Railwatch 075 - April 1998

Midlands

By Alan Bevan

Shifting waste After strong protests, county council planners are considering using trains to deliver incinerated domestic waste for dumping in a former clay pit alongside the railway north of Kingsbury. The original plan was for 40 loaded lorries a day to deliver waste from the Tyseley incinerator for a period of 25 years. Not surprisingly there were angry protests from villagers at Kingsbury and Warwickshire County Council has deferred a decision.

Coal returns Coal trains have resumed deliveries to Rugby cement works, via the branch line. Imports are being brought in from Newport and Avonmouth docks.

Shakespeare Express Local councils are supporting an initiative from Central Trains to provide more fast trains from Snow Hill to Stratford via Shirley. From June, steam trains will also operate over this line on Sundays providing two return trips.

Warwick Parkway The Government has refused to contribute to a new station but the project may survive.

Fly-dive Railtrack is planning to avoid congestion of the West Coast main line by reopening the flyover and avoiding line at Nuneaton Trent Valley station. A new double track dive-under is also proposed to link the Leicester line.

Expansion Central Trains and the Passenger Transport Authority are supporting the idea of a half-hourly service from Birmingham New Street to Castle Bromwich and Water Orton with new stations at Heartlands, Bromford, Castle Vale and Hams Hall. First indications are that the service would make a profit.

Track back Railtrack has abandoned plans to lift a short section of the Wednesbury line, south of Walsall after protests from RDS and the Passenger Transport Authority. RDS wants a new fast rail service over the three-mile line to provide an interchange with Midland Metro.

Heavy metal Steel trains from Sheerness, Kent, have begun running again to Brierley Hill depot, south of Dudley. Regular steel trains have also started to Round Oak (near Brierley Hill) from Boston, Lincolnshire.

Make it regular The introduction of an irregular train service in May between Walsall and Wolverhampton has alarmed RDS which has called for a half-hourly service, and for it to be extended beyond Walsall to Aldridge. These crucial improvements could be achieved by the use of just one additional diesel unit.

Midland Metro New Italian-built Metro cars are arriving, ready for the opening of the Midland Metro in August. All the trackwork is ready and overhead power lines have been energised.

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