Next 5 years until 2022

[Andrew1395]

1) Replacing season tickets with personal accounts, that adjust spend based on times and date of travel.
2) immediate seat reservations, and free seat notifications by smart phone becoming the norm - leading to (with 1 above) same day revenue apportionment and removal of ORCATS
3) Start of moves toward driver free trains (part of the programme to reduce costs through automation and staff replacement). Maybe initially ECS.
4) Split ticketing to become the basis of simplified fares - discounts to be delivered retrospectively (end of the day/week/month caps based on your personal account and postcode)
5) removal and simplification of the regulatory regime created (20+ years ago) at privatisation.
6) Rail freight to decline (I think this could be the major impact of BREXIT), as economy rebalances after leaving the single market, and part of government response is greater liberalisation of road haulage; on top of the decline in coal traffic.
7) on the other hand part of gov response to BREXIT to include an expansion and modernisation of electricity generation capacity. A second dash for gas and renewables is the supply side and a national plan for a fully electrified railway is part of the demand side. The electrification of cross country routes (Bristol - Newcastle) is first of many

 

[yorksrob]

1) Replacing season tickets with personal accounts, that adjust spend based on times and date of travel.

I can't see them replacing season tickets without a fight. This will be a step backwards for passengers.

 

[Andrew1395]

Transformation is not all about Win Win. The Virgin West Coast high output timetable meant Watford Junction lost virtually all it's intercity services to Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Glasgow, but on the other hand there are more services to all those destinations from Euston. On the specific point, once London is cracked with CPay replacing Oyster, season tickets in the traditional sense are on the Dodo path

 

[yorksrob]

Transformation is not all about Win Win. The Virgin West Coast high output timetable meant Watford Junction lost virtually all it's intercity services to Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Glasgow, but on the other hand there are more services to all those destinations from Euston. On the specific point, once London is cracked with CPay replacing Oyster, season tickets in the traditional sense are on the Dodo path

Technologically I don't see why they can't include a season ticket functionality on whatever technical system they use. Not to do so would be a purely financial decision by the railway companies.

If it's not about win win, then I can do without that type of "transformation", as it becomes about "screw the passenger".

 

[najaB]

On the specific point, once London is cracked with CPay replacing Oyster, season tickets in the traditional sense are on the Dodo path

Season tickets do exist for routes outside London, by the way!

 

[Andrew1395]

Yes of course they do, but London has most of the infrastructure required for flexible seasons. Once they are proven there, then they will spread across the network.

 

[anti-pacer]

Leeds finally getting a transit system. Not trolleybuses or trams.

Introducing on street track running with the new Leeds SuperPacer.

Picture it.... "Welcome aboard Leeds SuperPacer. This service is for Seacroft via St James's Hospital. The next stop is Millennium Square".

 

[snowball]

Sorry, but I fail to see what on earth you're on about when it comes to lowering the track under some Brunel bridges - it's about getting clearance for the overhead underneath - and with those Brunel flat arches it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference which specific standard you were working to - whether European or some UK one - there isn't the clearance available for overhead without either a. demolishing the bridge; b. lowering the track.

I read somewhere that Brunel didn't understand drainage very well and that his tracks have often had to be raised to improve the drainage; whereas the Stephensons and their collaborators understood drainage from their mine experience.

 

[Dave1987]

3) Start of moves toward driver free trains (part of the programme to reduce costs through automation and staff replacement). Maybe initially ECS.

Good luck with that :roll: ain't gonna happen any time soon (if ever!)

hope to see all railway staff down the dole office maybe?

 

[jimm]

I read somewhere that Brunel didn't understand drainage very well and that his tracks have often had to be raised to improve the drainage; whereas the Stephensons and their collaborators understood drainage from their mine experience.

Never heard anything of the sort myself. And even if was true, so what? Do you not think Network Rail might just have taken drainage issues into account at locations where it was decided to lower the track under bridges. Understanding of such matters generally has moved on a bit since the 1830s...

 

[gerryuk]

Sheffield tram train?

 

[Silent]

I can't wait for the Elizabeth Line to be completed and to see the new Central London Stations.

 

[snowball]

I read somewhere that Brunel didn't understand drainage very well and that his tracks have often had to be raised to improve the drainage; whereas the Stephensons and their collaborators understood drainage from their mine experience.

Never heard anything of the sort myself. And even if was true, so what? Do you not think Network Rail might just have taken drainage issues into account at locations where it was decided to lower the track under bridges. Understanding of such matters generally has moved on a bit since the 1830s...

I wasn't attempting to suggest otherwise. It was just a snippet I thought might be interesting in the context. I'm trying to remember where I read it. There was an article in Modern Railways a year or two ago about the issues around overhead electrification in the presence of listed structures, with examples from around the country. It may have been there.

 

[Bromley boy]

Good luck with that :roll: ain't gonna happen any time soon (if ever!)

hope to see all railway staff down the dole office maybe?

Yes I noticed that as well.

No doubt highdyke etc. will be along soon to tell us how we are all "low skilled" serfs who must be sacked. Paul psidok...whatshisface will chime in to agree. In between boasting about his 1st in maths, his Range Rover and how, in between his 20k+ posts on this forum, he somehow finds time to buy expensive oriental rugs.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Paul psidok...whatshisface will chime in to agree. In between boasting about his 1st in maths, his Range Rover and how, in between his 20k+ posts on this forum, he somehow finds time to buy expensive oriental rugs.

Bless you. I was unaware that my fame had spread even into messrooms these days.....

Indeed, the John Lewis department store at Cheadle Royal has a wonderful selection of hand-woven carpets and rugs, with one carpet priced over £35,000 that came from Iran, but it is too small for the room we would like to display it in.

We actually have two Range Rovers, but since I no longer drive after the stroke in July 2012, one of my sons now has one on permanent loan.

 

[The Ham]

442 conversion to airliners as well?

...then in due course space craft, which will ultimately allow humanity to live among the stars.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I can't see them replacing season tickets without a fight. This will be a step backwards for passengers.

An account that allows you to use your smart card to touch in and out, with prices set depending on how frequently you travel (not just on one route, but also based on total travel) and when (off peak season tickets and part time season tickets), with the ability for users to select the best value based on all the valid journey options (I.e. TOC only, via xxxx, any permitted, splitting tickets, etc.), not having to queue for tickets, being automatically given delay repay (& for shorter delays), being able to book seats on upcoming travel (possibly with a fee charged if you don't cancel and don't travel, meaning that you are otherwise not buying a ticket).

There's probably more that could be added to that, but as a passenger that all sounds like and improvement over season tickets, even just a few of those items listed coming along would be a good start.

 

[yorksrob]

...then in due course space craft, which will ultimately allow humanity to live among the stars.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


An account that allows you to use your smart card to touch in and out, with prices set depending on how frequently you travel (not just on one route, but also based on total travel) and when (off peak season tickets and part time season tickets), with the ability for users to select the best value based on all the valid journey options (I.e. TOC only, via xxxx, any permitted, splitting tickets, etc.), not having to queue for tickets, being automatically given delay repay (& for shorter delays), being able to book seats on upcoming travel (possibly with a fee charged if you don't cancel and don't travel, meaning that you are otherwise not buying a ticket).

There's probably more that could be added to that, but as a passenger that all sounds like and improvement over season tickets, even just a few of those items listed coming along would be a good start.

Not if I lose the option for unlimited travel on my season ticket route it doesn't.

The technical benefits of touching in/out etc are possible without losing the essence of a season ticket.

 

[Bromley boy]

Bless you. I was unaware that my fame had spread even into messrooms these days.....

Indeed, the John Lewis department store at Cheadle Royal has a wonderful selection of hand-woven carpets and rugs, with one carpet priced over £35,000 that came from Iran, but it is too small for the room we would like to display it in.

We actually have two Range Rovers, but since I no longer drive after the stroke in July 2012, one of my sons now has one on permanent loan.

Priceless, in more ways than one.

On a serious note, I'm sorry to read about the stroke.

 

[Mordac]

...then in due course space craft, which will ultimately allow humanity to live among the stars.

Credit to my fiancee.

 

[najaB]

Credit to my fiancee.

Oh no! Close the doors, you're letting the space in!

(Awesome photo, by the way.)

 

[Harbornite]

That picture brings a tear to my eye, it's beautiful.

 

[The Ham]

Not if I lose the option for unlimited travel on my season ticket route it doesn't.

The technical benefits of touching in/out etc are possible without losing the essence of a season ticket.

Sorry, forgot to add capped travel costs for multiple journeys on any single route (peak/off peak).

 

[J-2739]

Credit to my fiancee.

So adorable, I wanna hug it!!

(cries in background)

Many thanks for posting this delight!

 

[yorksrob]

Sorry, forgot to add capped travel costs for multiple journeys on any single route (peak/off peak).

Cheers. Andrew 1395 seemed to be suggesting that all journeys would be accounted for separately.

 

[Bromley boy]

Credit to my fiancee.

This is a delight.

Better ride quality and refinement than most "modern" spacecraft... And dwell times should be less of an issue for astronauts?!

 

[antharro]

Space faring pigs. This is absolutely superb. Thanks for posting.

 

[glbotu]

Credit to my fiancee.

Can this be the new forum banner, I think it needs to replace the current XC 221...........

 

[northwichcat]

Credit to my fiancee.

If that's the express service what will the all-stops service look like?

 

[steevp]

If that's the express service what will the all-stops service look like?

A Pacer!

 

[Harbornite]

You can tell it's fake because the door nearest to the camers is open. If it was real, the astronauts would have closed it