RAILDATE 2024.02.23

Your free weekly guide to what's happening and what's new.

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There are sections on:

• UK Rail News
• International Rail News
• Other Transport Modes
• The Weekly Poser (and the answer to last week's poser)

UK Rail News

East

• ‘The trains now arriving at Waterbeach’s new railway station will be… one year late’

East Midlands

• Martin Lewis's East Midlands Railway rant leads to apology
• New East Midlands Trains Bi-mode units
• Step forward for plans to reopen Barrow Hill Line near Chesterfield

London

• TfL's AI Tube Station experiment is amazing and slightly terrifying
• Report finds Northern line has highest dust levels
• Elizabeth line nominated for top architectural award
• First glimpse at Paddington station’s new Bakerloo line entrance
• Search for new Elizabeth line operator
• Vandalism on closed platforms at Kentish Town

Midlands

• Call to improve access at Whitchurch (Salop) station
• HS2 could boost West Midlands economy by £10bn - report
• Bridgnorth Cliff Railway 4th March opening
• Weekend trains cancelled while tracks are replaced

North East

• Tyne and Wear Metro operator hits Stadler with £1.4m worth of penalties over train failures

South East

• Feltham to Wokingham resignalling completed
• HS2 Chiltern Tunnel sinkholes appear in Buckinghamshire
• Cost of delayed Arterio train fleet withheld by government
• Guildford: Five-year scheme to upgrade signals complete
• Southern to double services on some routes in Sussex and Hampshire
• Watercress Line Long service awards
• Donation towards restoration of S15 499
• Train fares for just £1 on the Marston Vale Line
• East Coast Digital Programme hits major milestone as section commissioned
• Work delayed on Colne Valley HS2 Viaduct
• Sittingbourne & Kemsley "Leader" to be stored at Margate one:one collection

West

• Latest stage of Cornwall resignalling

Yorkshire

• The 46100 Royal Scot passed through West Yorkshire this afternoon on its journey back to the Crewe Heritage Centre

International Rail News

Canada

• Two accidents in British Columbia involving CPKC trains

Europe

• Kent fire service contract with Eurotunnel to end

Ireland

• Irish Government to fund hourly Dublin Belfast service

Italy

• Strait of Messina bridge design approved

Japan

• Japanese shinkansen train catering trolleys for sale

Other Transport Modes

Air

• City of Derry to London flights funded for another year

Marine

• Sea Trials of CALMAC Glen Sannox
• Incredible' old shipwreck found washed up on Orkney beach

Road

• Kingsferry Bridge (Sheerness) stuck

Credits

Thank you to this week's contributors.

• Alan Rushworth
• Matthew Shaw
• Mike Price
• Neil Kearns
• Paul Tambini
• Richard Buckby
• Richard Maund

The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

We see a Class 40 in 1982 - at which station? Bonus question: Which platform is it on?

Last week's Where is this?

Can you work out which route(s) this May 2020 timetable covers? Please identify stations 1, 2, and 3.

Answer: Table 131 - Manchester/Holyhead - Cardiff. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Colin Penfold, Richard Maund, Phil Deaves, Paul Hopper. Dave Goodyear, Bryn Pitcher, Ian Lowe.

The various symbols were useful clues: The tram connection at Manchester and the unique 05:34 full-restaurant service from Holyhead to Cardiff. [The May 2020 timetable was affected by Covid, and restaurant service was suspended for a time. It's a little unclear which services now have the very-nice-but-OTT catering.]

The stations are:

1. Chester. Most trains reverse to continue via Wrexham, except for the 07:53 which goes to Crewe.
2. Craven Arms. The junction for the Central Wales line, taking its name from the coaching inn - now derelict - opened by the Earl of Craven in 1803.
3. Swansea. The direct Central Wales line takes about 3 hours 40 minutes to traverse, whereas a circuitous journey via Cardiff usually takes under 3 hours.

SMALL PRINT

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©  Matthew Shaw 2024