Recent content by TommyD

I came across this great film today, courtesy of Noel Dolphin via twitter. It's an electrification renewal project in Switzerland so the (sparse) commentary is in German but that won't stop your enjoyment of it. Originally planned for 600 night shifts it was instead done in a nine day blockade...

A low cost improvement I'd like to see, which could happen almost immediately, would be dedicated information screens at all platforms saying "Next trains to Manchester Airport from platform..." I've been on P13 & 14 so many times when trains have been terminated short and airport passengers...

On a train from Manchester to Bristol the other day the guard was obviously as fed up with interminable announcements as the rest of us - "This is xxxx. Please mind the gap between the train and your belongings"

In fact there was a plan similar to this put forward by Stockport Council many years ago. In fact so long that I can't find it on the internet! The plan was to extend the Rose Hill line along the old track of the railway. There would be a reinstated station at High Lane then a new chord would...

They were filming a walk and talk to camera as I went through about midday yesterday. It looked to be a female presenter with Kirstie Allsopp behind the camera so maybe it's her 'Raise The Roof' production company doing it. They're based in Glasgow so it makes sense.

Nothing new surely. People adjust to their surroundings. Even in 1936 - "Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course; They slumber on with paws across. In the farm she passes no one wakes, But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes."* *'Night Mail' W.H. Auden in case anyone didn't know

As far as I'm aware most of the track is still in situ, albeit rather overgrown, between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek. No station at Leek of course but the CVR is attempting to get one built.

As an addendum to my post above - Too many normal people in this country see railways as a distress purchase. We should market trains for leisure much more than we do. We have lines through scenery as beautiful as Switzerland but there's no effort put into marketing train travel as a joy in its...

I'm on the Stockport to Buxton line so - I'd start with a flying junction at Stockport. Electrify throughout. Raise line speeds as much as possible, especially between Stockport and Hazel Grove which is very slow. Trains at least every 30 minutes, every 15 minutes Stockport to Whaley Bridge...

If money was no object and there was a proper call for this I wouldn't even think about reinstating the old track but push through with a brand new alignment. Too many railways failed because they meandered around following the terrain and consequently were too slow to hold onto traffic or face...

I don't know where this idea comes from but it seems to have acquired status through repetition. I've travelled in Double-Deck trains in lots of countries in Europe and never noticed it be a problem. Not even in a heavily crush-loaded one (standees on the top deck - which is tricky to do!) into...

I know there are lots of problems associated with extending the Llangollen Railway back to Ruabon, not least the fact that some of the trackbed is built over (I can't believe that the local council didn't protect the track when they could), but it would be an excellent way to reach the railway...