Scotrail Franchise - Abellio

[Altnabreac]

Has Dalmeny chord been re-announced?

No but it is one of the proposed options in the Scotland Route Study and given it is the only way to add capacity and reliability in the western approaches to Waverley I think its fairly certain to be included as one of the chosen projects.

Interestingly the Rail Delivery Group "Investing in the Future" report lists it as one of their recommended investments but it is described very much in those terms:

Edinburgh Waverley Western approach enhancements

Grade separating Winchburgh Junction and creation of a chord line and grade separated junctions at Almond to connect with Winchburgh and Fife lines towards Edinburgh will improve connections and the resilience of the network. The scheme will also help to avoid larger scale interventions closer to Edinburgh Waverley and provide a route for larger gauge freight services.

It is also one of the interventions they list as supporting all 4 enhancement justifications: Capacity, Reliability, Journey Time and Freight.

 

[Blindtraveler]

On a side note, I should think tram boses are equally keen for the usage data for this as by my calculations for 2 pax traveling to the airport from Gateway a taxi is the same price or cheeper than 2 airport tickets on the tram. I wonder how many others have noticed this?


the delaying of the Dalmeny Cord was and still is a sad story for the network locally given its potential to solve in the medium term the haymarket bottleneck.

 

[Highland37]

So nobody is allowed an opinion? I personally think its a mess but far be it from me or anyone to chritisize?????????

Could we maybe drop the hysterical reactions? Everyone is entitled to an opinion but you roll this out on a fairly regular basis when someone disagrees with you. It just looks a bit silly.

Personally I think Scotrail is doing ok. Maybe I should follow you and use "Scotok"? The 170s and 158s are awful in my opinion but they were here before Abellio and the staff are working hard. The profile seems to be higher under the new operator too.

 

[ER158715]

Exactly!

Its my fault partly but I fear this has gone a little OT, shall we return to another Scottish Govd disaster, i.e the current Scotfail?

Sadly we have an example of another sad individual who looks to criticise the franchise holder at every opportunity. People like you are the reason I no longer use Facebook thanks to the constant stream of rubbish coming out of your keyboards.

The facts are simple, the franchise is improving and in many cases is way ahead of those south of the border. Delays are down and the overwhelming majority of the staff are working hard to keep it that way.

Where exactly is the "disaster" in all of this? Having read through a few of your posts, its clear that you have some axe to grind. Why is this?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I shant respond to this in any detail as it only takes a thread off topic again. My issues are mearly that the whole thing has been a bit wobbly for many years and to have it slide further as it has been doing is just a slap in the face for those who use it. It is certainly good that things are improoving but I feel we got bad deal with this new franchise which the opperater seam to have gone back on once or twice, admittedly not through their own doing every time.

On the flip side I am the first to praise improvements and the new MD omce in post is one such improvement I welcome.

I should also point out that whilst I dont like things as they are I am and always will be pro staff and supported their cause during last summers strikes.



Anyhow, next please! Lets carry on

 

[ER158715]

I shant respond to this in any detail as it only takes a thread off topic again. My issues are mearly that the whole thing has been a bit wobbly for many years and to have it slide further as it has been doing is just a slap in the face for those who use it. It is certainly good that things are improoving but I feel we got bad deal with this new franchise which the opperater seam to have gone back on once or twice, admittedly not through their own doing every time.

On the flip side I am the first to praise improvements and the new MD omce in post is one such improvement I welcome.

I should also point out that whilst I dont like things as they are I am and always will be pro staff and supported their cause during last summers strikes.



Anyhow, next please! Lets carry on

No, you can't just try and brush off these comments. You use the word disaster and fail. Its far from it and does not take this off topic. You are happy to band these words about without actually backing up your claims.

You would have more credibility if you actually gave sensible, constructive answers.

A bit wobbly for many years? This would encompass at least 2 franchise holders and believe me, the current one is way ahead of Nat Ex.

Its clearly pointless trying to reason with you, as you seem to lack the basic understanding on how the modern railway works within such tight constraints.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Wrong/not guilty to both charges, but I really dont feel like getting into a huge discussion here. This is a discussion bord where people air/share opinions. I have done so. I am entitled to my opinion, just as anyone else is entitled to theirs. It is my opinion that things at Scotrail have been a shambles until very recently. I dont have to justify it to everyone if I chose not to.

What I will say for the avoidance of doubt is that I know staff are doing their best with what resources they have and working dam hard. I have no issues with the Indians, but witht the chiefs, namely Transport Scotland etc.

I think we simply agree to differ. The END!

 

[ER158715]

Basically you are saying you have had your say and that's it! No need to use shouty capital letters either. Everyone entitled to their say as long as it's not someone disagreeing with you?????? OK, you win seeing as you are clearly an expert on it all.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Disagree all you like, thats the point of it, we all air and share opinions.

I should think the result, i.e the differing views would be the same if you stuck half a duzzon regular commuters in a group and asked them some would say it was farsicle, others wouldnt, theres no right or wrong answer.

One thing your right about though, Iv had my say and for now til something new is posted that is indeed it. I am not however an expert and dont claim to be such a thing, just to clear that up.

 

[HH]

As they say, opinions are like arseholes; everybody has one, but some smell worse than others.

 

[Blindtraveler]

As they say, opinions are like arseholes; everybody has one, but some smell worse than others.

Wheres that like button?

 

[reb0118]

Just a wee caveat about the passenger numbers using the Midlothian Stations on the Borders' Route. For many this is a free ride to/from town, as due to the spacing of the stops on the northern third of the route, it is very difficult to lift all the revenue. There is also a significant "student" flow to/from & amongst Eskbank, Newcraighall, & Brunstane - these stations are almost never barriered, and again there is a high expectation of a "free ride".

Also the good citizens of Midlothian have been brought up with Lothian Buses' pricing structure of (currently) £1.60 single & £4.00 day saver so for those on a budget the modal shift to rail may be a step too far at present.

What is evident is the number of passengers, from both the Borders AND Midlothian, who are using the railway to connect with destinations beyond Edinburgh. It seems that almost every train I work will have at least two passengers to/from Tweedbank or Galashiels and some for the Midlothian stations too.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[170401]

JustWhat is evident is the number of passengers, from both the Borders AND Midlothian, who are using the railway to connect with destinations beyond Edinburgh. It seems that almost every train I work will have at least two passengers to/from Tweedbank or Galashiels and some for the Midlothian stations too.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

Eskbanks passenger figures are going to be very interesting as many stations in the central belt (including Queen Street) have a cheaper SVR to it than the sum of 2 SDS to/from Edinburgh meaning many taking overnight trips to the capital have a cheaper return option without ever setting foot in Eskbank or even a train going to it!

 

[Scotrail88]

Bit of aside but the upgrades to signalling today - does anybody have any info on what was carried out? I know the whifflet branch has hit new LED signals to be transferred presumably during the blockade at the end of April

 

[Carntyne]

Bit of aside but the upgrades to signalling today - does anybody have any info on what was carried out? I know the whifflet branch has hit new LED signals to be transferred presumably during the blockade at the end of April

Yoker workstations were renewed this morning (East and West)

At least one of the panels from Motherwell moves to the WSSC at Easter.

 

[Carlisle]

you seem to lack the basic understanding on how the modern railway works within such tight constraints.

alternatively it could be argued Mr Cash & co also satisfy much of the criteria re eligibility for membership of the above

 

[Gadget88]

Any word on the Class 380 trains running as early as May before the new trains come in later in the year?

 

[380101]

Any word on the Class 380 trains running as early as May before the new trains come in later in the year?

They are planned to run 24 services a day from QST to Waverly from the May timetable change. Driver and Conductor training ongoing at the moment through in Edinburgh. The electric services obviously depend on the wires being energised by May.

 

[Class 170101]

The electric services obviously depend on the wires being energised by May.

How far short of this happening are we?

 

[92002]

How far short of this happening are we?

Power due to be switched on this Sunday, 9th April.

Staff training on 380s already being done in Edinburgh. Will no doubt switch to the main line when power is there.

 

[Southsider]

They are planned to run 24 services a day from QST to Waverly from the May timetable change. Driver and Conductor training ongoing at the moment through in Edinburgh. The electric services obviously depend on the wires being energised by May.

Did the four additional 321s that were mooted materialise or will it be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul?

 

[380101]

Did the four additional 321s that were mooted materialise or will it be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul?

As far as I know they are still coming this year - staying as 4 car 321s though. There will be 4 380s going to operate on the E&G - 2 x 380/0 and 2 x 380/1.

 

[route101]

As far as I know they are still coming this year - staying as 4 car 321s though. There will be 4 380s going to operate on the E&G - 2 x 380/0 and 2 x 380/1.

Thought they would make them 3 cars .
I take it the rest of E and G service s are 170s

 

[Gadget88]

Will the 380's stay once the new trains come in?

I assume it will be the end of 170's and 158's on this line in a few years?

 

[Clansman]

Will the 380's stay once the new trains come in?

I assume it will be the end of 170's and 158's on this line in a few years?

The 380s and 170s will be fazed out of E/G duties as the 385s are introduced one by one, most likely.

The 170s, 158s and 156s will still continue to work Edinburgh/Glasgow to Falkirk Grahamston/Stirling/Dunblane/Alloa services until 2019 at the very least.

 

[380101]

Thought they would make them 3 cars .
I take it the rest of E and G service s are 170s

They may do so. Option to take a few more 321 on a short term lease is being explored to ease the pressure on services that are busy enough to require an additional carriage but not busy enough to justify a 6 car.

 

[47271]

A trivial point in the overall EGIP scheme of things, but not to a ticket buyer who expects one thing and gets another.

Will they be advertising the E&G services operated by 380s as Standard Class only? Or will they put little antimacassars on the seats in one section of a coach, it would be no worse than Southern after all? [emoji38]

 

[Clansman]

Or will they put little antimacassars on the seats in one section of a coach

Seems to work well in England

 

[Marklund]

Seems to work well in England

England doesn't have SQUIRE

 

[WatcherZero]

The Scottish Government and Transport Scotlands nationalistic plan to only have Scotrail trains north of the central belt has been defeated.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-39567061