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I was at Banbury the other day when a Mk5 set was leaving, and I saw the train manager on the platform waiting for permission to depart from the platform staff, very similar to how it looks for the XC trains.

Well, the updated layout was designed to have bi-directional platforms for flexibility etc for when things go wrong. For example, fairly recently during signalling issues, trains were terminating short at Banbury with additional services to London starting from Banbury. So in the normal course...

Will these new trains fit into Platform 4 at Banbury? My understanding was Platform 4 allows for a 5 carriage train - so would an 'overhanging' engine be allowed?

Are there any known high-level plans for how this will all be done? Is platform 4 reopening at Snow Hill one of the first things in the plan?

From my office overlooking Birmingham Snow Hill, it's the only time I notice/hear a train going through is when it's a class 68.

Hi all, I have some colleagues over in Belfast. We were talking about transport options to get from the airports to central Belfast. When talking about Belfast International Airport, one of my colleagues said there was a railway line nearby that closed when the new trains were introduced, as...

In my experience it's totally random. Not social media I know, but I've been at stations where it was announced it was a 9 car and then find a set locked out of use, and also seen it announced that it is a 4 car and a 9 car rocks up with both units open.

In the back of my mind, I'm sure I've seen comments in other posts that said XC weren't prepared to pay the Retail Managers the extra allowance to cover the TM role. But totally agree.

I haven't used XC regularly for years, so may be out of date, but I used to have the following issues... The staff handover time: I used to regularly travel from Banbury to Derby and back in a day. When travelling back, the catering staff would start the stocktake and cash up process, ready...

So where actually are we with this now? Looking at the posts above there is a proposal? Is it being designed? Is funding there? When will anything physical actually happen? Many thanks

Are they represented? The hearing will take place in Edinburgh and parties should attend or be represented in person If they are, you could take this to mean that as long as their lawyer is there in person, that's enough?

Looking out from my office next to Snow Hill, the training trains normally run from Stourbridge Junction to Bicester North. Everyone I’ve seen has been in the new livery.

Totally get it. No-one in any industry who has a customer facing role should be subject to abuse at work. But, the Train Manager/Guard role is customer facing, and does have responsibilities that comes with that i.e. checking tickets. By not informing people what the rules are, they cause...

Okay, but isn’t that part of their job?

Totally understand the ‘have ticket before you board’ rule/law, but it’s not surprising that people get confused. You get on a train day after day and the guard sells you a ticket, then boom, penalty fare. I was on a Chiltern train heading towards Birmingham recently. A woman got on at Warwick...

Interesting. I was about 3 desks away from the window today. I wouldn’t mind but bet people bagging the window seats weren’t even looking at the trains!! Anyway, mid-afternoon my ears pricked up and I thought “I know that sound”. When I checked it was actually one of the new sets. I need to...

What does RA actually stand for?

So do we know where Chiltern are parking these trains? Do they have room in their various depots for them?

Will do - something to wind the hours down.

Interesting. My office overlooks Birmingham Snow Hill station. The only trains I can ever ‘hear’ are 68’s. I always try and bag a desk by the window overlooking the north end of the station. Of course, I get stuck into work so head down. The only time a train comes to my attention is a 68 -...