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Hi guys, I currently work as an operations manager for a large well known logistics company in the UK. Unfortunately the threat of covid-related redundancy has got me thinking about alternative career paths. I've always had an interest in working on the railway and in particular working in...

Is anyone else of the opinion that the Class 88's have unexplored potential, with additional units that could be put into passenger use. How many carriages would the 88 be able to haul on diesel mode whilst keeping DMU timings? The type of operation i had in mind would be hauling something like...

With the near simultanous occurance of Arriva losing the Northern franchise and the government having to backup the whole franchising system anyway, it got me thinking that when the lockdown is over, will the government consider putting the Northern franchise out to private tender again? So if...

Sorry if there is already a thread on this, but when changing trains at Wimbledon on a daily commute and seeing all those 2x3 car formation of 159's zipping through in 3rd rail areas for a good deal of their journeys out of Waterloo, i couldn't help but think the 159 fleet transferring to the...

I would imagine a similar thread has been done previously so apologies if it has. I know talk of our friend Dr. B. Ching has been done to death but genuinely, would there have been a sensible and sustainable alternative to the axe? I.e not allowing an ever increasing amount of taxpayers money to...

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/transport-secretary-chris-grayling-backs-15800477 Chris Grayling took a trip on a 156 from Morpeth down the Blyth and Tyne today, he backs reopening it to passenger use by 2022. Shall we file this under 'I'll believe it when i see it' or is...

Sorry if there already has been a thread about this, but what is the plan for GA's current 170, 156 and 153 when they are replaced by the new Stadler units? Thanks!

Hi guys, After a few tough weeks and a long weekend off work upcoming, i fancy taking the TOC card out for a spin and taking a trip down South for a few days for a bit of head clearing time. I will be travelling down to Holyport near Maidenhead to stay with a friend on Friday night, then...

Me and the good lady are planning a weekend away on the West Coast of Scotland in late-November. Travelling from Newcastle on XC to Glasgow and thence to a currently unspecified destination on the West Coast of Scotland for a couple of nights that are accessible by train. The good people of the...

Anyone care to explain what happened here? Haha

Hi all, Sorry if there has been a similar post of this nature before but as there are no hard and fast answers to this, everyone probably has their own views based on personal experience, but I wonder what our esteemed members think the best TOC/depot is with regards to drivers wages & T&C's...

Hi guys, I've seen a few people have had the interview for Northern trainee conductor interview recently, as I have mine on Thursday I wonder if any successful trainees or current conductors can give me any advice for the interview? Perhaps what questions to look out for, anything in particular...

With the provisionally successful conversion of ex-LU D-Stock EMU's to Class 230 DEMU's by Vivarail, it got me thinking if there were any more Classes where this type of conversion would be possible? Perhaps on Classes 315, 365 or 455? I know the 455's have some space underneath the body of...

Hi all, After months of perusing and posting on this forum, soaking up as much knowledge on the rail industry as possible, I have been successful in being offered an RPA position with Northern in the North East, starting in July. Unfortunately, the position is part time, but having fallen...

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, but as the doubled-up Class 220 whisked me from Durham to Newcastle this morning I couldnt help but ponder over the '0 to 60mph' times for various classes, like they do with cars, or perhaps more interestingly, 0mph to the maximum speed of each...

Was interested to read in NR's Procurement pipeline schedule that the project for Horden station near Peterlee is in GRIP 4-8. There had been some talk in the media that the station would have been open by Spring 2016 with an hourly service in both directions. Was wondering if anyone had any...

As I understand it, Hitachi's plant at Newton Aycliffe will be involved with the construction of a of 175 sets of Class 800/801/802, 64 units of Class 385. When are these projects due to be completed? and has there been any rumours as to any follow up orders of this or brand new stock? I...

Forgive my ignorance on this subject, but I was pondering the interaction between the contact wire on OHLE, pantographs and the use of tilting and non-tilting trains on the same lines. I assume that the contact wire stays at the same height relative to the position of the rails (with the...

Sorry if this has been covered before. I have no doubt that ARN will keep the Pacers going until the very last day they have to in 2019, but was wondering what the Durham Coast services will look like afterwards. As I understand it, with the Middlesbrough - Carlisle 'Northern Connect' 158's...

I've been offered an interview for a part-time Revenue Protection Assistant for Northern based in Newcastle, I assume at Heaton? I've been wanting to get into the railways for a while now in any capacity, ultimately with the aim of becoming a guard or driver, of course! I'm in my early 30's...