RJ, you could have saved yourself such a long winded description just by saying you were working in Glasgow... Hahahahaaaaa. ; )
UK rural routes growth
- Thread starter pfx
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RJ, you could have saved yourself such a long winded description just by saying you were working in Glasgow... Hahahahaaaaa. ; )
Ahhh, china, I think you missed my humourous inferrance there. Never mind.
Hi rj, pfx and everybody
Well we all have our crosses to bear. No one asks to be born into the world and therefore cannot be held accountable for where that is.
I will see if I can get both of you temporary visas to enter Somerset. Perhaps you could catch an Edinburgh tram down, I don't think they will be doing very much in the near future
Bill
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with local geography the "West" is the west of Scotland where I and I think pfx hail from.
Well we all have our crosses to bear. No one asks to be born into the world and therefore cannot be held accountable for where that is.
I will see if I can get both of you temporary visas to enter Somerset. Perhaps you could catch an Edinburgh tram down, I don't think they will be doing very much in the near future
Bill
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with local geography the "West" is the west of Scotland where I and I think pfx hail from.
Nah, no me. Ahm a Hillfitter. Means me referring to the whole of Glasgow as a deprived area was a bit cheeky given the state of the Wee County.
If we could get back to the original topic of this thread, rather than a saloon bar debate about unemployment ("my wife's friend's husband met one of those scroungers once..."), can I just say how delighted I am how well UK branchlines are doing at the moment? Including those lines that Beeching tried to close, but wasn't able to. I rather suspect that many of the branchlines he did manage to close would also be doing quite well now too. Shame on him!
Paul
Paul
My humble apologies. In all the excitement, I somewhat forgot humour was banned under the CoC.
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Another goodie from Network Rail
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14744617
Looks like there's no rush given the 8 year timescale for a possible resolution...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14744617
Looks like there's no rush given the 8 year timescale for a possible resolution...
Regarding the number of carriages, a great example is the Reading to Birmingham route, the service was once operated by an 8 car HST and now its operated a 4 car Voyager. That doesnt make sense seeing as about 10% of the commuters from Reading are in fact going to Birmingham.
HSTs are 8 car in length I dont know where you got twelve car from?
I'm not to sure about pendos. Another example is the Leeds to Carlisle service which was previoulsy a 5 car train is now a cramped 2 sprinter.
Regading fares, In Holland if you convert the euros into pounds, the journey from Amsterdam to Utrecht which is 20miles costs £3 on an adult off peak single meanwile a journey of the same length from London to Sevenoaks would cost you £10.
British rail fares are too expensive.
Hi everybody.
Klambert with regard to my comment with reference to the length of HST's, there are signs at Bristol Temple Mead, Nailsea Backwell and Yaton stations placed of the end of the platform which are marked HST 10 car or HST 12 car. As they are placed alongside the track doubtless they are there for the guidance of drivers so they probably include the two power cars as well.
However, they are there and I was assuming there must be some in existence somewhere if not all. If that is not the case the signs are somewhat of a mystery.
With regard to your comments on the reduction in the number of carriages on various routes, the problem is the same with all passenger transport being that there are peaks and troughs throughout any 24-hour period in the working week. In the case of a two or three car train it can be packed solid with passengers between the hours of 7 AM to 9:30 AM and again between the hours of 4 PM to 6:30 PM .
That said for many other hours in the working day those same carriages can have empty seats which make no revenue and cost fuel and maintenance to run. Therefore the problem is one of economics as well as capacity as even if you detached extra carriages coupled For the rush hours during the in the off-peak periods you still have the problem of those carriages have to be bought and paid for and they do not make money standing in sidings 16 hours a day. That said the rising passenger numbers has been so steep and quick it has outstripped all planning over the last couple of years
Also with your reference for cheaper fares and quoting other countries as an example, well this is the United Kingdom and government and commercial institutions carry out things differently in all countries.
Therefore how would to you finance your reduction in fares. Would it be through subsidies which could mean a rise in taxation for everyone including those that do not even use the railways. Or would you finance your reduction in fares through cuts in staff wages, or a reduction in vehicle and other equipment maintenance as you do not seem to put forward any suggestions in this area.
Therefore, could you inform myself and other forum members just how you would re-balance the reduction in fare revenue. It could certainly widen the debate in this thread.
Bill
Klambert with regard to my comment with reference to the length of HST's, there are signs at Bristol Temple Mead, Nailsea Backwell and Yaton stations placed of the end of the platform which are marked HST 10 car or HST 12 car. As they are placed alongside the track doubtless they are there for the guidance of drivers so they probably include the two power cars as well.
However, they are there and I was assuming there must be some in existence somewhere if not all. If that is not the case the signs are somewhat of a mystery.
With regard to your comments on the reduction in the number of carriages on various routes, the problem is the same with all passenger transport being that there are peaks and troughs throughout any 24-hour period in the working week. In the case of a two or three car train it can be packed solid with passengers between the hours of 7 AM to 9:30 AM and again between the hours of 4 PM to 6:30 PM .
That said for many other hours in the working day those same carriages can have empty seats which make no revenue and cost fuel and maintenance to run. Therefore the problem is one of economics as well as capacity as even if you detached extra carriages coupled For the rush hours during the in the off-peak periods you still have the problem of those carriages have to be bought and paid for and they do not make money standing in sidings 16 hours a day. That said the rising passenger numbers has been so steep and quick it has outstripped all planning over the last couple of years
Also with your reference for cheaper fares and quoting other countries as an example, well this is the United Kingdom and government and commercial institutions carry out things differently in all countries.
Therefore how would to you finance your reduction in fares. Would it be through subsidies which could mean a rise in taxation for everyone including those that do not even use the railways. Or would you finance your reduction in fares through cuts in staff wages, or a reduction in vehicle and other equipment maintenance as you do not seem to put forward any suggestions in this area.
Therefore, could you inform myself and other forum members just how you would re-balance the reduction in fare revenue. It could certainly widen the debate in this thread.
Bill
We have as I have illustrated before had lines closed for half a century re-opened with great success and yet another in the pipeline. I never seem to hear of this happening over the Border. Can they only wish down there and look at us in the northern half of the kingdom with envy??
Hi rj howie and everybody.
In response to your posting rj with reference to the re-opening of railway lines in Scotland and especially the Glasgow, speaking personally I would love to see lines reopened South of the border. However, there seems to be no appetite whatsoever in England for any public expenditure projects whatsoever.
In my own neck of the woods, North Somerset there are two branch lines closed in the 1960s which are still linked to the Bristol to Penzance mainline and yet funds cannot be found to reopen them for scheduled passenger traffic.
The main one in question would be the Portizhead to Bristol Temple Mead's branch line which ironically enough is used to transport new cars imported through the Royal Portbury docks at Portizhead. The figure for upgrading the line for passenger use is quoted as six million pounds (not much when compared to the Edinburgh Tramway project).
However, both North Somerset District Council and Bristol district Council have both made it very clear that they are not prepared to finance any funding whatsoever and even though a very senior government minister is the MP for North Somerset he has maintained a discrete silence on the matter.
Portizhead in the rush-hour is a traffic nightmare especially on the road leading from the town to the M5 motorway but yet again no senior figure resident in the area has come forward to support the group that has formed to try to get the line upgraded. The only action taken on the traffic up to now is to improve the junction on the motorway roundabout which has made no difference whatsoever at the cost of 1 million pounds.
The second one and perhaps more surprisingly is the branch line between minehead and Taunton, Here the entire line is run as a heritage railway over its 25 mile length and it is already linked into the mainline just outside of Taunton. There has been a high level campaign by the local press here in Somerset to have a scheduled commuter service operated on the line to relieve congestion on the A39 but again the local councils refuse to support or offer any finance towards the project.
Strangely enough even the trustee owners of the West Somerset Railway who operate extensive heritage services on the line refuse to make any comment on the plans. Indeed it was reported they refused an interview with a rail magazine on the matter only the last week.
Therefore, without doubt I and many more hard pressed travelers and rail fans will not be seeing any great increase in passenger track mileage in the near future. That could be one difference between cultures north of the border and south I guess
Bill
In response to your posting rj with reference to the re-opening of railway lines in Scotland and especially the Glasgow, speaking personally I would love to see lines reopened South of the border. However, there seems to be no appetite whatsoever in England for any public expenditure projects whatsoever.
In my own neck of the woods, North Somerset there are two branch lines closed in the 1960s which are still linked to the Bristol to Penzance mainline and yet funds cannot be found to reopen them for scheduled passenger traffic.
The main one in question would be the Portizhead to Bristol Temple Mead's branch line which ironically enough is used to transport new cars imported through the Royal Portbury docks at Portizhead. The figure for upgrading the line for passenger use is quoted as six million pounds (not much when compared to the Edinburgh Tramway project).
However, both North Somerset District Council and Bristol district Council have both made it very clear that they are not prepared to finance any funding whatsoever and even though a very senior government minister is the MP for North Somerset he has maintained a discrete silence on the matter.
Portizhead in the rush-hour is a traffic nightmare especially on the road leading from the town to the M5 motorway but yet again no senior figure resident in the area has come forward to support the group that has formed to try to get the line upgraded. The only action taken on the traffic up to now is to improve the junction on the motorway roundabout which has made no difference whatsoever at the cost of 1 million pounds.
The second one and perhaps more surprisingly is the branch line between minehead and Taunton, Here the entire line is run as a heritage railway over its 25 mile length and it is already linked into the mainline just outside of Taunton. There has been a high level campaign by the local press here in Somerset to have a scheduled commuter service operated on the line to relieve congestion on the A39 but again the local councils refuse to support or offer any finance towards the project.
Strangely enough even the trustee owners of the West Somerset Railway who operate extensive heritage services on the line refuse to make any comment on the plans. Indeed it was reported they refused an interview with a rail magazine on the matter only the last week.
Therefore, without doubt I and many more hard pressed travelers and rail fans will not be seeing any great increase in passenger track mileage in the near future. That could be one difference between cultures north of the border and south I guess
Bill
Hi Everybody.
Further to my earlier posting and the fact that us rail fans South of the border have nothing new to look forward to, I have just realized on thinking about it that we very much have something great to look forward to.
The release of Railworks 3:hehe: (sorry, could not resist that)
I had better get out of here before the world descends on my head
Bill
NB:-come on the pfx let's have some of your great humor after all the seriousness, this is your thread.
How did Scotland get on in the European football qualifiers this afternoon, I haven't heard
Further to my earlier posting and the fact that us rail fans South of the border have nothing new to look forward to, I have just realized on thinking about it that we very much have something great to look forward to.
The release of Railworks 3:hehe: (sorry, could not resist that)
I had better get out of here before the world descends on my head
Bill
NB:-come on the pfx let's have some of your great humor after all the seriousness, this is your thread.
How did Scotland get on in the European football qualifiers this afternoon, I haven't heard
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NB:-come on the pfx let's have some of your great humor after all the seriousness, this is your thread.
How did Scotland get on in the European football qualifiers this afternoon, I haven't heard
Bill, are you sure this is my thread?
Ah, just checked and you're quite right though I don't mind letting you all play. Just make sure you let me win, or I'm taking my ball home!
Hi rj, pfx And everybody
Aaahhh, rj I have kissed many an ugly woman in my time on the grounds that they are always thankful. The only people that have ever thanked me for anything. Therefore I am thankful.
pfx, I think you have created some great threads in the last couple of years. I have not always participated in all of them on the thinking that “he created this sewer therefore he can swim in it”
Anyway, neither of you or anybody else on the forum has answered my question on how Scotland got on in the European football qualifiers this afternoon. I know they had to win to stand much chance of getting into the actual championship next year, and I would be so upset if I thought they had not achieved that.:hehe:
Bill
Aaahhh, rj I have kissed many an ugly woman in my time on the grounds that they are always thankful. The only people that have ever thanked me for anything. Therefore I am thankful.
pfx, I think you have created some great threads in the last couple of years. I have not always participated in all of them on the thinking that “he created this sewer therefore he can swim in it”
Anyway, neither of you or anybody else on the forum has answered my question on how Scotland got on in the European football qualifiers this afternoon. I know they had to win to stand much chance of getting into the actual championship next year, and I would be so upset if I thought they had not achieved that.:hehe:
Bill
Ah yes, the beer one is my personal favourite.
Scotland. Hmmm. Usual Scotland from what I hear. Didn't see the match as I was getting violent with an angle grinder and 1/4" steel most of the day. Was carrying out some destructive preservation on an old diesel loco. Ended 2-2. Apparently the Jocks gave away a last minute penalty and once again, snatched defeat (well, a draw) from the jaws of victory.
Scotland. Hmmm. Usual Scotland from what I hear. Didn't see the match as I was getting violent with an angle grinder and 1/4" steel most of the day. Was carrying out some destructive preservation on an old diesel loco. Ended 2-2. Apparently the Jocks gave away a last minute penalty and once again, snatched defeat (well, a draw) from the jaws of victory.
@wholbr
I am surprised that you need to ask such a question in this thread and indeed, on this forum, after all you do have the all singing and dancing wonderful Samsung Galaxy thingy ( with Android and 7" ) as you've told us so on numerous occasions. Won't that miraculous device find the answer for you? :hehe:
Rob.
(sorry pfx, way off topic!)
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hi Robd and Everybody
Nice to hear your dulcet tones in your posting again Robd although you have entered this thread a bit late as all the singing, dancing, shouting and balling seems to be over. it has been one of those pfx threads that he makes initially look so placid and yet you know that underneath he has quietly designed the topic to have everybody at one another's throats by the middle of the first page.
That was why I was asking him and rjhowie what the result of the Scotland match was. I had watched the match on television ( there is no decent football on this weekend so I thought I may as well watch something).
However, it is traditional amongst us avid football supporters that when you run into supporters of a team that has not done very well in their last match always ask " how did whatever get on playing against whoever". That forces them to tell you how badly they had done. Then you say "oh I didn't know, I am sorry to hear that":hehe:
As you can see in his posting.pfx fell for that one.
Anyway, the galaxy tab thingy is doing very well and now has completely replaced my laptop so that is going spare if anybody wants it. It is very likely I shall have to come back up to Edinburgh sometime in the next couple weeks as it appears one or two people were telling porkies about a workplace incident when I was last up their. Therefore I shall be able to make postings on to the forum using my Samsung galaxy tab thingy from the train on the long journey up and back.
perhaps a chance to stir things up myself.
Bill
Sorry to be off-topic in your thread pfx, but as you can see it is all robd fault.
Nice to hear your dulcet tones in your posting again Robd although you have entered this thread a bit late as all the singing, dancing, shouting and balling seems to be over. it has been one of those pfx threads that he makes initially look so placid and yet you know that underneath he has quietly designed the topic to have everybody at one another's throats by the middle of the first page.
That was why I was asking him and rjhowie what the result of the Scotland match was. I had watched the match on television ( there is no decent football on this weekend so I thought I may as well watch something).
However, it is traditional amongst us avid football supporters that when you run into supporters of a team that has not done very well in their last match always ask " how did whatever get on playing against whoever". That forces them to tell you how badly they had done. Then you say "oh I didn't know, I am sorry to hear that":hehe:
As you can see in his posting.pfx fell for that one.
Anyway, the galaxy tab thingy is doing very well and now has completely replaced my laptop so that is going spare if anybody wants it. It is very likely I shall have to come back up to Edinburgh sometime in the next couple weeks as it appears one or two people were telling porkies about a workplace incident when I was last up their. Therefore I shall be able to make postings on to the forum using my Samsung galaxy tab thingy from the train on the long journey up and back.
perhaps a chance to stir things up myself.
Bill
Sorry to be off-topic in your thread pfx, but as you can see it is all robd fault.