Recent content by Kevin_Brum12

Given the way the sitution has now developed into the "crisis" it is, one would have wondered why Go Ahead Group and its partners have not considered the obvious way out from their perspective and that of their shareholders. Hand back the keys. Not just for Southern, but for London Midland...

One option would be 442's, after all there are plenty in store and I seem to recall some were used on a charter in SWT land in the autumn. "Ah, but what about getting a driver? The Southern ones will be on strike and your average charter train driver will not have the traction knowledge."...

A station that has been transformed at a cost of £750 million, but without any extra platforms or tracks, where things are still as bad at platform level as they ever were and operated by trains that are bursting at the seams. The problem is that millions have been invested in the railways...

Utterly bonkers idea from Grayling, who would make Jim Hacker (the fictional minister in Yes Minister) look inspired and competent. After his failures at MoJ he should have been given the boot. Suspect that the FOC's will not be happy about this and one will dispose of its UK operations...

From Wikipedia.... Not someone who knows about the day to day operations of railways. I suspect a day or two shadowing traincrew would have been helpful, I suspect he did not bother. Given the fact computers can screw up I would be rather worried about "reducing the human interaction" in...

Utterly useless for commuters who need to know with certainly on Monday, not the day before the strike takes place. Especially if they have to change their arrangements for the day (childcare, meetings, rota, finish time). Perhaps it would have been better for FGW to have just not bothered...

Compare and contrast the "GWR" launch with that of Network SouthEast in 1986. Then, the new image was kept totally under wraps until D-Day, whereas the GWR "soft launch" is diluting the impact it will make. I realise you've got to ensure that you utilise your fleet and you can't have trains...

You can try and manage it through advance purchase tickets such as business advances and program the booking system for business advance reservations in that coach. Not so easy for turn up and go travellers such as the individual who works in Manchester and advised when they get to the office...

The train manager talks good business sense. The advantage of the "Quiet Coach" is to allow passengers to have some peace and quiet on their journey. For the business traveller, the train is an extension of the office. You will be reading papers prior to a meeting, perhaps typing a report...

Interesting thread, but is a test case really the best avenue? I'd have thought it would be more effective to raise this issue with either a sympathetic MP in the north, who could initiate an adjournment debate and get the Minister to the table and DfT looking at the issue, or by raising the...

If MML electrification is axed then what will replace the HST's running between London, Nottingham and Sheffield? The 125's are not going to last forever. In my recollection electric class 800 IEP's were the proposed replacement once the wires went up, but if MML electrification is put on...

Maybe VTEC (which sounds more like a computer company than a train operator) ought to stock this! http://www.alesbymail.co.uk/pick-n-mix-beer/wold-top-mallard-premium-beer Sounds like it would be perfect to consume going down Stoke Bank at 125 mph....

Also worth remembering that as Network Rail is now subject to the Freedom of Information Act it is a huge tool for users and rail advocates, this being an excellent demonstration of how it can be used. Hopefully this will focus some minds, with the New Street escalators will being brought up to...

Firstly Cheltenham Gold Cup week which is always busy with passengers filling up the Voyagers to go and see the gee gees and usually arriving back at New Street rather lighter in the pocket and worse for wear. There were also a number of local football derbies including two Aston Villa -v- West...

Likely those stored 60's will become Christmas trees to keep the fleet going and will the first will be razor blades by New Years Day.