A 5-car train *is* better than no train, because the alternative is trying to squeeze everyone onto the following service - that sure as hell won't be a comfortable journey either, if they all fit, and now everyone's delayed too.

It's basic logic?

If I knew that waitress, if god forbid she was my daughter, I wouldn't find that story very amusing given how it could have (and for many, has) ended.

Perhaps it's just me, but hurrah for the 'snowflake generation' if it means a child of mine has to worry a little less about unwarranted and inappropriate sexual advances especially from creepy old men.

F&F's Noel Dolphin has tweeted the following about the wires being switched-on, and what they did to allow this: https://twitter.com/NoelDolphin


"Severn Tunnel is currently live & electrified at 25kv for the first time. For testing in the run up to full switch on later this year"

"Mainly by removing copper contact wire and using aluminium contact wire. Also fixing some of the leaking drip pans after years of arguing internally in NR^» (Network Rail - home page)."

"Never going to be perfect in those conditions. Will always need more maintenance - as it is almost 100% humidity, permanently in some places. However, most corrosion issues minimised now (would not at this point want to say overcome)"

Note that this is the new, larger, relatively straight Jubilee Line Extension - I gather it's very unlikely this will be expanded to the older parts of the Deep Tube as the curves and extremely limited clearances make it impractical.

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they've built a new access route that doesn't cross the railway.

There are lines carrying commuters into Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds which should also - to varying extents - benefit from HS2 freeing up track and train capacity. Then there's Northern Powerhouse Rail which should see new commuter and regional services piggybacking on the infrastructure for HS2's second phase.

Clearly HS2 isn't enough but it's simplistic suggest you can either invest in intercity railways or commuter railways - providing an extra pair of tracks into four of our largest cities will benefit both.


Some people were, but there are clear signs of a return to growth on both rail and tube so that may have been a touch premature...

HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) *is* an investment in commuter lines - by putting long distance passengers on new, separate tracks there is significantly more capacity and timetabling possibilities for commuter and regional services that previously had to share. The potential is huge.

Gauging professional Gareth Dennis has had a look at the data and is confident 230s should fit Island Line - https://twitter.com/GarethDennis/status/1121055592171356161

Realistically any possibility of it reopening as a railway died years ago, and never seemed particularly workable anyway. What's now been done with the viaduct and station is wonderful, as can be seen below:


The harbour bridge by Saturdaywalker, on Flickr


Looking landward along the platforms by Saturdaywalker, on Flickr

Tbh I wouldn't have been bothered by a yellow panel, they did carry them for a period, but they've decided to change the 'face' to accommodate modern lights and so won't need one.

It will be interesting to see how much Crossrail reverses this.

The Telegraph were being a touch disingenuous - Grayling wasn't advocating HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) be scaled back, just urging the rail industry to continue making the case and not become complacent about the second stage being a 'done deal'.

HS2 rejects claims phase two may not get built

Sadly the details all there - aside from electrification being dropped they have also cut back platforms to only allow 4-car trains, and they won't be reinstating a second track between Calvert and Aylesbury. Through services beyond Aylesbury have also been dropped, with no work now planned for the Princes Risborough line.

Vivarail presentation by Adrian Shooter to the LT Museum Friends (from 27mins)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k8W7QWRWMk

Details of South Western Railway's plans they'll submit to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) are now emerging in the IW County Press and KILF

- New timetable, with a loop at Brading allowing a 30min service
- Fully refurbished rolling stock of a larger profile, allowing guards to move between carriages (Almost certainly Vivarail's ex-District Line stock)
- Onboard wifi and charging ports, information boards and new CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision)
- A new platform layout at Ryde Interchange, allowing improved access for Hovertravel passengers
- Track upgrade
- A structural survey of Ryde Pier shows the supporting steelwork to be sound, but decking and track require replacement which is the recommended option

This will be put to the DfT shortly with a decision due by the end of year. If agreed replacement stock could arrive by 2020.