THE NETWORK SOUTHEAST ACHIEVEMENT
A CHRONOLOGY OF 12 YEARS FORWARD PROGRESS AND DELIVERY, 1982 - 1994
compiled by John P McCrickard.
January - December 1993
3 January 1993 - new fares increases, reflecting service standards set out in the Passenger’s Charter, with poorer performing routes seeing the lowest rises; NSE average rise is 7.5% - twice inflation - necessary to counter an £80m drop in income during the previous two years caused by a significant fall in commuter travel because of the recession - from a 1989/90 peak of 473,000 to less than 380,000 in 1992.
3 January 1993 - Passenger’s Charter delay compensation payments introduced, in the form of season ticket discounts.
6 January 1993 - Class 159 South Western Turbo first DMU 159004 formally handed over at Rosyth Dockyard after conversion from 158876; 22 Turbos will be deployed on services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, part of a £46m improvement programme for the route; this includes station improvements, platform lengthening and new purpose-built train maintenance depot at Salisbury; originally ordered as Class 158s for Regional Railways the units are refitted by Babcock Thorn at Rosyth Dockyard with First Class accommodation, retention-tank toilets and refrigerated catering trolley stowage as Class 159s for NSE.
14 January 1993 - Stoke Mandeville on Chiltern Line named NSE’s best station based on cleanness, tidiness and excellent customer service.
23 January 1993 - King’s Lynn sees its first Class 305 EMUs when 305412/20 visit on the ‘Last Trad Jazz’ farewell railtour to the 33-year old units on NSE - although some will be exiled to Regional Railways Central/North-West as stop-gaps pending delivery of new Class 323 EMUs.
-- January 1993 - Waterloo - Waterloo East new overhead walkway opened, complete with escalators.
2 February 1993 - Government announces first seven franchises to be privatised - these include NSE’s Isle of Wight, London Tilbury & Southend and South Western Division.
21 February 1993 - Ashford IECC opened with first stage of resignalling covering Chislehurst Junction area where signal box closed and remodelled layout into use.
22 February 1993 - 159004 is first Class 159 to work through to Exeter St David’s on a trial run from London Waterloo.
22 February 1993 - Great Northern Line penalty fares scheme introduced.
1 March 1993 - Waterloo & City line first new Class 482 EMUs delivered from ABB Derby to London Underground Ruislip depot for commissioning; the 10 Class 482s each consist of two cars based on LUL’s new Central Line 1992 stock and built as part of that production run.
2 March 1993 - Class 159s enter service when 159004 forms a London Waterloo - Salisbury relief.
2 March 1993 - Northampton Line smoking ban introduced on all trains; part of gradual extensions in NSE no smoking accommodation.
16 March 1993 - London St Pancras announced as terminal for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in Government Budget Day statement; supersedes the more expensive London King’s Cross International new low-level station option; Thameslink 2000 to now use the existing Thameslink route, upgraded for the purpose (see 24 January 1994).
16 March 1993 - Heathrow Express given go-ahead with expenditure authorised in Government Budget Day statement.
22 March 1993 - Channel Tunnel Rail Link route announced by the Government.
22 March 1993 - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia electric services introduced over the West London line; the 3rd rail was energised from 8 March, including the link to North Pole Eurostar depot; funded by Railfreight Distribution for electrified Channel Tunnel services to WCML destinations.
31 March 1993 - BR annual report 1992/3: NSE London commuting down to 377,000 - 20% fall from peak 473,000 in 1988 - although a small operating surplus of £5m was made.
3 April 1993 - Weymouth Quay tramway receives its first passenger trains since 30 December 1989 when 33109 + 4-TC 410 work shuttle services from/to Weymouth Town; these were preceded by a clearance special on 25 March which saw the first visit to the line of a Class 37 - 37038 + 4-TC 410 + 73109. Occasional specials continue to visit the Quay line throughout the rest of the year.
5 April 1993 - Kent Link penalty fares scheme introduced.
6 April 1993 - Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs official service launch.
7-8 May 1993 - Waterloo & City line first four cars of new Class 482 EMUs delivered by road from London Underground Ruislip depot to Waterloo depot; four more cars follow on 27-29 May with the final 12 moved between 8-13 June; the first test run takes place on 27 June with Driver training starting the next day.
11 May 1993 - Thames Line London Paddington - Oxford Class 166 Turbo Express formal launch with 166202.
11 May 1993 - Exeter Central new £83,000 Travel Shop officially opened.
13 May 1993 - Robert Adley, Conservative MP for Christchurch sadly dies following a heart attack on 23 April; as Chairman of the Transport Select Committee he had been an arch rebel against privatisation.
17 May 1993 - new timetable sustains improvements despite reduced NSE passenger numbers:
-Chiltern Line: London Marylebone - Banbury alternate services extended to Birmingham Snow Hill, giving a two-hourly frequency, Mondays to Saturdays, with three through trains on Sundays; joint initiative with Regional Railways;
-Kent Coast: ‘Kent Clipper’ new branding for off-peak London Victoria - Ramsgate fast trains with enhanced service and special attention to the Class 411/5 EMUs;
-Kent Coast: Sittingbourne - Sheerness branch services doubled to half-hourly with local authority funding for at least two years;
-North London Lines: Watford Junction - Croxley Green reduced to single daily return ‘Parliamentary’ workings to avoid closure, but reflecting continuing low usage;
-South Central: ‘Capital Coast Express’ (delayed till 14 June - see below);
-South Western: Class 205/207 ‘Thumper’ DEMUs give way to new Class 159 South Western Turbo and Class 165 Networker Turbo DMUs on the Reading - Basingstoke - Salisbury route;
-Thames Line: Class 165/166 DMUs extended to Cotswold line, restoring London Paddington - Worcester services throughout the day;
-Thames Line: ‘Thames-Avon Express’ new Class 166 Turbo Express daily return service introduced between London Paddington and Stratford-upon-Avon;
-Thames Line: Class 165 Networker Turbo morning through services from Bourne End and Henley-on-Thames to London Paddington;
-services on many other routes are cut back in response to falling commuter numbers.
17 May 1993 - London Waterloo International formal completion and ceremonial handover to BR; the new station tracks/signalling had been commissioned on 4 April with the nearby connecting Nine Elms flyover from Linford Street Junction following on 2 May; opening to Eurostar services will take place in 1994.
19 May 1993 - Woolwich Arsenal new £1.5m road level entrance hall formally opened by BR Chairman Sir Bob Reid.
28 May 1993 - Waterloo & City line Class 487s final day in service; designed by Bullied, the Southern Railway EMUs were introduced back in 1940; Car No 61 is saved for preservation by the National Railway Museum; both W&C boxes - Bank and Waterloo - are abolished with the line now closed until 19 July for completion of modernisation, resignalling and introduction of new Class 482 EMUs.
30-31 May 1993 - Southend air show is sponsored once again by NSE.
31 May 1993 - Channel Tunnel lines from new Continental Junction (just east of Sandling) commissioned together with Dollands Moor International freight yard - both well in time for commencement of services the following year.
5 June 1993 - Romford - Upminster centenary gala day, with Ilford depot’s celebrity heritage EMU 306017 operating services.
11 June 1993 - Salisbury new train depot for Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs ceremonially opened.
14 June 1993 - South Central ‘Capital Coast Express’ branding introduced for London Victoria - Brighton hourly fasts, with improved passenger accommodation and amenities; Class 421/422 refurbished EMUs are employed, in four combined new Class 422/0 8-DIG formations, Nos 2001-4 (delayed from 17 May new timetable).
10 July 1993 - London Waterloo - Exeter St David’s route last scheduled loco hauled trains, supplanted by new Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs.
12 July 1993 - South Western Turbo London Waterloo - Exeter St Davids full timetable introduced, with accelerated and more frequent services utilising 22 new Class 159 DMUs; delays in the deliveries of the new trains have postponed this timetable for several months.
13-15 July 1993 - Class 465/3 ‘Networker Express’ 465301 demonstrator - temporarily converted from Class 465/0 465037 - displayed at London Waterloo to show ‘Universal Networker’ (previously Class 371) concept suitable for longer distance express services; two coaches have interiors refitted accordingly.
19 July 1993 - Waterloo & City line reopens after closure since 28 May for completion of Total Route Modernisation, including resignalling from new Waterloo W&C signal box and 10 new Class 482 2-car EMUs; a ‘ghost timetable’ had run from 12 July.
26 July 1993 - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia electrified services introduced, Class 455 EMUs taking over from Class 205/207 ‘Thumper’ DEMUs - 207013 making the final trips on 23 July and ending a 36-year reign of these units on the South West Division; electrified services delayed from 22 March thence 17 May new timetable; 3rd rail was energised from 8 March, including the link to North Pole Eurostar depot; funded by Railfreight Distribution for electrified Channel Tunnel services to WCML destinations.
27 September 1993 - Reading DMU depot extension for new Class 165/166s formally opened.
3 October 1993 - 159003 works a London Waterloo - Kingswear through special to the Torbay Steam Railway; en route it receives the name Templecombe during a stop at that station to celebrate 10 years since reopening.
4 October 1993 - new timetable sees Thameslink cease use of London St Pancras, with diversion of last remaining services via London King’s Cross Thameslink.
10 October 1993 - Gatwick Express becomes first shadow rail franchise ready for privatisation.
13 October 1993 - Class 365 ‘Networker Express’ 41 4-car EMUs to be procured under the Government’s £150m train leasing finance (see 12 November 1992); competing InterCity 225 bid for WCML not successful; Class 365 £150m leasing deal between ABB Transportation and Abbey National and Royal Bank of Scotland signed 24 January 1994; the first, 365501, is unveiled at ABB York works November 1994 with deliveries completed 1997 (365501-41).
18-23 October 1993 - London - Bedford 125th anniversary is marked by a week of special events at Thameslink stations along the line.
31 October 1993 - Hertford East branch 150th anniversary gala day - with heritage EMU 306017 out working extra services.
5 November 1993 - Railways Act for the privatisation of BR receives Royal Assent.
9 November 1993 - Director of Passenger Rail Franchising Roger Salmon appointed to implement privatisation of BR passenger services from 1 April 1994.
22 November 1993 - Thames Line completes introduction of Class 165/166 DMUs with deployment on the Reading - Gatwick route.
23 November 1993 - London Marylebone - Great Central Hotel porte cochere wrought iron canopy link restoration formally completed with unveiling of commemorative plaque.
28 November 1993 - 465037 Networker Express demonstrator (aka 465301) visits Ely, hauled dead by 317367, during gauging trials on the Great Northern routes for the new Class 365 Networker Express EMUs.
30 November 1993 - Network South Central Croydon Training Centre officially opened by ASLEF General Secretary Lew Adams.
2 December 1993 - Great Eastern 321334 dons Dutch Railways yellow/blue livery plus logos and is named ‘Amsterdam’ at London Liverpool Street to commemorate twinning of the terminus with Amsterdam Central.
10 December 1993 - Thameslink 319008/9 works special through the Channel Tunnel, from Cheriton to Coquelles, celebrating handover of the completed tunnel from builders Trans Manche Link to Eurotunnel.
22 December 1993 - London Waterloo International welcomes its first Eurostar when set 3101/2 works a staff training special; the official inaugural visit takes place on 14 February 1994 when 3003/4 operates a ceremonial special from North Pole depot - the first conveying passengers, including Transport Secretary John MacGregor and Minister Roger Freeman; international services to Paris and Brussels will commence on 14 November 1994.
3 January 1993 - Passenger’s Charter delay compensation payments introduced, in the form of season ticket discounts.
6 January 1993 - Class 159 South Western Turbo first DMU 159004 formally handed over at Rosyth Dockyard after conversion from 158876; 22 Turbos will be deployed on services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, part of a £46m improvement programme for the route; this includes station improvements, platform lengthening and new purpose-built train maintenance depot at Salisbury; originally ordered as Class 158s for Regional Railways the units are refitted by Babcock Thorn at Rosyth Dockyard with First Class accommodation, retention-tank toilets and refrigerated catering trolley stowage as Class 159s for NSE.
14 January 1993 - Stoke Mandeville on Chiltern Line named NSE’s best station based on cleanness, tidiness and excellent customer service.
23 January 1993 - King’s Lynn sees its first Class 305 EMUs when 305412/20 visit on the ‘Last Trad Jazz’ farewell railtour to the 33-year old units on NSE - although some will be exiled to Regional Railways Central/North-West as stop-gaps pending delivery of new Class 323 EMUs.
-- January 1993 - Waterloo - Waterloo East new overhead walkway opened, complete with escalators.
2 February 1993 - Government announces first seven franchises to be privatised - these include NSE’s Isle of Wight, London Tilbury & Southend and South Western Division.
21 February 1993 - Ashford IECC opened with first stage of resignalling covering Chislehurst Junction area where signal box closed and remodelled layout into use.
22 February 1993 - 159004 is first Class 159 to work through to Exeter St David’s on a trial run from London Waterloo.
22 February 1993 - Great Northern Line penalty fares scheme introduced.
1 March 1993 - Waterloo & City line first new Class 482 EMUs delivered from ABB Derby to London Underground Ruislip depot for commissioning; the 10 Class 482s each consist of two cars based on LUL’s new Central Line 1992 stock and built as part of that production run.
2 March 1993 - Class 159s enter service when 159004 forms a London Waterloo - Salisbury relief.
2 March 1993 - Northampton Line smoking ban introduced on all trains; part of gradual extensions in NSE no smoking accommodation.
16 March 1993 - London St Pancras announced as terminal for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in Government Budget Day statement; supersedes the more expensive London King’s Cross International new low-level station option; Thameslink 2000 to now use the existing Thameslink route, upgraded for the purpose (see 24 January 1994).
16 March 1993 - Heathrow Express given go-ahead with expenditure authorised in Government Budget Day statement.
22 March 1993 - Channel Tunnel Rail Link route announced by the Government.
22 March 1993 - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia electric services introduced over the West London line; the 3rd rail was energised from 8 March, including the link to North Pole Eurostar depot; funded by Railfreight Distribution for electrified Channel Tunnel services to WCML destinations.
31 March 1993 - BR annual report 1992/3: NSE London commuting down to 377,000 - 20% fall from peak 473,000 in 1988 - although a small operating surplus of £5m was made.
3 April 1993 - Weymouth Quay tramway receives its first passenger trains since 30 December 1989 when 33109 + 4-TC 410 work shuttle services from/to Weymouth Town; these were preceded by a clearance special on 25 March which saw the first visit to the line of a Class 37 - 37038 + 4-TC 410 + 73109. Occasional specials continue to visit the Quay line throughout the rest of the year.
5 April 1993 - Kent Link penalty fares scheme introduced.
6 April 1993 - Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs official service launch.
7-8 May 1993 - Waterloo & City line first four cars of new Class 482 EMUs delivered by road from London Underground Ruislip depot to Waterloo depot; four more cars follow on 27-29 May with the final 12 moved between 8-13 June; the first test run takes place on 27 June with Driver training starting the next day.
11 May 1993 - Thames Line London Paddington - Oxford Class 166 Turbo Express formal launch with 166202.
11 May 1993 - Exeter Central new £83,000 Travel Shop officially opened.
13 May 1993 - Robert Adley, Conservative MP for Christchurch sadly dies following a heart attack on 23 April; as Chairman of the Transport Select Committee he had been an arch rebel against privatisation.
17 May 1993 - new timetable sustains improvements despite reduced NSE passenger numbers:
-Chiltern Line: London Marylebone - Banbury alternate services extended to Birmingham Snow Hill, giving a two-hourly frequency, Mondays to Saturdays, with three through trains on Sundays; joint initiative with Regional Railways;
-Kent Coast: ‘Kent Clipper’ new branding for off-peak London Victoria - Ramsgate fast trains with enhanced service and special attention to the Class 411/5 EMUs;
-Kent Coast: Sittingbourne - Sheerness branch services doubled to half-hourly with local authority funding for at least two years;
-North London Lines: Watford Junction - Croxley Green reduced to single daily return ‘Parliamentary’ workings to avoid closure, but reflecting continuing low usage;
-South Central: ‘Capital Coast Express’ (delayed till 14 June - see below);
-South Western: Class 205/207 ‘Thumper’ DEMUs give way to new Class 159 South Western Turbo and Class 165 Networker Turbo DMUs on the Reading - Basingstoke - Salisbury route;
-Thames Line: Class 165/166 DMUs extended to Cotswold line, restoring London Paddington - Worcester services throughout the day;
-Thames Line: ‘Thames-Avon Express’ new Class 166 Turbo Express daily return service introduced between London Paddington and Stratford-upon-Avon;
-Thames Line: Class 165 Networker Turbo morning through services from Bourne End and Henley-on-Thames to London Paddington;
-services on many other routes are cut back in response to falling commuter numbers.
17 May 1993 - London Waterloo International formal completion and ceremonial handover to BR; the new station tracks/signalling had been commissioned on 4 April with the nearby connecting Nine Elms flyover from Linford Street Junction following on 2 May; opening to Eurostar services will take place in 1994.
19 May 1993 - Woolwich Arsenal new £1.5m road level entrance hall formally opened by BR Chairman Sir Bob Reid.
28 May 1993 - Waterloo & City line Class 487s final day in service; designed by Bullied, the Southern Railway EMUs were introduced back in 1940; Car No 61 is saved for preservation by the National Railway Museum; both W&C boxes - Bank and Waterloo - are abolished with the line now closed until 19 July for completion of modernisation, resignalling and introduction of new Class 482 EMUs.
30-31 May 1993 - Southend air show is sponsored once again by NSE.
31 May 1993 - Channel Tunnel lines from new Continental Junction (just east of Sandling) commissioned together with Dollands Moor International freight yard - both well in time for commencement of services the following year.
5 June 1993 - Romford - Upminster centenary gala day, with Ilford depot’s celebrity heritage EMU 306017 operating services.
11 June 1993 - Salisbury new train depot for Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs ceremonially opened.
14 June 1993 - South Central ‘Capital Coast Express’ branding introduced for London Victoria - Brighton hourly fasts, with improved passenger accommodation and amenities; Class 421/422 refurbished EMUs are employed, in four combined new Class 422/0 8-DIG formations, Nos 2001-4 (delayed from 17 May new timetable).
10 July 1993 - London Waterloo - Exeter St David’s route last scheduled loco hauled trains, supplanted by new Class 159 South Western Turbo DMUs.
12 July 1993 - South Western Turbo London Waterloo - Exeter St Davids full timetable introduced, with accelerated and more frequent services utilising 22 new Class 159 DMUs; delays in the deliveries of the new trains have postponed this timetable for several months.
13-15 July 1993 - Class 465/3 ‘Networker Express’ 465301 demonstrator - temporarily converted from Class 465/0 465037 - displayed at London Waterloo to show ‘Universal Networker’ (previously Class 371) concept suitable for longer distance express services; two coaches have interiors refitted accordingly.
19 July 1993 - Waterloo & City line reopens after closure since 28 May for completion of Total Route Modernisation, including resignalling from new Waterloo W&C signal box and 10 new Class 482 2-car EMUs; a ‘ghost timetable’ had run from 12 July.
26 July 1993 - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia electrified services introduced, Class 455 EMUs taking over from Class 205/207 ‘Thumper’ DEMUs - 207013 making the final trips on 23 July and ending a 36-year reign of these units on the South West Division; electrified services delayed from 22 March thence 17 May new timetable; 3rd rail was energised from 8 March, including the link to North Pole Eurostar depot; funded by Railfreight Distribution for electrified Channel Tunnel services to WCML destinations.
27 September 1993 - Reading DMU depot extension for new Class 165/166s formally opened.
3 October 1993 - 159003 works a London Waterloo - Kingswear through special to the Torbay Steam Railway; en route it receives the name Templecombe during a stop at that station to celebrate 10 years since reopening.
4 October 1993 - new timetable sees Thameslink cease use of London St Pancras, with diversion of last remaining services via London King’s Cross Thameslink.
10 October 1993 - Gatwick Express becomes first shadow rail franchise ready for privatisation.
13 October 1993 - Class 365 ‘Networker Express’ 41 4-car EMUs to be procured under the Government’s £150m train leasing finance (see 12 November 1992); competing InterCity 225 bid for WCML not successful; Class 365 £150m leasing deal between ABB Transportation and Abbey National and Royal Bank of Scotland signed 24 January 1994; the first, 365501, is unveiled at ABB York works November 1994 with deliveries completed 1997 (365501-41).
18-23 October 1993 - London - Bedford 125th anniversary is marked by a week of special events at Thameslink stations along the line.
31 October 1993 - Hertford East branch 150th anniversary gala day - with heritage EMU 306017 out working extra services.
5 November 1993 - Railways Act for the privatisation of BR receives Royal Assent.
9 November 1993 - Director of Passenger Rail Franchising Roger Salmon appointed to implement privatisation of BR passenger services from 1 April 1994.
22 November 1993 - Thames Line completes introduction of Class 165/166 DMUs with deployment on the Reading - Gatwick route.
23 November 1993 - London Marylebone - Great Central Hotel porte cochere wrought iron canopy link restoration formally completed with unveiling of commemorative plaque.
28 November 1993 - 465037 Networker Express demonstrator (aka 465301) visits Ely, hauled dead by 317367, during gauging trials on the Great Northern routes for the new Class 365 Networker Express EMUs.
30 November 1993 - Network South Central Croydon Training Centre officially opened by ASLEF General Secretary Lew Adams.
2 December 1993 - Great Eastern 321334 dons Dutch Railways yellow/blue livery plus logos and is named ‘Amsterdam’ at London Liverpool Street to commemorate twinning of the terminus with Amsterdam Central.
10 December 1993 - Thameslink 319008/9 works special through the Channel Tunnel, from Cheriton to Coquelles, celebrating handover of the completed tunnel from builders Trans Manche Link to Eurotunnel.
22 December 1993 - London Waterloo International welcomes its first Eurostar when set 3101/2 works a staff training special; the official inaugural visit takes place on 14 February 1994 when 3003/4 operates a ceremonial special from North Pole depot - the first conveying passengers, including Transport Secretary John MacGregor and Minister Roger Freeman; international services to Paris and Brussels will commence on 14 November 1994.