Recent content by Robert Ambler

You are correct - repeated or vexatious requests can be refused as can those where to compile the information would involve excessive staff time or costs. Requests can also be refused if they are likely to involve disclosing commercially sensitive information or personal details. You do have to...

Yes for most railways that will I think be the case. For those in more touristy areas I would think the demographic will also reflect that of visitors to the area. That will differ quite considerably for those railways with the Lakeside and Haverthwaite having more international visitors than...

Generally the land owned by Network Rail is not registered at the Land Registry so they will be of little help to you. This is because land only has to be registered when a registerable transaction takes place after the date of compulsory registration and no such transactions have taken place...

I know people who use the Caledonian Sleeper multiple times per year. Last time I travelled on it I sat at a table in the club car with a freelance journalist who made a return trip every week. He was on first name terms with all the stewards which considerably speeded up our drinks service!

Your are correct on the calculation method for poverty but incorrect in saying there is nothing anyone can do about it. The figure for the UK is higher than for most other European Countries (including non EU countries such as Russia at 12%) and in quite a few cases the figures for other...

According to the Governments own statistics 21% of the UK population now live in poverty. That is probably why we are seeing a rise in begging on trains and elsewhere.

Any local government body that has a transport infrastructure remit (ie first tier local government so County Councils, Unitary Authorities etc in England for example) could use the Community Infrastructure Levy or S106 Planning Provisions to fund public transport infrastructure if they chose to...

Hampton would be the responsibility of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority who are the local government body responsible for transport infrastructure. Yes I agree on the North South divide issue. Spending on rail per passenger in the SE is markedly lower than the North due to the...

Wasn't a station planned for Hampton and the land is still set aside for it by the developer? The issues are I think that the line really needs to be 4 tracks at this point for it to be workable and the local authority seem to think it is all nothing to do with them and Network Rail should be...

Actually one of the biggest issues in the UK is the levels of micro particles (so called pm2.5s or particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter) in the environment which are much higher here in many locations than the WHO safe limits. Whilst the levels of particulates (and carbon dioxide and...

One of the sets in use on the Jacobite this year is a rake of maroon air braked Mk2s

They have been topping and tailing with 37s for some weeks now

Because for the airlines if their flight is cancelled the passengers are still within the airport but in this case the trains were not at the original point passengers had embarked and Calais Frethun has no facilities 1686586912 Easyjet alone cancelled 50 flights at Gatwick yesterday due to the...

It would be completely impractical to bus the passengers from Calais to the Ferry. They have already passed through customs and immigration for the UK and so if they alighted from the train in France it would require them to go through the reverse process which is simply not available without...

It is and India is 'geographically large' and has a comprehensive and busy rail system but doesn't really meet what we would consider 'normal' standards in Europe