the jourknow: Trains

Saturday, 12 January 2013

New train station planned for Rochester

A new station for residents in Rochester could help improve train services.

Network Rail plans to move the current station to a new site to allow more passengers to use the station, and allow for a more reliable, quicker service.

The current station, just off Rochester High Street, has few car parking spaces and platforms that can only accommodate 10-carriage trains.

With regeneration on Rochester Riverside already underway, passenger numbers are expected to rise by 30% over the next few years, meaning the current station will be inadequate to support the growing population.

Addressing these figures, Network Rail have proposed to move the current station to Corporation Road Car Park as part of a £25million investment in rail infrastructure.

With more car parking spaces and longer platforms accommodating for 12-carriage and more passengers, it is hoped the plan will prove a hit with the local council and local people.

Councillor Rodney Chambers, Medway Council Leader and Regeneration Lead, said: “If this proposal gets the go ahead it will lead to a new, better train station for Rochester

“It will result in a quicker, more reliable service with more space for passengers,” he added.

The station would be closer to the main town centre then the current station, with a new subway planned to link the station to the shopping parade. Train users would also benefit from being closer to the main bus routes running through the town.

If approved, the station would take up 1/3 of the land on Corporation Road, and would be scheduled to open in 2015.

It is believed Network Rail will submit a planning application for the proposals later this year.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.16 - The final countdown

I have said it before and I will say it again, New Zealand really is a magical, intriguing country to visit on holiday, and one I had fallen in love with over the last few weeks of my adventure down under.

On the last day of my holiday, the sun sadly turned to rain, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the last few moments I had left on the South Island. Looking to make the most of the last day, my family and I set off to enjoy a few of the sites of Dunedin city.

Our first stop was at St. Clair’s beach. This golden beach, with waves perfect for surfing, is usually packed with tourists and locals on a sunny day, but on a windy and wet day, it was empty. The beach offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean, and was surprisingly peaceful despite on the edge of the busy city.

Taking photos and walking bare footed across the sand, it was great to feel the sand between my toes one last time. Despite the weather, the temperature was still warm, and the weather held off whilst I took some fantastic shots of the beach.

After the beach, we did a quick shopping trip in the city centre. Shopping in New Zealand is a mix of commercial chains and boutique stores, and there’s certainly something for everyone in Dunedin. Stopping off at the Cathedral for a few pics, I then went in search of gifts to give to my family. Luckily, a tourist shop is situated right by the cathedral, so I didn’t have too far to go.

We then went for one last meal at an amazing steak house on the busy high street. Enjoying my succulent medium-rare steak, it rounded off a month’s worth of food that I had thoroughly enjoyed eating.

Getting in the car and heading towards the suburbs, we stopped off at one of Dunedin’s most iconic buildings, the train station. Despite mainly used for freight and tour trains, the station is a fantastic structure of colour and gothic architecture, and inside was even more spectacular. Here you’ll find many tourists wondering around, and the atmosphere was lively. You’ll even find the Cadbury chocolate factory nearby, which sadly I didn’t have time to visit (maybe next time!)

Our last stop was at the mysterious Dunedin Chinese Garden. Having never been to a Chinese garden before, I was unsure of what to expect as we walked in. A Chinese garden, it turns out, is mainly a garden structured around a big pond, with a waterfall, water plants and rock features. Although there were fewer flowers than I had expected, the garden was spectacular to look round, and was a peaceful, quiet haven away from the busy city.

The garden also hosts Tai Chi classes, a tearooms and an activity centre, which allowed you to try on different costumes (which I did, of course), play mind games, and solve puzzles. It was a peculiar place, and despite being a recent project, it seemed to have just as much history as the rest of the town!

So that was it. After a quick visit to see our cousins, one sleep and a tearful goodbye to my family, I was back on the plane heading for old Blighty. It’s hard to sum up my time in New Zealand, there’s just not enough words to describe the fantastic time I had over there. It really was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday that I’ll never ever forget. In fact, I’m even tempted to move out there when I’m older! If you ever get the chance to go to New Zealand, or are stuck for holiday ideas, I hope these diaries have tempted you to splash out and enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. You’re guaranteed a fantastic time!

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