Tributes Paid to SENRUG Founder Ken Allott Non-Stop on the Flying
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NEWSLETTER SUMMER16 2011 INSIDE Non-Stop on The Flying Scotsman » Station improvements The Flying Scotsman service, which now runs non-stop from Newcastle » East Coast changes to London, was re-launched by East Coast on 23rd May, writes SENRUG » Petitions committee member Janet MacLeod Trotter » European adventure NOT manY things will get on 23rd May. Meeting up with mounted on the crowded plat- me out of bed at 5.30am Chairman Dennis Fancett at form as the Flying Scotsman, on a chilly morning, but the Morpeth station, we caught with its sleek purple livery and chance to go on a fast train the 6.35am service that con- thistle emblems, slipped into members, but all were treated with a cooked breakfast is one nects in Newcastle with the view. One of the highlights equally well on board. of them! I was one of the two new high-speed service. of the trip was devouring the We made it into Kings Cross lucky members of the SENRUG At Newcastle excitement tasty full English breakfast on time at 9.40am and were committee to be given the while sitting in the comfort of welcomed by the skirl of Pictured: East Coast class 91 opportunity of travelling on locomotive № 91101 sporting its first class. The train was busy, bagpipes and trays of purple the inaugural Flying Scotsman new “Flying Scotsman” livery. but there was a steady supply cakes. What a way to enter the of tea and coffee (served by city! The new service allows ast CO the East Coast executives) a full day in London. I caught ast while Chair Elaine Holt took the 6.30pm service north, by O: E T time to chat to passengers as which time the high winds PHO we sped non-stop from New- were disrupting services, castle to London. not reaching Morpeth until There was the occasional nearly midnight. But the crew roving reporter and camera remained cheery and helpful, team in our carriage who, plying their tired passengers strangely, seemed more inter- with hot and cold drinks long ested in Olympian Jonathan after they should have fin- Edwards and Sir Alan Beith ished their shift. A long day, MP than a couple of SENRUG but an historic one. Tributes Paid to SENRUG Founder Ken Allott It is with great sadness that we bring news of the recent death of Ken Allott, one of the founders and the first Chairman of SENRUG. es KennetH (Ken) Michael Allott ing Physical Geography at Liv- local council. He wanted to H Hug was born in 1945 in Ripon, erpool University. This is where get things done for the town. an H but spent most of his child- he met his wife, Caroline. After Amongst his achievements nat O: JO hood in Lincolnshire where teaching in Northampton in were recycling facilities and a T his father taught. There were the early 1970s, Ken got a BMX track. PHO regular trips by steam train to job teaching geography and At school, Ken was deputy family in Durham and New- geology at The King Edward VI head of the geography depart- castle, and Ken became a keen School, Morpeth, and moved ment and eventually became and knowledgeable train to the town in 1973. the only geology teacher. He spotter. He was absolutely Ken was involved in many supervised Duke of Edinburgh thrilled, when train-spotting areas of town life, musically, Award expeditions for many in Durham, to be invited to politically and culturally. In the years and took part in music Pictured: Ken Allott on a school travel in the cab of a steam late 1980s he became parish tours to Italy and Austria, even music tour to Austria in 2002, shortly locomotive to and from the councillor for the Liberal/ after his diagnosis with Motor after his diagnosis with MND. Sunderland depot. Social Democrat alliance, but Neurone Disease (MND). He is His teenage years were always insisted that national remembered fondly by a great the editor of this newsletter). spent in Gosforth before read- politics were irrelevant to the number of students (including » continued, page 3 2 SENRUG Newsletter 16 Summer 2011 ast CO ast O: E East Coast Update T East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell PHO outlines the service changes made on 22nd May THE Big change to the East passenger numbers. Coast timetable that was intro- And there’s more. The duced on Sunday 22nd May First Class on-board compli- is now well established and mentary service, which was there is much to be pleased introduced in response to about. The flagship “Flying customer feedback, has been Scotsman” weekday express well-received. At four weeks Pictured: Karen Boswell, Managing Director of East Coast service from Edinburgh to into the new timetable that King’s Cross, with Newcastle created 19 extra services each infrastructure partners Net- but we are now moving on. as its only stop, is proving a weekday, three million addi- work Rail on reducing disrup- We will continue to meet and major success with our busi- tional seats and many faster tion remains a priority and we listen to stakeholders along ness customers. Our other new journey times, our punctual- are also gathering the opin- our route and look forward to services—Lincoln to London ity performance was around ions of our passengers on the hearing from you. and a direct return from the 93%. food and drink offering. Email your comments capital to Harrogate—are also But we are not resting on That Sunday in May was a about the service changes to looking promising in terms of our laurels. Work with our big day for us at East Coast [email protected]. News from Northumberland County Council John Lewer, the Public Transport Policy Officer at Northumberland County Council, has updated SENRUG on various rail projects in South East Northumberland. AT MOrpetH Station approval The new scheme includes: Improvements at the information including elec- was granted in 2009 to enable » Widening of existing existing station parking to tronic displays. the Coopies Lane/Shields footway on Coopies Lane start before the end of 2011 CramlingtON StatiON sees Road junction to be signal- between the station and include: work progressing on extend- ised, allowing buses to access Shield Road » Passenger drop off area ing the station car park from the railway station as well as » Construction of a new adjacent to the platform 48 to 102 spaces including making it easier for vehicles footway on Coopies Lane » Short stay (30 minute) four disabled spaces. There exiting the junction. between the former sta- parking in the existing are also plans also to improve However, since that scheme tion building and Shields station car park pedestrian access to the was proposed, the situation at Road » Long stay parking in the northbound platform. A fund- the station has changed sig- » Construction of dropped existing station car park ing agreement has recently nificantly: the car park is now pedestrian crossing on » Improved signage been signed with Network totally inadequate, which is Coopies Lane to link sta- Network Rail in partnership Rail, which is a first stage in affecting access for residents tion to the new footway with Northern Rail are plan- progressing the project. Work and local businesses and Negotiations continue with ning improvements under the should start this financial making it dangerous for road Network Rail to acquire a site National Station Improvement year. users. on Coopies Lane for an addi- Programme, and the Depart- COnsultants COntinue to The Council has decided tional 92 space car park. This ment for Transport (DfT) progress the demand stud- to review the previously will ease parking problems on “Access for All” level access ies for the Ashington, Blyth & approved scheme to signal- Coopies Lane and encourage programme. This will involve Tyne Line, as required by the ise this junction. The key prior- more people to take the train the installation of passenger DfT before Network Rail GRIP ity is improving safety at the from Morpeth. Planning per- lifts, repairs to the subway, a studies can be progressed. An road junction, particularly for mission for the car park has self-service ticket machine, interim report is to be submit- pedestrians and vehicles. already been granted. and upgraded passenger ted to the DfT soon. N O ats W R VO re O:T T PHO Pictured: Prior to the recent Royal visit to Alnwick, the Royal Train, flanked by DB Schenker № 67005 Queen’s Messenger and № 67006 Royal Sovereign, hides overnight in the Hepscott branch of the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line (ABT), close to Morpeth Station, with the Her Majesty the Queen on board. Why can’t the ABT be opened for regular passengers if it is fit for the Queen? www.senrug.co.uk Summer 2011 SENRUG Newsletter 16 3 « Tributes Paid to Ken Allott, continued from p1 AGM Roundup After his diagnosis of MND Ken was community spirit- at the fore of the campaign to SENRUG’S AGM was held on in 2002, Ken took early retire- ed, greatly enjoyed family life make Morpeth Station wheel- Tuesday 5th July. Business ment but never really slowed with Caroline and their three chair friendly, taking part in a included the appointment of down until very recently. He children, and lived a very full short film for the local news. the committee: Dennis Fan- gave talks—subjects includ- life. He never dwelt on his Ken died on Friday 13th cett (Chair), John Earl (Deputy ing the railways—to the Anti- condition, except insofar as it May at home surrounded by Chair & Exhibitions), Adrian quarian Society, helped found affected his family and those his family.