UNITED KINGDOM | Railways

[Dan]

The stations are indeed really beautiful. What would make them even more beautiful would be a few true HSR trains coming in and out of them throughout the day...

[iampuking]

Originally Posted by Dan1113

The stations are indeed really beautiful. What would make them even more beautiful would be a few true HSR trains coming in and out of them throughout the day...

There are HSR trains at St Pancras.

[Jonesy55]

A couple of months ago, a new direct service from Shrewsbury to London started operations, 5 trains per day to and from the capital.

The operator is an open access company called the wrexham, shropshire and marylebone railway company limited which is a joint venture between renaissance trains and Laing Rail (owned by deutsche bahn).

I'm not sure how popular it will be though, the cheapest return ticket is £41 and the journey time is ridiculously slow, 3.5 hours. You can just get an existing service to birmingham then change onto a virgin pendolino and get to london in 2 hours 45 including the transfer. tickets doing it that way can often be less than the £41 that the new service offers so the only way I would use it is at peak times when virgin tickets are expensive.

[funkydory]

Originally Posted by Jonesy55

A couple of months ago, a new direct service from Shrewsbury to London started operations, 5 trains per day to and from the capital.

The operator is an open access company called the wrexham, shropshire and marylebone railway company limited which is a joint venture between renaissance trains and Laing Rail (owned by deutsche bahn).

I'm not sure how popular it will be though, the cheapest return ticket is £41 and the journey time is ridiculously slow, 3.5 hours. You can just get an existing service to birmingham then change onto a virgin pendolino and get to london in 2 hours 45 including the transfer. tickets doing it that way can often be less than the £41 that the new service offers so the only way I would use it is at peak times when virgin tickets are expensive.

Is this the service you are allowed to get off at Wolverhampton but not supposed to be allowed to get on?

Travelling by steam from Shrewsbury would have been much better anyway in the days whichI recall:-

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=9

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by funkydory

The thread is particularly timely since 2008 is forty years exactly since the last official steam trains ran in Britain(August 8 to be precise) so there is going to be a HUGE amount of retrospective info out there on the internet this year.

Of all operations believe it or not London Underground were the last to use steam as a matter of course, until 1971 when the two ex-GWR pannier tank engines stationed at Neasden were withdrawn. I guess the 8th August 1968 date refers to BR passenger services?

[funkydory]

Yes, thats it to be more precise

[elfabyanos]

News from http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/4926.aspx

Train punctuality reaches all time high in a year of improvement on Britain's railways

Record levels of train punctuality coupled with record levels of investment and further cost cutting are the hallmarks of the past 12 months as Network Rail today published its preliminary results for the year to 31 March 2008.

Train punctuality is at its highest ever, with 89.9% of trains arriving on time in the year 2007/8, and by the end of April 2008 this figure had exceeded 90% for the first time since records began*.

Unveiling the results, chairman Ian McAllister said: "Overall, the last year has been a good one for Network Rail and the industry as a whole, with passengers seeing a better service.

"Train performance is at an all time high, a £4bn investment programme has been delivered, delays caused by the infrastructure have been cut and costs have also been reduced.

"No form of transport is safer than rail and record levels of investment are being pumped into the network, with a doubling of spending on schemes designed to build a bigger, better railway to help meet the growing demands of passengers and freight users.

"In addition, lessons have been learnt following the engineering overruns at New Year. Changes have been made to make the planning and execution of such big improvement schemes more robust.

"Alongside maintaining high levels of safety and train punctuality, Network Rail has continued to make savings, with the costs of running the railway seeing a further £178m reduction, in real terms, this year."
Performance results

* Train punctuality is at its highest level since records began with an average of 89.9% of trains arriving on-time over the period. This compares to 78.6% when Network Rail became infrastructure operator in October 2002
* The significant 90% mark was reached at the end of April 2008 when train punctuality for the previous 12 months reached 90.02%
* Network Rail attributed delays were reduced by one million minutes over the last year. A 10% reduction to 9.5m down from 10.5m - the lowest level for a decade

Financial highlights

* A profit (after tax) of £1.2bn, up from £1bn compared to 2006/7, all of which is reinvested in the railway
* Turnover was £5.96bn, an increase of £165m against the previous year
* Operating profit increased to £2.4bn, up from £2.3bn
* Operating costs (before depreciation) are down by £178m in real terms
* Net debt stands at £19.7bn, up from last year’s £18.4bn

With no shareholders, Network Rail's unique structure enables it to re-invest all of its profits back into the railway. The size of these profits are taken into account and regulated by the Office of Rail Regulation when deciding upon the funding the company needs to carry out its activities.

Group finance director Ron Henderson said: "In financial terms, this year has seen stable profits, with consistent revenues, and costs continuing on a downward trend. Strong budgetary control, together with our improved understanding of the costs bases and drivers, put us in good shape for the challenges ahead in the next control period."

Mr McAllister concluded: "Today's railway is a thriving and successful one. This success has been achieved through close working relationships with our customers - the train operators. They have our commitment to focus on improving the railway for both passengers and freight users.

"At the core of Network Rail's achievements over the past year are its people. In all my years in industry, I have never met a more dedicated and committed workforce."

[elfabyanos]

Just in case anyone is interested - the entire 3000 page British timetable until December this year http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%...eTimetable.pdf (60Mb)

[Jonesy55]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7467203.stm

Major new rail lines considered



Five new high-speed main lines crossing the length and breadth of the UK may be built as part of a review of the rail network, Network Rail says.

The network operator will announce on Monday it is to commission a study looking into what could be the largest track build since the 19th century.

The study will consider laying new lines alongside five of the UK's busiest routes by 2025.

They include the East Coast main line and West Coast main line.

The review will also assess the need for high speed trains similar to the French TGV to cope with Britain's growing number of rail users.

In the last decade, passenger numbers have risen by about 40% with more people travelling by rail than at any time since 1946.

In addition, numbers are expected to swell by a further 30% in the next 10 years.

The study being commissioned by Network Rail will look at the service in the post-2014 period, with all options "on the table".

If given the go-ahead, the new lines are likely to run alongside some of the UK's busiest existing routes.

They include the West Coast line to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, the East Coast main line to Edinburgh, the Great Western main line to Cardiff and Penzance, the Midland main line to Sheffield and the Chiltern route to Birmingham.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are looking at these five strategic routes. We are possibly looking at new lines.

"There is a huge case to be made for an expansion of the rail network. All options are on the table looking at how we address capacity issues."

Richard Dyer, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "Expanding Britain's railways by building new high speed lines is potentially very exciting - and could play an important role in weaning Britain off fossil fuels and developing a low carbon economy.

"But the overall impact that this would have on local people and the environment must be carefully considered.

"The UK needs a modern, comprehensive and affordable rail network to provide a real alternative to cars, lorries and short haul flights, and help cut Britain's contribution to global climate change.

"Our creaking railway system desperately requires huge investment to bring it into the 21st century."

Ashwin Kumar, passenger director of independent watchdog for rail users Passenger Focus, said: "We welcome the study. It is extremely important the rail industry anticipates future growth."

[X38]

originally posted by markydeedrop

Is this Virgin train a diesel pendolino, made at Bombardier, Bruges (Belgium) ?

[Jonesy55]

All UK Pendolinos like that one are electric I think they are used on the West Coast Mainline between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Not sure where they were made.

[X38]

Ok, thank you...

[Sulla]

The Pendolino's were manufactured by Alstom in Birmingham, you might be thinking of the class 221 Voyager which were operated by Virgin (now mostly by the cross country franchise), these were tilting diesel electric trains manufactured by Bombardier.

[funkydory]

Although there are still several traditional railway lines maintained at special sites around England, have taken the opportunity of recording that it was 40 years ago this weekend that the last official steam trains ran in this country.

Have chosen from our National Railway Archive a typical railway engineering panorama together with background information; the photo taken just a few months short of termination:-

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...=2&imagepos=19

Maybe I might be still around in ten years time to record the big 50!

[Chafford1]

Originally Posted by elfabyanos

Some figures I've found out for the fastest journeys out of some of the London terminii.

London - Ashford 56.5 miles - xx53 service from Charing Cross, 2 stops, 60 minutes, average speed 56.5 mph. Highest average speed for South Eastern Trains is on the same service starting from Tonbridge xx30 Tonbridge - Ashford 26.5 miles - 23 minutes speed 69 mph.

London - Brighton 51 miles - xx36 service from Victoria, 2 stops, 51 minutes, average speed 60 mph. Highest average speed for Southern is on the same service starting from East Croydon xx52. East Croydon - Brighton 40.5 miles - 35 minutes speed 69 mph

London - Southampton 79 miles - 1705 from Waterloo - 2 stops - 72 minutes, average speed 66 mph. Highest average speed for South West Trains is on the xx00 service between Woking and Winchester - 41 miles in 33 minutes, speed 75.5 mph

London - Bath - 107 miles - XX00 3 stops 95 minutes, average speed 67.5 mph (which is shockingly bad for 125 mph trains). Highest average speed same service does the 41.5 mile Reading to Swindon stretch in 29 minutes - average speed 86 mph.
The record speed on this route was set on s non-stop service on the 10th April 1979, when the same type of train did the 94 miles from Padington to Chippenham in 50.5 minutes, average speed 111.5 mph.

The fastest current domestic service in the UK is London (Kings Cross) - York (188 miles or 300km) which takes 1 hour 45 minutes - average speed 107.7mph or 172.32 km/h.

[city_thing]

Originally Posted by Jonesy55

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7467203.stm

Major new rail lines considered



Five new high-speed main lines crossing the length and breadth of the UK may be built as part of a review of the rail network, Network Rail says.

The network operator will announce on Monday it is to commission a study looking into what could be the largest track build since the 19th century.

The study will consider laying new lines alongside five of the UK's busiest routes by 2025.

They include the East Coast main line and West Coast main line.

The review will also assess the need for high speed trains similar to the French TGV to cope with Britain's growing number of rail users.

In the last decade, passenger numbers have risen by about 40% with more people travelling by rail than at any time since 1946.

In addition, numbers are expected to swell by a further 30% in the next 10 years.

The study being commissioned by Network Rail will look at the service in the post-2014 period, with all options "on the table".

If given the go-ahead, the new lines are likely to run alongside some of the UK's busiest existing routes.

They include the West Coast line to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, the East Coast main line to Edinburgh, the Great Western main line to Cardiff and Penzance, the Midland main line to Sheffield and the Chiltern route to Birmingham.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are looking at these five strategic routes. We are possibly looking at new lines.

"There is a huge case to be made for an expansion of the rail network. All options are on the table looking at how we address capacity issues."

Richard Dyer, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "Expanding Britain's railways by building new high speed lines is potentially very exciting - and could play an important role in weaning Britain off fossil fuels and developing a low carbon economy.

"But the overall impact that this would have on local people and the environment must be carefully considered.

"The UK needs a modern, comprehensive and affordable rail network to provide a real alternative to cars, lorries and short haul flights, and help cut Britain's contribution to global climate change.

"Our creaking railway system desperately requires huge investment to bring it into the 21st century."

Ashwin Kumar, passenger director of independent watchdog for rail users Passenger Focus, said: "We welcome the study. It is extremely important the rail industry anticipates future growth."

What is the likeliness of this actually being realised? I'm wondering if any of the 'experts' on here have any idea?

I know there's a lot of talk of HSR throughout Britain, and it really is inevitable that it will need to be built sooner or later. But these proposals seem to come and go, and speculation is the only thing that remains. I'd love for there to be a decent HSR system in my home country, I'm just hoping that it will be built and operating before I'm too old to use it.

With so many airlines facing hardship, thousands more passengers using rail, fuel prices going up and environmental issues to consider, any objectively thinking person would realise that this needs to be constructed.

[Chafford1]

Originally Posted by city_thing

What is the likeliness of this actually being realised?

I think there's a good chance that they will have made a start on High Speed 2 within the next 10 years - initially the London - Birmingham section, followed by an extension to Manchester.

[G5man]

It might be realized more there due to all the taxes on vehicles using petrol that are charged going into London. Also, with England's carbon tax, it is very high in comparison to other nations? This would lead the high-speed rail to gain support since more people might be able to eliminate vehicle usage since long distance train travel could be accomplished in a manner of hours.

[hoosier]

Damn, those electric high speed lines should be in service TODAY, not in 17 years. This fucking Iraq War is draining resources from Britain as well I see.

[sotonsi]

No, it's transport being 17th on the list or whatever of things that voters care about - after health, education, crime, pensions, house prices, the England football results, the EU, immigration, terrorism, charisma of politicians, who killed Diana, fox hunting, who will win Big Brother, unemployment, taxation and finding Maddie* - that means that we don't have an HS2

Because the politicians don't get many votes in it, they don't see it as a priority. Iraq's not really cost that much (OK, more than the transport budget), however no one seems to want to blame funding students through post-16 education, or shoddy management of money in the NHS, or overpaying MPs, or our subsidy of projects in Spain, Ireland, Greece etc over the years. Why is it always Iraq? If we hadn't gone, the money still wouldn't have been put into transport. And we've cost cut on Iraq in shocking ways - what country sends it's troops into a war zone without proper equipment? To be honest, the Americans would have gone anyway, and we'd still be there, doing the same things - peacekeeping and handing over power to the Iraqi state.

*note some of these may not be actual things - transport is about 10th on all three main parties priority list, however - all I've done is added some hyperbole to hammer home the point that the country doesn't care that much about high speed lines - it likes the idea of them, but it's just not important enough to get politicians moving to give us a better transport system.