The Wider Picture

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Would you like to tell us about some other activities of the Department for Transport that could have relevant lessons for us?  Or describe your rail experiences in Slovenia as they make an interesting contrast to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)?  Or fill us in on the battle at Westenhanger, Beltring or Swale to maintain the current service levels? Such posts will be welcome in "The Wider Picture".

We have also launched a "Frequent Posters Club" this morning - a board for current, frequent posters which has a similarly wide remit, but which can only be read (and posted to) when you've reached a certain minimum number of posts.  Chat with your fellow regulars there, without everything you say being "billboarded" across Yahoo and Google!

[Lee]

As a trial, the type of articles that have been appearing in the "Greater Britain" section of the Save The Train forum (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?board=9.0) will now appear in this section of the Coffee Shop forum.

The aim is to provide a "one-stop shop" for & a strong general, comparative element to the news article links that we provide, and also to free up the Save The Train forum to concentrate on TransWilts issues.

[Lee]

Photographs which span 100 years have gone on display at London's St Pancras Station (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7603508.stm

Rail passengers travelling between Sheffield and Chesterfield will face major delays when multi-million pound improvement works begin (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7602797.stm

TransPennine Express has decided to shut its carriage doors after 30 seconds to preserve the air-conditioning in summer and the heat in winter (link below.)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4699013.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Thieves are risking their lives to steal metal and cable from the Lothians' railway network (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/12445/Rail-thieves39-lives-on-the.4462525.jp

High-Speed train developments in South East Asia and rising US demand for freight locomotives are helping to create boom conditions in the railway supply industry, new European research has shown (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/international/2008/09/06-rail-worldwide.html

Liverpool Street station^s ticket office is getting a ^250,000 makeover (link below.)
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/3647410.Liverpool_Street_ticket_office_gets___250_000_revamp/

A motorist had a lucky escape when his car crashed through railings on to a railway track in Dorset (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7603947.stm

[Phil]

Nice work, Lee. This gets the thumbs up from me. I like having all the news on one place.

[grahame]

The aim is to provide a "one-stop shop" for & a strong general, comparative element to the news article links that we provide, and also to free up the Save The Train forum to concentrate on TransWilts issues.

My emphasis within the quoting, Lee.    This is exactly the approach / material that will help widen the usefulness of the board to passengers in the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) area - and if anyone from outside teh area finds it useful too, that's fabulous.  At the same time, by keeping this material in "The Wider area" it won't clutter up line-specific boards

[TerminalJunkie]

Missed one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7604280.stm

[Lee]

Missed one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7604280.stm

  

Thanks TerminalJunkie, that'll do as our "And finally....."

[Lee]

Network Rail has slammed the Office of Rail Regulation for a 'flawed' analysis of projected spending over CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) (2009-2014) control period, and asked for a further ^1bn to make ends meet (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/shortfall_impedes_network_rail.html#more

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5183

http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2008/09/network_rail_say_orrs_determination_is_flawed.html;jsessionid=5DE2C81298246FAA74C760C1CD0EA01F

The world's biggest airline by revenue, Air France-KLM^▸ (English name: Royal Dutch Airlines ), said on Monday it plans to move into high-speed passenger rail transport in a venture with French transport, waste and water firm Veolia (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/air_france_veolia_plan_highspe.html#more

Bluebell Railway has finally received the green light from the Financial Services Authority, after a year-long inquiry, to proceed with a ^1.8m ($3.2m) share offer to raise funds to extend its line to East Grinstead by 1.8 miles (link below.)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/571a5120-7df7-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658.html

Plans for a high speed rail link between Scotland and the rest of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) are to be considered by a public inquiry being held by the Scottish Parliament 9link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5182

Plans to create a direct rail link between Burnley and Manchester have moved a step closer (link below.)
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/burnleynews/Burnley-city-rail-link-boost.4462892.jp

Eurostar is set to embark on a major refurbishment of its 28 Class 273 trains, which date from 1992 and have been running services through the Channel Tunnel to France and Belgium since 1994 (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/09/08-eurostar-refurbishment.html

National Express East Anglia has launched its first cinema campaign, highlighting the company's London services (link below.)
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/844408/National-Express-look-cinema-latest-campaign/

Trains have been delayed on the London to Norwich line due to a telephone system failure (link below.)
http://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/Train-delays-on-London-to.4471490.jp

Bombardier Transportation has received an order worth approximately ^66m from Danish State Railways for the delivery of 10 three-car Contessa trains, with options for 30 additional trains (link below.)
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/Article.aspx?liArticleID=307886

The opportunities offered by a rail freight terminal in Shropshire are being outlined to more than 100 firms (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7605746.stm

[Lee]

The boss of a charity which helps run the Weardale Railway has predicted a brighter future following a US takeover (link below.)
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/09/09/huge-potential-forecast-for-line-61634-21705034/

A man was taken to hospital with multiple injuries after jumping onto tracks at Orrell Park station (link below.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/09/09/rail-chaos-after-man-jumps-onto-tracks-at-orrell-park-100252-21710068/

Is road transport the best way to send oranges from Spain to northern Germany? Or would it be better to ship them by rail or waterway for part of the route? A new software package determines the cheapest, fastest or most environmentally compatible mode of transportation (link below.)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080908135908.htm

Twelve dual recycling and litter bins have been installed at Euston Station to allow travellers to recycle their papers, plastic bottles and cans (link below.)
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=15276&channel=0&title=Camden+commuters+recycle+as+they+go

MEPs^▸ (Member of European Parliament) have called on the European Commission to make rail freight a priority and reduce Europe's need for road transport (link below.)
http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/09/09/131647/europe-pushes-for-prioritised-rail-freight.html

Virgin Trains has escaped censure from the Advertising Standards Authority following a direct marketing gaffe earlier this year (link below.)
http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/cd2db981c7724cc7b40abb127bbd4b97/Virgin-Trains-cleared-over-email-gaffe.html

One of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s oldest working steam locomotives has arrived at a County Durham museum to help celebrate the region's railway heritage (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7609107.stm

[Lee]

Edinburgh West MSP^▸ (Member of Scottish Parliament) Margaret Smith has called for more answers on plans for a new train station in the Gogar area (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/MSP-calls-for-station-talks.4475747.jp

Transport bosses have rejected calls for a railway station in Wythenshawe saying it would not provide value for money (link below.)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1066258_wythenshawe_station_plan_scrapped

Refurbishments at Cambridge railway station have been officially unveiled by the city's MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) (link below.)
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=347974

Train journeys from London to Paris could be cut to under two hours as airlines set up rival rail services to take on Eurostar (links below.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/2778462/Trains-from-London-to-Paris-could-take-under-two-hours.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23553734-details/London+to+Paris+by+rail+in+two+hours/article.do

A railway enthusiast with a terminal brain tumour has auctioned a lifetime's collection of memorabilia for charity (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7609898.stm

About 1,250 rail workers on Southeastern routes are to strike for 48 hours in two separate disputes (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7611227.stm

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

[Lee]

Kathryn Findlay article on the Forth Rail Bridge (link below.)
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=431&storycode=3122064&c=1

The Bure Valley Railway is hosting the Super Power Gala on Saturday and Sunday (link below.)
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/WhatsOn/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=WhatsOn&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=WhatsOn&itemid=NOED11%20Sep%202008%2009%3A53%3A05%3A017

A rail commuter who launched an online petition calling for an inquiry into services between East Anglia and London said 600 people have now signed up (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7611819.stm

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

[Lee]

The Association of Train Operating Companies has announced that it has appointed Steve Howes as Managing Director of Rail Settlement Plan Ltd (link below.)
http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997865

Thetrainline.com has appointed Murray Hennessy as its new chief executive officer (link below.)
http://www.abtn.co.uk/Trainline_appoints_new_ceo

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

[Lee]

A union has accused London Midland of "ripping off" passengers by bringing in a "backdoor" increase in fares of 5% (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7616212.stm

Network Rail is to start work on the track between Blackburn and Clitheroe to increase the current speed limit of 20mph to 45mph (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7616407.stm

City of York^s council leader floats tram-train idea (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3673224.Train_tram____would_ease_car_problem___/

The new ^8 million Telford rail freight line will be ready to roll out its first services in 2009 (link below.)
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/09/15/rail-line-ready-to-roll-out-in-2009/

Better management of demand for road travel and additional rail capacity will increasingly do more to reduce the cost of East Of England congestion in the long term, according to a report by Steer Davies Gleave (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7620055.stm

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) supports TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) colleagues in dispute at Arriva Trains Wales (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/rmt_supports_tssa_colleagues_i_1.html#more

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/rmt_supports_tssa_colleagues_i.html#more

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

[Lee]

Investigators studying a train collision in California are examining whether one of the drivers was distracted by his mobile phone (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7618503.stm

Shepherds Bush overground station will open on 28 September and provide a new stop between Willesden Junction and Kensington Olympia, west London (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7618263.stm

The North East must not be excluded from proposals for a new high-speed rail network, business chiefs have warned (link below.)
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/conference-special/local-conference-news/2008/09/16/high-speed-rail-call-for-north-east-61634-21830932/

Passengers are being asked to recount details of their commuting experiences to the London Assembly to help an investigation into overcrowding (link below.)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23556087-details/Assembly+asks+train+passengers+to+help+banish+%27cattle-trucks%27/article.do

Eco-Friendly uniforms for Virgin Trains staff (link below.)
http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2008018

Network Rail is planning a series of late night improvement works at Manchester Airport railway station in order to complete the proposed third platform (link below.)
http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/FREE/809160553/1006/RSS01&rssfeed=RSS01

Campaign for Better Transport - New money for rail freight dwarfed by road costs (link below.)
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/traffic_reduction/blog

[Lee]

The Department for Transport has published National Statistics on public transport in Public Transport Statistics Bulletin: Great Britain 2008 Edition (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/annualbulletins/publictransportstatsbul08

Also, the following release includes statistics on perceptions and experiences of anti-social behaviour and crime on public transport (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/trsnstatsatt/antisocialcrime