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Maria backs Samaritans Maria Fowler, (The Only way is Essex) recently helped raise awareness of the Samaritans. Having recently called Samaritans herself, Maria has firsthand experience of the value of talking. ‘Samaritans is a fantastic source of support. I only wish I’d got in touch earlier,’ says Maria. ‘Talking to them really helped. It was like having a nonjudgemental friend, something that is hard to come by in real life. It is so important that people talk about their problems, and if things are getting too much, Samaritans is available, any time of the day or night.’ Samaritans is working closely
with the railway industry – to reduce the number of railway suicides. People can get involved in the campaign by simply texting ‘SUPPORT’ to 70123 to make a £3 donation. Says Catherine Johnstone, Samaritans CEO, ‘It’s hugely important to talk about your problems, and Samaritans is here for anyone going through a tough time.’ This year Samaritans celebrates its 60th anniversary. Founder Chad Varah took the first call to the service on 2 November 1953. Samaritans is on 08457 90 90 90 and in Ireland on 1850 60 90 90. Visit www.samaritans.org
HS2 clears legal hurdles Sea-bay sensation at Swanage
www.railstaff.co.uk
A special six-car diesel passenger train from London used the newly restored bay platform at Swanage for the first time since 1966. SouthWest Trains supplied train and crew for the UK Railtours excursion special. The ‘Purbeck Adventurer’ used two three-coach Class 159
diesel units coupled together. To accommodate the six-coach ‘Purbeck Adventurer’, the Swanage Railway fully restored and brought back into use its secondary bay platform No. 1 at Swanage station – a platform that will be used for a two-year trial train service to the main line at Wareham from 2015. Says Swanage Railway Company chairman Peter Sills, ‘It was a very successful day and hopefully the first of many
with 370 passengers being brought into the Isle of Purbeck to enjoy the delights of Corfe Castle and Swanage – thereby giving a boost to local businesses. The Swanage Railway contributes in excess of £10 million a year to the Purbeck economy.’ From left with the train in the bay platform at Swanage – holding a photograph of a steam train in that same platform in 1966 – are driver Matt Southern, who drove the train out of the bay platform, guard Ian Valet and driver Rob Thompson who drove the train into Swanage. © ANDREw PM wRIGHT
work on preparations for High Speed 2 linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds powers ahead this summer after the Court of Appeal threw out further attempts to derail the scheme. The government will be introducing legislation in Parliament later this year to take forward HS2. Objectors used seven broad areas to challenge both the economics and the route of HS2. Says transport minister, Simon Burns, ‘By dismissing all seven grounds of appeal and declining to refer the case to Europe, this is the second time in four months a court has rejected attempts to derail HS2. Parliament is the right place to debate the merits of HS2, not the law courts, and we will introduce the hybrid bill for phase one before the year is out. ‘I urge opponents not to waste any more taxpayers’ money on expensive litigation and instead work with us on making HS2 the very best it can be. We continue to move forward apace with the crucial business of getting the scheme ready for construction in 2017 and delivering enormous benefits for the country.’
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