

Incidentally, I think that by the time Carlisle station is updated in 2019, IPEMUs or battery trains, would have enough range to reach Edinburgh. You can see the headlines in the Sun!

After reading Calum Kerr’s thoughts, I feel even more that Network Rail have a cunning plan to make Carlisle station a hub for IPEMUs, which would serve the following routes.

Note the following.

  • The only major infrastructure work would be the completion of the Borders Railway to Carlisle.
  • The area is noted for its superb scenery and occasional extreme weather. Not electrifying large sections of remote and exposed rural lines, is an attractive option, in terms of planning, engineering, building and maintenance.
  • Technology exists to do all signalling by radio links.
  • The last two lines would probably need some limited electrification to charge the trains en route.
  • The Cumbrian Coast Line could be electrified between Sellafield and Barrow, where the line is better protected.
  • The infrastructure needs of a four-car IPEMU train, is similar to that of a four-car diesel multiple unit.
  • The Glasgow and South Western and Tyne Valley Lines could probably accept IPEMUs tomorrow.
  • The network has several connections to the major Anglo-Scottish routes, at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Preston.

It would be one of the most scenic set of railway routes in the world!

I won’t comment on the commercial, social and tourism aspects of creating such a railway system.

 

 

December 17, 2015 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , | 1 Comment

Kew Bridge Station And The New Brentford Stadium Site

I went to Kew Bridge station to see if anything could be seen of the new Brentford Community Stadium site.

You can’t see much of the stadium, but to my mind you could make the station a lot more attractive.

Look at this Google Map of the station and the Southern part of the stadium site.

Kew Bridge Station

Kew Bridge Station

Note.

  • The stadium is proposed to be on the northern part of the cleared site backing on to the northern side of the triangular junction, of which two of the lines meet at the station.
  • The South-Eastern part of the site will be mainly residential.
  • The closeness of the London Museum of Water and Steam and the River Thames to the station.
  • In Transport for London’s plans for the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, extension to Houslow via the Dudding Hill Line and this junction is a distinct possibility.
  • The platforms at Kew Bridge station are very long.
  • If trains were ever to be restored to the northern side of the junction, a station begind the stadium could be connected to Kew Bridge station by lineside walkways.
  • If trains were ever to be restored to the eastern side of the junction, they could serve Kew Bridge station.
  • The Kew Bridge station  building is Grade 2 Listed.

I think that even an average architect could make Kew Bridge station, a superb gateway to the stadium and the other developments.

December 17, 2015 Posted by | Sport, Transport/Travel | , | Leave a comment