Paul Bigland's blog page.

[Snapper]

Following a suggestion from a forum member I'm going to post new blogs in one thread so that everything's in one place.

I'll kick off with yesterday's blog which analyses why the Stop Hs2 'direct action' campaign's been such a flop. Did you know that the demonstrations at Euston relied from people outside the borough and that they're some of the same people who're running the tiny protest at Harvil Rd in Hillingdon?

https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/20/hs2-protests-twyford-down-they-aint/

 

[Snapper]

I've updated my photo essay on the Pacer DMU's with extra pictures and text. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/12...for-pacer-trains-so-heres-a-pictorial-review/

 

[Snapper]

New blog. 5 days after the announcement that the Hs2 Phase 2a Hybrid Bill gets 2nd reading in Parliament on Jan 30th, the remaining anti Hs2 group (StopHs2) haven't even mentioned it! https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/23/hs2-to-crewe-radio-silence-from-stop-hs2/ Some 'campaign'!

 

[55z]

Nice photos Paul, After all they all substantial passed their use by date but they provided a useful stopgap.

 

[shredder1]

Excellent stuff Paul, many thanks for sharing.

 

[Snapper]

New blog. New signal posts appearing herald the end for the Calder valley's last two remaining signal boxes and outpost of Absolute Block working. One of the boxes is the last of its kind. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/24...lder-valleys-last-two-remaining-signal-boxes/

 

[Snapper]

I've just had chance to blog about yesterdays Hs2 vote in Parliament which agreed to build the phase 2 route by 295 votes to 12. It was an appalling result for the anti Hs2 campaign. 25% of the opposition votes came from 3 Plaid Cymru MPs whilst many former opposers abstained. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/31/the-stop-hs2-campaigns-as-dead-as-a-dodo/ #hs2

 

[Snapper]

I've now had time to crunch Tuesday's numbers on the Hs2 vote in Parliament & they make for interesting reading. 7 MPs who voted against building phase 1 of Hs2 voted FOR building Phase 2a. There's lots more too...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/01/31/the-stop-hs2-campaigns-as-dead-as-a-dodo/

 

[Snapper]

Another Hs2 blog today, examining the *cough* 'strength' of opposition to Hs2 on the Phase 2 and 2a route to Manchester. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/04/hs2-to-crewe-and-manchester-wheres-the-opposition/

 

[Snapper]

New blog. Brexit supporting MP Michael Fabricant votes against Hs2 because it won't link to Hs1 and run trains to Europe. Yet his support for Brexit would do more to make such a service uneconomic...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/05...ns-like-this-is-it-any-wonder-were-in-a-mess/

 

[Snapper]

Here's a new blog with details of Eurostar's new London - Amsterdam service which is due to start on April 4th. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/09...-of-their-new-london-amsterdam-train-service/

 

[Snapper]

New blog. The end of UK diesel trains by 2040? Don't you believe it...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/12/the-end-is-nigh-for-diesel-trains-dont-you-believe-it/

 

[Snapper]

New blog. When's a protest not a protest? When it's a @stophs2 protest & no-one turns up! https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/19/another-stophs2-apathetic-fiasco/

 

[Snapper]

Here's a quick blog with a few pictures from today's first passenger run of a Eurostar from London to Amsterdam. More to follow soon...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/20/there-and-back-again-by-eurostar-to-amsterdam-in-a-day/

 

[Snapper]

I've added a new tranche of pic from the UK and Holland to my Zenfolio website. Follow the link to see which galleries have been updated. http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/recent.html

 

[Snapper]

Yesterday's blog (with snow pictures from London & elsewhere) describing what it was like trying to get back from London to West Yorkshire in the face of blizzards and cancellations...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/28/the-benefits-of-hindsight/

 

[swt_passenger]

New blog. When's a protest not a protest? When it's a @stophs2 protest & no-one turns up! https://paulbigland.blog/2018/02/19/another-stophs2-apathetic-fiasco/

I see stophs2 add to the gravitas of the high court hearing by thinking the Rolls Building is in “Fetta Lane”. Looks a bit cheesy to me...

 

[Snapper]

I've written a new blog now that all the petitions for Hs2 Phase 2a to Crewe are in. There's only 188 (compared to 1925 for phase 1). Some are sensible and one is completely bonkers! https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/15/hs2-phase-2a-the-petitions-are-in/

 

[Snapper]

It's a long time since I've done one of these blogs but this was too good a chance to miss. Here's the first (and probably last of 2018) 'Crazy anti Hs2 campaigner of the week - No 21' https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/19/crazy-anti-hs2-campaigner-of-the-week-no-21/

 

[Snapper]

A new blog (with pictures) that's not just about Huddersfield's rail network, but that might be of interest anyway...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/20/holed-up-in-huddersfield/

 

[Snapper]

I've crunched the numbers and analysed the disastrous 'Stop hs2' petition which finished 70,000+ short of target yesterday https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/22/crunching-the-final-numbers-on-the-stop-hs2-petition/ …

 

[Snapper]

New blog. Someone pass StopHs2's Joe Rukin a fire-extinguisher, his pants are on fire - again. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/23/joe-rukins-pants-are-on-fire-again/

 

[Snapper]

Here's a new picture blog with details of last months Eurostar press trip from London to Amsterdam, launching their new service which begins in April. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/27/eurostar-heads-to-holland/

 

[Snapper]

New blog looking at the rolling stock market and the fact that there's over 4,000 vehicles coming off lease in the next few years - which would require 52 miles of sidings to store them in...https://paulbigland.blog/2018/03/28/the-new-trains-dilemma-what-to-do-with-the-old-ones/

 

[Snapper]

I passed 68019 on a low-loader at Watford gap services earlier on today.

http://PaulBigland.zenfolio.com/p276197449/ea76c7ba5

 

[Snapper]

I've not blogged about the anti Hs2 campaign for a while as there's really nothing going on with it that matters, but this might be of interest. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/04/10/stophs2-their-archives-great-for-mapping-their-decline/

 

[Snapper]

Two blogs today! Yesterday a new report on Hs2 phase 2a and the Crewe hub was launched by High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL) so here's some pictures from the event and a look at what the report contains. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/04/10...he-north-west-and-midlands-with-hs2-phase-2a/

 

[Snapper]

New picture blog. A trip down memory lane. No 1. Bescot, 2nd June 1994. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/04/14/down-memory-lane-a-day-out-to-bescot/

 

[Snapper]

New picture blog & a 2nd trip down memory lane which looks at London's changing skyline as much as the capital's railways. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/04/16/down-memory-lane-no-2-a-tale-of-two-pictures/ …

 

[Snapper]

New picture blog. Down memory lane No 3: St Pancras transformed. A look at how the station changed from 1991 to the present day. https://paulbigland.blog/2018/04/24/down-memory-lane-no-3-how-time-flies/