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GBRf adds New approach needed to unlock key rail reopenings intermodal train GB launched a new intermodal service to Felixstowe Andrew Roden February 5, CBT argues that 33 require a “proactive and strategic implementation process; a new which encompasses larger and nationally significant proposals are tackle regional inequalities; reduce on January 23, running from schemes could add 343 miles to approach” to expanding the rail assessment of value for money more complex schemes such as being considered. carbon emissions and air pollution; Birch Coppice in the Midlands. Contributing Writer the passenger rail network (166 network. taking in direct and indirect reopenings. In those cases, development and create better and healthier The train left the Midlands [email protected] miles of reopened route and 177 This would include a clear benefits; and a firm commitment It argues that local authorities and implementation should places to live.” at 1414, arriving at the Suffolk miles of freight-only converted to national policy on reopenings, to expanding rail (including freight and sub-national transport bodies be overseen by the DfT. Value RMT General Secretary Mick port at 2014. It will run five Mothballed and freight railways passenger standards), generate up setting out the social, economic capacity). should have the ability to formally for money, meanwhile, should Cash supported the programme, days per week initially, and will could be brought back in to use to 20 million additional passenger and environmental benefits of CBT has identified 33 recommend reopening and new “be judged as an investment in saying: “For years politicians have be formed of 33 platforms. and others reopened at a cost of journeys per year, create 72 an enlarged network; charging schemes which met its criteria rail schemes for adoption as part national infrastructure with direct been talking up the benefits of GBRf Managing Director around £4 billion to £6.4bn, but stations, and bring more than the National Infrastructure for investment based on their of a national programme, and and indirect benefits being used to reopening lines but few reach John Smith said the train is generate social and economic 500,000 people within walking Commission with identifying where viability and social, economic and that the detailed development assess overall value”. construction due to a lack of a taking boxes previously bound benefits of up to £12bn in Gross distance of a railway station. new and reopened lines would environmental benefits (see panel). of priority schemes should be CBT Chief Executive Darren national approach and public from Hams Hall, which in turn Added Value over 50 years. Routes cited include March- support national objectives across These in turn are split into two undertaken by working groups Shirley said: “Expanding the investment. creates additional capacity for a That’s according to new analysis Wisbech, Totton-Hythe-Fawley, and transport, housing, geographic categories: Phase 1 for schemes involving the Department for railways would transform the “That needs to change because customer at the original site. by Campaign for Better Transport the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne. balance and low-carbon growth; which could be implemented Transport (DfT), and opportunities for people living in there is an overwhelming case (CBT). In The Case for Expanding However, it warns that bringing a national development pool of by 2025 (mostly conversion of local authorities. some of the most deprived areas for a Government-backed Charity sleep out the Rail Network, published on such a programme to reality will priority projects with a streamlined freight-only lines); and Phase 2 Network Rail’s Governance of the country, giving them greater national programme of public rail for Railway Investment Projects access to employment and services reopenings to help meet the huge raises £25,000 (GRIP) process should be reformed and providing a much-needed economic, environmental and More than 150 volunteers CBT’s 33 Phase 1 and 2 reopenings to address the speed, cost and boost to local economies. social challenges facing the UK. slept at Liverpool Lime fragmentation of the current “The Government should invest These reopenings will ultimately Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Scheme Phase Type of project Length (miles) Scheme Phase Type of project Length (miles) system, and a streamlined in a nationally led programme of pay for themselves via the benefits Birmingham New Street and South East Yorkshire and the Humber process for the development of expansion of the railway to help they generate for society.” Bridge stations on Oxford-Cowley 1 Freight-only conversion 4 Low Moor-Thornhill 2 Reopening 7 projects should be adopted where disadvantaged communities and @AndyRoden1 January 31, to raise money for Totton-Hythe-Fawley 1 Freight-only conversion 10 Harrogate-Ripon-Northallerton 2 Reopening 18 the Railway Children charity. Volunteers included Brentford-Southall Crossrail Link (Brentford Docks Line) 1 Freight-only conversion 4 In March 1997, a Class 56 crosses Twenty Foot Drain and the B1101 North East directors from Network Rail, South West (near March) with a pet food train. The March-Wisbech route is one Ashington, Blyth and Tyne 1 Freight-only conversion 16 train companies, rail industry Henbury Loop (North Bristol) 1 Freight-only conversion 6 suggested for reopening by Campaign for Better Transport. JOHN RUDD. Stockton-Ferryhill 2 Freight-only conversion 13 partners and politicians. The Okehampton-Tavistock-Bere Alston 2 Reopening 25 ‘sleep-out’ was sponsored Portishead-Bristol 2 Reopening/freight only 4 freight only, 3 reopening Pelaw-Ferryhill 2 Mothballed/reopening 18 by and raised Stratford-Long Marston-Honeybourne 2 Reopening/freight only 3 freight only, 6 reopening North West £25,000. East of England Skelmersdale-Liverpool 2 Reopening 3 March-Wisbech 1 Reopening/mothballed 8 Poulton-le-Fylde-Fleetwood 2 Reopening 6 Bolton station to Bedford-Sandy-Cambridge 2 Reopening 27 Skipton-Colne 2 Reopening 12 gain £1m facelift Haverhill-Cambridge 2 Reopening 17 Wales A £1 million upgrade of Bolton East Midlands Hirwaun-Aberdare 1 Mothballed 4 station has been announced Leicester-Burton-upon-Trent 1 Freight only conversion 31 by Network Rail, Northern and Aberbeeg-Abertillery 2 Reopening 2 TransPennine Express. Shirebrook-Ollerton 1 Freight only conversion 6 Caernarfon-Bangor 2 Reopening 7 By the end of this spring, Matlock-Buxton 2 Reopening 12 Beddau-Pontyclun 2 Reopening/mothballed 3 new seating and signage will West Midlands be fitted, toilets and waiting Scotland Walsall-Water Orton 1 Freight-only conversion 15 rooms revamped, pigeon Camp Hill chords 1 Freight only conversion 6 Dunfermline-Alloa 1 Freight-only conversion 14 netting fitted, and underused buildings on Platforms 4 and 5 Walsall-Wolverhampton 1 Freight-only conversion 7 St Andrews-Leuchars 2 Reopening/new alignment 5 refurbished for potential retail, Thornton-Leven 2 Reopening/mothballed 5 Leek-Stoke 2 Reopening 12 enterprise and community use. Moorhouse is new RSSB chairman RAIB safety digest highlights RHTT risks Barbara Moorhouse is the new MoD trains return to Wensleydale Line The Rail Accident Investigation This led to the wheelset pushing partially applied. chairman of RSSB (previously The first Ministry of Defence train to serve the Wensleydale Line since March Branch (RAIB) has issued a safety the rails apart, resulting in high RAIB says operators and Rail Safety and Standards 3 2015 arrived on January 30, operated by GB Railfreight. With 66723 digest following a derailment of lateral forces on the stock rails maintainers of RHTTs should closely Board). Chinook and 66737 Lesia top and tailing, the train ran to Redmire, a railhead treatment train (RHTT) which in turn overloaded the rail monitor the condition of wheels and Moorhouse is a non-executive where military vehicles were loaded and taken south to Warminster. at Dunkeld and Birnam station on fastenings and, in some places, braking systems when operating in director of Balfour Beatty, It is hoped that more of this traffic will run in the future. STEVE DAVIS. October 29 2018. the wooden sleepers. This derailed low-adhesion conditions. Microgen and Agility Trains. Its investigation found that the the leading wheelset of the bogie, It adds that operators of freight She is also a trustee of Guy’s leading wheelset of the trailing shortly followed by the trailing trains and other specialist trains and St Thomas’ charity. bogie of the leading wagon began wheelset. They ran derailed for derived from freight wagons to slide rather than rotate, creating approximately 100 metres before should undertake suitable roll-by SWR donates to a large wheel flat on both wheels rerailing at another set of points. examinations on departure from and creating ‘false flanges’. RAIB’s investigation found that yards to detect non-rotating homeless charity When passing over points south the handbrake interlock which wheels; that maintainers of freight South Western Railway has of the station, the ‘false flange’ prevents air brakes from being wagons should have a process in made a £1,000 donation to on the left-hand wheel became released on the leading wagon had place to control the isolation of top up the Clapham Junction trapped between the stock and been isolated - but it is not clear handbrake interlocks on freight station team’s festive charity switch rails. This caused the outside why or by whom. Because the wagons; and that staff preparing shoebox collection. face of the wheel to run along the handbrake interlock was isolated, freight trains for departure should The Ace of Clubs charity gauge face of the stock rail while there was nothing to stop the check that handbrakes are fully provides a range of services for the right-hand wheel was pushed driver driving the RHTT with the released and do not place sole local homeless people. up against the opposite stock rail. handbrake accidentally left on or reliance on handbrake interlocks.

18 RAIL 872 February 13 - February 26 2019 Subscribe at railmagazine.com Subscribe at railmagazine.com February 13 - February 26 2019 RAIL 87219