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grahame
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« on: October 04, 2021, 16:23:16 » |
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Tweet from Grant Shapps Great British Railways will need a home.
Today I'm announcing that we will be launching a competition to find the town or city that will become home to the new rail body and the future capital of our railway industry. Don't know why they need a competition - it should be obvious. There's a welcoming town just 100 miles to the west of London which has had one of the fastest growing stations in passenger use over the past decade. A major electric substation is ready in place to provide power to main lines a few miles to the south and the north, and the locals are very friendly and positive about rail improvements. Bit unfair to put others through the mill of a competition when that place wins hands down. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5515
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2021, 16:33:25 » |
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Very confused... as far as I am able to ascertain, the once and future home of railway excellence is more like 111km west of London. I'm not an expert on the US Customary system, but I think that's less than 100 miles...
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2021, 16:47:34 » |
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So does this mean that Redland is or isn't in the running?
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grahame
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« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2021, 16:50:33 » |
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Very confused... as far as I am able to ascertain, the once and future home of railway excellence is more like 111km west of London. I'm not an expert on the US Customary system, but I think that's less than 100 miles...
Brunel, that excellent gentleman with enormous foresight, was looking to have his junction somewhat further to the west and in a location that would have avoided the need to bore through Box Hill. There is railway excellence in the town, including but not limited to braking systems and platform doors, as no doubt will be required on all stations within a few years, and the town is ready to step up to the mark. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Lee
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« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2021, 17:05:33 » |
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Tweet from Grant Shapps Great British Railways will need a home.
Today I'm announcing that we will be launching a competition to find the town or city that will become home to the new rail body and the future capital of our railway industry. Don't know why they need a competition - it should be obvious. There's a welcoming town just 100 miles to the west of London which has had one of the fastest growing stations in passenger use over the past decade. A major electric substation is ready in place to provide power to main lines a few miles to the south and the north, and the locals are very friendly and positive about rail improvements. Bit unfair to put others through the mill of a competition when that place wins hands down. 120 miles from London - check Fast passenger growth over past decade - check Locals friendly and rail improvement-focused - check Electric substation in place to provide power to main lines, and very close proximity to platform - check https://mobile.twitter.com/GlobalRailConst/status/903197047599374338There can only be one candidate then...  |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2021, 17:10:57 » |
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Suspect it will be located ‘oop north’….
Darlington might be worth a punt
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JayMac
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« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2021, 17:19:24 » |
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Suspect it will be located ‘oop north’….
Darlington might be worth a punt
Or a few miles away at Teeside Airport station. |
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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Lee
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« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2021, 17:20:26 » |
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Suspect it will be located ‘oop north’….
Darlington might be worth a punt
Should the obvious choice not end up being selected, Derby has both the pedigree and a Conservative MP▸ in an ultra-marginal seat. |
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broadgage
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« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2021, 17:23:31 » |
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I would favour anywhere reasonably central and with good rail connections, and minimal parking.
NOT London which is already crowded and therefore expensive.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2021, 17:27:58 » |
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Suspect it will be located ‘oop north’….
Darlington might be worth a punt
Should the obvious choice not end up being selected, Derby has both the pedigree and a Conservative MP▸ in an ultra-marginal seat. Derby was my first thought. Or possibly York. |
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
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JayMac
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« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2021, 17:32:35 » |
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Wherever it goes it should use existing buildings. No need for an expensive new office block. The railways have plenty of under utilised real estate.
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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broadgage
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« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2021, 17:59:43 » |
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Derby, York, Rugby, are sensible possibilities. All somewhat central and rail served. Maybe Milton Keynes ? Or Birmingham, perhaps Swindon, but might be a bit too "Western" in both senses of the word.
Not London or near London, too expensive. Not Plymouth as too far West.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2021, 20:54:48 » |
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Tweet from Grant Shapps Great British Railways will need a home.
Today I'm announcing that we will be launching a competition to find the town or city that will become home to the new rail body and the future capital of our railway industry. Don't know why they need a competition - it should be obvious. There's a welcoming town just 100 miles to the west of London which has had one of the fastest growing stations in passenger use over the past decade. A major electric substation is ready in place to provide power to main lines a few miles to the south and the north, and the locals are very friendly and positive about rail improvements. Bit unfair to put others through the mill of a competition when that place wins hands down. 120 miles from London - check Fast passenger growth over past decade - check Locals friendly and rail improvement-focused - check Electric substation in place to provide power to main lines, and very close proximity to platform - check https://mobile.twitter.com/GlobalRailConst/status/903197047599374338There can only be one candidate then... Well done Lee beat me to it .... |
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ellendune
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« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2021, 22:03:46 » |
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So all those people who moved to Milton Keynes not long ago because Network Rail wanted an HQ▸ would of course welcome the opportunity of disrupting their families again to move somewhere else! Or might there be another exodus of skilled people from the railway industry?
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