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NLL News- August 2006

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Sprinter

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The main points from this month:

Franchise news:
--The shortlist of bidders to take over operation of the Silverlink Metro routes from November, 2007 has now been announced by Transport for London (TfL). They are Govia (operators of Southern), MTR Laing (operators of Chiltern), NedRailways (main train operator in the Netherlands, also operators of Merseyrail) and the current incumbents, National Express Group. Three of them have already asked to meet us to discuss what we want to see under the new regime; we recently had a useful session with Govia and look forward to meeting the others.

Fleet news:
--150127 is the first of the NLL Sprinters to be refreshed. Not little has changed but has had all its seat covers replaced with new upholstery. Also externally a fresh coat of paint in current SL livery. The other 6 will hopefully follow suit.
--SL has been cleared to use c2c's East Ham depot. The benefit of this is that the units will now have access to a train washer (something Willesden is lacking) which will hopefully stop the trains getting into a grubby state. To assist this each of the Sprinters is especially rostered on the diagram which starts/ends it's day at Barking so that it can run through the washer.

Timetable news:
--The extra TfL-funded trains are picking up traffic steadily, but one thing TfL need to look at as a matter of urgency is improving Sunday services. The GOBLIN starts up too late and finishes too early, and the main NLL's half-hourly service is quite inadequate for the numbers of passengers cramming uncomfortably onto each train - especially in summer.

Station news:
--New dot matrix screens (similar to those already in use at Barking) are springing at many stations along the main NLL, replacing the TV type screens, which unfortanately have been packing up far too often as seen at Blackhorse Road and Queens Road which have been out of action for weeks.
--Talking of Queens Road, it's "pod" waiting shelter on the westbound platform is area is now open, and offers a much-improved waiting environment for passengers with glazed walls, a door and heating. To deter late-night ne'er-do-wells, it locks automatically in mid-evening and unlocks automatically early next morning (don't worry - anyone still inside when it locks can still get out!). TfL have chosen WQR to see how such a building fares at such a location, so let's hope it remains in a decent state. A cycle shelter has also appeared at the entrance (although I have yet to see a bike parked in it yet!!!).
--A few weeks ago, local Friends of the Earth activists blitzed the accumulation of cans, bottles etc at South Tottenham. Nice work, guys - but why isn't the relevant bit of the railway doing this sort of thing, instead of letting it build up until volunteers take action?

Any comments welcome, next meeting will be on September 19th at 1915, Barking Town Hall. Anyone welcome.
 
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Dennis

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8 Aug 2005
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Trowbridge
Sprinter said:
--A few weeks ago, local Friends of the Earth activists blitzed the accumulation of cans, bottles etc at South Tottenham. Nice work, guys - but why isn't the relevant bit of the railway doing this sort of thing, instead of letting it build up until volunteers take action?

Bet they took them down the local recycling centre :toothy5:
 
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