A View from the Route

On 13 February our guests were Sarah-Jane Crawford and Charles Baker from Network Rail to present A View from the Route. The Anglia area was described in detail together with all the associated Passenger and Freight Operating Companies and it is the most reliable of all Network Rail Regions. It is a somewhat complex area including two international airports and ports and they all wish to expand in future years with London Gateway planning to double its rail capacity in the next two years. The effects of climate change were described regarding its affects on the infrastructure including flooding and embankment damage and NR now has a far better understanding of these problems than before. All the major projects featured including the proposed improvements at Liverpool Street, the phased extension of facilities at Stratford hub interchange,now the busiest station on Anglia and the infrastructure requirements for the building of Sizewell C. Further proposed enhancements include work at Ely and doubling of Haughley Junction to benefit the major cross country intermodal traffic from Felixstowe. There is resignalling in the Cambridge area and also modernisation of the Wherry Lines Swing Bridges. Two new stations are under construction at Cambridge South and Beaulieu Park Chelmsford with major cooperation from the local authorities vital for help with funding. In part two John Day presented a brief pictorial history of the Class 321 and 322 EMUs which will shortly be retired from the network after many years service. The many livery variations featured with some colourful combinations on a twelve car formation. Some may have a future as parcels units but the remainder will be disposed of for scrap. We would like to thank the NR team for their time in coming to our meeting.