Recent content by bluesfromagun

I wouldn't imagine the timings will be any different from the current HST ones. The 2+4 & 2+5 HSTs are extremely quick, I can't possibly imagine the 222s could be any faster.

They don't. Neither will Glasgow Central crews. Only Motherwell and Yoker drivers now, and no conductors because its only served by DOO services now - that means that even though you could maybe dig up drivers to route conduct, you couldn't dig up anyone to route conduct the conductor so it's...

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/fire-at-glasgow-central-08-03-26.299500/ As somebody stated earlier in this thread, the biggest issue with running anything is the train crew situation. If staff cannot access the mess facilities, booking on points, and so on -...

Whilst there was a turnback siding, it wasn't used for every service and it was very common to change ends on the platform. The turnback was to free up the road for services leaving Millerhill heading towards the sub or Portobello Jn, rather than anything to do with gradients. 1769391183 Not a...

When I was a guard, on longer distance services I would say "my name is XXXX and I'll be your conductor as far as XXXX". Its incredibly rare now though where i work, and to be honest if a guard gave my name on an announcement as the driver, I wouldn't be a happy bunny. I have that old-fashioned...

DAS is a 15 year old system that isn't really much use and often doesn't work. As stated above, the only useful thing about it is the train length function. Personally, I set it up but always drive with it muted and the advice suppressed, and always have. II don't use post it notes, train...

The 314s (if I recall correctly) could run in multiple with 318 and 320 but the reason they didn't in passenger service is because the door controls weren't compatible.

I've done this pattern for many years now and it's deeply flawed. A simple tweak makes it a lot better, all that needs done is the changes from early to late and vice versa be done where rest days intervene, like so; M T W Th F Sa 1. X X L L L L 2. L L X X E E 3. E E E E X X 4. X X L L L L 5...

ScotRail are a 36hr four day week (Sundays outside), maximum turn length 10hrs, minimum turn length 7hrs 30. Three weekly rest day cycle: Week 1 Fri Sat Week 2 Mon Tue Week 3 Wed Thu Spare turns are based on average turn length, so generally around 9hrs. No "booked spare" turns (except on...

At my (large) TOC, safety incidents almost always see the driver removed from driving (OTR) until the incident has been investigated. Depending on how big an incident it is, they can be OTR for anything from a day or two, up to many weeks. For example if I had a fail to call, I'd be back very...

Again that'll be company dependent. At my TOC it's a firm no, however that doesn't mean that nobody does it (at a stand). You have to remember that there's a lot of these wee company specific rules in some places, but ultimately the nature of your job is that you sit in your own cab with no...

ScotRail on second year of two year deal, 3% or January 2026 RPI, whichever is greater. No changes to conditions or strings attached.

Craigentinny definitely does (ex LNER, now Hitachi), I'd imagine Polmadie does too (Alstom I think?)

I'm not 100% on this, but as far as I know the assessments for shunter drivers are a lot shorter than for the mainline, so you'd need to do the remaining parts / the entire mainline driver assessment. You would be applying to be a trainee, and you'd need to do the entire driver training. On the...

It ran via the coast though, the new ones run via Dunfermline and actually call there too. Its a really odd train, to be honest. They will also be "challenging" to staff at times, because it can only possibly be worked by Waverley crews, other than it has a change of crew at Inverkeithing if...