Inbox

Inbox – October-November 2015

02.11.15: Source: Martin Young Subject: Network Rail, ORR and DfT bosses to be ‘held to account’ in CP5 inquiry In light of the ORR letter to NR dated 6 August 2015, re: Possible breach of condition 1 of NR’s network licence wi...

Quality of Greater Anglia rolling stock

21.08.15: I'm a commuter who uses Abellio Greater Anglia and the impact of faulty trains is causing more misery for passengers right across Essex and East Anglia, including where I live near Rayleigh. I hate it when I hear "Oh we are sorry for the de...

Double the whole Felixstowe branch line

14.08.15: Whilst applauding the new Nuneaton crossover, the Ipswich Bacon Chord and the Joan Croft crossover in Yorkshire to name but three improvements which will greatly assist the flow of freight in GB, I fail to see the economic sense in only doubling...

Claustrophobic new trains

07.08.15: Yet another MIC (Masterpiece in Claustrophobia) from the privatised railway. Are they trying to outdo Virgin? The only criterion they work to is the maximum number of seats they can fit in their trains. Group travel, leg room, luggage space, see...

Seating layout

31.07.15: Great to see industry leaders at last demonstrating that that 'high density' rolling stock means 2+2 seating, not 3+2 as is often imagined. On the other hand, why spend all this money on interior improvements and overlook to put in the seating s...

Detecting track defects

24.07.15: In the 1970/80’s various test trains were developed as individual facilities to assess various track features and brought into service as separate operations. Four of these major units were the Ultrasonic Test Unit, Track Recording Unit, t...

The 'new' Pacer

17.07.15: No, Paul, people like me who use the damned things daily are far from loving them! As for the demonstrator, appalled to see the new seats. As a back sufferer, that ex-Arriva Northern seat from Richmonds has nearly the best lumber support on the...

Government answering a different question on HS2

10.07.15: The government reveals its weakness by answering a question different from the one asked by their lordships.  New tracks will almost certainly be needed northwards from London but we all know that HS2 is not the answer. It offers conne...

Future of London Overground – S-Bahn?

09.07.15: Is it not time for the DfT to define precisely what London Overground is or should be? If LOROL is now running services into Euston and Liverpool Street then should not the services from other termini be included? I would include ALL suburb...

How UK rail deals with the heat

03.07.15: Thailand and Indonesia (and other countries) may be able to cope with 30C but how often do they have to cope with temperatures BELOW 0 degrees C? Network Rail track is a compromise between high and low temperatures. Norway has generally LOW...

Line reopening would be an enormous boost to Wales

26.06.15:  My understanding is that a new more direct route will be used between Carmarthen and Pencader. A new route into Aberystwyth itself will also be needed. The original Victorian line was designed for slow steam traction, where gradients...

London Overground can't blame the trains

19.06.15: Trying to blame the 30 year old trains is a pretty lame excuse. They're the same 30 year old trains AGA were running the week before LO took over, so what did LO screw up? Re: New London Overground routes off to rough start

Slow speed of GOBLIN electrification

12.06.15: With snailspeed like that for the GRIP3, it doesn't augur well for the work to be completed as prescribed. In fact, users will be lucky to find the complete works with signalling being completed within the CP5 finishing in 2019. This means...

Stagecoach in the background

05.06.15: Yet another 'joint-venture' where Stagecoach is a significant partner but the public would never know it. Why don't they want people to know they're involved? Re: Shortlist for East Anglia franchise revealed

Arrogance of Ordsall Chord objectors

29.05.15: This is really bad news. Why can't the parties involved accept the inspector's recommendation? I find these people really arrogant. Why will they not accept the wider benefits of this scheme. Re: Ordsall Chord being challenged in...