What Railway Subject Have You Changed Your Mind About In 2020?

[Rhydgaled]

Can't it? Wouldn't we just rethink it, such as returning to e.g. compartments with external doors, booked one per household, say?

Must confess I didn't think of that, which could be a solution for inter-urban rail travel (but how much would it cost to implement) but I can't see it working for buses or metro systems.

 

[Ianno87]

Must confess I didn't think of that, which could be a solution for inter-urban rail travel (but how much would it cost to implement) but I can't see it working for buses or metro systems.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's still no evidence of public transport use being a significant contributor to spreading or any outbreak.

 

[HSTEd]

Can't it? Wouldn't we just rethink it, such as returning to e.g. compartments with external doors, booked one per household, say?

How much do you propose to charge for these?
They would end up so expensive that noone would use them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

How much do you propose to charge for these?
They would end up so expensive that noone would use them.

There are no good answers. There are only bad ones. It depends on which is least bad.

(I think that was from Matt Hancock)

 

[tbtc]

The facts haven't (yet) changed on a long-term basis, we can only speculate on whether or not the virus will be beaten.

We can speculate about future things (will Coronavirus be something we can all bounce back from), but there are plenty of non-Covid things that we can judge our previous predictions against - e.g. when it comes to bi-modes, I was more in favour of sticking an engine under an existing train that had no future on its current line (like the 319s displaced by Thameslink or the D-stock that was replaced on the London Underground). That felt more environmentally friendly than building brand new stock.

However, evidence seems to show that Hitachi can churn out large numbers of brand new bi-modes in the time that Porterbrook/ VivaRail can teach an old train new tricks.

Similarly, Wabtec seem to take as long to fit a new (accessible) door to a 1970s HST as Hitachi do to build an entire (accessible) train.

So I'm in the "build new" camp nowadays, rather than trying the previously attractive approach of patching up old trains and trying to get them to be fit for the future - it's generally too much hassle. Something I've changed my mind about - some stuff sounds good on paper but when you see how complicated/ expensive/ unreliable/ delayed it is in practice, you change your mind (I'm annoyed that electrification schemes are going to be harder and harder to justify in future, given the problems on the GWML etc).

I haven't changed my views about anything regarding rail in particular or public transport in general. Particularly the WFH situation has revealed some very strange attitudes to work. If working from home is desirable now, why was it not before? I cannot imagine anything than a return to at least 2=3 days per week 'at the office' after COVID 19 is over. Human beings have to mingle as a survival necessity. As a colony species they can't avoid it.

I can't speak for others, but there was a gradual trend over the past decade, but it was limited to those over a certain pay grade - many offices were "manager-less" on Fridays as the boss was entitled to work from home whilst their staff were expected to be in the office.

You might have wanted to work more flexibly but it'd have been hard to get permission.

The past six months have forced employers' hands and shown us that many people can do the majority of their jobs at home. Maybe this would have happened in the longer term (it was always being used as an excuse not to build HS2), but it might have taken a decade or more to happen.

We can’t just let public transport go to ruin.

Not everyone can drive, Not everyone wants to drive, Not everyone wants to sit in traffic, Not everyone wants to contribute to climate change.

The uproar from environmentalists over a mothballed passenger rail network would be immense. They will be crying over their defeat as they watch a jam packed parliament square fill up with distressed commuters, all trying to get to the same place at the same time.
Youth unemployment will also skyrocket with no passenger railway as they have fewer ways of getting around, and not everybody can and/or wants to drive.
A much better move would be to move the entire network to a Sunday timetable, with frequencies in many cases halved but most connections maintained.

WE NEED TO SAVE THE RAILWAYS NOW, and I’m happy to pay more tax for it.

Not everyone can drive, sure, but 90-95% of the population seem to manage their lives without using the railway on a regular basis.

Whilst I appreciate the point that you're making, if you play the "climate change" card then you have to consider how much pollution you're going to get from a lightly loaded DMU chugging along at a couple of miles to the gallon - if trains are going to be lower than 50% capacity on average then they are part of the environmental problem rather than part of the environmental solution.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Can't it? Wouldn't we just rethink it, such as returning to e.g. compartments with external doors, booked one per household, say?

Funny you say that; I was thinking this earlier but decided not to post the idea

Now the thought of a nice comfy 2nd class compartment in a 2 Hap or unrefurbished 4 Cep on my journey home suddenly sounds so appealing

On a serious note, I know this is never going to happen

 

[scosutsut]

Very interesting post. May I ask if your park and ride has a cycle stand option, as that seems also to fit your aims? I'd love to know your geographical details but I realise that for privacy reasons, you may not wish to reveal much about them.

Happy to say it's North Berwick - Edinburgh Waverley route boarding at an intermediate station.

I'm not sure if the station has a bike rack, but it's a bit too rough to leave a bike you value at so I was assuming door to door pedal:

Doing some maths I'd put the combined park & ride / train option at 50 minutes, the bus at 60 minutes and cycling the whole way and getting washed and changed at 1hr 15 mins.

My current thought process is if it's a journey I'm making less often, I think I'll be quite open in having a slightly longer commute for the cost (and possibly health) benefit.

Will be interested to see how it plays out.

 

[yorksrob]

China today behave as the British did when we had an Empire and the USA behaved in the past (and Trump tries to today). We are not in any position to complain there!

We have exported most of our manufacturing to China so you can have cheap goods.

Don't blame China for our own actions!!

And by a similar token, we have no moral obligation to give them our trade, particularly where it is used to enrich and embolden the regime.

 

[37424]

I haven't changed my views about anything regarding rail in particular or public transport in general. Particularly the WFH situation has revealed some very strange attitudes to work. If working from home is desirable now, why was it not before? I cannot imagine anything than a return to at least 2=3 days per week 'at the office' after COVID 19 is over. Human beings have to mingle as a survival necessity. As a colony species they can't avoid it.

Some companies have had an attitude against working from home in this country, the company I used to work for the Stockholm office was downsized in 2015 due to more working from home, however in the UK the management were less keen other than getting rid of the very small Scottish office. Some of my Ex colleagues who now work for a major bank have been working mainly from home for about 7 years when faster broadband became available.

So I certainly haven't changed my view that there will be much more working from home in future.

But I have changed my mind about HS2 I was in reasonably in favour before covid but I'm not convinced now. However having gone ahead even though I live in Leeds I think we should scrap the Eastern leg and build NPR instead.

 

[Turtle]

I am now strongly against any railway equipment produced in China being allowed onto the UK network: not signalling, not trains, nothing; not until such time as the current dictatorship there is overthrown.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[LittleAH]

But I have changed my mind about HS2 I was in reasonably in favour before covid but I'm not convinced now. However having gone ahead even though I live in Leeds I think we should scrap the Eastern leg and build NPR instead.

I find this really interesting. I'm the opposite. I was reasonably for NPR but now given then pax. volume over the pennines, the TRU programme which will increase capacity and the likelihood of flexible working I think the eastern leg of HS2 is more favourable that NPR (with the caveat that the Liverpool section of NPR is built and that there's some more capacity work done west of Huddersfield and Leeds - York). Seems fruitless building something which will cost tens of billions just so Bradford can have a fast link to Manchester, while the eastern leg of HS2 is what gives most of the capacity increase to that project.

 

[Alanko]

I am now strongly against any railway equipment produced in China being allowed onto the UK network: not signalling, not trains, nothing; not until such time as the current dictatorship there is overthrown.

As per the Boeing/Moog investigation, there is a known issue of counterfeit ICs and other components from China turning up in aircraft systems.

That or they build a back door in signalling systems to allow them to 'brick' the thing if the UK doesn't tow the line!

 

[HSTEd]

I find this really interesting. I'm the opposite. I was reasonably for NPR but now given then pax. volume over the pennines, the TRU programme which will increase capacity and the likelihood of flexible working I think the eastern leg of HS2 is more favourable that NPR (with the caveat that the Liverpool section of NPR is built and that there's some more capacity work done west of Huddersfield and Leeds - York). Seems fruitless building something which will cost tens of billions just so Bradford can have a fast link to Manchester, while the eastern leg of HS2 is what gives most of the capacity increase to that project.

A fast link to Manchester is a fast link to London if HS2-W happens as seems very likely.

A short stub at the southern end of the Eastern branch and a Manchester-Leeds railway gets you most of the benefits of HS2 with much less track.

 

[Class 170101]

I think much of the early aversion to bi-modes was borne out of a fear that they'd be used as an excuse to not invest in electrification. So far the lack of any functional bi-modes away from the IET and 745s has meant that hasn't transpired away from MML and areas of the GWML, but with a government that knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing it is still a concern.

Class 755s rather than Class 745s as bi-modes.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Class 755s rather than Class 745s as bi-modes.

Thanks, don't know if that was a typo or a brain-fart! Now corrected.

 

[yorksrob]

I was sceptical about the Viva rail idea previously. I know they've had some technical struggles at times, but with the third rail versions heading to the Isle of Wight, I think more routes could be suitable for re-conditioned District line units.

 

[Mat17]

I know my opinion will totally go against the general trend in society, however, I guess my opposition to working from home has hardened through the pandemic.

There's been a lot of discussion about mental health issues (pre-pandemic) about the pace of life been too fast, stressful and people never being able to switch off. I don't think working from home (becoming the cultural norm) will actually help in this regard, I think it will exacerbate this, as the household (the refuge from work) will simply become an extension of the workplace, where the boss will be able to contact you and monitor you at will. Where's the work/life balance?

Regarding railways though, I'm still of the opinion that fewer but longer trains are preferable, the fact that many trains around my area seem to have run on time throughout the pandemic and reliability has markedly improved shows a less cluttered network can stay more punctual and where delays do occur they can be caught up with turn around times more easily.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Regarding railways though, I'm still of the opinion that fewer but longer trains are preferable, the fact that many trains around my area seem to have run on time throughout the pandemic and reliability has markedly improved shows a less cluttered network can stay more punctual and where delays do occur they can be caught up with turn around times more easily.

That and "keep it simple" - simple, non-interworked diagramming - my opinion has been reinforced too.

 

[Masbroughlad]

1) Was for HS2, now not too sure. As long as savings (and more) are spent on conventional new /reopening lines and light rail.

2) Different model rather than change of view.... Liked the concept of new routes set up by TOCs and OAs. Moderation of competition vs alongside existing routes. Too much restriction.

 

[Ianno87]

1) Was for HS2, now not too sure. As long as savings (and more) are spent on conventional new /reopening lines and light rail.

There are no "savings" if HS2 is not built. It's money borrowed to pay for HS2 set against HS2's future benefits.

If HS2 doesn't exist, the money doesn't exist.

 

[RT4038]

I thought rail travel was an important part of my life, but 2020 has proved that it is not, and is unlikely going to be (in any quantity) going forward.

 

[Bald Rick]

1) Was for HS2, now not too sure. As long as savings (and more) are spent on conventional new /reopening lines and light rail.

Also, HS2 has already spent over £10bn, and with main contracts let it would cost several billion more to shut it down. Any future ‘savings’ would look rather weak compared to what would be wasted.

 

[EllieAquitrain]

There are no "savings" if HS2 is not built. It's money borrowed to pay for HS2 set against HS2's future benefits.

If HS2 doesn't exist, the money doesn't exist.

To play devil's advocate, the problem would be if the future benefits end up reduced due to COVID.

 

[Jozhua]

HS2 is an investment into our existing railway network. It will reduce the number of high speed services that force local and regional trains out the way by segregating them onto their own track. This will allow far more services to run on the existing infrastructure than just making some tweaks here and there. Plus, the capacity on the HS2 route will be greatly increased.

Even with public transport made as inconvenient as possible and people being scared away from it, still a LOT of people using it. The buses and trams I've been on in Manchester were plenty full right up until this lockdown, and I've been on trains over 50% full outside peak times. One XC one was probably running 75-80% of capacity... (definitely no social distancing!)

That said, right now the journeys I'm not making are mostly those to see friends and family. Definitely missing that and will be doing so at the earliest opportunity, probably even more than I did. The moment the vaccine needle punctures my skin, I'm going to be booking tickets for so many flights and train trips that I'll probably get a call from my bank!

 

[The Ham]

HS2 is an investment into our existing railway network. It will reduce the number of high speed services that force local and regional trains out the way by segregating them onto their own track. This will allow far more services to run on the existing infrastructure than just making some tweaks here and there. Plus, the capacity on the HS2 route will be greatly increased.

Even with public transport made as inconvenient as possible and people being scared away from it, still a LOT of people using it. The buses and trams I've been on in Manchester were plenty full right up until this lockdown, and I've been on trains over 50% full outside peak times. One XC one was probably running 75-80% of capacity... (definitely no social distancing!)

That said, right now the journeys I'm not making are mostly those to see friends and family. Definitely missing that and will be doing so at the earliest opportunity, probably even more than I did. The moment the vaccine needle punctures my skin, I'm going to be booking tickets for so many flights and train trips that I'll probably get a call from my bank!

A good post, I hope the call from your bank is a pleasant one!

I do suspect that there's a lot of people with similar thoughts about public transport travel, now whilst that's not going to necessarily result to 2019 levels of use everywhere it should be enough to ensure that if there are cuts they are likely to be limited (i.e. mostly around London commuter trains and even then mostly just slightly shorter trains).

 

[johnnychips]

What have I changed my mind about?... I think Northern are fantastic on my new commute from Sheffield to Doncaster. I was a bit apprehensive before moving, but comfy 170s with WiFi and charging, excellent punctuality ... wow.

Even if I have to get the slow service, it’s a 150 not a Pacer any more.

 

[LittleAH]

A fast link to Manchester is a fast link to London if HS2-W happens as seems very likely.

A short stub at the southern end of the Eastern branch and a Manchester-Leeds railway gets you most of the benefits of HS2 with much less track.

This idea - It doesn't really save any time from Leeds, nor does it make the east midlands or Birmingham more connected with the eastern side of England - Sheffield too would miss out. HS2 should be built in it's entirety - any scrapping of the eastern leg would be typical of the awful transport policy this nation has gone through for 60 years.

NPR is what should be reassessed. No need for tens of billions to be spent on a new link between Manchester and Leeds via Bradford when capacity and speeds can be built through targeted schemes supplementing the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

 

[52290]

Looks like Branson is backing Hyperloop. London to Manchester in 15 mins?

 

[HarryL]

Looks like Branson is backing Hyperloop. London to Manchester in 15 mins?

I won't get into it here but there's many reasons hyperloop is a far too over hyped and isn't practical in any real form. Gareth Dennis (the engineer) has a good overview of it on his website if you want to have a look.

 

[Whistler40145]

That First Transpennine Express would still be operating in 2020