Syon Lane Station To Go Step-Free
I came back from Brentford using Syon Lane station.
These pictures show the station.
What surprised me, is the number of posters up saying that the station is to be made step-free.
Searching the Internet, I found this document on the Hounslow Borough Council web site, which is dated April the 15th 2019 and entitled Step-Free Access To Many Of Hounslow’s Stations Proceeding At Pace!
This is an extract.
Plans to improve accessibility at Syon Lane Station were given the green light this week as Hounslow Council confirmed securing the necessary funding for the £2.4m programme to proceed. Improvements to the station, which sits on the South West Rail (SWR) network, will include a new footbridge, providing an additional exit point and lift from the west bound platform, delivering step-free access to the street from this platform, as well as easing congestion. A new (wider) staircase and bridge deck is proposed for the London-bound platform which should also reduce congestion at peak times. Step-free access from this platform to the street will be enabled by improvements to the footpath leading to Rothbury Gardens. Works will commence at the end of April and are due to complete by the end of the summer.
The scheme is being financed by a cocktail of funding streams including; Sky, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Transport for London (TfL) and a contribution from SWR themselves. The total cost is c£2.4m including contingency.
It looks to be a comprehensive well-thought out scheme.
Judging by the presence of a Portacabin and what appeared to be vegetation clearance, where a bridge might go, it appears that everybody is at least starting at pace. Finish by the end of the summer could be a possibility, although I think it is a tough ask!
Reading some of the posters at the station, more than usual details were given about the way the footbridge and step-free access will be added.
These are the phases.
Footpath Improvement Works
Footpath via Rothbury Gardens is closed. Access to Platform 1 is through the Syon Lane entrance (stairs)
Lift And Bridge Sub-Structure And Foundation Works
Installation of lift shaft and footbridge steelwork structure.
Installation of lift equipment.
Removal of existing Platform 1 staircase.
Installation of linkspan to new footbridge.
Staircase from Syon Lane is closed. Access to Platform 1 is via Rothbury Gardens (step-free footpath)
Platform Finishes And Footbridge Commissioning
Following commissioning new footbridge linkspan will be opened.
Oyster readers will be moved to new final locations.
The West London Orbital Railway
The West London Orbital Railway may or may not be built in the next few years.
This would double the number of trains through Syon Lane station from four trains per hour (tph) to eight tph.
As this would be a train every 7-8 minutes, for safe operation, step-free access would be essential.
Stations on the Hounslow Loop Line, that will be used by the proposed West London Orbital Railway are.
- Hounslow – As this will be a terminus, step-free access will be essential.
- Isleworth – Planned to be step-free. See Isleworth Station To Go Step-Free for more details.
- Syon Lane – Going step-free
- Brentford – Already step-free
- Kew Bridge – As this will be a terminus, step-free access will be essential.
Except for the two terminals, all stations needed for the West London Orbital Railway are planned to be step-free.
Good project planning would probably mean, that the joint stations were prepared for eight tph as early as possible to stop these works delaying the project.
UK Listed Energy Storage Fund Seeks 182MW Battery Project Pipeline
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Energy Storage News.
This is the first paragraph.
UK investment management firm Gresham House has confirmed it is to launch a fresh fund raising drive as it sets its sights on a new, 182MW pipeline of battery storage projects.
It is my belief as a Control Engineer, that if we move to renewable energy, like geothermal, hydro, solar, tidal, wave and wind, that the generating capacity must be backed up with large massive of energy storage.
- The energy storage captures excess electricity when nobody needs to use it and feeds it back when consumption exceeds supply.
- I suspect that the National Grid have done extensive simulations of the UK’s energy needs and that they have a model of how much energy storage is needed to support particular mixes and capacities of renewable energy.
- Most of the storage will be lithium-ion or perhaps some of the newer developments, that are creeping into the renewable dictionary.
- The cost of storage, its working life and performance must be well-known, which means that the investors can get a return, that satisfies their needs to fund pensions and insurance policies.
So it would appear that Gresham House have done their sums and come up with a mathematical model, where all are winners.
- UK industry and consumers get enough electricity for their needs.
- Insurance companies and pension funds get a return to fulfil their contractual commitments.
- UK pensioners get a reliable pension.
- UK taxpayers don’t have to fund the much-needed energy storage.
- Our electricity will increasingly be generated by renewables.
- I do suspect that Gresham House will take an appropriate fee.
There may even be an opportunity for the public to invest directly in the future.
For all these winners, there will be losers.
- Oil companies. In Writing On The Wall For Oil Say Funds, I wrote about the opinion of fund managers on oil companies.
- Despots, dictators and religious maniacs, who control much of the world’s oil resources.
I shall cry not one tear for the second group!
I’ll be very interested to see the way that these energy storage funds develop!
Conclusion
These funds will develop in parallel with renewable energy and the energy storage it needs.
As the demand for energy storage will grow significantly, these funds will grow as well to provide the capacity needed to keep the lights on.
£14m Peak District Rail Freight Extension Unveiled
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
I discussed this project in full in Peak District Freight Sidings Get £18m Network Rail Boost, where I showed this Google Map of the sidings at Buxton, where the stone trains must reverse.
This latest Google Map, which is to a more detailed scale and 3D, clearly shows the lengthened sidings alongside the Manchester-Buxton Line.
Note the footbridge across the lines appears in both maps.
Conclusion
It looks to me that Network Rail have managed to implement this freight project to bring more stone out of the Peak District by train.
As the cost of the completed project is quoted as less than the figure quoted before the project started., the project could even have been completed within the budget.
This has been a project when £18million has been spent for these benefits.
- Each train will transport 2,500 tonnes of materials.
- Each train will take 76 lorry loads from the roads.
- Less trains will be needed to transport the same tonnage.
How many other small projects like this could be undertaken?
Monumentous
A BBC Breakfast reporter used this word and started a lot of discussion this morning.
So I typed it in to Google.
I found this page with a title of Fritinancy.
This was given as an example of use of the word.
Mr. Obama has shown, in one appearance after another, a capacity to make people feel good about their country again. His supporters want desperately to turn the page on the bitter politics and serial disasters of the past 20 years. That they have gravitated to a black candidate to carry out this task is — to use a term I heard for the first time this week — monumentous.
So it has been used before.
Wi-fi On A Train In A Deep Tunnel Under London
I’ve just been using wi-fi on a Class 717 train between Essex Road and Moorgate stations.
Is this the first railway line deep underneath the surface of London to have wi-fi installed?
I shall be interested to see, if I use the line more, as an alternative way to get to Moorgate from my house.
Development Of The Southall Gas Works Site
I took these pictures as my train went past the former Southall Gas Works to the West of Ealing station.
This was where there used to be a gasholder with a helpful sign, showing the way to Heathrow..
You can just see the L of LHR and the arrow.
This Google Map shows the site.
It is going to be a big development.
There are some older pictures from 2016 in What A Waste Of Valuable Land.
Hertford North Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Hertford North station is on the list.
These pictures show the station.
The station has three platforms and Platforms 2 and 3 already have a lift.
So it needs a lift to be fitted to Platform 1.
This Google Map shows a 3D image of the station.
Platforms are numbered 1,2 and 3 from the right.
It does look as though there is space to put in a lift.
A Scrapyard Special Ready For The Blowtorch
I took these pictures of possibly the worst train, I’ve ridden in for some years.
I took this Class 313 train between Hertford North and Old |Street stations.
Not all trains of this age have to be so dirty and unkempt.
In Liverpool’s Underground Trains, I showed these pictures.
These Merseyrail Class 507/508 trains are only three years younger, than those in London.
Both fleets are being replaced before the end of 2020.
So it’s not that if trains are going to the scrapyard they have to be let go!
I do wonder whether that this illustrates the point, that if trains are run as a concession from the Local Authority, like those of Merseyrail and London Overground, there is much better control of service quality.
In Gibb Report – Moorgate Services Could Be Transferred To The London Overground, I laid out Chris Gibb’s view of what should happen.
This was my conclusion.
Chris Gibb has made an interesting proposal.
There are good reasons to transfer the Great Northern Metro to London Overground.
- London Overground have the expertise to introduce the new trains.
- Transport for London have the expertise to redevelop the stations on the route at the Southern end.
- GTR will be able to concentrate on Thameslink
- Moorgate, Old Street, Essex Road and Highbury and Islington stations become Transport for London-only stations.
- London would gain a new Metro line between Moorgate and Alexandra Palace via Highbury and Islington and Finsbury Park, that extends into Hertfordshire and has a frequency of at least twelve tph.
- Crossrail gets another North-South feeder line.
- Highbury and Islington and Finsbury Park will become high quality interchanges.
- The Hertford Loop Line can be developed independently of Thameslink and the East Coast Main Line to be a high-capacity North-South Metro from North London to Stevenage.
- The Victoria Line gets a cross-platform connection to the Great Northern Metro for Crossrail at Highbury and Islington.
- The only problem, is that it might remove some of the reasons for extending Crossrail 2 to New Southgate.
Overall it strikes me that GTR have been working totally without any vision or any idea about how their new trains will transform the Great Northern Metro.
I hope Sadiq Khan is watching what is happening from his bunker in South London.
Is There A Need For A Waterloo To Gatwick Service?
Whilst writing Are Network Rail And Heathrow Southern Railway Moving Towards A Joint Project On Western And Southern Access To Heathrow Airport?, I got to thinking about connectivity to London’s two main airports; Heathrow and Gatwick.
If both the Western Approach To Heathrow (WRAtH) and Heathrow Southern Railway (HSR) schemes are completed, Heathrow will have direct connections to the following major stations and areas.
- Canary Wharf using Crossrail
- City of London using Crossrail
- Clapham Junction using HSR
- HS1 using a future Crossrail to Ebbsfleet
- HS2 using Crossrail
- Liverpool Street using Crossrail
- Reading using WRAtH
- Waterloo using HSR
- West End using Crossrail
Many more places will need a single change at Clapham Junction, Farringdon, Reading, Stratford, Waterloo or Woking.
Awkward stations to get to and from Heathrow include Kings Cross, London Bridge, St. Pancras and Victoria.
Admittedly, Kings Cross, London Bridge and St. Pancras can be reached using Crossrail and Thameslink or the Underground, but Victoria is not easy as Crossrail doesn’t have an interchange with the Victoria Line.
Gatwick will have direct connections to the following major stations and areas.
- City of London using Thameslink
- HS1 using Thameslink
- Reading using GWR
- Victoria using Southern or Gatwick Express
- West End using Thameslink
Many more places will need a single change at Clapham Junction, Farringdon, Reading, or Victoria.
Awkward stations to and from Gatwick include Canary Wharf, Euston, Liverpool Street, Paddington and Waterloo.
Consider these points about Waterloo station.
Waterloo Has The Connectivity
Waterloo is on four Underground lines.
- Bakerloo Line for North West London, Paddington, West End,, South East London and North East London in collaboration with Dear Old Vicky!
- Charing Cross Branch of the Northern Line for North London, Euston and the West End.
- Jubilee Line for North West London, West End, Canary Wharf and Stratford.
- Waterloo & City Line for Bank and the City of London.
Waterloo also has its own network of frequent and comprehensive services to South West London and further afield.
Waterloo Could Be Getting Crossrail 2
In Sadiq Khan’s dreams!
The Bakerloo Line Extension and the West London Orbital Railway are much more urgent to be built, but they don’t serve Surrey, where posh commuters live!
Waterloo Is Almost A Tourist Destination
I say almost, as it is just a short walk from Westminster, several important museums and galleries, and the Thames.
Waterloo Station Is A Place To Meet Friends And Business Associates
I regularly meet friends as they pass through Waterloo station, as it has several restaurants, where you can sit, eat, drink and chat.
Waterloo Station Is Going To Be Developed
Plans are being developed to build above Waterloo station.
Could this include more hotels, in addition to offices and housing?
Why Has There Been Talk Of A Service Between Waterloo and Heathrow For Years, But Nothing About A Link To Gatwick?
Heathrow AirTrack was proposed by BAA some years ago and now Heathrow Southern Railway are putting in a privately-funded proposal.
But search for a proposal for a direct service between Waterloo and Gatwick and you find nothing sensible.
- Could it be that the route is too difficult or there is not enough capacity at Gatwick and/or Waterloo?
- Is it that a route to Heathrow would be much more profitable, as it is so much bigger?
- Is it tradition? Waterloo serves the South West and London Bridge and Victoria serves the South.
But time is moving on, a larger Waterloo and Gatwick stations are coming and Network Rail are getting some of their best brains around digital signalling.
A Waterloo And Gatwick Airport Service
As Gatwick expands, I believe that a direct service between Waterloo and Gatwick Airport will become more necessary.
The Route Of The Service
I’m not sure of this, but I believe that there is a route between Waterloo and Streatham Common or East Croydon stations, which could be used for a Waterloo to Gatwick service.
- It may need to use the flyover at Waterloo, that used to be used by Eurostar.
- I wrote about using the flyover in Waterloo Upgrade August 2017 – Waterloo To Sevenoaks.
- Could it use a route like Brixton, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Norwood Junction and East Croydon?
- Once on the Brighton Main Line it would be plain sailing.
- Of the stations on the route I mentioned, only Norwood Junction has a direct service to Gatwick.
- A rebuilt Brixton station with its Victoria Line connection could be a valuable interchange.
- Crystal Palace will have a six trains per hour (tph) service on the Overground to Highbury & Islington.
- The route is fully electrified using third-rail.
I’m sure a practical and useful route can be found.
The Frequency Of The Service
Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Express services have a frequency of four tph.
So I wouldn’t think it unreasonable for a service between Waterloo and Gatwick Airport stations to have the same frquency.
Express Or Typical Suburban Service
Airport trains around London fall into two styles.
- Express – Gatwick Express, Heatrow Express and Stansted Express.
- Typical Standard Suburban Train – Crossrail and Thameslink.
As I am happy to use Thameslink to Gatwick, I have no particular preference. Except that if getting an early flight out of Gatwick, I take a night bus to Victoria and then use Gatwick Express, as it runs all night.
Passenger demand would decide, the level of service.
Trains For The Service
An appropriate train would be chosen to match the service style.
- Express – Class 387 train as per Gatwick or Heathrow Express
- Suburban Train – SWR’s Class 701 train
Both would do a very capable job.
Platforms At Waterloo
If I assume that Heathrow Southern Railway’s four tph service between Waterloo and Heathrow uses a single platform at Waterloo, I would expect it will be one of the higher-numbered platforms.
So could a Gatwick service with the same frequency use the next door platform?
This would surely be very convenient.
Conclusion
I think it is quite likely that a service between Waterloo and Gatwick Airport could be run.
But whether it is worthwhile is another matter.
Writing On The Wall For Oil Say Funds
The title of this post is the same as that of an article on page 37 of today’s copy of The Times.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Several big fund managers believe that oil companies should shut themselves down because soon they will be impossible to invest in as the world switches to tenewable energy.
A survey of 39 fund managers with $10.2 trillion under manaement found that 24 per cent wanted the oil industry “to wind down their businesses and return cash to shareholders” All but two of the funds said that oil stocks would not be attrative investments within ten years if they failed to respond to climate risks.
It’s pretty strong stuff.
So could we see a reduction in the use of oil and gas as a fuel?
In some countries including Denmark, Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States, renewable energy is growing at a good rate.
The UK did draw the full set, in being blessed with the full set of coal, oil, wind, wave and tidal. We also have a bit of geothermal, hydro and solar.
We will still extract coal, gas and oil, but not for fuel.
- Very high quality coal is needed for steel-making, where carbon-capture could be used.
- Gas and oil are used as chemical feedstock for plastics, everyday chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Hydrogen gas, produced by electrolysis for use as fuel, a chemical feedstock and central heating.
Shell have already purchased First Energy, who are a domestic energy supplier in the UK, so are they getting out of oil?
Are fund managers and oil companies starting to go in the same direction, with a lot of the world’s drivers sticking slavishly to petrol and the dreaded diesel?
The Anonymous Widower 