27 November 1991 - London Crossrail Bill deposited in Parliament - but Thameslink 2000 progress is stalled by failure of Government to back the South London Railways Bill, key to the project.
Note: Though NSE continues to vigorously plan and promote Thameslink 2000, the recession and privatisation combine to put back the project into the new Millennium, when it is re-launched as the ‘Thameslink Programme’. Now costing £6bn, funding was finally authorised in 2007, with phased completion 2011-8. Similar factors also delay Crossrail - eventually also approved 2007, services due to start in 2018. 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. 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. 29 November 1989 - Ingatestone £177,000 refurbishment completed. 30 November 1992 - Tilbury Riverside closed due to declining usage. 30 November 1993 - Network South Central Croydon Training Centre officially opened by ASLEF General Secretary Lew Adams. -- November 1988 - Poole reconstructed station building partially opened. |
-- November 1992 - London Victoria new £7m Victoria Island retail development opened.
1 December 1987 - Networker Class 465 EMU mock-up No ‘465501’ ceremonially unveiled at London Victoria concourse. 1 December 1987 - 319004/5 operate special from London Victoria conveying Secretary of State for Transport Paul Channon on a tour of the SR, including visiting the new Thameslink servicing facility at Selhurst and a trip over the restored Snow Hill link between London Blackfriars and Farringdon. 1 December 1987 - 319005 is the first of the class to enter service and in the evening works a London St Pancras - Luton peak extra, achieved in 23min 30sec - ½min faster than the previous best start-to-stop timing by a Class 317. 1 December 1992 - Kent Link Networker services officially launched at London Cannon Street by Transport Sectretary John MacGregor. 2 December 1991 - Crossrail Class 341 Networker-based EMU mock-up - ‘341001’ Driving Trailer ‘77958’* - unveiled on concourse at London Paddington. *Class 341 never built - 77958 used for Class 321/4 321416 Driving Trailer. 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. |
A personal tribute by Mark Battle - Inspired from memories... |