THE NETWORK SOUTHEAST ACHIEVEMENT
A CHRONOLOGY OF 12 YEARS FORWARD PROGRESS AND DELIVERY, 1982 - 1994
compiled by John P McCrickard.
January to December 1988
5 January 1988 - London King’s Cross planned £250,000 congestion-relieving refurbishment for NSE platforms 9 and 10 unveiled.
11 January 1988 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth electrification official energisation ceremony at Wareham; 3rd rail now extends the whole way from London Waterloo to Weymouth.
15 January 1988 - Littlehampton £600,000 reconstruction official completion.
31 January 1988 - Higham tunnel closed by flooding after sustained heavy rain; Class 33 haulage and DMUs sustain interim services over the Gravesend - Rochester section until the tunnels can be dried out and damaged electrical equipments repaired - normal working resumes 22 February.
7 February 1988 - Drayton Park - Moorgate major accident and evacuation exercise staged in wake of the London Underground King’s Cross fire disaster (see 18 November 1987).
9 February 1988 - Tottenham Hale train ‘hijack’ by commuters who sit-in after service is delayed an hour due points failure - then are told it will not make intermediate calls!
10 February 1988 - St Albans Abbey buffer stop overrun by terminating DMU service from Watford Junction luckily does not injure any of the 17 passengers on board.
10 February 1988 - Nunhead landslip repairs completed enabling restoration of services.
12 February 1988 - ‘Serviceman’ first car servicing depot on South Western Division opened at Winchester station; many more are planned across NSE, providing an attractive facility for commuters to have their car servicing needs attended to whilst they are at work.
13 February 1988 - Portsmouth & Southsea £1.75m rebuilding requires temporary suspension of services to Portsmouth Harbour for six weeks.
15 February 1988 - Winnersh £110,000 upgrading officially completed.
19 February 1988 - London Paddington highly rare visit by DEMU 205032 from Eastleigh depot working 0045 ex-Reading due to a late running Manchester service.
-- February 1988 - London Euston - Northampton train-signal box radios awarded to Westinghouse.
1 March 1988 - Liss collision between 33001 and an EMU held at signals; the locomotive - the first Class 33 to be built - is seriously damaged and soon condemned at Eastleigh (17th).
4 March 1988 - Selhurst sees another sit-in when angry commuters refuse to leave the 1901 ex-London Victoria until a connection to Sutton is assured.
9 March 1988 - NSE unveils £160m scheme to improve the environment at all 935 stations over the next seven years - the 60 busiest to be given priority; redevelopment, improved car parks and enhanced security are included.
10 March 1988 - Class 423 4-VEP major refurbishment programme announced; the £17m four-year scheme will be undertaken at BRML Eastleigh covering the fleet of over 190 EMUs (768 vehicles), to include increased Standard accommodation, 18 extra seats provided on each unit in the MBSO by utilising part of the former mails area, now too big for current needs. Refurbished units renumbered from 3001+ to 3401+ series, but not in consecutive order.
23 March 1988 - Deborah Linsley, a 26-year old hotel manager from Petts Wood in Kent, is tragically murdered aboard the 1416 Orpington - London Victoria; the attack took place in a closed compartment of a 4-EPB EMU, and hastens the end of such stock, which survives in reducing numbers but not finally due to be eradicated until Class 465 Networkers are delivered in the early-1990s. Interim measures:
-red bands added at cantrail level to easily identify to passengers compartments on 4-EPBs and Great Eastern/London Tilbury & Southend line Class 302 EMUs;
-compartment stock eliminated as far as possible from off-peak services;
-32 Class 415/1 4-EPBs with intermediate TS - including compartments - and TSO
reformed to have two TS vehicles, re-designated Class 415/5 4-EPB Nos 5501-32, deployed on peak services only - when compartments would generally have multi-occupancy.
26 March 1988 - Bournemouth depot first ever open day showcases new Class 442 5-WES ‘Wessex Electrics’ EMUs amongst many other exhibits.
31 March 1988 - BR annual report 1987/8: NSE commuters up 5% over the past year - 15% since 1985 - with off-peak travel increased by 23%; subsidy down 34% over the last three years.
-- March 1988 - London Victoria new Railair terminal officially opened by HM The Queen; located at Victoria Place this is a BR/British Airways joint venture.
-- March 1988 - Farnborough booking hall improvements completed.
1 April 1988 - BR Anglia Region formed - takes over East Anglia from Eastern Region - Hertford East, Meldreth and Whittlesea forming western boundary points of routes into London Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street; General Manager is John Edmonds.
7 April 1988 - Three Bridges runaway of empty EMU which fortunately stops on the upgrade near Salfords - enabling the Driver of another train to apply the brakes.
10 April 1988 - Stewarts Lane depot open day features ‘Deltic’ No D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey; a shuttle service from London Victoria is provided by DEMUs 205002 and 207002.
14 April 1988 - London Waterloo - Weymouth new speed record of 1hr 59min 24sec by Class 442s Nos 2401/3 includes 109mph maximum - world’s fastest for 750v DC 3rd rail traction.
15 April 1988 - Class 456 2-car EMU order approved for 24 units for deployment on South London suburban services.
16 April 1988 - Network Day is held again after previous successes and this time is the occasion for a London Bridge - Brighton new non-stop record of 39min 14sec set by 319031/3 with similar high-speed on the return Brighton - London Victoria run covered in 38min 56sec.
20 April 1988 - Portsmouth - Southampton and Eastleigh ‘Hantsway’ electrification authorised.
25 April 1988 - Thameslink is formally opened by HRH The Princess Royal in a dual ceremony at Blackfriars station at the same time launching Save the Children Week in her role as its President and unveiling the charity’s logo on 319036 (vehicle 71807); public services commence with BR’s new timetable on 16th May.
26 April 1988 - Kettering - Corby services see steep 60% fare rises in order to quell growing losses; Corby platform is raised and CCTV provided to curb vandalism.
-- April 1988 - SR Central and Eastern train-signal box radio contract placed for introduction from 1989.
2 May 1988 - Royston - Shepreth Branch Junction electrification inaugurated with special Bank Holiday Monday Royston - Cambridge EMU shuttles; the catenary had been energised 4 April with full electrified services to be introduced on 16 May.
2 May 1988 - Colchester depot in the newly-formed Anglia Region holds open day with a wide range of stock displayed.
6-29 May 1988 - Brighton International Festival is sponsored by NSE in celebration of the new Thameslink services introduced on the 16th.
9 May 1988 - Wraysbury bridge over drainage channel washed away by sudden floods disabling Windsor & Eton Riverside services - a temporary bridge quickly installed allows trains to resume from the 12th.
16 May 1988 - new timetable highlights:
-Thameslink cross-London services commence via reinstated London Snow Hill link between Farringdon and Blackfriars; London King’s Cross Midland City renamed London King’s Cross Thameslink; Farringdon - Moorgate now restricted to peak-hours only service;
-London Euston - Northampton: off-peak services doubled to half-hourly frequency, with three per hour as far as Milton Keynes Central; Class 317/1 EMUs introduced, displaced from the London - Bedford line by new Thameslink Class 319/0 stock; the 100mph-capable EMUs will allow accelerated Northampton line services to be introduced, the 75mph Class 310 EMUs they replace being transferred to the Great Eastern line;
-London Euston - Watford Junction: augmented by extension of LT Bakerloo line trains north of Queens Park to Harrow & Wealdstone, Monday-Saturday, doubling services to 10 minute frequency over this section;
-London Waterloo - Weymouth Wessex Electrics improved services introduced with new Class 442 5-WES EMUs - although their late delivery forces some interim working, existing (reformed) REP/TC stock continuing in use with Class 73 haulage;
-London King’s Cross - Cambridge through services re-established with EMUs upon completion of Royston - Shepreth Branch Junction electrification;
-Newbury Racecourse used by all services from this date - previously specials only;
-improved services on many other routes to cope with burgeoning traffic.
23 May 1988 - Guildford reconstruction commences to provide brand new station buildings in association with an adjacent office redevelopment scheme.
27 May 1988 - London King’s Cross - Cambridge loco-hauled services temporarily return, diverted from London Liverpool Street due vandalism damage to the overhead catenary at Broxbourne; 310057/66 also see rare usage on the route.
28-29 May 1988 - Bedford station sidings open weekend celebrates new Thameslink services with diverse rolling stock on display; complements the town’s bi-annual river festival held coincidentally and sponsored this year by NSE; Jaffa cake-liveried ‘Clacton’ EMU 309618 works several return specials to London St Pancras (28th); Bedford - Bletchley line hosts Sunday services - the first such for over 20 years (29th).
29-30 May 1988 - Woking 150 rail event - the biggest on BR during the year. This time the 150th anniversary of the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) is commemorated, with eight ex-SR steam locomotives in attendance.
2 June 1988 - London King’s Cross £2bn redevelopment and area regeneration authorised - a new low-level international station will be served by Channel Tunnel trains, a joint high-level concourse linking with adjacent London St Pancras.
7 June 1988 - London Bridge commuter services to Sutton and West Croydon reduced due to staff shortages.
10 June 1988 - Chiltern Line £50m Total Route Modernisation announced - new ‘Networker Turbo’ DMUs and upgraded infrastructure will bring London Marylebone - Aylesbury/High Wycombe thoroughly up to date with much improved and faster services; new DMU depot at Aylesbury, redevelopment of the London terminus and improvements to all stations; first part is an £11m resignalling of the route controlled by a new IECC at Marylebone, replacing the many obsolete mechanical boxes.
18 June 1988 - ‘Harlequin Line’ route identity and logo for London Euston - Watford Junction local services unveiled on 313009 at the Wembley Central rail gala day;
name derived from HAtch End, HARLEsden and QUeens Park stations with coloured triangles based on the Harlequin’s costume; marks NSE’s inaugural total route refurbishment now underway, covering trains and stations, with introduction of improved security, enhanced passenger information systems and full resignalling. The name was the result of a public competition - similar now to be held to choose a route identity for London Euston - Northampton services.
25 June 1988 - Class 457 test EMU No 457001 equipped with the AC motor and control equipment package for the new Class 465 Networkers makes its first trip on trial from Strawberry Hill depot.
27 June 1988 - SR Central Division cancels 55 trains daily until further notice due to continuing train staff shortages; high property prices are blamed for the inability to recruit newcomers to fill vacancies.
28 June 1988 - St Albans derailment of the Stewartby - Cricklewood ‘binliner’ refuse empties strike a 319/0 EMU working the 2033 Three Bridges - Bedford injuring its driver.
5 July 1988 - Portslade - Angmering £3m resignalling ceremonially marked by BR Chairman Sir Robert Reid who unveils a commemorative plaque in Lancing signal box which now controls this section, including newly-upgraded level crossings with CCTV monitoring; seven boxes are closed, the resignalling commissioned in three stages, on 15 May, 4 and 30 June.
9 July 1988 - Great Northern final Class 312s - Nos 312720/1 - reallocated from Hornsey to Clacton depot, Great Eastern lines; the ‘312s resident on the GN route since electrification in 1977 now superseded by Class 317/1s ex-Midland Electrics.
11 July 1988 - Watford Junction - St Albans Abbey electrified services introduced, Class 313s taking over from DMUs; the catenary was energised on the 4th.
14 July 1988 - Channel Tunnel Rail Link options announced by BR covering 4 different routes to London termini at either King’s Cross, Stratford or White City.
19 July 1988 - BR Corporate Plan 1988-93 includes continuing high investment though against a background of reducing subsidy, reflecting tough financial targets set by Government; planned electrifications include Ashford - Hastings and Cambridge - King’s Lynn.
20 July 1988 - London Paddington ‘Heathrow Express’ high-speed rail link scheme given Government approval; -- November 1988 - Bill introduced in Parliament; the project will be jointly funded by British Airports Authority and NSE.
22 July 1988 - Chris Green presented with the Illustrated London News ‘Londoner of the Year’ award at the Capital’s Waldorf hotel.
23-24 July 1988 - Salisbury - Yeovil Junction and Romsey ‘Blackmore Vale Express’ steam specials celebrate the 150th anniversary of the LSWR.
25 July 1988 - Michael Portillo appointed Minister of State for Public Transport in replacement of David Mitchell; Portillo has already served as Personal Secretary to Secretary of State for Transport Paul Channon.
26 July 1988 - Battersea viaduct arch is 500th to be refurbished for private business use by BR Property Board.
28 July 1988 - Fareham first conductor rail-laying ceremony inaugurates work on the Portsmouth - Eastleigh/Southampton electrification and is an early duty for new Public Transport Minister Michael Portillo.
29 July 1988 - SR issues its last Edmondson-style traditional small card ticket at South Merton - a standard single to Wimbledon; replaced by new technology APTIS (booking office) and PORTIS (on train) ticket machines (see 29 June 1989).
27-28 August 1988 - London Bridge rail event sees large gathering of locomotives new and old, including steam.
-- August 1988 - Slade Green announced as base for new Networker trains on Kent services from mid-1990, the depot to be suitably upgraded for the EMUs with the existing maintenance and repair shops accordingly closed from March 1989.
3-4 September 1988 - Thanet Gala Weekend at Margate and Ramsgate is graced by ‘Deltic’ No D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey as star attraction; 4-SUB heritage unit No 4732 operates ‘Thanet Belle’ shuttle specials between the two stations.
5 September 1988 - London King’s Cross made open station with ticket barriers removed and replaced by on-train ticket checks.
5 September 1988 - Stansted Airport rail link construction achieves major milestone with ceremonial completion of M11 motorway bridge over the route.
9 September 1988 - Watford Junction reconstructed station formally completed upon conclusion of platform improvement works; the new booking hall and travel centre had opened on 22 September 1985.
15 September 1988 - 321301 is ceremonially handed over to NSE at BREL York - just one year after the order was placed - the first of 41 for Great Eastern followed by five for London Euston - Northampton - Birmingham services; it is accepted into traffic at Ilford depot on 29 November and enters service late-December.
18 September 1988 - BRML Eastleigh open day celebrates the 150th anniversary of the LSWR.
24-25 September 1988 - ‘Winchfield 150’ LSWR anniversary event; this and the Romsey - Andover steam specials the same weekend are the last to be organised by Salisbury Area Manager Gerald Daniels as he departs to a new post at NSE headquarters.
-- September 1988-March 1989 - London Waterloo - Exeter St Davids six-month Class 47/4 haulage trials utilising 47473/547/587 for intended use on the route; however, reliability proves little better than the existing Class 50s which are thus to be retained in the immediate term, pending future stock decisions for the line.
1 October 1988 - Network Day put on again, with London Waterloo rail event hosting big locomotive and rolling stock exhibition - including Merchant Navy Pacific No 35028 Clan Line, the first back at the station since 1967.
1 October 1988 - Uckfield line 100th anniversary gala day.
1 October 1988 - BRML Wolverton open day marks LNWR 150th anniversary.
2 October 1988 - Cricklewood depot closed, with servicing of Thameslink Class 319/0s EMUs transferred to the new facility at Selhurst.
3 October 1988 - Arlesey re-opened at cost of £630,000; ceremonial opening by Chris Green with day of free use on the 1st; the station had previously closed on 5 January 1959.
3 October 1988 - Martins Heron new station opened.
3 October 1988 - London King’s Cross suburban Platform No 11 re-opened to accommodate increased services; previously closed 5 December 1976 and infilled to widen adjacent No 10.
3 October 1988 - London Waterloo - Exeter first Class 47 diagrams introduced - the locomotives will eventually oust the popular Class 50s currently used.
3 October 1988 - Thameslink Class 317/1 EMUs use ceases - some had been retained to operate London St Pancras/Moorgate - Bedford peak services - even gaining Thameslink route logos! - pending delivery of new Class 319/0s.
12 October 1988 - Class 319/1 - 20 EMUs for Thameslink and Class 321 - 30 additional for Anglia (25 - adding to the 46 already on order) and Northampton line (5) all authorised to provide increased capacity to handle dramatic traffic growth. The Class 319/1s will have First Class accommodation unlike the initial 60 (319001-60) built as Standard Class only and which had led to complaints from Brighton commuters amongst others; the order is subsequently increased to 26 (319161-86) to include replacement vehicles for those lost in the Clapham Junction (12 December 1988) and Purley (4 March 1989) accidents through stock cascading.
12 October 1988 - Eltham £1m new station buildings formally completed.
21 October 1988 - Aylesford £250,000 station building refurbishment completed.
21 October 1988 - Medway Valley (Strood - Paddock Wood) line £4m resignalling announced, due for completion June 1990, the line to be controlled from Maidstone West signal box with colour lights replacing existing semaphores.
Note: This scheme was never commissioned but resignalling finally came in 2005 when new colour lights were installed controlled mostly from the existing boxes along the line.
24 October 1988 - How Wood £81,000 new station opened - NSE’s 939th - on site of Park Street (previously closed 24 May 1890).
29 October, 5, 12 and 19 November 1988 - London Marylebone - Milton Keynes Central Saturday Christmas ‘Shoppers Specials’ laid on again after success of these trains the previous year, calling at all stations to Aylesbury thence Quainton Road and Winslow on the freight-only route via Clayton to Bletchley; over 1200 passengers travelled on the four trains.
30 October 1988 - Brading - Sandown line singled and signal boxes at both places closed with passing loop retained at Sandown; Ryde St Johns Road signal box now the last remaining on the NSE line and controls all signalling.
-- October 1988 - Medway Valley (Strood - Paddock Wood) services go over to 4-CEP EMUs providing greatly improved comfort over the 2-EPBs they replace.
-- October 1988 - Thameslink 0610 ex Brighton has some seats in rear DTSO vehicle allocated for First Class following complaints from season ticket holders; the Class 319/0s were built with Standard Class accommodation only - the 26 additional Class 319/1s will have First Class seating.
1 November 1988 - Northampton Line awarded Minister of State for Transport’s Cup by Michael Portillo for being the most improved NSE route over the previous six months.
4 November 1988 - 319060 taken into traffic - the last of Thameslink’s 60 Class 319/0s.
5 November 1988 - Greenwich station commemorative plaque unveiled to mark the London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary.
7 November 1988 - London Holborn Viaduct Platform 1 abolished to enable work to begin on new Thameslink route underground deviation and St Paul’s Thameslink station (see 29 January and 29 May 1990).
11 November 1988 - Shepperton refurbishment formally completed.
12 November 1988 - NSE attends The Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London, with road float replica ‘321301’ representing the new Anglia Electrics EMUs.
25 November 1988 - London King’s Cross redevelopment Bill deposited in Parliament.
28 November 1988 - Chelmsford upgrading first phase formally completed in ceremony performed by HRH The Duke of Gloucester; the work had officially commenced on 5 November 1986; the outstanding phase consists of platform level improvements including canopy extensions.
-- November 1988 - Poole reconstructed station building partially opened.
11 December 1988 - Poole collision between Class 442 No 2417 and a concrete mixer placed on the track by vandals severely damages the EMU.
12 December 1988 - Clapham Junction double collision in morning peak - the 0614 Poole (starting from Branksome this morning) - London Waterloo formed of 12-car 4-REP/4-TC 2003+8027/15 runs into the back of the 0718 ex Basingstoke comprising 12-car 4-VEP 3033/3119/3005 detained at signals on the Up Fast - the wreckage then hit by the 0803 London Waterloo - Haslemere empty stock working - 8-car 4-VEP 3004/3425 passing on the down Fast; the tragedy sees 35 die with nearly 500 injured; the line is rapidly cleared and reopened by the 14th.
The resulting accident inquiry is led by Anthony Hidden, QC, his report published on 7 November 1989 concludes direct cause was faulty signal wiring in Clapham Junction A signal box relay room - the result of ‘dangerous’ work standards, with bad management and communications; 93 recommendations are made - 71 directly applicable to BR; the knock-on effect of the report is a delay to future resignalling schemes due to adoption of the more rigorous work standards recommended.
12 December 1988 - Harlequin Line - London Euston (Camden Junction) - Watford Junction local (DC) lines resignalling replaces obsolete 1930s LMSR colour lights; controlled from new Willesden Suburban signalling centre; Harrow & Wealdstone No 2 and Willesden Low Level boxes closed.
11 January 1988 - Bournemouth (Branksome) - Weymouth electrification official energisation ceremony at Wareham; 3rd rail now extends the whole way from London Waterloo to Weymouth.
15 January 1988 - Littlehampton £600,000 reconstruction official completion.
31 January 1988 - Higham tunnel closed by flooding after sustained heavy rain; Class 33 haulage and DMUs sustain interim services over the Gravesend - Rochester section until the tunnels can be dried out and damaged electrical equipments repaired - normal working resumes 22 February.
7 February 1988 - Drayton Park - Moorgate major accident and evacuation exercise staged in wake of the London Underground King’s Cross fire disaster (see 18 November 1987).
9 February 1988 - Tottenham Hale train ‘hijack’ by commuters who sit-in after service is delayed an hour due points failure - then are told it will not make intermediate calls!
10 February 1988 - St Albans Abbey buffer stop overrun by terminating DMU service from Watford Junction luckily does not injure any of the 17 passengers on board.
10 February 1988 - Nunhead landslip repairs completed enabling restoration of services.
12 February 1988 - ‘Serviceman’ first car servicing depot on South Western Division opened at Winchester station; many more are planned across NSE, providing an attractive facility for commuters to have their car servicing needs attended to whilst they are at work.
13 February 1988 - Portsmouth & Southsea £1.75m rebuilding requires temporary suspension of services to Portsmouth Harbour for six weeks.
15 February 1988 - Winnersh £110,000 upgrading officially completed.
19 February 1988 - London Paddington highly rare visit by DEMU 205032 from Eastleigh depot working 0045 ex-Reading due to a late running Manchester service.
-- February 1988 - London Euston - Northampton train-signal box radios awarded to Westinghouse.
1 March 1988 - Liss collision between 33001 and an EMU held at signals; the locomotive - the first Class 33 to be built - is seriously damaged and soon condemned at Eastleigh (17th).
4 March 1988 - Selhurst sees another sit-in when angry commuters refuse to leave the 1901 ex-London Victoria until a connection to Sutton is assured.
9 March 1988 - NSE unveils £160m scheme to improve the environment at all 935 stations over the next seven years - the 60 busiest to be given priority; redevelopment, improved car parks and enhanced security are included.
10 March 1988 - Class 423 4-VEP major refurbishment programme announced; the £17m four-year scheme will be undertaken at BRML Eastleigh covering the fleet of over 190 EMUs (768 vehicles), to include increased Standard accommodation, 18 extra seats provided on each unit in the MBSO by utilising part of the former mails area, now too big for current needs. Refurbished units renumbered from 3001+ to 3401+ series, but not in consecutive order.
23 March 1988 - Deborah Linsley, a 26-year old hotel manager from Petts Wood in Kent, is tragically murdered aboard the 1416 Orpington - London Victoria; the attack took place in a closed compartment of a 4-EPB EMU, and hastens the end of such stock, which survives in reducing numbers but not finally due to be eradicated until Class 465 Networkers are delivered in the early-1990s. Interim measures:
-red bands added at cantrail level to easily identify to passengers compartments on 4-EPBs and Great Eastern/London Tilbury & Southend line Class 302 EMUs;
-compartment stock eliminated as far as possible from off-peak services;
-32 Class 415/1 4-EPBs with intermediate TS - including compartments - and TSO
reformed to have two TS vehicles, re-designated Class 415/5 4-EPB Nos 5501-32, deployed on peak services only - when compartments would generally have multi-occupancy.
26 March 1988 - Bournemouth depot first ever open day showcases new Class 442 5-WES ‘Wessex Electrics’ EMUs amongst many other exhibits.
31 March 1988 - BR annual report 1987/8: NSE commuters up 5% over the past year - 15% since 1985 - with off-peak travel increased by 23%; subsidy down 34% over the last three years.
-- March 1988 - London Victoria new Railair terminal officially opened by HM The Queen; located at Victoria Place this is a BR/British Airways joint venture.
-- March 1988 - Farnborough booking hall improvements completed.
1 April 1988 - BR Anglia Region formed - takes over East Anglia from Eastern Region - Hertford East, Meldreth and Whittlesea forming western boundary points of routes into London Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street; General Manager is John Edmonds.
7 April 1988 - Three Bridges runaway of empty EMU which fortunately stops on the upgrade near Salfords - enabling the Driver of another train to apply the brakes.
10 April 1988 - Stewarts Lane depot open day features ‘Deltic’ No D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey; a shuttle service from London Victoria is provided by DEMUs 205002 and 207002.
14 April 1988 - London Waterloo - Weymouth new speed record of 1hr 59min 24sec by Class 442s Nos 2401/3 includes 109mph maximum - world’s fastest for 750v DC 3rd rail traction.
15 April 1988 - Class 456 2-car EMU order approved for 24 units for deployment on South London suburban services.
16 April 1988 - Network Day is held again after previous successes and this time is the occasion for a London Bridge - Brighton new non-stop record of 39min 14sec set by 319031/3 with similar high-speed on the return Brighton - London Victoria run covered in 38min 56sec.
20 April 1988 - Portsmouth - Southampton and Eastleigh ‘Hantsway’ electrification authorised.
25 April 1988 - Thameslink is formally opened by HRH The Princess Royal in a dual ceremony at Blackfriars station at the same time launching Save the Children Week in her role as its President and unveiling the charity’s logo on 319036 (vehicle 71807); public services commence with BR’s new timetable on 16th May.
26 April 1988 - Kettering - Corby services see steep 60% fare rises in order to quell growing losses; Corby platform is raised and CCTV provided to curb vandalism.
-- April 1988 - SR Central and Eastern train-signal box radio contract placed for introduction from 1989.
2 May 1988 - Royston - Shepreth Branch Junction electrification inaugurated with special Bank Holiday Monday Royston - Cambridge EMU shuttles; the catenary had been energised 4 April with full electrified services to be introduced on 16 May.
2 May 1988 - Colchester depot in the newly-formed Anglia Region holds open day with a wide range of stock displayed.
6-29 May 1988 - Brighton International Festival is sponsored by NSE in celebration of the new Thameslink services introduced on the 16th.
9 May 1988 - Wraysbury bridge over drainage channel washed away by sudden floods disabling Windsor & Eton Riverside services - a temporary bridge quickly installed allows trains to resume from the 12th.
16 May 1988 - new timetable highlights:
-Thameslink cross-London services commence via reinstated London Snow Hill link between Farringdon and Blackfriars; London King’s Cross Midland City renamed London King’s Cross Thameslink; Farringdon - Moorgate now restricted to peak-hours only service;
-London Euston - Northampton: off-peak services doubled to half-hourly frequency, with three per hour as far as Milton Keynes Central; Class 317/1 EMUs introduced, displaced from the London - Bedford line by new Thameslink Class 319/0 stock; the 100mph-capable EMUs will allow accelerated Northampton line services to be introduced, the 75mph Class 310 EMUs they replace being transferred to the Great Eastern line;
-London Euston - Watford Junction: augmented by extension of LT Bakerloo line trains north of Queens Park to Harrow & Wealdstone, Monday-Saturday, doubling services to 10 minute frequency over this section;
-London Waterloo - Weymouth Wessex Electrics improved services introduced with new Class 442 5-WES EMUs - although their late delivery forces some interim working, existing (reformed) REP/TC stock continuing in use with Class 73 haulage;
-London King’s Cross - Cambridge through services re-established with EMUs upon completion of Royston - Shepreth Branch Junction electrification;
-Newbury Racecourse used by all services from this date - previously specials only;
-improved services on many other routes to cope with burgeoning traffic.
23 May 1988 - Guildford reconstruction commences to provide brand new station buildings in association with an adjacent office redevelopment scheme.
27 May 1988 - London King’s Cross - Cambridge loco-hauled services temporarily return, diverted from London Liverpool Street due vandalism damage to the overhead catenary at Broxbourne; 310057/66 also see rare usage on the route.
28-29 May 1988 - Bedford station sidings open weekend celebrates new Thameslink services with diverse rolling stock on display; complements the town’s bi-annual river festival held coincidentally and sponsored this year by NSE; Jaffa cake-liveried ‘Clacton’ EMU 309618 works several return specials to London St Pancras (28th); Bedford - Bletchley line hosts Sunday services - the first such for over 20 years (29th).
29-30 May 1988 - Woking 150 rail event - the biggest on BR during the year. This time the 150th anniversary of the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) is commemorated, with eight ex-SR steam locomotives in attendance.
2 June 1988 - London King’s Cross £2bn redevelopment and area regeneration authorised - a new low-level international station will be served by Channel Tunnel trains, a joint high-level concourse linking with adjacent London St Pancras.
7 June 1988 - London Bridge commuter services to Sutton and West Croydon reduced due to staff shortages.
10 June 1988 - Chiltern Line £50m Total Route Modernisation announced - new ‘Networker Turbo’ DMUs and upgraded infrastructure will bring London Marylebone - Aylesbury/High Wycombe thoroughly up to date with much improved and faster services; new DMU depot at Aylesbury, redevelopment of the London terminus and improvements to all stations; first part is an £11m resignalling of the route controlled by a new IECC at Marylebone, replacing the many obsolete mechanical boxes.
18 June 1988 - ‘Harlequin Line’ route identity and logo for London Euston - Watford Junction local services unveiled on 313009 at the Wembley Central rail gala day;
name derived from HAtch End, HARLEsden and QUeens Park stations with coloured triangles based on the Harlequin’s costume; marks NSE’s inaugural total route refurbishment now underway, covering trains and stations, with introduction of improved security, enhanced passenger information systems and full resignalling. The name was the result of a public competition - similar now to be held to choose a route identity for London Euston - Northampton services.
25 June 1988 - Class 457 test EMU No 457001 equipped with the AC motor and control equipment package for the new Class 465 Networkers makes its first trip on trial from Strawberry Hill depot.
27 June 1988 - SR Central Division cancels 55 trains daily until further notice due to continuing train staff shortages; high property prices are blamed for the inability to recruit newcomers to fill vacancies.
28 June 1988 - St Albans derailment of the Stewartby - Cricklewood ‘binliner’ refuse empties strike a 319/0 EMU working the 2033 Three Bridges - Bedford injuring its driver.
5 July 1988 - Portslade - Angmering £3m resignalling ceremonially marked by BR Chairman Sir Robert Reid who unveils a commemorative plaque in Lancing signal box which now controls this section, including newly-upgraded level crossings with CCTV monitoring; seven boxes are closed, the resignalling commissioned in three stages, on 15 May, 4 and 30 June.
9 July 1988 - Great Northern final Class 312s - Nos 312720/1 - reallocated from Hornsey to Clacton depot, Great Eastern lines; the ‘312s resident on the GN route since electrification in 1977 now superseded by Class 317/1s ex-Midland Electrics.
11 July 1988 - Watford Junction - St Albans Abbey electrified services introduced, Class 313s taking over from DMUs; the catenary was energised on the 4th.
14 July 1988 - Channel Tunnel Rail Link options announced by BR covering 4 different routes to London termini at either King’s Cross, Stratford or White City.
19 July 1988 - BR Corporate Plan 1988-93 includes continuing high investment though against a background of reducing subsidy, reflecting tough financial targets set by Government; planned electrifications include Ashford - Hastings and Cambridge - King’s Lynn.
20 July 1988 - London Paddington ‘Heathrow Express’ high-speed rail link scheme given Government approval; -- November 1988 - Bill introduced in Parliament; the project will be jointly funded by British Airports Authority and NSE.
22 July 1988 - Chris Green presented with the Illustrated London News ‘Londoner of the Year’ award at the Capital’s Waldorf hotel.
23-24 July 1988 - Salisbury - Yeovil Junction and Romsey ‘Blackmore Vale Express’ steam specials celebrate the 150th anniversary of the LSWR.
25 July 1988 - Michael Portillo appointed Minister of State for Public Transport in replacement of David Mitchell; Portillo has already served as Personal Secretary to Secretary of State for Transport Paul Channon.
26 July 1988 - Battersea viaduct arch is 500th to be refurbished for private business use by BR Property Board.
28 July 1988 - Fareham first conductor rail-laying ceremony inaugurates work on the Portsmouth - Eastleigh/Southampton electrification and is an early duty for new Public Transport Minister Michael Portillo.
29 July 1988 - SR issues its last Edmondson-style traditional small card ticket at South Merton - a standard single to Wimbledon; replaced by new technology APTIS (booking office) and PORTIS (on train) ticket machines (see 29 June 1989).
27-28 August 1988 - London Bridge rail event sees large gathering of locomotives new and old, including steam.
-- August 1988 - Slade Green announced as base for new Networker trains on Kent services from mid-1990, the depot to be suitably upgraded for the EMUs with the existing maintenance and repair shops accordingly closed from March 1989.
3-4 September 1988 - Thanet Gala Weekend at Margate and Ramsgate is graced by ‘Deltic’ No D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey as star attraction; 4-SUB heritage unit No 4732 operates ‘Thanet Belle’ shuttle specials between the two stations.
5 September 1988 - London King’s Cross made open station with ticket barriers removed and replaced by on-train ticket checks.
5 September 1988 - Stansted Airport rail link construction achieves major milestone with ceremonial completion of M11 motorway bridge over the route.
9 September 1988 - Watford Junction reconstructed station formally completed upon conclusion of platform improvement works; the new booking hall and travel centre had opened on 22 September 1985.
15 September 1988 - 321301 is ceremonially handed over to NSE at BREL York - just one year after the order was placed - the first of 41 for Great Eastern followed by five for London Euston - Northampton - Birmingham services; it is accepted into traffic at Ilford depot on 29 November and enters service late-December.
18 September 1988 - BRML Eastleigh open day celebrates the 150th anniversary of the LSWR.
24-25 September 1988 - ‘Winchfield 150’ LSWR anniversary event; this and the Romsey - Andover steam specials the same weekend are the last to be organised by Salisbury Area Manager Gerald Daniels as he departs to a new post at NSE headquarters.
-- September 1988-March 1989 - London Waterloo - Exeter St Davids six-month Class 47/4 haulage trials utilising 47473/547/587 for intended use on the route; however, reliability proves little better than the existing Class 50s which are thus to be retained in the immediate term, pending future stock decisions for the line.
1 October 1988 - Network Day put on again, with London Waterloo rail event hosting big locomotive and rolling stock exhibition - including Merchant Navy Pacific No 35028 Clan Line, the first back at the station since 1967.
1 October 1988 - Uckfield line 100th anniversary gala day.
1 October 1988 - BRML Wolverton open day marks LNWR 150th anniversary.
2 October 1988 - Cricklewood depot closed, with servicing of Thameslink Class 319/0s EMUs transferred to the new facility at Selhurst.
3 October 1988 - Arlesey re-opened at cost of £630,000; ceremonial opening by Chris Green with day of free use on the 1st; the station had previously closed on 5 January 1959.
3 October 1988 - Martins Heron new station opened.
3 October 1988 - London King’s Cross suburban Platform No 11 re-opened to accommodate increased services; previously closed 5 December 1976 and infilled to widen adjacent No 10.
3 October 1988 - London Waterloo - Exeter first Class 47 diagrams introduced - the locomotives will eventually oust the popular Class 50s currently used.
3 October 1988 - Thameslink Class 317/1 EMUs use ceases - some had been retained to operate London St Pancras/Moorgate - Bedford peak services - even gaining Thameslink route logos! - pending delivery of new Class 319/0s.
12 October 1988 - Class 319/1 - 20 EMUs for Thameslink and Class 321 - 30 additional for Anglia (25 - adding to the 46 already on order) and Northampton line (5) all authorised to provide increased capacity to handle dramatic traffic growth. The Class 319/1s will have First Class accommodation unlike the initial 60 (319001-60) built as Standard Class only and which had led to complaints from Brighton commuters amongst others; the order is subsequently increased to 26 (319161-86) to include replacement vehicles for those lost in the Clapham Junction (12 December 1988) and Purley (4 March 1989) accidents through stock cascading.
12 October 1988 - Eltham £1m new station buildings formally completed.
21 October 1988 - Aylesford £250,000 station building refurbishment completed.
21 October 1988 - Medway Valley (Strood - Paddock Wood) line £4m resignalling announced, due for completion June 1990, the line to be controlled from Maidstone West signal box with colour lights replacing existing semaphores.
Note: This scheme was never commissioned but resignalling finally came in 2005 when new colour lights were installed controlled mostly from the existing boxes along the line.
24 October 1988 - How Wood £81,000 new station opened - NSE’s 939th - on site of Park Street (previously closed 24 May 1890).
29 October, 5, 12 and 19 November 1988 - London Marylebone - Milton Keynes Central Saturday Christmas ‘Shoppers Specials’ laid on again after success of these trains the previous year, calling at all stations to Aylesbury thence Quainton Road and Winslow on the freight-only route via Clayton to Bletchley; over 1200 passengers travelled on the four trains.
30 October 1988 - Brading - Sandown line singled and signal boxes at both places closed with passing loop retained at Sandown; Ryde St Johns Road signal box now the last remaining on the NSE line and controls all signalling.
-- October 1988 - Medway Valley (Strood - Paddock Wood) services go over to 4-CEP EMUs providing greatly improved comfort over the 2-EPBs they replace.
-- October 1988 - Thameslink 0610 ex Brighton has some seats in rear DTSO vehicle allocated for First Class following complaints from season ticket holders; the Class 319/0s were built with Standard Class accommodation only - the 26 additional Class 319/1s will have First Class seating.
1 November 1988 - Northampton Line awarded Minister of State for Transport’s Cup by Michael Portillo for being the most improved NSE route over the previous six months.
4 November 1988 - 319060 taken into traffic - the last of Thameslink’s 60 Class 319/0s.
5 November 1988 - Greenwich station commemorative plaque unveiled to mark the London & Greenwich Railway 150th anniversary.
7 November 1988 - London Holborn Viaduct Platform 1 abolished to enable work to begin on new Thameslink route underground deviation and St Paul’s Thameslink station (see 29 January and 29 May 1990).
11 November 1988 - Shepperton refurbishment formally completed.
12 November 1988 - NSE attends The Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London, with road float replica ‘321301’ representing the new Anglia Electrics EMUs.
25 November 1988 - London King’s Cross redevelopment Bill deposited in Parliament.
28 November 1988 - Chelmsford upgrading first phase formally completed in ceremony performed by HRH The Duke of Gloucester; the work had officially commenced on 5 November 1986; the outstanding phase consists of platform level improvements including canopy extensions.
-- November 1988 - Poole reconstructed station building partially opened.
11 December 1988 - Poole collision between Class 442 No 2417 and a concrete mixer placed on the track by vandals severely damages the EMU.
12 December 1988 - Clapham Junction double collision in morning peak - the 0614 Poole (starting from Branksome this morning) - London Waterloo formed of 12-car 4-REP/4-TC 2003+8027/15 runs into the back of the 0718 ex Basingstoke comprising 12-car 4-VEP 3033/3119/3005 detained at signals on the Up Fast - the wreckage then hit by the 0803 London Waterloo - Haslemere empty stock working - 8-car 4-VEP 3004/3425 passing on the down Fast; the tragedy sees 35 die with nearly 500 injured; the line is rapidly cleared and reopened by the 14th.
The resulting accident inquiry is led by Anthony Hidden, QC, his report published on 7 November 1989 concludes direct cause was faulty signal wiring in Clapham Junction A signal box relay room - the result of ‘dangerous’ work standards, with bad management and communications; 93 recommendations are made - 71 directly applicable to BR; the knock-on effect of the report is a delay to future resignalling schemes due to adoption of the more rigorous work standards recommended.
12 December 1988 - Harlequin Line - London Euston (Camden Junction) - Watford Junction local (DC) lines resignalling replaces obsolete 1930s LMSR colour lights; controlled from new Willesden Suburban signalling centre; Harrow & Wealdstone No 2 and Willesden Low Level boxes closed.