Just an Up date, it's 8 weeks (tomorrow) since I started this topic and still it's not repaired.

Wonder just how long it will take for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to take note, so we can see a result.

Sorry I've got the DT's again. At least I knew what I meant.

And just what part of the Engine MUST be kept warm at all times?

Like what happened at Hadfield!

I here the St Ives figures could be Well up this year.

For a long time the Last DOWN SWT^▸ (South West Trains) service from Waterloo DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) THIS, on arrival at Exeter St D the Coaches went into the yard, the Train Crew THEN took a long break till the early hours in Hyde Park Train Crew Mess then worked the same unit as the First up Exeter St D- Waterloo, now why not make the trip up to Barnstaple, your early service easily provided.

I'm NOT inclined to believe any thing like 50% reduction.

IF the MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) engines are so good why are HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars STILL BANNED from entering Penzance Train shed?

Vovagers and all units are allowed into Penzance train shed.

So is FGW^▸ (First Great Western) telling porkies about emission reduction, or just incompetent that they haven't lifted the HST ban on Penzance?

I'd like to see all maintenance taken back in house.

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) had to take Track maintenance back in-house, it restored standards and SAVED ^millions.

I've worked in-house: The Aim: to maintain to a high standard with consideration to keep costs down.

Also had to work on the same job but under contract:

The Aim: To reduce maintenance cost by cutting corners, leading to More Breakdowns, bigger profits and taking LONGER to do breakdowns.

I can't understand why companies expect to SAVE money with contracts, the aim of a contractor is to MAKE money from the client.

 YOUR MONEY paid by the customer.

I reckon FGW^▸ (First Great Western) got egg on their face when they brought out the last lot of timetables but rather than admit they got it wrong they have gone for another style, which is frankly just as bad if not worse

OK here's a question for all you Elf & Safety people, being that Elf & Safety is ABOVE all other things, how long does it take to repair a FENCE.

The reason I ask is today I've made one of my infrequent visits to the end of the line at Penzance, if I make PZ twice a year I'm Lucky or unlucky depending on your thoughts on the place.
 
Was an Early start and for the First Time in Years I travelled in the "Day" cars of the Sleeper Train, very nice too all first class seats.

However on Station Road I've become aware that part of the Station Railings have been  badly damaged for at least 18 months.

So my elf & Safety friends what's your excuse!

CUE: Deathly Silence:

If I understand correctly the Maximum cant can be 180mm but that's across 4ft 8 1/2 inches which means across the full width of Stock the differnce in height from one side to the other of a carriage is the best part of 300mm or a Foot.

Ever been on a East Midlands Train stopped in Kettering!

As a regular Devon Rail Traveller, I've been, let's say UNimpressed with the amount of time that it's claimed FGW^▸ (First Great Western) put Safety first.

However I've often stood at Newton Abbot to board the front of London Bound Trains in almost pitch darkness, as very few of the lampposts work, I know enough about Sodium Lights (orange ones) to know Poor Maintenance when I see it.

It was a surprise to find that on my last visit to Newton Abbot the lights hap been fixed.

How If FGW are so Safety concerned can it arise that so many lights are broken!

Surely Train Crew and Station Staff should report these faults as a matter of course.

HI, THIS TOPIC HAS STALLED!!!

It clearly shows the problem of support of all projects Rail.

Whilst the Road Lobby is up and Kicking there is no organised national Rail Lobby, yes there is Rail Future (RDS or what ever they call themselves now) but Rail Future is spilit into Branches who all have there own key projects, Rail Futures a good bunch of Men & Women with the right Ideas (I'm a former RDS member).

What is needed is a National Rail Lobby that Puts forward a Key Rail Project (such as Tavistock reinstatement) and campaigns for it Nationally. 
When DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) gives in then the Campaign turns to the next Project such as reinstating Rail to St Ives Cambs.

That's the way forward for a much better Rail System in this Country.

I've worked In-house and as a contractor and something that I feel uneasy about is that the railway seems full of contractors, my experience with contract break-down work is why fix it in an hour! make it last all day!!!!

And a cleaning bill from a national cleaning company that pays minimum wage (or a few pence above) that I've seen was for labour at ^19 PER HOUR so who's ripping who off?

I spoke to an BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) Inspector just before Christmas and stated my view that contractors are the most likely way for a terrorist to get right into the heart of the railway and he agreed with me.

Just how do station staff etc finding a contractor turning up to do a job check that it isn't the brother of one O bin Larden who's turned up?

(If in doubt I think O bin Larden is America's most wanted).

Well I'm up for doing my bit, Tavistock is a place I visit about every 4 weeks and it's by car from Exton every time, forget the train to Plymouth or Bere Alston, because there's something called a bus involved!

Horrible things buses!

Is Andrewr & I the only people who care about the railway?