Which Part of the UK do you Live In ?

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I regard it as fortunate to live in a rural part of the North-West of England that still sees a rather good standard of living. My two immediate neighbours are farmers. I do refer the area known as the "Cheshire Golden Triangle".

 

[bangor-toad]

I've just put on the first Northern Ireland vote!

From my username you can probably guess where I live. Although I'm from England and have lived in many areas in the past.

Why is there low representation from NI? I think there are a lot of reasons, many already touched on. In my view:
History has not been kind to NI and there are many other issues that grab interests and attention. (I'm not getting into any political side taking here!)
There aren't really very many people anyway and apart from a few major towns the population is rather spread out - making efficient railway service a challenge.
The NI rail network is basically quite straightforward - even boring. From Belfast you can go south, east, north or northwest. There are no clever routing options to inspire the type of thought that goes into mainland routes.

The NI fare structure is very simple, offering none of the creative tricks available on the mainland. There are peak tickets for travel before 9:30am weekdays and there's about a 1/3rd reduction over the two single's price if you buy a return. After 9:30am there are off peak tickets. Cleverly it seems to be set so there's no benefit from buying a peak single in the morning and a off peak fare in the afternoon.
Fares, even peak fares, are very reasonable - the longest trip in NI is Newry to Londonderry, a good few hours on the train, and that's only a £12 peak single.
There are a number of different options for unlimited day/week/month travel which are great for visitors, commuting or days out. (A daily unlimited NI travel pass for trains, buses and coaches including peak hours is only £17.50)
Oh, and if you're retired you get free train and bus travel...

The trains themselves are all pretty much the same. You've got the choice of CAF 3000 or CAF 4000 series DMU's. From a customer perspective there are almost no differences. They are pleasant and functional. (The CAF stock coming to the mainland should be good if it's similar to what we've already got)
There are almost no special workings to get excited about. The RPSI does run a decent number of specials - which is good. There's no freight in NI at all as far as I know. The most exciting thing used to be trying to guess where the next Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service would break down. But the reliability of those has improved and that game has gone

The staff all seem to be pleasant. There are on train ticket checks and they are happy to sell any ticket onboard with no fuss. From what I see daily there is little attempted fare evasion.


Overall I think that NI Railways are quietly effective and that coupled with all the external factors it means there just isn't much interest shown.
Of course, if you haven't seen it it's well worth a trip.

Have a great day and think about your next trip!
Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[Butts]

You wonder why there isn't so much discussion of Northern Ireland? Apart from the reasons already mentioned, chiefly in my view that Railways, as with many other things, share more with the Republic of Ireland than with Britain, there is less discussion of NI because not only does it have diminished political significance in London, wide-ranging ignorance in the media, but it also has just 2.9% of the UK population. Rather less than that of Greater Manchester.

I think there are more people in England than most of us would like to admit don't really realise that they live in the same country as Omagh, Newry, Lisburn or Coleraine.

It may not be 4 1/2 years, but I think a Metrolink day Travelcard was the same price in 2014 as it is now - £5. That's inflation-busting if you consider the increase in the number of services you can use it on.


I also note that at present, 83% of respondents live in England, which is exactly in proportion to the % of the UK's population that does.

Well I've bought a Belfast Visitor Pass which was £6.50 (£5.50 plus £1 Card).
This not only gets you to and from the Airport but is valid on Trains and Buses over quite a wide area and secures discounts at various attractions and eateries.

The price in 2012.....yes £6.50 plus they post it to you 1st Class free of Charge.

 

[Calthrop]

The Loyalists/Unionists would mainly be into Football/Rugby whereas the Nationalists/Republicans would mainly be into GAA (Gaelic Football and Hurling). Until around a decade ago GAA was not an inclusive sport like Football/Rugby. I've heard some quite disturbing stories from some former Dublin workmates about being beaten physically by CBS (Christian Brothers Schools) teachers, for playing "Foreign" Sport, (Football/Rugby/Cricket).

(My bolding): seems to English me -- completely bonkers, and not in a good way; but passions run deep, etc. (Have read a good deal concerning those Christian Brothers: seemingly, some very odd bods -- with odd priorities -- among them.)

Having a Railway based interest is considered a rarity over here. There is the RSPI and IRRS but the memberships would not be as large as many of the societies in the UK. Railways are viewed as just another way of getting around to most, nothing else. I worked on LUAS and to my knowledge, I was the only person working in the various offices I was based in, that had any interest, other than a working interest, in steel wheel on steel rail matters.

I do gather that an "upside" is: among Ireland's relatively few railway enthusiasts, "The Issue" is set aside -- they co-operate as though there were no politico-religious divide, and no border had ever been set up -- RPSI's central establishment at Whitehead in the North, serves steam tours throughout the whole island's rail network, with no contention.

I've just put on the first Northern Ireland vote!

From my username you can probably guess where I live. Although I'm from England and have lived in many areas in the past.

[snip]

Overall I think that NI Railways are quietly effective and that coupled with all the external factors it means there just isn't much interest shown.

Of course, if you haven't seen it it's well worth a trip.

Your just-above couple of sentences admirably sum up your -- decidedly interesting -- post (mostly snipped, just to save bandwidth).

I made a -- first-ever, for any length -- visit for most of two weeks, to Northern Ireland earlier this year. (Told of elsewhere on the Forums.) Loved the place, and liked its railways, which I covered in their entirety (except for special case of Lisburn -- Antrim). To be honest, my love of Ireland's railways ("whole island, both bits") is chiefly focused on their IMO highly-delightful past, many decades ago -- the last knockings of which I was of an age to read about, but not to have the good luck to see first-hand. However -- there's a good deal to enjoy, even in 2016.

 

[Aldaniti]

I regard it as fortunate to live in a rural part of the North-West of England that still sees a rather good standard of living. My two immediate neighbours are farmers. I do refer the area known as the "Cheshire Golden Triangle".

You have neighbours Paul? How common. Whilst I do agree that the so-called Golden Triangle is an area of wealth and affluence, I think it has become slightly tarnished these days by footballers and media types - often driving large 4x4's with heavily tinted windows - which has led to a general feeling of naffness whenever one drives through. Money can't buy style or class can it? Vanity of Vanities and all that eh?

Compared to the still unspoilt Ribble Valley......

 

[J-2739]

You have my sympathies!

Make that x2!! :cry:

Though the locals are nice enough.

 

[rich.davies]

Wales. Wrexham General is my local.

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[zuriblue]

I don't any more, I hail from the North West near Manchester, lived in that there London for 10 years and now live near Zürich.

It does mean that my local TOC is the SBB which isn't bad.