Shrewsbury station clean up

[merlodlliw]

A project has been launched to tidy up walls at Shrewsbury’s railway station after the town’s MP branded them a disgrace.

Daniel Kawczynski hit out at the state of the building last year and was flabbergasted after bosses were quoted a “staggering” £100,000 to clean up a dilapidated wall. The MP said the wall on Platform Seven had paint peeling off, was covered in buddleia and looked totally “neglected”.

But Network Rail says it has now launched a programme to re-render the blast walls at the site. It started on February 15 and is expected to take up to four weeks to complete.

A letter to Mr Kawczynski from Kristian Alexander, community relations manager for NR, says that they have taken on board his concerns. It follows a discussion between the MP and public affairs manager Dylan Bowen last year.


He says: “We did recognise that there is room for improvement at Shrewsbury and as such we sought opportunities to enhance the station environment within our current funding arrangements.

“This project builds on recent improvements that have been delivered at Shrewsbury, with work on a new waiting room and lift on Platform 3 as well as a major electrical re-wire of the station to improve lighting.”

Mr Alexander said the work to re-render the blast walls has been developed in co-operation with the station manager, Arriva Trains Wales.

Last summer volunteers carried out a clean-up of Shrewsbury station after Mr Kawczynski criticised it.

The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham also accused Network Rail of double standards over its maintenance of Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton railway stations.

He claimed that while Wolverhampton was kept clean, weeds were allowed to flourish on the tracks at Shrewsbury.

The Tory MP held a meeting with fellow county MPs and Shropshire Council to see if something could be done to tidy up the station through the use of volunteers.

And the authority said work was carried out to improve the situation through its environmental maintenance department

Source /Shropshire Star

 

[Proud Salopian]

I'm quite shocked this is even happening!!! Thought that wall would always be like it is! Oh well, progress (well, cleaning up a derelict bit of wall) has to come to even Shrewsbury I guess...

Talking of Shrewsbury station - the new signal for the southern end of Platform Three is currently lying, waiting to be installed, on the trackbed of Platforms 1 & 2.
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Have seen the cleaned wall.

All perfect... but wait! This is England! We can't have that... they've left a nice big weed-plant (the sort that has the purple flowers at some point) growing on one of the walls, so that's better. Phwew... for a moment I thought they'd actually done something properly!

 

[Proud Salopian]

Well the renovating of the walls along the track of platform 7 is done. But they've only done the side facing the platform as far as I can tell. And there's still plants growing from the top. Job half done. Typical. :roll:

The signal they're putting up on platform 3 appears to be a semaphore! Hurrah!!

 

[The Planner]

Upper quadrant though isnt it ? I thought Western were lower.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Upper quadrant though isnt it ? I thought Western were lower.

I didn't have a close enough look (only noticed it was up when leaving the station on a train). Great to have an additional semaphore at Shrewsbury though - the rest of the country can "upgrade" to electric lights: we'll stick to what's best in good ol' Salop! Perhaps they can replace the few existing lights at Shrewsbury with semaphores whilst they're at it!

Does anyone know if it is a brand new one or an old one removed from somewhere else?

 

[TDK]

I didn't have a close enough look (only noticed it was up when leaving the station on a train). Great to have an additional semaphore at Shrewsbury though - the rest of the country can "upgrade" to electric lights: we'll stick to what's best in good ol' Salop! Perhaps they can replace the few existing lights at Shrewsbury with semaphores whilst they're at it!

Does anyone know if it is a brand new one or an old one removed from somewhere else?

Get a grip, semaphores are a nightmare for drivers, signal CJ1 on the up Chester line is poorly sighted and the read through risks and signal sections are diverse and Shrewsbury has one of the highest risk ratings for signalling in the Western region, as for upper quadrant, GN4 (Gobowen), The signal exiting the up main, signal exiting P7, AF90, and many others at Shrewsbury are upper quadrant, it's OK for the enthusiasts creaming themselves over semaphore signals but on a practical basis they are useless.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Yeah, so useless they've been in active service for over a hundred years. :roll:

Much of what you've written is about the positioning of signals, not the signal type itself. I can't see how an electric-light signal in exactly the same position would be much better than the current semaphore.

For example, the one they are putting up at the end of Platform 3 - how would it be better for it to be electric-light rather than the semaphore they're putting up? If it was such a problem, being a semaphore, they wouldn't be doing it.

 

[CarterUSM]

Call network rails spad trap hotline, i'm sure they will be happy to take positive action.

 

[AlexS]

I love semaphores - as a heritage S&T installer I spend a lot of time mucking about with them
But even I would say in a modern setting MAS colour lights are far, far better than semaphores.

The LED boards are cracking from a reliability point of view (although I think they're too bright at night), but semaphore visability tends to be a nightmare.

I'll be extremely sad to see em go but they've had their day really now there are alternatives about. Hence why it's down to people like us to put them back in a proper setting where they fit in and don't cause too much of a problem.

 

[TDK]

Call network rails spad trap hotline, i'm sure they will be happy to take positive action.

Already been done and they fitted TPWS
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Yeah, so useless they've been in active service for over a hundred years. :roll:

Much of what you've written is about the positioning of signals, not the signal type itself. I can't see how an electric-light signal in exactly the same position would be much better than the current semaphore.

For example, the one they are putting up at the end of Platform 3 - how would it be better for it to be electric-light rather than the semaphore they're putting up? If it was such a problem, being a semaphore, they wouldn't be doing it.

From a drivers point of view they are useless, for a performance point of view they are useless, for a maintenance point of view they are useless for a cost point of view thay are useless from a spotters point of view thay are great, the reason they are putting up a semaphore is exactly the same reason they reinstalled a semaphore on the approach to Salop from the Crewe line 5 years agon is that colour light signals could cause a read through against the parrafin lit semaphore signals, no other reason. You can roll your eyes at me as much as you like but you are totally wrong on this one. If Shrewsbury was resignalled correctly it would be a huge improvement, from a drivers point of view of course!!!!
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I can't see how an electric-light signal in exactly the same position would be much better than the current semaphore.

Have you ever seen signal CJ1 from a cab? I doubt it so you really do not know what you are talking about as a colour light signal at this location would be a vast improvement!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I love semaphores - as a heritage S&T installer I spend a lot of time mucking about with them
But even I would say in a modern setting MAS colour lights are far, far better than semaphores.

The LED boards are cracking from a reliability point of view (although I think they're too bright at night), but semaphore visability tends to be a nightmare.

I'll be extremely sad to see em go but they've had their day really now there are alternatives about. Hence why it's down to people like us to put them back in a proper setting where they fit in and don't cause too much of a problem.

Totally agree Alex, a sensible response, Semaphores should be banished to heritage railways as should steam engines!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

They're bringing 3 back into regular service, and putting lifts and toilets in on the platform, as well as a general clean-up.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Toilets?! Really?

I know there's a new waiting room installed (but not yet opened) and the lift has been there for quite a while now.

Could really do with the toilets on platform 4 being completely rebuilt.

 

[Greenback]

The gents toilets on platform 4 are poor. mrs G wasn't impressed with the ladies loos either.

 

[Proud Salopian]

The new semaphore signal on platform 3 is up and running...

http://daviddawson.fotopic.net/p65781863.html

SBJ 99

 

[TDK]

The new semaphore signal on platform 3 is up and running...

http://daviddawson.fotopic.net/p65781863.html

SBJ 99

Yes indeed but I think the permissive working into P3 has been knocked on the head, this in turn won't help the ATW attachments that will still need to be done on P4 fouling up everything else..

 

[Proud Salopian]

So, in summary then, what does the new signal allow (passenger train wise) that wasn't able before? Is it just trains leaving platform 3 in the Wellington and Sutton Bridge Junction directions? Can trains come into platform 3 from the Sutton Bridge Junction direction, or not? (And presumably they can still, as was the case before, come in from the Wellington direction...?)

 

[Tomnick]

SBJ99 only allows departures in the Sutton Bridge direction (there's no trailing crossover giving access to the Wellington direction, and I'm not aware of any additional connections being installed). Not sure whether there's a signalled route in from Sutton Bridge now - this photo, from August last year, suggests not (difficult to see, but there's no route leading to P3 from the Up Hereford Home - bottom right on the diagram). Whether the necessary changes have been made in the meantime, I don't know.

Incidentally, SBJ99 existed previously, as a disc in the same location (but between the Down Main and the platform line?), so presumably the locking changes were relatively minimal - the absence of an FPL on 109 points appears to have been one of the problems to overcome.

 

[TDK]

SBJ99 only allows departures in the Sutton Bridge direction (there's no trailing crossover giving access to the Wellington direction, and I'm not aware of any additional connections being installed). Not sure whether there's a signalled route in from Sutton Bridge now - this photo, from August last year, suggests not (difficult to see, but there's no route leading to P3 from the Up Hereford Home - bottom right on the diagram). Whether the necessary changes have been made in the meantime, I don't know.

Incidentally, SBJ99 existed previously, as a disc in the same location (but between the Down Main and the platform line?), so presumably the locking changes were relatively minimal - the absence of an FPL on 109 points appears to have been one of the problems to overcome.

There is a signalled route aparently from the Home signal on the Hereford line the driver will receive a main aspect and the number 3 in the theatre box, initially it was set for calling on as well but this instruction has been dropped, as far as I know there isn't a route indicator associated with SUB99 so this tells me there isn't a signalled route from P3 to the up main towards Wellington. There are however points to route trains this way as there used to be a shunt agreement with the signaller 3 years ago that allowed shunts off the disc to the up main towards Abbey Foregate but due to point damage this instruction was no longer allowed to go ahead, to be honest the signal at the end of P3 SUB99 is a complete waste of time and money as all it seems to allow is for a train to depart to the Hereford line from that position, originally the plan was for departures from P3 to the Hereford and the up main towards Wellington with Permissive Working into P3 for the Aber attachments etc as this has been dropped it is not really a huge improvement.

 

[The Planner]

Gets us out of a couple of holes.

 

[Tomnick]

There are however points to route trains this way as there used to be a shunt agreement with the signaller 3 years ago that allowed shunts off the disc to the up main towards Abbey Foregate

Are there? The 'box diagram doesn't show any connection that'd allow a move towards Abbey Foregate!

The Signalbox forum suggests that the introduction of the calling-on route into P3 has been delayed as it requires a derogation from the standards - if that's true, it'll have more use when that's sorted out?

 

[TDK]

Are there? The 'box diagram doesn't show any connection that'd allow a move towards Abbey Foregate!

The Signalbox forum suggests that the introduction of the calling-on route into P3 has been delayed as it requires a derogation from the standards - if that's true, it'll have more use when that's sorted out?

From platform 3 bang road (up direction on the down line) to AF box behind AF Section or cross over at AF to the down behind the 2 shunt disks then either to sidings, bang road into P7 or on to Wellington. As I said shunt (ECS) moves not with passengers. The box diagrams are old however what box are you referring to? SBJ box shows a line of route from SUB99 bang road to AF box!!!! As I said this was a move that used to occur 3 years ago or more and was directed by the signallers, this was stopped as there was point damaged caused on one occasion!

Re calling on I had a notice informing me this will not take place and only a single yellow aspect can be received from the Hereford line to P3. Maybe they will sort it out but in the meantime the whole thing is a waste of money.

 

[Proud Salopian]

So all this signal does is allow trains to head out towards Aber/Hereford... hmm, not a great improvement, no! So in summary platform 3 can be used by passenger trains coming into the station from Wellington and leaving the station towards Chester and towards Aber/Hereford, and that's all.

 

[Tomnick]

From platform 3 bang road (up direction on the down line) to AF box behind AF Section or cross over at AF to the down behind the 2 shunt disks then either to sidings or bang road into P7. As I said shunt moves not with passengers. The box diagrams are old however what box are you referring to? SBJ box shows a line of route from SUB99 bang road to AF box!!!!

Sorry, misunderstood your post. I was referring to the box diagram at SBJ (photo here, dated August 2009). Presumably any such shunt move was made under verbal authority? The lever lead (photo here, again dated August 2009) reads "Shunt Platform 3 to Up Hereford" only, so the signal couldn't be cleared for moves towards Abbey Foregate (and I'd have expected some form of co-operative working with AF in that case anyway).

 

[Blue Aspect]

For example, the one they are putting up at the end of Platform 3 - how would it be better for it to be electric-light rather than the semaphore they're putting up? If it was such a problem, being a semaphore, they wouldn't be doing it.

The Signal (SBJ 99) was originally proposed as a lower quadrant signal, but due to availability of parts it was installed as an Upper Quadrant. The rationale behind it remaining as a Semaphore signal was down to English Heritage requesting the signal 'be in keeping with the rest of the station'. It does have an LED light fitted, rather than being paraffin lit. It will only apply to trains being signalled out of platform 3 towards Hereford.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Thanks Blue Aspect.

 

[TDK]

Sorry, misunderstood your post. I was referring to the box diagram at SBJ (photo here, dated August 2009). Presumably any such shunt move was made under verbal authority? The lever lead (photo here, again dated August 2009) reads "Shunt Platform 3 to Up Hereford" only, so the signal couldn't be cleared for moves towards Abbey Foregate (and I'd have expected some form of co-operative working with AF in that case anyway).

Yes, authority to pass the removed shunt signal as there was no signalled move, however the track with some inprovement could be easily upgraded and a line of route indicator associated with SJB99 with say "H" "W" and maybe a shunt disk for shunting should have been the option, I believe this was the original plan but I suspect cost was the downfall.

 

[Tomnick]

There'd be a lot more to providing a signalled move towards AF than some p-way improvements! Most significantly, if you're proposing passenger movements off the main arm, you'd need some form of cooperative working with AF - I doubt even a mechanical slot would be sufficient. That's a fair bit of work in itself. Then you need to consider the provision of signalling at AF. The locking alterations would be considerable too.