Modern Railways 2015-03.pdf

(19623 KB) Pobierz
■
WREXHAM PROSPECTS
■
THAMESLINK TUNNEL FLOODING
OVERGROUND TO BARKING RIVERSIDE
MARCH 2015 £4.30
www.modern-railways.com
CLASS 68 PASSENGER DEBUT
ROAD TESTING THE NEW
MIXED TRAFFIC LOCO
DAWLISH, HULL ELECTRIFICATION
ONE YEAR ON
WILL FIRST GROUP FINANCE WIRING?
REPAIRS ONGOING
JAVELIN AT HASTINGS
■
BEST PERFORMING OPERATORS
■
MARKET HARBOROUGH REALIGNMENT
Welcome
T
POST BAG CONCERNS
o York, for the first of a series
of ‘Thought Leadership’
events being put on by the
National Railway Museum. This one
was addressed by Andrew Adonis,
the former Transport Secretary, and
his speech – impressively delivered
off-the-cuff – was as thought
provoking as the NRM could have
wished. After the speech the
assembled guests broke down into
tables to discuss transport issues.
One of the talking points was
Helsinki, where the stated aim is to
achieve a car-free city by 2030. We
considered the wastefulness of the
private car: in London, it is estimated
that 15% of the surface area is taken
up with car parking (car parks and
on-street parking), with the vehicles
actually in use less than 5% of the
time.
The last few years have seen
a transformation of mass public
transport in the capital, with a very
high capacity and high reliability
system now extant in much of the
city. Many want to take that further,
by ‘turning the whole of South
London orange’.
On top of that, there has been
rapid change in the way private
vehicles are deployed, with the Uber
app altering the face of the private
hire trade. There are now 14,000
Uber drivers in the capital and the
wait for a ride is generally less than
four minutes.
Progressive cities are also
improving their walking and
cycling facilities. A virtuous
circle can develop: once the city
authorities have improved cycle
lanes sufficiently, more people cycle
and they demand yet more cycling
facilities through the political
process. After a while, a tipping
point is reached: in Copenhagen for
example, the whole city is starting
to be redesigned around the
bicycle.
So it is possible to envisage a city
of the future where the private car
is no longer dominant. Coupled
with that we can see better links
between cities coming: Lord Adonis
was famously the initiator of the
bi-partisan approach to high-speed
rail, and now ground investigation
works have begun on the route of
HS2, the dream no longer seems so
very far off.
The evening at the NRM was held
under Chatham House rules, but I
think I am betraying no confidences
in revealing that Lord Adonis told
us that his biggest post bag as
minister concerned the possible
restoration of rail services on rural
branch lines closed by Beeching –
by comparison, letters urging the
importance of building Crossrail 2,
for example, were singularly lacking.
We see a little of the same
phenomenon here on
Modern
Railways.
I have been taken aback
by the furore we have witnessed
concerning the possible re-use
of D stock from London’s District
Line on branch lines in the North.
E-mails have poured in, many more
than we have space to publish
in the magazine. The theme is
frequently outrage at the prospect
of being ‘fobbed off with London’s
30-year old cast-offs’ in the bid to
rid the North of Pacers, while other
correspondents champion the
virtue of trains of any sort over no
trains at all. This month we publish a
defence of the D stock notion from
its arch-supporter, former Chiltern
Railways boss Adrian Shooter.
Holding the ring between these
warring factions, I must admit to
admiring the splendid let’s-have-a-
bash positive outlook on the part
of the Vivarail people who have
secured the D stock vehicles. The
fleet has been bought by Viva’s
American backers, using what is
just spare change for them: if it all
turns pear-shaped, they’ll likely get
most of it back on the scrap value
anyway.
In the meantime the team of
largely ex-Chiltern people at Viva
is having enormous fun on the
conversion of the D stock to diesel
power at Long Marston, and soon we
shall see if the nay-sayers with their
rubbishing of the Trannie engines
underneath are right or wrong.
But if talk over cocktails at the
Golden Whistles from high-ups at
the Department for Transport and
elsewhere is to be believed, perhaps
the crucial issue is the importance
of vehicles per se rather than the
traction power. With ridership
climbing in the northern cities and
the electrification map extending
(in planning at least, even if achingly
slowly out on the track), we will need
vehicles that can switch from diesel
to pan at short notice. Who knows,
perhaps there might be a future for
the D stock UNDMs as well as the
DMs?
Come 2020 the D stock may be
a mainstay of the Northern fleet,
or it could be on the scrapheap in
Rotherham.
Whichever, it
is certain to
enliven our
columns en
route.
James Abbott,
Editor
Speculative venture: D stock awaits conversion at Long Marston on 14 February 2015. On this date light
rail vehicles from Birmingham and Manchester were also at the storage centre.
Stephen Widdowson
www.modern-railways.com
March 2015
Modern Railways
3
Contents
8
Features
51
54
60
62
68
74
78
3
6
36
44
46
86
88
92
94
96
98
4
Hull to Selby: privately funded wiring?
A look at how FirstGroup is financing electrification in East Yorkshire
Way forward for Wrexham
Rhodri Clark assess prospects for north east Wales
Long distance performance
Figures for this sector are causing concern
‘Whistles’ reward punctual operators
A rundown of the winners at our January awards ceremony
Golden Whistles conference
Presentations on operational themes preceded this year’s awards
Rail ticketing: re-writing the rules
Contactless payment cards were on the agenda at the recent
Transport Ticketing Conference
Railtex prepares to welcome visitors
A preview of the May event at the NEC
Regulars
Welcome
An introduction from the Editor
Railtalk
Modern Railways’
editorial view
Pan Up
Ian Walmsley road tests the Class 68 and examines the latest
passenger satisfaction results
Blood and custard
Our diary column
Forum
Readers comment on topical issues around the railway today
Moving Wheels
Rolling stock news
Trackwatch
Our monthly look at changes on the national network
In Business and small ads
Latest happenings in industry
People
Recent appointments
Crossrail update
Tunnelling breakthrough at Liverpool Street
Alan Williams
A pre-election warning
62
News
8
16
20
24
81
News Front
140mph plan for East Coast; DfT rolling stock cascade proposal;
Market Harborough realignment in Government ‘growth deals’;
Scottish HST delay; ORR report into Christmas engineering overruns
Rail Freight
Port of Sunderland reconnected; Chelmsford yard revival
Infrastructure News
Dawlish – one year on; Borders Railway track laying completed;
Christmas engineering overrun penalties
Informed Sources
Special report – signalling in crisis; Harbury landslip – Brunel to
blame?
Europe View
Keith Fender presents a round-up of news from across the Channel
SEE PAGES 34-35 FOR OUR
LATEST SUBSCRIPTIONS OFFER
www.modern-railways.com
Modern Railways
March 2015
Contents
2014 INDEX: THE 2014 INDEX IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE OR IN
PAPER FORM BY WRITING TO: MR INDEX, THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT,
KEY PUBLISHING, PO BOX 300, STAMFORD, LINCS PE9 1XP
ISSN: 0026 8356
Offical journal of the Railway Study Association
March 2015 Volume 72 Number 798
Editor:
James Abbott
Email:
james.abbott@keypublishing.com
Design:
Matt Chapman
Editorial Address
Modern Railways, Transport Writing Services,
PO Box 206, Tunbridge Wells North, TN1 2XA, UK.
Tel:
01892 863358
www.modern-railways.com
Contributing Editor:
Ken Cordner
Email:
ken.cordner@keypublishing.com
Industry and Technology Editor:
Roger Ford
Email:
roger@alycidon.com
Editorial Assistant:
Philip Sherratt
Email:
philip.sherratt@keypublishing.com
Editorial Contributions
The Editor is pleased to receive contributions to
Modern Railways
in the form of articles, news stories, letters and photographs
(ideally by digital means). Material sent to the Editor, whether
commissioned or freely submitted, is provided at the contributor’s
own risk; neither Key Publishing Ltd nor Transport Writing Services
can be held responsible for loss or damage howsoever caused.
The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors
within Modern Railways are not necessarily those of the Editor or
Key Publishing Ltd.
Advertising
Business Development Manager:
David Lane
Email:
david.lane@keypublishing.com
Tel:
01778 420888.
Mob:
07795 031051.
Fax:
01778 421550
Advertisement Manager and
Recruitment Sales:
Chris Shilling
Email:
chris@shillingmedia.co.uk
Tel:
01778 421550.
Mob:
07736635916.
Fax:
01778 421550
Advertising Production:
Debi McGowan
Email:
debi.mcgowan@keypublishing.com
Tel:
01780 755131.
Fax:
01780 757261
Modern Railways
Advertising Department,
Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100,
Stamford PE9 1XQ
Subscriptions
Modern Railways,
Subscriptions Department,
Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 300, Stamford PE9 1NA
Tel:
01780 480 404
Fax:
01780 757 812
Email:
orders@keypublishing.com
Website:
www.keypublishing.com/shop
Having difficulty obtaining your copy of
Modern
Railways
magazine? Please contact our subscriptions
department using the details above.
Publishing
Managing Director and Publisher:
Adrian Cox
Commercial Director:
Ann Saundry
Sales and Marketing Manager:
Martin Steele
Webmaster:
Simon Russell
Executive Chairman:
Richard Cox
Modern Railways
is published on the fourth Thursday
of each month by Key Publishing Ltd. Registered
Office: Units 1-4, Gwash Way Industrial Estate, Ryhall
Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1XP
16
74
■
96
WREXHAM PROSPECTS
■
THAMESLINK TUNNEL FLOODING
On the Cover
54
13
13
38
20
51
12
62
10
Wrexham prospects
Thameslink tunnel flooding
Overground to Barking Riverside
Class 68 passenger debut
Dawlish, one year on
Hull electrification
Javelin at Hastings
Best perfoming operators
Market Harborough realignment
OVERGROUND TO BARKING RIVERSIDE
MARCH 2015 £4.30
www.modern-railways.com
Origination and Printing
CLASS 68 PASSENGER DEBUT
ROAD TESTING THE NEW
MIXED TRAFFIC LOCO
Precision Colour Printing Ltd, Haldane,
Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire. TF7 4QQ.
Distribution
Seymour Distribution Ltd.,
2 Poultry Avenue, London. EC1A 9PP
Enquiries line:
+44 (0)20 7429 4000
Cover:
Class 68. Ian Walmsley
Inset:
FGW’s No 43124 passes Riviera Terrace,
Dawlish with the 09.06 Paddington to Plymouth
service on 26 January 2015. Stewart Armstrong
© Key Publishing Ltd 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple
copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written approval is
not permitted.
We are unable to guarantee the bonafides of any of our advertisers. Readers are
strongly recommended to take their own precautions before parting with any
information or item of value, including, but not limited to, money, manuscripts,
photographs or personal information in response to any advertisements
within this publication.
DAWLISH, HULL ELECTRIFICATION
ONE YEAR ON
WILL FIRST GROUP FINANCE WIRING?
REPAIRS ONGOING
JAVELIN AT HASTINGS
■
BEST PERFORMING OPERATORS
■
MARKET HARBOROUGH REALIGNMENT
001_MR_Mar.indd 1
16/02/2015 13:46
www.modern-railways.com
March 2015
Modern Railways
5

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin