RAMSGATE BRANCH NEWS

CAMPAGN TO SAVE THE MINIMUM WAGE

THE BADGE TO COMMEMORATE THE RESTORATION AND RE NAMING OF EX RAMSGATE LOCO MANSTON IS NOW AVAILBLE . COST IS £5.00 PLUS £1.50 FOR POSTAGE IF REQUIRED .

THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION OF 100 INDIVIDUALY NUMBERED BADGES .

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MEMBERS OF THE DINOSAUR CLUB PRESENT A CHEQUE FOR £2,115.77 TO THE HOSPICE .

THE MONEY WAS RAISED BY THEIR SPONSORED WALK . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT .

GRAHAM MORRIS PRESENTS ANDY ADSHEAD WITH HIS 50 YEAR MEDALION

RAMSGATE BRANCH CENTENARY NIGHT

MANSTON STEAMS AGAIN

PETER WILSON HAS PRODUCED A BOOKLET ABOUT HIS GRANDFATHER EDWARD [TED] THOMAS CUCKNEY . TED WAS A MEMBER OF THIS BRANCH FROM 1926 WHEN MARGATE WEST LOCO CLOSED UNTILL HIS RETIREMENT IN NOVEMBER 1952 .

READ ALL ABOUT TED,S LIFE AS A ROYAL DRIVER AND AFTER RETIREMENT AS DRIVER ON THE MINIATURE RAILWAYS AT MARGATE .

2008 CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

THE 50 YEAR MAN

KEITH NORMAN PRESENTS ARTHUR WALKIDEN WITH HIS 50 YEAR BADGE . 15/05/08 .

WHAT HAVE THE UNIONS EVER DONE FOR US?

THOMPSONS SOLICITORS ASBESTOS DAMAGES PETITION

ASBESTOS DAMAGES PETITION

SNCF WORLD RECORD VIDEO

FOR A FREE WILL PACK PHONE 0808 100 8009

PLEASE SIGN THE UNION,S PETITION FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION CAMPAIGN

Prime Minister’s Questions Press Briefings Press Notices Webchats January 2009
Friday 9 January 2009
Electrification - epetition response
We received a petition asking:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to expand the electrification of Britain’s rail network.”

Details of Petition:

” We support ASLEF’s electrification campaign which urges the government to electrify the UK’s rail network as oil prices soar and environmental pressures increase. Electrified railways would be cleaner for drivers and passengers and by using renewable energy sources would reduce carbon emissions and cut reliance on oil. Electric trains will bring future savings because they’re cheaper and require less maintenance than diesel trains. Greater electrification will enhance carrying capacity and improve comfort for passengers and emit between 20-35% less carbon than the diesel equivalent. We believe the short-term, profit-obsessed and fragmented UK rail industry will not permit the necessary and expensive investment necessary for an infrastructure development as vast as electrification. Accordingly on behalf of passengers, trade unionists and environmentalists we urge the Prime Minister to instruct Network Rail to proceed with electrification of the UK’s rail network forthwith, thereby ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable railway for future generations.”


Read the Government’s response
The Government recognises that further electrification of the rail network would deliver a range of environmental benefits notably lower carbon emissions and reductions in emissions of local air pollutants. In general, electric trains are also lighter, quieter, more reliable and cheaper to operate than equivalent diesels. In certain configurations they can carry more people as the transformer takes up less space than a diesel engine.

The Government is working closely with Network Rail and the wider rail industry to identify and prioritise routes where there is a good business case to electrify. In general terms these will be busier routes where the high initial cost of installing electrification can be offset by ongoing savings from running electric trains.
¼br /> The Department for Transport is monitoring progress on the emerging business case for electrification through the newly formed National Networks Strategy Group chaired by Lord Adonis the Minister of State for Transport. The Group will report on progress early in 2009.

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