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Main reason nobody wants to go there is lack of trains... Bays would offer: * Easier interchange to Virgin services * Much better step-free access (no need to use the lifts) * Reduce the frequent crush conditions on the fairly narrow p1/p2 * Closer to toilets * Closer to other Manc-bound trains...

Notice the ManVic-Preston trains all terminate at platform 1 at Preston. Is there any reason why they don't use the bays? Can sort of understand the Ormskirk trains using 1/2 seeing they're bearing off right a few miles down the line, but having Manchester trains cross right over to that side...

Was really impressed with the Virgin-style toilets on this refurbished Northern 150, until I realised: - The tap doesn't work - The toilet doesn't flush Baby step Northern, baby steps.

Beggar at Blackburn: "mate, mate can you give me three pound towards a ticket to Preston, I'm desperate to get home" Me: "sorry, no change, but I can buy you one on my card if you want" Beggar: "nah mate, sod it"

There's some probability that the beggar is on drink/drugs or trying it on in some way. The dog itself is highly unlikely to be. There's a beggar always sat outside our local supermarket (who according to staff leaves by taxi at the end of each day). When my son's with me, he always insists we...

I've ridden on ScotRail 365s a few times in the last months between Stirling and Falkirk. For me these would be a welcome addition to Northern's fleet - they seem a big improvement over 319s.

I quite often get a late evening train into Piccadilly & due to Northern cancellations end up having to walk through nightime Manchester to Victoria for a connection home. If I gave a quid to everyone who asked for one, I'd need more than mere pockets to carry it all.

Noticed at Newcastle that XC Voyagers often sit in the bay platform for 45mins belching out diesel fumes. Quite unpleasant, but surely also quite inefficient.

I rode on a 319 from Chorley to Preston & back at weekend & was struck by how un-EMU-like (slow) the acceleration was away from stations. Other than being quieter, it seemed no different to a 150.

I commute 3 days a week from Chorley to Garforth over M62. There are bad and good days, but I average 1.5hrs each way. On train, it'd be 2:15hrs (assuming everything ran on time).

Real-time trains showing that from May, the TPE electrics to Scotland will run via Bolton again, but unlike the old 185 service, will now skip Chorley: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y00616/2019/06/22/advanced

At least two of those have got very short platforms, so I think it'd have to be a short stopper.

I'd guess 150s or 156s. Can't see 158s or 195s being used.

Local politicians make a lot of noise about it, but never seriously been on the cards. Sough Tunnel has been realigned at some point so that track runs centrally, so would need completely lifting & realigning. Bridge over M65 between Blackburn & Darwen is single width so would need rebuilding...

There is platform lengthening going on in a number of places across the north: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-railway-upgrade-plan/key-projects/great-north-rail-project/north-of-england-platform-extension-programme/ Chorley line could easily fill 8 car train at most points of the day - a...

The frustrating thing about Sheffield is that is also so badly served by road, particularly from the west. Would be an interesting exercise to relocate Parliament in Sheffield whilst Palace of Westminster is refurbished - see how quickly change would happen then.

Have seen that happen a few times on the Clitheroe line with 4-car 156s.

The Scottish government seems to have much more strategic thinking in this regard, with a continuous rolling programme to make use of the skills accrued (e.g. Alloa and Grangemouth extensions).

Straying off topic, but of you wanted a fast Leeds-Glasgow train over Settle-Carlisle, might 800/802 be a better contender than 769?

Is that going to be via Wigan or via Chorley? The former seems an inefficient route now the latter is seemingly finished.