Last HST in normal revenue service.

[RobShipway]

I don't think the suggestion was that any LNER 800s should move to XC, but that LNER should provide the services to Glasgow and Aberdeen instead of XC.

Okay, so how would the LNER services pickup passengers from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester and many other places wanting to go to Aberdeen, when these are more Advanti West Coast stations?

You would still need services that have come up from the west country, have gone through the Midlands where people could travel to Edingburgh, to then travel on to Aberdeen on those extra LNER services? Otherwise, I suspect that LNER would have to have a name change.

 

[sprinterguy]

Okay, so how would the LNER services pickup passengers from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester and many other places wanting to go to Aberdeen, when these are more Advanti West Coast stations?

They wouldn't: Passengers from Wolverhampton and Manchester would continue to change trains in Glasgow or Edinburgh as at present.

 

[Mikey C]

The Tories have pretty much accepted that the red wall seats are a lost cause for them. The 'blue wall' is at risk, that's where the Tories will be concentrating their efforts. In other words, trying to make it a 1997 style defeat for them at the next election rather than a Lib Dem 2015 style near total elimination from parliament.

Cross Country serves a lot of the country, including the West Midlands and the Southwest, all seats they will want to protect

 

[sprinterguy]

You would still need services that have come up from the west country, have gone through the Midlands where people could travel to Edingburgh, to then travel on to Aberdeen on those extra LNER services?

Which would continue to be provided by Crosscountry as far as Edinburgh.

 

[JonathanH]

Cross Country serves a lot of the country, including the West Midlands and the Southwest, all seats they will want to protect

It is unlikely to register as an electoral issue, relative to other concerns.

 

[bramling]

Politically that makes no sense, when the Conservatives are defending lots of "red wall" seats won at the last election. Why would they want to support routes between the East Midlands and North to London, but not those across the country from those areas to the Midlands and Southwest?

That might be a rational outlook, but I’m not convinced that’s what’s going on. I get the feeling this government is almost certainly resigned to losing the election. If they were serious about trying to win they would be doing their best to hold places like the few remaining London constituencies. They seem to be doing the polar opposite, almost going out of their way to alienate.

Not entirely. They aren’t likely to be defending anything in that respect - whereas the seats on the way into London like Wellingborough are the only ones they can probably consider safe.

Not even sure about that. The Hancock stuff shows everyone just how dysfunctional, chaotic, arrogant, dishonest and weak this government has been. Pretty much the *only* reason to vote Conservative is to stop us ending up with a dangerously large Labour majority (which when that happened in 97 arguably laid the building blocks for many of the problems this country now has). I know plenty of previously solid Conservative voters who are so appalled at this government they say they are highly unlikely to vote Conservative *ever again*.

It doesn’t help that we keep seeing Johnson’s face popping up all over the place at the moment either. At least the previous disgraced Prime Minister, Blair, generally has the decency and self-awareness to keep a fairly low profile.

 

[JonathanH]

Pretty much the *only* reason to vote Conservative is to stop us ending up with a dangerously large Labour majority (which when that happened in 97 arguably laid the building blocks for many of the problems this country now has).

That sort of view didn't work well in 1992. The issue is that the Liberal Democrat party isn't resurgent to its 1997 position. It would be an interesting situation if the SNP were the official opposition - eg if the Conservatives retained around 50 or fewer seats.

 

[XAM2175]

Will XPTs outlast HSTs? Given the incompetence of the NSW government, who knows?

It seems unlikely - Countrylink already have new stock on order, while ScotRail are still taking the line (in public, at least) that they want to replace the 318s and 320s first and that the new intercity fleet won't be seriously considered at for several more years yet.

But, of course, between CAF and the NSW government there's plenty of opportunity for the XPT replacement to be delayed yet again, and between ScotRail, the Scottish government, Angel Trains, and ASLEF there are more than a few ways in which the HST replacement could suddenly be brought forward.

 

[Ex-controller]

Maybe ScotRail could take the XPT.

 

[DanNCL]

Maybe ScotRail could take the XPT.

Many reasons why that isn't possible.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Okay, so how would the LNER services pickup passengers from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester and many other places wanting to go to Aberdeen, when these are more Advanti West Coast stations?

You would still need services that have come up from the west country, have gone through the Midlands where people could travel to Edingburgh, to then travel on to Aberdeen on those extra LNER services? Otherwise, I suspect that LNER would have to have a name change.

I think you misunderstand. At present, XC is spread ever-thinner by having to do Aberdeen and Glasgow, extending on from Edinburgh. If the jam is spread so thin, getting rid of Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newquay and Penzance, and possibly extensions to Paignton on the Manchester to Bristol route, may be the only option.

And LNER, having spare units and slack, could be required to take up the Glasgow capacity so as to keep the Newcastle to Glasgow route served. LNER would need not go to Birmingham, they would simply take the existing passengers on Plymouth to Edinburgh (and beyond) services, as would, of course, ScotRail west of Edinburgh.

Theoretically this belongs in Speculative but as you are not understanding I will take the time to explain how XC can be returned to core, trunk routes if they will have to wait for trains to be made available.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2023 ==

That might be a rational outlook, but I’m not convinced that’s what’s going on. I get the feeling this government is almost certainly resigned to losing the election. If they were serious about trying to win they would be doing their best to hold places like the few remaining London constituencies. They seem to be doing the polar opposite, almost going out of their way to alienate.



Not even sure about that. The Hancock stuff shows everyone just how dysfunctional, chaotic, arrogant, dishonest and weak this government has been. Pretty much the *only* reason to vote Conservative is to stop us ending up with a dangerously large Labour majority (which when that happened in 97 arguably laid the building blocks for many of the problems this country now has). I know plenty of previously solid Conservative voters who are so appalled at this government they say they are highly unlikely to vote Conservative *ever again*.

It doesn’t help that we keep seeing Johnson’s face popping up all over the place at the moment either. At least the previous disgraced Prime Minister, Blair, generally has the decency and self-awareness to keep a fairly low profile.

I would leave your politics aside. You are clearly a Tory with a real issue.

 

[bramling]

That sort of view didn't work well in 1992. The issue is that the Liberal Democrat party isn't resurgent to its 1997 position.

If the Lib Dems play their cards right they could quite easily pick up votes from people who have had it with the Conservatives but don't want to vote Labour. Though they will need to get their act together very quickly, at the moment I struggle to think who their leader is!

It would be an interesting situation if the SNP were the official opposition - eg if the Conservatives retained around 50 or fewer seats.

I guess it wouldn't go quite that far, if for no other reason than that the Conservatives could end up making that their key message, which would resonate with many people.

 

[Cowley]

OK I think we either wind the politics up or we wind the thread up at this point because it’s taking it well off topic.

Thank you!

 

[RobShipway]

I think you misunderstand. At present, XC is spread ever-thinner by having to do Aberdeen and Glasgow, extending on from Edinburgh. If the jam is spread so thin, getting rid of Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newquay and Penzance, and possibly extensions to Paignton on the Manchester to Bristol route, may be the only option.

And LNER, having spare units and slack, could be required to take up the Glasgow capacity so as to keep the Newcastle to Glasgow route served. LNER would need not go to Birmingham, they would simply take the existing passengers on Plymouth to Edinburgh (and beyond) services, as would, of course, ScotRail west of Edinburgh.

Theoretically this belongs in Speculative but as you are not understanding I will take the time to explain how XC can be returned to core, trunk routes if they will have to wait for trains to be made available.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2023 ==


I would leave your politics aside. You are clearly a Tory with a real issue.

Thank you for the explaintion.

 

[XAM2175]

Maybe ScotRail could take the XPT.

Many reasons why that isn't possible.

Well, to the best of my knowledge the XPT trailers are in better structural condition than the HST ones are... and speaking as a VP185 fan I certainly wouldn't complain

They are, however and alas, wider and taller then the normal British loading gauge permits.

And also very non-compliant with the PRM rules.

 

[Ex-controller]

Many reasons why that isn't possible.

I know.