This day in history 02 February
Images
Hawick [1st]: C16 4-4-2T no 67489 stands alone at the north end of Hawick shed in 1958 see image [[30744]].
Carstairs Shed: Ex-WD 2-10-0 no 90768 stands in the sidings alongside Carstairs shed on a cold February day in 1963, some 7 months after its official withdrawal from here. The locomotive was eventually cut up at Darlington Works in December of that year.
Carstairs Shed: Ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 no 54502 'stored' at a snowy Carstairs in February 1963, approximately 5 months after official withdrawal from Dumfries shed. Eventual disposal was through McWilliams of Shettleston the following September.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 27033 takes a train out of Glasgow Queen Street on 2 February 1980
Philorth Halt: The former Philorth station is now a house. This is the view looking north from the former level crossing.
Lossiemouth: Around 1996 the remains of Lossiemouth station were tidied up into a garden and carpark. This 1997 view looks towards the buffer stops with the remains of the very long single platform on the left. The nearly as long goods loading bank remains out of shot off to the right.
Ordens Halt: The back of the waiting shelter at Ordens Halt was painted with the name of the station - here the 'O' and 'den' parts can still be made out in remaining timbers in 1997. The halt had a checkered history and finally closed in 1920. This was the first halt out of Tillynaught on the line to Banff. The hut has since been removed (or collapsed out of sight!)
Dandaleith: View north at Dandaleith. The station has been obliterated by a road re-alignment and was located above the retaining wall shown here. Dandaleith was the southern terminus of the Morayshire Railway and was called Craigellachie from 1858 until the line's extension to Craigellachie on the Strathspey Railway in 1865. View looks to Elgin in 1997.
Portessie Shed: This was the base of the Highland Railway's water tank at Portessie. The shed closed with the end of passenger services to Keith in 1915 but the turntable and water tank remained in operation. Locomotives for the Buckie fish traffic made use of these in GNoSR, LMS and BR days until the turntable was removed in 1953.
Longmorn: Longmorn station basking in evening sunshine in 1997. The view looks to Elgin.
Keith West Signalbox: Just north of the west junction at Keith this view looks north along the former Highland Railway's Buckie and Portessie Branch in 1997. The southern portion of this line remained in use until 1966 for freight to Aultmore Distillery whereas the rest of the line had a very chequered past. The 'Heilan Line' was the first line to open to Buckie, closed and lifted in the First World War, re-laid and not re-opened except to Buckie (HR) for freight, it was lifted again in the Second World War.
Edinburgh Waverley: The 0800 to Glasgow Queen Street, illuminated by a harsh morning sun, leaves Waverley on 2 February 2005.
Edinburgh Waverley: Early morning departure from Waverley in February 2005. SPT liveried 156500 leaves with a train for Glasgow Central via Shotts.
Newcraighall Turnback Siding: A cold February morning at the north end of Millerhill Yard in 2005. EWS 66206 has just drawn to a halt in the background with a train of coal empties bound for Hunterston via the sub, while First ScotRail 170419 (still in National Express livery) stands in the turnback siding ready to form the next Newcraighall - Dunblane service.
Prestonpans: A Midland Mainline liveried HST, currently on lease to Virgin Trains, passing west through Prestonpans station bound for Edinburgh Waverley on 2 February 2007.
Kincardine Junction: South view of robust structure of Helensfield Bridge.
Alloa: Alloa Feb.2007.. The west ramp is being completed with the car park space being developed.
Hilton Road Level Crossing: Restored footbridge over the SAK line at Alloa Athletic FC ground.
Hilton Road Level Crossing: The former Hilton Road level crossing in February 2007. Workers tighten bolts connecting the new track for the SAK. This crossing was made redundant by a new overbridge to the east.
Alloa Loop: Alloa, Helensfield Bridge track complete 2 February 2007. West view.
Valbom: Railbus driver's view ahead on the Tamega branch as the train passes through the basic Valbom halt on its way from Livracao to Amarante. This was a surviving eight mile stub of a previously much longer system and the sharp turns on high ledges above the Tamega River reminded me of a Mad Mouse roller coaster ride. The branch ostensibly closed for urgent repairs in 2009 but as the other Douro narrow gauge Corgo line to Vila Real closed that same day for the same reason there are naturally suspicions about the real motives. In January 2012 CP Rail announced that the branches are unlikely to re-open and withdrew the replacement bus services.
Alloa Loop: Western points of the east Loop at Alloa. A bumpy ride maybe... The track is now ready for coal trains(12.07)
Kincardine Junction: Helensfield Bridge, east of Alloa is hooked up now, we can stand back and admire it.
Cowlairs South Junction: Beyond the junction work continues on the new maintenance and signalling centres at Cowlairs.
Sighthill West Junction: New maintenance centre under construction at Cowlairs.
Cowlairs West Junction: New signalling centre building under construction at Cowlairs.
Cowlairs West Junction: New signalling centre under construction at Cowlairs.
Possil Junction: Possil Junction looking east. Here the routes to Hamiltonhill and Dumbarton split before passing under a roadbridge. The alignment of the line here was originally a waggonway running from the site of what later became Eastfield Depot to the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Possil Junction: Possil Junction looking west. To the left was the route to Hamiltonhill (cutting infilled) and to the right the route of the line to Dumbarton.
Dalmuir: Swish new destination board at Dalmuir. A pity the same cannot be said for the passenger and staff accommodation at this busy junction station. Yoker route train in the platform.
Cowlairs South Junction: Queen Street bound at Cowlairs South Junction. Is that the gable end (left) which once bore a mural?
Anniesland: Diesel service from QS via Maryhill and electric service heading for QS. A hoarding in the background declares the new series of the Lost TV series, Answers are coming. Questions remain, such as why has a new junction not been laid in here yet?
Sighthill West Junction: Cumbernauld - Glasgow service takes the Cowlairs Chord past the site of the new maintenance and signalling centres at Cowlairs.
Slochd Summit: EWS 66114 with the southbound Stobart Rail containers adds some colour to the wintry scene near Slochd Summit.
Windermere: The basic present day layout at Windermere is seen to good effect as 185134 waits to depart for Oxenholme. Basic it may be but there is a roughly hourly service from 0650 to 2245, seventeen departures in total, and that compares very favourably with the sparse winter timetable for 1964 see image [[27662]].
Coatbridge Central: Originally opened by the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway in 1842, Coatbridge Central was rebuilt by the Caledonian in 1899. The old building has had its ups and downs in recent years but is currently on a definite down, following its closure after a short run as a pub. The CR initials and 1899 date are still prominent above the windows on the upper level. See image [[3904]]
Windermere: An Oxenholme service, formed by TPE 185134, waits to leave the Windermere branch terminus. The old station building and former railway land on either side of the basic station have been sold for retail development but for a 1960s view from the same spot, before the platform was extended, see image [[24108]].
Windermere: The station forecourt at Windermere in February 2010 showing the modern single storey booking office and the old terminus behind, now tastefully converted into a Booth's supermarket. Buses use the forecourt to connect with trains making the station a useful Lake District interchange.
Kilmarnock: Leaving Kilmarnock Long Lyes on 2 February is DBS 66250 with HTA empties heading south to New Cumnock.
Barton Hill: Barton Hill has been closed since 1930, like most other intermediate stations between York and Scarborough. It is still in use as a private house alongside the line, as seen in this view from the level crossing towards York.
National Railway Museum York: Ancient and relatively modern. Prototype English Electric Type 3 D6700, which has now passed its 50th birthday, poses in a temporary annex building at the NRM York. Buffered up to the Class 37 is a replica Liverpool and Manchester Railway coach, the original of which would now be around 180 years old, and they make an interesting comparison. A link between these two vehicles is that the L&M Rly passed through Earlestown where D6700 was built at EE's Vulcan Foundry.
National Railway Museum York: The recent rebuild of 6229 Duchess of Hamilton with new streamlined casing has been well documented but is almost breathtaking when first seen at the NRM. The LMS Pacific is sited alongside its LNER A4 rival and is displayed with an LMS coach, also in red with gold stripes. The UK preservation movement is achieving things that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
National Railway Museum York: The First and the Last. Nine years and 997 other BR Standard steam locomotives separate 7MT 4-6-2 70000 Britannia and 9F 2-10-0 92220 Evening Star. The two locos were displayed together at the NRM York shortly after 70000 was renamed by HRH The Prince of Wales at Wakefield Kirkgate, marking the 60th anniversary of when it hauled his grandfather's funeral train from Sandringham.
Kilmarnock: DRS class 57s 57004+57009 take 7Z57 two snow ploughs out of Brodie Works Kilmarnock en route to Carlisle and ultimately Doncaster
Kilmarnock: Freightliner Heavy Haul 66544 takes loaded HHAs from Killoch out of Kilmarnock on 2 February 2012. Train 6M32 is destined for Drax Power Station.
Kilmarnock: Red liveried DBS 66097 with HTA empties southbound for New Cumnock emerging from Kilmarnock Long Lyes on 2 February 2012.
Leyland: Hauling a rake of maroon Mark 1 coaches, E3137/86259 Les Ross passes Leyland on 2 February 2013 with the RTC 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' from Euston. The 86 handed over to A4 no 60009 at Carnforth for the run over Shap to Carlisle.
Oxenholme: Having taken over the London - Carlisle 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' at Carnforth, A4 no. 60009 Union of South Africa is making good progress as it rushes through Oxenholme on 2 February 2013. (A passenger waiting for a southbound service commented afterwards that he didn't realise steam trains could go that fast!)
Shap Summit: 60009 Union of South Africa making good progress as it nears Shap Summit with the Cumbrian Mountain Express on 2nd February 2013. The train is crossing the bridge over the lane at Shap Wells.
Hyndland: The new footbridge at Hyndland station is now in use and the old one removed. A Helensburgh - Edinburgh service pauses in February 2013.
Oxenholme: A full house at Oxenholme on 2 February 2013 with (from right to left) in platform 1 a Pendolino for Euston, in platform 2 a double Super Voyager for Glasgow and hiding under the roof in platform 3 is a TPE Class 185 on the Windermere branch service.
Pittencrieff Park: Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST 1996 of 1934 back on display at Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline on 2 February 2014, having been refurbished by the Shed 47 Group at Lathalmond. See image [[36789]]
Lytham: 142062 departs from Lytham with a service to Blackpool South on 2 February 2015. The disused platform has been tidied up since my last visit and new flower beds created. A GSMR mast has also appeared on the former Preston bound platform.
Kirkham and Wesham: A Blackpool North to York service passes Kirkham & Wesham on the late afternoon of 2nd February 2015. The train is using the Up Fast line avoiding the station, which was subsequently removed during electrification and a new Up platform built where the Down Fast is in this photo. See image [[67725]].
Wrea Green: A Blackpool South to Colne service passes the site of the former Wrea Green station on 2 February 2015. The station closed to passengers in 1961 and has since been demolished. [Ref query 6930]
Beauly: DRS 37259 and 37602 with the nuclear flask special for Georgemas Junction have just passed Beauly on 2 February 2015 on their way north.
Wrea Green: Northern 142096 heads south-west from Kirkham North Jct on the line to Blackpool South. The train is from Colne and is approaching the site of Wrea Green station on 2nd February 2015. Photo taken from the B5260 road overbridge. 142096, the last built of the class, was scrapped at EMR Kingsbury after withdrawal.
Moss Side: A view southwards from the level crossing of Moss Side station on the Kirkham to Blackpool South line. Once upon a time a long time ago this was a double track line that ran all the way to Blackpool Central, although Moss Side and Wrea Green stations closed in 1961. With the closure of Central in 1964 the line was cut back to Waterloo Road and that became Blackpool South. Reduction to a single line (long siding) took place in the 1980s but at Moss Side, where the platforms had never been removed, the station was reopened in 1983.
Kirkham and Wesham: In preparation for electrification to Blackpool North, various overbridges along the route are being raised. These include the bridge at Kirkham, seen here on 2 February 2015 as a Northern service to Blackpool North arrives at the platform.
Lytham: 142033 arrives at Lytham on 2nd February 2015 whilst working a Blackpool South to Colne service. On the right, on the disused platform is the base of the GSMR mast. Now withdrawn, 142033 has moved to the South Wales Police as a 'Training Unit' and (in 2020) is located at a rugby pitch in Bridgend.
Girvan (Old): In amongst the undergrowth are the crumbling remains of the platform at Girvan (Old) station see image [[52550]]. View west in February 2015.
Girvan (Old): Remains of the station building at Girvan (Old) in February 2015 see image [[52550]].
Kirkham and Wesham: Peeping under the road bridge carrying the A583 to Blackpool, a Class 142 has just left the junction at Kirkham as it heads to Blackpool South on 2 February 2015. In the background the Bowland fells have a light covering of snow. [Ref query 6878]
Girvan (Old): The remains of the old weigh bridge among the dereliction of the former Girvan goods yard on 2 February 2015.
Moss Side: A Blackpool South to Colne service departs from Moss-Side station on 2 February 2015. The level crossing sequence is initiated by depressing a plunger on the platform before the train departs. In the other direction the sequence is initiated by a wheel flange depressing a treadle on the approach, like most AHB crossings.
Kirkham and Wesham: A York - Blackpool North service has just passed through Kirkham station non-stop as it heads west on 2 February 2015.
Jumeira Lake Towers: The Dubai Metro Red Line station at Jumeira Lake Towers in February 2016. The station opened in 2010.
Stranraer: Flowers brightening Stranraer station on an otherwise drab day.
Edinburgh Park Central [Tram]: A city-bound tram calls at Edinburgh Park Central, in the city's out-of-town financial quarter, on 2 February 2018. This is one of four tram stops with Edinburgh in the name, none of which​​ is in central Edinburgh. The name 'Edinburgh Park Central' particularly must surely confuse some tourists.
Craigendoran Upper: A 66 with the empties from the Lochaber Smelter drops down from Helensburgh Upper to Craigendoran. This view overlooking Helensburgh and the Gare Loch is from the east taken from close to the 'Railway Glen'. Rosneath Shipyard is in the background. The east fanlight of Helensburgh Central also features in this view, can you spot it?
Newton: This detail from the ScotRail central area map highlights a problemette with the depiction of Newton. Although there is a direct connection with the Bellshill line there has been no scheduled service for years. The upper blob should instead be above Blantyre. The Mossend to Holytown Junction business might also be clearer: there's only in fact one train a day through Holytown to Wishaw, but loads from Bellshill to Motherwell!
Morecambe South Junction: One of the two Cumbrian Coast Class 37 diagrams was supposed to move to Class 68 haulage before the end of January 2018 but two 37s continued in use during the first week of February. 37424 Avro Vulcan XH558 propels the 2C32 Carlisle to Preston service at Morecambe South Junction on a sunny 2nd February 2018.
Morecambe South Junction: Freightliner 90016 and 90041 double head an intermodal service southwards at Morecambe South Junction on 2nd February 2018.
Blackpool South: The 1607 hrs from Preston to Blackpool South had arrived a few minutes earlier and the turn around was so quick that I nearly missed the trip back to Preston on 02 February 2018. This was the fifth day of the service restarting after engineering work although it is now only to/from Preston, the previous start and destination having been Colne.
Railway Glen: A mile WNW of Craigendoran station on the rising ground above Camis Eskan is the 'Railway Glen'. This view looks east up the glen. The glen is so named as this was one of the sources of water for the North British Railway's new station at Craigendoran. (Some details on this page Helensburgh Heritage Trust).
Harringay: 313053 with 313056 to Moorgate arriving at Harringay station on 2nd February 2019.
Drayton Park: Drayton Park, looking north, on 2nd February 2019. On the left is the site of the now demolished GNCR depot and on the right and at a slightly higher level, the Canonbury spur from Finsbury Park to the North London Line, freight only since the last services to Broad Street were withdrawn in 1976 and now singled. There were no platforms on the Canonbury spur despite its close proximity to the station.
High Wycombe: Trains for Oxford (left) and Marylebone (right) crossing at High Wycombe.
Bay Horse: 68018 'Vigilant' and 68034 'Victorious' take four flasks from Sellafield to Crewe on Saturday 2nd February 2019. The train is in the cutting at Forton, just south of Bay Horse, and the frost and light snow in the shade had been there for several days.
Bowes Park: 313028, with 313048, working from Moorgate to Watton-at-Stone departing from Bowes Park station on the Hertford North Loop in north London, on 2nd February 2019.
Coppull [2nd]: A BLS positioning move from Lancaster to Bristol on 02 February 2019 is seen heading south at Coppull with WCRC 47772. On the left is the remains of the up platform (on the slow line) can be seen and contained the stairs down to the access tunnel.
Alexandra Palace: 313122, with 313042, heading for Moorgate departing from the new (2013) platform at Alexandra Palace station on 2nd February 2019. This is not to be confused with the original Alexandra Palace station which was a much more conveniently sited terminus, alongside the palace walls, that closed in 1954 after almost becoming part of the LUL Northern Line. The present station was opened as Wood Green on the GNR main line on 1st May 1859. On 1st April 1871 it became the junction for the branch to Enfield, which was later extended back to the main line at Stevenage in the second decade of the 20th Century to form the Hertford North Loop. The station was renamed Wood Green (Alexandra Park) in 1864 but reverted to plain Wood Green again in 1971 before eventually being renamed Alexandra Palace on 17th May 1982, the renaming ceremony being performed by the film actress and t.v. personality Diana Dors who sadly passed away just two years later, aged only 52.
Holloway Road: Refurbished LUL 1973 stock train, on a Piccadilly Line service to Uxbridge, departing from Holloway Road on 2nd February 2019. This station opened on 15th December 1906 with the first stage of what is now the Piccadilly Line between Finsbury Park and Hammersmith.
Cork Kent: Cork Kent (formerly Glanmire Road) Station.On a plinth at the station is former Great Southern & Western Railway 2-2-2 No.36 built in Liverpool in 1847 and in service until 1874. The loco was used on Dublin - Cork services. 2 February 2019.
Coppull [2nd]: DRS 68018 and 68034 head south at Coppull on 2nd February 2019 working to Crewe with 4 wagons from Sellafield. The tower of the former Coppull Spinning Mill stands on the left.
Bay Horse: DRS electro-diesel 88002 'Prometheus' takes the northbound Tesco over the embankment at Bay Horse on a cold but sunny 2nd February 2019.
High Wycombe: Well my, what an improvement. A mural of broad gauge days - with a suitably amazed observer from the 20th or 21st century in the foreground - has smartened up the old station building at High Wycombe no end see image [[47130]]
High Wycombe: Up (right) and down (left) trains crossing at High Wycombe on a snowy and slippery February Saturday.
Drayton Park: Drayton Park, looking across to the site of the former Great Northern & City Railway depot (which became a London Undergound depot), marked by more than forty years' growth of bushes and weeds, on 2nd February 2019.
Bowes Park: 313042, with 313122, heading to Moorgate approaching Bowes Park, in the back streets of north London, on 2nd February 2019.
Drayton Park: Drayton Park, looking south towards the tunnels and the steep staircase, on 2nd February 2019. After the scheme to link this line to the Alexandra Palace branch was aborted, it remained as an Underground shuttle branch of the Northern Line from Moorgate to Finsbury Park until October 1964 when the Drayton Park to Finsbury Park section was closed for building the Victoria Line, the ex-GNCR tunnels at Finsbury Park being taken over by westbound Piccadilly Line trains which became cross-platform with southbound Victoria Line trains when the first section of that line opened in 1968. It was not until 8th November 1976 that trains ran again between Finsbury Park and Drayton Park with electrification of the ex-GNR suburban services.
High Wycombe: A very sensible rewording of the old Junction sign see image [[47441]]. I'm not sure what the steps in the foreground are for, but I'm sure someone can enlighten me.
Bay Horse: 86259 'Les Ross' strikes a classic pose with a rake of maroon MkIs heading north with a CME excursion at Bay Horse on 2nd February 2019. A fine sight but I perhaps should have ventured further north as at Carnforth the electric handed over to steam traction - not just 35018 'British India Line' but also the newly overhauled B1 61306 for a double headed trip over Shap and the S&C.
Harringay: Taken with a zoom lens, two soon to be withdrawn EMUs (313053 with 313056) to Moorgate are approaching Harringay station under a patchwork quilt of overhead wires. 2nd February 2019.
Euxton Balshaw Lane: 86259 'Peter Pan/Les Ross' heads north at Euxton with the Winter CME, on the leg from Euston to Carnforth. 02 February 2019.
Hornsey Traincare Facility: Hornsey Traincare Facility at the London end of the ECML, seen from a passing Class 313 EMU service from Moorgate to Watton-at-Stone on 2nd February 2019.
Woodacre Crossing: Two large logo Class 37s, on a special Sunday working of a Network Rail train from Carnforth to Derby, make a splendid sight passing Woodacre on 2nd February 2020, hauled by 37409 with 37424 on the rear. The train should have run mid-week but there was a damaged wheel on a coach and it was stabled at Carnforth awaiting repair.
Longbridge: The Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Lickey Road looking North. A car plant which could build 850,000 cars a year has been replaced, in a manner of speaking, by a hand car wash. In the distance beyond the white car, a hump in the road shows where the Halesowen Railway used to pass under the road. A station building on the left was demolished in 2012; a signal box to the right succumbed rather earlier. Oh, and that grass covered reservation - trams used to run up and down it. One day, the trams may return.
Woodacre Crossing: Immaculate 37424 'Avro Vulcan XH558' brings up the rear of a Network Rail train hauled by similarly shiny 37409 'Lord Hinton' through Woodacre on 2nd February 2020. This was a special working from Carnforth to Derby, which routed via East Lancashire, Copy Pit and Wakefield.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1852 | Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway | New ^up^ Woodhead Tunnel opened. |
| 1863 | Hamilton and Strathaven Railway | Opened for passengers and goods to Flemington_>Strathaven Flemington . Stations at High Blantyre, Meikle Earnock Halt, Quarter Road, Glassford and Flemington_>Strathaven Flemington . |
| 1889 | West Highland Railway | A blizzard covers Rannoch Moor and the party have to work their way through deep drifting to reach CandO_>Tyndrum CandO station on the Callander and Oban Railway. |
| 1897 | Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway | First sod cut by Eliza Stewart Ellice, second wife of Junior_>Edward Ellice Junior deputy chairman of the line. |
| 1953 | Scarborough and Whitby Railway | Scalby station closed to all but occasional camping coach related traffic. |
| 1959 | Greenock and Ayrshire Railway | 2nd_>Greenock Princes Pier 2nd to Kilmacolm (excluded) closed to passengers. The line is retained for specials and boat trains but is singled. |
| 1986 | West Highland Railway | Garelochhead signal box closed. |
| 2004 | Conway and Llanrwst Railway Bettws-y-Coed Branch (London and North Western Railway) Blaenau Festiniog Branch (London and North Western Railway) | Line to Blaenau Ffestiniog closed by considerable flood damage. |
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | EWS Starts running freight to Thurso | EWS invests £50,000 in upgrading the Georgemas Junction to Thurso line which it is estimated will lead to the removal of 350,000 truck loads per year. |
| 2004 | Lib Dem welcomes Park station pledge [Scotsman] | CITY MSP Margaret Smith has welcomed a pledge by Transport Minister Nicol Stephen to look favourably on plans to include Edinburgh Park as a stop for the Edinburgh to Glasgow train service. |
| 2005 | ^200 faults^ on rail crash line [BBC News] | There were more than 200 faults overdue for repair on the East Coast Mainline before the Hatfield crash, a court hears. |
| 2006 | £500,000 to protect badgers from trams [Scotsman] | PROTECTING badgers on the routes of Edinburgh^s trams by creating a series of safe "runs" could cost more than £500,000. |
| 2006 | State of railway stations under fire [BBC News] | A large number of stations are a "poor advertisement for this country", says an influential group of MPs. |
| 2007 | One dead in train crossing crash [BBC News] | A train and car collide at a level crossing in northern Scotland leaving one teenager dead and two injured. |
| 2007 | Rail chief urges women to get behind controls as train drivers [Scotsman] | SHE has taken charge of driving the company. Now First ScotRail chief Mary Dickson wants to increase the number of women driving the firm^s trains. |
| 2009 | Rail services affected by the weather [Network Rail Article] | Rail services operating in the south east are being severely affected by the weather this morning. Passengers are strongly advised to check before they travel by consulting train operators^ website and National Rail Enquiries on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk |
| 2009 | Too Many trains arrive on time rail boss complains [The Times] | Of the many reasons to complain about the railways, being too punctual is not normally one. Yet a rail boss is complaining that his company stands to lose money because too many trains arrive on time. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2009 | Work starts to create a brighter Paddington [Network Rail] | Paddington station, already one of Network Rail’s most loved, is being opened up to the light with the restoration of the roof over the fourth span of the station. |
| 2010 | Crossing accident survivor jailed [BBC News Article] | A 45-year-old rail worker who survived a crash at a level crossing is jailed for setting fire to his firm^s offices. |
| 2011 | NRM Shildon announces new arrivals [MuseumPublicity] | The National Railway Museum at Shildon, now has three additional locomotives now on display in the museum’s Collection Building. |
| 2011 | Fehmarn link: Denmark opts for a sea tunnel to Germany [BBC] | Denmark is to build an underwater tunnel to Germany, cutting road and rail journey times between western Europe and Scandinavia. |
| 2011 | Hammy the railway station hamster in hunt for owner [Metro]] | A rogue hamster roaming the platforms at a railway station in Poole, Dorset, is hoping to be reunited with his owner after being captured by staff in a toilet roll. |
| 2012 | Anger as Network Rail boss requests bumper bonus just 48 hours after apologising for teenagers^ deaths [Daily Record] | THE boss of shambolic Network Rail has asked for a £336,000 bonus – days after apologising for the deaths of two teenagers at a level crossing. Sir David Higgins – who earns £560,000 a year – and two other chiefs will seek the 60 per cent pot at a special meeting of the £4billion state-funded company next week. Last night, former transport minister Tom Harris said it would “outrageous and insulting” for Sir David – who picked up his knighthood last Thursday – to profit while the firm face criminal charges over the deaths of passengers and poor management. |
| 2012 | Alford Railway history to be told [Donside Piper and Herald] | Preparations for a new exhibition on the history of the Alford Valley Railway (AVR) are well underway at the Grampian Transport Museum (GTM) in Alford. The life of this long-closed branch line from Kintore from Alford will be illustrated usind drawings and plans from the Great North of Scotland Association’s collection held at the museum as well as many historic photos, along with their present day views for comparison. |
| 2012 | Campaigners press case for new stations [Herald] | CAMPAIGNERS are urging ministers to add 12 new stations to Scotland^s rail network as the Government puts the finishing touches to a £1 billion investment programme in the central belt. . Councillors and a number of MSPs have also called on Government agency Transport Scotland to consider building the new destinations into the Edin- burgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) before detailed plans are put out to consultation in summer. When complete in 2016, the project aims to increase the number of trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh from 10 to 13 an hour while journeys on the newly electrified route will be cut from 50 minutes to 37. The only new station currently planned as part of EGIP is Edinburgh Gateway, which will connect Glasgow and Fife ser-vices with trams going to the city centre and airport. However, a number of local campaigns have sprung up to demand the benefits of project –arguably the biggest investment in Scotland^s rail network since the Victorian era – extend to key commuter belts as well as ser-vices between Scotland^s two biggest cities. Of the proposed new stations, four are on the main Glasgow-Edinburgh line and a further four on commuter routes into those cities. [From Andy Ball] |
| 2012 | Minister says Montrose railway station improvement work starts this month [Montrose Herald] | Years after an upgrade scheme was first mooted and following false starts to the project in more recent times, Scottish Transport minister Keith Brown has confirmed that the programme to install access lifts and a new footbridge at the Angus stop is set to begin later this month. The news came after an approach to the minister by Montrose councillor Mark Salmond, one of the local politicians who had grown increasingly exasperated with Network Rail over a lack of communication on the improvement scheme. |
| 2012 | Crossrail outlines new approach to refurbishing the Connaught Tunnel [Crossrail] | Crossrail today announced that it has adopted a new approach to restoring and enlarging the Connaught Tunnel which is safer and more efficient. Connaught Tunnel in the Royal Docks was built in 1878 and was part of the North London Line until 2006. The tunnel will be extensively refurbished as part of works to construct Crossrail’s new Abbey Wood branch. Sections of the existing tunnel are in a poor structural condition. In 1935, larger ships began scraping the bottom of the Royal Victoria Dock which sits above the Connaught Tunnel. As part of work to deepen the dock, the central section of the tunnel was narrowed with brickwork removed and steel segments installed. Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to create tunnels that are large enough for Crossrail trains to pass. Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a ‘cut and cover’ approach. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2014 | Extra platform opened at Gatwick Airport station [Railway Gazette] | UK: The seventh platform at Gatwick Airport station was officially opened by Transport Minister Baroness Kramer on February 3. The platform forms part of a £53m project designed to improve capacity and flexibility on the Brighton Main Line, supported by £7·5m from Gatwick Airport Ltd. |
| 2016 | Eight-month closure planned for GOBLIN electrification [Rail News] | Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed that London Overground’s Gospel Oak to Barking Line will be closed for eight months while electrification works are carried out. The Gospel Oak to Barking Line, sometimes referred to as GOBLIN, will be partially closed from early June to late September – trains will still run between Gospel Oak and South Tottenham on weekdays – and then fully closed from October to February 2017. To accomodate the new OLE gantries, the electrification project will require some sections of track to be lowered and bridges to be rebuilt. Work will also be carried out at stations, lengthening platforms to accomodate the new fleet of Class 710 EMUs, which will enter service in 2018. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2017 | Southern rail reaches deal to end bitter 10-month dispute [Evening Standard] | A rescue deal to end the bitter 10-month dispute between Southern rail and Aslef the train drivers union is set to be announced later today. Talks had yielded a breakthrough and an agreement was imminent following the long-running and bitter row over driver-only trains. Aslef, the drivers union, suspended all further strike action on January 17 for intensive, cross table talks with rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), parent company of Southern, under the auspices of TUC general secretary Frances OGrady. |
| 2017 | Scottish ferry services ^could be nationalised^ [BBC News] | Ferry services in Scotland should be brought under government control if EU rules allow it, the transport minister has said. Humza Yousaf said the Scottish government would prefer to use an ^in-house operator^ if it is permitted following a European Commission review. The tendering process for Northern Isles and the Gourock-Dunoon ferries is to be paused during the review. The current providers, Serco and Argyll Ferries Ltd, have been informed. |
| 2020 | Campaigners rail against delay to Barrheads new train station [Evening Times] | A delay to the delivery of Barrhead^s new station has been branded ^very disappointing^. |
| 2020 | Railfuture Scotland comment: Bold vision for our railways is the only way to transform transport network [The Herald] | Over the past few decades there has been such a war of attrition waged on the network, that the reaction to ^what is needed^ is likely to be ^where do we start^? Stations closed, lines lifted, routes singled over many decades, particularly under state ownership when the railways were a political football regularly given a good kicking by governments of both colours and starved of the necessary investment. |
| 2020 | Scotland^s railway roadmap: think tank reveals wish-list for our train network [The Herald] | Comprehensive proposals to expand Scotlands rail network to help provide a train service that can cope with a nation moving away from carbon-emitting cars have been mapped out by an influential think tank. |
| 2020 | Will HS2 really help cut the UK^s carbon footprint? [The Guardian] | One of the principal arguments in favour of HS2 was the positive effect it would have on the environment and this was rooted in the belief that high-speed electric trains could help the UK cut its carbon emissions. Related: Fears grow over HS2^s potential impact on biodiversity. |
| 2020 | Major UK rail freight operator looks to pick up speed in Scotland [The Scotsman] | The boss of a major UK rail freight operator - which drives and operates the Caledonian Sleeper - has stressed that it is ^very keen^ to grow its traffic in Scotland. |
| 2020 | The £230m ghost ships: Pictures expose shocking state of Scotland^s superferries - Sunday Post [Sunday Post] | The shocking condition of Scotland^s delayed £200 million superferries can be revealed today. |
