Regional News

GREAT WESTERN

Oxford: The Witney Oxford Transport Group is proposing a new line running from Hanborough to Carterton ( via Eynsham and Ducklington), to ease congestion on the A40 and avoid spending £180 million to widen it.

Padstow: The old LSWR terminus station is occupied again by the town council, six years after the discovery of high levels of radon gas that threatened it with demolition. The building now also houses a small museum featuring a nameplate from ‘ West Country’ 4- 6-2 No. 34008 Padstow.

Reading: The scheme to build a new Reading Green Park on the Basingstoke line is edging forward slowly, with the local council confirming that its detailed design is under way. Construction is already two and a half years behind schedule.

EASTERN

Constable Burton: An 1888 45- lever Great Eastern signal box recovered from Hertford East is to be relocated between Bedale and Leyburn on the Wensleydale Railway.

Eaglescliffe: A planned £15 million overhaul for the station includes additional parking and a new western footbridge to serve the Durham Lane industrial park. However, it will not happen until an £11 million shortfall in funding has been sorted out.

Humberside: Completion of the resignalling of the Ferriby ( Hull) -Saltmarshe ( Goole) line has rendered a number of signal boxes redundant, including Saltmarshe, Gilberdyke, Broomfleet, Brough East, and Melton Lane. Crabley Creek remains open as a crossing gate box.

Leeds: Work is under way on the new Platform 0, plus a roof over the main concourse to replace the present one. The road outside is to be pedestrianised with relocated bus stops.

Richmond: A detailed to- scale stone replica of a North Eastern ‘J72’ 0- 6- 0T has been unveiled at Catterick Military Camp, to mark the end of the First World War and the thousands of soldiers who travelled over the former Leyburn branch ( closed in 1964). Scarborough: The borough council has approved the installation of an ‘Old Parcels Office’ sign at the station, to commemorate the room’s original use. It is now an arts centre.

Widdrington: Planning approval has been granted for a new holiday park on the site of the former Steadsburn opencast site. This is despite concerns from Network Rail about the increase in traffic at nearby level crossings over the East Coast Main Line.

York: Seven original construction drawings of Grade 1- listed Huddersfield station dated 1846, and later 19th century drawings showing the development of the station within the locality, are being restored at the Network Rail National Records Centre with a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust. Money has also been found to repair eight fragile coloured contract drawings for Brunel’s Moulsford Viaduct.

MIDLANDS

Bridgnorth: The Severn Valley Railway station’s new refreshment room is due to open in February. The old temporary structure will be demolished to create space for exhibitions and allow the car park to be extended.

Croft: The granite quarry served by the LeicesterNuneaton line has been indentified as a dump for 22 million tonnes of spoil from HS2 construction and other major future projects. It will be moved by rail. Although stone is not expected to be worked out before 2052, there is presently an 81- acre hole to be filled. Highley: The closure of Alveley Colliery because of falling national demand resulted in the closure of the large area of sidings 50 years ago on February 6. A country park now occupies the site, which is linked by a river footbridge to the Severn Valley Railway.

Oswestry: A £118,000 Rural Development Programme grant will largely fund a new platform at Weston Wharf, on the edge of the town next to the Stonehouse Brewery. A run- round loop, siding

to the goods shed and two- coach bay platform are also planned.

Watford Junction: The station’s Platform 10 is being extended by almost 100 yards to handle 12- coach trains, and the timber Platform 11 rebuilt to modern specifications.

NORTH WESTERN

Blackpool: A 17- acre area around the old Central station ( closed in November 1964) is earmarked for a £ 300 million development of hotels, restaurants and holiday attractions.

Colne: The initial study into reopening the 12- mile link to Skipton by 2025 has shown that it is technically possible. The second stage is to assess whether the demand for freight will improve its commercial prospects.

SOUTHERN

Ashford: There are plans to convert part of the old locomotive works into a film studio, hotel and leisure complex. The buildings in question were last in railway use in 1962.

Folkestone: Network Rail is preparing to lift the remaining track on the disused and overgrown Harbour branch, for its possible conversion to a public walkway.

Freshfield: The Bluebell Railway’s January closedown has allowed the relaying of half a mile of track ( 44 x 60ft panels) between Sloop Bridge and Monteswood Lane Bridge.

Ryde: January 27 was the 50th anniversary of the closure of the pier tramway.

ANGLIA

Bishop’s Stortford: February 1 marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Great Eastern route to Braintree. It was closed to passengers in 1952, but many are arguing the case for reinstatement to serve Stansted Airport.

Halesworth: For the first time since the dismantling of the Southwold Railway in 1941 ( it closed in 1929), rails have been laid over the inspection and ashingpits at the surviving locomotive shed. The next project is a 100- yard demonstration track, followed by the first three miles of running line.

Norwich: February 2 was the 50th anniversary of the closure of one of the last remaining sections of the former M& GN network from City station yard to Drayton. It had stayed open for residual freight traffic ten years after the withdrawal of passenger services. Soham: An exhibition showing the proposed new £ 2.5 million station has revealed it will be a basic single- platform affair with two small waiting shelters and an open footbridge. Land will be reserved for another platform should this section of the ElyIpswich line ever be redoubled.

SCOTLAND

Aviemore: The troubled Cairngorm funicular railway will be closed until the summer, and possibly later in the year, because of concerns about its structural state. An assessment is being carried out to strengthen the foundations, piers and beams, and install new bearings.

Carnoustie: The busy level crossing is being modernised with four barriers instead of two, at a cost of £ 5.5 million. It is unclear what the future is ( if any) for the impressive 1898 Caledonian Railway signal box that protects it.

Kilmarnock: The new station lifts, part of the £ 2.7 million station modernisation, were due to enter service on January 18.

WALES

Abergavenny: The station footbridge has been lifted out of position and taken to Cardiff for repairs.

Welshpool: The narrow gauge Welshpool & Llanfair Railway has been awarded an £ 89,000 Welsh government grant towards the installation of a new shelter, stabling siding, cattle dock, and better lighting and security. New Welsh signage is also to be erected.