Anniesland 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.
Anniesland station is on the list.
The Services shown in Wikipedia are comprehensive and numerous considering that the station has just two through platforms and a bay platform.
These pictures are of the station.
This Google Map shows the layout of the station.
Note.
- The two main Glasgow stations are to the North.
- The two through platforms are numbered 1 and 2 and go under the footbridge in the middle of the image.
- The bay platform is to the North of the station building and is mainly served by a shuttle to Glasgow Queen Street station. I wrote about this shuttle in Anniesland And Glasgow Queen Street Via Maryhill In A Class 230 Train.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
Could a factory-built bridge like this be used at Anniesland station?
I suspect it will be possible, but the site is rather cramped!
Conclusion
A step-free footbridge would make the lot of passengers changing between platforms 1 and 3 much better.
Bridlington 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.
Bridlington station is on the list.
In Bridlington Station – 13th March 2019, I showed this picture, that I had taken on my visit.
The bridge connects the Northbound platform to the Southbound and bay platforms and the main part of the station.
This Google Map shows the location of the existing bridge clearly.
It should obviously be made step-free to make all three platforms easy to access for all travellers.
- Should the old bridge be totally replaced or should new lifts be added?
- Should the bridge be moved from its current position?
- Should the bridge be raised to allow for possible future electrification?
- Should a fsctory-build standard bridge with lifts be instaled in a different position?
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed at Bridlington station?
I suspect that it could be fitted on the Western ends of the platforms, leaving the original bridge in place during construction to keep the station open.
After installation of the new bridge, the original bridge could be demolished, shut off or refurbished as appropriate.
Note that the town of Bridlington is getting a makeover.
- New and an increasing number of trains will be calling at Bridlington station to serve residents, commuters and visitors.
- A modern step-free bridge which welcomes travellers to the town or speeds them on their way, could be just the ticket.
I have a feeling this step-free bridge could deliver good value to Bridlington, the train operating companies and travellers to and from the town.
Stowmarket 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.
Stowmarket station is on the list.
In Roaming Around East Anglia – Stowmarket Station, I said this.
The station is Grade II Listed, has the capability to handle the long London-Norwich expresses and probably only needs a step-free footbridge to be ready for the East-West Rail Link.
This picture shows the bridge.
Step-free access would create an easy interchange between stations.
- On the Great East Main Line between Stowmarket and Norwich.
- On the East-West Rail Link between Stowmarket and Cambridge/Peterborough and further West.
Journeys like between Diss and Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Cambridge and Peterborough will be so much easier.
Greater Anglia is already planning to increase services on both routes, so the step-free bridge will be well used.
Installing Step-Free Access
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed at Stowmarket station?
- I think this could be possible, if the existing bridge were to be removed.
- At least there is a level crossing by the station, which could be used as an emergency means of crossing the railway.
I very much favour this approach. which surely could be installed on a weekend possession.
Hackney Downs 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.
Hackney Downs station, which I use regularly is on the list.
In Is Hackney Downs Station A Suitable Case For Treatment?, I mused at the possibilities for the station, after a chance meeting with an architect, surveyor or planner from Transport for London at the station, who had just had a look behind the locked doors at the station.
Let’s hope that if there is something worth preserving behind those forbidding brick walls!
Other than the obvious step-free access, my ideas for the station would include.
- Better use of the rooms on the platforms.
- A couple of enclosed waiting rooms.
- Improved bus stop locations.
- A light-controlled crossing outside the station.
But the biggest opportunities would surely be opened up, if London Overground’s services were reorganised.
At present, the station has the following services in trains per hour (tph)
- Liverpool Street and Chesthunt – two tph
- Liverpool Street and Chingford – four tph
- Liverpool Street and Enfield Town – two tph
Plans also exist to increase the Enfield Town services to four tph.
These are not overly high frequency services compared to some services in London.
In Could London Overground Extend To Hertford East Station?, I speculated on a rumour that Hertford East services would be given to the London Overground.
If this does happen, I believe that some local services would have to terminate in the High Meads Loop under the Eastfield shopping centre at Stratford.
In the other post I say this.
If as I proposed the following trains run through Seven Sisters station.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Stratford and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town.
- Two tph between Stratford and Enfield Town.
This means that Hackney Downs would have the following services.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town.
- Four tph between Liverpool Street and Chingford.
Would it not be more efficient, if all of these services used the slow tracks into Liverpool Street?
This would give the expresses exclusive use of the fast lines into Liverpool Street.
It’s probably a naive analysis, but I believe services at Hackney Downs station could well include regular services between Liverpool Street and Broxbourne/Hertford East.
Conclusion
Step-free access at Hackney Downs station could be part of a package, that sees extra services and destinations added to the station.
France, Denmark Eye Hydrogen Future
The title of thid post is the same as that of this article on Energy Reporters.
A few points from the article.
- EDF has launched a hydrogen production and distribution company called Hynamics.
- EDF is now the largest shareholder in McPhy, a electrolyses, hydrogen storage and charging station provider.
- European gas-fired power stations will run on twenty percent hydrogen.
- Hydrogen will be used to decarbonise the gas network by 2050.
- Hynamics said it was planning 40 projects in France, Belgium, Germany and Britain.
- In Denmark, Ørsted, is working on plans to convert electricity from its wind turbines into hydrogen.
The article is a must-read.
Meridian Water Station – 4th April 2019
Meridian Water station appears to be not far away from completion.
It looks like it could meet the planned opening date of the 19th May!
A Toilet On A London Underground Train
On my short journey between City Thameslink, and London Bridge stations, I sat next to one of the toilets.
I also made use of the facility.
As there is a lot of pressure to show Thameslink on the Tube Map, will these trains become the only trains on the Underground to have toilets?
As modern controlled emission toilets, don’t throw anything on the tracks, they can be safely used anywhere.
Automatic Door Opening On Thameslink
This morning I used Thameslink between City Thameslink and London Bridge stations.
On the three stations on this short route, the doors opened automatically, without passengers having to push any buttons.
This is normal London Underground practice and will it be used on the tunnel stations on Crossrail.
But it struck me, as I got on the train at City Thameslink station, where there is a large gap for passengers to fall into, that automatic opening may well be safer, as passengers don’t have to lean across.
Matched Seats And Roof At London Bridge Station
These pictures show the recently-built roof and the newly-installed seats at London Bridge station.
Note.
- The first picture shows the seats that were installed on a temporary basis.
- The second picture shows a section of roof.
- The remaining pictures show the seats in various places in the station.
- I like the tables for your coffee, tea or chocolate.
- I like the randomness of the placement on the entry to the station.
- They also stand out against the stone floor.
They are very different and brought a smile to my face.
How Many Welshmen And Welshwomen Can You Fit In A Million Pound Park-And-Ride?
This article on Insider Media, which is entitled Work On £1m Park-And-Ride Site Completes.
The Park-and-Ride facility is at Abercynon station, which is the station, where the Merthyr Line splits into two branches to Metryr Tydfil and Aberdate stations.
- The facility has 310 parking spaces.
- It has been built in six months after a November start.
- Bus access will be provided at the original car park.
- I hope they’ve increased cycle capacity for the Geraint Thomas effect.
My only worry is that with eight trains per hour to start between Abercynon and Cardiff in 2023, will the facility be big enough?
Economics
This is obviously and a much-needed scheme and each parking space has cost around £3,000. If on 250 working days, each generate around five pounds in revenue, that must mean that the car park should be viable.
Conclusion
If this Park-and-Ride facility has been built so quickly and should be viable, why is it that so few similar parking schemes are proposed for railway stations?
Especially, where at Abercynon station, there will be a massive improvement in capacity and quality of the train service.
- A doubling of frequency
- Faster, electric tram-trains.
- Trains that can hold more passengers.
How many other stations are getting this improvement?
as to finance, I think this could be the sort of investment, infrastructure funds, run by the like of L & G and Aviva will be looking at..
- Not a large investment.
- Could be constructed to n efficient design.
- Guaranteed return.
But in the future, when electric vehicles make up say half of all those on the road, it could become a large energy supply and storage facility.
The Anonymous Widower 