I went from Plymouth to Paddington yesterday and arrived 40 late and Paddington to Plymouth today (Via Bristol) and arrived 10 late.  Passing through a blizzard at Pewsey yesterday the train conductor mentioned over the PA^▸ (Public Address) that you couldn't travel at this speed on the roads (we were doing normal speed at this point 110mph)  There were smiles all around.

A couple of interesting things:  Have HST^▸ (High Speed Train) drivers been instructed to test the brakes every 15 mins or so (to prevent ice build up in the air pipes?) and found the vestibles full of snow (more of a slipping hazard than some station platforms).

Any way well done to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and its staff

And about time too.  If ever there was an award for a monolithic, overmanned, uneconomic and unresponsive organisation then its got to be given to NR^» (Network Rail - home page).  We need to, and have the skills and expertise to, do these projects faster and more cheaply and get them right first time.

My vote is for vertical integration (Sectorisation ).  Let the primary TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) on a route run the infrastructure (like they do with stations in most cases).

The new signalling was commissioned at 2040 hours on Friday evening 11 December 2009.  The reversible signals have not been commissioned yet due to some outstanding technical issues.

Oh yes there are.

Distant Boards, Stop Boards and Point Indicators at Eggesford.

Distant board at Barnstaple.

All of these are classified as signals