Recent content by Fyldeboy

This thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/fastest-time-record-between-london-and-newcatsle.249514/ tells of a 2½ hour journey from London to Newcastle. The fastest trains on the 165 mile Swansea - Paddington route are about 2¾, could that be shaved down to 2½ with the current...

Northern Spirit TOC seemed to do pretty much what you want around the millenium, but with some long distance services thrown in. First North Western did the same on the other side of the pennines. The railway was a different place in the post privatisation days, but once the long distance...

I think a line needs to be drawn between the romanticism of of a rail journey, with trains sweeping through stations and ideally pulled by something designed by Gresley or Stanier and the practical operation of the 21st century railway. The 'needs' listed by OP apply to a limited number of...

I can understand why OP is fustrated but the fact that trains are running at 100% (100+?) capacity means that the TOC, and therefore taxpayer, are sweating the stock to best advantage.

It is widely commented that XC Voyagers do not have as good capacity as other similar trains. Living in part of the country that doesn't see 'em, why is this? Any why has nothing been done? With one or two AWC seets possibly going for scrap, could seats from them be transferred? I'm...

I guess similar reasons apply to Swansea High St which was GWT but is now TfW GWT had drivers, guards and catering crew based at the station so must have had a much larger presence than (the then) Arriva.

On the GW HSTs it was FO and buffet car, but I can't remember if it was specific types of vehicle. I do remember the 'phonecards' were £4 each which got you next to no time - in the early 90s that was a lot of money!

I know some GW HSTs also had them at the 'standard' end of the buffet counter

With Northern already being in the OLR club, and Transpennine Express touted as it's latest member, would there be any benefits in TPE being absorbed into Northern? A sort of North British Rail ;0

In the early 1990s the 1st floor premises between platforms 5 and 7 at Bristol Temple Meads were refurbished and split with Guards occupying one half and catering crew the other. I remember talk that these premises had been previously (originally?) used by (female?) catering staff overnight...

By 'standardize', I assume you mean 'make all the same'? That was the idea, even Apple sort of agreed on USB, but USB has had to change as phones got thinner and our expectations got bigger. If USB stays where it is now, it will seem pathetic in 5 years time.

Would running trains Paddington - Reading - Swindon - Bath - Bristol, missing out Didcot and Chippenham make a significant difference to journey times into Bristol Temple Meads? Also, is Chippenham really an intercity station, or would it be better served by enhanced local services? I'm not...

I think medical students (nurses/doctors etc) should pay for their tuition via student loans, but: After X years qualified working in the NHS, their student loan is wiped; and Time spent 'in training' but actually providing NHS care should be paid at an appropriate rate Pro-rata, there are...

I worked occassionally in the Parkway Mk1 towards the end of my railway career, to have a PW3 makes me realise how much has changed since I left.

Just a personal thing, I don't have much freezer space and, being a fussy bu99er, don't like eating the same thing too often (which I would because I wouldn't have freezer space for much choice)