Recent content by Chonner

The thing (fire, blockage or other hazard) you are trying to escape from could block your route in one direction, necessitating you to walk to one further away in the other direction.

Work has resumed at Andover the past week or so having been paused for about 4 weeks (perhaps so resources could be moved to Fisherton Tunnel?). The track and ballast next to the platform has been removed.

SWR have managed to put in place a Basingstoke to Andover shuttle. Indeed I am on the the first one ex Basingstoke at 10:07, 2Z21. Informed there will be Rail Replacement buses onwards from Andover.

Was on holiday on the Island this week and managed to take a peak at all the stations but Brading. Some photos below: Shanklin (Monday 19th April) - Still looking like a lot of work to be done on the platform edge. Has the welcome sign been washed/repainted, looks quite clean? Lake (Tuesday...

I was interested in this and did some further digging - this document shows the plans for the track layout west of the relief platforms, with the 3 sidings between the up and down reliefs. Extracted below for ease. You can find the full planning application for the station and lots more...

Rail Engineer has posted a quite detailed update on GWEP - https://www.railengineer.co.uk/2020/02/07/electric-trains-arrive-in-wales-though-not-for-the-first-time/ It over 3000 words so won't copy it here in it's entirety, but there is some new (to me atleast) info about the Severn tunnel...

Reading the article closely, the NSIP Status seems to be for the Central Bedford to Cambridge section, while the current TWAO process is for the Western (Phase 2) Bicester to Bedford section, so should be unrelated.

At the risk of straying off topic, I agree that the absolute level of HGVs is not particularly high (although it should be noted when accounting for entries and exits, that is 30 per hour), and the proposed entry route is directly from the A34 at the South Hinksey village junction then into the...

Removing of spoil from the Flood Alleviation Scheme by rail is being considered by the Environment Agency (EA) after it was initially discounted 2 years ago, but placed back on the table following complaints from local residents about the amount of HGV traffic (approximately 15 mud trucks per...

The Oxford Southern Ring Road overbridge is going to be replaced due to failing bearings, with the £40m cost mostly being footed by Oxford County Council. It is a single span 4 track over bridge, not sure if it is electrification ready (looks pretty high clearance in the photo in the article)...

The new exit has had the hoardings removed from it now. No gateline and not in passenger use yet, but reports are it will be open soon along side the return of the old short stay car park.

1C03 I would guess - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20230/2019/06/25/advanced

About to leave Ely for Perth now with a full rake http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01535/2019/04/13/advanced

Mobike and Ofo seem to be gradually disappearing from Oxford. Both have reduced the areas you can park them in since launch from almost city wide to some very specific zones in student areas and the city centre. And the number of Ofo's actually available on the App is probably around 10 across...

Figures 23 and 24 on page 37 and 38 respectively of Garry Keenor's excellent "Overhead Line Electrification for Railways" primer has some examples, with Figure 23 being a relatively recent one at Didcot installed with the past couple of years. This can be found at http://www.ocs4rail.com/ and...