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Recent content by RailExplorer

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    How does Waterloo only get 60 million passengers yet each SWR train I get is packed like sardines?

    In 2019 my SWR route had 10 car trains every 15 minutes off peak. In 2024 it is 8 car trains every 30 minutes.
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    Why don’t train conductors announce delays sooner?

    Elizabeth Line / Overground have a TfL policy that an announcement must be made within 30 seconds of coming to a stand (e.g. red signal), or if held in a station longer than 90 seconds. Then further announcements every 2 minutes until back on the move. 30 seconds is a bit too rushed in my...
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    Are there any train drivers earning £100k or more?

    In 2020/2021/2022 I earned very well - I won't give the exact figure though. I was one of only a tiny tiny handful of instructors at my TOC that was willing to continue in cab training during covid. It resulted in me working 12-13 days on, 1-2 days off for a 24+ month period, usually on max...
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    [Trivia] How far can you travel on standard gauge track?

    Zahedan (just short of the Pakistani border) is the in theory the end of the Standard Guage route but as others said, that involves a railway boat across Lake Van. The boat is only for the train. I did a trip on the train Ankara to Tehran over a decade ago which used this boat, albeit the loco...
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    Driver ‘allegedly’ refused to leave as too many passengers on board

    I've had my London commuter trains so full that there was zero chance of leaving the cab if I needed to. I generally just leave the passengers to decide when full is too full (and that's when they can no longer squeeze on Japanese style). Once the doors are closed the remaining passengers on the...
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    Ideas for a interrail itinerary

    Consider going one way only. I recently did... Day 1 Late afternoon London to Brussels on Eurostar Brussels to Passau on the nightjet Day 2 Passau to Prague via several loco hauled trains in Czech Republic Day 3 Day in Prague the night train to Kosice Day 4 Kosice Day 5 Kosice to Oradea via...
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    RMT sets out talks ‘road map’ as rail services hit by fresh strike

    I got 100% of an open return ticket through delay repay last summer due to a strike day. I had booked on a particular train, but as that day had no trains, I travelled the following day. As this was 2+ hours late in applied for delay repay.
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    Ongoing ASLEF overtime bans

    Apologies to piggyback onto this thread but I can’t see the info regarding the MTR Elizabeth Line pay deal anywhere. The members appear to have voted roughly 75% in favour of a recent pay offer. Rumours suggest it’s because they know it’s poor but they want a deal rather than a never ending...
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    Elizabeth line reliability issues

    It’s either rear 4 or rear 5 depending which end you are driving from.
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    To what extent is an operator entitled to delay your exit from a station?

    I landed at Stansted back in February at about midnight, but it took a further 15 minutes before the doors were opened, and then another 4 minutes before it was my turn to disembark. From stepping foot off the plane to the train wheels rolling / departing Stansted it was 11 minutes. I ran like...
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    To what extent is an operator entitled to delay your exit from a station?

    Nope. The lifts are outside the main set up. I travel to Stansted a lot - most recently was 2 weeks ago. Last off the train, probably first in the terminal building. The other 1000 people were left behind queuing at the bottom of the escalators! You do get your ticket checked before entering the...
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    To what extent is an operator entitled to delay your exit from a station?

    The trick for Stansted Airport is to always use the lift… both going down and up. You avoid all the queuing that way.
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    FIP travel with vouchers, Austria and Hungary

    There's a Facebook group for all European staff travel related stuff. It's very good. The Hungary FIP requirements for coupon travel are on there as I just visited and needed a few questions asked along the way. But in summary, most domestic IC services require a reservation in Hungary. You...
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    Which TOC's have the Smartest Uniform?

    It's the only way of keeping cool when you are issued with a dark navy uniform (trousers and polos) and black shoes!
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    Refund for Strike Day travel on partially used ticket / Avanti

    I successfully managed to claim delay repay for a strike day in summer 2022 from GWR. That meant I got 100% of the return ticket cost back. I did actually travel on the first available train the following day which in all truth, did delay me by more than 2 hours.

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