Recent content by Paul Kerr

Hi all Reported on another forum that the 20th set is already formed up at Wabtec so the next delivery should be imminent. Formation reported as: HA13- 43139 40613 42279 42280 42296 43177 Hope this helps Paul

Apologies if this has been posted already, but Today's Railways lists that 10 Class 91s and seven MK4 rakes are to be retained by LNER until the end of 2023. Locomotives: 91101/91105/91106/91107/91109/91110/91111/91114/91127/91130 Coach sets: BN06/BN08/BN12/BN13/BN15/BN17/BN26 If true, there...

I recognise journalists don't always hit the mark with their reporting but the article here mentions using a reconditioned HST, not 47s. I presume the plan still is to use Class 47s?

I noticed ScotRail's reply to a question on the 5 car sets on the above Twitter feed; they stated that the plan still is to have 17 5-car sets and 9 4-car. There was some talk of all 26 eventually being upgraded t 5 coaches but it looks like that won't be happening after all. That's unfortunate...

Apologies... for some reason my browser didn't update with new replies on the thread so I didn't see it had been posted already. Will try harder next time :)

Path details here: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K05561/2020-06-15/detailed

I saw posted on scot-rail.co.uk that the 17th refurb set is coming north tomorrow. Consist is reported as: HA 07 40607[41136],42207,42574,42288

At the rate they're churning the refurb coaches out now (about one set every 3 weeks), they should be able to do this in about 3 months assuming it's 17 coaches. Although from what I understand, all sets are now due to be strengthened to 5 coaches. Assuming that's the case, we'd be looking at...

Thanks again for the explanation. I totally understand on not being able to divulge true costs, but I think I get the idea where the extra costs come from. In the semiconductor industry where I work we have to deal with about 30% additional costs for “indirects” (programming, preparatory work...

Thank you for the in depth reply. Much appreciated. With regard to cost per mile, how were they able to rebuild the Borders line at a much lower unit rate per mile, especially given the fact that they had to build about 3 miles on new alignments and they had several large structures that had to...

Yes I realize you can't assume a structure will be fit for purpose and the structures would require remediation before use, but in the end of the day the vast majority of the large iron bridges on the old Waverley line in the Gala Water valley were refurbished and are used on the reopened line...

To install 13 miles of track as a low-speed (25-30 mph max) freight route with no signalling and assuming the extant structures are fit for use on the Longtown to Kershopefoot section- what would we be looking at (+/-) for cost per mile?

I understand your points about traffic volume and the roads being very poor in that area but think about the major obstacles involved in reinstating the line to Newcastleton and Kielder: 1. Liddel viaduct missing (demolished in 1986)- although not a tall viaduct like the other missing viaducts...

Thanks for clarifying. Yes the formation to Kershopefoot is pretty much intact and more importantly the 2 major bridges (Thistle Viaduct over the Esk and the smaller viaduct over the Kershope Burn) are intact. So theoretically doable. It would all depend on the cost. If the line was worked on...

The big difference here is the length of line that would need to be relaid to get to Kielder (35 miles +/-) and reinstatement of 3 missing viaducts (Liddel and Sandholm viaducts on the Waverley route near Newcasteton and then the missing Dawston Burn viaduct on the Border Counties branch near...