CROSSRAIL UPDATE

16/01/2014 by borderroamer

Image of new rolling stock: Crossrail website

When I wrote about Crossrail earlier this week I did not know that the £14.5 billion project was officially at the half-way stage. I had quoted the November statistic that Crossrail’s seven giant tunnelling machines were approaching 25 kilometres out of 42 kilometres of new train tunnels that will link East and West London. Another 14 kilometres of new passenger, platform and service tunnels are being constructed below the new Crossrail stations.

Today the British Prime Minister David Cameron accompanied by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson visited the site of Europe’s largest infrastructure project. Mr Cameron said:-

“Big infrastructure projects like Crossrail are vital for the economy of London and the rest of Britain. They are the foundation-stone on which business can grow, compete and create jobs – a massive 55,000 jobs in the construction phase of this project alone“.

The rolling stock and depot contract is expected to be awarded in Spring 2014. Delivery and testing of trains is scheduled to start in 2017 ready for the opening of the new Crossrail tunnels to passengers in late 2018. It will transform train travel across London and South-East England, delivering faster journey times, boosting London’s rail capacity by 10% and bringing an additional 1.5 million people to within 45 minutes travel of the capital’s major business centres. Over 200 million passengers will travel on Crossrail each year.

The Prime Minister and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Hammond went 25 metres below ground to view progress at Crossrail’s Tottenham Court Road site. They were joined by apprentices and commuters who will benefit from the new east / west railway, along with Crossrail Chairman Terry Morgan CBE, Crossrail Chief Executive Andrew Wolstenholme OBE and Transport Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy CBE.

Mr Cameron said Crossrail is one of the government’s priority projects as set out in the National Infrastructure Plan.

David Cameron visits Crossrail Photo: gov.uk website

Crossrail: key facts

Crossrail will add 10% capacity to London’s rail network and its services are due to start in 2018. It will serve 38 stations, connecting Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via central London. The economic benefits from Crossrail are spread across the country. It is estimated that Crossrail will generate at least 75,000 business opportunities and support the equivalent of 55,000 full time jobs around the UK. 3 out of 5 businesses currently winning work on the project are based outside London and over half (58%) are small and medium sized enterprises. In addition to Crossrail, 61,000 jobs are created around the country annually through TfL’s investment programme. When Crossrail opens it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times across the city.

DONS HIT BY GULLS

15/01/2014 by borderroamer

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

AFC WIMBLEDON 0 TORQUAY UNITED 2

This was my first visit of the 2013/14 League 2 season to Kingsmeadow. The day was sunny but cold and the pitch seemed in good condition as the two teams came out from the dressing rooms.

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

It looked like our mascot Haydon might get a call-up to the first team in the absence of Harry Pell who called in sick with a stomach bug. Certainly the Dons could have done with his enthusiasm in the first half, when there were times that the defence seemed asleep.

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

Going into the game the Dons were in 14th place in the table while Torquay United were one from bottom. The visitors also had a new manager Chris Hargreaves. The West Country club was once managed by Irishman Frank O’Farrell in the 1960s.

AFC Wimbledon mascot Haydon the Womble Photo: © Michael Fisher

The visitors took the lead after 29 minutes through defender Krystian Pearce and doubled their advantage before the break when on-loan striker Jayden Stockley scored two minutes before the break. That last 15 minutes of the first half was some of the worst football I have ever seen from AFC Wimbledon from my vantage point in the Paul Strank stand.

Nongshim Stand looking well Photo: © Michael Fisher

Dons’ manager Neal Ardley was forced to ring the changes during the break and made a double substitution. He introduced wingers Chris Arthur and Kevin Sainte-Luce in place of Alan Bennett and Luke Moore. That meant a switch back to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation from the 3-5-2 preferred by the boss in recent times.

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

Playing towards the Nongshim Stand, Sainte-Luce provided just what the fans behind that goal were looking for when he powered down the right and was sent sprawling by Kevin Nicholson, who received a booking for the challenge. Callum Kennedy sent over a cross that Torquay keeper Michael Poke parried before a Dons’ player could get a touch. Wimbledon finally started to exert a spell of pressure just before the hour, but the visitors’ defence held firm.

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

The attendance was good – 4,339. Of those, 402 made the trip from Torquay and they were the ones who went away happy that their side had secured three valuable points. For Neil Ardley, it’s back to the drawing board. He certainly wasn’t happy with his side’s performance.

Will Antwi looks for the ball: AFC Wimbledon v Torquay Photo: © Michael Fisher

BUS AND CROSSRAIL

14/01/2014 by borderroamer

Routemaster bus RM1204 at Westbourne Park garage Photo: © Michael Fisher

I have written before about Routemaster buses and the modern version introduced by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and built by Wrightbus in Ballymena. I mentioned that the original buses were still being used on the heritage route No.9. Tower Transit are the operators since June 2013 and the buses run from Kensington High Street to Trafalgar Square.

Routemaster bus RM1204 at Westbourne Park garage Photo: © Michael Fisher

I was therefore delighted to spot RM 1204 all on its own in a corner at Westbourne Park garage (X) in West London, as I strolled along the towpath alongside the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, a walk I described yesterday. I should explain that I did not enter the garage at any stage but remained on the public footpath in order to take these photographs.

Routemaster bus RM1204 at Westbourne Park garage Photo: © Michael Fisher

Buses on the route operate every twenty minutes and the journey from start to finish takes up to half an hour. Kensington High Street (Holland Road) – High Street Kensington Station – Royal Albert Hall – Knightsbridge Station – Hyde Park Corner Station – Green Park Station – Pall Mall – Trafalgar Square. On 13th November 2010, route 9H was extended from the Royal Albert Hall to Kensington High Street and curtailed to Trafalgar Square (instead of running from Aldwych). The extension was at the request of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which wanted to boost the number of visitors to the High Street (source: Wikipedia).

Towpath at the Paddington Arm, Grand Union Canal Photo: © Michael Fisher

As I looked into the garage from the towpath I could see that major engineering works are in progress. It seems that the multi-million pounds Crossrail project has for the past four years taken up a large proportion of the Westbourne Park yard for its huge tunnel-boring machines, Phyllis and Ada. This is the exit where the spoil is taken away by rail for disposal elsewhere. Crossrail’s seven giant tunnelling machines are (November 2013)approaching 25 kilometres out of 42 kilometres of new train tunnels that will link east and west London. Another 14 kilometres of new passenger, platform and service tunnels are being constructed below the new Crossrail stations.

Image of new rolling stock: Crossrail website

Boat moored near Little Venice Photo: © Michael Fisher

THE PADDINGTON ARM

13/01/2014 by borderroamer

Paddington Arm at Blomfield Road Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal accessed at Great Western Road near Westbourne Park and heading towards Little Venice is a nice area for a walk in West London.

Bridge at Little Venice Photo: © Michael Fisher

On reaching Little Venice at Westbourne Terrace Road there is a bridge over the canal with the Paddington Borough crest on both sides.

Crest on bridge near Little Venice close to Warwick Avenue Photo: © Michael Fisher

Not far from the bridge at Clifton Villas you will find Clifton Nurseries in the midst of a residential area. It has a nice café in the conservatory.

Clifton Nurseries Photo: © Michael Fisher

ACROSS THE IRISH SEA

09/01/2014 by borderroamer

Howard Waldron (left) & Dave Ireland at York Racecourse June 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher

I am taking a trip back in time across the Irish Sea. My first journey for 2014 involves a flight to Birmingham this afternoon (Thursday). A good friend died after Christmas and his funeral is tomorrow (Friday) at Robin Hood Crematorium. My obituary for Howard Waldron (RIP) will hopefully appear after I have spoken at the service.

With Marie & Howard Waldron & Dave Ireland on the walls at York, where we parted for the last time in June 2013 Photo: © Evelyn Fisher

Howard and his (then girlfriend) Marie were among the friends I got to know in Birmingham when I came to work there for BBC Radio Birmingham (now WM) in 1975. Elsewhere on these pages you will find my story about the Boomtown Rats, one of the many Irish groups I got to meet. The Dubliners and Horslips are among the others I interviewed at Pebble Mill, one of the finest broadcasting centres in England, sadly now demolished.

With Howard Waldron at York Racecourse, June 2013

My journey on Friday evening will bring me back to London, where I grew up (1954-67) and where my younger daughter is now based. On Saturday I will get the first chance this season to see my football club AFC Wimbledon in action. They take on Torquay at Kingsmeadow in League 2. At the moment the Dons are in mid-table and hopefully after a good 3-0 win last weekend they can build on that form as the last thing we need is another end-of-season relegation scenario.

Sacred Heart Church, Wimbledon Photo: © Michael Fisher

As it happens, this is also a very important weekend for the Sacred Heart parish in Wimbledon where I used to live and go to school. After running the parish for over 100 years since they founded it in 1887, the Jesuits are handing over the administration to the Archdiocese of Southwark at a special Mass on Friday evening. The new Parish Priest is Monsignor Nick Hudson, a former Rector of the English College in Rome, who was ordained a priest in Wimbledon. There will still be a Jesuit presence in the parish, however, both at the schools (Donhead and Wimbledon College), at Jesuit Missions in Edge Hill and at a nearby Jesuit residence.

One of the reasons the Jesuits are handing over what was regarded as their most prestigious parish in England and Wales is the lack of voacations. They do not have the manpower to continue serving the normal parish needs. It is therefore interesting that my current parish of St Brigid’s in South Belfast will shortly be welcoming a Jesuit who is at his Tertiary stage, a period of reflection and parish experience that comes after ordination and before he makes his final vows.

Fr Nick Austin is a college professor lecturing in moral theology in London. He is a native of Coventry, an area I explored soon after I moved to Birmingham in 1975, visiting the Anglican Cathedral. It was bombed during the second world war but a new structure was designed for the 20thC and was consecrated in 1962. By coincidence I met at a friend’s house in Wimbledon on another occasion a relative of the late Keith New (died February 2012), who designed some of the stained glass windows for St Michael’s Cathedral. Coventry was also a city where Howard Waldron used to work.

In Bath with Dave Allen, Marie & Howard Waldron March 2013 Photo: © Evelyn Fisher

The wheel will come full circle when I travel to Dublin next week, on my return from England.

BANGOR

07/01/2014 by borderroamer

Beach at Seapark seen from train Photo: © Michael Fisher

With my car being serviced in preparation for an MOT I had no excuse for not walking today. So I took the train out to Bangor and walked along the North Down Coastal Path, part of which I had been on with friends on New Year’s Day when we went to Holywood. This time I walked nine miles all the way back to the point where we began last Wednesday, beside the train station at Holywood. It was a very pleasant dander with great views across Belfast Lough towards Whitehead, Kilroot and Carrickfergus. I took over three hours to complete my journey. The only bit of rain came when I reached Seapark, close to Holywood so I went looking for a place on the High Street to get some lunch and ended up in Coast. The last two miles was the worst because I was walking into a strong wind.

Beach at Seapark seen from train Photo: © Michael Fisher

View from train of coastal path near Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher

LAGAN STREAM

05/01/2014 by borderroamer

McConnell Weir, River Lagan, Belfast Photo: © Michael Fisher

Having gone into the city centre to tax my car just after New Year’s Day, I decided I would do some walking. I was in the regenerated Gasworks site so I went over towards the Halifax building, under the railway bridge taking trains in and out of the not-so-Central Station, and joined the path alongside the River Lagan, where there is also a cycle lane. The path goes past the remains of the McConnell Weir as far as the Ormeau Bridge, where it is necessary to cross the main road and continue along the footpath beside the embankment, which begins at the Chinese Welfare Association centre.

Ormeau Bridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

The route alongside the river goes past the King’s Bridge, where the Lyric Theatre is situated. There is an underpass for cyclists which can also be used by pedestrians at Governor’s Bridge and the path continues up to Lockview Road and the Cutter’s Wharf pub. The road leads up to the roundabout at Stranmillis College where the first turn on the left is Lockview Road. The entrance to the Lagan Valley Regional Park and the start of the towpath walk alongside the river is just past the car park near the entrance to Belfast Boat Club. The Lagan Canal Trust has ambitious plans for the regeneration of the Lagan from Lough Neagh all the way to Belfast.

River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Lagan Canal offers an opportunity to walk along a forgotten history that helped shape Ulster, encounter wildlife, enjoy peace and tranquillity, and experience this nationally important heritage site. Originally stretching for 27 miles from Lough Neagh to Belfast the Lagan Canal passed through towns and villages transporting goods and materials.

River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher

FLAGGY SHORE

04/01/2014 by borderroamer

A friend who introduced me a year ago to the beautiful Flaggy Shore walk near the Burren in County Clare texted this morning to say that the walk had been ‘wiped out’ owing to storm damage in the last 48 hours. They had enjoyed a walk there just after Christmas but found the path along the shoreline from which you can look across to Galway Bay had been covered in stones and pebbles and seaweed, washed up by the high waves.

The facebook page for the Flaggy Shore reported yesterday that they had “just heard from the Fahy’s of Linnalla Ice Cream fame that the road near the Marine Research Station on the Flaggy Shore has been destroyed by wave action. The combination of a spring tide and storm surge together with high waves caused extensive damage. Massive boulders used to protect some land between Lough Muree and the Martello Tower have been dislodged and fields flooded with seawater. County Council workers are trying to deal with the damage as best they can. More harsh weather is expected“.

Flaggy Shore January 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher

This time last year it was a very different scene and the weather was relatively mild. However the storm in recent days has badly affected parts of County Clare, especially Lahinch where major damage was done to the promenade area.

Seamus Heaney portrait by Colin Davidson 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher

The stretch of shoreline at the Flaggy Shore, Finvarra near New Quay was mentioned by the late Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney in his poem Postscript (1996). He refers to a flock of swans at “a slate-grey lake” at Lough Murree. Hopefully the walk will eventually be restored as it is one of the nicest I have ever done. Thankfully it appears that little damage has been done to any property in this sparsely populated area.

Swans at Lough Murree beside the Flaggy Shore, January 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher

Meanwhile as the storm rages on, it is reported that the popular Moville shore path alongside Lough Foyle leading towards Greencastle County Donegal has also suffered damage.

HOLYWOOD

03/01/2014 by borderroamer

Our walk on New Year’s Day at the start of the North Down Coastal Path began at Holywood and went past Seapark. The weather was reasonable for a brisk walk and the rain held off. Conditions along the path were very different today (Friday) because of the heavy rain and winds, which caused flooding at Holywood Esplanade.

Houses at Clanbrassil Terrace, Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher

The path goes near a block of four large houses at Clanbrassil Terrace. These are listed buildings B2 according to the schedule and appear to be in good condition.

Stream flowing into the sea along the coastal path Photo: © Michael Fisher

It was a pleasant area for a walk and at some stage I hope to return to explore more of the shoreline along the way to Bangor. I noticed several birds including seagulls who took delight in searching among the rocks for mussels or other shellfish, picking them up in their beaks then taking off and dropping the shells from a height so that they would smash on the rocks or the concrete path, and then going back to try to recover their spoils.

Coastal Path near RNI Yacht Club Photo: © Michael Fisher

TRAINS PLANES & BOATS

02/01/2014 by borderroamer

Coastal Path at Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher

On New Year’s Day I began a walk on the North Down Coastal Path. Car parking is available close to the entrance to the railway station and opposite the Dirty Duck pub, where a good selection of ale is available at the end of any walk. The path starts at the Esplanade at Holywood and when I set out with six others, the rain had eased off but it was very misty.

NIR train on the Bangor route at Holywood embankment Photo: © Michael Fisher

The trains were running normally on a holiday timetable. But for the aircraft coming in to land at George Best Belfast City Airport, the conditions were quite murky. The low cloud base must have made things quite difficult for the pilots of the planes from flybe and Aer Lingus, who moved their services from Belfast International Airport fourteen months ago.

Wilson Brest cargo ship heading for Belfast port Photo: © Michael Fisher

Walking along the shore it was possible to watch some of the ships heading in and out of Belfast Harbour. The cargo ship Wilson Brest emerged from the mist heading towards the port. I could not see the name on the vessel, but looking at my photograph afterwards I discovered the name of the shipping company on the side and then found out this particular ship was due to arrive at 5pm, which coincided with the time of our walk.

Follow the linear path from Holywood along the outer edge of Belfast Lough towards Seapark, a recreational area with a play park. Continue past the park towards the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra. A major programme is underway to repair the roof of the building and there is scaffolding all around it.

Stena Superfast VII heading for Cairnryan Photo: © Michael Fisher

The first vessel spotted at the start of the walk was the Stena Superfast VII ferry, heading from Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland at 3:30pm. In the early days of the HSS fast ferry used by Stena, the wash created by it was so strong on both sides of the Lough that its speed had to be restricted until it entered the open sea. Later on when it was dark we saw its sister ship Stena Superfast VIII arriving from Cairnryan (at 5:45pm).

Stena Superfast VIII arriving from Cairnryan Photo: © Michael Fisher

Michael Fisher's News

Category Archives: TRAVEL

CROSSRAIL UPDATE

Crossrail: key facts

DONS HIT BY GULLS

BUS AND CROSSRAIL

THE PADDINGTON ARM

ACROSS THE IRISH SEA

BANGOR

LAGAN STREAM

FLAGGY SHORE

HOLYWOOD

TRAINS PLANES & BOATS

Crossrail: key facts

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