Tag Archives: Trains
Tree blocks reopened Southeastern rail line again
"Chaos at Sevenoaks Station"
Train services which resumed on a Kent and Sussex line after disruption following a derailment were halted again after a tree fell on the track.
The tree blocked the line between Robertsbridge and Hastings just after it was cleared on Thursday afternoon.
Southeastern again cancelled all services, with bus replacements laid on.
The line later reopened again but passengers were told to expect continued delays and alterations.
A replacement bus service remained in place between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells.
The line had been cleared just before 15:00 BST following the freight train derailment on Wednesday.
Network Rail handed the line back to Southeastern but the train operator said services would remain disrupted because crews and rolling stock were in the wrong place.
via BBC News
![bookmark](http://www.tiredbees.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/share-and-follow/images/blank.gif" height=){kind=small}
Mustard Seed
Mustard Seed, originally uploaded by Mexicanwave.
This takes me back to when I traveled daily between Didcot to Reading to college
Lightning strikes disrupt trains in and out of London
Waterloo station - people as far as the eye can see (Photo credit: Rob Fenwick)
Mainline trains out of three of London’s busiest stations where cancelled or heavily disrupted by lightning strikes last night.
Network Rail said the lightning hit a power substation near Wandsworth causing major problems to signalling in the area, also causing power failures outside Cannon Street Station.
Trains operating out of Victoria, Cannon Street and Waterloo where affected.
A spokesman for the rail operator said engineers had managed to restore power and that the vast majority of services should operate as usual Friday morning.
Engineers were currently carrying out repairs to the signalling systems which had been damaged by the power surge from the lightning strike.
All Southeastern services out of Victoria and Cannon Street where suspended while Gatwick Express services from Victoria and South West Trains from Waterloo where affected by the weather with a delay of up to 40 minutes.
All Southern trains between London Bridge and London Victoria via Denmark Hill where suspended.
Other train services operating from both Victoria and Waterloo which do not go through these areas have not been affected by the power failure.
via BBC News
Related articles
- Train services ‘back to normal’ (bbc.co.uk)
- Lightning strike disrupts trains (bbc.co.uk)
- Lightning strike causes travel chaos in London (telegraph.co.uk)
Network Rail – Virtual Archive
Today’s railway represents 200 years of engineering inspiration, innovation and determination; the work that Network Rail does today is the next chapter in this astounding story.
The Online Archive
Through this online archive we will showcase and celebrate the heritage of today’s railway infrastructure and provide access to elements of the Network Rail archive. Access to the Archive will be provided through this website, and we will aim to publish new documents on a regular basis, to coincide with Network Rail activities, projects, significant events and anniversaries. You can read about our recent discoveries and projects in our blog and ‘Ask the Archivist’ questions about our collection. While at this stage in the project’s development we won’t be able to make records available on demand, we will try and answer your enquiries as fully as possible and work your requests into our programme for future publication. If there is a feature of today’s railway infrastructure you feel should be celebrated, do let us know and we will do what we can to work it into our programme for future publication.
Delays not Southeastern’s Fault
Southeastern managing director Charles Horton said that patience was wearing thin
“Patience is wearing thin” after three days of disruption to train services caused by a gas leak under a railway line, a rail operator chief has said.
Gas started leaking in the Canterbury West area on Monday and Southern Gas Networks (SGN) began repairs. Buses have replaced some trains in the area.
Southeastern boss Charles Horton said his firm was disappointed it was taking so long to fix the problem.
SGN said it was a “complex engineering job” and apologised for the disruption.
Mr Horton, managing director of Southeastern, said: “Passengers have been without a train service between Ashford and Canterbury since Monday afternoon, patience is wearing thin and we want to get services back up and running again.”
via BBC News
Disruption to train services – UPDATE
Southern Gas Networks have fixed the gas leak underneath the railway line in the Canterbury/Wye area and Network Rail have advised Southeastern it is now safe to run train services again.
A normal service will resume between Ashford International and Ramsgate via Canterbury West tomorrow, Thursday 16 February.
Until close of service this evening, a train shuttle service is operating between Ramsgate and Canterbury West which connects with a rail replacement bus service between Canterbury West and Ashford International in both directions until further notice.
Southeastern
This mornings email from Southeastern Trains about the ongoing train problems.
Disruption to train services between Ashford International and Canterbury West - UPDATED
A replacement bus service will continue to operate between Ashford International and Canterbury West today, Wednesday 15 February, due to ongoing repairs to a gas leak by Southern Gas Networks.
Network Rail and Southeastern have been advised by Southern Gas Networks that work to repair the leak is expected to continue throughout today, and until fixed it is unsafe to run train services between Ashford International and Canterbury West via Wye.
A train shuttle service is operating between Ramsgate and Canterbury West which connects with a rail replacement bus service between Canterbury West and Ashford International in both directions until further notice.
- Trains depart Ramsgate to Canterbury West half hourly at XX00 and XX30 to connect with buses departing Canterbury at XX10 and XX40.
- Buses depart Ashford to Canterbury at XX10 and XX40 to connect with trains departing Canterbury to Ramsgate half hourly at XX00 and XX30.
- Train services are still operating via Canterbury East and Dover Priory.
- Charing Cross to/from Ramsgate services will run via Sandwich.
- St Pancras to/from Margate via Canterbury West high speed services will start and terminate at Ashford.
- Southeastern Mainline ticket holders can travel on Southeastern High Speed services.
All services listed above may be delayed, diverted or cancelled at short notice.
Southeastern
Boris Johnson what’s Sevenoaks line
A Kent MP is meeting London transport bosses over fears that the city may take over the running of some of the county’s train services.
Michael Fallon, who represents Sevenoaks, is concerned that his constituents could end up with a worse and more expensive service.
Boris Johnson believes routes to Dartford and Sevenoaks will improve if they are managed from London.
But Mr Fallon says many passengers cannot hold Mr Johnson to account.
Under the mayor’s plans, responsibility for stations and services in several areas, including Southeastern‘s routes between London and the Kent towns, would come under the remit of his office and Transport for London.
via BBC News
London Bridge Redevelopment
At a planning meeting last night, Southwark council approved the plan for a major re-design of London Bridge station. The video above, released by Network Rail, shows a fly-through of how the station will look once work is completed in 2018.
The plan includes building the country’s largest platform concourse and a grand new entrance on Tooley Street. The latter will, unfortunately, mean the loss of some impressive buildings, including the Britain at War exhibition and the old South Eastern Railway offices, which the Victorian Society has been trying to save. Seems the desire to preserve our 19th century rail heritage will lose out to the pressing need for 21st century facilities, and given the parlous state of London Bridge at the moment, and the area’s growing importance, that’s probably for the best overall.
We’re transforming London Bridge station: creating new platforms for more trains, building a new concourse and creating a bigger, better station for passengers.
Click here for more details.
via Londonist
Sevenoaks Station Plans are Missing Opportunities?
Network Rail has released details of a major upgrade for Sevenoaks station which will provide modern facilities and better journeys for passengers.
The upgrade, which is being funded through the government’s national stations improvement programme, includes:
- - Extending the existing concourse to make it easier to move around for passengers, particularly at the busiest times of the day. This will include installing a wider doorway.
- - Renovating the toilets
- - Upgrading customer information screens
- - Providing new retail facilities
- - Refurbishing the overbridge and stairs to the platforms, plus the staircase to the season ticket holder’s car park
- - Extending motorcycle parking and installing double-decker racks to boost bike parking.
- - Replacing waiting shelters on platforms 1/2 and 3/4.
Mike Smith, Network Rail’s route enhancement manager for Kent, said:
“As well as providing a safe, punctual and reliable train service we must give passengers a better journey experience. The upgrade of Sevenoaks station is a big step forward and will make a big difference for the community and businesses in the town who use the railway for thousands of journeys every day.”
The station will remain open to passengers throughout the construction although, passengers will need to use the temporary facilities during some phases of the work. Details of these temporary facilities are being finalised and will be shared with passengers in advance of work starting.
Preparatory work is expected to start in December 2011, with main construction starting in early 2012. All work is scheduled for completion by Summer 2012.
Artist's impression showing how Sevenoaks station will look following a major upgrade of facilities through the National Stations Improvement Programme
This is all very well but, they’ve missed off;
- Wi-Fi, preferably “The Cloud” as the mobile data connection is only GSM at best because the platforms are in a cutting.
- And fixing the road crossings, a bridge across Tubs hill or a tunnel with the help of Sevenoaks District Council, or even just adjusting the traffics lights to favour people on foot, because currently people cross the road towards Hitchen Hatch Lane in the shortest way possible. As there are railings they are forced to walk in the road. Sevenoaks Council should realise you can’t change the fact that people on foot will always try to take the shortest possible route, even if it’s not the safest.
via National Rail Press Release
Funnies: Women of London’s public transport…
Dear Women,
Some of us are men are gay and we’re likely staring at your atrocious split ends, clown make-up or dress sense of a 5 year old who’s been raiding Mummy’s dressing up box again.
Smooches,
Gay Men
in reply to: Women of London’s public transport…
Dear men,
In between our bouts of preening and pouting at our reflection in the windows, we do notice you staring at us and we still think you’re creeps. The same goes for inter-carriage staring, that glass is not one-way…
Yours,
Women
via Comments on “Do you want to sit down on the Overground during rush hour? Then prepare for war”
