London Route Utilisation Strategy
Network Rail, who manage the UK's rail infrastructure (but not the actual train services), as well as managing the major UK train stations recently released a Route Utilisation Strategy RUS) for rail services into London. The RUS goes into extensive detail about the current and future position of commuter rail services and covers a wide variety of figures and stats. A copy can be sourced from here:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%...20strategy.pdf
Demand for commuter rail services into the Central London termini is significant. Between 0800-0859, 355 trains terminate at twelve termini, the equivalent of a train terminating every ten seconds. Of the twelve termini, eight handle in excess of 25 terminating trains each hour.
The Crossrail route will take a partial burden off Paddington, Liverpool Street, while extensively upgraded Thameslink line will assist King's Cross and Cannon Street. Yet even with planned extension of significant quantities of rolling stock (in some instances possibly up to 16 carriages in length), it is anticipated that the available terminating capacity will be absorbed by additional trains to service the 40% growth in train use. For instance, based on the current forecasts and committed schemes, there will be a capacity shortfall of 35,700 between 0800-0859.
Subsequently with consultation work being undertaken on the High Speed 2 line, there has been a growing interest in developing Crossrail 2 which would potentially alleviate Liverpool Street and Waterloo, as well as relieve tube lines serving Euston which would be the terminus for HS2. If (as is usually the case), rail demand continues to increase above estimated levels, it will become necessary for additional Crossrail routes across London.
London Southend Airport
Located due east of London, lies London Southend Airport, which from next year will be an important base for the low-cost carrier Easyjet for destinations.
The airport has subsequently attempted to brand itself as London's 6th international airport, although passenger numbers are only expected to be modest 2mppa, small compared to the far larger competitor airports servicing London. To facilitate access to the airport, a station has been built on the Shenfield to Southend Line which is a major commuter line branching off the Great Eastern Main Line into Liverpool Street.
The station which opened in July will be serviced by up to 7 trains an hour in each direction at peak hours. Southend Airport becomes the ninth airport to be served by a heavy rail link into London (the others being Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Luton, East Midlands and Southampton).
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Cotswold Line
Network Rail have completed 21miles of redoubling track work along the rural Cotswold Line which spurs off the Cherwell Valley Line north of Oxford heading westward towards Worcester and Hereford.
Many sections of the route were reduced to a single track in the 1970's, at a time when many country routes were axed altogether, however the reinstated second track will allow for higher frequencies and greater efficiency along the route which is one of several routes in the West of England that eventually terminate at London Paddington.
As part of the works, platforms were rebuilt at several stations and the signalling was upgraded.
Honeybourne Station
Source: willc2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc20...n/photostream/
Source: willc2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc20...n/photostream/
Evesham Station
Source: willc2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc20...n/photostream/
Source: willc2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc20...n/photostream/
Source: willc2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc20...n/photostream/
London Midland
From next Monday, London Midland which operates local stopping services out of London Euston is increasing the number of services between London and Birmingham. Previously London Midland provided an hourly service along the West Coast Main Line to Birmingham New Street, but going forward this will increase to a train every twenty minutes.
The present service has seen an 80% increase in customers in the last year, as travellers look for an alternative to the faster, but more expensive Virgin Trains Pendolino service which runs on parallel fast tracks.
Subsequently, the frequency of services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street will increase to six trains an hour off-peak.
London Midland are also undertaking trials on their class 350 rolling stock to evaluate whether they can increase the speed from the present 100mph to 110mph, which would reduce journey times on the slow services between London and Birmingham.
Source behind text:
http://www.rail.co/2011/09/02/london...london-euston/
Source: Andy Riley http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_griff...n/photostream/
Slough Bus & Railway Station
Located on the Great Western Main Line, 29.7km west of London Paddington, Slough station is a reasonably busy commuter station with 4.9mn journeys each year. At the present moment, six services an hour run into London Paddington. The station is also the terminus for the Windsor Branch line and in 2017 be a station on the western stretch of Crossrail.
The station which is over 170 years old and has six platforms, currently lacks step-free access. To resolve this in time for the Olympics next year (Slough will be the main station for access to Eton Dorney for rowing events) the station is being renovated. Improvements include:
- A new footbridge with step-free access to all platforms
- Improved waiting areas
- Regeneration of the station forecourt including a new taxi waiting area
Article:
http://www.rail.co/2011/07/27/major-...-set-to-begin/
Source: Rail.co http://www.rail.co/2011/07/27/major-...-set-to-begin/
Source: R~P~M http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks...n/photostream/
The adjacent bus station has also been rebuilt.
Source: Kapture-IT http://www.flickr.com/photos/kapture...7626808643182/
Source: Kapture-IT http://www.flickr.com/photos/kapture...7626808643182/
Source: Kapture-IT http://www.flickr.com/photos/kapture...7626808643182/
Source: Kapture-IT http://www.flickr.com/photos/kapture...7626808643182/
East West Rail
A project that has been a long-time in the making; the East West Rail line would bring back a formerly disused line known as the Varsity Line.
The Varsity Line ran between the two university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, but was axed in the 60's. With the exception of stretches between Bedford and Bletchley, and Bicester Town and Oxford, the route is either in an advanced state of disrepair or utilised only by freight trains.
Since the line has closed, the region has drastically changed, Milton Keynes which would be a central node along the line was non-existent in the 60's, yet is now home to 200,000 people. Oxford and Cambridge have also developed significant knowledge economy clusters.
Areas covered along the route are currently well-served by London-bound rail services, but lack sufficient cross-country orbital routes, which is where the East West rail idea comes into play.
While the western alignment wouldn't require too much extra work (ie clearing of debris, new tracks, signalling, platforms, etc...), the central section between Bedford and Cambridge would require a new route due to significant obstructions such as very large telescopes.
Oxford Economics (
http://eastwestrail.org.uk/wordpress.../OE-Report.pdf) have produced a report appraising the western section.
The preferred scheme would cost £211mn, with GDP uplift across the Greater South East (inc London) of £38.1mn per annum, with an additional £17.4mn in tax receipts. The scheme would repay itself within 5 and half years remove 1.47mn car trips each year and be used by 7,000 each day (based on 2.58mn additional trips).
Overall the Benefit to Cost Ratio is an impressive 6.30 and the line would be profitable in its first year of operation.
Work on the central section would come at a later stage, however the possibility of reconnecting two of the world's greatest universities and their respective knowledge clusters by rail would most likely have significant economic benefits.
There would also be an opportunity for an eastern connection running from Cambridge to Norwich and Ipswich which would have significant logistic benefits. Fortunately these routes are already in place, however it would open up the possibility of passenger services running from Norwich to Bedford or Ipswich to Milton Keynes, further increasing regional rail links.
Source: East West Rail http://eastwestrail.org.uk/route/western-section/
Source: East West Rail http://eastwestrail.org.uk/route/central-section/
London Paddington - Fourth Span
Built in 1854 by the legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the three-span immaculately detailed London Paddington was the London terminus for what is known today as the Great Western Main Line, one of the ten major Main Lines out of London. The station is presently composed of 14 National Rail and 6 London Underground platforms (Bakerloo, Circle and Hammersmith & City) and used by 71mn people each year.
The station is now approaching its 160th year of operation, and is constantly changing to reflect the modern transport requirements of London. Current works include the re-building of the Hammersmith & City Line platforms, northern ticket hall, a new taxi rank and the construction of the Crossrail platforms and concourse where the present taxi rank resides.
Yet it's amazing to think that only a couple of years ago, there were plans to demolish what is known as the fourth span at London Paddington. Constructed in 1906-15, sixty years after the original three spans, there were questions on whether it was worthy enough to preserve. Fortunately it was decided that there was merit in its preservation, and over the last few weeks, the results of that work have been unveiled:
Source: macabrephotographer http://www.flickr.com/photos/macabre...n/photostream/
Source: St.Crev http://www.flickr.com/photos/5488901...n/photostream/
The original 1854 Brunel-built spans:
Source: kaszeta: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaszeta...n/photostream/
Aerial images from last year illustrate the relation of the fourth span to the rest of the station:
Source: Network Rail via londonreconnections.blogspot.com
Source: Network Rail via londonreconnections.blogspot.com
Images illustrating the development of the present taxi rank for the Crossrail platforms and concourse due to be completed in 2018:
Source: Crossrail
Source: Crossrail
Source: Crossrail
Last five images sourced from earlier in the thread.
DLR Stratford International Extension
The 31st August 2011 marks the opening for passenger service of a new DLR extension linking Canning Town to Stratford International. Operating on what was once the old alignment of the North London Line, the seven station Stratford International DLR extension provides as an important link from east and south-east London to Stratford International and the Olympic Park.
The service which runs parallel to the Jubilee Line between Canning Town and Stratford interchanges with multiple rail lines including Underground (Central, District, Hammersmith & City and Jubilee), Overground (North London Line), Commuter Rail (c2c lines, National Express East Anglia lines and South Eastern High Speed line), and other DLR lines (to Bank, Lewisham and Tower Gateway).
Present operations from Stratford International will be a train every 10mins (6tph) in each direction, which will originate from Woolwich Arsenal in the peak, and Beckton in the off-peak.
The DLR which is now in its 25th year of operation is a fully automated metro system running multiple routes around East London and the Docklands area. The system has proven to be exceptionally popular and been expanded and heavily upgraded since its inception. Current ridership on the DLR network stands at 82.1mn per annum, however this is set to grow to in excess of 103mn in under three years time, comparable to the ridership of the Bakerloo Line.
Future extensions to the DLR being considered include:
- A five station eastern extension to Dagenham Dock from Beckton.
- A four station extension southwards from Lewisham to Forest Hill.
- Two potential western extensions to London Victoria (four stations) and London Euston/St Pancras (four stations).
• Video Link
Map of extension and destinations to Woolwich Arsenal and Beckton.
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Canning Town
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Star Lane
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
West Ham
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Abbey Road
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Stratford High Street
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Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Stratford Regional
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Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Stratford International
Source: diamond geezer http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Source: IanVisits http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisi...n/photostream/
Stansted Express
Serving London's third largest international airport: London Stansted, the Stansted Express is a heavy rail service that operates from London Liverpool Street in Central London. Trains operate every 15 minutes along the West Anglia Main Line (WAML) for 53km , before running on a dedicated branch line to a terminus station built under the airport terminal. The journey time is around 45mins.
All trains stop at London Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale (for interchange to the Victoria Line onwards to the West End) and Stansted Airport, however services alternate stops at two major towns in close proximity to the airport: Harlow and Bishop's Stortford. Subsequently the service allows employees at the airport who live in the two nearby towns to access to airport, but also provides an additional express service into London on the WAML.
Now in its 20th year of operation, the old class 317 trains are being replaced by new Class 379 sets built by Bombardier. Thirty train sets (each composed of 4 cars) have been delivered in recent months, and can operate at up to 100mph (160kph). Typically the trains will operate in pairs (8 cars) during the week and single units (4 cars) at weekends. However with strong growth for rail services along the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor it is expected that these services will be extended to 12 carriages in the not too distant future.
The old class 317 trains will be cascaded to other services, increasing capacity along the WAML and GEML.
Source: Always Santa Fe http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnel_...n/photostream/
Source: peter_skuce http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/...1a588574_b.jpg
Source: peter_skuce http://www.flickr.com/photos/5522317...n/photostream/