April, 2020 - [WTM] Railway & Travel News

New opening of Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park Line

April 27, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Metrolink, a light rail system running on Greater Manchester, opened on March 22, 2020 a new line ‘Trafford Park Line’, which connects Cornbrook stop and intu Trafford Centre stop. It branch off the existing route at Pomona stop, west of Cornbrook stop, and cross Trafford Park, the emerging industrial district. They constructed 6 new stops. You can access easilly to “Old Trafford” – Manchester United home ground (Warfside stop), “Northern War Museum” – recording World War I (Imperial War Museum stop) and “intu Trafford Centre” – one of the largest shopping complex in Europe (the same name stop).

Bordeaux Tramway Line D extended from Mairie du Bouscat stop to Cantinolle stop

April 25, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

TBM in Bordeaux, France, expanded from the terminus of the Tramway Line D, Mairie du Bouscat, to the Cantinolle stop in the northwestern suburbs on February 29, 2020, and opened 9 new stops. A new section from the Quinconces stop in the center of Bordeaux to the Mairie du Bouscat stop was newly established on December 2019, and they started operation as a Line D along with a part of the existing Line C. This extension corresponds to the second section.

Operation resumed between Tōjō and Bingo-ochiai stations on JR Geibi Line

April 24, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR Geibi Line (芸備線) between Tōjō (東城) and Bingo-ochiai (備後落合) stations, which had been suspended due to a derailment accident, resumed operation from the first train on April 24, 2020. On March 9, an accident happened that a train climbed up on the earth and sand that flowed into the track between Tōjō and Bingo-yawata (備後八幡) stations, so they were suspending operation to remove the vehicle and perform restoration work.

The station numbering on JR Chūō Line expanded between Hatsukari and Kobuchizawa stations

April 21, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR East has expanded the station numbering on Chūō Line (中央本線) to the section between Hatsukari (初狩) and Kobuchizawa (小淵沢) stations by March 23, 2020, which is already performed between Sagamiko (相模湖) and Ōtsuki (大月) stations. The numbering (CO33 – 51), which is the serial number from Otsuki Station, is posted on the station sign on the platforms. in addition, the station name is written in 4 languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean).

Suddenly operation ended of JR Sasshō Line between Hokkaidō-iryō-daigaku and Shin-totsukawa stations

April 17, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The service between Hokkaidō-iryō-daigaku (北海道医療大学) and Shin-totsukawa (新十津川) stations on JR Sasshō Line (札沼線) ended on April 17, 2020 with the last train from Shin-totsukawa Station (departs at 10:00, arrives at 11:23 at Ishikari-tōbetsu Station). They ended the history of 85 years in an unusual way that the service stopped without waiting the scheduled abolition date May 7th. JR Hokkaido has been scheduled to stop the operation to the general public on April 24 before entering the long holidays in consideration of the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). However, after that, the Japan Government announced that the area covered by the emergency declaration would be expanded nationwide, and the final day…

‘Worcestershire Parkway’ – New station of National Rail has launched

April 16, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The National Rail of United Kingdom has set up a new station ‘Worcestershire Parkway station’ in Worcestershire, England, and started operations on February 23, 2020. The new station is located at the crossroads of ‘London – Hereford Line’ (between Pershore and Worcester Shrub Hill stations) operated by Great Western Railway and ‘Cardiff – Nottingham Line’ (between Ashchurch for Tewkesbury and University stations) operated by Cross Country and allows passengers to transfer to each other.

‘Busanwondong’ – New station on Donghae Commuter Line has launched

April 16, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

A new station, ‘Busanwondong (부산원동, K116)’, has been established between Allak and Dongnae stations (Busan City) on the Donghae Commuter Line operated by KORAIL, and started business on March 28, 2020. The station is located in the residential area of Busan City, where many high-rise apartments are built. The platform is located above the Suyeonggang River.

The operation between Imjingang and Munsan stations started as Metropolitan Railway Gyeongui-Jungang Line

April 16, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

On March 28, 2020, KORAIL added the section between Imjingang (임진강, K336) and Munsan (문산, K335) stations to Metropolitan Railway Gyeongui-Jungang Line and began the operation. Imjingang station was the stop for the ‘Peace Train (DMZ Train)’, which has been suspended since October 2019. The section to Munsan station has been electrified and has revived as a station of Metropolitan Railway. The trains do not run directly to Seoul, but is operated by shuttle between Imjingang and Munsan stations.

KTX Gangneung Line started to get to Donghae station

April 16, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

KTX Gangneung Line, high-speed trains operated by KORAIL, has started the new operating system ‘Seoul station – Donghae station (동해)’ on March 2, 2020. Departing from Seoul station (some of which is Cheongryeo station), the KTX train runs into KORAIL Yeongdong Line from the branch at the southeast of Gangneung station (it does not stop at Gangneung station). On the way, it stops at Jeongdongjin and Mukho stations, and arrives at Donghae terminal. The journey time between Seoul and Donghae stations is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.