Crewe Hub To Be First ‘All-Digital’ Station, Says Transport Chief
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in the Warrington Guardian.
This is the first three paragraphs
Delays caused by signalling faults could eventually be a thing of the past on trains running to and from Crewe.
At a meeting on Friday Pete Waterman, chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Transport Body (LTB), revealed that Network Rail, the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd have agreed that the town will become home to Britain’s first all-digital station.
It means that all trains running from Crewe to Warrington, Chester and other destinations across Cheshire would benefit from the same technology which will be used by HS2 services – meaning lines could run more efficiently with trains travelling in a tighter sequence.
I feel that increasingly, digital signalling will be used to improve capacity on UK railways.
Call For ETCS On King’s Lynn Route
The title of this post, is the same as that on an article in Edition 849 of Rail Magazine.
The article is based on this document on the Fen Line Users Aoociation web site, which is entitled Joint Response To Draft East Coast Main Line Route Study.
In addition to ETCS, which could improve capacity on the East Coast Main Line, they would also like to see journey time reductions using trains capable of running at 125 mph or faster on the King’s Lynn to King’s Cross route.
The Fen Line
The Fen Line runs between Ely and King’s Lynn stations.
- It is mainly single -track with a double-track section at Downham Market station.
- The line has an operating speed of 90 mph.
- The line is electrified.
- All stations have two platforms.
- Looking at the line from my virtual helicopter, I suspect that redoubling would be possible.
- Passenger numbers are increasing at stations on the line.
- There are several level crossings.
It also would appear that because of the complicated nature of timetabling trains on the East Coast Main Line to the South of Hitchin, that there are often delays on the Fen Line, as there is only one passing place at Downham Market.
I therefore agree with the opinions expressed on the Fen Line Users Association, that restoring double-track could help reduce delays on the Fen Line.
The Cambridge Line
The Cambridge Line connects Cambridge to the East Coast Main Line at Hitchin.
- It is double-track throughout.
- It is fully electrified.
- It has a 90 mph operating speed.
- King’s Lynn to King’s Cross services use the line.
- Currently four trains per hour (tph) run between Cambridge and Kings Cross.
- This will be increased by two tph, when Thameslink is fully operational.
King’s Lynn to King’s Cross services use this line.
The Current Timetable
Trains seem to take around an hour and forty minutes to go from King’s Cross to King’s Lynn, where they take under ten minutes to turnround and then they take around an hour and forty minutes to return to King’s Cross. I suspect, it isn’t the easiest service for an operator to mrun, as a train could be sitting in King’s Cross for thirty minutes.
How Could The Service Between King’s Lynn and King’s Cross Be Improved?
From the Rail Magazine article, the views of the Fen Line Users Association and the details of the route, the following could help.
ERTMS And ETCS
ERTMS and the closely related; ETCS are digital systems that enable trains to run faster and closer together, which could increase the capacity of the line and reduce journey times.
The Wikipedia entry for the East Coast Main Line says this about recent and future development of the signalling.
A new Rail Operating Centre (ROC), with training facilities, opened in early 2014 at the “Engineer’s Triangle” in York. The ROC will enable signalling and day-to-day operations of the route to be undertaken in a single location. Signalling control/traffic management using ERTMS is scheduled to be introduced from 2020 on the ECML between London King’s Cross and Doncaster – managed from the York ROC.
I would think it likely that if the whole route from King’s Lynn and King’s Cross were digitally signalled, there would be advantages.
- It would help the merging of trains at Hitchin.
- It would help in managing trains on the single-track sections of the Fen Line.
The Rail Magazine article mentions flighting trains on the single-track sections, where two or more trains in the same direction, went though in succession.
It would also allow closer spacing and higher frequencies on the East Coast Main Line.
All trains using the route, including freight trains, would need to be fully equipped for digital signalling.
Improving The Fen Line
The biggest improvement would come by redoubling the line between Littleport and King’s Lynn.
- Trains could pass anywhere on the Fen Line.
- It might also be possible to avoid complicated operating procedures.
- Timetabling should be easier.
- Extra services would be possible.
- Delays should be reduced, as there would be less knock-on effects from problems on the East Coast Main Line.
On the flat lands of the fens, it might also be possible to increase the operating speed.
Improving Ely
Ely is a mess, where trains always seem to be waiting for something.
Hopefully, improvements are on the way, as I wrote in Are The Trains In Ely Finally To Be Sorted?
According to an e-mail and comments on this post, Ely North Junction needs improvement.
This Google Map shows the junction.
Note.
- Ely station is to the South West.
- starting at the top-left and going clockwise, lines go to Peterborough, Ely and Norwich.
- The last set of lines are sidings.
There would appear to be two solutions.
- Extra lines and flat junctions can be added. Flat junctions mean that trains have to cross each other.
- From what I’ve read digital signalling is very good at handling junctions, by making sure trains present themselves correctly, so this may be a better solution.
Either solution could be make to work very well!
Improving The Cambridge Line
There don’t appear to be any projects on the Cambridge Line, but I suspect that Network Rail are looking for small things, that will save minutes here and there.
125 Mph Trains
Who’d have thought forty or fifty years ago, that someone would seriously suggest running trains capable of 125 mph to King’s Lynn?
The Class 387 trains are 110 mph trains and I have recorded one at that speed on the East Coast Main Line.
Would a 125 mph train, be able to use that speed South of Hitchin?
If it could then.
- It could cruise on the fast lines with all the fast trains to and from the North.
- It would cut a couple of minutes from the journey time.
Once digital signalling is operational, the trains could be closer together, which would increase line capacity.
There are several fast electric multiple units, that have been built in recent years or are on order.
- Bombardier Class 387 – 110 mph – In service.
- Bombardier Aventra – 110 mph -In development for West Midlands Trains.
- CAF Class 397 – 125 mph – In development for TransPennine Express.
- Hitachi Class 801 – 125 mph On test for service entry this year.
- Siemens Class 350 – 110 mph – In service.
Bombardier are also showing ideas for a 125 mph bi-mode Aventra to various train operating companies, which I wrote about in Bombardier Bi-Mode Aventra To Feature Battery Power.
To build a 125 mph bi-mode train, you probably start with a 125 mph electric train.
So have Bombardier designed a 125 mph version of the Aventra?
It would appear, that Bombardier, Hitachi and possibly CAF and Stadler will be offering 125 mph electric multiple units, with a bi-mode version if needed, for lines without electrification.
But there are several routes in addition to Kings Cross to King’s Lynn
- St. Pancras to Corby
- Euston to the West Midlands
- Liverpool/Manchester to Edinburgh/Glasgow
- Leeds/York to Edinburgh/Glasgow.
- Waterloo to Bournemouth/Southampton/Weymouth
Train travel could be getting faster?
Conclusion
The ultimate benefit would come if trains could do a round trip in under three hours.
This would probably need a journey time of perhaps an hour and twenty-four minutes between King’s Cross and King’s Lynn. It is certainly not possible now, but it might be with the following.
- 125 mph-capable trains.
- Digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line and on the Cambridge and Fen Lines.
- 125 mph running, where possible on the East Coast Main Line.
- Improvements at Ely.
- Full double-tracking of the Fen Line.
- If possible, 100 mph running on the Cambridge and Fen Lines.
A three-hour round trip would allow the current service of one tph to be run with just three trains.
If both of the twice-hourly fast services between Kings Cross and Cambridge were extended to King’s Lynn, instead of the current one, this would mean that the following service could be possible with just six trains.
- Two tph
- Stops at Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach, Ely, Littleport, Downham Market and Watlington.
- Ten x 23 metre cars or twelve x 20 metre cars.
- Possibly a bistro.
- Trains might stop at Royston, Hitchin and/or Stevenage.
It would be a passenger-attracting 125 mph Metro.
There is improvement to come between King’s Cross, Cambridge and King’s Lynn, if the financial case stacks up.
Ticketing On Heathrow Southern Railway
This article on City AM is entitled New Elizabeth Line Services Are Coming To Heathrow’s Terminal 5 After Airport Strikes Deal With The Government and TfL. It contains this paragraph.
Heathrow has also announced that it is introducing Oyster and contactless payments for all rail services going into the airport. From May 2018, new ticket readers will be installed at Heathrow, so anyone using Heathrow Express and TfL Rail will be able to use an Oyster or contactless.
When I passed through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago, there was evidence of new ticket gates being installed.
Heathrow Southern Railway’s Proposed Services
Heathrow Southern Railway are proposing four services to the West of Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
- Heathrow Express from Terminal 5 to Woking, Guildford and Basingstoke, with an additional stop at Farnborough Main.
- Crossrail from Terminal 5 to Staines
- A service from Terminal 5 to Waterloo with stops at Staines, Clapham Junction and possibly Ashford, Felham, Twickenham, Richmond and Vauxhall.
- A service from Terminal 5 to Weybridge with stops at Egham, Virginia Water, Chertsey and Addlestone.
Some of the stations like those between Feltham and Waterloo already accept contactless ticking, but surely all of them must if Heathrow Southern Railway is built, as you’ll be able to use contactless ticketing at Heathrow, but not at say Woking or Basingstoke.
Onward From Basingstoke, Guildford And Woking
A proportion of travellers from places like Bournemouth, Exeter, Portsmouth, Salisbury and Southampton will use Heathrow Southern Railway to get to the airport, with an appropriate change at Basingstoke, Guidford or Woking.
Will these travellers want to use contactless ticketing?
Conclusion
There will be a lot of discussions about ticketing on the Heathrow Southern Railway.
These ticketing issues, help to make it very understandable, why MTR, a partner in South Western Railway, want to join the Heathrow Southern Railway, as I wrote about in MTR Vying To Join Heathrow Southern Rail Bid.
Travellers want the ticketing system with the least hassle and as London is proving, contactless ticketing with bank cards works well!
HS2 Need To Get Their Act Together
Crossrail has been good in keeping Londoners and others informed about designs and what is happening, with constant updates to the News page on their web site.
Last month, HS2 started the contractual process to find a builder for the HS2 station at Old Oak Common.
But there is nothing about it on their News page, which is just a load of press releases.
I have found this picture of the proposed station in several places on the Internet.
But where is the detailed information page, which explains it all?
I found this map of the rail lines in Wikipedia Commons.
Note.
- It would appear that the rail line going along the North side of the common in the visualisation is the Great Western Main Line, which will also be used by Crossrail.
- It appears that the rail loop in the foreground of the visualisation, which is not shown on the map, is to allow Crossrail trains to access the North London Line.
- There must be another proposed loop or viaduct to allow trains to connect to the Northbound West Coast Main Line. This would allow Crossrail to be extended to Watford and Milton Keynes.
Where is the definitive map and information from HS2?
Old Oak Common station will affect travel plans for millions of travellers to and from most parts of London and a lot of places in the wider South East.
No wonder, there are people who don’t want HS2 to be built, if they have no information!
So why aren’t HS2 following the same news and information route, that has been successful for Crossrail?
More Train Services Between Leeds, Huddersfield And Manchester
This article on the Huddersfield Daily Examiner is entitled Important Timetable Changes For Huddersfield Rail Passengers Heading To Manchester.
It is a good explanation of the major changes that will take place to TransPennine Express services after the 20th of May.
- There will be four fast trains between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria station
- There will be two slow trains between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly station
- But nothing is said about Northern services.
I suspect, it will be sorted by the time the service starts.
I would check before you travel.
Hopefully, if you want to go to Piccadilly and get on a train that only goes to Victoria, it will be a same platform interchange to continue, your journey if your ticket is marked Manchester Stastions.
I would assume that you won’t be able to touch in with a contactless card on this short journey as is becoming the norm in a lot of the World.
Ticketing in the North is so Nineteenth Century.
TfL In Talks Over Extending Crossrail Eastwards
The title of this article is the sam as that of this article on Construction News.
The article talks about the following.
- Extending from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet International.
- TfL has had discussions with Network Rail.
Serious talks may well happen, once the new Southeastern Franchise takes over later this year.
Noise From Trains Revisited
Nearly, two years ago, I wrote a post entitled Are You Annoyed By Noisy Trains At The Bottom Of Your Garden?.
A few days ago, the post had a comment from a lady saying this.
we live on top of thames link between st pancras and farringdon stations. We are used to the trains having lived here for nearly 30 years. But recently in the last 6 months 2017/2018 the noise and vibration from the trains has increased also the frequency. From before 6am until after 1am in the morning. These new trains make the house rattle and you can feel the vibration through the floor. You have to turn up the radio or TV and visitors always comment on how do you manage to live with it.
No one seems to know anything when I made enquiries to thameslink. Spoke to me as if i was completely mad.
I contacted the lady and the problem seems to be that the eight-car Class 700 trains are the problem.
Now if the twelve-car trains are quieter, it sounds to me, that there must be a peculiar resonance between eight-car trains and the track.
According to Wikipedia, the train formations are.
- Eight-car – Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’
- Twelve-car – Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+2’2’+ 2’2’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’
Note.
- Bo’Bo’ is a powered-car.
- 2’2′ is a trailer car.
- The plus sign separates each car.
From my engineering knowledge, could it be something to do with the fact that the twelve-car train has four trailer cars in the middle of the train, whereas the eight-car train has only two.
I suspect that these trains were designed as twelve-car units and because of the problems of lengthening some platforms, Siemens were asked if they could build an eight-car version as well.
With the dynamics tuned to the twelve-car train, I’m not surprised that the eight-car trains create an annoying resonance.
I shall be using my Freedom Pass to investigate this phenomenon, by riding in the middle sections of these trains.
‘Assassination List’ A&E Doctor Jailed For 12 Years
The title of this post5 is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
A former A&E consultant has been jailed for 12 years for possessing firearms with intent to endanger life.
Dr Martin Watt, who worked at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie from 1994, was sacked in 2012 following disciplinary proceedings.
The 62-year-old was later found with three sub-machine guns, two pistols, ammunition and an “assassination list” of those he blamed for his dismissal.
Why do guns make people lose their minds?
I find this a chilling tale!
New Istanbul Tram Line To Be Catenary-Free
The title of this post, is the same as that in this article on Global Rail News.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Contractor Dogus Construction has selected Alstom to supply a full APS ground-level power supply solution for the Eminönü-Alibeyköy tram line in Istanbul.
Choosing Alstom’s street-level power rail solution means that the 10km-long line will be entirely catenary-free.
I suspect, catenary-free will become the norm, either using systems like in Istanbul or batteries like the Midland Metro.
Could Improved Public Transport Cut Crime?
London is going through a murder epidemic at the moment, mainly with knives and a couple of guns.
I’m not worried about it, as why would anybody bother a seventy-year-old man, who doesn’t have the best dress sense?
But I wasn’t always old and I can remember the 1950s and 1960s, where things weren’t as idyllic, as those who voted Brexit like to think.
A friend of mine was a policeman in the East End in those days and he has some interesting tales.
Return To Dalston
I moved to Dalston in 2010, after the deaths of my wife and our thirty-seven year-old son from cancer, and a serious stroke, which left me with damaged eyesight and unable to drive.
You might ask, why I moved from deepest Suffolk to a slightly run-down area of London? Free public transport was a big draw!
A hundred and thirty years ago, all my grandparents and lots of relatives lived in this area.
My paternal grandmother would shop in the Marks and Spencer and the Woollies at the Angel, as I still do, although the Woollies is now a Waitrose.
This part-Jewish, part-Huguenot, part-Devonian, very stubborn London mongrel has come home!
An Observation
When I moved here, if I walked down Kingsland High Street, at times, the pavements were crowded with youths with nothing better to do. I wasn’t actually threatened, but I would avoid the area.
Now, the street is probably more crowded, but everybody is going about their business or pleasure in a calm manner.
I can only speculate about why the atmosphere has changed, but there has been two major developments.
- The Overground has arrived to replace the travelling urinals of the North London Line and provide new services to the City and South London.
- Most of the bus routes now have new buses.
Local people even got excited, that Hackney and Dalston got the first of the New Routemasters on route 38.
Have those young people from Dalston, now found better things by using public transport, such as work or a pleasureable leisure activity?
Research needs to be done, but there’s nothing on the Internet.
The Rise Of Dalston
I truly believe that the rise of Dalston has been created by the better public transport.
Who would have wanted to live in the new flats or the old Victorian houses, if you couldn’t get to work?
We’re now in an upward spiral, as property is improved, businesses are created and restaurants and cafes open.
The Next Experiment
Several major rail projects are underway in North and North East London.
- The Gospel Oak to Barking Line is being electrified.
- White Hart Lane station is going to be rebuilt, to serve Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium development.
- Capacity is being increased on the West Anglia Main Line, by the STAR project.
- New or rebuilt stations are planned for Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park and Meridian Water, in conjunction with STAR.
- London Overground and Greater Anglia have ordered new Class 710 and Class 720 trains to replace the current elderly rolling stock.
It will be very informative, to see whether crime is lower or higher in a couple of years.
Conclusion
Improving public transport is one of these measures, that benefits a wide range of people; the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and families with children.
It may also encourage those, who might drift into gangs and crime, to do something more worthwhile.
Lots of other places in the UK are getting or need the same treatment as Dalston has received.
- The West London Orbital Railway could invigorate North West London.
- Kirkby to Skelmersdale, would connect the latter town to Liverpool.
- Newcastle is planning to reopen the railways to Ashington and Blyth.
- Birmingham is expanding passenger railways on reopened and freight lines.
The future could be fascinating.
The Anonymous Widower 
