Is This The Most Dangerous Level Crossing In The Country?
Level crossings are generally a danger on railways. In East Anglia and Essex, there are a number that should have been removed years ago.
Buit surely the one described in this article from the Thurrock Gazette, must surely be the most dangerous of them all. What makes this one even more dangerous is that there is no alternative route, and sometimes emergency vehicles get stuck, waiting for a train.
When the London Gateway Port, is fully open, there will be regular mile-long freight trains passing this crossing.
I found out about this crossing on the BBC London News tonight. When I saw the report, I was surprised that no-one in authority had ordered Network Rail to do something about it.
I thought the level crossing in Lincoln was a disgrace, but this one is much more dangerous.
Will Farringdon Station Become A Destination In Itself?
Until Crossrail is opened, I don’t think we can know the effect that it will have on London’s transport systems. I put a few of my thoughts in this post about London’s airports, but at the time I hadn’t read read Crossrail’s description of the new Farringdon station on its web site. Here’s a key paragraph.
Situated at the intersection of a new east-west and north-south axis, it will be possible to directly connect with three of London’s five airports (with single interchange to the other two), providing a highly desirable railway connection between Heathrow and Gatwick. We believe this interchange will become so important to London that Farringdon will re-emerge as a destination in itself.
I couldn’t agree more.
There will need to be a new Airports Commission, as Crossrail will be the London’s biggest gamechanger since the Underground.
What Have The Train Leasing Companies Done For Us?
I found this page on the web site of one of the train leasing compabies; Eversholt Rail Group.
It shows how they and one of the train refurbishment companies; Wabtec, are creating a demonstrator for an upgrade of the Class 321 trains which are a mainstay of services to East Anglia.
GreaterAnglia will then run the train in service and actively canvas the opinion of the travelling public.
Isn’t this a sensible way to provide better rolling stock for train services, at a more affordable price.
Passengers won’t get new trains, but they will look and feel like them!
In some ways this story is a tribute to the legendary Mark 3 Coach, on which the Class 321 is based.
But then the bit we sit in, on a train, isn’t the sexy bit.
Things Are Happening At Custom House Station
The area, where the new Custom House Crossrail station is to be constructed has been sealed off and bypassed by a pedestrian bridge.
Things Are Happening At Custom House Station
The station is being constructed in Sheffield and should start to arrive soon.
Would I Go Back To Bordeaux?
Bordeaux impressed me. In some ways it was like Paris without the tourists.
It had all the architecture, the shops, the restaurants and the magnificent river Garonne.
The people seemed to have a calmness and politeness that the Parisians lack.
If say, I was indulging in one of my passions and dressing a lady for say an important wedding, I think I might persuade her, to get on a plane to Bordeaux and then come back by TGV and Eurostar. It’s probably a lot easier to come home on the train, than lug everything through the airports.
C would have loved Bordeaux, Just like she loved Paris, Hong Kong, Milan and Florence.
Every real lady deserves to be dressed to the nines, at least a few times in her life. And that means from her toes to her hair and outwards from her skin to what everybody looks at.
But I did love those wireless trams!
If you ever wondered why we dress to the nines, look here!
First Class On A TGV
I hadn’t travelled in First on a TGV before, but on this trip I did.
I wasn’t impressed with the leg room, which seemed to be about the same on a Virgin Class 390.
Not Much Legroom
I had thought it would be bigger as the TGV Atlantique has a much larger cross-section, than the British train.
The refreshments were disappointing too.
Disappointing Refreshments
The picture shows, the smoothie and pretzels.
First Class certainly wasn’t worth the extra thirty euros or so.
Compare it with Second Class in the TGV Duplex I took from Geneva to Paris.
In Second Class On A TGV Duplex
I took this picture from my seat on the lower deck. Is it a deck, saloon or floor?
Leaving Bordeaux For Paris
Bordeaux St. Jean station was full of TGV Atlantique trainsets as I left for Paris.
It appeared that some trains were coupled together in pairs, to make massive people movers for the journey to and from Paris. Incidentally, each train can carry 485 psassengers.
I was not worried about the date of Friday the Thirteenth. I’ve left jobs on this date twice and I’ve always gone on to better things.
Through The Fog To Bordeaux
The train was a TGV Atlantique, which had started at Hendaye and after Bordeaux, it would be on its way to Paris. The visibility wasn’t good.
Through The Fog To Bordeaux
We also arrived in Bordeaux a few minutes late. But the train wasn’t at anyway near the speed it would attain on the high speed line; LGV Atlantique to Paris.
It was a typical boring and professional train ride, that is becoming common all over Europe.
An Early Start From Biarritz
I had intended to leave Biarritz at about mid-morning to travel to Bordeaux, but then I hadn’t planned for the French rail unions, who decided the twelfth would be a good day for a strike.
I found out in the afternoon, when I went to the SNCF Boutique in the centre of Biarritz to get a ticket. There were just two trains on the Thursday; one at seven in the morning and one at six in the evening. Much, as I had enjoyed Biarritz, I wanted to get to Bordeaux at a sensible time.
So it had to be the 07:13 train. But this meant that I had to leave the hotel at six without any breakfast.
I would have to have my sumptuous meal later!
The station was surprisingly warm at about fourteen degrees.
But I certainly didn’t have a warm feeling towards the French rail unions. I had planned to buy myself a sumptuous supper last night to mark six years since the death of my wife, C. But instead, I just had a reasonable steak in the hotel.
So my plans had been totally ruined.
The Anonymous Widower 