Recent content by Ian Murray

The first thing that came to my mind was the ability of wood to be less conductive for the 25kV overhead live wires.

The real trick is to make sure that there isn't a single point of failure so that when one component fails, all 4 lines are not shut down. Paddington to Didcot is a great example of this with multiple examples like the single air-con unit in a relay room that stopped working causing the entire...

Worth remembering that 30 years ago the job of the DfT was to call the BR board to account and scrutinise it's plans, costs and how it coped with problems. The current system consists of the DfT running UK rail with no scrutiny or accountability. The current timetable problems are an example of...

WMTrains / WM Combined Authority have stated that we are talking 2020. It seems likely that the Hereford/Worcester to New St. service via Bromsgrove will move to also service the Camp Hill and terminate in Moor St.

I gathe the GWR Class 800s are doing this automatically using track-side balise on the ground to send a signal to the train to start the process E -> D and D -> E. New signs are track-side for the drivers to use and he/she can then monitor what should be an automatic process with the option to...

I noticed last week that the DfT is calling HS2 trains 'VHST' Very....

Right now there is a heat speed caused TSR for the jointed track at Malvern and as stated earlier on the newly re-laid but not yet completed track at Oxford. Network Rail has people and automated sensors recording temperatures as required, if over the maximum design temperature a heat speed...