Recent content by LNW-GW Joint

Although the LU itself is measured (distances) in km. NR uses imperial for its physical routes (distances, speeds etc), but metric for the components of those routes (track, OHLE etc). The ECML is measured in metric (since electrification). New lines starting with the Heathrow branch* (maybe...

There are pictures on social media of 32 staff in the bodyshop welding unit at Alstom Derby who are leaving next week, showing that workforce reduction is in progress. The recent statements from the DfT will not reverse that process, but it will stop it reaching full closure. The Adessia design...

It's not actually much better in the Upper Crust on P5. And the Upper Crust at Lime St is simply revolting. It's hard to say if the state of these places is down to the outlet (SSP) or the station operator (NR ultimately). The Costa outlets on stations are markedly better run.

The classic (Caledonian/LMS) route was via Coatbridge to Stirling, but all the routes east of Glasgow are now wired (as far as Dunblane). Reversing at Glasgow Central or Edinburgh is no harder than reversing at Manchester Piccadilly, which is what the cognoscenti have been telling us was the...

That's Treasury approval in principle, meaning DfT has authority to place an order for TfL (via a Rosco). There will be Treasury conditions attached (eg perhaps reducing future forcast train orders by the same amount). No government handout comes without strings, and it looks as though Alstom...

That's not how government procurement from the private sector works.

I expect GWR will be lobbying for more trains to compensate for stopping all their services at OOC, with journey times extended as a result.

This Telegraph article looks fairly convincing. Looks like the Treasury has agreed on 10x9-car 345s, but no price is agreed yet. TfL to invent a business case...

Romania is very interesting, but unmodernised railway infrastructure (most of it) is in a bad way. Platforms with broken slabs, steps and subways being obstacle courses, and platform seats with collapsed seats! But a magical landscape in Transylvania. There are several major route upgrades in...

I had some trouble today trying to buy a PlusBus ticket covering the West Midlands Metro. The current PlusBus site says that the whole West Midlands zone is covered by both the PlusBus Birmingham and Wolverhampton tickets, and WM Metro is one of the participating operators. Starting from...

An update today from the Northolt West TBMs (Apr 5-16): Shushila is at 4717m (+171m), Caroline at 4379m (+73m). So it's Shushila's turn to forge ahead, and Caroline's to slow down a bit. Both of them are now close to adjacent residential property on the surface.

Most of that will have to go to open tender, or the other manufacturers will object. A few more 345s would probably be OK.

Do we know if any of the AT shortfall will be progressed in the CP7 timeframe? There's a lot of investment not delivering any benefits there. I do remember the northern section (north of Gt Strickland) being axed because of the decline in expected freight traffic (in line with the end of...

Presumably using wires all the way from Darlington. But has to reverse at Wolverhampton as it cannot use the unwired direct link from Bushbury Jn to Stafford Rd Jn next to Oxley. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04326/2024-04-15/detailed

Looking at the DB and ČD sites, the normal route via Brno is operating, but with single line working west of Kolin on the last lap into Prague, so may be delayed. RJ72 is timed 0910 from Wien Hbf - Praha hl.n arr 1310. Fare is CZK 903 for a First Minute ticket. ÖBB wants €83.50 for the same...