Stowmarket Station – 14th March 2025
tThe one and only time, that I’ve used Stowmarket station, was when I’d taken my Lotus in for a service near Diss and I was getting back to Newmarket, with a change at the station.
So as I was going to Stowmarket station, I felt with the judicious use of a East Anglian Ranger ticket, I could combine the trips to Stowmarket and Saxmundham stations.
I also wanted to look at the progress on the new footbridge that I wrote about in Stowmarket Station To Go Step-Free.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- I arrived on the Norwich-bound platform, crossed the tracks by the level crossing and then left from the Ipswich-bound platform.
- The station has a cafe.
- The footbridge in the pictures is a temporary one to ease construction.
- The station buildings are Grade II Listed.
There doesn’t appear to have been much progress on the new footbridge.
I do have some other thoughts.
Greater Anglia’s Stadler Trains Are Step-Free Between Train And Platform
The first two and last pictures in the gallery show this feature.
I arrived on a Class 745 train and left on a Class 755 and both train classes have gap fillers, that do their job automatically.
We need more of this technology to protect the elderly, those with restricted movement and the just untrained stupid.
Housing By The Station
It appears that two blocks of flats have been built on railway land or the station car park.
The bridge also appears to give the owners and residents access across the railway.
Is this thoughtful holistic design or just a bribe to get planning permission?
Who Will Use The Footbridge?
Two main lines effectively cross at Stowmarket.
- The Great Eastern Main Line between Ipswich and Norwich goes through Needham Market, Stowmarket and Diss.
- The Ipswich and Ely Line between Ipswich and Cambridge goes through Needham Market, Stowmarket, Elmswell, Thurston, Bury St. Edmunds, Kennett, Newmarket and Dullingham.
So, if you need to go between say Newmarket and Diss, you would change trains at Stowmarket. Hopefully, the bridge will encourage train travel.
New Housing In East Anglia
On the main railway lines between Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich, there used to be a lot more stations.
- There are eight closed stations between Stowmarket and Cambridge.
- There are three closed stations between Stowmarket and Ely .
- There are two closed stations between Stowmarket and Ipswich.
- There are eight closed stations between Stowmarket and Norwich.
Note.
- A new Soham station was built between Stowmarket and Ely. Passenger numbers are rising with each year.
- I have double-counted Higham and Saxham and Risby stations on both the Ely and Cambridge routes.
- But that still leaves nineteen stations, that might be good sites to build new houses.
- The East-West Railway intend to build a new A14 Parkway station to link the A14 road to the Ipswich and Ely Line.
- When housing is taken into account, some stations will give a better return on investment.
Could the new footbridge at Stowmarket be part of a wide ranging plan to build more housing in towns and villages along the railways of East Anglia?
Was The Old Footbridge Too Low?
This picture was taken of the old bridge.
Was the bridge too low for some container trains?
A Pair Of Class 755 Trains At Liverpool Street Station
I traveled back to London Liverpool Street station in an eight-car formation of a pair of four-car Class 755 trains.
Note.
The train had come from Norwich.
Real Time Trains showed, that the train was fairly close to on time.
Was this an experiment or were Greater Anglia just short of trains?
The train certainly felt to be running well.
I’ve always felt that Two Class 755 trains could split and join at Ipswich to combine a Norwich and Lowestoft service. Were Greater Anglia experimenting?
Swiss Federal Railways Targets London As It Seeks More Cross-Border High Speed Trains
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the Railway Gazette.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Swiss Federal Railways is looking at ordering up to 40 high speed trainsets for use on international services to Italy and France, and ’potentially for other destinations such as Barcelona and London’.
There also three paragraphs, which talk about Switzerland and London services.
SBB has also examined the possibility of launching a direct service between Switzerland and London, concluding that this would be technically feasible but challenging.
The need to provide security and border controls at all the stations served has long been a barrier to new services through the Channel Tunnel. However, SBB believes this may be possible at Zürich HB, Basel SBB and Genève Cornavin.
SBB would like to offer such a service and is to further develop its plans, but implementation is not seen as possible until the 2030s at the earliest.
These are my thoughts.
The Channel Tunnel Is Being Opened Up For Other Operators
The Channel Tunnel is at last looking to put on other services.
Switzerland could be easy technically, but there is the security and border controls, as the article points out.
But I see sorting security and border controls as an opportunity, not a problem.
Surely, a workable solution would have export potential all round the world.
London And Geneva Is Only Six Hours On The Train
Six hours in comfort on a train, would not bother me!
Switzerland And London Are Both Suitable Destinations For Year-Round, Short-Break Trips
C and myself were always popping off for short breaks, as it suited our work patterns.
She would sometimes say, that a case had come out and we would nip off somewhere for a couple of days.
I think, that more people will work flexibly and will have more gaps, where two days in Geneva or Zurich would fit. Provided, they could just turn up and go.
I also have done several business and leisure trips to Switzerland.
Fast Direct Trains To Switzerland Would Make Italy More Accessible
I have taken trains to Italy and it is a long way.
But breaking the journey in Switzerland could make the journey easier and you could use one city going South and another going North.
When I stayed in Geneva to go to CERN, I got a free day ticket for the buses and trams thrown in, which was very useful.
Will The Swiss Offer A Rail Pass For All Their High Speed Trains?
I wonder, if the Swiss have this in mind, as they already offer passes that include all Swiss public transport including all the cable cars.
A Swiss High Speed Rail Pass might allow me to go London and Florence, Naples or Rome and return all on one ticket.
Americans wanting to get away from Trump could fly to Switzerland and then explore Europe in Swiss trains, with no worries.
Conclusion
The Swiss should take their fingers out and go for it!
When Silvertown Opens, Blackwall Tolls Start Too
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
In under a month, tolls will be introduced for drivers at the new Silvertown Tunnel and the existing Blackwall Tunnel in east London.
These four paragraphs add detail to the story.
For car drivers it will cost £8 a day in peak. These are huge changes to London’s transport network and awareness seems to be low.
The new highly controversial Silvertown Tunnel opens on 7 April.
Critics have dubbed the crossing a huge polluting white elephant that will do nothing to cut congestion and pollution with little or no business case.
Supporters say it will reduce congestion on the old, existing Blackwall Tunnel and improve resilience on the crossing that closes between 600-700 times a year. It will also provide more cross river bus routes as well as a bus that can carry bikes.
As a very experienced mathematical modeller, my gut feeling is that four new tolled lanes under the River Thames is not the solution.
These are my thoughts.
Transport for London Are Not Good Mathematical Modellers
As a non-driver, I rely heavily on the 141 bus for transport.
- It stops close to my house.
- It takes me to and from Moorgate, where I also pick up the Elizabeth Line.
- It takes me to and from Bank, where I also pick up the Central Line.
- It takes me to and from River Thames, from where I pick up the Thames Clippers.
- It takes me to and from London Bridge station, where I also pick up theThameslink.
- It takes me to and from Manor House station, where I pick up the Piccadilly Line.
- It takes me to and from Harringay Green Lanes station, where I pick up the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.
I must admit some of the reasons I like the bus route, are that it connects me to my childhood memories of WoodGreen, Southgate, Oakwood and Cockfosters.
When, I moved here, there were two North-South buses that ran within fifty metres of my house.
- The 21 bus ran between Newington Green and Lewisham.
- The 141 bus ran between Palmers Green and London Bridge station.
Then, two years ago the Elizabeth Line and the rebuilt Bank station both opened, followed a year later by an upgraded Old Street station.
These three improvements, added a lot more passengers to the North-South corridor, between London Bridge station and Newington Green roundabout.
I suspect a quality modelling of bus passengers North-South, through the city of London, would have shown, that more buses were needed on the combined 21/141 route.
So what did Sir SadIQ and Transport for London do? They rerouted the 21 bus away from the busiest section through De Beauvoir Town.
In their modelling, I suspect.
- They overestimated how many travellers used the Northern Line.
- They ignored the fact, that the Piccadilly Line doesn’t serve the City of London.
- They ignored the fact, that the Piccadilly Line doesn’t connect to the Elizabeth Line.
- They ignored the fact, that the 141 bus, is the only direct way between Palmers Green, Wood Green, Turnpike Lane and Manor House to the City of London.
- They felt De Beauvoir Town was a posh area and doesn’t need more buses, as residents can use their cars.
Halving the number of buses was a seriously bad decision.
I now have a damaged left knee due to constant standing on overcrowded buses.
It’s also got a lot worse lately due to constant bus diversions and cancellations, due to Islington’s LTNs and constant road works.
I’ve heard similar tales of bad bus planning from all over London.
So why should I trust Transport for London’s traffic modelling on the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels?
The Silvertown And Blackwall Tunnel Share Approach Routes
This map from the BBC article shows the layout of the two tunnels and their approach roads.
Note.
- The Blackwall Tunnel is two, two lane tunnels, one in each direction.
- The Silvertown Tunnel is one four lane tunnel, with two lanes in each direction.
- The O2 lies between the two tunnels.
The map shows the shared approach road for both tunnels.
What happens if there is an accident on the approach to the tunnels?
Tolling Problems
I feel that the tolling regime is overly complicated.
Hopefully, any problems this causes will lessen, as drivers know what to do.
The Sat-Nav Route Between The Tunnels And The M1
I’ve just looked one recommended route up, not that I have a Sat-Nav and I’ve never used one and the route is straightforward.
- Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach to Hackney Wick.
- Wick Lane to Hackney Central.
- Graham Road and Dalston Lane to Dalston Junction
- Balls Pond Road to Southgate Road/Mildmay Park
- St. Paul’s Road to Highbury & Islington station.
- Holloway Road to Archway.
- Archway Road, Aylmer Road and Falloden Way to Henly’s Corner.
- North Circular Road and Great North Way to the M1.
I live just South of the Southgate Road/Mildmay Park junction and often these days it is jammed solid.
But there is another route from Hackney Wick.
- A12 to Redbridge Roundabout on the North Circular Road.
- North Circular Road to the M1.
I dread to see what happens, when the Dartford Crossing is closed and heavy trucks from the Channel Tunnel to the M1, decide to take the Silvertown Tunnel as an alternative route.
Walking Down Finchley Road And Frognal Station To The Finchley Road Coach Stop
This morning, I walked down Finchley Road from the bus stop at Finchley Road and Frognal station to the Finchley Road coach stop.
I took these pictures as I walked.
Note.
- I’d arrived on a nearly-new Wrightbus electric bus on route 113 from Edgware station.
- The walk was downhill and fairly easy.
- I crossed Finchley Road using a light-controlled pedestrian crossing.
- The pavement by the coach stop was rather strewn with litter.
- London buses seemed to be stopped just to the North of the coach stop.
The coach stop wasn’t too crowded despite five or six coaches stopping, whilst I was there.
Moorgate Is Getting A Light-Controlled Crossing
Whilst, the building of 101 Moorgate was ongoing, crossing Moorgate has been a bit of a nightmare.
But now, as this picture shows a light-controlled crossing is being installed.
The gap in the building behind the traffic lights on the far side of Moorgate leads through to Finsbury Square.
This Google Map shows the City of London between Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations.
Note.
- Finsbury Square Gardens is in the centre of the map.
- Moorgate station is to the West of the gardens with Moorgate and its North-South buses in between.
- There is a Marks and Spencer department store on Moorgate to the North of the gardens.
- The shops and offices of Broadgate and Liverpool Street station are to the East of the gardens.
Especially, when it is good weather, there is a pleasant East-West walking route across the map.
British Gas Introduce Hydrogen-Powered Van Trials
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
British Gas is piloting the use of a hydrogen-powered van to help decarbonise their fleet, marking a significant step in their commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040
These two paragraphs add some details.
The partnership with Ryze Power, the suppliers of clean hydrogen and alternative fuels and energy, will provide British Gas with access to the green hydrogen to power the Vauxhall Vivaro van over the two-month trial. The van is being put through its paces by a British Gas engineer in Birmingham, accessing Ryze’s refueling station at Tyseley during their working day.
The journey to Centrica, parent company of British Gas, reaching its 2040 net zero target includes achieving a net zero fleet by 2030, which is where this initiative supports the business in its vital next steps. Water vapour is the only emissions from the hydrogen vans, which include a battery a fraction of the size of that in an EV, meaning less requirement for mining precious metals.
I have written about this van before in Vauxhall Begins UK Customer Trials Of Hydrogen Vans.
The New Station With Wildflowers And No Car Park
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A new railway station with solar panels and wildflowers on the roof and no car park has been hailed as an example of sustainable transport
These three paragraphs, explain the thinking behind the design.
Cambridge South station, on Francis Crick Avenue, at the city’s Biomedical Campus, is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Designer and architect Jan Kroes said the site, which sits next to a nature reserve, would “fit in within the green belt”.
Network Rail said the site would be next to a guided busway system and connect with local cycleways and footpaths.
Regularly, when I lived nearly twenty miles from Cambridge, I would drive to Whittlesford Parkway station, which has 348 parking spaces and take the train to London.
This Google Map shows the area to the South-East of Cambridge.
Note.
- Cambridge is towards the North-West corner of the map.
- Newmarket, which has a population of nearly 16,000, is towards the North-East corner of the map.
- Haverhill, which has a population of nearly 30,000, is towards the South-East corner of the map.
- Whittlesford Parkway station, is towards the South-West corner of the map close to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford
- I used to live at Great Thurlow between Newmarket and Haverhill.
The only railway stations on this map are Cambridge, Cambridge North, Dullingham, Newmarket, Shelford and Whittlesford Parkway.
As bus services are pretty thin on the ground, if you live to the bSouth-East of Cambridge, I can understand if there has been surprise, at the lack of parking at the new Cambridge South station.
- If you are travelling to London or Stansted Airport, you can still use Whittlesford Parkway, which has parking.
- But if when the East West Railway opens, you will need to use Cambridge or Cambridge South stations.
- Now that Cambridge North station is open, travelling to Norwich by train may be easier, unless there is not enough parking at Cambridge North station.
When I lived in the area, the most common excuse for not using the train, was the problems of parking at the stations.
I predict, that parking will be added to Cambridge South station.
A True Underground Advert
I spotted this advert at Swiss Cottage station today.
I’m surprised the censors of Transport for London didn’t ban it.
Another version of the advert is also running around on a 476 bus near me. But in that one a single lady is lying down to fit the bus.
The Anonymous Widower 