Blog Archives

Re Franchaises - an explanation by John Roberts

13/3/2013

You may have seen the Secretary of State’s announcement on 31st Jan that the FGW, FCC and c2c franchises would be extended pending renewal. Current indications are that FGW will be extended by 7 periods (28 weeks) from its current end date of 31st March to 13th October 2013. During this time, DfT will negotiate with FGW for a 2-year extension up to October 2015. It remains to be seen how many of the proposals outlined on your website on 9th Aug 2012 can be delivered during that time. Between October 2013 and October 2015, DfT will specify, consult, tender and let a new franchise, which may or may not include any of the enhancements listed on your website. Ironically, it was FGW’s refusal in 2011 to exercise the optional extension of the original contract from March 2013 to March 2016 which triggered the refranchise process, but it now looks as if FGW will continue to run until October 2015 by paying a reduced premium to the Secretary of State!

Many thanks for that John

Penzance station changes Roger Winnen

11/3/2013

Roger reports that over the weekend a large crane was positioned in the car park alongside the station (This was closed for the duration) and new roof panels have been lifted up onto the roof. Some of which, he reports, look like 'vents'.

Also, news for those of you who enjoy the view from the wall which overlooks the station from the main road. Roger reports that the buddleia which has been restricting the view of the station has been removed. One can only hope that this is not in advance of fitting a fence on the wall.

St Austell Footbridge

10/3/2013

The long-awaited new footbridge with lifts should be installed at St Austell by the end of 2013. Excavations for its foundations were dug out a couple of years ago but a combination of money shortage and a change of heart about the design caused the long delay. The bridge will, effectively, replace the existing footbridge but, being a listed structure, the long-term future of that structure remains to be decided. Some kind of replacement for the up-side buildings at St Austell, now boarded up, is also likely but no details are yet available.

Craigs report from St Blazey Craig Munday

8/3/2013

Hi Keith
Here are some amusing pictures of 66034 after a particularly messy loading at Par Harbour. The TTA oils & CDAs were being shunted by the loco on return, and 66100 is expected to be towed away on Fri 8th by a class 66 07.52 departure.
Cheers for now, Craig Craig

66034 badly in need of a wash stands in St Blazey yard. It is 12.53 on Thursday 7th March 2013. Copyright Craig Munday

66034 at St Blazey yard. 66100 mentioned in the text is in the distance. Copyright Craig Munday

1960's Mixed train Mike Roach

4/3/2013

This is 10.35 AM Carmarthen to Aberystwyth leaving Llanybyther in October 1964 heading north. The train comprised eight empty milk tanks and two passenger coaches. Four milk tanks will be dropped off at Lampeter, to be tripped down to Golden Grove; and four milk tanks would be dropped off at Pont Llanio for collection later by a southbound passenger train. The train was hauled by Manor 7826 Longworth Manor, a regular on the line.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE PICTURES OF MIXED PASSENGER TRAINS?

Bears come to Cornwall Craig Munday

4/3/2013

Engineering Sunday 3rd March 2013 brought a pair of class 59/0s to Cornwall in the shape of 59002 & 59005. They ventured to St Blazey to enter the Plymouth Laira possession over the weekend from the Country end. Here they pass Liskeard box in fine style.

Cheers for now, Craig Many thanks Craig

6W39 08.18 St Blazey to Laira Engineers train 66106 & 59005 top n tailed Salmons and MHAs Copyright Craig Munday

6W40 11.21 St Blazey to Laira Jn 59002 11 box wagons

Unusual workings Roger Winnen

2/3/2013

A tip off from Craig Munday today 2nd March 2013 saw Roger rushing off to grab some unique pictures of the days trains. First at Par a Saturday Oil Train - very unusual. Then, at Lostwithiel, no less than two 59's heading and a class 66 at the rear of a special ballast working.

The two 59's head the ballast working through Lostwithiel in brilliant sunlight. Copyright Roger Winnen

The two 59's continue through the station heading for St Blazey 16.07 2Mar13 Copyright Roger Winnen

Little hope now for Carn Brea station?

1/3/2013

Over the years, for decades now, possible closure of both Camborne and Redruth stations has been mooted with a new station to be located on the site of Carn Brea station in the Pool area providing a transport interchange.
However, the proposed link road, now authorised, will run through the old Carn Brea station yard keeping close to the railway for some distance. This, it is thought, will scotch any plans for a new station, which must, in these days have extensive car parks.

Reading Subway opens From information forwarded by John Roberts for which many thanks.

1/3/2013

Reading subway opens as link span bridge shuts

Today Friday 1st March Reading station's link span footbridge closes - this is ahead of the opening of the new transfer deck at Easter.

The link span bridge allowed passengers to move between platforms as well as enabling members of the public to cross the railway between the multi-storey car park on the north and the existing station concourse to the south.

With effect fom Easter Tuesday, a massive new transfer deck - a concourse above tracks which provides access to platforms for ticket holders from both side of the railway - opens. Public access across the railway will be maintained by means of the newly refurbished subway, which opens on Friday.

With construction of four new platforms to the north of the station nearing completion, also due to open on Easter Tuesday, contractors will have to dismantle the link span bridge to complete final works.

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