The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-03 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

TRAFFIC ON METROPOLITAN LINES.
The following is a synopsis of the number of passen-
ger trains daily leaving London:—
THE GREAT WESTERN.—On this line of railway 19
trains start from the Paddington terminus. Of this num-
ber 11 go through to Exeter, 5 not further than Bristol,
13 to Oxford, including one which starts from the Did-
cot Junction, 10 to Gloucester, 2 only as far as Reading,
3to Maidenhead, and 2to Slough. On Sundays the
number is reduced to 9, five of which convey passengers
through to Exeter, and the same number to Oxford•and
Gloucester, 2 only as far as Slough, 1 to Maidenhead,
and 1 to Reading.
THE NORTH WESTERN (late London and Birmingham)
North and South Branches, starts 22 trains daily from
the Euston station. Of these 1 takes passengers through
to Carlisle, by means of the Midland and North of Eng-
land Railways, 3 to Durham, 3 to Shields, 5 to New-
castle, 7 to York, 8 to Leeds, 4 to Derby by Birmingham,
and 8 by Rugby, 7 to Manchester, 8 to Liverpool and
Chester, 4 to Lancaster, 3 only as far as Birmingham, 6
to Northampton and Peterborough, 4 not further than
Rugby, 2 to Aylesbury, 1 to Tring, 1 to Blisa orth, 1 to
Watford, and 7 for Leamington and Warwick. On Sun-
days the number leaving Loudon is reduced to 7.
THE LONDON AND BRIGHTON conveys passengers daily
by 10 trains, of which 8 go through to Chichester, 1 not
further than Brighton, and one stops at Lewes. On
Sundays only 4 trains are started.
THE EASTERN COUNTIES (Cambridge line).—To the
various places on this line no fewer than 22 trains are
started daily from the Shoraditch station. Five of the
number convey passengers through to Norwich and
Yarmouth, 1 to Brandon, 2 not further than Ely, 1 to
Cambridge, 1 to Wendon, 8 to Hertford, 1 to Bros-
bourn, and 3 not further than Waltham. On Sundays
10 trains are started.

THE EASTERN COUNTIES (Colchester Line). —On
this branch of the Eastern Counties 9 trains start daily,
6 go through to Ipswich, 1 not further than Colchester,
and 2to Brentwood. On Sunday the number is reduced
to 6,3 of which go the full distance, 1 to Chelmsford,
and 2 to Brentwood.

THE SOUTH-WESTERN.—On this line 18 trains leave
the Nine Elms Station, 11 proceeding through to South-
ampton and Gosport, and 7to Guildford. On Sundays,
the number is reduced one-half, 5 of which go the whole
distance.

THE SOUTH-EASTERN.—There are ten trains started
on this line from the London-bridge and Bricklayers'
Arms stations daily through to Dover, but conve3ing
passengers for all the branch lines. On Sundays the
number is reduced to six.

THE RionmoNn.—On this railway seventeen trains
run daily, and on Sundays the number is limited to
thirteen.

On the CROYDON and GREENWICH the trains run every
hour (with fuur extra trains on the former) and every
quater of an hour.

IMPROVEMENTS ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES.—The
directors of the decried Eastern Counties have at length
come to resolutions of amendment, and have set vigor-
ously to work in reforming the faulty features of their
line. We understand that within the last few months
extensive improvements have been made on the Cam-
bridge and Colchester lines, the cost of which has
amounted to upwards of half a million. Many of the
accidents that occurred on these lines arose from an
imperfect code of signals, more especially at night
time; in fact some of the smaller stations were en-
tirely without them. Since that period, however, the
entire property of the company has been fitted with
patent semaphore signals, both to the up and down rails.
At night they display most powerful discs, which
can be seen, providing the weather is clear, full three
miles distant. The whole of the stations have in other
respects undergone a considerable alteration, and some
of them have been entirely rebuilt, large warehouses
being erected to every one of them, for the purpose of
carrying on the goods traffic. At Ely extensive works
are in progress in forming a kind of canal or dock near
the'line, while the station is being otherwise enlarged,
to meet the increase of trade. At Cambridge a range of
storehouses has been erected, and at Bishops Stortford
the old station has been demolished, and in its place a
fine commodious building has sprung up. The Hertford
branch is being laid with a double line of rails, and in a
few weeks will be thrown open to the public. On the
Colchester line a beautiful station has been built, in the
Elizabethan style, at Ingatestone. Its accommodations
are of a very ample character, and it has every con-
venience for cattle. New stations have also been built
at Brentwood and at Forest-gate, all of which appear, by
a recent trip on the line, to be fitted with the necessary
arrangements for the protection of the public. The elec-
tric telegraph is complete from London to Yarmouth, and
in a few days it will be properly adjusted to Colchester
and Ipswich. A double line of rails is to be forthwith
laid down on the Thames Junction, so as to work the
passenger traffic on to the Narth Woolwich line, and
which will be ready for opening in a few months. Addi-
tions have been and aro being made at the goods depot
of the company in Bethnal-green; but the great im-
provement will be the erection of a new terminus in
Bishopsgate, and the building of a general station,
workshops, &c., at Stratford, the Acts for which were
passed during the late session. The latter will be of
great extent, and Mr. Hudson, M.P., chairman, with
his co-directors, wero engaged until late yesterday
afternoon in completing the arrangements for its forma-
tion. The new terminus will be one; of the largest in
the kingdom, and will extend a considerable way up
and down Shoroditch. One portion will be devoted to
the short traffic trains, and the other to the through
traffic, whereby the inconvenience felt by the confined
construction of the present station will be obviated. The
parties working the signals undergo a strict examina-
tion as to their qualification for such an office before
they are appointed. The rule is a very necessary one,
for the protection of the public, and the directors have'
placed a superintendent over them, who is solely en-
gaged in seeing that they fulfil their duties correctly.
THE GRAVESEND AND RoCHESTER.—This railway, in
the hands of the South-Eastern Company, is about to
undergo considerable improvement, by the introduction
of a double instead of a single line as at present. For
this purpose works of some magnitude will be required,
more particularly within the tunnel, where the canal
must be filled up. On Tuesday, Mr. Stephenson, the
engineer of the South-Eastern, surveyed the line, and it
is proposed to close it about the first week in November,
in order to accomplish the work. Arrangements have
been entered into with Messrs. Grissell and Peto for the
purpose, and a great number of hands are to be em-
ployed, so as to ensure its completion within a given
time, and under this arrangement it is calculated that the
traffic will not experience an interruption of more than
six weeks. In connexion with these works, it is also
I intended to proceed immediately with the line from
Woolwich to Gravesend; and those to Maidstone, Chil-
-1 ham, &c., will next engage the attention of the:company.
POOR PEOPLE'S TRIP TO FLEETWOOD.—On Monday
last the third annual trip of poor people left the Maud-
land station about eight o'clock. The number of per-
sons who were gratuitously accommodated was upwards
of 1,500. This large number speaks well for the bene-
volence of the people of Preston, all the tickets having
been purchased by parties, and afterwards presented to
those who were supposed to be unable to pay for the en-
joyment of atiip to the sea side. Long before the hour
of departure the station was crowded with a numerous
concourse of poor people of both sexes; also a good num-
ber of " young 'uns." All along the line, and upon the
bridges near the station, an immense number of persons
were also assembled to witness the departure of the mon-
ster train that was to convey the parties to Fleetwood.
One very interesting circumstance took place, which we
are glad to record, namely, the arrival of Mr. Billing-
ton's omnibus, which had been engaged by Messrs. Hor-
roelv, Miller, and Co., to convey a number of aged and
infirm persons to the station. About a quarter to nine
O'clock the train, consisting of 44 carriages moved off
amid the shouts of the spectators. A large
number of flags and small union jacks were
' waved from the carriages, some of which were deco-
rated with evergreens ; on one of them was stationed
the Rechabite band, and on another a number of casks
and boxes containing provisions for the day. The
train on its arrival at Fleetwood drew up on the quay,
when the immense assemblage alighted and dispersed to
enjoy themselves as they thought fit. About noon was
the time for bathing, and the males were seen enjoying
themselves and performing all sorts of manoeuvres in the
briny element ; the females were accommodated at a
low charge by the owners of the machines. Many en-
joyed themselves by short excursions in the small plea-
sure boats, all the steamers being at sea cr nnder repair,
and the exhibition of Mr:Carte's rocket experiments was
a great attraction. Soon after five o'clock the carriages
were again filled with the numerous party, and in an-
other hour all were set down safely at the Maudland
station, amid the welcome of the surrounding spectators.
Nothing occurred during the whole day to mar the en-
joyment of the parties, and none seemed to have trans-
gressed the strict rules of sobriety, with the exception
of one man and two women, out of upwards of 1,500
persons. The Wyre Company deserve our notice for
providing comfortable carriages for so large a number at
the very low prices they charged, namely, sixpence each
there and back. Great praise is due also to the parties
who have had the management of this trip, among whom
we may name Mr. Joseph Livesey, sen., Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Hool, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Baxter, and others.—Preston
Chronicle.

DUNDALK AND ENNIFKILLEN.—We visited on Friday
last the works of this company from Castleblayney to
Dundalk, and it was very pleasing to observe the pro-
gress made and the activity with which the contractors
..re getting forward. In the vicinity of Castleblayney
there are now about 700 men employed, and in the
course of a fortnight a large number of additional hands
will be put on, as the contractors will by that time have
obtained possession of all the land on their contract.
On Friday Mr. Kane, the solicitor, and Mr. Golding,
one of the directors, met a number of the occupying