The Elizabeth Line (otherwise known as Crossrail 1) has finally opened, although as three branches (or three railways). The three branches are: Reading/Heathrow Airport to London Paddington, London Paddington to Abbey Wood, and London Liverpool Street to Shenfield. There has been some delay as well - amounting to 3 years and 8 months - as the railway was supposed to open in September 2018. The delay was down to infrastructure works not being completed on time, and a potential underestimation of project completion time by the Crossrail team. Having said that, most stations have been opened apart from Bond Street which is still to be completed. The Elizabeth Line was opened on Tuesday 24th May 2022, after a visit by the Royals (the Queen and the Earl of Wessex) had taken place the week before (on 17th May) to formally open the new railway. The Queen also officially unveiled a plaque to celebrate the completion of the line named in her honour. The plaque will be permanently mounted at London Paddington. On Tuesday 24th May, the first train departed at 06:33 from London Paddington. Londoners and rail enthusiasts who were at the opening had been queueing for a long time - the first since midnight - and when the line was opened, they raced down the two flights of escalators to join the first train. A few hours later passengers had to be evacuated from London Paddington's Elizabeth Line station due to the fire alarm going off. Fortunately it was a false alarm, and after 30 minutes everything returned to normal. My Visit I visited Farringdon Station the best part of two weeks' later after the opening, and the station staff at Farringdon were very keen to give me directions on how to reach the Elizabeth Line platforms from the Thameslink platforms. In a way they seemed to be pleased with having a new railway passing through. The directions I was given proved to be useless, and so I used my own judgement as to where the Elizabeth Line concourse was. Then I was faced with what I saw as extremely steep escalators. I was immediately put off using the escalators, but I was still determined to get down there somehow, so I used the lift. The lift is straightforward and easy to use. Level -1 is the main concourse, Level -2 is Thameslink platform 3, and Level -6 is the Elizabeth Line. Once down, I saw a few Elizabeth Line Class 345s, but I did not travel on them, as time did not allow. I just merely walked around a bit and took some photos. The platforms were rather spacious, and a number of people were making use of the new railway. Timetables
Nowadays between London Paddington and Abbey Wood, there are 12 trains per hour (tph), and that is due to increase up to 24tph when the three sections converge into one line by May 2023. A 'Roaring Success' Such were the words of London Mayor Sadiq Khan after one week of Elizabeth Line operation. More than one million journeys were made on the new railway within the first five days according to Transport for London (Tfl), Also more than two million journeys have been made across the whole line (inclusive of all three branches of the railway). Transport for London's Director of the Elizabeth Line, Howard Smith said: "It has been fantastic to see the Elizabeth line receive such a great reception. Customers have been flocking to the railway in the hundreds of thousands each day since opening to marvel at our beautiful new stations but also to experience drastically shorter journey times."
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More works have been taking place on the Uckfield Line recently, though more specifically at Crowborough, where Network Rail (NR) is installing an accessible bridge with lifts and stairs that serve both platforms. This is under the Department for Transport's (DfT) Access for All scheme, and is due to be completed by Autumn 2022. Work commenced this year, and as of 12th March 2022, there was scaffolding supporting a crossing over the line for workers. Also the lifts shafts had been built. By Saturday 26th of the same month, the footbridge had been erected. Crowborough already has a footbridge to the north side of the station, but it only has steps, hence the need for an accessible bridge. This new one will eventually replace the current one, and is situated towards the south side just beyond the station canopy on platform 1. Hopefully those users on the front coach of a six or eight car train will not have to walk so far to reach the exit, once it is completed. At the moment, they have to walk the best part of platform 2, over the footbridge, and part of the way along platform 1! Eridge Station has already received the same treatment, only in stages. A new footbridge was installed by October 2020, plus the station canopies were refurbished. A lift was then installed on platform 1, whilst a ramp was built for the Spa Valley Railway side of the station across the disused trackbed of platform 3. This was completed by 16th February 2022, when senior railway figures came to visit such as Rail Minister Wendy Morton.
Following my previous blog post on HS2 and its possible go ahead, I think its time to take a closer look at HS2 and protecting our ancient woodland.
The current route for HS2 today includes chopping down parts of ancient woodland. I have already said in a previous blog post that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) are fully against that, but I did not mention that by chopping down trees our birds and nature will be affected. The government are promising to plant many new trees, but that will not solve the problem. We all know that trees take a long time to grow into full size mature trees, so this plan of the government's seems to be just something to keep those like the RSPB happy, while the government continues its destruction plan. Another organization that is supporting the protection of the ancient woodland is Woodland Trust. It says that 'HS2 is a serious threat to the UK's ancient woodlands with 108 at risk of loss or damage'. It then went on to say that 32 ancient woodlands will be directly affected and another 29 will suffer from secondary effects like noise and pollution. Is that a good idea? By planting new trees, the government won't be able to replace the woodland that has been there before, nor will the government (or anyone else for that matter) be able to call it ancient woodland. The woodland will have lost its title until, another hundred years have gone by at least. Trees are useful for a variety of things. They are the best in nature for providing us with fresh oxygen. They also purify air, contribute in the water cycle, give shade or shelter and protect wildlife. If the government has not considered this, and if they have, decided to completely ignore that fact, then these actions show that the government is destroying our country. If this is its plan, then the news of chopping down trees is very bad news. These actions of the government show us that they don't care for nature anymore, which is very sad. If it did care for nature, it would not be pushing our building force to get HS2 built, and all those trees chopped down. From what we can see, though, is that the government are eager to get the new railway built, however much it might cost - they do not care about anybody else. HS2 has been given the go ahead, and the last thing the government wants is for an outsider to raise up a justified business case to scrap the new railway, that crushes its plans. At this moment in time, HS2 is on the verge of walking into difficulties as it continues to chop down trees. It has stated that this is the largest environmental project, but its actions have contradicted its words. Work has already been undertaken at Crackley Woods near Kenilworth, and the chopping down of trees has taken place during the critical time of nesting. It is also the time when the woodlands should be bursting with natural life. The contractor, who has been appointed to do the work, has made the decision to move the ancient woodland soils to another site, which has been criticized. The RSPB has urged HS2 not to chop down trees in the April to September nesting season, but HS2's response was that work was continuing with an ecologist on site to spot nesting birds, and stop work as required. The reason being that destruction of active bird nests is illegal. The RSPB said: “HS2 isn’t earning our trust and sadly we’ve seen evidence that nest site exclusion zone concerns from local residents are going ignored.” One does wonder what the government is thinking about. It sounds like the government has no knowledge whatsoever about nature, and as it is only interested in its own agenda, everybody else is forced to be swept along with it. It is worth remembering here that one can not overcome nature. If one tries to go against nature, then one will bring destruction.
This book covers different aspects of rail travel, like high speed passenger services, freight, industrial, underground and armoured World War 2 trains, with colour or black & white photos on each page.
In its contents it covers: 1. The Evolution of the Locomotives. 2. From Early Oddities to High Tech Wonders. 3. Great Builders. 4. Great Railway Journeys. 5. Shaped for Speed. 6. Built for Heavy Haulage. 7. Diesel and Electric Traction. 8. Railways in the Industrial Revolution. 9. The Railway's Role in Wartime. 10. Railway Disasters. 11. Why Steam Disappeared. 12. Railway Preservation. 13. The Revolution in Light Rail. 14. The Railway's Role in the Modern World.
This book gives a detailed comprehensive overview of the world's history of railways including the UK. Although it was published in 2008 (first edition, 1998) it still remains to be a must for rail enthusiasts all over the world.
Personal Reflection: I have found this book to be interesting particularly (for me) the chapters on Great Builders, Great Railway Journeys, The Railway's Role in Wartime, The Revolution in Light Rail and the Railway's Role in the Modern World. I would certainly recommend this book to rail enthusiasts, who enjoy history. It is currently being retailed on Amazon.
This book covers maps of railways dating from 1819 to 2011. It also includes some history of Britain's Railways. It provides the reader with interesting, detailed maps of different parts of the rail network. The book is well illustrated, with black and white/colour photos or a map on each page.
The content of the book covers: The Railway Revolution - up to 1859 The Railways Pre-eminent - 1860 to 1900 The Zenith of the network - 1901 to 1922 The 'Grouping'- and a quest for speed - 1923 to 1947 Nationalisation and Modernisation - 1948 to 1963 Dr Beeching's Prescription - 1963 to 1970 The Revival of the passenger railway - 1970 to 1993 Privatisation and beyond - 1993 onwards
Personal Reflection: I have found this book to be interesting, particularly the maps and history. I certainly recommend this book to rail enthusiasts and those who are interested in railway maps.
This book was written by David Spaven and the best selling railway author, Julian Holland, who is a railway expert with many titles to his name. It is currently being retailed on Amazon.
This informative book covers the history of Britain's railways from 1600 to 2014. It gives a very detailed historic coverage, telling the story of how British railways began, their decline and revival. In its contents: 1st section covers from 1604 to 1825- In the Beginning 2nd section covers from 1826 to 1842- The First Intercity and Trunk Railways 3rd section covers from 1843 to 1850- Expansion and 'Railway Mania' 4th section covers from 1851 to 1900- The Great Victorian Age 5th section covers from 1901 to 1922- The Early Twentieth Century 6th section covers from 1923 to 1947- The 'Big Four', Streamlines and War 7th section covers from 1948 to 1962- Nationalisation, Rationalisation and Modernisation 8th section covers from 1963 to 1993- Dr Beeching, Contraction and The End of Steam 9th section covers from 1994 to 2014/15- Privatisation and High Speed Although the book was published a few years ago, it is still considered to be the rail enthusiasts guide to the history of Britain's railways. The book is amply illustrated throughout with black & white/colour photos on nearly every page.
Personal Reflection: I myself have enjoyed reading this book and I still use it today to refer back to the history of our railways.
The book was written by the best selling railway author, Julian Holland, who is a railway expert with many titles to his name. It is retailed on Amazon. This is the second and last part of photos from the Uckfield Line. Eridge Station photos. Crowborough has got a brand new cycle rack which enables more bikes to be stored along with a station shelter on platform one and two brand new departure boards. Network Rail have also repainted the station. Buxted Station photos.
The developments on the Uckfield line are now completed and the new platforms opened on the 18th of July. A week later on the 25th of July ten coach trains were introduced. Edenbridge Town station has two station shelters one on each platform plus an extra two departure boards. Also the station has been repainted. Below left: the new platforms at Edenbridge Town. Below right: the station shelter on platform 1. This is a example of what the other stations have got. Hever station photos. Below left: the new platforms. Below right: the new car park. Cowden station photos. below the new platform. Ashurst station photos.
Network Rail are planning to build a railway between Surrey and Hertfordshire. There could be other benefits such as extending the railway to Woking and East London and also quadrupling the Anglia main line to Harlow. At the moment some government leaders in London are wanting to start the work in the year 2020. It is hoped that Crossrail 2 will take some pressure off the Southern, South West Trains and London Overground trains at Clapham Junction. The railway is going to serve central London through an under ground tunnel between Wimbledon, Tottenham Hale and New Southgate, connecting to routes in Hertfordshire and Surrey. It is hoped that there will be up to about 30 trains per hour. Here is a link to a map of the route of Cross rail 2. For more information please visit this website. http://crossrail2.co.uk/the-route/
Major engineering works are being carried out at London Waterloo station at the moment which is supposed to help relieve the pressure on the South Western main line which includes improving the station. The improvements include reopening the international platforms and the concourse being extended. When the station opens properly, the international platforms will be able to handle 20 trains per hour. In my opinion they don't need Cross rail 2 because they've already got the Govia Thameslink Railway running north and south of London and if they have Cross rail 2 then they'll have two railways running north and south London. In some peoples opinion, Thameslink could become Cross Rail 3, but that woundn't be possible as Thameslink services currently run between Bedford and Brighton, Bedford and Sutton, Bedford and Sevenoaks. In 2018 they are due to be adding Cambridge, Peterborough and Kings Lynn in the north and East Grinstead, Horsham, Littlehampton and Eastbourne in the south to their list of destinations. I want to compare the Class 377 to the Class 387.
Both fleets are owned by Govia Thameslink Railway. At the moment the Class 387' s belong to Thameslink and they run between Bedford and Brighton, Bedford and Sutton , London Kings Cross and Cambridge. Eventually they will operate between London and Peterborough and Kings Lynn. The Class 387/1' s were first used by passengers in December 2014 when they were introduced on Thameslink. Some of the trains were due to go to the Great Western Railway but GWR has ordered its own fleet of Class 387' s. Meanwhile the Class 377's belong to Southern and they run on the Southern network not including the Uckfield branch which is run by Class 171' s which are diesel. Also the layouts are different. The layout of a Class 387 is different to a Class 377 as the train has got 2 and 2 seating through out and there is plenty of room. Though the Class 377 , the seating is 2 and 2 in some places and in others its 3 and 3 and there' s not much room to move about. Both fleets have toilets on all trains and Wi-Fi. Below is the interior of a Class 387. |
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