Search results

Thanks.

Almost a week on, and my back is still shot to pieces after coming back to Leominster from Chester on a 197. Fine before, but I felt it as I got up to get off at Leo. Not great. How do I find out when it's going to be a MK4 set ? The plan is to go to Liverpool for the day at the beginning of...

Went from Leominster to Chester today for the day. 197s both ways, to Crewe on the way out, and direct on the way back. Gosh, I miss the 175s ! What on earth causes that row on the roof of the 197s ? As an aside, the 221 Avanti from Crewe was so much nicer than its Cross Country sibling we used...

I must say, I was pretty impressed with GWR's service in Cornwall. Journey times aren't particularly fast, but they seem reliable (every train we used ran, and was on time). The stations are clean and present well, helped by the time-warp atmosphere and the charm of semaphore signals. The trains...

Last Friday and today I've been on a 197 for the first time. Not very nice, are they ? Jiggly with uncomfortable seats. The 175s were much nicer.

If that's so, more places should do it ! To Falmouth, it was £13,80 return for two with Senior Railcards; today, £7,50 return to Penzance. Cheaper and easier than the car, as it should be.

We're staying in St.Ives, and went to Falmouth on the train yesterday, via St.Erth and Truro, and to Penzance today. Compared with the 10 minute journey at home from Leominster to Hereford, the journeys were incredibly cheap, reliable and pleasant. The St.Ives shuttle, every 30 minutes is such a...

I travelled on a XC 220 on Friday from Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth. It's only the second time I've ever been on one, the other was from Chesterfield to Leeds 5 years or so ago. They're nasty little trains. Cramped, claustrophobic, tired, and on Friday, insanely hot. Passengers the length of...

Given the demise of the through Eurostar services to the North and beyond, running trains to a "Euro" Hub (Stratford? Ashford? Ebsfleet?) and then, after an interchange, on to Europe could be interesting. My daughter lives in East London, but without that option, it would mean a hotel to get a...

Well, I'll chuck in Leominster as a modest example. Four platforms and two branches (Kington & Bromyard to Worcester), now just a halt on the Marches line.

... but not if you're French.

We needed to get from Lea Bridge, East London to Marylebone last week. We caught the nice new train to Stratford, then what still seems to be called TfL rail to Liverpool Street. Elizabeth Line / Crossrail to Paddington, whereupon we elected to walk the 13 minutes to Marylebone rather than fight...

Another mention for the class 68s. :) One saturday morning three years or so ago, I was very early for the Marylebone Chiltern service from Stourbridge Junction. I saw the train come out of the sidings and head for Kidderminster, where it was due to start. I could hear the 68 rumbling and...

Clun Castle.

How interesting. What could we call this new body ? Obviously "British" something, as the Union is very much uppermost in all our minds, and maybe then something to do with "Railways" or "Rail" for short.

It's interesting to read this thread. As I kid in the 70s I spent quite a bit of time watching the trains in and out out of the tunnel from the bridge over the railway by what we called then Pound's Farm, having cycled down the unmade track (as it was then) from Cookridge cricket ground. The...

Maybe it was Smethwick West, although I could have sworn it was called Rolfe Street station when I used the line in the 80s. It's long since closed and disused, and is (coming from Stourbridge) just before the junction down to the Wolves - Birmingham main line. When I lived in Stourbridge in the...

I agree with this. I went Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone last week. The bit of line from Rowley Regis to Smethwick, particularlay around the old Rolfe Street station, just seems to be used as an open air tip, with all kinds of rubbish tipped down into the cutting, including thousands of...

Ah, thanks. I did a search first, before posting, but didn't find that. I don't know what all this will mean for Derby, but the French unions are worried as both companies have significant activity in France and some kind of rationalisation and job losses are feared.

France 2 television news is reporting this lunchtime that Alstom is in talks to take over Bombardier's rail interests. No great detail so far. Hope this is the correct place to post this; it will affect Derby as well, of course. Link to a La Tribune article...