|
14238
|
All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Disabled man films Northern Rail refusal to help boarding train in Manchester
|
on: August 26, 2010, 17:35:50
|
|
Okay, so the guard realises he's being filmed, so why doesn't he state, on the record, that the ramp is broken and that Guide Bridge is not accesible.
I can't comment on the ramp being OOS, but if it was then being told that Guide Bridge is inaccessible is irrelevent. Guide Bridge is partially accessible with level access, on a tarmac'd pavement, to the platform on which trains from Manchester arrive.
As for the comments made on video in a foreign language - do you not think the various media outlets that have interviewed the guy would have checked out whether he was saying anything defamatory?
DG, are these 'further emerging details' from a reputable news source? If so, then can we have a link.
|
|
|
|
|
14242
|
Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon / Re: 142 vs 159s at Exeter
|
on: August 25, 2010, 21:50:39
|
Another slow news day in Exeter. The local press has re-hashed the story (with nothing new to say) again. From the Express and Echo (25/08/2010): Better brakes could have stopped crash which hospitalised nine
A rail crash which hospitalised nine people might have been prevented if braking equipment had been upgraded, investigators have said.
On the evening of January 4 a First Great Western (FGW▸ ) 142 train from Barnstaple hit the back of a stationary South West Trains service to London at Exeter St David's Station.
Six passengers in the FGW train and two in the London-bound train, plus three members of staff, were taken to hospital. None were seriously hurt.
Investigators for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found that the driver of the FGW train had applied the brake 139m before the crash, when the train, known as a 142 unit, had been travelling at 17mph. Instead of slowing to a stop the train skidded on the rails.
In a detailed report, investigators say equipment which distributes sand on the tops of rails to improve grip when accelerating or braking could have stopped the crash.
The 142 units, which are in use on several Devon branch lines, are not equipped with sanding systems.
Investigators say water and ice on top of the rails were likely to have caused the train to lose grip in the first place.
|
|
|
|
|
14244
|
All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Disabled man films Northern Rail refusal to help boarding train in Manchester
|
on: August 25, 2010, 21:30:46
|
A fuller video from the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305662/Manchester-railway-staff-ignored-disabled-mans-pleas-wheelchair-ramp.htmlAbsolutely no evidence that the passenger was in the wrong. No evidence of abuse of staff, no evidence that the wheelchair space was unavailable, no evidence that the passenger didn't have a valid ticket for travel, no evidence that the guard was too busy to to comply with the DDA» . Yes, we don't know what went on before filming started, but it appears that the passenger only started filming because he was refused travel. And what was the point of the guard taking a photo of the passenger, except petulance? If the guard was in anyway concerned about the passengers behaviour as a reason for refusing travel he would've said so. Also we hear that old chestnut from the other staff member that the passenger is breaking the law by filming. But apparently, according to him, these staff are not breaking the the law by refusing to comply with the DDA. I rarely get angry on behalf of others, but this is appalling treatment of a disabled passenger by Northern staff. The guard deserves nothing less than prosecution under DDA legislation and would do very well to keep his job. If the RMT▸ come to his defence in any way then that would just confirm to me what a crackpot union they are. I also applaud Northern for publically stating that they have suspended the staff member concerned. No stronger message could be sent to all staff that this kind of behaviour toward the disabled is not acceptable. |
|
|
|
|
14245
|
All across the Great Western territory / Who's who on Western railways / Re: 'On track with Dave Wood', in the Bristol Evening Post, every Tuesday
|
on: August 25, 2010, 21:06:00
|
An interesting response to Dave Wood's latest column in the Bristol Evening Post from the four Executive Members of the West of England Partnership Joint Transport Executive: Your correspondent speaks plenty of sense
Your correspondent, Dave Wood, is correct with his calls for investment in rail. The railways play an important part in reducing congestion and improving the economic future of the area, which is why they are a priority for the four West of England councils.
The councils have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Network Rail, First Great Western, CrossCountry and South West Trains in order to ensure that we work ever closer, and we have close relationships with rail groups such as the Severnside Community Rail Partnership.
Our Greater Bristol Metro major transport proposal aims to enhance the local rail network with half-hourly cross-Bristol train services. It is a key element of our programme of transport schemes.
Changes at Bath and Keynsham stations have been made as a result of our lobbying; Bristol City Council, as a single example, supports the Severn Beach Line with a subsidy of ^400,000 a year. Rail patronage locally has increased by 8 per cent over 2008/09 levels, with significant increases at Filton Abbey Wood and on the Severn Beach line.
We have been successful in getting improvements to local services and infrastructure included in Network Rail's Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy, March 2010 setting out long-term plans for the rail network. A great deal of work has been done investigating the costs and work involved in reopening the rail link to Portishead, allowing us to plan ahead in partnership with Network Rail. We have actively supported the electrification of the Great Western mainline to Bristol with the potential for electrified suburban services.
A new railway station costs in the order of ^5 million; a kilometre of track can cost in the order of ^11m to lay; a single railway carriage costs about ^1m. This sort of spending has to be balanced against councils' duty to support and maintain schools, provide elderly care, protect vulnerable children, provide housing for those who need it, collect and recycle rubbish, be ready to manage emergency situations such as floods or other extreme weather, repair and maintain roads, catch rogue traders, benefit cheats and fly-tippers, run libraries and leisure centres ^ to list but a few of their tasks.
The Department for Transport oversees the franchise process and the allocation of rolling stock. We would welcome any support Mr Wood could give us lobbying them on our behalf for an increase in local spending as soon as possible.
The councils in the West of England Partnership are working together and investing in transport improvements, it is being progressed in stages. The changes that can be made relatively easily, quickly and at affordable budgets are being done first. But be certain, rail improvements are on our agenda.
The four Executive Members of the West of England Partnership Joint Transport Executive, Councillor Charles Gerrish, Bath & North East Somerset, Councillor Gary Hopkins, Bristol City Council, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset, Councillor Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire. |
|
|
|
|
14248
|
Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / 2246 Taunton to Weston-super-Mare. Why a bus?
|
on: August 25, 2010, 05:08:47
|
|
I can't quite fathom why this service is listed as a bus for the entirety of the timetable. Surely there can't be engineering work on the 'up' line every weekday night from May to December?
Printed timetables show it as a bus and also subject to engineering work. Now how exactly is a rail-replacement bus affected by engineering work?
Journey Planners also always show it as a bus with no note to say that this is because of engineering works.
What's going on? Are FGW▸ pulling a fast one because there is no stock/staff to operate the service. Instead putting on a bus then hiding behind the excuse of engineering work?
I'm also heartened to see that I can buy a 1st Class ticket to travel on this bus as well!
|
|
|
|
|
14250
|
All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Shocking lack of Rover knowledge!
|
on: August 24, 2010, 22:32:53
|
|
FRASER EAGLE is an interesting one on that list. Why on earth would anyone need a ticket specific to the former operator and organiser of rail-replacement buses?
Also they went to the wall in early 2009, a victim of the rail network's improved ability to find alternate route workarounds for engineering possessions. They also lost the business from Virgin on the WCML▸ which finally started to run as intended.
|
|
|
|
|
Show Posts
