Recent content by pembroke

I was due to transit Gatwick yesterday, Redhill to Brighton around 10.40. Two points, all the rail staff, platform and train kept everyone as informed as possible. There seemed to be lots of flexibility and a good dry sense of humour and very few grumbles. Re. Horley, there used to be a footpath...

Just to say a big thank you to the engineers for the repairs and completion in the time estimated. This line is such a important link, used by many.

I've been through Gatwick a few times since the so called improvements. Today, typically, Redhill ....change at Gatwick, onwards to the south coast. The main point is poor signage, the north stairs are blocked and the only escalator deposits you in a large "atrium" without well defined platform...

Small point, but his bag appeared to be train crew standard issue, with "high vis" , presumably to aid evacuation? Also, having been identified as TOC management, whatever the rights and wrongs, he could have volunteered to give up his seat and also apologise for the overcrowding. In BA this was...

Re. the above, recent problems near Polegate due landslip is highlighted by Southern on their website, with a link to "further details". Follow the link and it has another link to either individual journeys or National Rail. That's not helpful if you want to see the progress of the maintenance...

I posted last re. the comparison of automation on railways vv airline operations. However if anyone can shed light on the above, I would be most grateful. I'm a senior railcard holder ,mainly used on Southern, with the occasional trip to the Midlands. To date I've used the Southern booking site...

How many in first class are rail employees, retired or otherwise, plus families? It's normally a rule in the airline world that staff vacate seats for overbooked and paying passengers and they accept the downgrade quietly, without drawing attention to the fact they are staff.

Probably thread drift and few thoughts to close. Rail seems to be where aviation was in the 1960s. Fight Engineers have gone (me included!), competition is fierce and aircraft are flown to their optimum capacity, as are the airports! Automation, with back up redundancy is used widely in safety...

I am not a "troll" and only wish the best for what is an important part of UK transport. I have a background of senior positions in aviation at all levels and am very aware of safety/risk analysis. Presently I am an instructor/examiner for light aircraft. Presumably a signal indicates go/no...

My point is that if you are driver, pilot, HGV/Bus driver, there is an assumed level of professional competence. In 2014 any driver once type trained should be capable of taking any train on any route without specific route knowledge. A simple and universal signal system should apply 'thru UK...

A few points from an ex BA pilot. Why is the UK operating and training regime of rail transport so archaic? As an example, I understand from driver friends that each individual route is "known", in my world "flown" before a driver is cleared to operate on that route. Why two days training to...