Regional News

WESTERN

Banbury: Despite protests, the 1901 Banbury North signal box was demolished by Network Rail over the weekend of March 25/ 26.

Barnstaple: Devon County Council has received charity- based Combe Rail’s preliminary findings into installing a tramway on the alignment of the former LSWR Ilfracombe line as far as Braunton. It is 98% intact thanks to its conversion to the Tarka Trail.

High Wycombe: Wycombe District Council has backed a new £100,000 study into the reopening of the railway to Bourne End ( closed in 1970). There has been an increasing amount of redevelopment across the trackbed.

Plymouth: Eight years after redevelopment was first discussed, 50 new homes are to be built on the disused sidings area at Tothill.

Tiverton: Parkway station has 186 new car parking spaces. Worcester: The train crew area at Shrub Hill station has been expanded.

EASTERN

Darlington: The latest exhibition at the Head of Steam Museum features the Harrogate- RiponNorthallerton line, which closed in 1967. Elsecar: The Elsecar Railway is better prepared to extend operations to Cortonwood, following

approval to reopen two level crossings along the two- mile route.

Market Rasen: The application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £463,000 to renovate the Grade 2- listed ( almost derelict) station has been successful. Work can now proceed to convert redundant areas into community space and business units. The neglected entrance will have stonework replaced, windows repaired, and an exhibition area created.

Newcastle: Approval has been given for the £ 60 million Gallowgate tower block over St James Metro station. Nexus has warned it will scupper any plans to extend underground to the west of the city. Meanwhile, the £ 6m revamp of Newcastle Central Metro station is now complete. It includes a new escalator to the main line station.

York: The planned conversion of Hudson House railway offices into homes and business units has been cancelled. The block, which was only built in the 1960s, is to be demolished and a new complex built instead.

MIDLANDS

Long Eaton: The Station Street lattice footbridge is to be removed on April 21 for refurbishment. It will be returned by the contractor at the end of June. Longport: The disused Grade 2- listed station building is to be turned into a Hindu temple. Stoke- on-Trent City Council has approved the conversion.

Rugby: The borough council has secured a £ 52,000 grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust, to alleviate flooding on a 4 ½ - mile section of the old Great Central Main Line that has found new use as a nature trail.

Stewartby: Business at the Bedford- Bletchley line station has been boosted by the opening of Kimberley College. It has a new waiting shelter.

NORTH WEST

Bolton: The disused Platform 5 is being reinstated to allow an increase in Manchester- Preston service frequencies from the end of the year.

Chorley: The rebuilt station platform has been returned to full use.

Guide Bridge: The Woodhead Railway Heritage Group has sought permission from Network Rail to use one of the disused platform buildings to open up a small exhibition centre. It will display items and information about the GC Manchester-Sheffield electrified route ( closed in 1981).

Heaton Park: Manchester Metrolink has donated track components recovered from the St Peter’s Square remodelling to the Heaton Park Tramway.

Irlam: Six miles of the former Cheshire Lines Committee route, over the 1892 lattice girder Cadishead viaduct over the Manchester Ship Canal