Recent content by sbt

Fratton was 'fun' the first day they were there. They closed one end of one of the bridges at a point where it wasn't visible from the platform. So it was: Get ticket checked going on to Old Bridge Walk up and across Old Bridge Find access to other platform blocked by steel roller-shutter Walk...

I have encountered this on SWR. I'm afraid that I allowed my bad mood (horrible meeting awaiting me in the office) to get the better of me and I snapped at the lady concerned as she tried to stop me entering the station to get to the Ticket machine. (Sorry if that was you - I'm normally civil...

It happened into the late 80s. I remember one clearly as a viable device was placed on the SW Main Line close to the MOD establishment I was working at. No damage was done but I can't remember if that was because went off but the device or placement wasn't suited to the task or because it didn't...

Or, in the case of (the busy commuter station of) West Byfleet, TWO (Ladies and Gents) disabled toilets accessible only with a RADAR key, available when the station is staffed only. THAT station renovation was a real corker, with on-platform shelter (on an elevated station) effectively removed...

Ticketless or people with tickets waiting to have them checked? By your count I am a serial fare evader, likely to be caught up in a queue to have my ticket checked several times a month. (ps. user of Cosham Station here, so doubly damned)

The Fratton one is going to be fun, given that the new bridge exits on to Plat 1 at a pinch point created by the vending machines and the two bridges together have problems coping when two trains arrive at Plat 2 and 3. Plus it looks like the toilets, like the shop, will be on the 'public' side...

Thanks - I'm doing this whilst packing for tomorrow (off to EMFCamp) so things are a bit jumbled. And thanks for the responses so far.

I'm starting a new thread so as not to distract from any discussion on how to PREVENT a similar problem on this thread on the Trap and Drag incident at Bushey. After reading that report four questions, primarily aimed at Traincrew, Dispatch Staff and maybe others in the rail industry, came into...

And that is one of the key points the RAIB make. The driver was conditioned by the Level Crossings he used every day on the normal roads to expect the barriers to stop him from crossing when it was unsafe and allow him to proceed when it was safe to do so. With a POGO this is not true. At this...

I'm not an expert on railways, Level Crossings, the relevant law, relevant Human factors etc. so I am going to pass on most of that, except to suggest that maybe, just maybe, implementing the changes that are in the pipeline and those suggested by the RAIB would be at least a start. If...

Which the RAIB describe in the report as impractical in the modern world.

The net cost to the the railway / Network Rail. The net cost, in money and other less tangible costs, to the locality and the proprietors of the closure of a viable farming business[1], and at least one other business, plus a number of people being moved out of their homes, is not neutral. I...

From that, the last person was clear with a margin of 0.14 seconds. That's not a close call - that's the laws of random falling on the side of the angels for once. The Driver-Signaller traffic is instructive.

Same situation. To the extent that last week my union announced a challenge in the courts. And that's without factoring in the fact that MOD scientists get paid around 10% less for the same or equivalent roles than the rest of the Civil Service.

I asked myself "do I trust 'The Railways'"? And the answer is 'generally yes' but I distrust the fares system, some of the ticketing machinery, a specific small minority of staff whose attitude and behaviour I have encountered and the people at the top of franchises. Thinking generally. part of...