The future of the UK's Antarctic science fleet.

This year, the government announced a new Antarctic research vessel to replace the RRS James Clark Ross. The new ship will be bigger than the vessel it replaces, enabling a continuing British presence in the Antarctic for many years to come.
As well as the British Antarctic Survey's ships, the Royal Navy has an ice patrol vessel, HMS Protector, which replaced the damaged HMS Endurance (see photo). Protector is viewed as only a temporary replacement, and does not have any permanent hangar facilities for a helicopter, but I wonder if a sister to the BAS's new ship could be built alongside it for the Royal Navy? Ideally in a British shipyard.

Bristol channel meanderings.

Severn link http://www.severnlink.com/ are proposing a fast ferry from Swansea in Wales, to Ilfracombe in Devon. This will considerably shorten the journey between Wales and Devon, which currently requires a long trip via Bristol. Ilfracombe is currently the terminus for the boat to Lundy island, and Swansea was formerly the terminus of Swansea-Cork ferries, so the infrastructure is there to support a ferry service. The Swansea-Ilfracombe route was formerly run by the steamers of P&A Campbell's White Funnel fleet, which included the motor vessel Balmoral. The Balmoral itself is currently laid up in Bristol, awaiting funding to return her to service.  http://www.heritagesteamers.co.uk/balmoral/
Bristol is also home to a couple of railway campaigning groups. The Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways http://fosbr.org.uk/ are supporters of a frequent suburban train service and the reopening of suburban stations. One such station, Portishead, has its own revival group, the Portishead railway group. http://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/  Portishead makes a good case for reopening. Much of the line has already been reopened as a freight route to Portbury docks. Only a small extension would need to be built to the town, and crucially the trackbed has not been built on. A railway line would alleviate local road congestion and improve access to the town, as well as benefitting the environment.

Action required to cut NOX emissions.

The EU says that levels of nitrogen dioxide, mainly from diesel engines, are "excessive" in many British cities and is going to take action against the UK, which may result in fines for Britain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26257703 NO2 levels are particularly high around London. Evidently something has to be done to cut air pollution in greater London. Congestion charging, railway improvements such as Crossrail and the mayor's initiatives to get more people cycling are already encouraging people out of their cars and onto more sustainable modes of transport, but new technology may soon reduce the number of polluting diesel engines in the city even further. Firstly, there are several railway electrification schemes about to start, in progress or proposed. These will include the "electric spine" electrification of the midland main line, the electrification of the great western main line, and the proposed electrification of the Gospel Oak-Barking suburban line. All these projects will eliminate a number of diesel trains from the capital. On the roads, the new bus for London (the so-called "Borismaster") is a diesel-electric hybrid that should burn less diesel than conventional buses, eliminating more NO2. London's famous black taxis have been diesel powered for decades, but now there's a proposal by Frazer-Nash for a hybrid petrol-electric Metrocab (http://www.newmetrocab.com/) that will cut out even more NO2 emissions.

An inland alternative to Dawlish sea wall route is needed urgently.

Last week, the Dawlish sea wall collapsed, cutting off the only railway line between England and Cornwall. This vital link is becoming more regularly broken due to extreme weather and an alternative route needs to be found soon. Campaigners are calling for the reinstatement of the former Southern Railway route via Okehampton. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26110559 This will provide a diversionary route to the west and will also reconnect Okehampton to the national network, providing additional benefits. Okehampton is currently only served by the Dartmoor railway, which runs Eastward from Okehampton. Passenger trains only run in the summer. A reinstated line would continue south from Okehampton to rejoin the main line at Plymouth. An e-petition has been set up on the government e-petitions website to call on Government to make provision of opening a rail connection to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock. The petition can be found here:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60302

North gets wires, but campaigners want more

The first phase of the Liverpool-Manchester electrification, between Newton-le-Willows and Castlefield Junction went live on 30 December, with the introduction into service of the first Class 350 with Transpennine Express. The next section to Liverpool is due to be completed by next December, as is the line from Huyton to Wigan. The Preston to Blackpool line is due to be electrified by 2016, as is the Preston-Manchester (via Bolton) line and the Manchester-Leeds via Stalybridge route. Wigan-Bolton electrification is slated for 2017. Oxenholme-Windermere is currently at the planning stage.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/North_West_electrification.aspx

But campaigners want more. The Halifax and District Rail Action Group (HADRAG) are calling for the electrification of the Calder valley line, which links Leeds and Manchester via Halifax and Rochdale. This line parallels the Stalybridge route and is used as a diversionary route by Transpennine Express trains.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10883614.Anger_at_omission_of_Calder_Valley_line_from_electrification_list/

Going east of Leeds, First Hull Trains are pushing for the electrification of the route to Hull. The city is due to become UK capital of culture in 2017, and it is an important port.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hook-Hull-City-rail-operator-key-talks-Government/story-20426176-detail/story.html

The long overdue electrification of these lines in the north of England will displace slow and uncomfortable Pacer railbuses from these routes, and provide faster, more comfortable and more environmentally-friendly train services.

Growth in the highlands

The highlands of Scotland, particularly around Inverness, are seeing a great deal of growth in rail traffic, with several station reopenings and new freight flows. Beuly and Conon Bridge stations near Inverness reopened this year.
Direct Rail Services have opened a new terminal at Georgemas junction to serve the Dounreay nuclear facility as it is decommissioned.
There's a new freight flow of bulk Scotch whisky from Elgin to Grangemouth, complementing the existing "Tesco trains" that bring supermarket goods to Inverness from the south. Unfortunately, the disconnection of the Keith and Dufftown railway from the national network at Keith, means that the distilleries at Dufftown don't currently have a direct rail connection, meaning a short lorry journey is still required to get the spirit to Elgin.
While talk of widening the A9 may suggest investment (and traffic) is moving from the rails on to the road, the evidence for the moment is of growth on the rails. Which is good for the environment and good for the users of the A9, who will have less trucks to contend with.
There is still plenty that can be done to improve the highland main line, though. Signalling is still by Victorian semaphores. Resignalling and even electrification would bring the line into the 21st century and allow faster, more modern trains to compete more effectively with road transport.
In the heritage sector, the Strathspey Railway's proposed extension to Grantown-on-Spey will give tourists in the highlands a car-less route to Grantown and will make the Strathspey the longest preserved railway in Scotland. Good for the tourists and good for the local economy.

Meanwhile, on the Inverness to Aberdeen route, Transport Scotland is planning track and signalling improvements that will allow faster, more frequent trains. And there's also talk of opening a railway station to serve Inverness airport.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-improvements/conon-bridge
http://www.directrailservices.com/PDF/Georgemas%20Railhead%20Datasheet.pdf
http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/news-publications/news/trial-to-transport-scotch-whisky-by-rail/#.UrB9usRdV8E
http://www.railstograntown.org/
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-improvements/aberdeen-to-inverness
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5187370.stm

Glasgow railways getting ready for Commonwealth Games

Dalmarnock station in Glasgow is currently receiving the finishing touches to an £11 million redevelopment, times to be completed before the opening of the Commonwealth games, due to take place in the city next year. The station is located near to some of the event's main venues such as the Athlete's Village, Celtic Park, the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. The new station building features a modern, minimalist design, with diffuse glazing to let plenty of light in. A new lift and enclosed footbridge are designed to comply with the disability discrimination act.

The Glasgow Airport rail link was also intended to be completed in time for the games, but this has now sadly been cancelled. This will be a great setback, since there will be many participants and spectators travelling to Glasgow by air.

Railway technology article on the Dalmarnock redevelopment:
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/dalmarnock-station-redevelopment/
And on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link:
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/glasgowairport/