Railwatch 078 - December 1998

Midlands

By Alan Bevan

Galton rejoined Railtrack reinstated Galton Junction on 11 October after an incredible three-month delay following a freight train derailment on 14 July. While the main line was restored on 17 July Railtrack considered that the configuration of the junction required new components. to be specially manufactured. Thus for the duration, the Stourbridge line could only be served from Snow Hill. Both Brierley Hill freight and Kidderminster route services from New St had to operate via Bromsgrove. The undue delay has generated considerable disquiet with several authorities and RDS lodging protests with Railtrack not least at the absence of any temporary points installation.

Brownhills A study by consultants MVA has ruled out use of the five-mile Walsall-Brownhills line for Metro and favours use of the available formation for an express busway. It also recommends interim provision of a Sustrans cyclepath and long-term consideration for reinstatenent of rail services. However analysis of the MVA report by RDS has revealed seriously flawed costings and a clear bias towards buses. A figure of £0.385m per kilometre is given for a two-lane carriageway surface whereas SuperBus routes in Leeds quote £1.3m per kilometre. The study did not explore joint use of the rail route for freight but Centro has acknowledges that the position could change if Railtrack includes the Walsall-Brownhills-Lichfield route as part of the strategic freight network when its review is completed in early 1999. Resumption of rail services is strongly supported by Lichfield Council and also English Welsh and Scottish Railways are known to favour re-use of this direct and former strategic route.

Metro for Christmas The current Midland Metro Line 1 service is now expected to start in mid January although there will be a partial service over Christmas. The line was originally due to open in August, deferred to October and then November. Complying with new mobility legislation obligations was one of the reasons for the delay.

New Street renewal Railtrack has awarded a £5m conntract to renew all track, signalling, power supplies, overhead catenary and telecommunications over the north junction and approach tunnels of New Street station. The work is programmed for nine days over Christmas and New Year.

Walsall Reopening 99 The Midlands Branch is hosting the 1999 Rail Reopenings Conference on Saturday 26 June in Walsall at The Crossing at St Paul's. This modern conference facility is only three minutes walk from Walsall station where frequent trains offer a 20 minute journey from Birmingham New Street.

Warwick Parkway During early October RDS and other pro-rail parties gave supportive evidence to a local inquiry into the Warwickshire County Council/Chiltern Railways scheme for a new Parkway station next to the A46/A4177 intersection on the western edge of Warwick and at the foot of Hatton bank.

Information The provision of real time information is being actively progressed by Central Trains who have put Alpha Intelligent Displays on trial at Kidderminster and Great Malvern. For Walsall where passengers are confused by the varied use of three platforms for three different routes, a new VDU information system will be installed by January. On a wider scale, some 69 stations in the West Midlands are to have Help Point telephones installed by March 1999. The two-button Racal phones will offer train information or emergency services.

Churchbridge Following a consultant's study, Cannock Chase Council has endorsed the feasibility of a new station and car park at Churchbridge, immediately north of the A34 Walsall Road bridge and the A5. The station is likely to cost £1.76 million and is predicted to generate 90,000 new train journeys a year. Funding is now being sought from the European Regional Development Fund and nearby developers for possible completion of the new station in 2001.

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