Chiltern Evergreen 3 - Further new Track Access Agreement Application

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Re Moor Street. I did see a proposal possibly in Modern Railways and possibly by West Midlands PTE^▸ (Passenger Transport Executive) (or current body) to link Moor Street to the Midland Camp Hill Line with a triangular junction. There would be extra terminal platforms.

It was definitely for suburban traffic and not HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) I thought that the High speed station in Birmingham was likely to be near where the proposed new Heartlands station was going to be.

[Btline]

Re Moor Street. I did see a proposal possibly in Modern Railways and possibly by West Midlands PTE^▸ (Passenger Transport Executive) (or current body) to link Moor Street to the Midland Camp Hill Line with a triangular junction. There would be extra terminal platforms.

It was definitely for suburban traffic and not HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) I thought that the High speed station in Birmingham was likely to be near where the proposed new Heartlands station was going to be.

Yes, they proposing for the Camp Hill services to use Moor Street, as well as Tamworth locals and perhaps Cardiff - Nottingham services. Combined with Chiltern, this will fill the terminal platforms. There is NO way HS2 will use Moor Street.

[IanC]

ITV Central Story on the News

[IndustryInsider]

ITV Central Story on the News

Thanks for the link, Ian.

What do we see in the opening shot at Birmingham Moor Street? Two Class 165's passing each other, when ALL services from Moor Street should be Clubman 168's. Now that's an all too common situation and something they'll have to get a grip of if schedules are going to be maintained when it's a largely 100mph route!

[Btline]

The video hints in won't all be ready by December. So it looks like we'll have to wait 2 years for the improvements. 

[willc]

The work involved in speeding up services is detailed in section 6 of Chiltern's ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) application form for Evergreen3 at

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/track%20access/2%20completed%20consultations/2009.10.27%20chiltern%20railways%2073rd%20supplemental%20agreement%20-%20consultation%20closed%2023%20november%202009/form%2022%2073rd%20for%20eg3.pdf

Quite apart from the scale of work on the track - and at Bicester North station - there will be some significant signalling changes, not least at Marylebone IECC^▸ (Integrated Electronic Control Centre).

It certainly won't be ready this year - a Network Rail press release issued yesterday says: "The project will be delivered in stages, with the main line journey time improvements being delivered from 2011".

[JayMac]

ITV Central Story on the News

The reporter (with accompanying graphics) states that Virgin serve Northampton. Well technically yeah, but one train a day from Rugby to Euston and another from Brum, set down only last thing at night. Hardly a service.....

London Midland didn't get a mention. Brum folk are lucky indeed to have three operators offering direct regular services to The Smoke. In the west we have to make do with 1^ operators direct to London at best.

[Btline]

ITV Central Story on the News

The reporter (with accompanying graphics) states that Virgin serve Northampton. Well technically yeah, but one train a day from Rugby to Euston and another from Brum, set down only last thing at night. Hardly a service.....

London Midland didn't get a mention. Brum folk are lucky indeed to have three operators offering direct regular services to The Smoke. In the west we have to make do with 1^ operators direct to London at best.

The LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) service is hardly for InterCity travellers - it's just two commuter lines joined up. Esp when Virgin offer CHEAPER (^5) advances than LM (^6) - although LM offer a good ^15 Super Off Peak return.

[Chafford1]

The video hints in won't all be ready by December. So it looks like we'll have to wait 2 years for the improvements. 

The London - Birmingham line will be upgraded between February this year and February 2011 which suggests a  May 2011 start.

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/chilternmainline/chilternmailinefaqs/   

[Chafford1]

ITV Central Story on the News

Thanks for the link, Ian.

What do we see in the opening shot at Birmingham Moor Street? Two Class 165's passing each other, when ALL services from Moor Street should be Clubman 168's. Now that's an all too common situation and something they'll have to get a grip of if schedules are going to be maintained when it's a largely 100mph route!

They'll be using the refurbished Mk3 coaches referred to on the Modern Railways website (hauled by 67s and DVTs^‡(resolve)?) so there shouldn't be a problen under the new schedules.

[John R]

Are these coaches in addition to the W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) stock?  All the Press Releases are very vague about the stock they'll be using, but then I guess they might not wish to publicise using 30 year old stock, as the general public may not consider that to be very positive (although those in the know realise how good Mk 3 stock is).

[gwr2006]

Thanks for the link, Ian.

What do we see in the opening shot at Birmingham Moor Street? Two Class 165's passing each other, when ALL services from Moor Street should be Clubman 168's. Now that's an all too common situation and something they'll have to get a grip of if schedules are going to be maintained when it's a largely 100mph route!

This was the 12:55 service to London Marylebone which ambled into Moor Street 18 minutes late at 13:13 despite the platform display showing it as on time and no reason given. My limited experience of Chiltern was that even though people don't admit it, they too have problems operating a perfect railway!  Perhaps they also need to do something about their staitons - Banbury is such a cold, unwelcoming place to change trains!

[willc]

Was quite clear looking at the train running page on Chiltern's site over recent days that, in common with other operators, they were having rolling stock problems at times, with a number of short-formed services noted, plus Bicester services turning back at Princes Risborough to recover delays. So, no, they haven't quite cracked walking on water just yet.

And to be fair, there are still a few Birmingham-London services booked for 165s, even if not those caught on camera by the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page).

[JayMac]

ITV Central Story on the News

The reporter (with accompanying graphics) states that Virgin serve Northampton. Well technically yeah, but one train a day from Rugby to Euston and another from Brum, set down only last thing at night. Hardly a service.....

London Midland didn't get a mention. Brum folk are lucky indeed to have three operators offering direct regular services to The Smoke. In the west we have to make do with 1^ operators direct to London at best.

The LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) service is hardly for InterCity travellers - it's just two commuter lines joined up. Esp when Virgin offer CHEAPER (^5) advances than LM (^6) - although LM offer a good ^15 Super Off Peak return.

LM is the InterCity sevice if you live in Northampton. Virgin certainly isn't!

[Chafford1]

Are these coaches in addition to the W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) stock?  All the Press Releases are very vague about the stock they'll be using, but then I guess they might not wish to publicise using 30 year old stock, as the general public may not consider that to be very positive (although those in the know realise how good Mk 3 stock is).

Yes, these will be additional coaches.

This month's Modern Railways notes that Delta Rail has produced a plan for Chiltern to extensively refurbish Mk3s, possibly including power operated doors, retention toilets (I should hope so!) accessible for wheelchairs, new seating and interiors, CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), power operated doors between vehicles and computer sockets.