THE NETWORK SOUTHEAST ACHIEVEMENT
A CHRONOLOGY OF 12 YEARS FORWARD PROGRESS AND DELIVERY, 1982 - 1994
compiled by John P McCrickard
January to December 1986
1 January 1986 - SR London Waterloo and Wimbledon management districts combine, a new centre at the former looking after 1900 staff.
6 January 1986 - Chris Green, formerly Director, ScotRail, appointed Director, L&SE, replacing David Kirby who is promoted to BR Vice-Chairman.
9-10 January 1986 - Class 33s perform double rare haulage of services from London Liverpool Street - 33102 to Cambridge (9th) and 33038 to King’s Lynn (10th) - due to both locomotives happening to be available at Stratford depot!
12 January 1986 - BR/LT ‘Capitalcard’ extended to travel from outside London.
12 January 1986 - London Underground inter-station travel for through BR passengers becomes free.
19 January 1986 - Somerhill tunnel line singled - last of three to be dealt with as part of Tonbridge - Hastings electrification - to provide route clearance for standard stock in place of restricted ‘Hastings Gauge 0’ stock previously necessary; Strawberry Hill and Wadhurst already completed; Mountfield tunnel was singled back on 16 March 1975 following structural problems at that time.
23 January 1986 - David Mitchell appointed Minister of State for Public Transport in replacement of Lynda Chalker; Mitchell was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport.
28 January 1986 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth £37m electrification authorised, including 24 new Class 442 EMUs.
8 February 1986 - London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary (see 23-24 August 1986).
15 February 1986 - BR London new telephone centre opened at Waterloo; Euston and Paddington exchanges will be integrated later.
-- February 1986 - ‘Operation Pride’ launched to invest £10m in NSE for immediate service quality improvements covering punctuality, restoration of staffing, better staff facilities and basic equipment provision; this was the first phase in a programme leading up to the launch of NSE on 10 June.
3 March 1986 - ‘Luton Flyer’ commences - new dedicated coach link to the airport from Luton station with journey time less than 10min.
15 March 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings clearance for standard stock as part of electrification is marked by railtour over the line from London Paddington hauled by 50025.
16 March 1986 - Cambridge Heath reopened after reconstruction; temporarily closed since 17 February to enable this.
16 March 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification energised - ceremonially marked at Paddock Wood the next day - followed by testing and Driver training.
17 March 1986 - Great Northern Class 317/2 EMUs enter service - first of 24 units (317349-72) in advance of DOO working on outer-suburban duties; the Class 312s are gradually displaced to Great Eastern services; a unit was demonstrated at London King’s Cross on 3 March.
22-23 March 1986 - Andover rail event includes return of steam - with specials over the normally freight-only line to Ludgershall hauled by GWR No 4930 Hagley Hall.
24 March 1986 - London Waterloo modernisation grant of £400,000 from the Greater London Council is marked by a ceremonial plaque as one of the authority’s last acts in its final days.
24 March 1986 - Tisbury new passing loop opened.
31 March 1986 - BR annual report 1985/6: L&SE 14-year decline in London commuting is reversed with an increase of 4% over the last year, ridership up by 9m, a major factor being the success of the BR/LT ‘Capitalcard’ joint travel card introduced from 6 January 1985.
1 April 1986 - Greater London Council abolished under the Local Government Act, 1985 and its powers transferred to the London boroughs and other bodies.
11 April 1986 - Stratford depot unveils its Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122 restored to original green livery to mark the final weeks of DMU operation in the Great Eastern London area; transferred to Norwich depot 12 May.
24 April 1986 - Class 455/9 No 5920 accepted into stock - the last of 137 Class 455 series EMUs delivered to the SR since 1982.
27 April 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification gala day - special 50p ticket celebrates the new electric services - demand is high - some 35,000 purchased, against only 20,000 printed! From the following day an interim electric service operates leading up to the full timetable introduced on 12 May.
30 April 1986 - London Marylebone - Harrow-on-the-Hill and Neasden South Junction - Northolt Junction closure notice withdrawn after upswing in BR/LT traffic as recovery from recession continues, assisted by new London Capitalcard card - meaning that LT’s Metropolitan line now could not cope with greatly increased passengers into Baker Street which would have resulted from BR’s closure proposal. As well as London Marylebone, lifting of the closure notice means Northolt Park, Sudbury & Harrow Road, Sudbury Hill Harrow and Wembley Complex also remain open.
3 May 1986 - VSOE Bournemouth Belle Pullman inaugurated, running from London Waterloo every Saturday through to 27 September - reviving the late lamented train which last ran upon electrification 19 years previously.
6 May 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification officially opened by HM The Queen Mother who arrives by Royal Train to unveil commemorative plaque at Hastings station in the company of BR Chairman Sir Bob Reid; refurbished 4-CEP No 1529 in pristine ‘Jaffa cake’ livery operates special conveying guests and media back to London Cannon Street.
9 May 1986 - London Charing Cross - Hastings last timetabled DEMU service - the 1800, formed of Class 202s Nos 1017/8 - bringing the curtain down on 29 years use of Class 201-203 Hastings-gauge units on the route.
9 May 1986 - London Bridge - East Grinstead last locomotive hauled trains - DEMUs take over all workings - with electrification on the way (see 5 October 1987).
11 May 1986 - ‘Hastings DEMU Farewell’ railtour sees Class 201/2 formation 1002/32 visit unfamiliar locations such as Aylesbury and Watford Junction - with an ultra-rare trip over the LT Jubilee line Stanmore branch - prior to returning to Hastings with a non-stop run thence to London Charing Cross.
12 May 1986 - new timetable highlights - topped by four new electric services:
-Tonbridge - Hastings ‘1066 Electrics’; refurbished ‘Jaffa cake’-liveried 4-CEP EMUs supplant the Class 201-203 ‘Hastings’ DEMUs, long the sole preserve of the route along with similar dedicated restricted-gauge Class 33/2 ‘Slim Jim’ diesels and parcels stock;
-Romford - Upminster; final DMU services on 11 May featured Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122; first EMU test workings on 13 April formed of parcels EMU No 305991;
-Wickford - Southminster; wires had been energised on 17 March with EMU No 307104 making the first test trips on 28 March; Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122 worked on final day of DMUs, 11 May;
-Manningtree - Harwich; wires had been energised on 24 March with the first test workings on 14 April utilising 308140/1 followed by 86255 the next day;
-Moorgate - Finsbury Park closed on Sundays (from 18 May) with services rerouted to serve London King’s Cross;
-Winnersh Triangle opened;
-Staines - Woking direct off-peak services introduced on experimental basis;
-InterCity new cross-London services via Kensington Olympia introduced (ceremonial launch train ran 9 May).
12 May 1986 - Stratford DMU allocation transferred to Norwich and Tyseley depots upon cessation Great Eastern London area duties with completion of Romford - Upminster, Wickford - Southminster and Manningtree - Harwich electrification schemes on this date.
16 May 1986 - Sanderstead - East Grinstead electrification works inaugurated by first conductor rail and golden insulator pot installation ceremony at Lingfield.
21 May 1986 - John Moore is appointed as the new Secretary of State for Transport replacing Nicholas Ridley.
25 May 1986 - Polegate replaced by new £750,000 station nearby on site of original closed 3 October 1881.
4 June 1986 - NSE new livery accidentally revealed to observant travellers when Class 317 in the new colours is stabled next to the ECML at Hornsey depot.
7 June 1986 - Ashford Chart Leacon depot holds its 25th anniversary open day.
8 June 1986 - London Marylebone Chiltern Line rail week begins - celebrating revocation of the terminus from closure.
10 June 1986 - NSE launched by Chris Green at London Waterloo - the wholesale rebranding of L&SE with a bold new identity and exciting vision for the future:
-Networker ‘Train of the Future’ AMU (Advanced Multiple Unit) - state-of-the-art technology, lightweight welded aluminium body, energy efficient DMU/EMUs - initially for Kent suburban lines from 1990 and subsequently other routes, with over 2,000 vehicles foreseen by 1993;
-1-day return Capitalcard (introduced 11 June) giving unlimited off-peak travel on BR London area, LT tubes and buses (extended to the Docklands Light Railway upon opening in 1987);
-‘Network Card’ for discounted off-peak travel to significantly increase fares revenue (introduced 29 September);
-‘Gold Season’ for commuters to recognise loyalty, with special discounts and offers, plus new commuters magazine (first issue 26 June);
-major drive to improve service punctuality and reliability;
-improved facilities for the physically disabled at stations and on trains;
-repainting of all coaches in red/white/blue/grey NSE corporate scheme;
-re-upholstered seats in 6,000 coaches in NSE blue moquette, with other interior improvements including Network maps and litter bins;
-1,700 extra staff through recruitment programme, to enable, for example, reduced ticket office queues;
-new staff uniforms;
-‘No smoking’ increased to 85% and to be prohibited in station waiting rooms;
-stations cleaned daily with deeper ‘spring-cleans’ every three months; improved train cleaning standards;
-passenger information systems £7m investment;
-more station car parking spaces;
-better station and car park lighting to enhance security;
-200 stations to be repainted in 1986-7 - with 281 to undergo major renovation over the next three years;
-each of the 14 routes unveiled a train painted in the new NSE livery on launch day:
--London Charing Cross/Cannon Street suburban: 4-VEP No 7850;
--London Euston - Northampton: 310068;
--London Euston - Watford Junction: 313001;
--London King’s Cross - Royston: 317368;
--London King’s Cross - Welwyn/Hertford: 313001;
--London Liverpool Street suburban: 315812;
--London Liverpool Street - Cambridge: 47573;
--London Marylebone - Aylesbury: Class 115 DMU (Vehicle Nos 51649/889, 59727/63);
--London Paddington - Oxford: 50017 plus Mk 1 coaches;
--London St Pancras/Moorgate - Bedford: 317310;
--London Victoria suburban: Class 455/8 EMU No 5872;
--London Waterloo suburban: Class 455/8 EMU Nos 5850/72;
--London Waterloo - Exeter: 50023 plus Mk 2 coaches;
-14 stations face-lifted in NSE corporate colours for 10 June: Barking, Blackheath, Chatham, Denham, Finsbury Park, Harrow & Wealdstone, Hayes, Hemel Hempstead, London Euston (Platform Nos 8-11), London Waterloo, Purley, Radlett, Richmond and Shenfield.
NSE STATS:
-4 General Managers - ER,LMR,SR,WR;
-six sub-sectors - three covering the former SR Divisions plus one each for the NSE parts of ER, LMR (NSE North) and WR (NSE West);
-subsidy reduced by 36% since 1983 - London’s commuter network is the least subsidised railway in Europe;
-£82m being invested in NSE during 1986/7 rising to £117m in 1987/8;
-8,350 trains daily - 1,750 trains per peak;
-6,700 coaches;
-2,350 route miles of which 75% already electrified;
-41,000 employees;
-400,000 commuters every peak (37% of all London travel);
-one train arrives in London every 11 seconds during the peak hour;
-1.44m passengers daily - 500m annually, travelling 7,900m miles;
-930 stations - within 6 weeks all benefited from lamp posts repainted red as a proclamation of the ‘new railway’!
15 June 1986 - Clapham Junction A overline signal box damaged by fire bringing widespread disruption to London Waterloo; services restored to near normality on 17 June.
16 June 1986 - Thameslink cross-London scheme start of work ceremony on restoration of the Snow Hill link between Farringdon and Blackfriars - performed by Chris Green in command of digger - an early major project under NSE auspices; the Snow Hill link had long been abandoned - closed to passengers on 1 June 1916 and completely 3 May 1971.
21 June 1986 - ‘Network Day’ is public launch for NSE - the sunny Mid-Summer’s day is a sell-out success with over 200,000 taking advantage of the £3 travel anywhere on NSE ticket - 200 additional services are laid-on to cope with demand - the Isle of Wight and King’s Lynn are log-jammed with passengers! The response ensures a second Network Day on 13 September.
21 June 1986 - Isle of Wight joins in the NSE celebrations with the ‘Ryde Rail Festival’ and depot open day.
23 June 1986 - Reading takes over Oxford area management.
30 June 1986 - London Broad Street and Dalston Junction closed together with this section of the North London Railway* due to declining traffic and the decision to use the terminus site for part of the new Broadgate redevelopment; the last trains ran on 27 June, closure having been postponed from 12 May due to delay in opening to 30 June of the new Graham Road curve linking North London and Great Eastern lines, required to enable peak-hour Watford Junction Class 313-operated services to be diverted from Broad Street to Liverpool Street, effected from this date.
London Broad Street RIP after 121 years!
*Shoreditch - Dalston Junction reopened - including both these stations - as part of London Overground’s East London Line extension on 27 April 2010.
3 July 1986 - Weymouth £750,000 rebuilt station formally opened.
7 July 1986 - PORTIS - Portable Ticket Issuing System - debuts on Bristol - Severn Beach line - first of 1750 planned for BR.
11 July 1986 - London Liverpool Street ‘Broadgate’ redevelopment first two phases officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
24 July 1986 - Stansted Airport new £40m rail link given Government authorisation - cost includes five new Class 317 EMUs to work services from London Liverpool Street (eventually delivered as Class 322s in 1990).
11 August 1986 - Ascot restoration after fire damage formally completed.
14 August 1986 - Clapham Junction fire-damaged footbridge £250,000 restoration officially started by Transport Minister David Mitchell - complete with paintbrush in hand!
23-24 August 1986 - London Cannon Street festival celebrates London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary - attendees include SR Class N15 No 777 Sir Lamiel.
9 September 1986 - Selhurst depot new £9m maintenance shed for Class 455 and Thameslink Class 319 EMUs officially opened.
13 September 1986 - Network Day repeated after the success of the first on 21 June; further are held periodically in the future.
22 September 1986 - Ilford depot new carriage washing plant officially opened - with a promise of much cleaner trains out of London Liverpool Street!
23 September 1986 - London Cannon Street landmark twin roof towers restoration ceremonially completed, as part of 150th London & Greenwich Railway anniversary year celebrations.
29 September 1986 - ‘Network Card’ launched giving 1/3 off ticket prices after 1000hrs weekdays and all day at weekends in NSE area; part of campaign to significantly boost off-peak travel.
29 September 1986 - Welham Green opened.
29 September 1986 - London Fields reopened with ceremony after £450,000 rebuilding - the station had been closed since 13 November 1981 due to severe fire damage.
29 September 1986 - Southampton Airport renamed Southampton Parkway upon major £600,000 reconstruction to improve facilities - these were formally opened on 15 October - recognising station’s increased role as a railhead for the nearby M27 motorway, with all London Waterloo - Bournemouth fast services now calling; station further renamed Southampton Airport Parkway on 29 May 1994.
4-5, 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 October 1986 - Salisbury - Yeovil Junction ‘Blackmore Vale Express’ specials mark return to steam over this section 19 years after its cessation; organised by the enterprising Salisbury Area Manager, Gerald Daniels; the final weekend is an extra one - put on at short notice after the first three sell-out. An extra attraction are the ‘Laverstock Looper’ short but unusual railtours from Salisbury around the nearby Laverstock triangle - these are also popular - shunter 09026 plus 4-TC No 8011 provide very rare haulage.
6 October 1986 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth electrification works formally started by Transport Secretary John Moore.
10 October 1986 - Andover £200,000 refurbishment completed - a joint scheme with Trustee Savings Bank.
13 October 1986 - Chiltern Line wins the ‘Minister of State for Transport’s Cup’ - a new six-monthly award for NSE’s most-improved route in terms of service punctuality, cleanliness and reliability - presented in a ceremony at London Marylebone by the Minister, David Mitchell.
16 October 1986 - Kensal Green collision between 313012 on a Watford Junction - London Euston service and rear end of stationary LT Bakerloo line empty stock train injures 25; cause - excessive speed of 313012 after passing calling-on signal.
20 October 1986 - Peckham Rye restoration formally completed.
26 October 1986 - Bus services deregulated from today in Great Britain under the Transport Act 1985, except for Greater London and Northern Ireland.
27 October 1986 - ‘Big Bang Day’ - UK financial markets deregulated; this will prompt dramatic growth, especially in the City of London, whose place as a major world financial capital will thus be massively strengthened in the years ahead.
29 October 1986 - M25 London orbital motorway last section Micklefield (Junction 19) - South Mimms (Junction 23) officially opened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
3 November 1986 - ECML electrification first stage commissioned two months ahead of schedule with extension of services from Hitchin - Huntingdon; 312708/9 operate the first early-morning service to London King’s Cross, complete with ‘Huntingdon goes Electric’ headboard; the catenary had been energised on 13 October with load bank testing underway on the 19th.
22 November 1986 - Class 306 EMU No 306017 last survivor returns to traffic operating a Seven Kings - Shenfield shuttle service as part of a Network Day sponsored by transport publisher Ian Allan; restored back to original green livery, thanks to Ernst Birchler, Area Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, Ilford depot, the unit will be used for occasional specials.
25 November 1986 - Dorchester South reconstructed station officially opened - joint project with local Eldridge Pope brewers (start of work ceremony on 30 April).
8 December 1986 - Corby reopening announced for April 1987 when trains to Kettering re-commence after withdrawal 21 years previously; Corby had been used for occasional special trains since 1 July 1984; in advance of proposed Corby Phoenix Park ‘WonderWorld’ leisure centre project, for which a new station is optimistically planned served by electric trains extended north from Bedford by the early-1990s.
8 December 1986 - London Waterloo - Bournemouth semi-fast Class 73 haulage introduced with 4-TC sets reformed to include buffets from the 4-REP EMUs now being withdrawn in order to reclaim their traction motors and electrical equipments for re-use in the new Class 442 EMUs for the Weymouth electrification extension; many mind-boggling temporary reformations of the 4-REP/TC units take place during the interim before full replacement by the Class 442s in 1989!
6 January 1986 - Chris Green, formerly Director, ScotRail, appointed Director, L&SE, replacing David Kirby who is promoted to BR Vice-Chairman.
9-10 January 1986 - Class 33s perform double rare haulage of services from London Liverpool Street - 33102 to Cambridge (9th) and 33038 to King’s Lynn (10th) - due to both locomotives happening to be available at Stratford depot!
12 January 1986 - BR/LT ‘Capitalcard’ extended to travel from outside London.
12 January 1986 - London Underground inter-station travel for through BR passengers becomes free.
19 January 1986 - Somerhill tunnel line singled - last of three to be dealt with as part of Tonbridge - Hastings electrification - to provide route clearance for standard stock in place of restricted ‘Hastings Gauge 0’ stock previously necessary; Strawberry Hill and Wadhurst already completed; Mountfield tunnel was singled back on 16 March 1975 following structural problems at that time.
23 January 1986 - David Mitchell appointed Minister of State for Public Transport in replacement of Lynda Chalker; Mitchell was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport.
28 January 1986 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth £37m electrification authorised, including 24 new Class 442 EMUs.
8 February 1986 - London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary (see 23-24 August 1986).
15 February 1986 - BR London new telephone centre opened at Waterloo; Euston and Paddington exchanges will be integrated later.
-- February 1986 - ‘Operation Pride’ launched to invest £10m in NSE for immediate service quality improvements covering punctuality, restoration of staffing, better staff facilities and basic equipment provision; this was the first phase in a programme leading up to the launch of NSE on 10 June.
3 March 1986 - ‘Luton Flyer’ commences - new dedicated coach link to the airport from Luton station with journey time less than 10min.
15 March 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings clearance for standard stock as part of electrification is marked by railtour over the line from London Paddington hauled by 50025.
16 March 1986 - Cambridge Heath reopened after reconstruction; temporarily closed since 17 February to enable this.
16 March 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification energised - ceremonially marked at Paddock Wood the next day - followed by testing and Driver training.
17 March 1986 - Great Northern Class 317/2 EMUs enter service - first of 24 units (317349-72) in advance of DOO working on outer-suburban duties; the Class 312s are gradually displaced to Great Eastern services; a unit was demonstrated at London King’s Cross on 3 March.
22-23 March 1986 - Andover rail event includes return of steam - with specials over the normally freight-only line to Ludgershall hauled by GWR No 4930 Hagley Hall.
24 March 1986 - London Waterloo modernisation grant of £400,000 from the Greater London Council is marked by a ceremonial plaque as one of the authority’s last acts in its final days.
24 March 1986 - Tisbury new passing loop opened.
31 March 1986 - BR annual report 1985/6: L&SE 14-year decline in London commuting is reversed with an increase of 4% over the last year, ridership up by 9m, a major factor being the success of the BR/LT ‘Capitalcard’ joint travel card introduced from 6 January 1985.
1 April 1986 - Greater London Council abolished under the Local Government Act, 1985 and its powers transferred to the London boroughs and other bodies.
11 April 1986 - Stratford depot unveils its Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122 restored to original green livery to mark the final weeks of DMU operation in the Great Eastern London area; transferred to Norwich depot 12 May.
24 April 1986 - Class 455/9 No 5920 accepted into stock - the last of 137 Class 455 series EMUs delivered to the SR since 1982.
27 April 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification gala day - special 50p ticket celebrates the new electric services - demand is high - some 35,000 purchased, against only 20,000 printed! From the following day an interim electric service operates leading up to the full timetable introduced on 12 May.
30 April 1986 - London Marylebone - Harrow-on-the-Hill and Neasden South Junction - Northolt Junction closure notice withdrawn after upswing in BR/LT traffic as recovery from recession continues, assisted by new London Capitalcard card - meaning that LT’s Metropolitan line now could not cope with greatly increased passengers into Baker Street which would have resulted from BR’s closure proposal. As well as London Marylebone, lifting of the closure notice means Northolt Park, Sudbury & Harrow Road, Sudbury Hill Harrow and Wembley Complex also remain open.
3 May 1986 - VSOE Bournemouth Belle Pullman inaugurated, running from London Waterloo every Saturday through to 27 September - reviving the late lamented train which last ran upon electrification 19 years previously.
6 May 1986 - Tonbridge - Hastings electrification officially opened by HM The Queen Mother who arrives by Royal Train to unveil commemorative plaque at Hastings station in the company of BR Chairman Sir Bob Reid; refurbished 4-CEP No 1529 in pristine ‘Jaffa cake’ livery operates special conveying guests and media back to London Cannon Street.
9 May 1986 - London Charing Cross - Hastings last timetabled DEMU service - the 1800, formed of Class 202s Nos 1017/8 - bringing the curtain down on 29 years use of Class 201-203 Hastings-gauge units on the route.
9 May 1986 - London Bridge - East Grinstead last locomotive hauled trains - DEMUs take over all workings - with electrification on the way (see 5 October 1987).
11 May 1986 - ‘Hastings DEMU Farewell’ railtour sees Class 201/2 formation 1002/32 visit unfamiliar locations such as Aylesbury and Watford Junction - with an ultra-rare trip over the LT Jubilee line Stanmore branch - prior to returning to Hastings with a non-stop run thence to London Charing Cross.
12 May 1986 - new timetable highlights - topped by four new electric services:
-Tonbridge - Hastings ‘1066 Electrics’; refurbished ‘Jaffa cake’-liveried 4-CEP EMUs supplant the Class 201-203 ‘Hastings’ DEMUs, long the sole preserve of the route along with similar dedicated restricted-gauge Class 33/2 ‘Slim Jim’ diesels and parcels stock;
-Romford - Upminster; final DMU services on 11 May featured Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122; first EMU test workings on 13 April formed of parcels EMU No 305991;
-Wickford - Southminster; wires had been energised on 17 March with EMU No 307104 making the first test trips on 28 March; Cravens Class 105 ‘heritage’ unit 53359+54122 worked on final day of DMUs, 11 May;
-Manningtree - Harwich; wires had been energised on 24 March with the first test workings on 14 April utilising 308140/1 followed by 86255 the next day;
-Moorgate - Finsbury Park closed on Sundays (from 18 May) with services rerouted to serve London King’s Cross;
-Winnersh Triangle opened;
-Staines - Woking direct off-peak services introduced on experimental basis;
-InterCity new cross-London services via Kensington Olympia introduced (ceremonial launch train ran 9 May).
12 May 1986 - Stratford DMU allocation transferred to Norwich and Tyseley depots upon cessation Great Eastern London area duties with completion of Romford - Upminster, Wickford - Southminster and Manningtree - Harwich electrification schemes on this date.
16 May 1986 - Sanderstead - East Grinstead electrification works inaugurated by first conductor rail and golden insulator pot installation ceremony at Lingfield.
21 May 1986 - John Moore is appointed as the new Secretary of State for Transport replacing Nicholas Ridley.
25 May 1986 - Polegate replaced by new £750,000 station nearby on site of original closed 3 October 1881.
4 June 1986 - NSE new livery accidentally revealed to observant travellers when Class 317 in the new colours is stabled next to the ECML at Hornsey depot.
7 June 1986 - Ashford Chart Leacon depot holds its 25th anniversary open day.
8 June 1986 - London Marylebone Chiltern Line rail week begins - celebrating revocation of the terminus from closure.
10 June 1986 - NSE launched by Chris Green at London Waterloo - the wholesale rebranding of L&SE with a bold new identity and exciting vision for the future:
-Networker ‘Train of the Future’ AMU (Advanced Multiple Unit) - state-of-the-art technology, lightweight welded aluminium body, energy efficient DMU/EMUs - initially for Kent suburban lines from 1990 and subsequently other routes, with over 2,000 vehicles foreseen by 1993;
-1-day return Capitalcard (introduced 11 June) giving unlimited off-peak travel on BR London area, LT tubes and buses (extended to the Docklands Light Railway upon opening in 1987);
-‘Network Card’ for discounted off-peak travel to significantly increase fares revenue (introduced 29 September);
-‘Gold Season’ for commuters to recognise loyalty, with special discounts and offers, plus new commuters magazine (first issue 26 June);
-major drive to improve service punctuality and reliability;
-improved facilities for the physically disabled at stations and on trains;
-repainting of all coaches in red/white/blue/grey NSE corporate scheme;
-re-upholstered seats in 6,000 coaches in NSE blue moquette, with other interior improvements including Network maps and litter bins;
-1,700 extra staff through recruitment programme, to enable, for example, reduced ticket office queues;
-new staff uniforms;
-‘No smoking’ increased to 85% and to be prohibited in station waiting rooms;
-stations cleaned daily with deeper ‘spring-cleans’ every three months; improved train cleaning standards;
-passenger information systems £7m investment;
-more station car parking spaces;
-better station and car park lighting to enhance security;
-200 stations to be repainted in 1986-7 - with 281 to undergo major renovation over the next three years;
-each of the 14 routes unveiled a train painted in the new NSE livery on launch day:
--London Charing Cross/Cannon Street suburban: 4-VEP No 7850;
--London Euston - Northampton: 310068;
--London Euston - Watford Junction: 313001;
--London King’s Cross - Royston: 317368;
--London King’s Cross - Welwyn/Hertford: 313001;
--London Liverpool Street suburban: 315812;
--London Liverpool Street - Cambridge: 47573;
--London Marylebone - Aylesbury: Class 115 DMU (Vehicle Nos 51649/889, 59727/63);
--London Paddington - Oxford: 50017 plus Mk 1 coaches;
--London St Pancras/Moorgate - Bedford: 317310;
--London Victoria suburban: Class 455/8 EMU No 5872;
--London Waterloo suburban: Class 455/8 EMU Nos 5850/72;
--London Waterloo - Exeter: 50023 plus Mk 2 coaches;
-14 stations face-lifted in NSE corporate colours for 10 June: Barking, Blackheath, Chatham, Denham, Finsbury Park, Harrow & Wealdstone, Hayes, Hemel Hempstead, London Euston (Platform Nos 8-11), London Waterloo, Purley, Radlett, Richmond and Shenfield.
NSE STATS:
-4 General Managers - ER,LMR,SR,WR;
-six sub-sectors - three covering the former SR Divisions plus one each for the NSE parts of ER, LMR (NSE North) and WR (NSE West);
-subsidy reduced by 36% since 1983 - London’s commuter network is the least subsidised railway in Europe;
-£82m being invested in NSE during 1986/7 rising to £117m in 1987/8;
-8,350 trains daily - 1,750 trains per peak;
-6,700 coaches;
-2,350 route miles of which 75% already electrified;
-41,000 employees;
-400,000 commuters every peak (37% of all London travel);
-one train arrives in London every 11 seconds during the peak hour;
-1.44m passengers daily - 500m annually, travelling 7,900m miles;
-930 stations - within 6 weeks all benefited from lamp posts repainted red as a proclamation of the ‘new railway’!
15 June 1986 - Clapham Junction A overline signal box damaged by fire bringing widespread disruption to London Waterloo; services restored to near normality on 17 June.
16 June 1986 - Thameslink cross-London scheme start of work ceremony on restoration of the Snow Hill link between Farringdon and Blackfriars - performed by Chris Green in command of digger - an early major project under NSE auspices; the Snow Hill link had long been abandoned - closed to passengers on 1 June 1916 and completely 3 May 1971.
21 June 1986 - ‘Network Day’ is public launch for NSE - the sunny Mid-Summer’s day is a sell-out success with over 200,000 taking advantage of the £3 travel anywhere on NSE ticket - 200 additional services are laid-on to cope with demand - the Isle of Wight and King’s Lynn are log-jammed with passengers! The response ensures a second Network Day on 13 September.
21 June 1986 - Isle of Wight joins in the NSE celebrations with the ‘Ryde Rail Festival’ and depot open day.
23 June 1986 - Reading takes over Oxford area management.
30 June 1986 - London Broad Street and Dalston Junction closed together with this section of the North London Railway* due to declining traffic and the decision to use the terminus site for part of the new Broadgate redevelopment; the last trains ran on 27 June, closure having been postponed from 12 May due to delay in opening to 30 June of the new Graham Road curve linking North London and Great Eastern lines, required to enable peak-hour Watford Junction Class 313-operated services to be diverted from Broad Street to Liverpool Street, effected from this date.
London Broad Street RIP after 121 years!
*Shoreditch - Dalston Junction reopened - including both these stations - as part of London Overground’s East London Line extension on 27 April 2010.
3 July 1986 - Weymouth £750,000 rebuilt station formally opened.
7 July 1986 - PORTIS - Portable Ticket Issuing System - debuts on Bristol - Severn Beach line - first of 1750 planned for BR.
11 July 1986 - London Liverpool Street ‘Broadgate’ redevelopment first two phases officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
24 July 1986 - Stansted Airport new £40m rail link given Government authorisation - cost includes five new Class 317 EMUs to work services from London Liverpool Street (eventually delivered as Class 322s in 1990).
11 August 1986 - Ascot restoration after fire damage formally completed.
14 August 1986 - Clapham Junction fire-damaged footbridge £250,000 restoration officially started by Transport Minister David Mitchell - complete with paintbrush in hand!
23-24 August 1986 - London Cannon Street festival celebrates London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary - attendees include SR Class N15 No 777 Sir Lamiel.
9 September 1986 - Selhurst depot new £9m maintenance shed for Class 455 and Thameslink Class 319 EMUs officially opened.
13 September 1986 - Network Day repeated after the success of the first on 21 June; further are held periodically in the future.
22 September 1986 - Ilford depot new carriage washing plant officially opened - with a promise of much cleaner trains out of London Liverpool Street!
23 September 1986 - London Cannon Street landmark twin roof towers restoration ceremonially completed, as part of 150th London & Greenwich Railway anniversary year celebrations.
29 September 1986 - ‘Network Card’ launched giving 1/3 off ticket prices after 1000hrs weekdays and all day at weekends in NSE area; part of campaign to significantly boost off-peak travel.
29 September 1986 - Welham Green opened.
29 September 1986 - London Fields reopened with ceremony after £450,000 rebuilding - the station had been closed since 13 November 1981 due to severe fire damage.
29 September 1986 - Southampton Airport renamed Southampton Parkway upon major £600,000 reconstruction to improve facilities - these were formally opened on 15 October - recognising station’s increased role as a railhead for the nearby M27 motorway, with all London Waterloo - Bournemouth fast services now calling; station further renamed Southampton Airport Parkway on 29 May 1994.
4-5, 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 October 1986 - Salisbury - Yeovil Junction ‘Blackmore Vale Express’ specials mark return to steam over this section 19 years after its cessation; organised by the enterprising Salisbury Area Manager, Gerald Daniels; the final weekend is an extra one - put on at short notice after the first three sell-out. An extra attraction are the ‘Laverstock Looper’ short but unusual railtours from Salisbury around the nearby Laverstock triangle - these are also popular - shunter 09026 plus 4-TC No 8011 provide very rare haulage.
6 October 1986 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth electrification works formally started by Transport Secretary John Moore.
10 October 1986 - Andover £200,000 refurbishment completed - a joint scheme with Trustee Savings Bank.
13 October 1986 - Chiltern Line wins the ‘Minister of State for Transport’s Cup’ - a new six-monthly award for NSE’s most-improved route in terms of service punctuality, cleanliness and reliability - presented in a ceremony at London Marylebone by the Minister, David Mitchell.
16 October 1986 - Kensal Green collision between 313012 on a Watford Junction - London Euston service and rear end of stationary LT Bakerloo line empty stock train injures 25; cause - excessive speed of 313012 after passing calling-on signal.
20 October 1986 - Peckham Rye restoration formally completed.
26 October 1986 - Bus services deregulated from today in Great Britain under the Transport Act 1985, except for Greater London and Northern Ireland.
27 October 1986 - ‘Big Bang Day’ - UK financial markets deregulated; this will prompt dramatic growth, especially in the City of London, whose place as a major world financial capital will thus be massively strengthened in the years ahead.
29 October 1986 - M25 London orbital motorway last section Micklefield (Junction 19) - South Mimms (Junction 23) officially opened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
3 November 1986 - ECML electrification first stage commissioned two months ahead of schedule with extension of services from Hitchin - Huntingdon; 312708/9 operate the first early-morning service to London King’s Cross, complete with ‘Huntingdon goes Electric’ headboard; the catenary had been energised on 13 October with load bank testing underway on the 19th.
22 November 1986 - Class 306 EMU No 306017 last survivor returns to traffic operating a Seven Kings - Shenfield shuttle service as part of a Network Day sponsored by transport publisher Ian Allan; restored back to original green livery, thanks to Ernst Birchler, Area Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, Ilford depot, the unit will be used for occasional specials.
25 November 1986 - Dorchester South reconstructed station officially opened - joint project with local Eldridge Pope brewers (start of work ceremony on 30 April).
8 December 1986 - Corby reopening announced for April 1987 when trains to Kettering re-commence after withdrawal 21 years previously; Corby had been used for occasional special trains since 1 July 1984; in advance of proposed Corby Phoenix Park ‘WonderWorld’ leisure centre project, for which a new station is optimistically planned served by electric trains extended north from Bedford by the early-1990s.
8 December 1986 - London Waterloo - Bournemouth semi-fast Class 73 haulage introduced with 4-TC sets reformed to include buffets from the 4-REP EMUs now being withdrawn in order to reclaim their traction motors and electrical equipments for re-use in the new Class 442 EMUs for the Weymouth electrification extension; many mind-boggling temporary reformations of the 4-REP/TC units take place during the interim before full replacement by the Class 442s in 1989!