Recent content by Francis

Manchester Piccadilly 13 and 14 have the waiting room at the top of the travelators, close to the bridge and steps down to the platform. Plenty of seats, and a big illuminated electronic display of which trains have arrived or are arriving next. Rather like an airport with messages "Wait in...

There were signalling problems around Stafford. Trains were being diverted southbound from Crewe via Stoke and Colwich. Delays of up to two hours for some WCML southbound trains. Anyone have more details? From RTT I would guess the problem was between Stafford and Colwich.

Tfw run into Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham OK. Bristol is nearer to Wales than these three cities.

Northern have just introduced a Northern Explorer ticket, £35 for one day over the whole Northern network on their trains only, but no time restriction even Mon-Fri. So you can start as early as you wish. £60 for 2 days, £90 for 3 days, £110 for 4 days. Half fare for kids, and slight reductions...

£1000 maximum fine for this sort of deliberate trespass is a low amount compared to the revenue loss to train companies and the time loss to thousands of passengers. The guy might just be insane, but if not, could he be sued for damages?

Gannow Junction between Rose Grove and Burnley Manchester Road/Burnley Central. The now single track line stub to Colne goes straight on, once through to Skipton. The double track main line to Copy Pit, Todmorden and the (Yorkshire) Calder Valley swings off to the right.

Seven minutes is cutting it fine at Preston. Minimum connection time there is given as eight minutes, on BR Times, so possibly no compensation if you miss the connection. Northern are usually 2-3 minutes late in at the best of times. That's if it isn't cancelled! The subway between platforms...

If I hold a GM wayfarer valid from Manchester on the Hope Valley as far as Grindleford, and a Derbyshire Wayfarer on the same day, valid from Sheffield as far as New Mills, is this combination valid on the Transpennine or East Midland services from Sheffield to Stockport non-stop?

Clitheroe has an amazing wine shop and warehouse. With the biggest collection of wines (and spirits) I have ever seen. I’m not a oenophile but I was impressed.

Did you have to wait for the 1217 Transpennine to MIA, or did Avanti let you catch the 1058 9M54 to EUS via BHM and the Northern from Preston to MIA? I had a £1 Transpennine Preston 0800--Penrith 0856 advance ticket. Arrived at Chorley to find the 0711 Blackpool cancelled (30 mins connection at...

Trains cancelled between Manchester Oxford Road, Bolton and Preston 0700 this morning. Electric wires down near Oxford Road is what they are saying. Does anyone have further details? Several trains held or cancelled at Manchester Airport. Trains being turned back at Bolton, MCV (Saltburn or...

We have Adlington (Lancs) and Adlington (Cheshire). Both have stations, but this is not a train story, but one day I was just walking from my house to the chippy in Adlington (Lancs) when a car drew up and a fairly posh lady asked me directions to Poynton. I realised that there is a Poynton only...

What about Moscow/St Petersburg flights to and from Kaliningrad. Are they banned from overflying Lithuania or Poland. Do they therefore have to fly round over the Baltic Sea?

Anybody know what was the cause of this, around 0900 Friday 10th December? Seemed to start with the 0630 Glasgow to Euston which was delayed 30 mins between Wigan and Warrington. The 0747 from Barrow to MC Airport lost 84 mins between Boars Head and North Western. And 20 mins more to...

I remember arriving at Piccadilly on this train from South Wales. It was timed to take 16 minutes in from Stockport, which must have included a chunk of recovery time. Piccadilly-Stockport is usually timed at what? 8-9 minutes? Anyway, we terminated at Piccadilly, final stop, due 2214 I think...