Recent content by Top Cat

Both platforms at Addlestone will only accommodate 8 coaches

This was actually due to no driver, there was a guard at Exeter ready to work this service

Yes - Desiro's (444's & 450's) are classed as the same traction. However, 707's are classed as a 'different traction', (and trained as such), for both drivers and guards as there are significant differences in operating these units when compared to operating a 444 or 450.

There is no restriction on the length of trains worked by Contingency Guards, so they are expected to work 12 coach 450 and 10 coach 444 formations when required. However, with the exception of Operations Trainers and Guards Managers, most Contingency Guards do only sign one traction and one route.

Dean and Mottisfont & Dunbridge - managed by Great Western but served by South West Trains (now SWR) Salisbury-Romsey-Southampton-Eastleigh-Romsey services.

Redbridge has one of the newer style PERTIS machines that SWT installed at a small number of stations which are unstaffed and where no TVM is provided. If you can't use the PERTIS machine for any reason, then my advice would be to approach the Guard on the train to purchase a ticket.

The photograph appears to show the Basingstoke ROC, but this is NOT currently the signalling centre. The current signal box is located adjacent to the station behind platform 5.

5Z19 & 5Z20 are running via Guilford/Petersfield, 5Z21 and 5Z22 via Basingstoke/Eastleigh

If only it were that simple to get 442's back onto the SWT network. For a start, given the length of time it has been since drivers and guards last worked these units, there would have to be full training for all the staff involved. It is not just a case of getting some units to Waterloo, the...

The Guard on your return journey followed the correct procedure for issuing the weekend first upgrade.

Problems at Richmond were with a Class 450 working 2U55 17:58 Waterloo - Windsor

Believe the train in question was 4O17 15:48 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime

The problems on Thursday between Eastleigh and Worting Junction appear to have been caused by a freight service with wagons containing road salt which ran through the area late on Wednesday evening where one of the wagons was leaking salt onto the track and damaging the track circuits - the...

A points failure which is being worked on tonight. If S&T had taken a line block at the time the points failed it would also have taken out platforms 8 & 10 which could have caused considerably more disruption during the evening peak.

In answer to SansPareil, the units were being used between Shepperton and Twickenham instead of to Kingston for crew training due to Kingston Bay being out of use due to signalling work.