Because Okehampton and London are famous for being in the north.That one is certainly still outstanding ( after how many years?), but then it’s not in the north, so fails to tick at least one box!
Because Okehampton and London are famous for being in the north.That one is certainly still outstanding ( after how many years?), but then it’s not in the north, so fails to tick at least one box!
There is a Development Consent Order application in for Portishead, but there are some serious issues with the case and if the order isn't made it certainly won't be going ahead in in its present form. The decision on the Transport & Works Act Order in relation to the Northumberland line is still outstanding, although there aren't any serious issues expected, and technically the scheme going ahead isn't dependent on the decision.I thought it was Portishead we hadn’t heard the decision for
I think the point of Newcastle, Ashington, Blyth etc being the next to reopen is that it’s as far away as you can get from Okehampton without being in Scotland, where like in London, new railways can progress with none of the delays we’ve seen, much to the detriment of Portishead.Because Okehampton and London are famous for being in the north.
Again this is fiction I'm afraid.where like in London, new railways can progress with none of the delays we’ve seen
I don’t think even the delays of Crossrail can trump those seen at Portishead, even though it was started by Network SouthEast…Again this is fiction I'm afraid.
Explained badly: the “levelling up” agenda, with all that that entails, seems to be focussed almost entirely on “the north”. There are other areas that also need levelling up - though I fully accept that North Somerset is nowhere near the top of the list!Because Okehampton and London are famous for being in the north.
That depends on when you define Crossrail as starting, given NSE at one point exhibited mockups of proposed trains for Crossrail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Classes_341_and_342I don’t think even the delays of Crossrail can trump those seen at Portishead, even though it was started by Network SouthEast…
A decision is also awaited for a Transport and Works Order for some aspects of the Northumberland line - I think mainly about alterations to level crossings. Other aspects of the scheme are covered by ordinary planning applications and I think all the latter have now been approved.I thought it was Portishead we hadn’t heard the decision for
Another ‘data point’, is that in the planning process a “request for a screening opinion” was made back in 2020, at that time the expected overall construction time was expected to be 30-40 months. Then as another example of possible timescales, the Newsham Station planning application (in Aug 2021) included possible dates for its build phases that run from Mar 2022 to Feb 2024. So there’s at least 2 years.Newspapers have optimistically talked this project up for years, possibly decades. In March 2022 the Newcastle Chronicle said "Passenger services are due to be restored to the railway line from December 2023 or early 2024." See; https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/new...estone-northumberland-line-reopening-23268471
I'd have said timetabled services targeted for May 2024, or even December 2024 if anything major slips. It's those little details found along the way that confound best laid plans. But we're all speculating until all legal work is complete, contracts fully let and detailed construction phasing all confirmed.
It was more a point that many reopening proposals seem to seriously underestimate potential passenger numbers.
Even then some of the demand forecasting has been found hopelessly optimistic. I'm looking at you Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway, Conon Bridge, Bermuda Park... However I'm quite confident that the Northumberland line won't be a repeat as weak as any of those.not so. What is ‘seriously’ underestimated is:
1) the rate at which traffic builds up to the forecast level, ie year 1 and 2 are underestimated, years 3 onwards tend not to be
2) the capital cost
3) the ability of Comms people to put out good news, but carefully avoid putting out bad news.
remember all those headlines about how Airdrie - Bathgate exceeded passenger forecasts? Or Corby? Or East Midlands Parkway? Ever wondered why those headlines didn’t appear?
In the spirit of keeping on topic the veg clearance has been done at Bebside including the section of the A189 where the new footbridge to the station is going, also Morgan Sindall on site at Seaton Delaval but its hard to see what they are doing from the road (Assuming more veg clearance)
Has there been any track renewal work in the Ashington area? I passed over Green Lane level crossing today as a passenger in a car and, in a fleeting glance, the down line (in particular) looked in reasonably decent nick.
Invitation only.Wonder if people can actually travel on these or if they are just staff only?
For a rare species, they seem to be remarkably common whenever you want to build somethingI notice that yesterday was the last day of Northumberland County Council's Hospital Crossing consultation. I wonder if the Secretary of State's office needed this evidence before making a decision on the Application.
I'm informed that some licences necccesary for the handling of Great Crested Newts and some bats have been issued. Apparently some of the mine working remediation has also begun.
They’ve never committed publicly to anything other than getting to Newcastle. For most of the time it’s been under consultation they were pretending it might be yet another new mini-TOC, with its own stock and dedicated depot somewhere on the route.Are there any intentions to run the train to and from Gateshead Metrocentre, as this would eliminate an additional diesel train that terminates in the trainshed at Newcastle central?
Interesting movements which may confirm what some have suspected. It would make sense to work these services with the Carlisle line, at least as far as the Metrocentre or Hexham.Just happened to notice that there is an unadvertised service running as 2G01 Newcastle to Morpeth via Bedlington, returns as 2G02, back again later as 2G03 and finally back as 2G04
Saying in RTT as being on 14/06/22 and 16/06/22 only.
Wonder if people can actually travel on these or if they are just staff only?
What do you think they are confirming?Interesting movements which may confirm what some have suspected.
I think yesterday the first down train formed off an incoming passenger service from Carlisle, and the second up train continued to Hexham. Maybe it’s too soon to draw conclusions…What do you think they are confirming?
I would imagine that's just where there is stock available for these trains. On any other day the stock appears to spend the best part of 5 hours sitting in Newcastle station.I think yesterday the first down train formed off an incoming passenger service from Carlisle, and the second up train continued to Hexham. Maybe it’s too soon to draw conclusions…
Indeed, and by the time this new line opens that unit could run a couple of round trips to Ashington in that time and other redeployments will be necessary.I would imagine that's just where there is stock available for these trains. On any other day the stock appears to spend the best part of 5 hours sitting in Newcastle station.
Details
Approval by the Secretary of State for Transport to authorise Northumberland County Council to acquire compulsory land and rights in land, close level crossings in connection with development to reintroduce passenger rail services between Ashington and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Application details
This application is made under the Transport and Works Act 1992:
- order: Northumberland Line order
- application status: decision issued
- date of application: 26 May 2021
- applicant: Northumberland County Council via Pinsent Masons
The TWAO applied for by Northumberland County Council has been made. It seems to be mainly about level crossings. Is this the last piece of legal powers needed?
Northumberland Line: Transport and Works Act order
Approval to reintroduce passenger rail services to the existing railway line between Ashington in the County of Northumberland and Newcastle.www.gov.uk