The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager stock didn't occur to me before. Is Laira equipped to service the voyagers in that case?
Thanks.

Hi All,

Reading this article: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-visit-South-West/story-20595996-detail/story.html
One of the photos implies that at least one Class 43 loco was moved by road to London after the tracks got wiped out at Dawlish. (Presumably by London they mean Old Oak Common.)
Was all the stranded Class 43 stock moved out by road and if so, were mark 3 coaches moved with them or was it just locos?

Also does anyone know if many other DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) were stranded south of Dawlish post-storm?

Thanks!

Hi All,

Don't often surface here but I have two very short totally un-related questions that (probably) fit into this catagory:

On the Exeter-Barnstaple line I noticed the new communications towers have gone up, looking similar to others on the network. Are these GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway.) and if so, is this a step towards ERTMS^▸ (European Rail Traffic Management System.) for our little regional line?

Second - on the Exeter-Sailsbury line there seem to be HST^▸ (High Speed Train) stop marks at most stations that look fairly new. Some even re-installed on the re-doubled sections. Does this alude to a specific NR^» (Network Rail - home page) plan? I'm not sure HSTs have ever been in service on this line have they?

Thanks!

Really no chance of a lights off carriage?
NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia) (Or when they were back in the One days) always used to have a lights off coach A. I remember frequently traveling from Ipswich to London around the 2300 express with Coach A being dark and it was generally socially accepted that stopping customers boarding after Ipswich didn't bother the express customers trying to get some kip.
On the crime side of things: That train stopped at Stratford and I don't ever remember feeling unsafe. I don't think Kemble or Tiverton Parkway are more dangerous than Stratford.

Obviously local trains are a different matter, You couldn't sleep on a 142 if you wanted to. I'm just refering to HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train), properly managed with CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), with quiet coaches being enforced e.g. disruptive groups of people being kept away (Which Virgin Trains can do on a busy Saturday afternoon). It's not so much a safety issue as a common sense issue.

P.S. Airplanes have dark cabins sometimes on night flights. Ferries for that matter also sometimes have dark lounges on night crossings. Night-trains are also dark.... National Express is dark, much more dangerous on a rocky bus stopping at all kinds of dodgy service stations surely??
Whats wrong with fgw re-introducing some trendy aisle lighting and some reading lights??

Sorry, I don't see this as such a "far fetched" idea.

Names, dates, references omitted to protect the innocent. In response to feedback sent to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services via the on-website form.
Smoke or mirrors? :-)

Amazing programme. Applause for Ian, spot on I reckon.

So who on this forum thinks Beeching saved the railways by making the cuts he did? Would things be any different today if all those lines had remained open?

Has anyone been on a refurb lately where the fantastic new automatic taps actually work??

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) - First for bad hygiene.
 

"member of train crew being unavailable"

I'd be interested to discover the meaning for, what seems to be, FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) new default position behind the reasons for all train trouble lately.

what exactly is "a member of train crew being unavailable", is a driver off sick? did a driver die horribly in front of a train? did a "traveling chef" have to visit the toilet and missed his train? was a ticket inspector too lazy to finish his coffee and get the train?

It seems bizzare that "member of train crew being unavailable" can derail an entire mornings timetable. Are there no backup staff available? Is there a sway of mass sick-days being called into FGW lately?

It really does bare some explanation from them, or else give us an accurate and detailed explanation behind delayed and canceled trains.

Ta for anyones thoughts!

Well, looks like left overs from the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurb really. Can't be wasting any money in their cost-cutting excercises.
I've seen a 142 "refurb" at exeter today, still not had the pleasure of riding any 142.

First trip: sat on a 142 non "refurb" at exeter st davids for half an hour on christmas eve with about 20 people standing. Announcement finally that no train crew were available and they would coach us to Barnstaple.
Second trip: 150 pulls into Barnstaple for the first service of the day *phewww* apparently some driver training going on, thank god for that.
Third trip: 153 comes around the corner from exeter central, big sigh of relief again. Tatty as hell but it looks like a real train at least.

I've seen a couple of funny occurances at st davids:
Two 142s pulled in early one morning with the 142 carrages rammed with commuters yet towing two empty 158s that were dark. After un-coupling the 158s were readied for a service. Beggars belief I say.

Two 142s trying to depart for exmouth whilst a group of hi-vis jackets crowd one of the cheepo bus doors that won't close. It took them 20 minutes before they physically pulled the doors closed and departed for exmouth. Danger to passengers? Hang on, the entire unit is dangerious to passengers.

So, screw Andrew Haines and his appologies really, I'd love to see him ride Barnstaple to Exmouth one day on a 142 without his entourage, red carpet welcome, staged trolly service and no use of the first class lounge. Of course, part of the journey must be made by coach to simulate actual conditions.