An early start (for me) was required to catch the train at Alexandria with my dad, my brother and his friend. We managed to catch the limited stop service to Queen Street. From there we caught the 0841 to Aberdeen and changed at Perth onto the Inverness train. We didn't really do much in Inverness, we just walked around the Eastgate mall next to the station for 3 hours and had lunch/dinner in Pizza Express. We then boarded the 5 to 5 train back to Queen Street and then the next Balloch train. (Not many) Pics at http://la-seandre.fotopic.net/c1560295.html
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Highland Mainline 11/08
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rail-britain
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I read that first time round, too early in the morning, and was wondering about Alexandria, trying to figure out who was running a limited stop service from London to Cardiff, then realised it was Alexandria in Dumbartonshire and Glasgow Queen Street
You should have queried travelling via Aberdeen, the line between Perth and Inverness although nice and scenic is just boring
At least by travelling via Aberdeen you may have added some more interest there
I have to agree, not much to do in Inverness when you get there...
Quite easy to walk across the bridge and view the depot
When the weather is poor I tend to jump on one of the local Stagecoach bus services and that wastes about an hour
You should have queried travelling via Aberdeen, the line between Perth and Inverness although nice and scenic is just boring
At least by travelling via Aberdeen you may have added some more interest there
I have to agree, not much to do in Inverness when you get there...
Quite easy to walk across the bridge and view the depot
When the weather is poor I tend to jump on one of the local Stagecoach bus services and that wastes about an hour
rail-britain
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What beach, where?
http://la-seandre.fotopic.net/p52679653.html
Perhaps you've misunderstood the new livery format, but the First ScotRail logo will be remaining during the current franchise
Unlike current units which can have as many as three First logos, with the new livery it will be one only and size specified
First ScotRail
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No that scotrail logo is going. The new logo ScotRail - Scotlands Railways will take centre place on coaches with just the first logo on the doors, NOT the old FSR logo, which will be history in a few years.
rail-britain
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I've had it confirmed from someone high up in First Group that each unit will still carry at least one "First ScotRail" logo
The restriction is only one per vehicle side along with some restrictions in size, which should see a uniform appearance throughout the fleet
When there is a change of TOC, the First logo will then be removed and replaced by the relevant TOC, for FSR this may mean 2014
I am not "officially" due to start with First Group (Corporate) until 01 September, but I have already started working two days a week at King Street to bring myself up to speed ready for commencement
Looks like I will be a regular commuter between Croy and Aberdeen
The restriction is only one per vehicle side along with some restrictions in size, which should see a uniform appearance throughout the fleet
When there is a change of TOC, the First logo will then be removed and replaced by the relevant TOC, for FSR this may mean 2014
I am not "officially" due to start with First Group (Corporate) until 01 September, but I have already started working two days a week at King Street to bring myself up to speed ready for commencement
Looks like I will be a regular commuter between Croy and Aberdeen
First ScotRail
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Ahh see that would explain why we are still to call ourself's FSR.
rail-britain
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I am currently trying to get further information on where the "first" unit in the new livery will be, I need it for the new contract which commences on 01 September
I already have the diagrams and drawings, clearly shows one TOC logo and the approved dimensions (they are about the same size as the one carried on the front of a DMU)
I had been advised that provisionally 158719 iwa going to be made available for a launch on Edinburgh Waverley station
At the "same time" a launch in Glasgow using a EMU, showing the transfer from SPT to the new scheme
However, with the early completion of the Cathcart Circle work by Network Rail it looks like neither a DMU nor EMU will be ready in time, so the launch will be about two weeks after the line has reopened; not ideal
One other point that has been missed...
Staff will continue to wear the uniform provided by the TOC, at this time that will not change, but there is a provision in the contract for that
I already have the diagrams and drawings, clearly shows one TOC logo and the approved dimensions (they are about the same size as the one carried on the front of a DMU)
I had been advised that provisionally 158719 iwa going to be made available for a launch on Edinburgh Waverley station
At the "same time" a launch in Glasgow using a EMU, showing the transfer from SPT to the new scheme
However, with the early completion of the Cathcart Circle work by Network Rail it looks like neither a DMU nor EMU will be ready in time, so the launch will be about two weeks after the line has reopened; not ideal
One other point that has been missed...
Staff will continue to wear the uniform provided by the TOC, at this time that will not change, but there is a provision in the contract for that
First ScotRail
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Uniforms...well that will take a while, i know that for a fact.
rail-britain
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It would appear that Transport Scotland also wanted the uniforms to be in the same format, however they weren't willing to cover the cost and neither were First Group, also it's not in the TOC contract
The matter has been left open and unresolved, and it's likely to remain like that until the franchise ends
There are some other finer points like that elsewhere, that will see both the SPT and FSR logos remain in place for some time, until either resolved or the end of the franchise in 2014
Network Rail hasn't escaped either
They have agreed to cover some of the costs where their structures require updating
Ultimately all these costs will be passed on to the travelling public or the Scottish taxpayer
I forsee a 1p increase in tax under the Scottish Parliaments powers, no wonder they are so anxious to get Community Charge replaced by the Local Tax (I noticed it's already in place for payments on the North Lanarkshire website!)
The matter has been left open and unresolved, and it's likely to remain like that until the franchise ends
There are some other finer points like that elsewhere, that will see both the SPT and FSR logos remain in place for some time, until either resolved or the end of the franchise in 2014
Network Rail hasn't escaped either
They have agreed to cover some of the costs where their structures require updating
Ultimately all these costs will be passed on to the travelling public or the Scottish taxpayer
I forsee a 1p increase in tax under the Scottish Parliaments powers, no wonder they are so anxious to get Community Charge replaced by the Local Tax (I noticed it's already in place for payments on the North Lanarkshire website!)
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