Recent content by Pegpilot

Back in the day, there was quite a falling out between Bombardier, Metronet and LUL over the S Stock aircon requirements. Bombardier initiially stated that an 8-car train would require a max current draw of, IIRC, 3280 amps with aircon running and the train accelerating. Subsequent to contract...

As an early LUL anti-graffiti bod (1990s), it sounds like this was well handled by those on the ground. Detected, apprehended, job done - the rest is down to CPS. But the article also highlights the vulnerability of outstabling points like Barnet and Amersham.

And that failed "frustrated access" claim by Tube Lines, combined with TfL and Tube Lines failing to agree commercial terms for the second contract review period, led to TL handing back the keys. Big losers were Picc line passengers, as the contract award process for 73 TS replacement was well...

Well, back then it wasn't LU's decision - the choice of technology and contractor had been abdicated to the PPP Contractors. As I recall, there were concerns that Seltrac was incapable of dealing with complex layouts, as was demonstrated when they struggled with the delts junction on DLR at...

The original SSL signaling contract was let by Bombardier, an equity partner in the Metronet PPP Consortium (I was a Metronet employee at the time). They plumped for Westinghouse. The whole thing was a bit of a mess as I recall disputes about who was responsible for all the enabling works like...

Just flown commercially for the first time in 7 years to connect with a Svalbard cruise at Longyearbyen. Pushed the boat out with business class seat with Mrs Pegpilot from LHR to Helsinki and was gob-smacked to find that the 10.20 am Finnair flight was a long-haul configured A350-real luxury...

Just been planning a trip from Wellingborough to Luton tomorrow and have noted that a special timetable is in place. Except when you look at the PDF timetable issued by EMR for tomorrow it's impossible to travel between the two stations as all southbound departures from Welly run direct to St...

And isn't it remarkable in retrospect that it took a shade under a decade from the public manifestation of BR Sectorisation in 1986 to the start of privatised rail services under SWT and later the rest. The blink of an eye, eh?

Takes me back 2014, Wolverton. We did Harwich - Esbjerg overnight, train to Hirtshals, Fjord Line to Bergen but then did two nights on Hurtigruten's veteran Lofoten to Trondheim before flying home from there. Shame DFDS withdrew from the Norway run. A great trip.

A few off the cuff ideas Oslo - The Fram museum is great. Amundsen's vessel from his successful South Pole trip, perfectly preserved and you can explore it inside. Tallinn - Simply wonderful. The old town is great, but for an off-the-wall idea visit the Linnehall on the harbourfront. A...

Ha ! I see what you did there, Chiltern and I take your point. But when I was doing the Southfields commute, tube demand increased 60% in 6 years in the 80s and I thought it was imply bonkers that two cars in every train were running half empty when we were all smelling each others' armpits in...

I'm with Harpo - anything that segments passenger load burns capacity. I used to commute from Southfields into town when you could still smoke on the tube and train consist included two smoking vehicles, iirc. I hate smoking but found I could get a seat in the smokers whereas the non-smokers...

Surely a new station on the MML is going to be pretty "interesting" to accommodate, given how complex the line has become since EMR Connect was conceived. I assume the EMR fasts won't stop there, but will EMR Connect ? And how will an extra 3 minutes between Luton and Bedford be accommodated ...

Interesting news piece on the BBC news website this evening about the Army taking over Ch X station for a command post exercise this week, with Auntie claiming that Ch X is disused. I really should know the answer, as I was involved in the performance aspects of CBTC design way back in 2010, I...

I still have a snap I took of a sign on a Calmac ferry that read "This door not working. Please use the port side door. On the right hand side". Still tickles me today.