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The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has begun collecting evidence after a TransPennine Express service derailed near the Heaton depot in Newcastle.

The train derailed at around 6.30AM this morning (22 March) before colliding into what appears to be a concrete barrier.

No commuters were on board when the train derailed and it has been confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the incident.

I no longer watch TV^▸ (Thames Valley), just watch the mainly American live rail and river cams, York and Crewe are on live stream too. My favorite is Fort Madison with its rail and road swing bridge

National Rail

Sit back and relax as you enjoy a driver's eye view of Britain’s most picturesque railway journeys, streamed in our exclusive footage.

Experience what it's like to travel across the Scottish Highlands; watch the waves crash against the Devon coast; get lost in the pleasant green land of Wales and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Suffolk.

The sounds and the motion of travelling by train have been scientifically proven to help people relax, which is why we’ve developed Great British Journeys; a series of the country’s most scenic train journeys – all shot from the train driver’s cab.

GWR has received the first train in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) able to run on overhead and third-rail electric lines, as well as under its own diesel power, which is expected to be introduced on services between Reading and Gatwick by early 2021.

Provided by Porterbrook Leasing, the first of 19 Class 769 Flex trains has arrived at GWR’s Reading Depot for an extensive programme of staff training and testing.

Offering more carriages than the trains they are replacing, the Class 769 fleet was specially commissioned by GWR to be able to run under overhead wires in London and the Thames Valley, and to take advantage of third rail provision where it exists on the North Downs line. The trains will support GWR to realise long-held plans to expand services over the North Downs line between Reading and Redhill and then through to Gatwick.

The trains will enable the release of some of GWR’s diesel-powered Turbo trains to add capacity in the Bristol area and support the ability to launch new routes through the city.

The innovative fleet of tri-mode trains will operate in four-carriage sets which have been refurbished inside and out, with free WiFi and power at each seat, air cooling, bigger luggage racks, and new seat covers. Equipped with new diesel engines and combined with their electric capability, each Class 769 will offer a quieter and cleaner experience for customers than the trains they are replacing.

GWR Head of Fleet Production John Murphy said:

“A lot of hard work has been done to make sure people feel that they can travel safely at the present time, and that includes running more trains and carriages to make extra room.

“Planning is well under way for a further uplift in services in mid-September, re-introducing even more services across the GWR network to help accommodate a return to travel for school, college or for work and adding some new services for the first time.

“This news shows we have not stopped looking at ways to further improve our service for customers.”

On the GWR North Downs line, the trains will facilitate a return to usual Sunday frequencies of two trains an hour, and the ability to run three trains per hour from Reading to Redhill on Saturdays. GWR is working with industry partners to extend this to further off-peak weekday services as well as extending these through to Gatwick Airport, as works at the station are completed.

We’re currently seeing the biggest investment in the network since Brunel so we can offer more trains, more seats, and shorter, more frequent journeys and continue the network’s heritage of helping connect more businesses to new and prosperous markets. Through a series of initiatives we aim to be a good neighbour to the communities we serve and are committed to making a positive social impact in those regions.

I looked up the Bristol Montpelier on the above link.  Apparently there were open air swimming baths and a pleasure gardens.  This started me wondering where they were.  No idea where the baths might have been but could the pleasure gardens have been what is now St Andrews Park?

A West London council has forced developers of a controversial tower block to halt building work after suspecting it damaged a nearby Tube station. Ealing Council has ordered the developers of a large tower block to stop demolition works on the site after concerns they were behind the part closure of West Ealing station earlier this week.

West Ealing station has been shut since March 16 after a retaining wall on its eastbound platform sustained damage that would make it unsafe for commuters. There have been concerns from residents and politicians that the damage at West Ealing station was linked to demolition works that had started at nearby Manor Road where a large tower block is due to be built.

Writing on Facebook on March 16 about the station's closure, Ealing North MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) James Murray wrote: “After seeing the closure this morning, I spoke to Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)) who confirmed this was the result of a potentially dangerous situation with the retaining wall. TfL said that after they were alerted last night, an inspector visited the site and decided that no trains would stop at West Ealing on the Paddington-bound line.

"I urged TfL to make sure the station can reopen safely as soon as possible. Once it is safe, I said they must then find out how this happened. If, as seems all but certain, this is the result of building works for the Manor Road tower, I said to TfL I want to see them take firm action against the developer.”

The proposals for a part 18 and part 12-storey building containing 144 flats in Manor Road has courted controversial after Ealing Council initially refused planning permission following sustained pressure from residents. Permission was eventually granted by a government planning inspector.

The council announced it ordered the demolition works at Manor Road site to stop after it was discovered the developers had failed to hand in all the appropriate paperwork, meaning they did not have permission to begin works there. Leader of Ealing Council Peter Mason said: “Following action by Ealing Council’s building control service on Wednesday and Thursday this week (March 15 and 16), work on the demolition of buildings on the Manor Road development site has been halted.

“This follows concerns over an unsafe wall that has caused the closure of West Ealing station. Planning permission for the development at this site was initially refused by Ealing Council, but this was overturned on appeal by a government planning inspector. Planning conditions require the submission of construction management plans, among other documents, prior to commencement of works on site.

“The council has not received any discharge of these conditions to date, so work should not have commenced. Work will not be permitted to recommence until those conditions have been adequately discharged. The contractor, Henry Construction, have now confirmed they are appointing a planning consultant following the concerns raised by the council’s building control service, to ensure that they are operating in accordance with the planning conditions.

"Network Rail confirmed late yesterday that works had begun to remove the wall, and that they are working to get the station reopened as soon as possible.” Southern Grove developers, Henry Construction and Transport for London have been approached for comment.

WAREHAM TRIAL TRAIN SERVICE POSTPONED TO SUMMER 2023

Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers have postponed their planned trial diesel train service to the main line at Wareham until the summer of 2023 because of challenging trading conditions and economic uncertainty.

It had been hoped to operate the 90-selected day trial public service – using restored 1950s British Railways heritage diesel multiple units upgraded for main line running – during the summer of 2022.

Delays in completing the Swanage Railway’s submission to the Government’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) to obtain permission to run the trains, the option of bringing in a contractor to operate the trains being uneconomic and main line passenger numbers having not returned to pre-Covid levels – have prompted the postponement decision.

Swanage Railway chairman Gavin Johns said: “We can only run trains to Wareham when the conditions are commercially viable and it’s important that we operate the trial as economically as possible and when commercial conditions are at their best.

“We will continue with our main line train operating licence application to the Office of Rail and Road as quickly as practicable.

"The Swanage Railway's business is still recovering from Covid, which badly affected customer and staff confidence, against a background of challenging trading conditions and economic uncertainty.

“Trading conditions during 2022 are very unpredictable because they are being heavily affected by significant prices rises being borne by our customers and our business – such as the increased cost of coal – as well as the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine.

“Concentrating on providing viable heritage train services between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage remains the Swanage Railway’s first priority.

“The current challenging economic reality has affected our plans for operating a trial 90-selected day trial train service from Swanage and Corfe Castle to the main line at Wareham during 2022 and we are working to deliver that service during 2023, trading and economic conditions permitting.

“The business case does not currently exist to place external contracts to provide the trial train service to Wareham but we remain fully committed to securing all necessary consents and commencing services with a view to operating to Wareham during 2023. This is the most pragmatic way to proceed,” added Mr Johns who is a volunteer Swanage Railway signalman.

A 60-selected day trial train service from Swanage and Corfe Castle to Wareham operated during the summer of 2017 using heritage diesel locomotives and carriages hired in as well as the contracting of a main line train company to operate the trains.

Gavin Johns explained: “The extensive work required to put in an application to the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) for operating trains to Wareham has been very detailed and has taken longer than expected – it has probably been the most challenging project in the 45-year history of the Swanage Railway.

“Trading conditions and economic uncertainties permitting, we plan to run a 90-selected day trial train service to the main line Wareham during 2023.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on the Wareham project which has been a Swanage Railway ambition since British Rail closed the branch line to Corfe Castle and Swanage in January, 1972,” he added.

The two 1950s former British Railways heritage diesel multiple unit trains that the Swanage Railway has refurbished and upgraded, for running on to the main line at Wareham, are a three-carriage Class 117 and a one-carriage Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’.

That must be the final straw for the driver… 

There was traffic disruption in Anniesland after a lorry carrying bales of hay became stuck under a bridge.

The incident happened on Thursday afternoon shortly after 3pm on Bearsden Road.

Footage and pictures were posted online showing the vehicle unable to move.

Drivers indicated that there was a short tailback created as a result of the incident.

Loose bales of hale could also be seen on the road after the lorry collided with the bridge.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.15 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2022, police attended a report of a HGV stuck under a bridge in Bearsden Road, Glasgow.

“There were no reports of any injuries and the road was reopened around 6.30pm.”