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We all know that the Govt is in trouble. We all know that an election is on the horizon and we all know that rail reopenings are very popular with the voting public. By my reckoning we are one of the few developed countries in the world not committing to large scale openings/reopenings of lines...

It appears that all the political parties now see the value of a rail network and also the need to upgrade said network so we are in the middle of a time of heavy investment . I would be interested in your predictions on what else may occur in the next few years in top of the plans already...

It seems that DBS will have finished their disposal programme by the end of the year if the current rate of movements is anything to go by. Considering how lean the network and the fleets now are I was wondering what might be next for the cutters torches. For example is Shoeburyness now...

I have been away from the UK for a few years but have followed developments on the rail network with interest and actually did an ALR last year to see how things were shaping up on the rails after so many years away. I was very surprised by how vibrant and positive the network felt and also...

As refurb programmes come to an end and the new franchises settle down we are inevitably going to see many old liveries disappear. What do we think will be the next livery to become extinct and what others are on life support clinging gamely to life. Also what liveries are missed and which...

I remember in the dim distant past when Saturday football extras were all the rage and generated considerable income for BR. I know BR used to dump the worst stock on the trains as the carriages used to get trashed - this was when hooligans used to be rife in English football. I am wondering...

I think most commentators would agree that we are chronically short of rolling stock in this country. This is I believe an accepted truth. Yet we seem to be able to keep mutliple scrap yards working flat out. On top of this we can find stock to export to other systems - Mk2's to New Zealand...

I was a lowly TOPS clerk in the late 80's and I was wondering if the system is still in use and if not what was it replaced with if anything. For its time it was revolutionary and as a spotty 18 year old it was actually nice controlling some aspect of the railway. As part of our remit at...

I am looking for up to date photographs and videos of Network Rail yards particularly Bescot, Tees, Mossend and Millerhill. Anybody help. Also anbod have recent photos of then developments at Tinsley. thanks

With the 350/2's coming through thick and fast and the 378's and 172's due to start rolling off production lines soon has there been a final decision made yet on where the old Silverlink stock is going to end up. I assume it will all need a refurb anway - have contracts been let for this work...

It might be an interesting comparison to make if anyone can get their hands on the figures or even a guesstimate but with the introduction of LHCS instead of DMUs in the west country and on the Fife Circle has passenger uptake increased. I am pretty sure class 67 hauled MK 2 air cons are better...

When i left BR in 1989 the Railfreight sector was carring 150 million tonnes of traffic. Last year the combined total of freight uplifted was just over 100 million tonnes. All I keep hearing about is a massive railfreight boom in recent years and yet tonnages have plummeted. It seems we all get...

I read a report recently of proposals for turning Tees yard into a housing estate. It got me thinking of the many redundant yards and depots littering the country and of any proposals out there to convert them for rail or non-rail use. The new policy seems to be on using rail land if possible...

I see that Northern have basically allowed the 144's to be bypassed by all the relivering and refurbishment work going on. Does anyone know what the policy on these untis is as the 142's were originally the ones going into store before demand increased. Are the 144's part of the relivery process...

I undertook a trip around the network late last year having been away for several years. I did it to get a feel for the system I worked for in the 80's. What struck me was that more effort now seemed to be made in the way the network looked as opposed to BR days. has there been a concerted...

Thameslink 2000 - 5.5 billion Crossrail - 15 billion Kings Cross redevelopment Euston redevelopment New Javelins New 378's and 172's for London Overground. NLL extension Stratford and Olympics development DLR extensions Tube refurb What the total cost of that little lot not...

I am lookin for some information on what is still running through the tunnel at the moment in terms of freight flows including frequency and also usual haulage. I see there is a regular steel freight from Doncaster (origin and destination?). Also has anything run from the new terminal at Swindon...

during my years as a callow youth I was a member of the Leicester TOPS office (around 1988). Whilst there i was able to witness BR in all its glory. However i have since emigrated to S.Africa and I was wondering what might have happened to some of the traffic flows that use to come under our...

As a distant member (I currently reside in South Africa) my main contact with the railway industry is via the rail media. Every publication seems to contain news of upcoming major station redevelopments but very few seem to come to fruition. Can anybody provide information on current and...