Recent content by TwinTurbostar

A green flag would be used by the guard for an RA dispatch, unless it's at night or at 'underground' stations, such as Birmingham New Street. I believe Manchester Piccadilly is one place where a guard would use the green flag, but I could be wrong.

220013 has just left Litchurch Lane heading back to Central Rivers.

Southern did loan some 350s for that service from London Midland at the time, I believe it was during 2009. If those stations are still there on the database for WMT, I'd imagine they kept the same list of stations for when the announcements were re-done.

Also in the Birmingham area, the Midland Metro saw a reduction in bus services, the limited stop 979 from Wolverhampton to Birmingham went not long after the Metro opened, and the regular 79 was cut back from Birmingham to West Bromwich some years later.

I'd imagine Bordesley would be quite unpleasant, and you'd likely be waiting a good while. As for stations that get a regular service near me, I'd say Dudley Port is quite unpleasant, having a fairly thin island platform and a pretty old shelter.

She is always welcome to ask the staff/TM though, it never hurts to try. XC are running between Birmingham and Leicester, so if she can get from Manchester to Nuneaton, changing there for Birmingham, and then again for Reading, would be another option to consider.

I believe the line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton is still blocked, if Traksy etc are correct, two 390s still sat at Monmore Green and Smethwick Galton Bridge, and a 730 sat at Sandwell & Dudley.

WMR are now advising not to travel all day today (Friday 9th), with services suspended until the afternoon. https://x.com/WestMidRailway/status/2009406987813949883

I went via Leicester to get from Birmingham to London and back over new years, and while EMR's Sheffield services seemed very busy, the ones I caught that started/terminated at Nottingham weren't that busy at all, although I did treat myself to a Seatfrog upgrade each way. I would've thought...

Birmingham SC's sign all of those, the only bit that isn't signed is Cambridge - Stansted Airport, plus I believe the diversion/ECS from Leicester to Nottingham, and down from Cheltenham through Bristol, and through the tunnel.

Indeed, it also happened fairly often on the Snow Hill lines.

Further strike action has been announced for every Saturday in December. https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-announces-strike-action-on-crosscountry/

Yep, even after the 170s had gained the 'temporary' WMR livery, with the 153s still in LM colours.

153s and 170s ran in service together with London Midland and WMR.

Make sure that you get a GWR service from Reading to Paddington though, the Elizabeth Line services dive underground west of Paddington, other than some early morning and late night services.