The New Clock At London Bridge Station
These pictures show the new clock at London Bridge station.
This story on the Network Rail web site, which is entitled A New Timepiece For The Railway, gives more details.
Rail Line To Reopen After 60 Years In £120m Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, but new stations will be opened in Cowley and Littlemore in south-east Oxford.
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the “European Silicon Valley”.
Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was “finally going to become a reality”.
Have the Government finally got the message that reopened branch lines are good for growth, like I believe the Dartmoor and Northumberland Lines have been?
The Wycombe Railway
The Cowley Branch Line was originally the Wycombe Railway and ran all the way via Thame, Princes Risborough, Saunderton, West Wycombe, High Wycombe, Marlow and Bourne End to Maidenhead station, as detailed by a map in its Wikipedia entry.
It looks to me, that this was a railway, that could have been developed, rather than closed.
Sheffield Wednesday Placed In Administration
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
Does this mean that the City of Sheffield will now work a six-day week?
Does Low Barometric Pressure Lower Blood Pressure?
I’m writing this post, as the barometric pressure has been low for a few days and my blood pressure has been as follows.
- Friday – 109/81/80
- Saturday – 120/47/78
- Sunday – 123/84/77
- Monday – 114/54/81
- Tuesday – 118/80/73
- Wednesday – 105/75/84
- Thursday – 108/81/74
- Friday – 107/56/70
The pressure had been going up and down all week, with two storms and quite a bit of rain.
So I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, low barometric pressure can sometimes lower blood pressure, particularly systolic blood pressure, though the relationship can be complex and varies by individual and season. Studies have shown an inverse relationship, meaning as barometric pressure drops, blood pressure can also decrease. However, other factors can also influence this, and some research suggests a more complex “U-shaped” relationship where both very low and very high pressures may be associated with changes in blood pressure.
That’s fairly conclusive.
This paper on the National Library of Medicine, which was entitled Evaluation Of The Impact Of Atmospheric Pressure In Different Seasons On Blood Pressure In Patients With Arterial Hypertension, is referenced.
Eurostar Orders First Double-Decker Trains
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Eurostar has revealed plans to run double-decker trains through the Channel Tunnel for the first time.
These three paragraphs add more details.
The cross-channel rail operator has confirmed it will order up to 50 trains from manufacturer Alstom, eventually increasing the size of its fleet by nearly a third.
The expansion plans would include investing heavily in a crucial London depot, it said.
But questions remain over whether the facility has enough space for both Eurostar and potential rival operators to use it.
This my solution to the problem outlined in the last paragraph.
Note, that I wrote the software that planned the building of the Channel Tunnel and the rail links to London and was also friends with the project manager of the 1960s attempt to build a Channel Tunnel.
We need more terminal platforms and depot space in the UK to handle Eurostar’s extra trains and the other companies who want to run to London.
We should split services into two groups.
Group 1 would terminate as now in an updated St. Pancras with more passenger handling capacity, which could probably be built over the tracks at the Northern end of the station. Trains would still be stabled at Temple Mills.
Group 2 would terminate at Ebbsfleet International, which would have extra platforms, a new depot, masses of car parking and a coach terminal.
Some trains from both groups could also stop at Ashford International.
To access Ebbsfleet from Central London and also create a Heathrow link to the Channel Tunnel, the Lizzie Line would be extended to Northfleet, where there is space to handle up to eight trains per hour in new platforms built in two disused sidings.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the location of Northfleet and Ebbsfleet stations.
Note.
- Ebbsfleet International station at the bottom of the map.
- The red tracks are High Speed One.
- The orange tracks are third-rail electrified lines.
- The orange tracks going across the map is the North Kent Line.
- Northfleet station is at the right edge of the map on the North Kent Line.
- Northfleet and Ebbsfleet stations are less than a kilometer apart.
- Ebbsfleet has a lot of car parking spaces.
I believe a spectacular cable-car or other link would connect Northfleet and Ebbsfleet stations.
These are some other thoughts.
Ebbsfleet International Station Has Good Motorway Access
This Google Map shows the location of Ebbsfleet International station in relation to the motorways.
Note.
- The A2/M2 road runs across the bottom half of the map.
- The red arrow marks the position of Ebbsfleet International station.
- The Dartford Crossing is a few miles West of the station.
In my last few years, as an Ipswich season ticket holder, I regularly had a lift to Ebbsfleet International from a friend and the route to the station from the M25 and the A2/M2 wasn’t bad.
But it will be getting better.
This map from the Government’s consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing, shows the road layout in a few years.
Note.
- The Lower Thames Crossing is shown in red.
- Ebbsfleet International station is about a mile South of Northfleet
- The new crossing will connect to the A2, a few miles East of the link road to the station.
Travellers from much of the East of and Middle England could use the new crossing to get to Ebbsfleet International station.
These are current times from Google.
- Birmingham – 2 hours and 41 minutes
- Cambridge – 1 hour and 17 minutes
- Edinburgh – 7 hours and 44 minutes
- Fishguard – 5 hours and 29 minutes
- Glasgow – 7 hours and 6 minutes
- Holyhead – 5 hours and 29 minutes
- Hull – 4 hours and 1 minute
- Ipswich – 1 hour and 29 minutes
- Leeds – 3 hours and 55 minutes
- Liverpool – 4 hours and 40 minutes
- Manchester – 4 hours and 28 minutes
- Milton Keynes – 1 hour and 37 minutes
- Newcastle 5 hours and 25 minutes
- Norwich – 2 hours 23 minutes
- Nottingham – 2 hours and 55 minutes
- Peterborough – 1 hour and 54 minutes
- Sheffield – 3 hours and 35 minutes
- Stoke-on-Trent – 3 hours and 25 minutes
- York – 4 hours and 16 minutes
Note.
- I would suspect that the opening of the Lower Thames Crossing will knock 10-15 minutes off these times.
- Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peterborough, Sheffield and York would probably be quicker to Europe with a change to Continental train services at St. Pancras, rather than Ebbsfleet International.
- With improvements to rail services, more of these journeys will be quicker by train.
- High Speed Two should connect Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent to London, by the mid 2030s.
But there are some, who always feel their car is safer in a car park!
Ebbsfleet International Station Has A Large Amount Of Car Parking
This map shows the car parks at Ebbsfleet International station.
Note.
- Some of the parking areas are marked with a P.
- It is easy to pick-up and drop passengers.
- The car parks could be double-decked to add more spaces if needed.
- According to the Ebbsfleet International web site, the station currently has 5225 parking spaces, 68 accessible car parking spaces.
For those that have a lot of luggage or a large family, taking the car to Ebbsfleet International may be the best option.
Ebbsfleet International Station Should Have A Coach Station
Consider.
- In the next few years, hydrogen-powered coaches with a thousand kilometre range will come to dominate the long distance coach market.
- Mercedes and Wrightbus are know to be developing long-distance hydrogen-powered coaches.
- Hydrogen-powered coaches will be able to reach all of England and Wales and a large part of Scotland from Ebbsfleet International.
- Ebbsfleet International is closely connected to the UK motorway network.
- Continental coaches using the Channel Tunnel, could use Ebbsfleet as a coach interchange with the UK.
- Ebbsfleet International could also handle customs services for Continental coach services, which would take the pressure off the Channel Tunnel and the ferries.
- Ebbsfleet International could also have a coach link to Gatwick Airport.
These and other reasons make me feel, that a coach terminal at Ebbsfleet International is essential.
A Green Connection Between The Two Halves Of The European Union For the Gretas Of This World
Consider.
- There is no zero-carbon route between the island of Ireland and Continental Europe.
- Eurostar is all-electric between London and Continental Europe, but only serves a limited number of destinations.
- Low- or zero-carbon ferries are being designed, that run on hydrogen.
- Trains between London and the Irish ferries are diesel-powered.
- The simplest solution would surely be to run hydrogen-powered coaches between Ebbsfleet International and Fishguard and/or Holyhead. Both journeys would take three and a half hours.
Hydrogen-powered coaches are under development by Wrightbus.
I also asked Google AI if anybody is planning zero-carbon ferries between the UK and ireland and received this answer.
Yes, there are plans for zero-carbon ferries between the UK and Ireland, with a specific “Green Corridor” feasibility study underway for the Holyhead to Dublin route, and a separate, separate commuter service project planned between Belfast and Bangor. The Belfast Maritime Consortium is developing the zero-carbon commuter service, and a separate “Green Corridor” feasibility study is assessing potential low-carbon pathways between Holyhead and Dublin
I believe the green connection is feasible, provided the following happens.
- Ebbsfleet International is reopened and developed as a station for Continental Europe.
- The zero-carbon ferries are developed.
- The busmasters from Ballymena deliver the ultimate hydrogen-powered coach.
- Hydrogen and other fuels are made available, where they is needed.
This could do wonders for the economy of the island of Ireland.
Out of curiosity, I did ask Google AI, what is the longest coach route in the UK and received this answer.
The longest scheduled coach journey in the UK is the Scottish Citylink route from Glasgow to Uig on the Isle of Skye (route 915 or 916), which is about 230 miles and takes around 7 hours and 50 minutes. Historically, there have been much longer international bus routes, such as the Penn Overland tour from London to Ceylon, but these were not regular, scheduled services.
So my proposal at five hours and 29 minutes is only a short hop.
I also believe that with good project management that the additional infrastructure could be built by 2030, with little or no disruption to existing services.
Is It Advantageous For Student Doctors To See Patients Earlier In Their Careers?
I’m asking this for a friend.
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, it is advantageous for student doctors to see patients earlier, as it can increase motivation and confidence, provide a better theoretical understanding, and help them develop clinical and communication skills earlier. Early patient contact also helps students build professional identity, gain comfort with patient encounters, and better understand the realities of being a physician, which can also improve patient experiences and facilitate the transition to becoming a junior doctor
That all sounds pretty sensible to me.
These are some thoughts.
Could The Same Philosophy Be Used For Other Health Professionals Like Nurses, Pharmacists And Radiographers?
I don’t see why not!
I actually feel, this philosophy might be already being used by the City University, who train radiographers at Homerton Hospital in Hackney.
I Was Used By University College For Interview Practice
A few years ago, I spent four nights in University College Hospital.
- I had my own single room.
- They wanted to do a few more tests.
- So one of the Senior Tutors asked if I’d mind being interviewed by student doctors for practice.
As I said, I wouldn’t mind, I was interviewed by four student doctors over two nights.
It certainly relieved some of my boredom and at least two of the students had never met a coeliac before.
Conclusion
I believe this patient/student interaction could be used very much to the advantage of both groups.
Can You Take A Dulcolax With Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I was suffering from constipation this morning, as the low barometric pressure was drawing the water out of my body.
So I wondered if I could safely take one of my usual Dulcolax tablets.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
You should not take Dulcolax with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, especially during a flare-up, without first consulting a healthcare provider. Stimulant laxatives like Dulcolax can be risky and may cause issues, such as gastrointestinal problems or increased risk of perforation. Instead, a healthcare provider will likely recommend consulting them for advice on which constipation treatments, if any, are appropriate, such as bulk-forming laxatives if your diet is insufficient.
I didn’t take any Dulcolax tablets.
But I’ve just hydrated myself with a bottle of Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% Beer and it did the trick!
Can Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease Make My Left Foot Go Red?
In My Unusual Feet, which I wrote in February 2022, I showed this typical picture of my feet.
Note how the left foot is redder than the right.
This prompted me to ask Google AI, the question in the title of this post and I received this answer.
No, uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease itself is not likely to cause a red left foot, though it’s possible for pain to radiate to the legs. A red foot would be a symptom of a different issue, and could be related to complications from the diverticular disease, such as sepsis (a severe infection), or another unrelated condition like poor circulation or an infection. It’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause of the red foot and rule out a more serious problem, especially if you have symptoms like fever or severe pain.
As sepsis is mentioned, if it happens again, I’ll see a health professional.
Service Of Dedication For The Faculty Of Medicine And Dentistry At Queen Mary University Of London
I was invited to the Service of Dedication for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, which was held on the 16th of October in the Church of Great St. Bartholomew in Smithfield.
These are the pictures I took.
Note.
The Anonymous Widower 