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Apology:
BGOLUG
is run with very limited volunteer resources. Over the last
six months a number of varied, different occurrences have
almost stifled those limited resources. BGOLUG has managed
to keep ticking over, we have kept in contact with Transport
for London (TfL) Rail and London Overground Rail Operations
Limited (LOROL) and attended relevant meetings with them
as well as attending meetings with some boroughs and keeping
in contact with relevant Industry figures, GLA members and
MPs.
February, 2010 News Update
Engineering
Works
The late running re-signalling between Wanstead Park and
Upper Holloway was finally commissioned on 14th November
2009, at least six months late. We believe Network Rail
has made economies in the works and there have been continuing
problems with the new equipment, often causing delays to
trains. The embankment between St. Anne's Road and Harringay
Green Lanes is again giving trouble, causing a 20 mph speed
restriction to be re-imposed and several bridge renewals
planned for late 2009 have been postponed. TfL has publicly
warned that Sunday closures will continue during 2010. We
know that more bridge works and junction renewals are planned
for this year.
New
February Timetable
In spite of a written undertaking from TfL's Peter Field
that the 15-minute frequency service would start in September
2009, our hard pressed passengers know only too well that
his commitment was not delivered. Network Rail's re-signalling
ran late and even when commissioned the company ruled that
there was still insufficient capacity to run freight trains
diverted from the North London Line and a 15-minute frequency
passenger service. BGOLUG has been pressing for the last
three years for a peak-period only 15-minute frequency service.
When the December 2009-May 2010 Great Britain Timetable
appeared we were thrilled to see the peak 15-minute service
in the timetable due to commence on 22nd February. Now TfL's
website and timetable books show that the 20-minute peak
frequency is to continue but for a shorter period in each
peak. It is assumed that Network Rail overruled the 15-minute
service at a late stage over fears of lack of capacity with
diverted freight trains. The North London Line engineering
work has already slipped two months with the Stratford-Gospel
Oak closure deferred from Christmas to 20th February. Freight
trains will start being diverted in earnest from 20th February
until at least June. The long awaited 15-minute service
may now not start until December!
New
Trains
Bombardier's Derby Works is now concentrating on delivering
the 20x4-car 3rd rail only Electrostars for the East London
Line which opens in May. When these have been delivered,
attention will then focus on completing the 24x3-car dual
voltage sets for the Stratford-Clapham/Richmond and Watford
Local services. Only then will work start on the 8x2-car
Turbostars for our service. We do not expect any of these
trains to appear in public use until the latter half of
the year.
Electrification
The impasse between the Department for Transport (DfT) Rail
and TfL Rail over the electrification of our line continues.
The government has announced electrification of the Great
Western Main Line and branches, Liverpool-Manchester and
associated infill schemes but our line is ignored in spite
of Network Rail and the freight operators saying it is the
infill scheme that should have priority. This situation
is even more farcical since it has emerged that as part
of the Thameslink project, the section between Upper Holloway
(Junction Road Junction) and Harringay (Harringay Park Junction)
is to be electrified to allow empty Thameslink trains to
run to and from Hornsey depot. DfT Rail offered TfL Rail
£25m towards electrification, yet refused to contribute
half the £400,000 cost of a study (GRIP 3) to quantify the
full cost. DfT Rail has halted the whole process over the
small matter of £200,000!
Next
User Group Meeting,
To be arranged
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