Editor’s Thoughts

A New Bow Street Runner! 55

63

Network Rail workers Provide an Injection of Life at Exeter 69 Welcome to the second issue of Great Western Star.

Since our launch in October 2020, we have received a great many comments supporting our view that we are now offering a different type of rail magazine. One of the most pleasing aspects of Great Western Star is the willingness of former railway employees on predominantly Great Western lines but on railways in general to talk about their experiences over many years of serving the public while providing an excellent rail service.

Getting a Bigger “Byte” into Devon! 80

Worcestershire Parkway Station 105

Of particular interest in this issue is the story of Percy Hanniford who came to Wales as part of the Windrush generation and who found a very happy life working on the railway in and around Cardiff. Now in his nineties, Percy tells an interesting story and one that is different to many who write as footplatemen. This section - which we have pinched from A A Milne - we call “Tales from the Four Foot Eight and a Half” has generated a lot of interest and we now have ladies who worked - and who continue to work - on the railway who want to tell their side of the story.

We have now completely updated our website and offer a much more interesting, exciting and up-to-date news service, not just on things GWR but also on railway topics of a much wider range of interests. We have also included on the website a new and intresting video from Morgan Sindall showing how they moved a 11,000 tonne concrete tunel under the East Coast main Line!

In contrast, we go back to the very beginning of the GWR and tell the story of the lead up to the Company and how Isambard Kingdom Brunel persuaded the members of the Houses of Parliament to back this scheme. While I have read many books about this period of the Company’s history, this is the first time that I have read a transcript of what he said, written soon after he had made his case.

We have an interesting article outlining the close links between the clergy and railways - both full scale and in model form, we take a look at how the railways are having to change to meet increasingly tight environmental restrictions, we have a look at what is being done to keep steam alive on the main line and also look at new technologies such as hydrogen power and battery power (bi-mode and even tri-mode).

We continue our story on the construction of No 4709 and look at the work on the 4-4-0 County Class and look at what was happening in Oxford at the start of the 20th century.

We hope you enjoy your read and looking forward to receiving your comments. Please feel free to send in any stories or articles - we are always happy to receive them.

Rodney Pitt, Editor

Over nine days between 16th and 24th January 2021 this huge concrete box was pushed under the East Coast Main Line railway. The prefabricated structure forms a new rail underpass at Werrington, north of Peterborough, to enable slower moving freight trains to dive underneath the passenger route and to use an adjacent line northwards. Time-lapse video footage (on our website) shows the 155-metre curved concrete box tunnel being pushed into place at just 1500 mm per hour using four hydraulic jacks. This is the first time that a curved concrete box has been installed in this way in the UK and, although the big push took nine days, the method avoided hundreds of hours of passenger disruption and meant that services could continue running throughout. [They were not to know, when planning this project, that Covid-19 would have substantially reduced passenger numbers anyway.] Main contactor Morgan Sindall and its team removed three of the tracks, lifted the overhead wires and dug out spoil from the site. Once the tunnel was eventually underneath, they then put everything back in place ready for regular services to resume. Paul Rutter, route director for Network Rail’s East Coast Route, said: “Our teams have completed this challenging piece of engineering in a creative way, which also allowed a reduced train service to continue for those who still had to travel.

“I’m so proud that this project has shown itself to be one which is industry leading and that our teams have had the opportunity to use this new technique for the first time in the UK on one of the country’s most famous railway lines.”

The next stage of the project at Werrington involves work to install two new tracks inside the new tunnel and the associated signalling system, ready for it to come into use at the end of 2021. The project is part of the £1.2bn East Coast Upgrade, for faster, more reliable journeys between London, the north of England and Scotland.

Long-distance trains are set to run on battery power for the first time in the UK. Manufacturer Hitachi Rail has announced plans to test the trains on a 300-mile route from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall in 2022. It is teaming up with Great Western Railway to operate services using a combination of electricity, diesel and batteries. The line is currently only partially electrified, with most of it requiring diesel power. Thirty-six express trains on the route are ‘bi-modes’, which switch between electric and diesel power. Tri-mode trains will be developed with batteries. Britain has previously had successful trials of battery trains on shorter routes. Hitachi said using battery power will help reduce fuel consumption on the route by more than 20%, improve air quality and cut noise levels. It hopes to develop a fully battery-powered intercity train by the late 2040s. Rail minister Chris HeatonHarris said: ‘Battery-powered trains will support us in our battle against climate change.’ Jim Brewin, who leads the firm in the UK and Ireland, said: ‘This partnership is an exciting opportunity to unlock new greener trains for passengers, reduce running costs for operators and cut carbon. ‘At Hitachi Rail, we share the UK’s ambition for a net-zero emission future. Britain is in a unique position to become a global leader in battery trains. We want support the UK’s green economic recovery and levelling-up.’

Eversholt Rail chief executive Mary Kenny said: ‘We are delighted to continue working in partnership with Hitachi to investigate the conversion of our Class 802 fleet to tri-mode by introducing battery technology. Eversholt Rail is committed to ensuring our fleets meet the UK railway’s decarbonisation commitments.’ Only around 38% of Britain’s railway is electrified, according to latest Office of Rail and Road data. Electrification work - which generally involves putting up electric wires - has been limited due to the cost. Projects in South Wales, the Midlands and the Lake District were axed or downgraded in July 2017 by then-transport secretary Chris Grayling. The decision came amid cost overruns on electrification schemes such as the Great Western route, where the original budget was exceeded by around £2billion.

Two MPs are renewing their joint push for the reopening of two railway stations in south Devon. Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall and Kevin Foster in Torbay are seeking support for a bid to investigate restoring public use of stations at Goodrington and Churston, between Paignton and Brixham. Both are now stations on a heritage line which took over the route after the line beyond Paignton was closed by British Rail in the 1970s. The MPs are planning a new bid to the Government’s Restoring Your

Railway Fund of up to £50,000 towards the cost of transport and economic studies to help create a business case. The scheme is designed to support investigations into the feasibility of reopening closed stations. Mr Mangnall is also backing a campaign to reopen Brent Station, on the main line between Plymouth and Exeter, serving the village of South Brent, which closed in 1964. A new campaign has also been launched to reopen the station at Plympton, near Plymouth. The MP issued a statement saying they were seeking help from the community to create a local campaign of support to reopen the stations at Goodrington and Churston in Torbay. Mr Mangnall said: “Reopening these two stations will stimulate the local economy, remove cars from the road, reduce air pollution, help commuters and tourism and improve transport links. In order to submit a strong proposal, it is vital that we gain community support and gauge the views of residents on these proposals. If there is a positive response, then we will put together a working group and submit a proposal to Government in early March. I hope that as many people as possible will take the opportunity register their views on this matter.’’ The two stations are on the former Great Western Railway branch line from Paignton to Kingswear through Goodrington and Churston, which was officially closed by British Rail in 1972. The line was sold to the Dart Valley Railway and the seven-mile line is now run by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. The service is popular with tourists and provides a link from Paignton to a ferry crossing from Kingswear over the River Dart to Dartmouth. Goodrington Station is near Goodrington Sands and Quay West water park, close to a large car park. see if it would be feasible to create a parkway-style station at Goodrington as an alternative to the station in Paignton town centre. He said it would allow commuters and leisure users easier access to the Riviera Line rail link to Torquay, Newton Abbot and Exeter, and would also take passengers straight to the beach and leisure facilities at Goodrington, which would be an economic boost for the area. Restoring network

services to Churston would mean the restoration of a public rail link near Brixham after the closure of the branch line. A survey to gather views about the potential reopening of the stations to the public was launched on Mr Mangnall’s website www. anthonymangnall.co.uk will run until Thursday, February 18. For those unable to complete the online survey, a postal version is available by calling 0207 219 5579.

Wellington Railway Station has been given a major boost with a £45,000 grant for improvements. The fund for the station was applied for by Telford & Wrekin Council’s investment and business support team in 2020 on behalf of the Friends of Wellington Station. Delivered through West Midlands Railway customer and communities' investment fund, it will see significant improvements being made to the station as part of a project named by the Friends group, Wellington Ways. The initiative is a practical and visionary project which includes some much-needed improvements to the station, including new signage, improvements to the steps linking the rail and bus stations, a secret garden and refillable water points installed on both platforms. The garden will be created along an area of unused platform – creating a haven for wildlife and biodiversity and a quiet space for passengers and town centre visitors to enjoy.

Telford & Wrekin Council will continue to support the Friends group by managing the scheme on its behalf and Sally Themans of Love Wellington will also continue to support the group.

Councillor David Wright, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for economy, housing, transport and infrastructure, said, “This is wonderful news for Wellington station and a fantastic investment for the town.

Abergavenny’s 160-year-old railway station is set to play host to an exciting new community development thanks to investment by Transport for Wales. The station, which has served the town and wider community since the mid-Victorian era, will see some of its empty spaces converted to become an art gallery. Contractors are now on site with Peak Cymru expected to move in later in the year. The investment is part of TfW’s wider multi-million-pound Station Improvement Vision with a brand-new CCTV and Customer Information System also set to be installed later in the year, the latter part of which is funded by Network Rail. Financial support has also been given by the Railway Heritage Trust and TfW is very grateful to the charity for its support. Hugh Evans, TfW’s Head of Community Rail, said: “Abergavenny is a beautiful station that has served the area since 1860, so it was fitting we were able to develop these community spaces there. The project will allow local artists a platform to showcase their work. Investing in bringing disused spaces at stations back to community or commercial use is a key part of our strategy because we know stations are more than just somewhere you get on a train, they are community hubs. The new facilities will compliment the thriving family-run café in the main station building and a physiotherapist who also runs a business from the station.” Peak Cymru is an arts-based organisation based in the Black Mountains, working creatively with professional artists and communities. Using the station space to house artist studios and galleries, Peak Cymru’s over-arching goal is to increase opportunities for children and young people to engage with the various strands of their artistic programme. Melissa Appleton from Peak Cymru said: “Peak are excited to be working in partnership with Transport for Wales to develop spaces to present art and artists at Abergavenny railway station. We will be activating areas either side of the platform 2 waiting room, as well as creating artist’s studios in the main station building. Over Summer 2021, Platform 2 will host artworks by international and regional artists, viewable 24/7. Later in the year, we plan to transform it into a young people’s project space as part of Culture is Ordinary – a centenary programme responding to the work of Pandy-born novelist, critic and theorist Raymond Williams, whose father worked in a signal box on the same train line.”

The Railway Heritage Trust assists operational railway companies in the preservation and upkeep of listed buildings and structures through support, advice and grant funding.

Meanwhile, Network Rail is continuing to develop plans to provide step-free access to and between platforms. This scheme is funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme – match funded by the Welsh Government through Transport for Wales.

Bill Kelly, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “Abergavenny has an incredibly rich railway heritage. Local people are rightly very proud of their station and Transport for Wales’ exciting plans will further reinforce its role as a hub for the community. This community development scheme is the perfect complement to the wider investment planned at Abergavenny to make the station accessible for all.”

Rail services from Machynlleth to North Wales have resumed following flooding and subsequent damage caused by Storm Christoph. Transport for Wales Rail announced on Tuesday, January 26 that the Machynlleth to Pwllheli line had reopened after being shut for almost a week. Flooding had caused chaos in Powys, closing the railway through the county, with Transport for Wales highlighting issues between Machynlleth and Dovey Junction in particular. Road flooding meant there was no replacement bus service.

Train builder and maintainer Hitachi and rolling stock company Eversholt Rail, will develop a plan to install batteries on a modern Intercity Express Train on the South West route in the UK. Adding a battery creates an electric-diesel-battery hybrid train (tri-mode). It is the first time a UK intercity train in passenger service will use alternative fuel. Hitachi Rail and Eversholt Rail have signed an agreement aimed at bringing battery power to the Great Western Railway Intercity Express Trains that carry passengers between Penzance and London. These 36 GWR trains were introduced in August 2018. The partnership aims to demonstrate that the innovation meets passenger service and safety standards. The line between the South West of the UK and London is only partially electrified, the majority of the 300mile journey requires diesel power. The partnership is looking at batteries replacing a diesel engine as a power source on an existing five-carriage train built by Hitachi, currently known as a bi-mode for its ability to switch between electric and diesel power. Great Western Railway (GWR) is already upgrading its fleet to tri-mode trains, and now continues with its intercity trains. In 2020, at the end of August, the railway operator added the first tri-mode train of Class 769 Flex type to its fleet for an extensive programme of staff training and testing. The operator ordered 19 tri-mode four-carriage trains. “We are committed to reviewing emerging technologies such as battery power and assessing feasibility for services and rolling stock on the GWR network, says Matthew Golton, Interim Managing Director of GWR. “This is a really exciting development, and we look forward to working closely with both Hitachi Rail and Eversholt Rail on this trial.” On non-electrified sections of the route, the batteries will supplement the power of the engines to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions by more than 20%, according to Hitachi. When driving in and out of stations and surrounding urban areas, the train would rely on battery power only. This has the benefit of improving air quality and reducing noise levels. GWR’s Intercity Express Train fleet currently encounters 15 nonelectrified stations on its journey between Penzance and London, which could benefit from trains being able to run on battery power only. The ambition is to create a fully electric-battery intercity train that can travel the full journey between London and Penzance before 2040, in line with the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target.

Unipart Rail, the leading specialist provider of technology and supply chain solutions to the rail industry, has been awarded a prestigious Sword of Honour by the British Safety Council. With eight sites across the UK, Unipart Rail was one of 61 organisations worldwide that achieved a Sword of Honour, which is awarded to companies that have demonstrated excellence in the management of health and safety risks at work. To compete for the Sword of Honour, Unipart Rail first had to achieve the maximum five stars in the British Safety Council’s health and safety management audit scheme in the period August 2019 – November 2020 (due to the

Covid pandemic, the timeframe was extended this year to show flexibility in working with British Safety Council clients globally during these unprecedented times). The company also had to demonstrate to an independent panel of experts it has achieved excellence in health and safety throughout the business – from the shop floor to the boardroom. Lawrence Waterman, chairman of the British Safety Council, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees and staff of the British Safety Council, I would like to congratulate Unipart Rail on achieving the topmost standards of health, safety and environmental management. Accomplishing such distinction takes real commitment and professionalism. We are delighted to have supported you in your achievements in what has been an unprecedented year given the Covid pandemic.” Liz Hancock, Unipart Rail head of safety, health and environment, said “This is a great end to a year in which we achieved the British Safety Council Five Star certification for our Health and Safety achievements, and we are thrilled to have achieved this Sword to accompany our previous Sword awards. It reflects the hard work we do every day to keep our colleagues safe at work.” Unipart Logistics also won a Sword of Honour, taking Unipart Group’s combined total ‘Swords’ to nearly 60 since 2011, more than any other organisation in its sectors.

HS2 is working with Midlandbased Biosite to develop a new initiative that will boost health and safety and competency insight across the supply chain. The company building England’s new high-speed rail network and its contractors have taken a major step in improving health and safety assurance across sites between London and the West Midlands by introducing a new health and safety passport system. The new digital ‘Health and Safety Passport System’ (HSPS) will be used initially by all of HS2’s Main Works Civils Contractors to share vital health and safety information across contractors. The contract to develop and deliver the new system has been awarded to Solihull based company, Biosite Systems Ltd – the UK market leader in workforce management systems for construction. Although contractors and their staff may be working across multiple sites and multiple contracts on the new high speed rail route, the new digital passport system will establish a central database of critical workforce information across the HS2 supply chain. The collection and synchronisation of data from local level to project wide will help to ensure consistency of standards and performance. As well as ensuring only operatives with the correct credentials and skills are permitted access to site, this approach will allow HS2 to track workforce data around areas such as competency mapping, health and safety assessments and fatigue management across the whole project. Where supplier companies and operatives are working across multiple locations, the new system will flag fatigue risks across the project. The software will also de-duplicate worker profiles to establish a single record for each operative, including as they potentially move between contractors working on the project. The introduction of the HSPS is part of HS2’s commitment to become the UK’s safest ever major project, putting safety at the heart of everything on the project. This includes ensuring the safety and welfare of everyone working on the project, right through to protecting the health and safety of the communities where HS2 is being constructed and will operate. The workforce management software solution developed by Biosite will link biometric data directly to operative information, site access for real-time visibility and traceability. Operatives will be required to complete a central online pre-induction before undertaking a local site induction and provide biometric information to generate their global identification or digital ‘passport’. It will be the first time that workforce data will be available to view across a major project via a consolidated platform. The data collated can also be anonymised and provide a learning legacy for future major projects. Emma Head, HS2’s Safety and Assurance Director said: “Health and Safety is at the heart of everything we do as we build Britain’s new high-speed railway. We aim to lead by innovation at HS2 and the new Health and Safety Passport System is a pioneering way for us to further our best practice approach to workforce health and safety management. We are pleased to be working with Biosite to deliver the initiative, bringing workforce management for complex projects such as HS2 to the next level.

A new record has been claimed for the fastest freight train in the world. The Chinese train manufacturer CRRC Tangshan presented its new bullet train, designed to carry cargo at a speed of 350kilometers per hour. The new type rolled off the production line in Tangshan, in north China’s Hebei Province, on 23 December. The model resembles that of a passenger train but has an 85% utility rate for cargo. It is made in such a way that it greatly reduces running resistance. High-speed train manufacturing is traditionally focussed on passenger traffic. Until now, the fastest freight train ran at a speed of 180kilometres per hour, operated by Mercitalia in Italy. The freight trains will be able to travel on some of the more than 16,000kilometres of highspeed rail lines across China, transporting higher-value cargo such as e-commerce deliveries rather than bulk commodities such as coal, the sources said. Most freight trains follow rail lines designed only for low-speed travel. China’s fastest freight trains, which were put into service starting late 2014, can run up to 160kph. Demand for non-bulk cargo has been rising, spurring development of a high-speed freight train, the CRC employee said. CRC trains hauled about 2.5 billion tonnes of goods in the first nine months of the year, down 11.4% from the same period in 2014, but nonbulk cargo tonnage rose 12.2%. To meet this demand, last year the CRC deployed six express cargo trains running on four routes to carry non-bulk cargo. These trains can run at speeds of up to 120 kph, Chinese business news service Caixin reports. The CRRC train consists of eight wagons, with 2.9m-wide loading doors to ensure speedy loading and unloading. According to media sources, it is not only the fastest freight train in the world, but it can also be used at extreme temperatures: between -25°C and 40°C. The train could cover 1,500 kilometers within five hours. Considering the large territory of China, this means a great boost to the domestic supply chain of goods. By the end of 2035, the nationwide rail network is to be expanded to a total of 200,000 kilometers, including around 70,000 kilometers of high-speed lines.

In May 2019, CRRC Qingdao Sifang unveiled a prototype of a new maglev high-speed train. The vehicle is able to speed up to 600 kilometres per hour. The manufacturer plans to start mass production of the train this year.

Architects have now been appointed to start work on a £4.5m project to deliver a new collection building at the Locomotion Museum in County Durham. Once complete, the facility will house up to 50 rail vehicles, bringing the total at Locomotion, in Shildon, to 120 and creating the UK’s largest rail vehicle display, spread across the museum's two buildings. The building is part of Locomotion’s £6m improvement programme to regenerate the museum’s historic site,

with Durham County Council contributing £2.25m to support the delivery of the new building. The final design will feature a lightweight, steel frame construction that will be open to the public and will house railway vehicles in a stable environment. Construction is due to start in April 2022 subject to planning permission being granted for the development, with work scheduled to be complete by early 2023. AOC Architecture has been appointed after a competitive design tender which ran earlier in the year. The building will increase the number of rail vehicles on display from the Science Museum Group Collection to about 120 – creating the largest rail vehicle display in the country. Sarah Price, head of Locomotion said: “This is the most significant change to Locomotion since opening and it will create a more inviting presence that emphasises Locomotion’s pivotal role as a cultural cornerstone for the community. “Access to Locomotion and the site’s historically significant collection will remain free for all visitors, helping us to create a lasting and meaningful legacy that celebrates the region’s globally important role as the birthplace of the railways.”

The workers spent five days giving their time to unloading around 100 pallets of equipment from articulated lorries, and setting it up inside the main Westpoint building, at Clyst St Mary. Network Rail workers last year volunteered to help transform a former Exeter DIY store, at Sowton, into a new Nightingale Hospital. Nick Millington, Network Rail’s director of safety taskforce, who coordinated the volunteers, said: “We are so proud to have played a part in helping set up this hugely important vaccination centre in Exeter. Throughout the pandemic, colleagues right across Network Rail have worked tirelessly to help keep our trains and stations running safely for the benefit of our passengers, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to continue contributing towards overcoming Covid-19 away from the tracks. It was immensely rewarding to have helped build the Nightingale Hospital in Exeter last year and to see so many colleagues pull together again in a similar fashion speaks volumes of the selfless individuals who have contributed their time to get this vaccination facility up and running.” Darryn Allcorn, Devon’s lead chief nurse, said: “We’re very grateful to all the people from Network Rail who volunteered to help set up the vaccination centre at Westpoint. It was a fantastic effort by all, and our new centres mean we are on track to further increase the scale and pace of the vaccination programme in Devon.” Volunteers worked to complete a range of tasks, including assembling furniture, laying out signage and constructing the vaccination pods to help ensure the facility, just off the M5 motorway in Exeter, was ready to open on Tuesday January 26.

A cat missing since Christmas Day has been reunited with her owner after a journey through one of Britain’s busiest railway stations. While fewer people might be travelling by rail right now, Storm the cat became an unlikely passenger needing additional assistance at Purr-mingham New Street. The 8-month-old cat had travelled from Erdington on Tuesday 12 January with a passenger intending to take the missing moggy to a rehoming centre in Stafford. Unfortunately for Storm, the passenger had to leave the station unexpectedly, starting a sequence of events which would set the lost feline on her journey homeward bound. Left at station reception, Storm met shift station manager and cat lover, Lucy Martin, who worked out what to do next. Lucy, who has cats of her own at home, took Storm to her local vet for a check-up and to see if she was microchipped, but the search came up short. Storm’s owner, back in Erdington, had posted a desperate plea to find her much-loved pet just after Christmas on a local lost and found Facebook page. Storm's owner, Chantelle, said: "I let Storm out as usual on Christmas Day, and when I went to call her back a couple of hours later, there was no sign of her. "Seeing no sign of her for almost three weeks, I was coming to terms with the fact that she was gone. I was absolutely over the moon when Lucy got in touch to say that she had found a cat that matched the description on my post!

A £760m fund will be spent to break ground on a new railway link between Oxford and Cambridge. The cash, from the Department of Transport (DfT), will be used to lay track along a disused railway line between Bicester and Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, with services beginning in 2025. The whole project, known as East-West Rail, could be completed by the end of the decade according to a government minister overseeing it. Chris Heaton Harris, the rail minister at DfT, said that it may also mean that the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, a ‘paused’ project for a major road between the two university cities, remains ‘paused for a very long time’ if people ‘vote with their feet’ and choose to use trains to travel instead of private cars. The funding, announced on Saturday, January 23, will provide better transport links across a region the Government calls the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, which it hopes will become an economic boom area due to the high number of science and technology jobs here. The railway works will also shorten journey times between routes outside of London. Travellers from Oxford for example, will no longer have take a train into the capital and back out again to reach Milton Keynes, but could travel there via Bicester. The Government said work between Bicester and Bletchley are expected to create 1,500 jobs. Work will include the construction of a new station at Winslow, as well as enhancements to existing stations along the route, including Bletchley. By 2025, two trains per hour will run between Oxford and Milton Keynes via Bletchley it is claimed. Mr Heaton Harris acknowledged the project was on an ‘ambitious timetable’. He said, “A second section of track could be laid between Bletchley and Bedford by 2028, and the final stretch be completed by ‘the end of the decade.’ When the East-West Rail project is complete, it will be the first time since 1968 that Bicester and Bletchley will be connected by rail. The Government has also opened an ‘Ideas Fund’ which will run until March 5, and will give grants of £50,000 to applicants who make a case for reopening branch lines or railway stations mothballed in the past. Mr Heaton Harris said the Witney to Oxford line, long promoted as a potential commuter branch line, would be ideal for this fund. That is exactly the sort of thing we are looking at, areas where we can make a difference with not too big sums of money.”

Two MPs are renewing their joint push for the reopening of two railway stations in south Devon. Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall and Kevin Foster in Torbay are seeking support for a bid to investigate restoring public use of stations at Goodrington and Churston, between Paignton and Brixham. Both are now stops on a heritage line which took over the route after the line beyond Paignton was closed by British Rail in the 1970s. The MPs are planning a new bid to the Government’s Restoring Your Railway Fund of up to £50,000 towards the cost of transport and economic studies to help create a business case. The scheme is designed to support investigations into the feasibility of reopening closed stations. Mr Mangnall is also backing a campaign to reopen Brent Station, on the main line between Plymouth and Exeter, serving the village of South Brent, which closed in 1964. A new campaign has also been launched to reopen the station at Plympton, near Plymouth. The MP issued a statement saying they were seeking help from the community to create a local campaign of support to reopen the stations at Goodrington and Churston in Torbay. Mr Mangnall said: “Reopening these two stations will stimulate the local economy, remove cars from the road, reduce air pollution, help commuters and tourism and improve transport links. In order to submit a strong proposal, it

is vital that we gain community support and gauge the views of residents on these proposals. If there is a positive response, then we will put together a working group and submit a proposal to Government in early March. I hope that as many people as possible will take the opportunity register their views on this matter.’’ The two stations are on the former Great Western Railway branch line from Paignton to Kingswear through Goodrington and Churston, which was officially closed by British Rail in 1972. The line was sold to the Dart Valley Railway and the seven-mile line is now run by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. The service is popular with tourists and provides a link from Paignton to a ferry crossing from Kingswear over the River Dart to Dartmouth. Goodrington Station is near Goodrington Sands and Quay West water park, close to a large car park. Mr Foster has said he wants to see if it would be feasible to create a parkway-style station at Goodrington as an alternative to the station in Paignton town centre. He said it would allow commuters and leisure users easier access to the Riviera Line rail link to Torquay, Newton Abbot and Exeter, and would also take passengers straight to the beach and leisure facilities at Goodrington, which would be an economic boost for the area. Restoring network services to Churston would mean the restoration of a public rail link near Brixham after the closure of the branch line. A survey to gather views about the potential reopening of the stations to the public was launched on Mr Mangnall’s website www. anthonymangnall.co.uk will run until Thursday, February 18. For those unable to complete the online survey, a postal version is available by calling 0207 219 5579.

Plans for a new train station at Marsh Barton have finally been approved – four years after trains should have been running. The planning application for the construction of a new two platform railway station to serve the Marsh Barton Industrial Estate has finally been approved by Devon County Council planners under delegated powers. As well as the station, the scheme for Clapperbrook Lane East has a new cycleway, embankment, and footbridge, to link the station and to provide a dedicated pedestrian and cycle way. Funding has been secured to cover the current project estimate cost, excluding contingency, and Devon County Council’s cabinet will now meet early in 2021 to discuss, finalise and sign-off on committing the cash towards the build of the station. No details yet have been revealed as to when the work will begin and the station will see trains stop but, when the application was submitted in July, it was hoped that the station will be open by the end of 2021. A Devon County Council spokesman said: “Cabinet will meet early next year to discuss the revised scheme and, subject to approval, we will be able to confirm potential start dates.” Approving the scheme under delegated powers, planning officers said: “The proposal looks to provide a piece of infrastructure fundamental to the delivery of the transport strategy for Exeter. It facilitates sustainable travel, achieving a modal shift from private car to public transport in one of Exeter’s main employment areas, all of which is supported by planning policy. “There are concerns that the proposal does not go far enough and include offsite improvements for cyclists are noted, however, this is not considered to outweigh the benefits associated with the delivery of the station. The proposals also provide significant improvement to the existing situation for pedestrians and cyclists using Clapperbrook Lane. While the loss of the trees and the impacts upon the local landscape are regrettable, this harm, along with any temporary disruption during construction, is considered to be outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal and therefore planning permission is granted.” The delivery of the station has been a long-term aspiration for Devon County Council and forms part of the Devon Metro project, which encompasses a range of rail infrastructure improvements in the Exeter area, with the scheme for Marsh Barton station aimed to provide sustainable access to employment, retail and leisure opportunities.

The proposed station will have two platforms, with the eastern and western platforms served by trains to Newton Abbot and Exeter, respectively. Each platform will be 124 m long, sufficient to accommodate trains formed of up to 5 cars and will be 4m wide. Each platform will have a waiting shelter, 10m wide by 1.5m deep, containing 12 stainless steel seats with arm rests, and a perch rail for four passengers, as well as one ticket vending machine on each platform, located inside the waiting shelters. Two help points will be provided on each platform, one adjacent to the waiting shelter, and one in the emergency refuge area while, in addition to the help points, there will also be ‘next train indicators’ on each platform, providing audio and visual information regarding services. Vehicular access to the station will be from Clapperbrook Lane East, with a new access road meeting the existing road at a junction on the eastern edge of the side, with access to the station for pedestrians and cyclists will be via paths which connect to the new footway/cycleway. No parking spaces will be provided for general use, as it is expected the station will primarily serve as a destination, and it is intended to encourage use of sustainable modes of transport.

According to a report in the Swindon Advertiser, an application for £50,000 funding for Great Western Railway main line has been rejected. The project to restore services to the Great Western main line would have been used to help build new stations at Corsham, Royal Wootton Bassett and East Swindon. Corsham Town Council said it is disappointed the Wiltshire Council submission to the Department for Transport’s Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund was not picked up. It’s believed it would have helped fund 75% of the project. Chairman of Corsham Town Council Steve Abbott said: “Further feedback from the DfT suggests that the bid would be better directed to the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline process. The argument for Corsham having a railway station is still strong. Our town team working group

will continue to press the case.” In total, there were 51 applications put forward in an attempt to win the £50,000 and it’s not known how many were successful.

Rail Minister Chris HeatonHarris has confirmed, in a written answer to a question from Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Jim McMahon, that Network Rail’s enhancements budget for the current control period (CP6) has been cut from £10.4 billion to £9.4 billion. In a written question to Secretary of State Grant Shapps, Jim McMahon asked: “With reference to the Spending Review 2020, what revised estimate he has for the (a) total £10.4 billion rail enhancements budget and (b) total £30.9billion operations, maintenance and renewals budget within Network Rail’s Control Period 6.” Answering on the Transport Secretary’s behalf, Chris HeatonHarris said: “Network Rail’s operations, maintenance and renewals budgets have not been changed as a result of Spending Review 2020 and workbanks will continue to be based on the fiveyear regulatory funding settlement for 2019-2024. The Spending Review settlement means that the comparable figure for the enhancements budget over the same period would now be £9.4bn.” He then went on to talk about budgets for rail services, which hadn’t formed part of Jim McMahon’s question, and didn’t answer the second part of the question at all. Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association, was concerned about the Rail Minister’s reply: “Recent confirmation, following the Spending Review, that rail enhancements investment will reduce by more than £1 billion over the current five year funding period, is very disappointing. Rail enhancements are essential in ensuring our rail network is fit for the future, improving reliability, connectivity, customer experience and helping to reduce carbon emissions. Taking our foot off the pedal now on rail investment will not help for when passengers return following the Coronavirus pandemic. “The rail industry still doesn’t have sight of what rail enhancement projects are coming up – we were told earlier this

year that there are more than 80 projects in the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, yet with the news today that there is over £1 billion less in the funding pot, it is unclear what schemes will be going ahead and what will not be. In line with RIA’s Speed Up Rail Enhancements, SURE, campaign, we strongly urge the Government to publish this list of rail enhancement projects as soon as possible, to help rail businesses plan and invest, at what is such a critical time for the UK economy.” A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The funds available for CP6 enhancements have been reduced. Whether we’d have been able to bring projects with strong business cases forward to be able to use those funds is obviously uncertain at this point in the control period. We’re working through the detail of this news with our regional stakeholders and the DfT to reassess our portfolio of projects an prioritise. This will take a number of months.”

Network Rail has completed its work to upgrade the railway in west Cornwall, which will offer passengers more reliable journeys. A team of engineers, with the help of six Network Rail engineering trains, removed old track and ballast between Penzance and Truro, and on the St Ives Bay line. They went on to replace it with new ballast, railway track and sleepers. Since starting the work more than one kilometre of new track, sleepers and ballast were installed, around 1.4km of rail and sleepers were repaired and 15 signalling and communications cabinets were replaced.

A regular passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter is returning, the Government has confirmed. The reopening of the line between Okehampton and Exeter has been included in the Government Comprehensive Spending Review and the National Infrastructure Strategy. It included the government's commitment to the restoring the service for the first time since regular Okehampton to Exeter passenger services were withdrawn on June 5, 1972, although since 1997 a limited service has run between Okehampton and Exeter on Sundays during the summer. A spokesman for OkeRail said:

“After weeks of not being able to say anything, the confirmation that the government are restoring the passenger service was in the spending review.

The lost railways of Devon and Cornwall, “On page 41, Restoring your Railway, it states that the government will also deliver on

its manifesto commitment to spend £500 million to restore transport services previously lost in the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, including reopening the AshingtonBlyth line in Northumberland to passenger services, and restoring rail links to Okehampton in Devon. The government has also launched a New Ideas Fund to pay for feasibility work on proposals for new lines and stations. Now while this IS only one sentence, do not underestimate the significance. It is the government's commitment to the service. More information about when the service will start, will follow in the coming weeks while work is being carried out now on the line by Network Rail to prepare the infrastructure.” Cllr Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “This is fantastic news and extremely

welcome as we look to support the recovery of the county’s economy. We have had a longstanding commitment to reintroduce regular rail services to Okehampton, and behind the scenes we’ve been lobbying and closely working with Network Rail, GWR and local partners to give this project the best chance of becoming a reality. It has been a great example of collaborative working from all involved.

India's first solar-powered miniature train has been launched at Veli Tourist Village in Kerala, India. The train, which would be an attraction for children especially, was part of a string of projects totally worth Rs 60 crore taken up to elevate the facilities at the panoramic destination to international standards. The miniature railway has all the features of a fully- equipped rail system, including a tunnel, station and a ticket office. The train has three bogies that can accommodate around 45 people at a time. "The eco-friendly solarpowered 2.5 km miniature railway will enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature. The Rs ten crore project is the first of its kind in the country," the Chief Minister said in his online address. Artificial steam spouted by the engine of the train, modeled after the vintage steam locomotive, will stir nostalgic feelings. The station was also designed in a traditional style. The surplus energy generated by the system will be routed to the Kerala State Electricity Board's grid, Vijayan said.

Politicians back daily Okehampton train service news - and call to start looking at reintroducing trains to Torridge. “I’m pleased to see that the Department for Transport has backed our collective view that this line deserves support. The County Council has invested a huge amount of time and money into keeping the line alive with the Summer service and also carrying out the study which provides the groundwork for developing plans for this project. I’m sure the local community will be delighted this scheme is getting Government backing.” Cllr Kevin Ball, who represents the Okehampton ward, added that the line would benefit everyone in West Devon, not just those in around the Okehampton area, and that after many false hopes it was confirmation that it would happen.

The Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLTH) aims to create a direct link to Heathrow for rail passegers coming in from the western side. At the moment, they have to head into Paddington then back out again. Apart from making journey times much faster for people using rail links from the west, it would reduce congestion on the trains out of Paddington. The rail link would have left the mainline at Langley near Slough, then run through a new tunnel to the existing station at Terminal 5, where two pre-built

platforms are ready to be used. Although the rail link is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, funding for it is dependent on contributions from Heathrow Airport and the aviation industry in general. With air travel in the doldrums at the moment, they are not in a position to stump up the money. The DfT has now asked Network Rail to change the planned Development Consent Order (DCO) submission of the application from winter 2021 to a potential winter 2022 submission, subject to a funding agreement. The DCO is just the first stage of several that need to be cleared before construction can start. Originally to be completed by 2021, the £900 million railway link is now not expected to start construction until 2024, if it gets permission to be built.

New services are the next step in the delivery of the Elizabeth line Stopping services between London Paddington and Reading are now operated by TfL Rail, delivering immediate benefits to customers. This is the next step in the delivery of the Elizabeth line. Under TfL Rail, customers will benefit from improvements to their stations including improved customer information and new lifts within the next year. On the TfL Rail service, Freedom Pass holders will enjoy free travel all the way to Reading, with families also benefiting from free travel for children under the age of 11 when they travel with a paying adult. Customers at Iver and Taplow will now enjoy a train service on a Sunday, with two trains running per hour to the capital. All TfL Rail stations are staffed from first to last train, providing a turn-up-and-go service for disabled customers and a point of contact for anyone needing assistance. Stations along the route are being improved to make them more comfortable and accessible. New benches and shelters in waiting areas are being fitted alongside improved electronic signage providing real-time travel information for customers. Several stations will also benefit from improved CCTV and lighting, creating a safer environment in and around the stations. Several ticket offices are also being refurbished, with many stations including Iver and Hayes & Harlington due to have completely new tickets halls and offices.

Burnham recently had a lift installed, with lifts at Taplow to follow on Monday, making them step-free from street to platform. The following stations were step-free in 2020:

Hanwell

Iver

Langley

Acton Main Line

Ealing Broadway

West Ealing

Southall

Hayes & Harlington

West Drayton

TfL is continually improving accessibility across the network, however between London Paddington and Reading, due to the different types of trains that already run along the western stations, including freight trains, it is not feasible to provide level boarding at all stations. At TfL Rail stations, staff are always on hand to deploy a manual boarding ramp between the platform and train for customers in need of assistance.

Howard Smith, Operations Director for TfL Rail, said: "I'm excited to welcome customers on the London Paddington to Reading line to TfL Rail. This is an important step towards opening the Elizabeth line. Customers will notice continual improvements along their route including a new Sunday service at Iver and Taplow and improved accessibility at several stations with lifts being installed to provide step-free access from street to platform."

While Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director, Reading UK, said: "Excellent connectivity has always been at the heart of Reading's economic success. With the introduction of TfL Rail trains and contactless ticketing as a precursor to the full opening of the Elizabeth line, Reading and its businesses are now literally on the London transport network map, helping further the business relationships between London and the capital of the Thames Valley."

Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council's Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport and Deputy Leader, said: "Reading has long been a major hub on the rail network and is unique in that more people travel into Reading to work every day than commute from Reading into London. The introduction of TfL trains, alongside contactless ticketing and free travel for Freedom Pass holders, is most welcome and will further cement Reading's position as the de facto capital of the Thames Valley and a major economic player in the south east."

The new services will be operated by MTR Elizabeth line, on behalf of TfL, with new Elizabeth line trains running between London Paddington and Reading. These will provide customers with walk-through carriages, dedicated wheelchair spaces and additional multi-use spaces for buggies and luggage. The trains will initially run with seven carriages as software updates continue to be implemented and tested before being increased to full-length nine-carriage trains. During peak times, Monday to Friday between 06:30 - 09:30

and between 16:00 - 19:00, services to and from Reading will run every 15 minutes and two trains an hour will run during off-peak times. Some train and departure times have changed. From 2nd January 2020, customers will be able to use contactless pay as you go for the first time between London Paddington and Reading. A single peak adult pay as you go journey between London Paddington and Reading will be £24.40 (with the off-peak fare of £10.60). Daily and weekly capping will be introduced in spring 2020.

A landmark railway building in Birmingham city centre is to be refurbished as part of HS2 station work. The city council has agreed for the grade I-listed Old Curzon Street Station to be leased to HS2 and refurbished as part of the work on the new Curzon Street Station. The station will initially link Birmingham with London before later phases connect the city with the north. The building was designed by Philip Hardwick and opened in 1838 and was initially intended to be a boardroom for the London and Birmingham Railway. The Curzon Street Masterplan outlines proposals for 141 hectares of regeneration. It covers the area that will house the HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham city centre, along with £724m million in investment into the surrounding area. It envisages the creation of 36,000 new jobs,4,000 new homes and 600,000m2 of commercial development. Curzon Street station will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the since the 19th century. Eventually, there will be nine trains per hour direct in each direction from the station.

The station design will maximise the benefit of natural resources such as sunlight and water and have new public spaces surrounding it. It will use the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies including capturing rainwater and sustainable power generation. The station will be built to achieve a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard and zero carbon emissions from day-to-day energy consumption.

The designs will also incorporate the existing historic Old Curzon Street building and link it to the new station’s eastern concourse at New Canal Street. It also aims to improve access to different modes of transport, with the Midland Metro running alongside and underneath the station, pedestrian routes to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and other train services and space for more than 250 bicycles.

Birmingham City Council’s Curzon Street Investment Plan will see £900 million spent on regenerating the area around the new station. The scheme will take place over 30 years, leading to the creation of several new neighbourhoods across almost 150 hectares, including 4,000 homes and 36,000 jobs. Curzon Street station will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the since the 19th century.

A set of hidden rail tracks was unearthed during work to remove the disused lines on Commercial Road along Weymouth harbourside. The discovery comes amid Dorset Council's project to remove the disused rails along the harbourside in a bid to improve road safety. Council workers started resurfacing work on Commercial Road this week after track removal was completed on Custom House Quay last Friday However, a completely separate set of track rails were hidden under Commercial Road, which were not connected to the visible surface rails. A spokesman from the council said: "We believe this is the route of the Weymouth Branch Line, which ‘The Loop’ section replaced. The team will move along to the next section of track removal, between St Nicholas Street and St Mary Street, on February 8. "The rails are being kept on site prior to collection by our recycling contractor, who will store the materials while we finalise paperwork with Network Rail. While we expect most will be recycled, some sections of rail may be used for a possible heritage feature along the route once the works are complete."

Following these phases of work, the highways team will be staying in the Weymouth harbour area to remove a section of track on the peninsula near the old Condor building and sections of track in the overgrown area near B&Q in preparation for a potential future project. There will also be final drainage, kerbing and surfacing works along the harbourside between Lower St Alban Street and St Mary Street. Further finishing works will be carried out in the areas where sections of the old rails are being left in place, this includes improving the cul-de-sac area of Commercial Road, near King Street, by installing drainage and kerbing, resurfacing the area and marking out formal parking bays and paving repairs in ‘The Loop’ near Cosens Quay Car Park. Drainage, kerbing and surfacing works on Custom House Quay between St Mary Street and The Pavilion will be carried out between March and May.