Recent content by cheese

This seems to be a common question recently. Are there a lot of surveys happening right now, or is it a perennial question? Or something else?

That sounds like the best solution.

"There will never be ticket gates at Sheffield" (not least because it's effectively a public route between town and the tram stop/Park Hill)

I've been in the Tap early before and had a soft drink while waiting for a train. Better than awful train station coffee

I'm not sure where you've got this from. As far as I know, diesels would set off the fire alarms in the tunnels on HS1. The only exceptions seem to be measurement trains — apparently, an SNCF measurement train has done HS1 hauled by Eurotunnel diesel locomotives, and the NMT is allowed onto HS1...

Also the relatively unstreamlined cab, the amount of time and money it'd take to convert and certify them for 125mph running (if that was even possible, which seems unlikely), the fact that diesels can't run on HS1 (and even if they could, these things consume a lot of it), the fact that there's...

You're joking, right?

Yes, because my journey just isn't as comfortable if there's no buffer and chain.

Probably. I like the idea of an errant Pacer leaving a trail of chaos in its wake, though.

In theory, ignoring real-world practicalities, I'd think a Pacer or Sprinter fitted with the necessary train control/signalling systems (I assume ERTMS for HS2 and TVM430/KVB for HS1) could travel on them.

Virgin, as a brand, is pretty much just that; a brand. I'd think Virgin Group will be taking every step they can to protect it and ensure the public no longer see them as in any way responsible for the West Coast services. They could also be preparing to licence it to new railway-related...

A surprising number of people are mentioning the 332/333! I think they look like an overinflated egg. I like the understated minimalism of the 313 and family.

Struck me as a little weird, all things considered. The red wall to the left is very vibrant (by Stoke Station standards), but lacks Virgin branding (except what was already there).

In terms of construction and profile, how similar are the bodyshells between the Mk5/5a and recent GB-spec Civity units? How similar are the bodyshells of said Civity classes to each other?

I mean, the Potteries is an absolute void, and there's no practical suggestion to be made. I'm just wanting to vent about the general and pervasive feeling of hopelessness that comes with being a resident of North Staffs. Besides, it's a weird place that likely isn't easy to design a transport...