Recent content by Mark_H

The line has reopened today, but with significant speed restrictions over the affected section, added to which the signalling in the area has failed. Clearly the job isn't quite finished even after 9 days work.

EMT are now saying it will take "at least a week (approximately 12th July)" which is a bit contradictory as the 12th is more than a week. http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/information/media/Disruption-Information/TRAINS-BETWEEN-LINCOLN-AND-GRIMSBY-SUSPENDED/ Anyone able to clue me in on...

Apple going NFC would definitely do it, but they're having another of their bizarre refusals to support a useful hardware standard, similar to their strange dislike of USB. That said, I think NFC could get traction with just the support of the current android manufacturers, who are all happily...

Unfortunately they're only supporting a very limited range of handsets, which basically corresponds to the more expensive flagship phones that they sell in their own shops, so despite having a brand new NFC-enabled phone on EE I can't use it. Which is a pity as I'm a frequent visitor to London...

Yes, as part of Northern's Sheffield to Scunthorpe. Something that is unclear is that Northern DON-SCU already takes 15mins longer than the TPE equivilent due to 4-5 minor station stops, so they'll either need to drop those stops (making some small villages very unhappy) or add 15mins each way...

I'm also concerned by Doncaster-Cleethorpes, as it's currently a pretty decent service (if only by comparison to my other local services). A reduction below 1tph would be pretty poor. While I can see their point that this section of the service is less used in comparison to the Airport end, I...

This was actually brought in mid-timetable, perhaps 2 months ago. It's a welcome development on Fridays, now we just need Mon-Thurs sorting out.

Oh, how lovely it would be if it were that simple. My lunchtime sandwich receipt must be submitted along with the full address of the location it was bought from, and the location it was consumed. Seriously. This is to check I aren't breaking an arcane rule about how far from the office I have...

I find this entirely understandable, but....you have now encountered someone who apparently doesn't understand it, which is placing you in a potentially very serious situation, fair or unfair. Please take the advice of DaveNewcastle.

There's no requirement in UK law to use an "official" name - you can call yourself whatever you want, so long as you do not do so to deceive. If the hypothetical "J Alex" is what also appears on your gas bill, credit cards, etc etc, and you can be identified at your given address using it, then...

Agreed. Without data, the comparisons with Europe are a red herring, but the fact remains that by any objective criteria FCC made a catalogue of erors for which they have been rightly castigated. The public opprobrium will hopefully induce them to improve things, because I doubt £75k in fines will.

The report agrees with you. The passengers feeling they had to get out is laid squarely at the feet of FCC's collapse in communications and delays. FCC's own policy states that detraining should be finished within 90mins of breakdown, and should be begun the moment it becomes clear that the...

The legislation appears to have a maximum fine of £20k per offence. Presumably at least 4 offences were involved to get to £75k. The true penalty is the bad publicity.

Southern have them, apparently. They're probably not intended for the driver to use, which I agree would be a big job for a lone driver. A strong point in the report was that FCC ought to have had extra staff out to manage the situation within the hour (under FCC's own procedures, if not just...

Indeed. The report highlights that "FCC’s policy on stranded trains actually states that train evacuation should be considered after 60 minutes and must be commenced after 90 minutes." The report states that both a foot evacuation, and transboardment bridges (which FCC had available), were...