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As I pointed out further up the thread the highest recorded temperature in 1976 was 35.9C. The temperatures in this recent heatwave have got within a degree of that temperature (35.1C at Kew yesterday). Although everyone who was around remembers it as 'a long hot summer' the reality is that post...

According to https://www.netweather.tv/weather-forecasts/news/13442-record-breaking-may-heatwave-continues-as-348c-at-kew-smashes-previous-uk-record-by-two-degrees I quote "with a Tropical Night for Kenley, when overnight temperatures stay at 20C or above. The minimum was 21.3C Monday into...

In 2026 it is neither extreme or rare unfortunately, I prepared this graph which shows the highest UK temperature reached each year for the previous 60 years a couple of years ago for another non railway discussion. It illustrates the problem clearly. Assumptions regarding operating temperatures...

Probably not very good based on the HS2 experience. The only saving grace maybe that individual projects are easier to keep on track than one major project and some of the HS2 issues would not be a (or as big a) problem, e.g. Planning, NIMBYism, large scale civil engineering, and the benefits...

I was thinking that procurment of 125mph capable stock might make/have made more sense, I realise they are 'outer commuter' trains, but surely a 125mph design could be bought. I realise you lose through unit corridor connections, so just buy 8 10 or 12 car units, whatever you need. If you have...

If we had spent £20b on the WCML instead of £100b on HS2, new rolling stock, signalling, increase some platform lenghts, whatever, and gone for 'best quality' rather than cheapest what could the result look like. As examples of 'best quality' any power supply upgrades would allow for decent...

My take away from this post: We have/are spending £100b on a project whilst not getting the best out of the infrastructure we already have. So a theoretical question which I will open as a thread in the speculative discussion. If we had spent £20b on the WCML instead of £100b on HS2, new...

They may not have a choice, as the changing Political landscape means that the only way the current government are going to remain in power is if they can claw back votes in the North, because that is where they will loose the next election, This trend started with Brexit and then Boris...

Even if the remaining OOC - Birmingham bit limps on unless they actually get on and make real progress on Euston I think an incoming government will cancel 'pause' it. We are at most 3 years away from a likely change in government, and probably looking at some major changes within the existing...

The other problem is there will be at least two more General Elections, and likely changes of governments between now and completion. (And no comments on the relative merits of the political parties) So the political ramifications If Reform are elected it will be on the back of the electorate...

I think Crossrail problems pale compared to HS2. Crossrail has pretty much been delivered as promised. The HS2 rump is basically OOC-Birmingham. Euston, maybe (I can see that being cancelled, even if the rest limps on), Manchester, probably not, Leeds, never.. My view is most passengers are...

Well that pretty much kills off any chance of further High Speed Rail for at least a generation. £100b, thats roughly £1500 for every man woman and child in the UK. 10-14 years before its open over 15 years to reach Euston. Already 6 years into it To be honest its a disgrace. One could...

Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road are about 600m apart.

My understanding is a break on the return journey of most 'open' return tickets, i.e. any time, off peak, day etc. is allowed, and I have not run into problems with on train staff, but the only station within our area with barriers and a staffed gateline is Hull. I have always been told (not...

One small example from my own experience: Having been heavily delayed in Manchester I arrived back in York having missed the last connection to Scarborough. No Trans-Pennine staff to be seen. I approached the LNER help desk and was told politely that it was 'not there problem' and I needed to...

To be honest after a quick read it looks like 'lip service'. This government and a lot of current MPs will be long gone by the time the project gets to boots on the ground even if proposed timescales were adhered to. It then has to survive probably several changes of government, all trying...

I think the issue is that a lot (most?) of routes are taxpayer subsidised to some degree, which means they cannot be organised as profitable businesses without that subsidy. An AI answer puts the overall subsidy at 46% of costs for UK passenger railways, which is probably fairly accurate Given...

This doesn't answer your question, but... If you are not planning on spending time in Paris beyond changing trains, then a good (better?) route is Eurostar to Lille Europe, and then SNCF from there to Marseilles, there are a few through TGV services each day which skirt around the east of...

Currently the East Bound service calls at around xx:35.and the West bound at xx:17 +-. This works quite well as even a delayed service from points west doesn't usually get in the way of the service leaving Scarborough. If the 2nd trains in the hour was timed to around 50 and 05 past the hour...

If Strensall and/or Haxby are ever re-opened then I could see a Pickering service serving those two stops, and the majority of TPE Scarborough - Manchester services would run fast Malton - York, so that journey times are not extended further on the long distance services. And how much for...