Take their toys and go home?

It could be done very slowly. Whenever a tender for new rolling stock is made the stock could be purchased by GBR^▸ (Great British Railways).

However, I suspect the RoSCos will want some guarantees from the next government, including a promise that GBR will not buy their own stock in the future.

The Labour Party have broken cover on their plans for the railways. They will nationalise all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as and when their contracts end. However, they have no plans to nationalise the RoSCos. Rolling stock will remain in the private sector.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68889345

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh is due to make the announcement today, 26th April 2024.

Excellent news. Of course, the tories have poured scorn on the plan. Saying it is pointless and uncosted. We are over three years on from the Great British Railways announcement, and nearly six years since the Williams review was announced, and only at the stage of a draft bill, with legislation unlikely before the general election. They can find the money for new and interesting ways to kill people (£2.5bn for 'defence' announced this week). And can find parliamentary time to force through expensive and unnecessary legislation to send refugees to a tinpot dictatorship. Yet, sorting out the railways in a timely manner is beyond their wit.

I've had a look at the Steam Dreams drinks list for those opting for Pullman dining.

FOUR types of Port!

Great to see my favourite locomotive of all types back on the mainline. Looking splendid in Rail Blue.

2 chains shy of ½ mile. So £4.20 a mile or thereabouts.

It still is.
https://shorturl.at/hqzA5

Exeter Central to Exeter St Davids is £2.10 for ¾ mile. £2.80 per mile.

1st Class is £10. So £13.33 per mile.

A quick and dirty video of 1001 as I passed it at Gillingham, Dorset on my way home.
https://youtu.be/eQCBAx1KcIs?si=PqJWzBw_MKlP_cUj

Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Pen Mill is £3.30 for 1¾ miles. £1.89 per mile.

It's perfect for those of us with dogs who may, or may not, be allowed aboard RRBs^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus).

I'm just about to depart Southampton, having arrived on the direct service from Templecombe. Heading to Reading with CrossCountry.

It's my understanding that all rolling stock used on the national rail network now have retention tank toilets. Even heritage stock used on Network Rail metals has to have them fitted. There were a few derogations until last year for charter train rolling stock but they should've been converted by now.

The BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Mk1 toilet I used today was the old school non-retention type. However that was on a heritage railway. My 'leavings' are somewhere on the line between Groombridge and Eridge!

Sort of back on topic. More problems around Basingstoke this afternoon. Track circuit failures and routes locked. I was delayed by around 45 mins on my way home from Kent/Sussex. There may be a trip report, including the Spa Valley Railway, elsewhere on the forum at some point.

Correct. A gem of a station and one of my favourites.

That's correct.

Later on in the day. Here's another station canopy. Where?