Recent content by RupertW

In the up direction HSTs used to stop at places like Redurth with all of standard class platformed and the first class coaches at the front end of the train off the platform. With the IETs though first class gets platformed with some standard class coaches at the rear unplatformed. Any reason...

Reading part of clause 31: I may not be reading this right but it seems to suggest it will basically be GBR owned TOCs operating separate DfT directly awarded contracts so much like now now but with all the operators in the public sector.

So looking at the document even from 2019 it only says that "most" intercity services will be formed of HSTs (which could mean anything over 50%). Does this mean that there will still be 170 workings from Edinburgh/Glasgow to Aberdeen/Inverness in the long term? Until now I had been under the...

Could the dwell time savings have been based on the (now defeated) CCTV self-dispatch idea?

One concern here is the formation of the 222s. A 7 car 222 only has 4 coaches of standard class (the same as a 221). Yes some could be converted but by providing more first class there is the potential to make more money from Birmingham commuters who may opt to pay more to travel Fist Class...

Has it always been the case that it has to be green (even from the platform staff)? I remember many years ago when they ran long loco hauled trains from the Birmingham to the Paignton in the summer seeing the platform staff give a hand signal or a white bat to the driver at some of the smaller...

It was an the ordinary bat (no lights).

I don't think the driver saw the green flag directly from the guard first time but the when the person on the platform saw it, they walked slightly towards power car and waved their bat at the driver. The driver however just seemed to ignore this and nothing happened until the second green...

I remember many years ago getting off trains and seeing the guard wave a green flag before it left but this stopped when HSTs took over. Recently however after leaving an HST I decided to watch it leave but after the usual bat waving and whistle blowing the guard got in and waved a green flag...

While improvements to the Sunday service in general are welcome, it's disappointing to see that even post-2021 Sheffield and Nottingham only have one train per hour (all stops) specified on Sundays for a significant part of the day,

Thanks, the 0823 was the train I was looking at. I was able to get some of the TOC websites to generate an itinerary for this but none would offer the ticket in question when I selected the 0823 departure. I believe there is also an easement allowing the Network Railcard on the 0823.

I noticed that on the West Coastway it seemed to be driver self-dispatch at every intermediate station (even at larger places like Chichester) Were there dispatch staff at any of these stations before the change to DOO or have there been none since the days of slam doors?

I have done this journey before via Honiton and Southampton, the ticket restriction code for an Off Peak Return on this route is UU (not valid between 0430 and 0900 but with an exception that the ticket can be used on 0641 and later Exeter - Waterloo services). When wanting to travel early...