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personal interest only - i worked for BR in the 80's and was just interested in how some of my old stomping grounds looked now.

It could be argued that it isnt a totally level playing field with Virgin. Moderation of Competition means they are protected on their core routes....obviously WSMR dont get the same protection being open access. i am sure cynics might say that Virgin have seen the demand that WSMR have managed...

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

thanks! I am wondering if passenger growth does carry on (predicitons are for 30% over the next 10 years) whether any units will be getting scrapped. There is no way new builds will ever keep pace with passenger growth and so to actually replace vehicles on a like for like basis will never...

Every long term forecast I have read in the rail press including interviews with the rail heirachy and those in the political arena say that freight volumes should be doubling in the next two decades. I know Govt policy is for this to happen hence the pressure on NR to free up capacity. I agree...

I was refering to DBS/EWS as the same entity. I would hope that DBS have at least a plan for taking the business forward after watching what EWS have done for the past decade. It would seem that with EWS now incorporated into DBS fully there must be some pan-European cooperation coming...

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...

its a fact. Commuters are heavily subsidised. During BR's sectorisation days Network South East had a subsidy nearly as large as Regional Railways. It stands to reason that if you build a railway that has to cope with massive fluctuations in passenger flows it is going to be inefficient...

When I started the thread the point i was trying to make was that the bias towards London and the South East is inbuilt. it is a historical thing brought about by generations of Britons accepting the status quo. However this must change. it is not healthy to have so much of the country's wealth...

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...

The issue for me has not been DBS making the most of the traffic it has and maximising profits from the volumes it inherited from BR but the fact that even with the lower unit costs brought on by the new locomotive fleets and private sector freedoms DBS have not been able to attract new traffic...

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...

Victorian stations. St Pancras, York, Newcastle, Temple Meads, Kings Cross etc etc . Built over 100 years ago but with a little bit of TLC still capable of doing the job in the 21st century. The Victorians believed in building Cathedrals and they also believed in building them big so as traffic...

thanks clears it up nicely - they need a lick of paint soon whatever colour it may be!!

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...

There is no doubt that the public hold the key to changing political perceptions of the railways and to promote their use and development. To change a political mindset can be difficult but not impossible. Lets start at the top - get onto your MP and bore them into bringing pressure to bear on...

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...

I am originally a Kettering boy and spent most of my life in the midlands before moving abroad. I think the east Mids is north of Watford and so would be classed by many southeners as being in the North. I am sure there are many good reasons for Thameslink and Crossrail but the pricetags come to...

This argument will go on and on for the simple reason that there is no joined up rail stategy for this country. The railways are mere pawns in the political shenanigans our our so called leaders. There are however some indisputable facts. The network in the South east is a lot more comprehensive...