Rail engineering work in the Dringhouses area

Network Rail have announced plans for engineering work to be carried out on the railway as it passes through Dringhouses on 13 and 20 December, and 25 December to 27 December.

The work, which will take place during the day and night, is to survey and adjust the existing overhead line equipment, as part of the electrification of the line from York to Church Fenton.

Members of the community are invited to attend an online information session from 18:30 to 19:30 on Thursday 10 December. Members of the project team will be there to explain the work in more detail and answer any questions. To join the meeting on Thursday, please click HERE

The work will require the use hand tools and track access platforms. Steps will be taken to avoid noise, but this may still produce a level of noise disturbance for those who live close to the railway. Much of this work can only be carried out when the line is closed over the Christmas period, hence the timing.

Network Rail have produced a ‘Work Tracker’ newsletter, which explains more about the work being done along the line. It can be downloaded HERE

Network Rail announce line-side clearance in Dringhouses

Network Rail has announced in a letter to residents that it plans to undertake line-side clearance of vegetation in the Dringhouses area in preparation for the upgrading of the Transpennine railway. It has organised a drop-in session for residents on Tuesday 29 November at St Edward the Confessor Church Hall from 4pm to 7pm.

Representatives from Network Rail and contractor QTS will be present to answer questions. There will also be a presentation at 5pm and 6pm.

line-side-clearance

To enable electrification of the railway, Network Rail will be removing vegetation from 6.5 meters either side of the tracks (from big trees to small bushes) to allow safe clearance for the gantries and wires.

Network Rail will also be renewing fencing along the route. Dependant on the location they will be using either stock proof fencing or green palisade fencing. Before work starts, an ecological survey will be carried out. Any protected species or nesting birds are identified and appropriate methods of working are put into place.

Passengers complain about “left luggage” mystery tour at York station while East Coast records £6 million profit

Passengers are complaining that the left luggage “office” at York station means a long walk for passengers.

The route from the station involves walking over the Queens Street Bridge to a site near the Railway Institute.

Left luggage office at York Station

Left luggage office at York Station

It will be a gloomy and slippery route during winter weather.

It has been branded as too demanding for elderly passengers with heavy luggage.

The York ”left luggage” facility is advertised on railway web sites but is poorly signed in the station and on the access route.

“Left luggage” used to be available near platform 1 but this facility has now disappeared.

Left luggage lockers also were taken away in the wake of security concerns.

A more direct route to the new cabin would be possible across the long stay car park but the perimeter is secured.

East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell has been asked to intervene to ensure that the service – which is important for a City with a large tourism industry – is improved

Meanwhile Skeldergate based East Coast trains have reported increased turnover for last year.

Annual results released by DOR on Tuesday show it paid the government £208m in premium and dividend payments in the year to March 31.

The operator generated a turnover of £694m during the period, up from £666m the year before, although an increase in operating expenditure reduced profits. Pre-tax profit dipped to £5.9m from £7m previously.

A process to re-privatise the line will begin later this month. A winning bidder is expected to be announced in October 2014 before the franchise changes ownership in February 2015.

The contact is expected to be fiercely contested by a number of domestic and foreign rail companies. Eurostar announced last week it planned to bid for the contract as part of a joint venture with fellow French rail group Keolis.