Recent content by Skie

I wouldn’t be surprised if the codec required for them to be played back in good quality is only available in an application that runs on a yellowing Windows XP machine that can never be connected to the internet. So they just used a more modern system which has “adequate” versions of everything.

A 20% increase in efficiency doesn’t mean the train uses less power though. Ramming more punters in makes them more efficient, accelerating quicker makes them more efficient, dumping power back into the wires makes them more efficient. Modern trains will use more power in general because their...

That may be the official excuse when questioned by someone without a sense of humour, but Virgin had a cheeky streak and FU was evidence of that.

The old 507/508 version was pretty popular. £25 seems a little high though. Shame they don’t also do a mid coach so the real plush enthusiasts could create a 4 car formation. :D

When virgin still had them, they added mic better dryers in the 390s and thankfully First haven’t removed them yet. Usually train hand dryers are like an asthmatic breathing on your hands, but those ones are like jet engines and actually do a good job. They also added a nicer smelly/aerosol...

Plenty of Wirral line stations have decent size car parks. Hooton is huge.

Chester supposedly has a validator on the merseyrail platform which you could use to end your journey. You couldn’t get out the barriers but you would have a good argument of a valid ticket for the journey then.

They’re pretty unreliable. I end up using the top of an intermediate phalange to give them a greater surface area to detect which still requires repeated annoyed tapping g sometimes. Plus stops me getting other peoples snot on my finger tips.

The auto complete on many booking websites will accept the code or full name, and usually shows the code in brackets after the full name. Do that and it’s clear as day what you’re choosing.

I did chortle when she said “the new trains hover above the track”

The section of track between Central and St James was designed (during the link + loop works) to accomodate a burrowing junction from Edge Hill (using either the disused Wapping or Victoria tunnels) so bi-di there never made much sense as the turnback siding was enough for operational needs...

Platform PIS will show it and onboard announcements will tell people they need to be in the correct carriage to disembark. If they ever get around to updating the walls at Central they might even indicate where to stand to guarantee certain stations.

The trains supported it from delivery but it needed network rail to add the balises to the tracks (and do lots of measuring and hands on hips). Then the training for crews could begin.

I do think they need a TFL style Travelcard with a peak/off peak version to avoid the honking great costs single peak trips can add. I travelled 4 times recently, once in peak. The 3 off peak trips (just back and forth from my local station into Moorfields/Central) were capped on a single area...

I’ve often been issued a reservation for carriage XX/seat XX when the system feels like it must print the reservation despite that service not having reserved seats.