Recent content by RichSwitch

The thing to remember is that in any high speed collision there are huge forces that need to be absorbed somewhere. Seats and mountings will break. They’re probably designed with this in mind. A cursory look at Formula 1 accidents, for example, will illustrate those forces.

Does anyone know what exactly is wrong with the set at Arlesey that means it is coming up for 36 hours since it broke down? And does anyone know what the plan is to move it (if there is one)?

It went on a VSTP to Basingstoke sidings but sat at Eastleigh for a while with BRAK in the berth along with it. SWR not doing too well, two major - although different - severe disruptions within 3 days. They say things come in threes…

I’ve been pressing for the 350s to be retractioned and reseated to 2 + 2. If that can’t be done then reseating those 450s would be a good shout. Even if the 350s join afterwards.

Thoughts with those involved, especially the crew and driver who must have been under a great deal of stress, but performed amazingly under the circumstances. Probably saved countless lives. Sorry if it has been asked already: 1. Where is the train likely to be moved to (Doncaster?)? 2. What is...

I could understand the government wanting to hold a presser for the first company to be brought into DFTO under their watch. But if this is embargoed until Sunday, it would seem unlikely that someone was able to take a photo from their phone. One would think it was a very exclusive event...

More importantly: tea and biscuits, tea no biscuits, or no tea no biscuits?

All I’ll say is “Good luck with that one!”.

Why not? DfT will be looking to save money. That can only mean reducing the number of operators, which will be achieved by mergers as GBR forms. I don’t agree that SWR is capable of being operated properly. It’s not fit for purpose and hasn’t been since Day One of its operation. Look at the...

That won’t do much if it’s a software problem though. That would require another software company eyeballing the source code. The contract between Alstom and the contractor might not have specified that. In which case that’s a big mistake! Always ensure you get a copy of the source As earlier...

Poor specification and bad design will always cause a plethora of Human Factors issues down the line. Some of them can be fatal (in the systems sense). To my mind, whoever agreed to procure these trains and whoever specified them should go and get jobs in McDonald’s instead. I think what...

This is actually the third launch for the class 701 Arterios. The first launch, Mark Hopwood pretty much just launched the (rather clunky) name: Arterios. The second - rather odd - launch was by Claire Mann. And now this third launch. Just as well it wasn’t the Titanic! Not so much Arterios...

My bad, sorry I thought it would be on there. Give me a sec… 1732473218 I’ve screenshot and cropped them. Apologies.

The answer to my latest FOI on the class 701 - FOI-00024550 - should be on the DfT FOI site. You probably already know most of it, but there might be something.

Progress?!