Recent content by SWML9102

Any idea why they want one that's never been used in service elsewhere?

Spent the last few days in the area and can see exactly what you are saying. The infrastructure costs must be immense to run a fairly sparse and somewhat unreliable service. 2 out of 6 trains intended to take were cancelled (traincrew displaced due to late running and track defect on Weds...

The small minority of passengers who may wish to experience the delights of a 756 and are travelling west of Barry can already do so by catching a train 10 minutes earlier and changing at Barry. Likewise towards Cardiff they could alight at Barry and join the next Flirt coming from Barry Island...

First trip on a 398 yesterday, just a short hop from the Bay to Queen St, so not really enough to form a proper opinion. As others have said passenger environment is reasonable, airy with large windows and reasonably smooth ride. Acceleration was good, door procedures very slow. What did...

Noticed at Bridgend on Saturday staff appeared to be monitoring numbers of westbound passengers tapping off at the barriers, then re-boarding to head further west. Only saw one person do it as I passed through, who clearly wasn't familiar with where to tap and had chosen the wrong end of the...

Great, thank you!

Can anyone let me know whether the DVT is always fully platformed at Abergavenny and Pontypool & New Inn as I need to take a bike? Does it also depend on direction (northbound/southbound) and whether or not DVT is leading. My only experience is at Cwmbran, where i can confirm from experience a...

Maesteg - Ebbw Vale is 4 diagrams, another 3 needed for Cardiff - Cheltenham. I believe long term plan for Ebbw Vale - Newport is to use 197s, but if they were 231 as well that would be another 2.

I stand corrected!

I'm not very familiar with other metro systems in the UK, but are there others with significant lengths of single track? The idea of running an intensive service, with at least 15 min frequency to the end of each line in the South Wales valleys, on a system with single track sections and passing...

Yes, interference caused by 25 kV overhead powered trains is a real thing. "Stray currents" as part of earth return path can affect sensitive equipment. Not something that couldn't be overcome, but if you are installing a discontinuous system anyway, it's an obvious section to avoid wiring.

Agreed.

School taxis nowadays are always large people carriers or small minibuses with a chaperone, never just driver plus children in a standard 5 seat car. Don't know what age that applies to though. I recall a thread from sometime back regarding a meltdown on the west coast mainline, at Preston if I...

In the event of disruption the railway has a responsibility to provide a means for a passenger to reach their destination. Potentially a different train company, alternative route, or a replacement bus if the railway is completely out of action. In the worst case of there being no other option...

Had a fast run on a 150 on the mainline today. I prefer the environment of a 197 over a 150, but the 150 far excels on ride quality. Their air suspension was a widely advertised innovation when they were introduced. The 197s ride pointwork like an overladen Pacer. Sprinters also have the...