Work Has Finished Behind Platform 1 At Ipswich Station
In Curious Rail Construction At Ipswich Station, I questioned if construction had started on a Platform 0 at Ipswich station.
When I went through the station yesterday, I took this picture from of Platform 1 and the works behind.
There is still need to create more platforms at Ipswich.
The full length of the main Up Platform 2 will be needed for Greater Anglia’s new and longer, Stadler Flirts, which will call three times an hour on their way to London.
In addition, there will be a Peterborough to Colchester service stopping at Platform 2 once an hour.
So it will be unlikely, that the occasional Lowestoft or Felixstowe can stop at the Norwich end of Platform 2, as they do now.
A Platform 0 has been talked about to solve the problem, but nothing seems to have happened yet.
An Extension To TransWilts
This article on Rail Technology Magazine is entitled Maynard visits proposed Westbury-Salisbury extension to TransWilts line.
This is said.
The proposed site of a new station at Wilton that would connect Westbury and Salisbury was visited by rail minister Paul Maynard yesterday, as the MP travelled on a special GWR 1005 Swindon to Salisbury service to mark the role that community rail was playing in the region.
I like the concept of TransWilts, which I wrote about in A Trip Around Wiltshire.
I think it just shows how rail can be developed in rural counties. According to the article, TransWilts carried 20% more passengers last year.
Class 319 Flex Trains Could Be In Service By December 2017
I have just seen a an early copy of Porterbrook’s brochure for their new Class 319 Flex train.
On the summary page, the following is said.
4 units in service by December 2017
On the North-West Electrification page of the Network Rail web site, these electrification milestones are given.
- December 2017 – Preston to Manchester and Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge
- Early 2018 – Preston to Blackpool
It would appear that the delivery of the trains and the availability of electrified lines are not a bad fit.
I estimate that three Class 319 Flex trains will be needed to provide an hourly service to Blackpool from either Liverpool or Manchester, before Preston to Blackpool is electrified.
But once Blackpool to Preston is electrified, Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston would be linked by standard Class 319 trains, releasing the Class 319 Flex trains to develop other routes from the core electrified network.
- Barrow-in-Furness – Electrified to Carnforth
- Buxton – Electrified to Hazel Grove
- Huddersfield – Electrified to Stalybridge
- Kirkby – Electrified to Bolton
- Southport – Electrified to Bolton
- Windermere – Electrified to Oxenholme Lake District
Places like Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe and even Hebden Bridge and Todmorden could be reached from the electrification at Bolton, Manchester or Preston.
The electrified network will be grown, by the selective addition of electrification and/or trains.
Is There Anywhere A Class 319 Flex Train Can’t Go?
I have just seen an early copy of Porterbrook’s brochure for their new Class 319 Flex train.
This is an extract.
Porterbrook determined that the most arduous route would be Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton, which has a steep gradient and multiple stops along its 25 mile route 9(8 miles of which is electrified). This anlysis was included to give confidence that the Class 319 Flex would be comparable to existing Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) technology across a range of different routes, stopping patterns and gradients.
So I took a quick look at the Buxton Line on Wikipedia.
This is said.
Due to steep gradients on this line, Class 142 and Class 153 DMUs are banned from the section of line between Hazel Grove and Buxton. Therefore, services to Buxton are worked by Class 150 and Class 156 DMUs. Also Class 158 DMUs were once blocked from operating on the line to Buxton due to the possibility of the large roof-mounted air vents striking low bridges on the route.
Note the two extracts both say “to Buxton”, as obviously, the trains can use the free power boost of gravity on the way down.
To back this up, trains are currently timed to take 37 minutes to climb from Hazel Grove station to Buxton and 33 minutes for the gravity-assisted return.
A driver once told me, that the brakes on a Class 319 train are up there with the best. So there’s little chance of runaway train syndrome.
Train Services To And From Buxton And Hazel Grove
Under Services in the Wikipedia entry for Buxton, this is said.
There is generally an hourly service daily (including Sundays) between Buxton and Manchester Piccadilly, taking about one hour. The service frequency is enhanced to about half-hourly in the morning and evening peaks. A limited number of trains (currently seven on weekdays in total) work through beyond Manchester, with one train each of to/from Blackpool North, Clitheroe, Barrow-in-Furness, Wigan North Western, Wigan Wallgate, Preston and Bolton.
Note.
- Of these destinations, several are not likely to be electrified in the near future, but could be reached by a Class 319 Flex.
- Some would also allow the trains to stretch their legs under the wires of the West Coast Main Line or the Manchester to Preston Line.
- As the Buxton Line is double-tracked would a more powerful train enable more frequent trains?
- Buxton station may have had improvements to ease turning trains.
- At present, Northern don’t seem to run any trains further than between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton stations, but with the opening of the Ordsall Chord at the end of 2017, running trains past Piccadilly could ease the load on one of Manchester’s main stations.
- Despite Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove being electrified, at present, no electric trains serve the route.
- ,Clitheroe station is probably the most interesting destination, as like the Buxton Line, the Ribble Valley Line needs trains with some qualities common in mountain goats.
It looks like Buxton is going to get a much improved train service.
It should also be noted, that once the Manchester to Preston line is electrified, all services from Hazel Grove to Manchester and Preston could be run by Class 319 trains, whether they are the Electric or Flex variant.
Can and will the service between Manchester and Hazel Grove via Stockport be a Turn-Up-And-Go four tph electric service from the December 2017 Timetable change?
Range On A Full Tank Of Diesel
Or that might be two tanks, as is there one in each driver car for each engine?
The brochure says.
The Class 319 Flex unit would have the capacity to make five return trips per day for two days before refuelling is required.
That surely is more than adequate.
Could The Buxton Line Be Electrified?
It would be assumed that the Germans, French or Italians would electrify a line like the Buxton Line.
But this is not always the case and I’ve used lines in Germany to reach towns the size of Buxton and the lines are not all electrified.
Electric trains on an electrified line have the advantage of bags of grunt and would handle the route with ease.
But it would cost and it wouldn’t be the easiest of engineering projects. I suspect too, that there would be objections to gantries marching sall over the Peak District
I think with modern technology there might be a better and more affordable way.
The Class 319 Flex is just a first solution.
Comparison With The New Class 195 Trains
I suspect it is unlikely that the new Class 195 trains ordered by Northern will be unable to reach Buxton, but they won’t be in service for a few years.
Comparing the two train types, it would appear.
- Installed power is about the same.
- But what about the weight?
- The Class 319 Flex has 12 First Class seats and 255 Standard Class seats in the brochure, as against 204 seats in a three-car Class 195 train.
- The Class 319 Flex is a bi-mode that can use electric power, between Manchester and Hazel Grove.
It will be an fascinating comparison: A thirty-year-old British Rail-built train with a bi-mode upgrade against a new Spanish-built diesel multiple unit.
Along The Hope Valley Line To Sheffield
The Hope Valley Line between Manchester and Sheffield has two electrified links at the Manchester end to Piccadilly.
- Via Hazel Grove and Stockport, where electrification reaches to Hazel Grove
- Via Guide Bridge, where electrification reaches almost to Hyde North, to serve the electrified Glossop Line.
Theis important route between Manchester and Sheffield has been marked down for new Class 195 trains, but I suspect that the distance is within range of a Class 319 Flex.
The Manchester end of this route could be a fertile area for using Class 319 Flex trains. As a simple example, they could be used to bridge the gap between the electrification on the Glossop Line and Rose Hill Marple station.
Conclusion
Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton may be a tough route, but if a train can can climb to Buxton crush loaded with passengers, there are a lot of benefits to the operator.
- Electric trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Hazel Grove.
- Releasing of platform space in Piccadilly when the Ordsall Chord opens.
- Back-to back services between Buxton and Blackpool, Barrow, Clitheroe and Wigan. I suspect there’s a lot more.
- A possible two trains per hour to Buxton.
- Two electric trains per hour to Rose Hill Marple.
And that’s just for starters!
West Anglia Route Improvement – Enfield Council And Rail Companies
This article in the Barnet and Whetstone Press is entitled Transport Blow To Meridian Water Development.
This is said.
THE council has admitted spending nearly £200,000 on an unsuccessful judicial review into a transport decision that could drastically undermine its vision for the multi-million pound Meridian Water housing development.
In September last year, the Department for Transport told rail companies thinking of bidding for the franchise through Angel Road railway station, in Edmonton, that a successful bid would not have to guarantee a minimum of four trains an hour.
You don’t call for a judicial review lightly and as Enfield lost, I suspect they were none to pleased with the Department of Transport and the various rail companies.
I then found this article on 21st Century Rail, whih is entitled Network Rail needs to get a grip of GRIP.
This is how the article starts.
Network Rail’s infrastructure upgrade process has been severely criticised by one of Enfield Borough’s leading planners.
The Meridian Water project is part of the borough’s wider regeneration plan for the Lea Valley area, which involves re-siting and constructing a new Angel Road station – to be renamed Meridian Water – and installing a third track between there and Stratford.
It then contains a fairly savage attack on Network Rail’s planning process.
The article does include this about plans for the Stratford – Angel Road train service.
It is part of Network Rail’s wider STAR project (Stratford-Tottenham-Angel Road) to increase capacity on WAML (the West Anglia mainline). The third track will run for about five miles; Network Rail is working with the DfT to increase the number of trains to four per hour (tph). Between 2019 and 2024, WAML will be widened to take four tracks and the capacity increased to handle 8tph. If Crossrail 2 is built, capacity will be doubled again to 16tph by 2030.
But it does seem that relations between Enfield Council and Network Rail and the other rail companies could be better.
West Anglia Route Improvement – The Closure Of Northumberland Park Level Crossing
This letter on the Department of Transport web site is a very long-winded way of saying that Network Rail can close the level crossing at Northumberland Park station.
Ironically, when Greater Anglia received their new trains on this route, their increased performance and reduced station dwell time, might mean they could do the required extra stops for STAR at Angel Road station, without the closure of Northumberland Park level crossing.
But it will have to be closed at some time.
West Anglia Route Improvement – Meridian Water, Road Traffic And Level Crossings – 1st March 2017
This map from the Meridian Water web site shows the area of Meridian Water outlined in red.
And this Google Map shows the Lea Valley from the North Circular Road in the North almost to Tottenhsm Hale in the South.
Note.
- Tesco and IKEA are in the middle of the Meridian Water site with the West Anglia Main Line and the main North South road to their West.
- The River Lea and the River Lea Navigation Canal pass between the Meridian Water site and the Banbury Reservoir.
With the building of Meridian Water, traffic in the area is only going to get worse.
The main North-South route shown in the second map starts North of Enfield Lock, where it has rather dodgy connections to the M25 and is generally a single carriageway road, all the way to the Tottenham Hale Gyratory, where traffic is heavy at all times.
One problem is going or coming West from this North-South route, as vehicles need to cross the West Anglia Main Line.
Starting from the North, the crossings of the railway are as follows.
- A level crossing at Enfield Lock station.
- A level crossing at Brimsdown station.
- A bridge for the A110
- A bridge at Conduit Lane, just North of the current Angel Road station.
- The North Circular Road, which is not well-connected to the North-South route.
- A bridge at Leeside Road, just South of the proposed site of Meridian Water station.
- A level crossing at Northumberland Park station.
Another bridge over the railway delivers you into the jams at Topttenham Hale.
STAR is currently envisaged to provide a seven-day-a-week services of four trains per hour (tph) between Angel Road and Stratford with calls at Northumberland Park, Tottenham Hale and Lea Bridge stations.
However the current local service up the Lea Valley from Stratford goes to Hertford East and Bishops Stortford stations with a rather erratic stopping pattern at stations North of Tottenham Hale.
So will STAR be based on these services or a separate train turning back at Meridian Water station?
But whatever happens it will increase the number of trains through Northumberland Park station.
It has now been announced in the last few weeks, that the level crossing will be closed.
Drivers wanting to go across the level crossing, following the closure will now do one of the following.
- Go South and over the railway to Tottenham Hale.
- Go North and cross the railway on the Leeside Road bridge.
They could always use the train.
I think the following would help mitigate the loss of the crossing.
- Some road improvement at the junction of Leeside Road and the North-South road.
- A decent pedestrian route between the new Meridian Water station and Glover Drive for Tesco and IKEA.
- The STAR service going North from Meridian Water station, as well as South to Stratford.
Hopefully, it will all be clear by the end of 2018.
West Anglia Route Improvement – Meridian Water Station – 1st March 2017
After reading Colin’s comment to the recent Angel Road station post and looking at the FAQ on the Meridian Water web site., I created this Google Map of the area along Willoughby Lane, from Northumberland Park station to the other side of the railway from IKEA.
Willoughby Lane is actually a road that starts at Northumberland Park station and then goes Northwards to the two bus stops.
I feel that the new station, which will be called Meridian Water will be built on the large clear site, between the Northernmost bus stop and the railway.
These are some pictures of the that site taken on 1st March 2017.
This is a Google Map of the site.
Note.
- I used a private helicopter flying low over the area or in more common parlance the top deck of a 341 bus going to IKEA.
- The entrance to the site is off Leeside Road.
- The railway runs North-South.
- Fences leading from the entrance road go right up to the West side of the railway.
- The works to create the third track for STAR are clearly visible.
- A large area seemed to be fenced off off on the East side of the Railway.
- The Leeside Bridge seems a substantial modern structure.
- IKEA and Tesco to the East of the railway and the Angel Edmonton Road.
I remember the station site as a gas works and these sites are often very polluted. So perhaps building a station on the top and adding car parking might be easier than building houses, unless it’s a few signature tower blocks, which would have superb views of the Lea Valley.
It’s certainly going to be profitable for the developers.
This is from the Infrastructure page on the Meridian Water web site.
It is not very often London gets a brand new rail station, but Meridian Water Station will open in 2019, unlocking the area for commuters, taking passengers south directly to Stratford London and London Liverpool Street and north to Stansted and Cambridge.
The station, which will be built on the Willoughby Lane site and replace the existing and poorly accessible Angel Road station, will provide a much improved rail connection for Enfield residents with a more frequent service into central London.
This site North of Leeside Road is probably a much better-located site than that of the current station.
- There is a lot of space, which might enable car parking and a turnback platform.
- It is just off the main North-South road.
- It is close to IKEA and Tesco and pedestrian access between the two would surely be possible.
This visualisation is from the Meridian Water web site.
Note.
- It doesn’t look to be a station built on the cheap.
- The Crossrail symbol on the station.
- Are we looking North or South in the visualisation.
I suspect that what gets built could be rather different and a lot better with perhaps a continuous garden bridge from West of railway to Glover Drive, where Tesco and IKEA are situated.
Worcestershire Parkway Station Under Way
This article in the Worcester News is entitled PICTURES: Lift off! Clearance work underway for Worcestershire Parkway.
Enough said! Especially as the pictures are informative!
But with similar signs of a new station at Meridian Water, it seems to be good news for those who want new stations.
What Is Most Important In A Train Service?
I am prompted to ask this question after my trips on the reopened Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBlin), which I wrote about in Along The Reopened Gospel Oak To Barking Line.
These are my thoughts on what is important in a train service.
Clean And Tidy Trains And Stations
London Overground is a network of nine lines and 112 stations and the operator makes sure that everything is clean and tidy.
Also unlike many rail lines in the world, it is very rare to find any graffiti on trains or inside stations on the Big Orange.
I’ve only ever seen one example of spray paint on a train, in the seven years, that I’ve used the Overground.
So what is it, that enforces the good behaviour?
I don’t know, but even on a crowded train, I’ve never seen any anti-social behaviour.
Could it be that the clean, practical environment of the trains and stations discourages it? Perhaps it has just been designed out?
Remember that stations are the marketing or retail face of the trains.
Would you buy your supper, clothes or household goods from a badly-designed and scruffy shop?
You wouldn’t!
And you didn’t buy much from BHS, Blockbuster, Comet or Woolworths either!
The Size, Quality And Type Of Trains
My fellow passengers on my GOBlin trips, didn’t seem bothered about the quality of the Class 172 trains., but a couple did say that four-car trains would be welcome, as overcrowding on the line can be a problem.
But I do wonder if you have a quality train of the right size and performance, does it matter what method is used to power the train, so long as it is reliable.
I also think that if you asked a selection of users and residents by the line, that electric trains would be fasvoured on noise grounds, but some would object to gantries marching along the line in a sensitive area.
It should be noted, that one of the reasons for electrifying the GOBlin, is so that freight trains can be electric-hauled, which is preferable for environmental reasons, of which diesel locomotive noise is very prominent.
The Number And Quality Of The Stations
More and higher quality stations are a sound policy, that is only limited by the budget.
Many recently opened stations, like Dalston Junction, Galashiels, James Cook, Oxford Parkway and Southend Airport have been a success, as like most new stations, they’ve built to fulfil a perceived need!
In addition, stations like Deptford, Hampstead Heath and Lower Edmonton have also shown an increase in patronage after upgrading with lifts and a refurbished building.
A cynic might say, that Network Rail’s Access for All program is not just about passenger needs but more about getting more people to ride in trains to generate revenue.
But the outcome is the same for those with special travelling needs.
A Turn-Up-And-Go Service
One lady of a certain age, I met yesterday, said she’d never used the GOBlin before and as she’d heard it was running again, she thought she’d give it a try, as she fancied a walk on Hampstead Heath.
Since, it was taken over by London Overground, the short line has been running four trains per hour (tph) in both directions, which is what London Overground, Merseyrail and other operators would consider a Turn-Up-And-Go-Service for an urban route.
If you just miss a train, then you only have to wait a maximum of fifteen minutes for another train.
But to be an efficient Turn-Up-And-Go Service other things are needed.
Contactless Ticketing
My fellow traveller was like me, travelling on a free Frredom Pass, which means we just touched in and went on our way. But in London, I actually carry two other valid tickets as two of my credit/debit cards are contactless. I use one of these, when I’m travelling to Gatwick Airport, as it is outside the Freedom Pass area, but inside London’s contactless ticketing area.
, Surely when you use a line like the GOBlin, be it in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Paris or Zurich, you shouldn’t have to buy a ticket if you have a contactless debit or credit card.
These days with modern technology, no-one should not have to do anything more than touch in and touch-out with a contactless bank card to use a local transport network; based on bus, tram or train.
Operators that don’t embrace this contactless bank card route and insist you buy a separate card or download an app to your new Nokia 3310 are Luddites of the worst kind.
Getting To And From The Station
Efficient Turn-Up-And-Go also needs enough car and bike parking and/or well-documented bus links.
Tea And Coffee Kiosks
London Overground also like to add good tea and coffee kiosks into their Turn-Up-And-Go mix, often using very independent operators.
If you do miss that train, you might as well take your caffeine fix!
The Anonymous Widower 