100-445: The Fen Line is a railway line in the east of England that links Cambridge in the south to King's Lynn in the north. The line runs through Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and the name of the line refers to the Fens which cover parts of Cambridgeshire , Norfolk and Lincolnshire . It is 41 miles 47 chains (66.9 km) in length and has eight stations. The line is part of
200-461: A structure gauge of 5,500 by 4,880 mm (18 ft 1 in by 16 ft 0 in). China is building numerous new railways in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (such as in Kenya and Laos), and these are being built to "Chinese Standards". This presumably means track gauge, loading gauge, structure gauge, couplings, brakes, electrification, etc. An exception may be double stacking , which has
300-485: A GB+ loading gauge refers to the plan to create a pan-European freight network for ISO containers and trailers with loaded ISO containers. These container trains ( piggy-back trains ) fit into the B envelope with a flat top so that only minor changes are required for the widespread structures built to loading gauge B on continental Europe. A few structures on the British Isles were extended to fit with GB+ as well, where
400-506: A few weeks of hot, balmy weather with prolonged warm to hot temperatures. The number of summer storms from the Atlantic, such as the remnants of a tropical storm , usually coincides with the location of the jet stream . The East tends to receive much less rain than the other regions. Autumn (mid-September – mid-November) is usually mild with some days being very unsettled and rainy and others warm. At least part of September and early October in
500-541: A height limit of 5,850 mm (19 ft 2 in). Metre gauge in China has a gauge of 3,050 mm (10 ft 0 in). Translation of legend: Trains on the Shinkansen network operate on 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge track and have a loading gauge of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) maximum width and 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in) maximum height. This allows
600-457: A height of 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) (they differ in shape) with Gauge GC rising to 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) allowing for a width of 3.08 m (10 ft 1 in) of the flat roof. All cars must fall within an envelope of 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) wide on a 250 m (12.4 ch ; 820 ft ) radius curve. The TGVs , which are 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide, fall within this limit. The designation of
700-680: A higher loading gauge. The width of these extra-height cars is covered by AAR Plate D1 . All the Class I rail companies have invested in longterm projects to increase clearances to allow double stack freight. The mainline North American rail networks of the Union Pacific, the BNSF, the Canadian National, and the Canadian Pacific, have already been upgraded to AAR Plate K . This represents over 60% of
800-528: A larger carbody width of 3,300 mm (10 ft 10 in) from the specifications of passenger rolling stock, and a height of 4,770 mm (15 ft 8 in) per P70-type boxcar specifications. Some of the new railways being built in Africa allow for double-stacked containers, the height of which is about 5,800 mm (19 ft 0 in) depending on the height of each container 2,438 mm (8 ft 0 in) or 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in) plus
900-582: A local event, resulting in minor injuries. Witnesses described the event as unexpected, noting that such phenomena are rare in the area. In the 2015 general election there was an overall swing of 0.25% from the Conservatives to Labour and the Liberal Democrats lost 16% of its vote. All of Hertfordshire and Suffolk became Conservative. The region's electorate voted 49% Conservative, 22% Labour, 16% UKIP, 8% Liberal Democrat and 4% Green. Like other regions,
1000-570: A platform height of 1,100 mm (3 ft 7 in) where it is limited by half-height platform screen doors . Above the platform gate height of 1,200 mm (3 ft 11 in) above the platforms, out-of-gauge installations can be further maximized to the Asian standard at 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in). Meanwhile, the PNR South Long Haul will follow the Chinese gauge and therefore use
1100-457: A plethora of different private companies, each with different standards for the width and height of trains. After nationalisation, a standard static gauge W5 was defined in 1951 that would virtually fit everywhere in the network. The W6 gauge is a refinement of W5, and the W6a changed the lower body to accommodate third-rail electrification. While the upper body is rounded for W6a with a static curve, there
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#17328522744621200-625: A revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England, was published on 12 May 2008. It was revoked on 3 January 2013. The official region consists of the following subdivisions: In the Eurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), the East of England was a level-1 NUTS region, coded "UKH", which was subdivided as follows: After the UK's departure from
1300-419: A specification for standard coach stock, gauge C3 for longer Mark 3 coaching stock, gauge C4 for Pendolino stock and gauge UK1 for high-speed rail. There is also a gauge for locomotives. The size of container that can be conveyed depends both upon the size of the load that can be conveyed and the design of the rolling stock. A strategy was adopted in 2004 to guide enhancements of loading gauges and in 2007
1400-601: A standard series of loading gauges named A, B, B+ and C. In the European Union , the UIC directives were supplanted by ERA Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) of European Union in 2002, which has defined a number of recommendations to harmonize the train systems. The TSI Rolling Stock (2002/735/EC) has taken over the UIC Gauges definitions defining Kinematic Gauges with a reference profile such that Gauges GA and GB have
1500-471: A strict static gauge for the wagons, their sizes are derived from dynamic gauge computations for rectangular freight containers. Network Rail uses a W loading gauge classification system of freight transport ranging from W6A (smallest) through W7, W8, W9, W9Plus, W10, W11 to W12 (largest). The definitions assume a common "lower sector structure gauge" with a common freight platform at 1,100 mm (43.31 in) above rail. In addition, gauge C1 provides
1600-404: A very small loading gauge, which reduces the cost of tunnel construction. These systems only use their own specialised rolling stock. Larger out-of-gauge loads can also sometimes be conveyed by taking one or more of the following measures: The loading gauge on the main lines of Great Britain, most of which were built before 1900, is generally smaller than in other countries. In mainland Europe,
1700-402: Is a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in railway vehicles and their loads. Their purpose is to ensure that rail vehicles can pass safely through tunnels and under bridges, and keep clear of platforms, trackside buildings and structures. Classification systems vary between different countries, and loading gauges may vary across a network, even if
1800-521: Is a pioneering hospital in the UK, based at Cambridge Biomedical Campus . The most famous university in the region is the University of Cambridge . The university has been officially rated as the best in the world in 2010. It has the second-best medicine course in the world, and in 2010 became the only university outside of the US to raise over £1 billion in charitable donations. There are eight universities in
1900-456: Is an additional small rectangular notch for W7 to accommodate the transport of 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in) ISO containers, and the W8 loading gauge has an even larger notch spanning outside of the curve to accommodate the transport of 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) ISO containers. While W5 to W9 are based on a rounded roof structure, those for W10 to W12 define a flat line at the top and, instead of
2000-539: Is called the clearance . The specified amount of clearance makes allowance for wobbling of rail vehicles at speed. The loading gauge restricts the size of passenger coaches, goods wagons (freight cars) and shipping containers that can travel on a section of railway track. It varies across the world and often within a single railway system. Over time there has been a trend towards larger loading gauges and more standardization of gauges; some older lines have had their structure gauges enhanced by raising bridges, increasing
2100-400: Is currently no uniform standard for loading gauges in the country and both loading gauges and platform heights vary by rail line. The North–South Commuter Railway allows passenger trains with a carbody width of 3,100 mm (10 ft 2 in) and a height of 4,300 mm (14 ft 1 in). Additional installations shall also be allowed up to 3,300 mm (10 ft 10 in) at
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#17328522744622200-481: Is discussed under narrow gauge , below. The body frame may have a maximum height of 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in) and a maximum width of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) with additional installations allowed up to 3,600 mm (11 ft 10 in). That width of 3,400 mm is only allowed above 1,250 mm (4 ft 1 in) as the common passenger platforms are built to former standard trains of 3,200 mm (10 ft 6 in) in width. There
2300-457: Is double tracked except between Littleport and Downham Market and between Watlington and King's Lynn where it is bi-directionally signalled single track. In the Down direction, the entrance to the single line sections is protected additionally by SPAD indicators . Signal boxes controlling the line are; The signalling system is Track circuit block with multiple aspect colour light signals - with
2400-633: Is generally acceptable as the extra width is above normal platform height, but it means that they can not use the high platforms that Arlanda Express uses ( Arlanda Central Station has normal clearances). The greater width allows sleeping cars in which tall people can sleep with straight legs and feet, which is not the case on the continent. In the Netherlands, a similar shape to the UIC C is used that rises to 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) in height. The trains are wider allowing for 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) width similar to Sweden. About one third of
2500-515: Is still the maximum height and truck center combination and the circulation of AAR Plate C is somewhat restricted. The prevalence of excess-height rolling stock, at first ~18 ft (5.49 m) piggybacks and hicube boxcars , then later autoracks , airplane-parts cars, and flatcars for hauling Boeing 737 fuselages, as well as 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m) high double-stacked containers in container well cars , has been increasing. This means that most, if not all, lines are now designed for
2600-538: Is the airfield from where SOE secret agents for Europe took off, with 138 Sqn which parachuted agents and equipment and 161 Sqn which landed and retrieved agents. 19 Sqn at Duxford was the first to be equipped with the Spitfire on 4 August 1938. The 81st Tactical Fighter Wing was at RAF Bentwaters from January 1952 and also at RAF Woodbridge ; in the late 1980s some of the aircraft went to RAF Alconbury . Alconbury closed in 1992 and Bentwaters closed in 1993, with
2700-456: Is the maximum size of rolling stock. It is distinct from the minimum structure gauge , which sets limits to the size of bridges and tunnels on the line, allowing for engineering tolerances and the motion of rail vehicles. The difference between the two is called the clearance . The terms "dynamic envelope " or "kinematic envelope" – which include factors such as suspension travel, overhang on curves (at both ends and middle) and lateral motion on
2800-693: The A10 and north of Royston . UK Trade & Investment for the region is in Histon with its international trade team based next to Magdalene College . The Greater Watford area is home to British Waterways , Vinci (which bought Taylor Woodrow in 2008), the UK of the international firm Total Oil , retailers TK Maxx , Bathstore , Majestic Wine , Mothercare , Costco and Smiths Detection , Iveco , BrightHouse (at Abbots Langley ), Leavesden Film Studios , Sanyo , Europcar , Olympus , Kenwood and Beko electronic goods manufacturers, Wetherspoons pub chains,
2900-506: The A1303 in the east of the town, towards Teversham . South of the airport, Carl Zeiss NTS makes scanning electron microscopes in Cherry Hinton. Syngenta is to the east of Cambridge, on Capital Park at Fulbourn . Premier Foods has a large plant in Histon making Robertson's and Hartley's jam, Gale's honey, Smash instant potato , and Rose's marmalade . Addenbrooke's Hospital
3000-451: The A134 ; Multiyork makes furniture and Baxter Healthcare has a manufacturing plant in the south of the town. Aunt Bessie vegetable products (roast potatoes) are made by Heinz at Westwick , in a factory built by Ross Group . Around Cambridge on numerous science parks , are high technology (electronics and biochemistry) companies, such as ARM Holdings on Peterhouse Technology Park in
3100-611: The Atlantic lose a lot of moisture over land (and therefore are usually much weaker) by the time they reach Eastern England. Winter (mid-November – mid-March) is mostly cool, but non-prevailing cold easterly winds can affect the area from the continent. These can bring heavy snowfall if the winds interact with a low-pressure system over the Atlantic or France . Northerly winds also can be cold but are not usually as cold as easterly winds. Westerly winds bring milder and, typically, wetter weather. Southerly winds usually bring mild air (if from
Fen line - Misplaced Pages Continue
3200-462: The Cambridge line ). These services operate non-stop between London and Cambridge for most of the day, as part of the half-hourly "Cambridge Express" service. One train an hour is extended beyond Cambridge to serve all stations to King's Lynn , whilst the alternative services run to Ely . These services are mostly operated by Class 387 electric multiple units . Before May 2017, Class 365s were
3300-521: The Cambridge-Ipswich railway , on the eastern edge of Cambridge. The East of England Ambulance Service is on Cambourne Business Park on Cambourne , of the A428 (the former A45 ) west of Cambridge. The East Anglian Air Ambulance operates from Cambridge Airport and Norwich Airport ; Essex Air Ambulance operates from Boreham . The former electricity company for the area, Eastern Electricity , has
3400-556: The English football league system today are Ipswich Town , Norwich City , Watford and Luton Town , who have competed in the top flight at various points. Alongside teams Peterborough United , and Cambridge United . Children's author Dodie Smith lived near the town of Sudbury in Suffolk , and part of her famous novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians which inspired the Disney animated film of
3500-633: The Green Line (known as the Tremont Street subway ) was constructed in 1897 to take the streetcars off Boston 's busy downtown streets. When the Blue Line opened in 1904, it only ran streetcar services; the line was converted to rapid transit in 1924 due to high passenger loads, but the tight clearances in the tunnel under the Boston Harbor required narrower and shorter rapid transit cars. The Orange Line
3600-585: The Hemel Hempstead relay transmitter is a relay of the London services from Crystal Palace , bringing London television into parts of Hertfordshire. Northwestern parts of Norfolk including Kings Lynn receive a better TV signal from the Belmont transmitter that broadcast BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Calendar . Some editions of Look East and ITV News Anglia broadcast split news programming for
3700-478: The Network Rail Strategic Route 5 and comprises SRS 05.06 and part of 05.05. It is classified as a secondary line except between Cambridge and Ely where it is classified as a London and South East commuter line. The line was completed in sections in the 1840s, and previously extended north to the seaside town of Hunstanton . Great Northern operate through services to London King's Cross (via
3800-527: The SNCF TGV Duplex carriages are 4,303 millimetres (14 ft 1 + 3 ⁄ 8 in) high, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland feature large numbers of double decker intercity trains as well. Great Britain has (in general) the most restrictive loading gauge (relative to track gauge) in the world. That is a legacy of the British railway network being the world's oldest, and of having been built by
3900-579: The Shinkansen of Japan, have all adopted a loading gauge of 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) maximum width and can accept the maximum height of 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in). The maximum height, width, and length of general Chinese rolling stock are 4,800 mm (15 ft 9 in), 3,400 mm (11 ft 2 in) and 26 m (85 ft 4 in) respectively, with an extra out-of-gauge load allowance of height and width 5,300 by 4,450 mm (17 ft 5 in by 14 ft 7 in) with some special shape limitation, corresponding to
4000-761: The Toddington services ). Luton is home to EasyJet ,(based at the airport ), Hain Celestial Group (which makes Linda McCartney Foods and is based on the B579 in Biscot ), Eurolines (UK office), Thomson Holidays (based at Wigmore on the eastern edge of the town) and Chevrolet (at Griffin House, the Vauxhall head office). At the 85-acre Capability Green off the A1081 and junction 10a of
4100-548: The West Anglia Main Line ). These services operated only during the morning and evening peaks. After the alterations, these services only run to and from Ely, and King's Lynn no longer has any direct services to London Liverpool Street. The section between Cambridge and Ely is also used non-stop by CrossCountry services from Stansted Airport (and onward to Birmingham New Street via Peterborough and Leicester ). Class 170 units are used for this service. The line
Fen line - Misplaced Pages Continue
4200-458: The freight route utilisation strategy was published. That identified a number of key routes where the loading gauge should be cleared to W10 standard and, where structures are being renewed, that W12 is the preferred standard. Height and width of containers that can be carried on GB gauges (height by width). Units as per source material. A Parliamentary committee headed by James Stansfeld then reported on 23 May 1892, "The evidence submitted to
4300-634: The pager in 1956, for St Thomas' Hospital ; and Snap-on Diagnostics makes diagnostic tools for garages. British Sugar's Wissington is the world's largest sugar beet factory in Methwold , on the B1160 near the River Wissey . Lotus Cars and Team Lotus are on the eastern edge of the former RAF Hethel , east of Wymondham (A11) at Hethel ( Bracon Ash ). Jeyes Group makes household chemicals in Thetford , off
4400-600: The standard gauge network without being limited to a small size. France, which at the time had the most restrictive loading gauge ultimately compromised giving rise to Berne gauge which came into effect just before World War I. Military railways were often built to particularly high standards, especially after the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War showed the importance of railroads in military deployment as well as mobilization . The Kaiserreich
4500-519: The track gauge is uniform. The term loading gauge can also be applied to the maximum size of road vehicles in relation to tunnels , overpasses and bridges , and doors into automobile repair shops , bus garages , filling stations , residential garages , multi-storey car parks and warehouses . A related but separate gauge is the structure gauge , which sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. The difference between these two gauges
4600-624: The 1940s and 1950s, the American passenger car loading gauge was increased to a 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) height throughout most of the country outside the Northeast, to accommodate dome cars and later Superliners and other bilevel commuter trains. Bilevel and Hi-level passenger cars have been in use since the 1950s, and new passenger equipment with a height of 19 ft 9 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (6.03 m) has been built for use in Alaska and
4700-681: The 1950s and 1960s. In the late 1960s, the Roskill Commission considered Cublington in Buckinghamshire, Thurleigh in Bedfordshire, Nuthampstead in Hertfordshire and Foulness in Essex as locations for a possible third airport for London. A new airport was not built, but a former Royal Air Force base at Stansted , which had previously been converted to civilian use redeveloped and expanded in
4800-654: The 1950s, RAF Wyton was an important reconnaissance base for the RAF, mainly 543 Sqn . The base is now home of the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre , previously known as JARIC, or the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre from 1956. NHS East of England , which was the strategic health authority for the area until the abolition of these areas in 2013, is on Capital Park, next to Fulbourn Tesco, Fulbourn Hospital , and
4900-697: The American air forces being in the area for 42 years; the USAF aircraft subsequently moved to Spangdahlem Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate , Germany. At RAF Marham in west Norfolk, 214 Sqn with the Vickers Valiant developed the RAF's refuelling system; later the squadron would be equipped with the Handley Page Victor . Work on refuelling had also taken place at RAF Tarrant Rushton in Dorset . From
5000-478: The Atlantic or North Africa ) but chill if coming from further east than Spain. Spring (mid-March – May) is a transitional season that initially can be chilly but is usually warm by late-April/May. The weather at this time is often changeable (within each day) and occasionally showery. Summer (June – mid-September) is usually warm. Continental air from mainland Europe or the Azores High usually leads to at least
5100-616: The Canadian Rockies. The structure gauge of the Mount Royal Tunnel used to limit the height of bilevel cars to 14 feet 6 inches (4.42 m) before it was permanently closed to interchange rail traffic prior to its conversion for the REM rapid transit system. The New York City Subway is an amalgamation of three former constituent companies, and while all are standard gauge , inconsistencies in loading gauge prevent cars from
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#17328522744625200-427: The Class I rail network. The old standard North American passenger railcar is 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) wide by 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) high and measures 85 ft 0 in (25.91 m) over coupler pulling faces with 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) truck centers, or 86 ft 0 in (26.21 m) over coupler pulling faces with 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m) truck centers. In
5300-555: The Committee on the question of the diameter of the underground tubes containing the railways has been distinctly in favour of a minimum diameter of 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)". After that, all tube lines were at least that size. Sweden uses shapes similar to the Central European loading gauge, but trains are allowed to be much wider. There are three main classes in use (width × height): The Iron Ore Line north of Kiruna
5400-680: The Dutch passenger trains use bilevel rail cars . However, Dutch platforms are much higher than Swedish ones. The American loading gauge for freight cars on the North American rail network is generally based on standards set by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Mechanical Division. The most widespread standards are AAR Plate B and AAR Plate C , but higher loading gauges have been introduced on major routes outside urban centers to accommodate rolling stock that makes better economic use of
5500-707: The EU, the UK NUTS regions were renamed as International Territorial Level regions in 2021. The East of England was a major force and resource for Parliament and, in particular, in the form of the Eastern Association . Oliver Cromwell came from Huntingdon. Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex played host to the American VIII Bomber Command and Ninth Air Force . The Imperial War Museum at Duxford has an exhibition, commemorating their participation and sacrifice, near to
5600-423: The East have warm and settled weather, but only in rare years is there an Indian summer where fine weather marks the entire traditional harvest season. Dust devils were reported in Essex and Cambridgeshire on 17 August 2024, causing minor injuries and some disruption. These small whirlwinds, which form from the ground up, are less powerful than tornadoes. In Essex, they caused tents and gazebos to be lifted during
5700-1131: The European HQ of the Hilton hotel group and Nestlé Waters; in Garston is the UK headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church , on the A412 and the Building Research Establishment . Comet Group and Camelot Group (owners of the National Lottery ), on the A4145 , are in Rickmansworth . Ferrero (maker of Nutella and Kinder Chocolate ) is in Croxley Green . Renault and Skanska (construction) are in Maple Cross . Moto Hospitality has its headquarters at Toddington in Bedfordshire (at
5800-481: The HS2-only stock being physically larger. It was recognized even during the nineteenth century that this would pose problems and countries whose railroads had been built or upgraded to a more generous loading gauge pressed for neighboring countries to upgrade their own standards. This was particularly true in continental Europe where the Nordic countries and Germany with their relatively generous loading gauge wanted their cars and locomotives to be able to run throughout
5900-402: The Hardwick Industrial Estate at the A47/ A149 junction is PinguinLutosa the UK, which packs frozen vegetables , and Caithness Crystal . Foster Refrigerator is the UK's leading manufacturer of commercial refrigerators and blast chillers , owned by Illinois Tool Works , based on the industrial estate; with Multitone Electronics , which has a manufacturing plant there, and which invented
6000-471: The M1, is the Stonegate Pub Company (owner of Scream Pubs , Yates's , Slug and Lettuce and Hogshead ), InBev UK (which bought most of Whitbread's beer brands), Chargemaster ( electric vehicle network under the POLAR brand), AstraZeneca 's UK Marketing Company division and Alexon Group (ladies clothing). Vauxhall produced its last Vauxhall Vectra in March 2002 at the plant near the A6/A505 roundabout, and now makes vans ( Vivaro / Renault Trafic ) at
6100-427: The M11 south of Cambridge. Stansted Airport was RAF Stansted Mountfitchet , home to the 344th Bombardment Group . The de Havilland Mosquito was mainly assembled at Hatfield and Leavesden, although much of the innovative wooden structure originated outside the region from the furniture industry of High Wycombe ; the Mosquito entered service in 1942 with 105 Sqn at RAF Horsham St Faith . RAF Tempsford in Bedford
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#17328522744626200-510: The Red and Purple lines) was opened in 1993 and was designed to handle high-capacity heavy rail transit cars that would operate underground. Shortly after the Red Line began operations, the LACTC and the SCRTD merged to form the LACMTA , which became responsible for planning and construction of the Green , Gold , Expo , and K lines, as well as the D Line Extension and the Regional Connector . Major trunk raillines in East Asian countries, including China, North Korea, South Korea, as well as
6300-432: The West (Home Counties) and East (East Anglia/Essex) of the region, with the West subregions broadcasting from Sandy Heath; the BBC's Western opt-outs are broadcast from studios in Cambridge, also the base of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire , whilst both versions of the ITV Anglia output have broadcast from Anglia House in Norwich since the split service was introduced in 1990. Loading gauge#Great Britain A loading gauge
6400-421: The area's distribution now looked after by UK Power Networks at Fore Hamlet in Ipswich . UK Power Networks also looks after London and most of the South-East. Business Link in the East of England is near to the headquarters of Ocado in Hatfield, at the roundabout of the A1057 and the A1001 on the Bishops Square Business Park. The region's Manufacturing Advisory Service is at Melbourn in Cambridgeshire, off
6500-416: The city, Colman's makes a wide range of mustards, and Britvic makes Robinsons squash, which was owned by Colman's until 1995. Across the River Yare near the A47/ A146 junction in Trowse with Newton is May Gurney , the construction company. Bernard Matthews Farms has a large turkey farm on the former RAF Attlebridge in Weston Longville . Campbell Soup was made in Kings Lynn until 2008, and on
6600-475: The division of seats favours the dominant party in the region and the Conservatives had 52, Labour 4 ( Cambridge , Luton South , Luton North and Norwich South ), UKIP 1 ( Clacton ) and 1 Liberal Democrat ( North Norfolk ). In the 2019 United Kingdom general election , the Conservatives gained Peterborough and Ipswich from Labour. They also gained North Norfolk from the Liberal Democrats but lost St Albans to Daisy Cooper . The East of England Plan,
6700-499: The entry point to a restricted part of a network. The devices ensure that loads stacked on open or flat wagons stay within the height/shape limits of the line's bridges and tunnels, and prevent out-of-gauge rolling stock entering a stretch of line with a smaller loading gauge. Compliance with a loading gauge can be checked with a clearance car . In the past, these were simple wooden frames or physical feelers mounted on rolling stock. More recently, laser beams are used. The loading gauge
6800-415: The exception of: In 2020, the Department of Transport announced funding to renew the signalling on the Fen Line to ETCS cab signalling. Traction current for electric trains is provided by 25 kV AC OHLE controlled by Romford Electrical Control Room. There are Neutral Sections at Shepreth Branch junction, Milton Fen and just north of Littleport bypass. The line has a loading gauge of W8 except for
6900-498: The existing British network, rather than being purchased "off-the-shelf". For example, the new trains for HS2 have a 50% premium applied to the "classic compatible" sets that will be "compatible" with the current (or "classic") rail network loading gauge as well as the HS2 line. The "classic compatible" trainsets will cost £40 million per trainset whereas the HS2-only stock (built to European loading gauge and only suitable to operate on HS2 lines) will cost £27M per trainset despite
7000-401: The first lines to be rebuilt start at the Channel Tunnel . Owing to their historical legacies, many member states' railways do not conform to the TSI specification. For example, Britain 's role at the forefront of railway development in the 19th century has condemned it to the small infrastructure dimensions of that era. Conversely, the loading gauge s of countries that were satellites of
7100-468: The following decades. The East of England succeeded the standard statistical region East Anglia (which excluded Essex , Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire , then in the South East ). The East of England civil defence region was identical to today's region. Essex, despite meaning East-Saxons, previously formed part of South East England , along with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, a mixture of definite and debatable Home counties . The earliest use of
7200-523: The former BMT and IND systems ( B Division ) from running on the lines of the former IRT system ( A Division ), and vice versa. This is mainly because IRT tunnels and stations are approximately 1 foot (305 mm) narrower than the others, meaning that IRT cars running on the BMT or IND lines would have platform gaps of over 8 inches (203 mm) between the train and some platforms, whereas BMT and IND cars would not even fit into an IRT station without hitting
7300-667: The former Bedford Vehicles plant, based in the north of the town at the GM Manufacturing Luton plant. The economy in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk is traditionally mostly agricultural. Norfolk is the UK's biggest producer of potatoes. Nationally known companies include the RAC , Archant (publishing), Virgin Money and Aviva (formerly Norwich Union ) in Norwich. In Carrow, to the east of
7400-607: The former Eastern Division , the cars are limited to 60 feet (18.29 m), while on the rest of the BMT and IND lines plus the Staten Island Railway (which uses modified IND stock) the cars may be as long as 75 feet (22.86 m). The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 's (MBTA) rapid transit system is composed of four unique subway lines; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in loading gauge, electrification, and platform height prevent trains on one line from being used on another. The first segment of
7500-466: The former Soviet Union are much larger than the TSI specification. Other than for GB+, they are not likely to be retrofitted, given the enormous cost and disruption that would be entailed. A specific example of the value of these loading gauges is that they permit double decker passenger carriages. Although mainly used for suburban commuter lines, France is notable for using them on its high speed TGV services:
7600-425: The height and width of tunnels and making other necessary alterations. Containerisation and a trend towards larger shipping containers has led rail companies to increase structure gauges to compete effectively with road haulage. The term "loading gauge" can also refer to a physical structure, sometimes using electronic detectors using light beams on an arm or gantry placed over the exit lines of goods yards or at
7700-403: The highest population in the region. The population of the East of England region in 2022 was 6,398,497. Bedford , Luton , Basildon , Peterborough , Southend-on-Sea , Norwich , Ipswich , Colchester , Chelmsford and Cambridge are the region's most populous settlements. According to Census 2021 , Peterborough is the largest city in the East of England at 215,000. The southern part of
7800-399: The increase of truck centers, the decrease of width is covered by AAR Plates D1 and D2 . Listed here are the maximum heights and widths for cars. However, the specification in each AAR plate shows a car cross section that is chamfered at the top and bottom, meaning that a compliant car is not permitted to fill an entire rectangle of the maximum height and width. Technically, AAR Plate B
7900-653: The initial system. It is composed of two heavy rail subway lines and several light rail lines with subway sections; while all lines are standard gauge, inconsistencies in electrification and loading gauge prohibit the light rail trains from operating on the heavy rail lines, and vice versa. The LACTC-planned Blue Line was opened in 1990 and partially operates on the route of the Pacific Electric interurban railroad line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, which used overhead electrification and street-running streetcar vehicles. The SCRTD-planned Red Line (later split into
8000-720: The lowest point in the country in the village of Holme : 2.75 metres (9.0 ft) below mean sea level. This area formerly included the body of open water known as Whittlesey Mere . The highest point in the region is at Clipper Down at 817 ft (249 m) above mean sea level, in the far southwestern corner of the region in the Ivinghoe Hills . Communities known as New Towns , responses to urban congestion and World War II destruction, appeared in Basildon and Harlow (Essex), as well as in Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire), in
8100-423: The network, such as auto carriers , hi-cube boxcars , and double-stack container loads . The maximum width of 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) on 41 ft 3 in (12.57 m) ( AAR Plate B ), 46 ft 3 in (14.10 m) ( AAR Plate C ) and all other truck centers (of all other AAR Plates) are on a 441 ft 8 + 3 ⁄ 8 in (134.63 m) radius or 13° curve. In all cases of
8200-628: The operation of double-deck high-speed trains. Mini Shinkansen (former conventional 1,067 mm or 3 ft 6 in narrow gauge lines that have been regauged into 1,435 mm or 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in standard gauge ) and some private railways in Japan (including some lines of the Tokyo subway and all of the Osaka Metro ) also use standard gauge; however, their loading gauges are different. The rest of Japan's system
8300-411: The platform edge. Taking this into account, all maintenance vehicles are built to IRT loading gauge so that they can be operated over the entire network, and employees are responsible for minding the gap . Another inconsistency is the maximum permissible railcar length. Cars in the former IRT system are 51 feet (15.54 m) as of December 2013 . Railcars in the former BMT and IND can be longer: on
8400-554: The principal units. Three Class 365 EMUs received names associated with the line: Greater Anglia regularly runs services between Stansted Airport and Norwich on an hourly basis via the Breckland line , running non-stop between Ely and Cambridge North . Class 755 units are used for this service. Until the timetable change in May 2023, Greater Anglia ran a few direct services between London Liverpool Street and King's Lynn or Ely (via
8500-438: The region do. The largest university by student numbers is ARU, and the next biggest is Cambridge. The smallest is Essex. For total income to universities, Cambridge receives around £1 billion—around six times larger than any other university in the region. The University of Bedfordshire receives the least income. Cambridge has the lowest drop-out (discontinuation) rate in the region. Once graduated, over 50% of students stay in
8600-557: The region include University Centre Peterborough , University of Suffolk and Writtle College . . The University of Cambridge receives almost three times as much funding as any other university in the region, due to its huge research grant—the largest in England (and the UK). The next largest, by funding, is UEA in Norwich. The University of Essex and Cranfield University also have moderately large research grants, but no other universities in
8700-593: The region lies in the London commuter belt . The East of England region has the lowest elevation range in the UK. Twenty percent of the region is below mean sea level, most of this in North Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and on the Essex Coast. Most of the remaining area is of low elevation, with extensive glacial deposits. The Fens , a large area of reclaimed marshland, are mostly in North Cambridgeshire. The Fens include
8800-614: The region, with 25% going to London and 10% going to the South East. Very few go elsewhere—especially the North of England. During the nineteenth century, several formulations of the laws of football, known as the Cambridge rules , were created by students at the University. One of these codes, dating from 1863, had a significant influence on the creation of the original laws of The Football Association . East of England's top representatives in
8900-640: The region. Cambridge hosts two universities: the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University . It is also the home of the Open University 's East of England branch. Norwich also hosts two universities: the University of East Anglia and Norwich University of the Arts . There are also other towns and cities in the region which have universities including Bedford and Luton ( University of Bedfordshire ), Colchester ( University of Essex ) and Hatfield ( University of Hertfordshire ). Other higher education centres in
9000-685: The same name takes place in the town at St Peter's Church. Much of the region receives the BBC East and ITV Anglia television services, both based in Norwich (the BBC moving from All Saints' Green to The Forum in 2003, and Anglia remaining at its original base, Angia House.) These services broadcast from the Sandy Heath , Sudbury and Tacolneston transmitter groups. Some areas in close proximity to London, including Luton and south Essex , may receive their service from BBC London and ITV London ; in addition,
9100-408: The same platform. The size of load that can be carried on a railway of a particular gauge is also influenced by the design of the rolling stock. Low-deck rolling stock can sometimes be used to carry taller 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) shipping containers on lower gauge lines although their low-deck rolling stock cannot then carry as many containers. Rapid transit (metro) railways generally have
9200-582: The section connecting the Ipswich–Ely line to the Ely–Peterborough line , which is W10. These are the statistics of the numbers of passengers on the line from the year beginning April 2002 to the year beginning April 2017. Comparing each station between the first and last years (14 years total), King's Lynn has increased by 68%, Watlington by 133%, Downham Market by 111%, Littleport by 157%, Ely by 113%, Waterbeach by 149% and Cambridge by 109%. Cambridge North
9300-468: The slightly larger Berne gauge (Gabarit passe-partout international, PPI) was agreed to in 1913 and came into force in 1914. As a result, British trains have noticeably and considerably smaller loading gauges and, for passenger trains, smaller interiors, despite the track being standard gauge , which is in line with much of the world. This often results in increased costs for purchasing new trainsets or locomotives as they must be specifically designed for
9400-690: The south-east of the town, Adder Technology ( KVM switches ) at Bar Hill at the A14 /B1050 junction north of the town, Monsanto , Play.com on the Cambridge Business Centre. The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus has the European Bioinformatics Institute at Hinxton east of Duxford near the M11 spur for the A11. These form the so-called Silicon Fen . Marshall Aerospace is at Cambridge Airport on
9500-716: The term is from 1695. Charles Davenant , in An essay upon ways and means of supplying the war , wrote, "The Eleven Home Counties, which are thought in Land Taxes to pay more than their proportion..." then cited a list including these four. The term does not appear to have been used in taxation since the 18th century. East Anglia is one of the driest parts of the United Kingdom, with average rainfall ranging from 450 to 750 mm (18 to 30 in). The area receives such low rainfall amounts because low pressure systems and weather fronts from
9600-527: The track – are sometimes used in place of loading gauge. The railway platform height is also a consideration for the loading gauge of passenger trains. Where the two are not directly compatible, stairs may be required, which will increase loading times . Where long carriages are used at a curved platform, there will be gaps between the platform and the carriage door , causing risk. Problems increase where trains of several different loading gauges and train floor heights use (or even must pass without stopping at)
9700-530: Was not open at the time of the publication of these figures. [REDACTED] Media related to Fen Line at Wikimedia Commons East of England The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England in the United Kingdom . This region was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics purposes from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire , Essex , Hertfordshire , Norfolk and Suffolk . Essex has
9800-653: Was originally built in 1901 to accommodate heavy rail transit cars of higher capacity than streetcars. The Red Line was opened in 1912, designed to handle what were for a time the largest underground transit cars in the world. The Los Angeles Metro Rail system is an amalgamation of two former constituent companies, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District; both of those companies were responsible for planning
9900-478: Was particularly active in the construction of military railways which were often built with great expense to be as flat, straight and permissive in loading gauge as possible while bypassing major urban areas, making those lines of little use to civilian traffic, particularly civilian passenger traffic. However, all those aforementioned factors have in some cases led to the subsequent abandoning of those railroads. The International Union of Railways (UIC) has developed
10000-602: Was the first electrified railway line in Sweden and has limited height clearance (SE-B) because of snow shelters. On the rest of the network belonging to the Swedish Transport Administration ( Trafikverket ), the structure gauge accepts cars built to SE-A and thus accepts both cars built to UIC GA and GB. Some modern electric multiple units, like Regina X50 with derivatives, are somewhat wider than normally permitted by SE-A at 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in). This
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