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PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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286 of 1081
Thu 19th Dec 2013 1:09pm
Hi all ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Greenman
Cumbria |
287 of 1081
Thu 19th Dec 2013 5:07pm
Surely the vast sums proposed for HS2 would be far better spent on upgrading the existing rail services nationwide. The benefits that the HS2 supporters rave about are not by any means clear cut. Indeed, the scheme could have the opposite effect - channeling business from the North down to London, which according to Vince Cable is already bleeding the rest of the country dry.
Up here in Barrow-in-Furness we would welcome any investment. Over the last two weekends, I travelled by train to Manchester. Now, I realise that there will be increased passenger numbers at this time of the year but, having originated at Barrow, by three stops down the line the train was full to bursting with more people standing than had seats. According to a pair of off-duty railway personnel who were standing near and discussing it, this situation is now pretty much the norm now because the company are running out of rolling stock and are therefore having to shorten the trains. It seems to me that in this day and age, no overcrowding at all should be tolerated - the railways are the only form of public transport on which the passengers are not forbidden from standing for the majority, or even the entirety of their journey.
Sorry, not Coventry related but our problems are not unique and can only become more widespread without urgent action |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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288 of 1081
Thu 19th Dec 2013 5:35pm
Hi Greenman ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Midland Red
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289 of 1081
Thu 19th Dec 2013 8:01pm
Regarding HS2 and other "high-speed" rail projects and aims, what the politicians seem to forget is, we are a small,,crowded island - it is most difficult to replicate the TGV or ICE-train lines of France and Germany as they cover hundreds of miles through open countryside, and have the opportunity to build and, more importantly, operate high-speed railway lines, without the "hindrance" of towns and cities to traverse every few miles.
HS1 has a bit of a chance between St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel as it doesn't pass through any built-up areas of significance (and it was largely built alongside an existing straight track), but in other directions from the capital, you don't get much of a chance.
Brunel's line does its best, and the East Coast Mainline is fairly open, whilst they have upgraded the West Coast Mainline as much as possible on its existing track - but after all, Birmingham is only just over 100 miles from the edge of London, so how much time saving can you make on a journey that short? It doesn't compare with, say, Paris to Lyon, where the driver can literally put a brick on the accelerator pedal all the way!
And sadly, of course, Coventry is just a "backwater" as far as the railways are concerned, a blot on the "branch" from teh WCML at Rugby to Birmingham, and just a small junction on the cross-country runs between the Chiltern Line and the WCML/Midland Lines.
I see that plans are going ahead for a new station at Kenilworth, but I wonder if the Ricoh station will ever come to fruition? |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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290 of 1081
Sat 21st Dec 2013 2:29pm
Hi Midland Red, Hi all ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Catshed
Old Chapelfields |
291 of 1081
Sun 29th Dec 2013 6:49pm
Finally after a year I found my old photo's of Three Spires Junction, I think the box was about to be decommissioned, these were taken about 1989 and I was testing an old Rolliflex twin lens reflex camera I'd just re-built, so sorry for the quality.
The box with wire grilles over the windows.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Triumph - 'The Best Motorcycle in the World'.
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Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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292 of 1081
Sun 29th Dec 2013 6:56pm
Hi, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Midland Red
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293 of 1081
Thu 9th Jan 2014 2:34pm
History of the line, courtesy Warwickshire Railways |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
walrus
cheshire |
294 of 1081
Sat 11th Jan 2014 8:19pm
I was watching an episode of Michael Portillo's "Great British Rail Journeys" this morning. A close up of his 1838 Bradshaw's Guide showed a mention of Coventry and also Brandon Station, then the only halt between Coventry and Rugby. Later to be renamed Brandon and Wolston and closed 1960. |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
heritage
Bedworth |
295 of 1081
Sun 12th Jan 2014 8:20am
Next Wednesday's 'Great British Railway Journeys' programme will feature shoe making in Northampton, Rugby School, Coventry Transport Museum and a final section filmed in Nuneaton about George Eliot.
Lot of filming for a 30 min. programme.
The image below was taken in the George Eliot collection in Nuneaton Library.
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Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Ron
Back home in Coventry |
296 of 1081
Wed 15th Jan 2014 8:18pm
It was 49 years ago this very week that the Nuneaton - Coventry - Leamington local railway service was withdrawn, the last day of operation being Saturday 17th January 1965. This of course resulted in the closure of all the intermediate stations which included Coundon Road.
The Coundon Road signal box lasted significantly longer, remaining in use until May 2009. It operated as a fringe box to Coventry Power Signal Box, controlling signals on the Nuneaton branch as well as operating the barriers of the level crossing. Late May 2009 saw all signalling in the Coventry area being transferred to the Coventry 'panel' of the West Midlands Signalling Centre, situated at Saltley, Birmingham.
Coundon Road and Hawkesbury Lane signal boxes ceased to operate as such after the running of the last trains on 22nd May 2009. Initially it was thought that both boxes would be preserved, one rumoured to be going the National Railway Museum at York, and one to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway in South Wales. Unfortunately neither of these plans have materialised and somewhat belatedly (in this day and age) Coundon Road signal box is to be demolished on Saturday 25th January.
This ultra long lens photograph of the Coundon Road station environs was taken today off the Radford Road. Clearly the signal box is to the right, immediately to its right is the Carbodies/London Taxis plant. The large white building behind the train is the Alvis Retail Park. The long lens accentuates the extent of the rise from the Allesley Old Road up towards Hearsall Common.
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Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
Midland Red
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297 of 1081
Wed 15th Jan 2014 8:32pm
Thanks, Ron, for the detailed information and excellent photograph ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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298 of 1081
Wed 15th Jan 2014 8:38pm
Hi Ron, ![]() ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
NeilsYard
Coventry |
299 of 1081
Wed 15th Jan 2014 11:12pm
Are they getting rid of it Cliff? ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry | |
PhiliPamInCoventry
Holbrooks Thread starter
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300 of 1081
Thu 16th Jan 2014 10:10am
Hi all ![]() |
Public Transport and Travel - Railways around Coventry |
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