Swanage to Wareham from 13th June announced

[pompeyfan]

Out of interest, if the 4TC needed turning, what would be the nearest triangle? Eastleigh/Romsey/Redbridge(Southampton)?

I remember the old Lymington slammer needed turning once a month and went Netley/Botley/Swaythling.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Just had a look at the crossing on Streetview, can't see any sign of gates there, could they install gates, interlocked with the signals?

 

[dgl]

There are closing gates there, similar to barriers at a road crossing, but due I'm guessing to misuse, they are closed for quite a while before the train comes.

Sent from my Lumia 625 using Tapatalk

 

[theironroad]

The foot crossing at Wareham has been widely misused in the past including people crossing with prams when non stop trains passing though Wareham. It has rightly been closed when trains are in the area. The crossing keeper is, I believe , employed by Dorset county council as a solution to keeping the crossing open as NR want it closed.

A couple of years ago plans were published for the new elevated and accessible crossing until the architects discovered that the plans were incorrect and that the required ramps wouldn't fit in the available space . So the foot crossing with keeper has continued and the down sidings at the London end of Wareham still cannot be used....

 

[SpacePhoenix]

What's the water table like there, is it low enough down that a subway could be created?

 

[Joe Paxton]

...
The Office of Rail and Road will not authorise further scheduled train movements across the crossing as this will increase the risk to safety, therefore until the crossing problem is sorted. The Swanage services will not be able to use the sidings or crossover.
...

Interesting, I hadn't appreciated that the foot crossing at Wareham was actually impeding the operational flexibility of the railway.

Wareham is basically a town of two halves bisected by the railway, which might explain why the locals have strong feelings about the crossing which is a vital artery in the town.

I suspect much of the objections to a bridge of some sort ultimately come down to people (particularly older and less abled folk) being unwilling to climb up and down stairs or use a ramp to ascend and descend when presently they don't have to make any such effort to use an at-grade (flat, street level) crossing.

 

[theironroad]

What's the water table like there, is it low enough down that a subway could be created?

Tbh, i don't know, but the ramps would probably fit ok. I'm no expert, but I'd have thought there must be some technical solutions to overcome water table issues for something relatively simple like a pedestrian subway.

 

[theironroad]

Interesting, I hadn't appreciated that the foot crossing at Wareham was actually impeding the operational flexibility of the railway.

Wareham is basically a town of two halves bisected by the railway, which might explain why the locals have strong feelings about the crossing which is a vital artery in the town.

I suspect much of the objections to a bridge of some sort ultimately come down to people (particularly older and less abled folk) being unwilling to climb up and down stairs or use a ramp to ascend and descend when presently they don't have to make any such effort to use an at-grade (flat, street level) crossing.

Although there is a road crossing (via a bridge) not far away, buying believe is quite a lengthy detour if walking. A lot of buggies and prams use the crossing so it's all generations.

What I'm not sure of is why they don't adapt or replace the station footbridge with lifts, although then legal issues would arise as I imagine the current foot crossing is a public right of way, which would get messy and I can't imagine NR want to get into new arrangements of public rights of way crossing through stations.

 

[MTN]

Although there is a road crossing (via a bridge) not far away, buying believe is quite a lengthy detour if walking. A lot of buggies and prams use the crossing so it's all generations.

What I'm not sure of is why they don't adapt or replace the station footbridge with lifts, although then legal issues would arise as I imagine the current foot crossing is a public right of way, which would get messy and I can't imagine NR want to get into new arrangements of public rights of way crossing through stations.

There is a new plan from the County Council regarding the footbridge at Wareham Station.

https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/wareham-level-crossing

In order to provide a safer, permanent crossing facility, highway engineers have been working with Network Rail to design step-free access ramps up to the Wareham railway footbridge.

The new ramps will be less imposing in appearance than the previous designs submitted by Network Rail in 2013 and 2015. They will be shorter in length and have less of an impact on the existing railway footbridge. The existing stairs leading to the footbridge will remain in place.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

2013 - lease extension, for a further 25-years, agreed between Dorset County Council and Network Rail allowing continued access across railway land.

How long did the lease have to run at that point before it was extended?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

What I'm not sure of is why they don't adapt or replace the station footbridge with lifts, although then legal issues would arise as I imagine the current foot crossing is a public right of way, which would get messy and I can't imagine NR want to get into new arrangements of public rights of way crossing through stations.

Could NR get it closed under H&S laws? There is a pavement on the road bridge, it would just need the council to connect up the footpath

 

[Joe Paxton]

How long did the lease have to run at that point before it was extended?

Zero years, i.e. the original 25 year lease signed in 1988 was about to run out.

Network Rail would perhaps have been smart to only agree to a shorter lease with Dorset County Council, e.g. 10 years. But what's done is done.

This lease arrangement is interesting, I'd have assumed that the pedestrian crossing was a right of way but it appears otherwise.

(For the context to these comments read this DCC webpage linked to earlier.)

 

[theironroad]

Could NR get it closed under H&S laws? There is a pavement on the road bridge, it would just need the council to connect up the footpath

I think they were going to, but there was a local outcry and the outcome was Dorset county council paying for a crossing keeper to operate the crossing rather than NR paying, until the permanent solution was found.

 

[341o2]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96311/2017/06/30/advanced

Probably the TC on its way to Swanage

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96312/2017/06/30/advanced

WCRC stock returning to it's home base, loco as well?

Showing as cancelled in both directions, but the 4TC is now the LUL unit and very smart it looks too. When did the changeover take place?

 

[Titfield]

Changeover was Friday. The Wareham operates Tue Wed Thu Sat Sun.

 

[VEP3417]

ill try and make it at some point, only if just to go on a 4tc!

 

[Firesprite]

What's the water table like there, is it low enough down that a subway could be created?

There is a subway under the by-pass turnoff at the roundabout. Which is at a even lower level.

 

[341o2]

ill try and make it at some point, only if just to go on a 4tc!

The last day of service will be Sunday 3 September for this year, hopefully the DMU will be avaliable next year, so the TC might well be only for this year

On a slightly different note,I was disappointed to miss the naming ceremony on June 24 and the Thumper on the Marchwood branch. Any suggestions of sites to watch bar mainline steam specials? Ta

 

[VEP3417]

i was on the thumper down the marchwood like...had to be done!

one of my all time fave tours as you really dont get to go on many trains like that, its mostly steam or diesel hauled cartridges...which is also nice

 

[High Dyke]

Does anyone know the correct mileage from Wareham to Swanage please? Planning to visit next week.

Thank you in advance.

 

[bb21]

TRUST says 15.46 miles.

 

[MichaelWells]

11m 4ch

 

[duffield]

TRUST says 15.46 miles.

TRUST appears to be wrong. In particular, the distance from Worgret Junction to Norden is wrong (it appears the distance may have been input in KM rather than miles).

 

[bb21]

Hmm, you are right. It does look suspect when Norden to Worgret is quoted as circa 10 miles. hock:

 

[Muzer]

Went and visited on Saturday. Great service! However, I do have one question. It appears from the timetables that the only regularly-scheduled diesel services will now be provided by this train.

Does this mean very little use now for their remaining diesel stock? In particular, I don't think I ever travelled on the 108 - can I expect to be able to reliably do this in the future?

 

[The Lad]

I took herself for a trip and very pleasant it was too. I got the impression that it is hoped to be DMU operation next year but also got the impression that they needed a loco each end for collision resistance so not quite sure how that will work. Rumour implied however that some workings later in the year may not require two diesels.

 

[dgl]

I took herself for a trip and very pleasant it was too. I got the impression that it is hoped to be DMU operation next year but also got the impression that they needed a loco each end for collision resistance so not quite sure how that will work. Rumour implied however that some workings later in the year may not require two diesels.

The loco at each end is due to the loco.not being able to change ends due to going into the bay platform at swanage and either there being no facilities or not wanting to risk it at Wareham.

 

[Muzer]

The loco at each end is due to the loco.not being able to change ends due to going into the bay platform at swanage and either there being no facilities or not wanting to risk it at Wareham.

One of the locos does support Southern region multiple working, meaning it could be driven from the 4TC unit (which has a driving cab at each end for just this situation). However, a member of staff told me that the top-and-tail is a Network Rail requirement. I wonder if this is because the 4TC unit isn't equipped with the suitable (eg) TPWS equipment? Has it worked on the national network as a driving vehicle at any time recently?

 

[VEP3417]

ive only ever seen it top and tailed when it was on the LU railtours

 

[Muzer]

ive only ever seen it top and tailed when it was on the LU railtours

I've never seen it work off the LU railtours TBF