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4516
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Journey by Journey / London to Reading / Re: Air Con that makes turbo trains warmer
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on: June 16, 2010, 23:43:23
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Traditional LUL▸ cars have roof mounted extract fans - it is now realised that they should blow rather than suck. LUL have been learning and new tube cars (as well as surface stock) will have a/c - but with the compressors off in tunnels, to avoid adding to overheating.
The next 'tube' stock to be ordered presumably, as the Victoria Line 09 stock is forced air only. Paul |
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4520
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: First Silverlink '150' Refurbished
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on: June 10, 2010, 14:27:04
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The lightweight bogies (like 220s) required the exhaust to be completely re routed - there are apparently problems with exhaust gas affecting the aircon somehow. I'm not sure but the engines may be a newer type to meet current emissions regulations, and the gearbox is mechanical, rather than hydraulic as in the 170/171.
Paul
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4522
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion
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on: June 09, 2010, 18:23:39
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I looked at this a while ago, and one of the significant points not shown on the DfT» published maps is that there will be loops either side of the HS▸ line past Calvert, with a connection via a 'SE/NE' curve to the Bicester/Bletchley route for engineering train access to the HS line. This curve already exists but will also be needed by Chiltern to Milton Keynes as proposed by East West rail. I think there are many details off the main HS route yet to become clear, these quotes are from the HS2▸ engineering report: "In the Calvert area, an HS2 infrastructure maintenance depot is
proposed. The depot would be alongside the existing East - West Rail
route between Bicester and Bletchley, near Steeple Claydon. Placing the
depot here would allow maintenance trains and on-track plant (for
example ballast trains) use the WCML▸ at Bletchley to gain access to HS2.
There would be a link connecting HS2 to East ^ West Rail, which itself
would need to be grade-separated over HS2, potentially involving
re-alignment and raising over a distance of up to 3km. The critical
distance associated with the design on HS2 is the loop lines adjacent to
the main line. There would need to be provision for locomotives to run
round their engineering trains. Turnouts to and from HS2 and East ^ West
rail would be needed, and 80kph switches were assumed. The link to and
from East ^ West rail would need to be capable of bi-directional
operation. The depot itself was modelled on the Singlewell Depot on HS1▸ ."
"Further investigation is needed to devise an optimum layout accommodating
the existing lines, the HS2 line, and the spur to the maintenance depot." Paul |
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4523
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Complete FGW Timetable book.
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on: May 30, 2010, 19:47:30
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Indeed. However the .pdf version available online appears to be a bit more accurate. So save your money next time and just download the National Rail Timetable, then just print off the bits you need on a per journey basis; that's what I do.
Just for clarification, it appears Steve Bray is referring to the National Rail Timetable and not FGW▸ 's Network Timetable.
The online pdfs were in a chaotic state a few weeks ago though, just at the time the paper versions would have been going to print. A cynic might suggest NR» don't want them to be accurate, then people would stop asking for them... Paul |
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4525
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Rail firms accused over missing 'first-class' seats
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on: May 30, 2010, 17:52:13
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I wasn't aware of these phantom 1st class fares until I heard the news on the radio. Its disgraceful and amounts to fraudulent practice imho. And train companies complain about fare dodgers when some of them undertake dubious procedures like this?
But they aren't 'phantom fares' as you put it - try reading through some of the comments above. If you put Luton - Wimbledon into the Network Rail jouney planner you'll see that the recommended train is EMT» to St Pancras, then underground, then SWT▸ . Luton - St Pancras is still the majority of the journey, as Wimbledon is well inside the London zones. If you take Which's logic to the extreme, every First Class fare, season and travelcard which includes onward travel to inner London destinations should be abolished because LU do not offer first class... Paul |
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4527
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Journey by Journey / Plymouth and Cornwall / Re: Truro Station refurbishment and installation of ticket barriers (merged topics)
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on: May 30, 2010, 17:19:25
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I'm thinking of the West Coastway Line between Southampton and Havant. If you head towards Southampton, you can go on the South Western Main Line to London. Towards Havant and you can use the Portsmouth District Line.   Changes of direction at St Denys and Cosham. Travelling east you leave the Up main at St Denys Jn onto the 'down Netley' as far as Fareham East Jn, [1] then join the 'down Portsmouth' as far as Cosham Jn. From Cosham Jn you take the Up spur towards Farlington and join the Up main towards Havant, (or the Up Brighton if going along the coast). But 'West Coastway' is a term reserved for SN timetables...  [1] Just for amusement, Fareham East Jn is at the North end of the station, and Fareham West Jn is at the South end. Anyone know the reason? Paul |
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4529
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Rail firms accused over missing 'first-class' seats
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on: May 27, 2010, 23:13:41
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They also seem to be talking out their hats about having to pay extra to use the underground. The any permitted fare will allow cross London transfer. Not everyone is daft enough to do the whole journey on the stopping FCC▸ anyway - two separate FCC services Luton > Blackfriars > Wimbledon would be a perfectly viable route, and to cap it all the NR» online planner for a random date next week, mid day, produces 5 routes none of which use the direct stopping service.
I'm sure there are examples all over the country where the planners would come up with similar.
Taken to extremes you should cancel every First class day travelcard fare and equivalent seasons, because the LU legs don't have first.
Paul
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4530
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Bristol-Birmingham via Didcot diversions - are we likely to see these again?
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on: May 24, 2010, 18:25:34
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If capacity on the Chiltern route becomes a problem, is there not a case for doubling up Chiltern's units and them running a 50% service. I'm reminded of when FGW▸ run via Honiton and Axminster - traditionally SWT▸ have just been bounced out of the way for the bigger trains - same could happen on Chiltern, hopefully by negotiation of course. IF theoretically the Bicester Oxford improvements and curve were finished, wouldn't FGW have been able to fit into the paths supposedly available for XC▸ or freight anyway - at least as far as Bicester...  Lastly, I believe there is now an evening HST▸ from Banbury to Paddington (via Oxford) under the new timetable - is this for train crew practice on part of the route? Paul |
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