Where Is Handsacre Junction?
Handsacre Junction is where High Speed Two trains from London Euston and Birmingham will join the Trent Valley Line to complete their journeys via Stafford and Crewe.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the junction.
Note.
- The solid red track going diagonally across the map is the Trent Valley Line, which is a section of the West Coast Main Line.
- The station on the Trent Valley Line at the top of the map is Rugeley Trent Valley.
- The station on the Trent Valley Line at the bottom of the map is Lichfield Trent Valley.
- The dotted tracks running North-South show the proposed route of High Speed Two.
- Only the dashed sections of tracks will be built for Phase 1 of High Speed Two.
From the map, I estimate that that High Speed Two will join the Trent Valley Line at the mid-way point between the two stations.
According to Real Time Trains, the stations are these distances from Euston.
- Lichfield Trent Valley – 116.4 miles
- Rugeley Trent Valley – 124.4 miles
So this puts Handsacre Junction at 120.4 miles from Euston.
Searching the Internet, I find the distance between Euston and Handsacre Junction on High Speed Two as 192.77 km. or 119.8 miles.
It would appear that the High Speed Two route is 0.6 mile longer.
Euston And Handsacre Junction Times
This table shows Euston and Handsacre junction times at various speeds.
High Speed Two Average Speed – 205 mph – 35 mins.
Class 390 Train Average Speed – 140 mph – 51 mins.
Euston And Glasgow Central Times
If I assume, that the trains take the same three hours and 47 minutes between Handsacre junction and Glasgow Central as Class 390 trains do now, I get these times.
High Speed Two Average Speed – 205 mph – 4 hour and 22 mins.
Class 390 Train Average Speed – 140 mph – 4 hours and 38 mins.
Euston And Liverpool Lime Street Times
If I assume, that the trains take the same 71 minutes between Handsacre junction and Liverpool Lime Street as Class 390 trains do now, I get these times.
High Speed Two Average Speed – 205 mph – 1 hour and 46 mins.
Class 390 Train Average Speed – 140 mph – 2 hours and 2 mins.
Euston And Manchester Piccadilly Times
If I assume, that the trains take the same 66 minutes between Handsacre junction and Manchester Piccadilly as Class 390 trains do now, I get these times.
High Speed Two Average Speed – 205 mph – 1 hour and 41 mins.
Class 390 Train Average Speed – 140 mph – 1 hours and 57 mins.
Footage Released Of East West Rail’s First Commercial Freight Train
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Network Rail.
These four paragraphs give detail to the story.
The inaugural journey was part of a dual first, as it also saw the entry into service of Maritime Transport’s Northampton Gateway Terminal.
This Easter Network Rail completed its work there to join the 35-acre freight facility directly to the West Coast Main Line via the Northampton Loop.
The modern junction design allows freight trains to enter and exit the site at speeds of up to 40mph, which is eight times faster than conventional freight connections.
Clearing the railway junction much faster will significantly improve both passenger and freight journeys – as it reduces the impact on other services running on the main line.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the location of Maritime Transport’s Northampton Gateway Terminal.
Note.
- The red track running diagonally across the bottom half of the map is the West Coast Main Line.
- The orange track running North-South is the Northampton Loop of the West Coast Main Line.
- The blue arrow indicates Northampton station.
- The grey line running diagonally across the map, vaguely parallel to the West Coast Main Line is the M1 Motorway.
- The SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gateway is indicated between the Northampton Loop and the M1 Motorway.
This Google Map shows the layout of the logistics park to a larger scale.
Note.
- The Northampton Loop of the West Coast Main Line running North-South across the map.
- The M1 Motorway running between the North-West and South-East corners of the map.
- Junction 15 is the M1 junction in the South-East corner of the map which connects the logistics park and the A45 to the M1.
- Junction 15A is the M1 junction in the North-West corner of the map which connects the A43 and Northampton services to the M1.
- There is probably space to add more warehouses and other facilities.
The logistics park is well connected to both rail and road.
This second Google Map shows the rail connection to the logistics park in more detail.
From this map, it appears that Network Rail have met their objective outlined in this paragraph of the news item.
The modern junction design allows freight trains to enter and exit the site at speeds of up to 40mph, which is eight times faster than conventional freight connections.
As only freight trains and slower passenger trains use the Northampton Loop, I would expect that freight trains should be able to enter and leave the logistics park with the minimum of disruption to traffic on the Northampton Loop.
The Route Of Yesterday’s Train
These three paragraphs from the Network Rail news item describe the route.
The first commercial freight train has travelled along the East West Rail line as part of its journey into a new strategic rail freight interchange in Northampton.
Shortly after 13:00 yesterday (Monday 16 June) the service* from Didcot came onto the new infrastructure at Oxford, travelling the 35 miles to Milton Keynes to connect with the West Coast Main Line.
It marked the first time East West Rail infrastructure has been used for commercial freight, after many months of signaller training and train driver learning since the £1.2bn railway was completed in October 2024.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the route from Didcot to Milton Keynes.
Note.
Didcot Parkway station is in the South-West corner of the map.
Milton Keynes Central is in the North-East corner of the map and marked with a blue error.
The route is via Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow and Bletchley.
This video shows the train passing Winslow.
Newport To Swindon Via Gloucester – 14th June 2025
Because of engineering works, we came home from Newport via a diversion through Gloucester.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- I had sat on the right side of the train facing forward.
- We were accompanied my the thud, thud, thud of an underfloor diesel engine, as most of the route is not electrified.
- Newport and Gloucester is 44.8 miles.
- Gloucester and Swindon is 36.7 miles.
- Newport and Swindon is 81.5 miles.
- Newport and Swindon are fully-electrified stations.
- The first four pictures show Trains for Wales Premier Service.
- The Gloucester and Newport Line joins the South Wales Main Line at Severn Tunnel Junction station.
- As you travel towards Gloucester, the bridges over the Severn and the Wye can be clearly seen.
- There are two former nuclear power stations ;Berkeley and Oldbury, on the far bank of the River Severn.
- The large white wind turbine is close to Berkeley.
- Oldbury is further down the river.
As yesterday, the route is commonly used as a diversion route, when engineering works close the electrified main line through the Severn Tunnel.
I have some further thoughts.
Electrification Of Newport And Swindon
The distances involved are as follows.
- Newport and Gloucester is 44.8 miles.
- Gloucester and Swindon is 36.7 miles.
- Newport and Swindon is 81.5 miles.
As Hitachi’s Intercity Battery Trains are likely to have a range of around a hundred miles, they should be able to handle the diversion.
A short length of electrification could be erected in Gloucester station to charge any battery-electric trains, that needed a boost.
I believe full electrification is not needed.
Newport And Abergavenny Stations – 14th June 2025
Today, I took a train up the Welsh Marshes Line fromNewport to Abergavenny station.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- Pictures 7 and 8 have a glimpse of the Newport Transporter Bridge in the background.
- All stations are step-free.
- All stations have two platforms.
- All stations have ticket machines.
- I saw a heavy freight train coming down to Newport.
I took these pictures coming down the Welsh Marshes Line from Abergavenny to Newport station.
Pictures 25-28 show the Maindee Junction that allows trains to by-pass Newport station.
I have a couple of general points.
The Track Between Hereford And Maindee Junction Allows A Good Speed
Much of the track has a maximum speed of over 75 mph, with a short section up to 90 mph.
As the maximum speed of Lumo’s Class 803 trains is 125 mph and Trains for Wales’s Class 197 trains are 100 mph trains, I would expect that some speed improvement might be possible.
The track also appeared to give a good ride.
The Stations Were All In Good Condition
In addition, Newport station was being refurbished.
Heads Of The Valleys Road Upgrade Officially Opens
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on BusinessNewsWales.
This is the sub-heading.
The final phase of the £2 billion Heads of the Valleys Road upgrade programme has officially opened.
These first two paragraphs add detail to the project.
The Welsh Government said it marked the completion of “one of the UK’s largest and most technically challenging road projects”.
The £1.4 billion Section 5&6 Dowlais to Hirwaun final phase links the Valleys, South and West Wales to the English Midlands and beyond, together with ports serving Irish and other European destinations. As well as improving the resilience of the South Wales trunk road network, the road provides a vital link across the top of the South Wales valleys for the Metro project improving links to the Cardiff and Swansea Bay City Regions, the Welsh Government said.
From the statistics of work done and the money involved, it would appear that a comprehensive upgrade has fixed a big gap in the UK’s motorway network in South Wales.
This Google Map shows the locations of Dowlais and Hirwaun.
Note.
- Dowlais is in the North-East corner of the map.
- Hirwaun is in the South-West corner of the map and is outlined in red.
- The Heads of the Valleys Road links Dowlais and Hirwaun.
- Going East from Dowlais leads to Abergavenny, Monmouth, Raglan and the English Midlands.
- Abergavenny has a station, but Monmouth and Raglan don’t!
- Abergavenny station has comprehensive services to stations as far apart as Cardiff, Crewe, Holyhead, Manchester Piccadilly, Swansea and Wrexham General.
Abergavenny station could eventually turn out to be a parkway station for the South Wales Valleys.
I can certainly understand, why Lumo wants to run a service to Hereford.
I also feel that the Welsh government and Transport for Wales would be in favour of the service.
- Three towns in Wales; Cwmbran, Pontypool and Abergavenny get a direct service to Bristol Parkway and London Paddington stations.
- Hereford already has an hourly connection to Birmingham New Street via Worcester and University.
- If a coach were to be provided between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Airport, this could make getting to Bristol Airport easier.
I can see further improvements to services, that terminate at Abergavenny.
Was The Price Of Fuel A Factor In The Ahmedabad Plane Crash?
I am asking this question, as I know that a prudent airline, is careful where it buys the fuel for its aircraft.
I asked Google, if jet fuel is more expensive at Gatwick or in India and got this reply.
Jet fuel (Jet A-1/AVTUR) is more expensive at Gatwick Airport compared to India. At Gatwick, the price is 906.8 GBP/1000L. While in India, the price varies by location, for example, ₹97,975.72/kl in Delhi. This indicates that Jet A-1/AVTUR costs more at Gatwick than in India.
I suspect, if they can that Air India would prefer to fill up their planes in India.
Consider.
- The flight that crashed was AI 171.
- The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8.
- The Air India flight that crashed was flying direct to Gatwick Airport, which is a great circle distance of 4254.3 miles.
- Afterwards, it would fly from Gatwick Airport to Goa, which is a great circle distance of 4703.7 miles.
- Wikipedia gives the range of a Boeing 787-8 as 8410 miles.
As a former private pilot, who did many long flights, if I were Air India, I might use a strategy like this.
- Fill the plane with as much fuel, as it can carry at Ahmedabad.
- Fly to Gatwick on an efficient great circle route.
- Top up the plane, with enough fuel to fly safely to Goa, at Gatwick.
The cost of fuel would be minimised, but it would mean a heavy take-off at Ahmedabad.
The temperature at Ahmedabad yesterday was around the low thirties and as the altitude is only 53 metres, I don’t think it would have been a hot-and-high take-off.
British Passenger In Seat 11A Survives India Plane Crash, Reports Say
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A man survived the Air India crash that killed at least 200 people, a police chief has told an Indian news agency.
This is the first paragraph, which adds more details.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik told ANI there was one survivor who was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 flight.
I do feel, that his window seat towards the front of the plane may have helped him survive.
This image on SeatGuru, shows the seat layout on an Air-India 787.
Seat 11A is in the front row of Economy on the left-hand side, by one of the exits from the plane.
It was certainly, a good place to be on a plane that crashed.
There is this Wikipedia entry, which is entitled List Of Sole Survivors Of Aviation Accidents And Incidents.
Surprisingly, there are over a hundred lucky souls on the list.
‘Bakerloop’ Bus Route launches In Autumn, TfL Says
The title of this post, is the same as that as this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A new bus route named the Bakerloop is set to launch in autumn to connect stations and areas in south-east London.
This graphic clipped from the BBC article shows the route.
I don’t deny that South London doesn’t need more buses, but I am getting rather fed up with SadIQ showing he is a South Londoner by putting on more and more buses for his friends.
My regular bus to Moorgate is the 141 bus, which must be the worst bus route in London on an overall basis.
Earth Friendly Concrete Spotted On Moorgate
I’ve been hoping to spot one of Capital Concrete’s trucks before, but this is the first one, I’ve seen delivering Earth Friendly Concrete.
I said more about the product in Earth Friendly Concrete.
Eden Project Morecambe Revealed In New Images
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
New images of what the long-awaited ecotourism attraction Eden Project Morecambe will look like have been released.
These three paragraphs add more detail.
The shell-inspired structure, sister site to the original Eden Project in Cornwall, is due to open in late 2028 and is expected to attract thousands of people to the Lancashire town.
CGI images, by architects Grimshaw, show how the design will look on the edge of Morecambe Bay promenade.
The project team said the structure would be “instantly recognisable” as an “emblem of sustainability” with a “deep connection to place” and complimenting heritage landmarks nearby.
The BBC article contains a selection of stunning images.
I have never been to the original Eden Project in Cornwall, as I don’t drive and it is difficult to get to by train.
But Morecambe from Euston is an easy sub-three hours train journey and not much over an hour from Liverpool and Manchester.
So the Eden Project Morecambe will be much easier to get to and will surely bring in the visitors.
But it needs a better train between Lancaster and Morecambe than this.
Note.
- The train is a British Rail-era Class 156 diesel train, that was built in the late 1980s.
- A diesel train to an eco-project is probably not the right image.
- If they get all the visitors by rail, that I think they will, a two-car train will probably not have enough capacity.
- The platform appears to be electrified and be around 70-80 metres long.
- The Lancaster and Morecambe service is less than five miles.
But I believe, that this platform could be used to charge a battery-electric train through a pantograph.
This train would then be able to trundle silently all day between Lancaster and Morecambe stations.
The Anonymous Widower 