Recent content by kkong

Still no news on the return of smartcard management functionality (or the issue of new smartcards). https://www.scotrail.co.uk/digital-train-tickets/smartcard We're now into week 10.

Remember that Stagecoach's Thurso and Wick operations have recently been acquired by D&E Coaches (owned by Highland Council).

The most recent figures I have seen are: 2022/23 Age 60+ / Disabled: Cap £226.1m, Actual £156.0m 2023/24 Age 60+ / Disabled: Cap £216.2m, Actual £188.0m 2024/25 Age 60+ / Disabled: Cap £203.5m, Actual £196.6m 2022/23 Age 5-22: Actual £107.8m 2023/24 Age 5-22: Actual £164.2m 2024/25 Age 5-22...

I fail to see what is contentious about an employer putting an offer in writing after due consideration of what was discussed in a meeting. But then it's just one of many things about industrial relations on the railway that baffles me.

https://www.stanstedexpress.com/tickets-fares/ticket-types/advance-tickets

The procedure was explained in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting of 5th March 2024

There is a paywalled article in The Sunday Times about this. CrossCountry train drivers turn down above-inflation pay rise

There are none of these restricted supermarket Sunday opening hours in Scotland, of course. Although we do have the 10:00 - 22:00 restriction on alcohol off-sales every day of the week.

The reimbursement rates for the 2026/27 financial year are (expressed as % of the single fare): Age 5-15: 48.1% Age 16-21: 72.5% Age 60+ / Disabled: 53.0% There are funding caps: Age 60+ / Disabled: £248.2m Age 5-22: £220.6m

They're now gone due to the ongoing redevelopment at the beach. They used to head generally eastwards from the hotel at the centre left in the photo below, towards the esplanade. Where the grassy event space / auditorium now is.

That is definitely not the case with any of the professional video management systems I've used (in the upstream oil and gas industry). It would be really poor if that is how it's implemented on modern rail vehicles. There is no reason to have more than a few seconds of video cached before...

Chiltern's website seems willing to sell an Economy Return for the required dates.

The legroom at the table seating bays on the ScotRail 158s is appallingly poor. Borderline unusable if four adults are sat around the table.

Indeed there is no policy change: Stena only have to provide the requested information to UK Border Force for UK / Irish citizens "to the extent to which the carrier processes the information in the ordinary course of their business or under its terms and conditions of carriage". Why Stena have...

Perhaps, as a disruptor, Ember aren't interested in recruiting people from traditional coach operators, with the mindset and attitude they will likely come with.