tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24253469219663655512024-03-18T21:18:20.238+00:00Steve's Bus & Train PageSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger871125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-25059177183576366812021-11-13T21:49:00.000+00:002021-11-13T21:49:27.080+00:00Bus Back Better In Suffolk?<p> I have been forced out of unofficial retirement by the publishing of Suffolk County Council's plan for bus services over the next 4 years. You will remember last time SCC held a consultation on buses they thought the future in areas yet to get a decent mobile signal was autonomous pods (see <a href="https://busandtrain.blogspot.com/search?q=Autonomous" target="_blank">here</a>) and I was somewhat sceptical when the Department of Transport announced the catchy but grammatically wrong Bus Back Better strategy (see <a href="https://busandtrain.blogspot.com/2021/03/" target="_blank">here</a>). So you can imagine my excitement and optimism when I learned of Suffolk's plan to get a slice of that promised £3b for the resurrection and advancement of bus services by the same people responsible for decimating the bus network over the last 11 years. </p><p><br /></p><p>So let's go through the plan. First of all you need a starting point, a template with which you can plan future services around. Now to me, and I would suggest quite a few, a good starting point would be 2010, when the bus network was at its most recently comprehensive, then decide how many routes could/should be brought back, and which really couldn't. But no, SCC have decided that the base to use as a foundation to rebuild the bus network is 2019, after 9 years of cuts which have seen routes and services decimated and many now left without a service, or at best 1 or 2 buses a day which obviously is not going to convince too many to come back. I would say once a week but all those popular and well patronised routes have gone. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDRmdOXDZLa1hUFz6WM4EtX_km4osWchTxCTDEmAAWtVF2VuBZIL28XeMsluFhoZK-xackYK3yC_91cUJKhmPGpt0vgcQ6PSFKADWl5NRArq7Qhd0Kof_t7ATYk9DWbUiEQWNG1UKpYDtrBvFQk2lvbUiJbN1eMMYo28ekdCNwIimoXRustMvYf5oR=s969" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="969" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDRmdOXDZLa1hUFz6WM4EtX_km4osWchTxCTDEmAAWtVF2VuBZIL28XeMsluFhoZK-xackYK3yC_91cUJKhmPGpt0vgcQ6PSFKADWl5NRArq7Qhd0Kof_t7ATYk9DWbUiEQWNG1UKpYDtrBvFQk2lvbUiJbN1eMMYo28ekdCNwIimoXRustMvYf5oR=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Those who know Suffolk will note the absence of places such as Aldeburgh, Halesworth, Saxmundham, Rendlesham, Framlingham and Stowmarket. It is also noticeable that 5 of the routes are predominantly outside the County, and 2 are Ipswich Park & Ride services, So for those in Halesworth, for example, where it was difficult to get a seat on the 0930 and 1030 services into Norwich before Go-Ahead wrecked the route, there seems little scope for optimism. Indeed, SCC's clearly extensive research into how road infrastructure can be improved to aid buses shows this. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifMDvDIZlw5UD7qIeFn9r8SZpcTpZcmWJLz6TFAMnFuISXRW4krPCxU-4WYmWJ0hy9pU6n7s_bX1kuyk3yt4cErDLv1ftQsgUlw0nPtNfBNSjnoiORw8UkRt9Ik73IyV8xKNXdHyeF3KHfpfFhnmdyH_F_jXX8fm_NzHEkZ86tb9N56WaVzvcykyRh=s993" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="993" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifMDvDIZlw5UD7qIeFn9r8SZpcTpZcmWJLz6TFAMnFuISXRW4krPCxU-4WYmWJ0hy9pU6n7s_bX1kuyk3yt4cErDLv1ftQsgUlw0nPtNfBNSjnoiORw8UkRt9Ik73IyV8xKNXdHyeF3KHfpfFhnmdyH_F_jXX8fm_NzHEkZ86tb9N56WaVzvcykyRh=w640-h322" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It took me a long time to think of a bus route that would benefit from A14 junction improvements, and the only two I can think of are the X7 from Ipswich - Felixstowe, and the 11/X11 from Bury St Edmunds to Cambridge. Thing is though, to my best knowledge it's not the A14 junction that delays the X7, but congestion in Ipswich and along Wherstead Rd. Re-opening Bury Rd P&R is a good idea, except it was closed because of lack of patronage due to congestion along Norwich Rd which is still a major issue. There was a perfectly good cross town service in Lowestoft in the 61/2 before that fell to the Go-Ahead mismanagement axe, so waiting for the new bridge rather than allowing time for delays caused by the current bridge in the timetable (as the 61 did) seems less than ambitious. Will a third crossing in Great Yarmouth relieve the congestion issues in Gorleston and Southtown Rd? Not that that's Suffolk's problem. So the hopes for more bus lanes, traffic light priority etc seem forlorn.</p><p>Obviously I'm re-reading the 59 page document as I'm composing this post, and I have just noticed our old friends the autonomous vehicles have not been forgotten! Incidentally if anyone can translate the following into plain english then you are either a legal lawyer or very clever!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3WeLvPMrTxnN5h2Oi_e6lpoc7jBHwL0wf2agbZNB1F9zuSlmqRQkCQqcOYzrKV9KqgWXgw91qr86PKspZldoNjp9FZWXibrraTCK4x28GkLNb7n1JtIMq7ofVHCSCIoRKLJBW7uxC8x5n-CnU8FHi0Nt1HzdSBgiJhTFeLU0CxFuGZoF9RcsXJNL9=s963" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="963" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3WeLvPMrTxnN5h2Oi_e6lpoc7jBHwL0wf2agbZNB1F9zuSlmqRQkCQqcOYzrKV9KqgWXgw91qr86PKspZldoNjp9FZWXibrraTCK4x28GkLNb7n1JtIMq7ofVHCSCIoRKLJBW7uxC8x5n-CnU8FHi0Nt1HzdSBgiJhTFeLU0CxFuGZoF9RcsXJNL9=w640-h532" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Of course you could always ask bus users, and not user groups, who have their own agenda, but real passengers. On board and online surveys would be a start. Find out what the potential passenger wants - I'm sure I've been here before! What is a synthetic population?</p><p>There is so much waffle in this document it beggars belief, but eventually you get to the nitty gritty, proper proposals as to how bus services can be improved in the future, how passengers both old and new can be lured onto buses, how journey times can be improved, and how reliability and satisfaction can be enhanced. Here we have their template for improving journey times.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIVMAfXnXQPlEV3HnyUJetyfL63UIR7m07wVTELlHgaCUZwmh2OBNI5E0jL-CkMj-8H5YS7qx4BQd_xtfxX_e1xFBB_6kMb9ZO6g3r7uMox0RNW2ydw_Ec_bEsPQo0kL7Vb384SDQcOzDYgY8y_AroorxeUHC1113U-ypeHEIy1Kjg_s4Fo3q16KYs=s978" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="978" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIVMAfXnXQPlEV3HnyUJetyfL63UIR7m07wVTELlHgaCUZwmh2OBNI5E0jL-CkMj-8H5YS7qx4BQd_xtfxX_e1xFBB_6kMb9ZO6g3r7uMox0RNW2ydw_Ec_bEsPQo0kL7Vb384SDQcOzDYgY8y_AroorxeUHC1113U-ypeHEIy1Kjg_s4Fo3q16KYs=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I would draw your attention to the 1st and 4th paragraph. Remember those routes that were predominantly in another County? Well those parts of the route are being excluded as SCC don't control the roads. Never let it be said they could consult with neighbouring Councils for the greater good and benefit to bus users. Now for the bit that had me clutching my sides, gasping for breath and wiping the tears of laughter from my face. Here are the targets for journey improvement times by 2025 on these key corridors within Suffolk. Brace yourselves because they are challenging!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1MxfT3qwMy5ataAVa0uG_-KmMsNAiGOtvoL-TSepZjpnLApQuO_6CT2m_VjJMAW6oncUZ29FNPQQKrfZJxH34ZNGfRyoMfcJCaBt3y-u89qba6QHDJbIfBJSifdeJC85HZqEQaN_JslR9v38ctqXdm5VRGOdEszbM13U6mhy0mdvQJLaUhRYQXKxg=s741" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1MxfT3qwMy5ataAVa0uG_-KmMsNAiGOtvoL-TSepZjpnLApQuO_6CT2m_VjJMAW6oncUZ29FNPQQKrfZJxH34ZNGfRyoMfcJCaBt3y-u89qba6QHDJbIfBJSifdeJC85HZqEQaN_JslR9v38ctqXdm5VRGOdEszbM13U6mhy0mdvQJLaUhRYQXKxg=w528-h640" width="528" /></a></div><br /><p>So yes, crack open the bubbly, throw away the car keys, plan extra time with your kids! If you travel between Lowestoft and Beccles, by 2025 the target is to have cut your journey time by 22 seconds. No, that's not a typo. If you travel from Lowestoft to James Paget Hospital you can look forward to an extra 14 seconds in bed. Lowestoft - Southwold, a journey that apparently takes 46m 12s is going to have 28 seconds guillotined off the time, assuming the temporary lights at Wangford have gone that is. Good luck with knocking off the 2m 31s off London Rd P&R, not that I regard P&R as a genuine bus service as they are not regarded as local bus services for Concessionary passes etc. No mention of reducing the nearly 2 hours it takes to get from Ipswich - Aldeburgh I see.</p><p>I'll just leave the reliability aims here. However the current shortage of drivers needs to be addressed if these targets are to be achieved.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1X-jN8eNyjujpJ8gKJFeH660sn2XvYvcCCGbcJC5KwOcezBV4dR00O1ynCMOfhw3uAWe7wBvapsyBm6ktOr-wIbOlJ8UZY42iNOqc1mVL5XjfBmg-1HEiWNCvcmoCvrpyxRc8FlSGJqM6Xxx1T_KSjDsqtwDxaX-2dC5wbFO6S678cBFdMhw7poAl=s985" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="985" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1X-jN8eNyjujpJ8gKJFeH660sn2XvYvcCCGbcJC5KwOcezBV4dR00O1ynCMOfhw3uAWe7wBvapsyBm6ktOr-wIbOlJ8UZY42iNOqc1mVL5XjfBmg-1HEiWNCvcmoCvrpyxRc8FlSGJqM6Xxx1T_KSjDsqtwDxaX-2dC5wbFO6S678cBFdMhw7poAl=w640-h532" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p></blockquote><p>So we move onto passenger numbers, and it seems SCC think the recovery from Covid will take some time, as they aim to be back to 2018 numbers by 2025, which were 2 million lower than 2016, which they hope to surpass by 2030.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_oO9e8_U8jeNTQjPyB7JiEENKRx5Y0t4884-U6SwruLwK4uXP5Lk_lmN8m8xxy_91iXJJzSP-qlsG52r72KkKZEcTgXA_0dBbOeNO7TM4wbWOBxoELvmzekPz59Ax2QPapL26i8Tu2lilA8EoLHlDe_gdFeyu8RjNJSnuAHraUdxkYGrDHED2FZ89=s954" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="954" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_oO9e8_U8jeNTQjPyB7JiEENKRx5Y0t4884-U6SwruLwK4uXP5Lk_lmN8m8xxy_91iXJJzSP-qlsG52r72KkKZEcTgXA_0dBbOeNO7TM4wbWOBxoELvmzekPz59Ax2QPapL26i8Tu2lilA8EoLHlDe_gdFeyu8RjNJSnuAHraUdxkYGrDHED2FZ89=w640-h408" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>There follows some ramblings on how these targets are to be delivered, which is mainly conjecture without substance. SCC are keen on Katch to be expanded, which is far from good news for rural passengers, especially those with concessionary passes, which Katch does not accept. Or if you want to connect with timetabled buses as there's no guarantee you'll get the right time slot. </p><p><br /></p><p>This little nugget caught my eye. The introduction of touch in touch out ticketing and daily fare capping. Good idea! Except this will only initially apply on the key corridors, so if you need to get a connecting local service you won't benefit, and there's no mention if this will also apply to DRT services. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK1PL-KnWKuTD56QHv-b1FA6WdUX1vHxyaAD5SKo-nXOWJSJBG-6NanoYLxdqPi0Hkx-Sja8y_RYPm4IpCtWJJTvgD3vs51qvMkGOhw2L4068R-J-3akxDNv7rJROY0yncpftxEwV-V_ot2Ei3XTgJE9jH2pAxkDpXGcWTBaWOTDdYsO1ILfLbEPD8=s922" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="922" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK1PL-KnWKuTD56QHv-b1FA6WdUX1vHxyaAD5SKo-nXOWJSJBG-6NanoYLxdqPi0Hkx-Sja8y_RYPm4IpCtWJJTvgD3vs51qvMkGOhw2L4068R-J-3akxDNv7rJROY0yncpftxEwV-V_ot2Ei3XTgJE9jH2pAxkDpXGcWTBaWOTDdYsO1ILfLbEPD8=w640-h98" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Speaking of ticketing here are the proposals including the novel idea of multi operator ticketing, which anyone who knows anything about buses has been calling for for yonks! Oh - can anyone define 'micro mobility'? We're not back to autonomous pods are we?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisjZD9vGDDqLIPxaiIjumJ2D_uq4Y0INYhYsQ4Efsoy8BfEtYYGRXOLofGnRf3lYIbSw2VOQhlTw0iAQKnEn9-hSlKgNOiNOgOXT4H07Z2BzGoZktV-qOUJGaP4o0f-RfpeZsH0zUr1oAihsmRU6S8DA5LPJNClo7eLEwA6I1Hj48eFM9oiYH7omNG=s895" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="895" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisjZD9vGDDqLIPxaiIjumJ2D_uq4Y0INYhYsQ4Efsoy8BfEtYYGRXOLofGnRf3lYIbSw2VOQhlTw0iAQKnEn9-hSlKgNOiNOgOXT4H07Z2BzGoZktV-qOUJGaP4o0f-RfpeZsH0zUr1oAihsmRU6S8DA5LPJNClo7eLEwA6I1Hj48eFM9oiYH7omNG=w640-h282" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>When reading the below it is worth remembering that currently SCC can't adequately liase with operators to ensure bus stops display up to date timetables.....</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHpOIsUFka-XjEQ9QAI3_0KCNP6QmwsdWmKr9LFjq-UdCgTXxTEKy33s1wodZDod1h_c-nIqgfTpc7tVVrGO3TtOXEz1Hy6kIk-WOpc85efsW7jHRhsjT08AK9PdXGg1ULxaZozy1hP3B8eAqB4tprRmiPDWSRMooP7QQ2Xxc8PfdB4qFrYtvAvPZM=s852" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="852" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHpOIsUFka-XjEQ9QAI3_0KCNP6QmwsdWmKr9LFjq-UdCgTXxTEKy33s1wodZDod1h_c-nIqgfTpc7tVVrGO3TtOXEz1Hy6kIk-WOpc85efsW7jHRhsjT08AK9PdXGg1ULxaZozy1hP3B8eAqB4tprRmiPDWSRMooP7QQ2Xxc8PfdB4qFrYtvAvPZM=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>There then follows musings about de-carbonisation, including the potential for electric and hydrogen buses, carefully ignoring the fact that Suffolk had a fleet of gas buses that were the envy of the land at one point. A summary of the key aims concludes the paper.</p><p>So, the proposals required to get a slice of the cake are there. You might get your 22 second journey time reduction on the X2, but you can guarantee Suffolk or Norfolk Highways will scupper that with unco-ordinated roadworks on the A146. There is absolutely nothing in that paper that gives me hope or optimism for the future, as I do not believe the majority of proposals will ever come to fruition. There are no specifics, too many areas left unmentioned, no mention of any resurrected routes. All words and no concrete pledges. I haven't approached any operators for comment, as firstly they wouldn't be able to tell me what they really think, and if they did I wouldn't be able to quote them!</p><p>If you're into self punishment you can read the full paper by clicking <a href="https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/Roads-and-transport/public-transport-and-transport-planning/Suffolk-Bus-Service-Improvement-Plan.pdf" target="_blank">here,</a> and good luck with all the jargon!</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for reading, good to be back, if only for what at the moment is a one off. Still not much going on anywhere, and I'm still busy with parental issues. But rest assured, if anything earthshattering happens, I'll be back! Take care, all and stay safe if you want to! </p><p><br /></p>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-24123431756900474022021-05-20T09:10:00.000+01:002021-05-20T09:10:19.061+01:00How To Drop A Simple Katch!<p> Just over two years ago I published the paragraph below, regarding Framlingham, Wickham Marker, and the lack of a bus link to Wickham Market (Campsea Ashe) station. I was a tad frustrated.</p><p><br /></p>So you'd have thought an operator like, say, First would be thinking "hey, there's close on 2,000 people there without a decent bus service - let's go get them" This is where market research comes in. Liase with the local council and community groups to survey the residents to see when and where they want to go. If a community feels consulted and valued it will respond, as it has in Beccles. My guess is a decent link to Wickham Market station would be high on the list, and that's where you link up with Greater Anglia to encourage use - anything from a free coffee at the station to 50% of your bus fare off the rail fare, the possibilities are endless. Hell, Wickham Market hasn't got a bus to Wickham Market station, and it's a 3 mile walk down a busy road with no pavements! Connect with the 64 and bingo. But no, too much like hard work doing the research and unlike any other industry Heaven forbid they actually employ anyone to do the market research.<div><br /></div><div>So you can imagine my delight when I heard that a new, Covid delayed service was starting up linking Framlingham, Wickham Market and Wickham Market station, operating 7 days a week with bunny hugging friendly electric minibuses. Just what we need, I thought. Now all we need is the service tailored to local needs, promotions with Greater Anglia etc and we are onto something. I should have heard alarm bells when I saw the name - Katch. Anyone who thinks Katch is a, well, catchy name is not going to have thought things through. Sadly my instincts have been proved correct. Let me introduce you to Katch.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmKPQvge_Btkgy3Pb9Dw8LjMl_PD3boooYXv2dmpxt4cB2O580uIQEgwvlDgwHs1rSeOmlmOtfAzCHEeHidI0GO9c89RF6uQ7k4xyrTk64yjSDU6-dXnt-viHiEjvW1BsteqJjDXKWAY/s1600/Screenshot+%2528218%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmKPQvge_Btkgy3Pb9Dw8LjMl_PD3boooYXv2dmpxt4cB2O580uIQEgwvlDgwHs1rSeOmlmOtfAzCHEeHidI0GO9c89RF6uQ7k4xyrTk64yjSDU6-dXnt-viHiEjvW1BsteqJjDXKWAY/w640-h360/Screenshot+%2528218%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The initial impression isn't great - that doesn't look much like Framlingham Castle, and as a former resident of Wickham Market I can say with certainty the church is not shaped like that! However, let's not judge a book by it's cover and carry on. What is Katch all about? Well it's this..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUbcXhewTyVK8_XAJ8UQfQHWDhuo9202uODSjUS7Ow2txQz15381jEcNKSLStlJoSZe9hTXRAW5MuVzlEmq0DXNZ3063FzqQyPk41zUoqJDNE5hBaZNsaZdTJ9AiUEvDzKeJKt1TcEzI/s1265/Screenshot+%2528220%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="1265" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUbcXhewTyVK8_XAJ8UQfQHWDhuo9202uODSjUS7Ow2txQz15381jEcNKSLStlJoSZe9hTXRAW5MuVzlEmq0DXNZ3063FzqQyPk41zUoqJDNE5hBaZNsaZdTJ9AiUEvDzKeJKt1TcEzI/w640-h172/Screenshot+%2528220%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And here are the electric vehicles in question, leased from Citroen</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATx4CUUxb_fH2Gvsuo0OWwgrpevX5NAcYqsIiWl2QXObUJ0-lmPrSHXWtlaiukrVYB8NGbcWEeY_kHMVsFMUrdw2qHB3uH6sV-a-4EcQztQEi6I4VSVmBMjaMP1PMBtxnsjA1M80CXb0/s4160/IMG_20210519_131234_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATx4CUUxb_fH2Gvsuo0OWwgrpevX5NAcYqsIiWl2QXObUJ0-lmPrSHXWtlaiukrVYB8NGbcWEeY_kHMVsFMUrdw2qHB3uH6sV-a-4EcQztQEi6I4VSVmBMjaMP1PMBtxnsjA1M80CXb0/w640-h480/IMG_20210519_131234_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkcgURQI0DLS0lZAmwSk9hSAysszEvpZ6bnEkD2BbnWNuUtOn3vj43fM_ATjemQ7-Mik-G4mTcCda-I_AB2FiRBjboIiZwgwLozFkXiM4ZxtVjgJUsvlE9JGrVQpVTNaUNtlSMkytMjM/s4160/IMG_20210519_131203_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkcgURQI0DLS0lZAmwSk9hSAysszEvpZ6bnEkD2BbnWNuUtOn3vj43fM_ATjemQ7-Mik-G4mTcCda-I_AB2FiRBjboIiZwgwLozFkXiM4ZxtVjgJUsvlE9JGrVQpVTNaUNtlSMkytMjM/w640-h480/IMG_20210519_131203_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Apologies for the poor quality of the above pic, a monumental thunderstorm had just announced its presence and I forgot to wipe the lens before taking the pic!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the map of the area served.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIdlDvHyQrRayGr_LsNVQg3LXwDTI3rqBuYBjz1IYJwmV97srERjII-oOqQP2wQLUxE1PiFIbhZadxQbO0-wfbFitb4KrOSocqSh8Rhv-eZeLE3RsLQ51B4uyxhEYlDCip3MQEoOD4G0/s1600/Screenshot+%2528217%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIdlDvHyQrRayGr_LsNVQg3LXwDTI3rqBuYBjz1IYJwmV97srERjII-oOqQP2wQLUxE1PiFIbhZadxQbO0-wfbFitb4KrOSocqSh8Rhv-eZeLE3RsLQ51B4uyxhEYlDCip3MQEoOD4G0/w640-h360/Screenshot+%2528217%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>These are screenshots taken from the website, and they aren't great, so if you need to stop squinting you can visit the Katch website by clicking <a href="https://www.katchalift.com/" target="_blank">here.</a> Of course there are times and fares, and here they are. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjtWXEznZ0vVrvf-U4ZK4xU5nifFlQfuc3DJLukIk_-zDiRVxmA8FOziO9ojnHSFxqb9uoBevxH7FyFVGjybQ4Bpkx2_trf5FSo_AFjuG5CGUsSTh3UvmtKIrpJZNjLGVM_QY_rfkTis/s1600/Screenshot+%2528215%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjtWXEznZ0vVrvf-U4ZK4xU5nifFlQfuc3DJLukIk_-zDiRVxmA8FOziO9ojnHSFxqb9uoBevxH7FyFVGjybQ4Bpkx2_trf5FSo_AFjuG5CGUsSTh3UvmtKIrpJZNjLGVM_QY_rfkTis/w640-h360/Screenshot+%2528215%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So, on the face of it a new service linking a small town and large village with the nearest station, using electric vehicles, operating 7 days a week. Marvelous. Now let's put some flesh on the bones. It is just over 6 miles from Framlingham to WM station and 3 miles from WM to the station. I assume the idea is to encourage non drivers to use the bus as well as hoping drivers will leave cars at home and use the electric bus instead, thus cutting emissions. So here is scenario one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grandma and Grandpa who live in Wickham Market want to take their 3 grandchildren out for the day by train. The conversation goes like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>GM: Tell you what, love, let's not drive to the station but take that new electric bus</div><div>GP: Nice idea, it says it's a taxibus so it will pick us up from home, won't it?</div><div>GM: Erm no, we have to walk up to the bus stop, it only serves bus stops.</div><div>GP: Oh that's not very convenient with my knee but I'll manage - at least we can use our bus passes.</div><div>GM Erm no, because it's a bookable service they don't accept bus passes.</div><div>GP: So we've got to walk and pay - must be cheap then.</div><div>GM: Erm well for the 5 of us it will be £23 </div><div>GP: HOW MUCH? You do know parking at the station is £2.50 all day and it will cost less than a quid in petrol? Does it connect with the last train from Ipswich?</div><div>GM: Erm no........</div><div><br /></div><div>Scenario Two</div><div><br /></div><div>Mrs Blyth works in Ipswich. She has been driving in as the normal bus service finishes too early to get her home, so the thought of taking it easy on the train is a good one, and she'll save on her £20 a week parking and £25 a week petrol. That is until she finds out that a weekly season from Wickham Market Station to Ipswich is £33.20, and since the electric bus doesn't do anything other than day tickets 5 days to the station and back will cost her £35. So the luxury of taking the train after walking to and from her nearest bus stop will cost her £68.20, an increase of £23.20 a week, or £1,206 a year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just who is this service aimed at? The first consideration of anyone contemplating a new service or initiative has to be "who is my market and where do they want to go". The next consideration is "how do I get them onto the bus". None of this has been thought of. I've said it time and again that if a bus service is to be successful it has to be convenient and financially attractive. Katch is neither. It has the drawbacks of the bus, ie only serving bus stops, but none of the advantages, ie accepting bus passes or doing group/period tickets. But they aren't the only drawbacks with Katch. If you look at the map you'll see the route passes through Hatcheston and Parham. There are bus stops in both those locations. But Katch doesn't serve them. It seems the reason for that is although the vehicles are electric the doors and step aren't, so the driver has to get out and operate them manually, and they don't want drivers doing that on a busy road. Understandable except both stops are in a 30mph limit and the road isn't that busy.</div><div><br /></div><div>So Scenario 3</div><div><br /></div><div>Two friends, one living in Framlingham, the other down the road in Parham decide to go out for the day. Shall we get the new bus to the station? Well I can get it but you can't as it won't stop in Parham because they didn't get a bus with an electric door.....I'll pick you up in the car as normal.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are two minibuses. When I made enquiries today it transpired that between them there were 4 bookings. All day, and two of those were the same people. But maybe that's a good thing as if it does get busy Katch is going to have problems. You see a round trip from Framlingham is around 12 miles. The minibuses have a range of between 65 - 75 miles, so after 5 trips they'll need recharging, which will take 6 - 8 hours. Thus if both minibuses are used to their max from 6.30am, by 9.30 they'll need recharging and won't be back till late afternoon - you really couldn't make it up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other value for money features are you can go one stop or the full distance and it will cost the same. They don't serve Thomas Mills school so anyone running late due to doctors eg, or staying after school can't use Katch as an alternative for getting to/from home. They don't connect with the first train M-F or last train any day. Here is my favourite stat I discovered - in theory if there were enough hours in the day you could commute by bus from Southwold - Peterborough for £29.20 a week. 5 days Wickham Market - Wickham Market station on Katch is £35. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would dearly love to know who Suffolk CC were aiming at when they came up with Katch. Certainly not commuters with no season tickets. Certainly not families with no group tickets, Certainly not the elderly, not accepting bus passes. Certainly not the young, not serving the major school in the area. Certainly not the disabled, only serving bus stops. Certainly not the poor, charging the earth before train fares are added on top. In fact I've managed to come up with just two types of people who might benefit from Katch. Firstly anyone living near a bus stop served by Katch who gets a taxi to the station every day. They would save money. Secondly people wanting to visit Framlingham for the day, to pay their respects to Ed Sheeran etc might be attracted by the bus from the station. That's not going to help locals though.</div><div><br /></div><div>The question I couldn't get out of my head after today's research was "what is the incentive for people to start using the service?" and you know I couldn't find one. Why is there no promotion with Greater Anglia, for example, knocking 50% of the bus fare off your rail ticket? Why doesn't it connect with the last train from Ipswich? Currently that means if you go to London for the day you have to be on the 1930 out of Liverpool St to connect with the last Katch. Why is there no promotion with other bus operators to encourage modal shift? Why has there been no consultation with the local community? Yet again someone paid to come up with bright ideas has assumed just because a new bus is launched people will use it. Well they won't, and just like just about every DRT scheme up and down the country Katch is doomed to failure too, purely because not enough thought or vision was put into it. Yet another opportunity missed. And these are the people we're hoping to create partnerships to embrace the Bus Back Better scheme. Laurel and Hardy put more thought into getting that darned piano down those stairs.</div><div><br /></div>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-10688100831931036682021-05-16T02:07:00.004+01:002021-05-16T10:45:58.581+01:00End Of The Happy Trains<p> Let's go back a quarter of a century to 1996. Dolly the sheep is born, Take That split up, Gazza scores that goal against Scotland, and I saw a train. I know exactly where I was too - on the road bridge outside Gillingham Station in Kent, and it was then I saw my first Class 365 Networker Express. Oh I was used to Networkers alright - the Kent Metro lines were flooded by class 465/6s in 1992 and I still had a grudge against them for replacing my beloved EPB slamdoor trains. But this was different - it was in that superb Connex livery which I don't think has ever been bettered on the 365's, and it was operating a Chatham mainline service, something which at that time was the monopoly of the VEPS, CEPS and rarely CIGS. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdBKy3WM6VAqcqDvRB99fl4RDw_AUZILoSbNdwIw6KwcmMaROq939uuAFtjy9ViuTftnBxbid24yLzAOoXcVWLmxnLufgDTkUg3OKVZW5AviowiKwSKuAnzTQPf426F6t6pqZWWn8VEo/s1024/4411493233_83f97901d1_b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdBKy3WM6VAqcqDvRB99fl4RDw_AUZILoSbNdwIw6KwcmMaROq939uuAFtjy9ViuTftnBxbid24yLzAOoXcVWLmxnLufgDTkUg3OKVZW5AviowiKwSKuAnzTQPf426F6t6pqZWWn8VEo/w640-h464/4411493233_83f97901d1_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">365502 in Connex livery at Whitstable</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At this time there were only a couple of journeys a day due to issues obtaining a safety certificate but I soon found out what they were and got on one. I still maintain the original 365 interiors were the best interior I've ever seen on a train, and with the sterile interiors currently being churned on modern trains I doubt they'll ever be matched. I fell in love with the decor, comfort, ride, and those traction motors that sounded like a grand prix car! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZhypWK1BR5uR2uog8qEcVYPg8KqmoPyWZs7i6-YAFDzG9sBoRZTBoSIAQPx3BgT21mrBCSAfja315NdGZ_Xvdcf6oj_2fVD5MHiGQNMFg-KuAyYvoy8YzW-WAn_k8NfyqVDOIrv2pxg/s2048/365515_4_Class_365_Standard_Class_Interior.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZhypWK1BR5uR2uog8qEcVYPg8KqmoPyWZs7i6-YAFDzG9sBoRZTBoSIAQPx3BgT21mrBCSAfja315NdGZ_Xvdcf6oj_2fVD5MHiGQNMFg-KuAyYvoy8YzW-WAn_k8NfyqVDOIrv2pxg/w640-h488/365515_4_Class_365_Standard_Class_Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original Std class 365 interior</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Of course it wasn't just Connex that got 365's - indeed the 16 units Connex received were on lease from West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN) who had the remaining 25 sets for the Kings Cross - Peterborough/Cambridge/Kings Lynn services. These units, however retained NSE livery.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD5QO5CUuNbSVJAWYk-Aab3vJqZrUgcrn-TdSv3jPD9fRuSQebuRBIZBzmn0p-i9U7juAy7YRk4Qs3DcrIljDwHt4TNYNNhv_MNsFAjdodlcvmY7akhtECTG8l-F3QiREuFuOySBwF4Y/s1023/12775485785_9a51ffa1ee_b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="1023" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD5QO5CUuNbSVJAWYk-Aab3vJqZrUgcrn-TdSv3jPD9fRuSQebuRBIZBzmn0p-i9U7juAy7YRk4Qs3DcrIljDwHt4TNYNNhv_MNsFAjdodlcvmY7akhtECTG8l-F3QiREuFuOySBwF4Y/w640-h330/12775485785_9a51ffa1ee_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">365535 at Peterborough photo markkirk85</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was lucky enough to guard the Connex 365's on the Chatham lines, and have some very happy memories. They were a joy to work - easy to stand in at high speed and the passengers loved them too. I was really sorry to see them return to WAGN in early 2004 by which time Connex had been replaced by Southeastern. By then, however, the WAGN units had taken on a different look. Due to the drivers cabs being fitted with air conditioning a new front had been fitted to the 365's, the look that would gain the trains the nickname of the 'happy trains'.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSmBNxfA2usCrr8resc5SbgSicigoRj_xJuI2SQryh-jnXuco1xErjKJU4g_lzE4xqsrEeo0n6J_XqTIv3Hn6NgotAVTreMWPTZMGKQaMp4uQfgJVxUc3K6LeD9uP0z_HzFFyx4bzkd4/s500/500px-365530_arriving_at_Cambridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSmBNxfA2usCrr8resc5SbgSicigoRj_xJuI2SQryh-jnXuco1xErjKJU4g_lzE4xqsrEeo0n6J_XqTIv3Hn6NgotAVTreMWPTZMGKQaMp4uQfgJVxUc3K6LeD9uP0z_HzFFyx4bzkd4/w640-h480/500px-365530_arriving_at_Cambridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">365530 at a rather weedy Cambridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It cannot go unmentioned that it was a 365 involved in the 2002 Potters Bar derailment, which tragically led to 7 deaths and 76 injuries. The unit, 365526 never returned to service. I was waiting to work a 365 out of Cannon St when the news of the derailment came through. A very sobering moment. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2006 WAGN was succeeded by First Capital Connect, who also ran Thameslink and Moorgate services under the same franchise<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9n8xuX6TgltEmdIa7U9Dgc1omLlGZy2yEFmZtWSqsdhn-7S2KMjWzRNW2UYEWrEn2BEReI8pVAMqvUfvHcvxd8I0O5GTH6PavqI9s20Igh_at1b-ZM45E-p7UU0fxvYph2Jv060azYU/s676/FCC_class_365_depart_Potters_Bar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="676" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9n8xuX6TgltEmdIa7U9Dgc1omLlGZy2yEFmZtWSqsdhn-7S2KMjWzRNW2UYEWrEn2BEReI8pVAMqvUfvHcvxd8I0O5GTH6PavqI9s20Igh_at1b-ZM45E-p7UU0fxvYph2Jv060azYU/w640-h294/FCC_class_365_depart_Potters_Bar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unidentified 365 in FCC livery</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In 2014 FCC was succeeded by Govia Thameslink Railway, who still operate the Great Northern franchise today. Unfortunately the refurbishment programme had already began, a process that saw the 365's lose their original interior, to be replaced with a much more sterile look. Gone were the dark greens and purples, and the carpets, and a clinical blue and white interior emerged. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4_7NIcdSLPNj5A3D537MHygKsMsAAbjhWrCfw_WsrL2Tai_xEQml7XrVtW1zwba-qB7XZZxE_2Yu8CXTrBU8dlgSAWK_fk5b7mdhI0s-UwcS0WEgxiaruyZHxhrhIEeheWKjxOUykUk/s512/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4_7NIcdSLPNj5A3D537MHygKsMsAAbjhWrCfw_WsrL2Tai_xEQml7XrVtW1zwba-qB7XZZxE_2Yu8CXTrBU8dlgSAWK_fk5b7mdhI0s-UwcS0WEgxiaruyZHxhrhIEeheWKjxOUykUk/w640-h640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The refurbished interior.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>In 2017 the 365's demise began when they were relegated to peak time services only following the introduction of the class 387 Electrostars and the Thameslink 700's, which took over some of Great Northern's work. The units with odd fleet numbers were withdrawn, but a few units found their way to Scotland in 2019 to cover for the late delivery of Scotrail's 385s. They proved popular in Scotland despite their short stay. May 15th 2021 saw the last 365's withdrawn from passenger service with Great Northern. It remains to be seen if they have a future carrying passengers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the last couple of weeks I have been saying my goodbyes to the 365's, and thanks to assistance from Great Northern, have managed to take a number of photos and videos in various locations, as well as a last ride from London to Peterborough. They made me happy, and the railways will be a less smiley place without them. Here are a few of the photos I took, and it's fitting that the final pic is of 365502, in service to the very end, so we finish where we started.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVceZxfPYFb2vXYcfBIBTxJRI1s5MU1HwQxlPWFITGykuKAu4zbqcSBiHLC7jgCmQSuqihSaY8tWEyXRHFo99F3BUyr_epUL7CwZYMDSSSrk-2l4ZFpJhrR3Ug7f6g7-HzWfwLuB7GYD8/s2048/IMG_20210505_174808_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVceZxfPYFb2vXYcfBIBTxJRI1s5MU1HwQxlPWFITGykuKAu4zbqcSBiHLC7jgCmQSuqihSaY8tWEyXRHFo99F3BUyr_epUL7CwZYMDSSSrk-2l4ZFpJhrR3Ug7f6g7-HzWfwLuB7GYD8/w640-h480/IMG_20210505_174808_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7sq6Om2vxYh5zqlAKSFtWCZt04my4CHffkcZKpjVykLYlfPQQ5kDorskfxxlwp0WsPlcfw0pvT5bv-pyGYxrqlX3Q4mriBoEXGSZZYNKsrfFbCVLXK6kjnxo6gJoqHyHVjoB5pdf7TQ/s2048/IMG_20210505_175004_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7sq6Om2vxYh5zqlAKSFtWCZt04my4CHffkcZKpjVykLYlfPQQ5kDorskfxxlwp0WsPlcfw0pvT5bv-pyGYxrqlX3Q4mriBoEXGSZZYNKsrfFbCVLXK6kjnxo6gJoqHyHVjoB5pdf7TQ/w640-h480/IMG_20210505_175004_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVKdaE4WfY4rAUG4HpPL0AyCv_XhawU4CQAiN-JKbOyvCZfO0Z2ItPGpKoSKo0gehI3kZaL1rZuziM_wBb1IZMso0r6S0oStzZo3xbcvaMRrKOCCCEhl6pwkNwvLep27uLv7Rfh25m4E/s2048/IMG_20210505_175248_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVKdaE4WfY4rAUG4HpPL0AyCv_XhawU4CQAiN-JKbOyvCZfO0Z2ItPGpKoSKo0gehI3kZaL1rZuziM_wBb1IZMso0r6S0oStzZo3xbcvaMRrKOCCCEhl6pwkNwvLep27uLv7Rfh25m4E/w640-h480/IMG_20210505_175248_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzx_0xr7Qz1qXPRm2tWph_qUmxT8i-qvfON3HYKF1_HyZvcy3zrwUIjWdgDam1dscFRNebvWw9AjCprpjIOoKkSpOpDsNC3xIOJIRUL6H87upuDKC3YAVNOhPyGPoh6gVb4hUIlC7EHA/s2048/IMG_20210505_192449_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzx_0xr7Qz1qXPRm2tWph_qUmxT8i-qvfON3HYKF1_HyZvcy3zrwUIjWdgDam1dscFRNebvWw9AjCprpjIOoKkSpOpDsNC3xIOJIRUL6H87upuDKC3YAVNOhPyGPoh6gVb4hUIlC7EHA/w640-h480/IMG_20210505_192449_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDmaoOM5_MNzquOcsDgxuhK3-q_7wUa_QUW_p8getAyt9A_SfiVER2GjLoViueuNDtTnrAI31dugHxhVqvzP_wbsawSerNWxtW2Idb9dcqLw2u4qjS1IS1nZDgtyRTgV8ncXTDeKFhj8/s2048/IMG_20210514_175011_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDmaoOM5_MNzquOcsDgxuhK3-q_7wUa_QUW_p8getAyt9A_SfiVER2GjLoViueuNDtTnrAI31dugHxhVqvzP_wbsawSerNWxtW2Idb9dcqLw2u4qjS1IS1nZDgtyRTgV8ncXTDeKFhj8/w640-h480/IMG_20210514_175011_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25vVP6nhhtRCmox0CdYfMhJK18T0mbDmx6IwTzom5PNV7lji9jWwgJexdta1sRQDCTj8RHarW1hT-Fdwi2oxs1X3A_TpCiRVZaX4Wl9XiWcHX4OxbJsVRigrpYI71IVOMoRqapm-Tkt0/s2048/IMG_20210514_174531_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25vVP6nhhtRCmox0CdYfMhJK18T0mbDmx6IwTzom5PNV7lji9jWwgJexdta1sRQDCTj8RHarW1hT-Fdwi2oxs1X3A_TpCiRVZaX4Wl9XiWcHX4OxbJsVRigrpYI71IVOMoRqapm-Tkt0/w640-h480/IMG_20210514_174531_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Here is the video, taken at Alexandra Palace, Peterborough, Kings Cross and Huntingdon. Once again my thanks to Great Northern for their invaluable assistance. If the video doesn't appear below click <a href="https://youtu.be/F9HKI3IyaXk" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F9HKI3IyaXk" width="442" youtube-src-id="F9HKI3IyaXk"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-5581528926499582132021-04-23T00:39:00.000+01:002021-04-23T00:39:29.836+01:00The Big Cat That's Got The Cream<p> On Monday I had my first proper day out since November, and ventured up to North Norfolk to sample the two newest double decker buses in East Anglia. Kings Lynn based Lynx (it has only just dawned on me how clever that name is) have splashed out on two ADL E400MMC's for their flagship Coastliner route between Kings Lynn and Fakenham. Always happy to publicise new vehicles in our area, with the exception of Streetlites, I decided to go and try them out. With help from Lynx driver and good friend Sam Larke - yes, he who used to make my life a misery when running Norwich Buses blog - I was able to plan a return trip to Hunstanton which would enable me to travel on both of the new buses. Indeed, I had a good natter with Sam before nipping up to the car park roof at Kings Lynn bus station to take a few videos, including Sam leaving on his own departure to Hunstanton. He's turned out ok!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0pLBkAAUb-6e3M8WlrD4xzTYQSI6EkaQOjzhBasmJbNjYRolWjB1IOiIjEw4eyQD0eh6sa28GaT1N33HOQ69zUA2Inw3YLXNwzx3utWYD_ydEfTbKdn8luetf_XBJk0iyayHirduiKU/s1920/S1820001%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0pLBkAAUb-6e3M8WlrD4xzTYQSI6EkaQOjzhBasmJbNjYRolWjB1IOiIjEw4eyQD0eh6sa28GaT1N33HOQ69zUA2Inw3YLXNwzx3utWYD_ydEfTbKdn8luetf_XBJk0iyayHirduiKU/w640-h360/S1820001%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />By this time the first of the new deckers had arrived, taking a break before following Sam an hour behind. I have to say it looks superb. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hR2M3OPEKq0" width="320" youtube-src-id="hR2M3OPEKq0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-kQ8Oyr5ouNPXwxmROCJTudT4qRvN4cc12trDZEtjNrSSnLDx3HysXraYrV9JKjJHdHY6Yydu5VCdxQqWZ1gcx7mixr9MuPh5JCP4BfKd4fct0hvPR9EQ6KCWNUWTLar5gxmw8KptAo/s2048/IMG_20210419_122208_7%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-kQ8Oyr5ouNPXwxmROCJTudT4qRvN4cc12trDZEtjNrSSnLDx3HysXraYrV9JKjJHdHY6Yydu5VCdxQqWZ1gcx7mixr9MuPh5JCP4BfKd4fct0hvPR9EQ6KCWNUWTLar5gxmw8KptAo/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_122208_7%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>So I boarded, and was greeted with that lovely new smell. The interior is good, with a smart moquette and an attractive and very comfortable seat design. Luggage rack downstairs and tables upstairs. USB and wireless charging is available with bell pushes on the rear of every seat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErSjSrse2hi9w3tTpzDHPftYdORswNSVixfath4J84gPsDe51Ovw6bgT69E8kqrqGOEWAM_0PWGjvVNcNbqx4m_nfyVlS9SzgBWxcCcpQcScY1lUeP_TZNaGGjO_eLhRNYbwKA4iXZD8/s2048/IMG_20210419_122259_1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErSjSrse2hi9w3tTpzDHPftYdORswNSVixfath4J84gPsDe51Ovw6bgT69E8kqrqGOEWAM_0PWGjvVNcNbqx4m_nfyVlS9SzgBWxcCcpQcScY1lUeP_TZNaGGjO_eLhRNYbwKA4iXZD8/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_122259_1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0edMSyeFChtIabNbDEewFIT1pCLeCAGJ57XIZ8_f9mbG0_CQFxTTIzLo_YrK57387pB5kfBX1ZDmMiMtEPJzAwA6qlsdAw4nV6WqSvHf60Iau4eY88vKWlfD7UmtCPgf9Equdu8DB_k/s2048/IMG_20210419_122305_3%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0edMSyeFChtIabNbDEewFIT1pCLeCAGJ57XIZ8_f9mbG0_CQFxTTIzLo_YrK57387pB5kfBX1ZDmMiMtEPJzAwA6qlsdAw4nV6WqSvHf60Iau4eY88vKWlfD7UmtCPgf9Equdu8DB_k/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_122305_3%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Off we went, and I was hoping ADL had improved the ride of the E400 as much as they have the E200. It was ok - quiet, smooth and little body noise, although it being only their 3rd day in services there shouldn't have been. However, it didn't feel that solid and I finally thought of the right analogy for riding a new E400MMC. It's like watching your child perform. You know how much effort has gone in to the preparations, be it practice, rehearsal, training etc. The costume/outfit/strip is pristine, no other child looks better than yours yet you watch them with your stomach tied in knots, knowing that everything could fall apart at any moment - the wrong note, forgotten line, open goal missed, the fall off the beam etc and you'll end up mopping up a tearful and distraught child. I had that feeling on Monday. The presentation is superb, both inside and out. Everything is pleasing on the eye, yet you have that sickly feeling inside that one large pothole and everything will start falling apart and rattling like a 1930's football crowd. That is a shame, but I never had that feeling with Olympians, and I don't with Metrodeckers or BCI's. It is so frustrating that 95% of the bus is excellent, yet that missing 5% makes all the difference - the 'that'll do' attitude. I was talking to a manager the other day who was totally exasperated that the new MMC he took out for a test run had a cab door that rattled. What I really can't understand is how ADL seem ok with this and keep churning them out. Where's their pride in their product?</p><p>Anyhow I'll go back in a few months and hope to be proved wrong - at least the roads in North Norfolk are better than most. If I was being cynical I'd say it was due to the proximity to Sandringham but surely not! </p><p>Sam had told me if everything was running to time I'd get the chance to film the two new buses together at the soon to be demolished Hunstanton bus station, and he was right. Never mind my niggles about the ride, they look magnificent. By time you read this both should have their vinyls applied so to get the all red one before vinyls was good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/epePcILda3s" width="320" youtube-src-id="epePcILda3s"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQcea6k80SQtz5hOhPqNDAZzpghPPC6coCPwsJt-s2fLl8BvW84nj79zfGsYkmN_KU760m6iG43VrfD-I0R7q3trYq53KqqiFzn0OlQFStqcx_mgU0Y8zplRBRPEd95SQ-sxmvKaxGQE/s2048/IMG_20210419_132519_6%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQcea6k80SQtz5hOhPqNDAZzpghPPC6coCPwsJt-s2fLl8BvW84nj79zfGsYkmN_KU760m6iG43VrfD-I0R7q3trYq53KqqiFzn0OlQFStqcx_mgU0Y8zplRBRPEd95SQ-sxmvKaxGQE/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_132519_6%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSp2fYWP6qQ8w1uk_-OwnINiz_5dh-QrUzBvT9QBGbk_ZjqM6JBEbA7wjm3Ast0dXP3EgzGkSkzLSB1Tyw8XNKgthZO2Wvi25yCAPgbwmtawQi-ZeKzv-ob4K0rpKfG0VLe8F61WOf6g/s2048/IMG_20210419_132700_2%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSp2fYWP6qQ8w1uk_-OwnINiz_5dh-QrUzBvT9QBGbk_ZjqM6JBEbA7wjm3Ast0dXP3EgzGkSkzLSB1Tyw8XNKgthZO2Wvi25yCAPgbwmtawQi-ZeKzv-ob4K0rpKfG0VLe8F61WOf6g/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_132700_2%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJxW477AyEs86eO4i3E1e2UpoyvcnHe4vHWDdreTQKy3u85w_Z4ND1JtirmfracdjPHQdasOb9Hr53lCmtS-hdbv2l2pk5k_Geh4H1Ce4alEM5I9xrTl2dZ7nJeglNWDCgbpx5rFFufw/s2048/IMG_20210419_142804_9%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJxW477AyEs86eO4i3E1e2UpoyvcnHe4vHWDdreTQKy3u85w_Z4ND1JtirmfracdjPHQdasOb9Hr53lCmtS-hdbv2l2pk5k_Geh4H1Ce4alEM5I9xrTl2dZ7nJeglNWDCgbpx5rFFufw/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_142804_9%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>A word about the operator. Lynx are arguably the best operator for their size in East Anglia. Their buses, and staff, are always immaculately turned out, their network of routes is good, their fleet is good, and I would spend far more time over there if it wasn't for one thing. Even in my boyhood I wouldn't travel on routes operated by single deckers for fun, unless it was vital to link up with another route. If there was a way of getting where I wanted by double decker that is how I would go. It still is. Unless it's to review a new vehicle or unavoidable I don't like travelling by single decker - there are only a couple of decent seats on a single decker and they get taken quickly. One of the joys of double deckers is you see things you never see in a car, or single decker! The journey to Hunstanton and back on Monday was made so much more enjoyable because of the views - some of them stunning - from the top deck. I'll be back to do the full run to Fakenham, but only on a double decker, rattles or not! Nothing wrong with Tempos for commuting or shopping purposes, but for fun you cannot beat a top deck.</p><p>I also took the opportunity to see how the E400 Citys on First's Excel route were fearing, 14 months after their introduction. Well, the body noise was roughly what I expected, although there seemed to be a lot more coming up from the lower deck than there was on top. The CIS screens weren't working, neither was the WiFi, and the next stop announcement was spasmodic to say the least. The seats don't feel nearly as comfortable as they look, yet from the outside the buses still look seriously eye catching - an ADL trait!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn8LF1bKf04f3Dzn14ZKox58pkCLHbbc0cfHPWipfnbr0mdtHfoKz19pXnAMXzmA3VRv3p29dV0plknJfvs8L4hkLcNhLXdPDjblkLyuaceTAV9OVPZyTwj1CW8oOFD_85Pb48KuXSps/s2048/IMG_20210419_143650_0%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn8LF1bKf04f3Dzn14ZKox58pkCLHbbc0cfHPWipfnbr0mdtHfoKz19pXnAMXzmA3VRv3p29dV0plknJfvs8L4hkLcNhLXdPDjblkLyuaceTAV9OVPZyTwj1CW8oOFD_85Pb48KuXSps/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_143650_0%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then to finish the day I travelled to Beccles on one of the predecessors of the E400 City on the Excel route, that are now plying their trade on the Coastlink X1/X2/22 services. Again they look great, but the buses are really showing their age (all of 8 years) and 33814 was drowning out its own engine in body noise. But it was a double decker, and on a glorious day like Monday, sometimes the wonder of the views can drown out even ADL rattles!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWow_qrmGXlq4jKpGtGhnEHpYXR2iptaaITWr-uGVyUlDmMAg4xb4dPoLxmfpGi25k6CcL7Qgv7xmsfgJMdvthbgGQjL2drPx59fB0a0nNtzjdqimxuIBfKBOA_V9CjgHxxyBARfo2_E/s2048/IMG_20210419_173123_4%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWow_qrmGXlq4jKpGtGhnEHpYXR2iptaaITWr-uGVyUlDmMAg4xb4dPoLxmfpGi25k6CcL7Qgv7xmsfgJMdvthbgGQjL2drPx59fB0a0nNtzjdqimxuIBfKBOA_V9CjgHxxyBARfo2_E/w640-h480/IMG_20210419_173123_4%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-75628632679112084972021-03-16T05:28:00.000+00:002021-03-16T05:28:46.289+00:00National Bus Strategy - My Thoughts<p> Hi everyone! Yes, still here, just had precious little to write about over the last 6 months. Not being allowed on public transport has its disadvantages when it's what you write about, and since everything is currently on hold until things pick up again, like everyone else I'm in a state of limbo. </p><p>However, yesterday the long awaited National Bus Strategy was published by Her Majesty's Government, setting out how buses are going to recover, expand and progress over the coming years. You can download the document by clicking <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-back-better" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p>Now you'll have to forgive me for being a tad sceptical about the whole thing - after all it's designed and published by the same people who have wielded the axe on thousands of bus services over the last decade and more, not to mention promised us 40 new hospitals, 50,000 more nurses, 20,000 more police, no hard borders, the elderly not having to sell their homes to cover care costs and so much more. Even the title of the strategy - Bus Back Better - made me wonder what that exactly means, it's not even proper english! </p><p>It starts by proclaiming how wonderful and important bus services are, how vital to rural communities and how buses must be instrumental in modal shift from cars. Stopped laughing yet? It goes on to say how Local Transport Authorities (you know - the ones starved of cash for years) need to form partnerships with operators to develop a bus network that everyone will not only want to use, but will also be so convenient they'll be able to use it for just about anything, from getting to and from work, to going out weekends and evenings. Night buses in towns, Sunday and evening services in rural locations connecting with trains to get people home. Through ticketing, multi-operator ticketing, flat fares, capped fares, cameras at bus stops for security, timetables and info at every bus stop (except those on "turn up and go" routes that will be so frequent "passengers won't need timetables", looking forward to those springing up in Suffolk), more bus lanes and priority systems, even more guided busways (sorry, Tim).</p><p>There's more - all competing operators on the same route must have the same route number and include all other operators in the timetable. Lord knows how that would affect routes like Borderbus. 146, that competes with First's 99 for a third of the route and the X2/X22 for the other two thirds. Of course it doesn't say who would have to change their route number - it seems the new LTA/Operator partnership would have to sort it out themselves.</p><p>And sort it out they must, because without a partnership there won't be any money. So any Council who doesn't form one of these partnerships will not be eligible for any of the £3b allocated to the project. That is rather scary, as there are some councils who see buses as way down the list of priorities. </p><p>Other jewels in the crown are 4,000 carbon neutral buses, major trunk routes with feeder services linking communities to them - sure I've mentioned that before - more publicity for tourist routes and so on. All sounds wonderful, but let's take a look at what wasn't mentioned. </p><p>Ask any operator, and they will tell you the most expensive part of their operation is the staff, particularly drivers. Not just wages, but uniforms, pensions, NI contributions, CPC renewals, H&S courses etc. There is also a national shortage of bus drivers. Nowhere in the document is driver recruitment mentioned. On top of that, outside of the major towns shiftwork on buses has all but died. Services operate 7 - 7 and so do most of the drivers. Bringing back evening and Sunday buses will necessitate a huge increase in the number of drivers, who will all need training etc. Will the cost of that be included in the £3b? DRT is mooted for rural locations, especially to connect with trains - looking forward to a driver being paid to sit in a minibus outside Saxmundham station to connect with the last train on a Sunday! Yes, that's the same DRT that has been tried and failed in many areas, and here in Suffolk was cut back to the point of being useless 4 years ago. </p><p>There was also no mention of how, exactly, car drivers were to be lured from their cars onto buses apart from pretty buses with usb charging and comfortable seating, although at least that's an improvement on new trains. So how are you going to encourage Mrs Smith to leave her car at home on a freezing February morning and walk half a mile to the nearest bus stop? Not an easy task when Mrs Smith forks out £1200 a year on car insurance, quite possibly £160+ a year on excise duty, MOT and service costs and can go door to door in comfort, warmth, with her favourite music playing. Ironically, you have to start by making running a car cheaper. If you spend that much running a car you're going to use it, and justifiably so. Nothing in the document to tackle that little problem, and there really is no easy solution. But not many people spending that much on a car will want to spend - or be able to afford to spend - hundreds more a year on bus fares. I was looking forward to reading in the document about enterprising schemes such as incentives for employers to cover a percentage of bus fares for employees willing to leave their cars at home. DRT buses serving industrial estates was mentioned - yeah right! Sorry, Jim, we've got an extra couple of users tonight so your journey home will be half hour longer than usual...</p><p>When I was growing up going into town for a shopping trip was an exciting event. Big supermarkets were still a thing of the future so grocery shopping was done locally. You went into town for clothes, to go to the bank, buy a record and have lunch in a cafe. You only shopped for as much as you could carry home on the bus. That has all changed so what incentives are there to do your shopping by bus these days? Would it be that difficult for the Government to link up with supermarkets and offer free same day delivery for customers shopping by bus? Iceland (the store) offers a you shop we deliver service so why not the big supermarkets? Many people don't like home delivery because they can't choose products themselves, or especially with the elderly get confused with online ordering. Get the bus to the supermarket, shop at your leisure, have a coffee, get the bus home and we'll deliver your shopping to you. Sounds good doesn't it. </p><p>I was also looking forward to seeing how LTA's would engage with their communities to encourage growth of bus ridership. Nothing. Not a thing. Is it rocket science to have a competition among local primary schools to design the bus livery for the route serving them? After all they are the customers of the future - get them involved with their bus service early on and they'll feel part of it - something that the savvi operators have already sussed and are doing. If a community feels something belongs to them they will support it, be it a shop, village hall, school or bus service. Think I've mentioned that before too!</p><p>So all in all I'm not brimming with excitement. It seems they want an Oyster style system everywhere without the franchising which is crucial to Oyster's operation. Mini oysters, covering local areas, but who will set the boundaries. Having said that, they are right in saying contactless will soon replace smartcards, so seamless boundaries could be possible, but still tough if you live close to a boundary and live in one area but work in another.</p><p>To achieve what is set out in the strategy will cost far, far more than the £3b allocated in infrastructure changes alone, before the cost of recruitment, new vehicles, marketing etc is taken into account - and who will be responsible for marketing/bus stop info etc? The operator, in which case on a shared route who is responsible, and what if the other operator suddenly changes times, or the LTA, in which case which budget will it come out of? </p><p>To conclude here is a very local example of what needs to change if public transport use is going to not only return to pre Covid levels, but exceed them. My nearest biggish town is Lowestoft. It costs around 7 quid in petrol to get there and back, If I had a partner and they came with me it would still cost around 7 quid. If we went by public transport, well there's no bus to the station and DRT is no use here now, so that's £15 for a taxi. A return from Darsham to Lowestoft is £11.20, if we want to go to Aldi or Morrison's that's another £3 return on the bus, and we can only shop what we can carry. Train back to Darsham then another taxi home - total cost for me alone £44.20, for two of us £58.40. Compared to £7 quid in the car which I've already paid tax, insurance and maintenance costs on, not to mention the cost of buying the car in the first place. </p><p>It isn't a case of just putting pretty buses on the road, it's changing the way society thinks, and there is nothing to tackle that in the strategy. The lack of response yesterday from the bus industry was noticeable, and even those that did respond were predictable and used the same language they would for any announcement promising £3b for the industry. </p><p>That's enough from me, stay safe, hopefully we can all start using public transport again soon, and that in 5 years time I can look at this post and say wow I got that wrong!</p><p>Bus Back Better - someone was paid to come up with that!</p><p><br /></p>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-29266131920032959582020-09-08T17:17:00.003+01:002020-09-08T17:17:58.932+01:00Around The World For 6 Miles<p> Yesterday, 7th September, Southeastern introduced more services to their post Covid-19 timetable. As I knew I was going to spend the week checking Mum's house hadn't fallen down (originally had a visit to see her booked but a positive test at her home put pay to that) and it being my old conducting ground I looked at what had changed. Quite a bit, as it happens, but my eye was attracted to something strange on the Chatham Main Line.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfz94e0XbYzo41V2V0iUG4shVqhRKIB-IBcg0oAM8m_CiREfUVnwTLoONmLK9wVg0dNpZRtFpftmFZ5NoQXKGImGHUkDgZ-emfOokl8z6YLfgac3iHJrgt3Jn2FZmD1B4dX8PML97j7k/s1592/Screenshot+%252893%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1592" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfz94e0XbYzo41V2V0iUG4shVqhRKIB-IBcg0oAM8m_CiREfUVnwTLoONmLK9wVg0dNpZRtFpftmFZ5NoQXKGImGHUkDgZ-emfOokl8z6YLfgac3iHJrgt3Jn2FZmD1B4dX8PML97j7k/w625-h306/Screenshot+%252893%2529.png" width="625" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>20 years ago it was simple - 2 fast trains from London Victoria to Faversham calling at Bromley South, the Medway Towns and Sittingbourne which split, the front half continuing to Ramsgate, the rear to Dover Priory, one semi fast an hour, one stopper. Running with them was a half hourly stopping service from Victoria to Faversham. It was a simple to follow system. Then, in 2010 HS1 opened to domestic trains and Southeastern were told in no uncertain terms to make sure passengers switched to it, paying the enhanced fares, as the line had to be paid for. That meant slowing down the fast trains on the Chatham and Tonbridge lines. The fast trains via Chatham now stopped at Newington or Teynham, and at Meopham and Longfield. The Faversham stoppers to London were reduced to one an hour and started and terminated at Gillingham. On the Tonbridge Line fast services between Ashford and Tonbridge were scrapped with all trains becoming stoppers. The message was obvious - if you want to get to London quick use HS1 but it will cost you.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, if travelling from Victoria to Dover, if you caught the faster train it still wasn't bad - just over 90 mins for less in a more comfortable train. That has now been well and truly demolished, with both the "fast" and "stopping" services taking the same time to get from Victoria to Dover ie !h58m for the what used to be fast service, and 1h57m for what used to be the stopping service. The fastest HS1 journey from St Pancras to Dover takes !h02m. To achieve this Southeastern have introduced a what can only be described as a bizarre stopping pattern, especially between Rochester and Bromley South. Let's take a closer look.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IT3CK0T8eONFzgQa0BeYiDDXJleYBtLThGUVgXpyzM0s4HKW0j5Lp8myXe0-lS3PIgfX_xamInCbmOLxTLP0_2vrPczSFrj-n0u_OPNZF1YHJU_fkxP0x7_MfDB1RWiyZ7rUlSM8jxc/s1592/Screenshot+%252888%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1592" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IT3CK0T8eONFzgQa0BeYiDDXJleYBtLThGUVgXpyzM0s4HKW0j5Lp8myXe0-lS3PIgfX_xamInCbmOLxTLP0_2vrPczSFrj-n0u_OPNZF1YHJU_fkxP0x7_MfDB1RWiyZ7rUlSM8jxc/w625-h295/Screenshot+%252888%2529.png" width="625" /></a></div><br /><p>During peak hours its very much as you were - semi fast trains stopping at Meopham, Longfield, Bromley S and Victoria. However, after 0930 something strange happens. The semi fast trains continue as normal but the stopping services OMIT Meopham and Longfield.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8YrgVXugSfjZU_8i4auhyphenhyphen4ToCCMc9-d70JvaRzfxhf353E0_lokkmdqIwUe46DpLjty6_ZnXpPfXyyAlfGaUiBlGZEaN_nMhssxC5EJR3gNyOq7-11c-q3PppG3ogbMp49LYuygs0ME/s613/Screenshot+%252891%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="604" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8YrgVXugSfjZU_8i4auhyphenhyphen4ToCCMc9-d70JvaRzfxhf353E0_lokkmdqIwUe46DpLjty6_ZnXpPfXyyAlfGaUiBlGZEaN_nMhssxC5EJR3gNyOq7-11c-q3PppG3ogbMp49LYuygs0ME/w616-h625/Screenshot+%252891%2529.png" width="616" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>So that begged the question if you want to travel from Sole St, Farningham Rd, Swanley or St Mary Cray to Meopham and Longfield, and vice versa how do you do it? As Sole St is the nearest station on the Chatham Line to Mum's place I went out this morning to find out. <div><br /></div><div>There's a lovely park near Sole St station which holds many happy memories for me, but it must be said the station wasn't at it's most lovely today. Lots of signs telling you to pay for your parking but no machine to pay at, the ticket machine was stuck on the final screen for the previous customer and the shelter strewn with rubbish. The timetable on display was also woefully out of date - indeed advertised trains stopping at Longfield that no longer did...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L61H7fiCEHn0UX_gzD8m5vf2jPNjLlEk7h36eHfCH4IImi1BkfcQphP6PvzBf8ZFvS2gd9bJZ_kEIn89Dz1KqxS2qsW0ugt1okRL8FIBjTFMXFR3r7-Y62RbaP5G4pMXJk1E1uF5eak/s2048/IMG_20200908_102706_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L61H7fiCEHn0UX_gzD8m5vf2jPNjLlEk7h36eHfCH4IImi1BkfcQphP6PvzBf8ZFvS2gd9bJZ_kEIn89Dz1KqxS2qsW0ugt1okRL8FIBjTFMXFR3r7-Y62RbaP5G4pMXJk1E1uF5eak/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_102706_1.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIjKOnubRTtmXuCYVfDIOl4vlFC9mueBwm4dRyuS9nBYMOJ9Du6p1H0duYz551MEXu26Lb3TizsGhUp1YRsLNC4Z_PgmT-qBBjF1gFfliypTvenisu0n0rVLj3QJ6GobISSYfZlsandc/s2048/IMG_20200908_102353_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIjKOnubRTtmXuCYVfDIOl4vlFC9mueBwm4dRyuS9nBYMOJ9Du6p1H0duYz551MEXu26Lb3TizsGhUp1YRsLNC4Z_PgmT-qBBjF1gFfliypTvenisu0n0rVLj3QJ6GobISSYfZlsandc/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_102353_9.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMUh6eVSmdB_DhXobBQBJsJ1kTEvv_tT9tVUllNnku71YTyfyUB5XGOo5JJ235dFTxzVGgCWXjhpctio1u_CEeyyqc332ZL6L3F5TJ3Ass5I8f3cqjQh8NzrYFbMtzlIRs7tHFA_fjJ4/s2048/IMG_20200908_102205_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMUh6eVSmdB_DhXobBQBJsJ1kTEvv_tT9tVUllNnku71YTyfyUB5XGOo5JJ235dFTxzVGgCWXjhpctio1u_CEeyyqc332ZL6L3F5TJ3Ass5I8f3cqjQh8NzrYFbMtzlIRs7tHFA_fjJ4/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_102205_4.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdhfddcA7iJ-6cQ-RTMKIbgcYRSmEszyyv8R8TCUlPjThtOJDooNK0-MpYtRBX2RZfGuI_On2sz9C6i04xEEta0zpF9T9PtGJzIXmEfezWS31LWDkoXhhlCsQb8nZcGzs3wPaXiKY-vo/s2048/IMG_20200908_102450_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdhfddcA7iJ-6cQ-RTMKIbgcYRSmEszyyv8R8TCUlPjThtOJDooNK0-MpYtRBX2RZfGuI_On2sz9C6i04xEEta0zpF9T9PtGJzIXmEfezWS31LWDkoXhhlCsQb8nZcGzs3wPaXiKY-vo/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_102450_3.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As you can see I had plenty of time to wait for the 1101 so decided to go the other way to Rochester, and double back to Longfield from there. Remember this should be a 7 minute journey! I caught the 1031 from Sole St to Rochester, which was a 6 car Class 465. At Rochester I was finally able to buy my ticket, and ask for a few clarifications. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO5YsBv99tAdAp1SFFMZao0oKSZWWlKwjms_iltOls2uYgu0wJ3JgH631xF11fV4PV_1boYwQT6PyW4x0aXiROwRJtNCDJEKi_NRIi62-QkiJ-SqOnzZnZ0pHXWXR_iKs9K9q2rhtIls/s2048/IMG_20200908_104443_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO5YsBv99tAdAp1SFFMZao0oKSZWWlKwjms_iltOls2uYgu0wJ3JgH631xF11fV4PV_1boYwQT6PyW4x0aXiROwRJtNCDJEKi_NRIi62-QkiJ-SqOnzZnZ0pHXWXR_iKs9K9q2rhtIls/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_104443_3.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_zdBQUBQ-N6hDSUis9a22FNtUd5hbb3SoIyFKNuUGqcNQygJWKhw9V0HeAPknLeuzuBzSMhgv8AnrtumYHEtZAKPC0JqUHE8SeS0jP-ipaSM8T9DD6Qiaymj0CusgVotxHiSVoSa1H4/s2048/IMG_20200908_104706_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_zdBQUBQ-N6hDSUis9a22FNtUd5hbb3SoIyFKNuUGqcNQygJWKhw9V0HeAPknLeuzuBzSMhgv8AnrtumYHEtZAKPC0JqUHE8SeS0jP-ipaSM8T9DD6Qiaymj0CusgVotxHiSVoSa1H4/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_104706_5.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div>Take a note of the cost of the ticket - it becomes relevant later. I was pleasantly surprised that the ticket clerk was aware of the new stopping patterns and could answer my questions without doubting my sanity or honesty. I had 25 mins to wait at Rochester before the train to Longfield arrived. I still think the Southeastern Electrostars are the most comfortable on the network.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHAlJxc1hdFzVog7HnMC3yftaei_gFvzYOS2wrdYQeaHEQCeCe6DxShWSQzJb1Kkx6pZiEwYK2gkAv9dstRW8GVZPE8XfLRB_362vp2FZJmo7x2Ct-zNRpFtJnuVu-UwP3_WOhmSpVHg/s2048/IMG_20200908_110613_9%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHAlJxc1hdFzVog7HnMC3yftaei_gFvzYOS2wrdYQeaHEQCeCe6DxShWSQzJb1Kkx6pZiEwYK2gkAv9dstRW8GVZPE8XfLRB_362vp2FZJmo7x2Ct-zNRpFtJnuVu-UwP3_WOhmSpVHg/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_110613_9%255B1%255D.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr1SeOboJcTbYAftVgItRm4JT6_GEUgFn2447FFZGlZYhQFOCTAvasGSnypn8YfCQjClVvLhk9JN7FRw0ZjaAwMd5ozLR7nCnvhpfPiSRR8IPFGQZLSDcnwaJpFu8j4-IoXJs7xFeuXE/s2048/IMG_20200908_111941_0%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr1SeOboJcTbYAftVgItRm4JT6_GEUgFn2447FFZGlZYhQFOCTAvasGSnypn8YfCQjClVvLhk9JN7FRw0ZjaAwMd5ozLR7nCnvhpfPiSRR8IPFGQZLSDcnwaJpFu8j4-IoXJs7xFeuXE/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_111941_0%255B1%255D.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>So I had arrived at Longfield. Immediately a train hurtled through - next stop Sole St, which was rather ironic. My outbound journey had taken 51 minutes instead of 7. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivry_a-B7K_UCYh73_2UD_E97fg-pTh1xoawDOPhKfMS9opEr9MSrS_pSiKt4NPvOyV3XJhGaMLIdd_41Uf00SNGB0QK5xhZEbAAe5j0ZL8PCHfRh7CBV1GqYa7rwTAEO8czj5gH1eI6E/s2048/IMG_20200908_112202_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivry_a-B7K_UCYh73_2UD_E97fg-pTh1xoawDOPhKfMS9opEr9MSrS_pSiKt4NPvOyV3XJhGaMLIdd_41Uf00SNGB0QK5xhZEbAAe5j0ZL8PCHfRh7CBV1GqYa7rwTAEO8czj5gH1eI6E/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_112202_5.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div>To be fair there isn't too much to catch the eye at Longfield, a parade of shops with a newsagent, cafe, fish & chip shop, hairdressers but also a Waitrose, which would be reason enough for those without a car in the likes of Sole St to want to go there. Buses go past the station, such as this rather smart Go-Coach Mercedes minibus, but there are no timetables - indeed the sign on the post directs you to the new Arriva app, which has come in for a great panning this week, not least from Roger French, busandtrainuser, who absolutely slated it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRtENhreGXoSAtHKRmndjMQf_FZC3VMxvE1IeobXthjcYly3dpnTQff7gk8PVj-zubNbIQxqa01DMI1aZJLDzU1JDiYbQuzSSBkn4lDnthkLeiaAfvH1uiFmU7LtEwhzeqFMXoZA4Y9Q/s2048/IMG_20200908_113002_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRtENhreGXoSAtHKRmndjMQf_FZC3VMxvE1IeobXthjcYly3dpnTQff7gk8PVj-zubNbIQxqa01DMI1aZJLDzU1JDiYbQuzSSBkn4lDnthkLeiaAfvH1uiFmU7LtEwhzeqFMXoZA4Y9Q/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_113002_2.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSvwZwKhWMMFk_uqPTiiUwUO3ojmj6tObvD5zTkTw7USu1lN30SWQP4QZgC9wie6uRTQs3ef0PX5HtARAeuWpiXwOiICwuQQNGNqrm_q4lbtS5-Ys1H2qLMEFnvFn8DJb82vSesbMmBc/s2048/IMG_20200908_112313_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSvwZwKhWMMFk_uqPTiiUwUO3ojmj6tObvD5zTkTw7USu1lN30SWQP4QZgC9wie6uRTQs3ef0PX5HtARAeuWpiXwOiICwuQQNGNqrm_q4lbtS5-Ys1H2qLMEFnvFn8DJb82vSesbMmBc/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_112313_9.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6LLe9Q1Czgc6OdKPW-JJro7oWxa9SDnwuiCSZh89xycvtMez8YHrIAb5orGp0_ee8vXEg87SGC2A7BN2IVUkEFgTdQCAAGI2bK7ZDdrbMTYrQ9a90ZCVOKsceOWA0jp69-7WpqARvh4/s2048/IMG_20200908_112751_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6LLe9Q1Czgc6OdKPW-JJro7oWxa9SDnwuiCSZh89xycvtMez8YHrIAb5orGp0_ee8vXEg87SGC2A7BN2IVUkEFgTdQCAAGI2bK7ZDdrbMTYrQ9a90ZCVOKsceOWA0jp69-7WpqARvh4/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_112751_6.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div>No sign of a Go-coach timetable at all. So that was Longfield, now to get back but I had a cunning plan. I caught the 1150 from Longfield to Bromley South, which gave me a rather tight 3 minutes to get the train back to Sole St. It was 4 minutes late. Normally that would have made me rather cross, but I had already decided to lunch in Bromley, having checked with the ticket clerk I could legally leave the station. He confirmed as I had no choice but to be there indeed I could. so I did, returning an hour later to catch the 1305 back to Sole St. If you make the connection the return journey via Bromley takes 41 minutes. If not it's 1hr41m, which is a lot for a journey that should take 7 minutes! If you return via Rochester it will take a minimum of 52 mins as the train from Longfield conveniently gets into Rochester a minute after the train to Sole St has left. Get the wrong train from Longfield and you have an hour there. Rochester station in bad weather is not a hospitable place. It also means if you travel from Sole St you can legitimately travel via Bromley, do your shopping, have lunch and do it for £4.20 instead of £8.90. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEznCtTZQTmuztow5Vt56lUDfM_FprBaq054ickzhbXlZE0U5sWdUF9ZZullpSoG7NpkcR94CNAnWtPQ9Xi9yCW1HquE03m9y4QrQ8aRbHv4D048GvJjTMPd_8-yL5N5SdOsS3KGERE8/s2048/IMG_20200908_143259_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEznCtTZQTmuztow5Vt56lUDfM_FprBaq054ickzhbXlZE0U5sWdUF9ZZullpSoG7NpkcR94CNAnWtPQ9Xi9yCW1HquE03m9y4QrQ8aRbHv4D048GvJjTMPd_8-yL5N5SdOsS3KGERE8/w625-h469/IMG_20200908_143259_0.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div>Yes, the machine was working again when I got back but the rubbish was still there.</div><div><br /></div><div>To conclude, here is the off peak stopping pattern from London to the Kent coast via Faversham. It clearly favours the High Speed services.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUkoCF_I0xMeLgygDzfkMBLY0uF9QkyXyGPtZHEul52CvOai6zyXdGtwHYUrnd1uOWEo-DcFS6mrZS8R6Mdq3iGMZE4t-svx96q8x3gx57KbrjkL09w1POztTmBgistgeKS4m067DYVE/s811/Screenshot+%252895%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="811" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUkoCF_I0xMeLgygDzfkMBLY0uF9QkyXyGPtZHEul52CvOai6zyXdGtwHYUrnd1uOWEo-DcFS6mrZS8R6Mdq3iGMZE4t-svx96q8x3gx57KbrjkL09w1POztTmBgistgeKS4m067DYVE/w625-h536/Screenshot+%252895%2529.png" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div>When we are trying to encourage people back onto the railway surely slowing services down, forcing people to pay more, leaving out of date misleading timetables on display and turning 7 minute journeys into 90 min marathons is not the way to do it. I suggest a rethink is needed. Incidentally on Saturdays and Sundays all stopping services call at Meopham and Longfield, just to confuse everyone even more!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-77093822409186466562020-09-01T20:59:00.000+01:002020-09-01T20:59:04.090+01:00New Route! New Operator! New Bus! New Hope?<p> Honestly! Bus news is like buses - nothing for months then a day full of it! I haven't had the chance to write a post like this for yonks so here goes!</p><p>Today saw the launch among much pomp and ceremony, well, a few people, of Borderbus' new route 522, from Peasenhall/Saxmundham - Leiston/Aldeburgh. You will remember I posted about this new route a couple of months ago. Unfortunately the people at Suffolk County Council responsible for publicising this sort of thing failed miserably in this case, only publishing the timetable on Friday afternoon, so as the enthusiast population of Peasenhall isn't that great precious few people knew about it. That will change.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another spanner in the works saw a road closure in Saxmundham put pay to the decker that will be operating the route being used, as the diversion was full of low trees. So a single decker was used, which didn't seem to take anything away from proceedings, despite the 146 branding. I asked the parish historian when the last time a bus with a proper destination blind/screen served Peasenhall - which is on an A road so hardly in the outback - and he couldn't remember! If anyone can please let me know! I hope the route is successful - the parish council are hoping more of the village can be served, but the road layout may preclude that as being possible for a decker. It'll be tight! Anyhow I wish the route well - I'll certainly be using it - although with the Winter approaching it maybe next year before we can see just how popular it will be.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBpC2KGAPX2Gf00o0xG7BQhbfVyG0fIkdTcLpFleXQtme0UIqH59dP01GdSo67sjksKQKK3ZrvLerEBH82HtpZdUhEdvhoxx_ldjN45tZE89K1MzyCn5OSN7tdm9PBxFfPJIIKKAC-WQ/s1600/Screenshot+%252876%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBpC2KGAPX2Gf00o0xG7BQhbfVyG0fIkdTcLpFleXQtme0UIqH59dP01GdSo67sjksKQKK3ZrvLerEBH82HtpZdUhEdvhoxx_ldjN45tZE89K1MzyCn5OSN7tdm9PBxFfPJIIKKAC-WQ/s640/Screenshot+%252876%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borderbus 107 arrives at Peasenhall<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CklWrBuWVdu1IK3MQ6xAGnbHDnn-sxu_Rj0gSAsKIT1olsDQNvS23FKGcnpMpgcDY69bR_Vd8815w58Y5clGKjWkv5-udM6XoryxztsMqXcUN9q43i2C0UpHuTOV2IFJBqzPrzrxov8/s4992/S1160006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHMNXwQO48iGGm4iAyytlFyJuM6k06c3gUQRlJx_jmGuArQcRGI7IaqkLzS6PJYUXMAjizdkpR8ZVufHJ5KqoLrIrHcRb1sK4EO9K8Bp39x7cwkA4PjXtzNat0VGh-1iH36D991J3LEU/s4992/S1160005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHMNXwQO48iGGm4iAyytlFyJuM6k06c3gUQRlJx_jmGuArQcRGI7IaqkLzS6PJYUXMAjizdkpR8ZVufHJ5KqoLrIrHcRb1sK4EO9K8Bp39x7cwkA4PjXtzNat0VGh-1iH36D991J3LEU/s640/S1160005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attracting attention from the locals!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Next it was off to Saxtead to capture Ipswich Buses first day operating the 118/119 from Framlingham to Ipswich, replacing Galloway. A route that has done well to survive recent culls I hope IB taking over will give the route a new lease of life. Solo 241 operated the 1250 out of Fram, albeit a few mins late.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRcQJ7MlT4mkMnOlwP_iXvRM59e3-tYMMnvm9Pud2GRe6SG76pJEsOB13dmIDspvhKyRsSY0YkcOvsYqwj5Gx75-vh_KU1Cxz4qsIFkhGMfxVKyprIYNHoyBgxplVOLbSXgXfdhz-MT4/s1600/Screenshot+%252877%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRcQJ7MlT4mkMnOlwP_iXvRM59e3-tYMMnvm9Pud2GRe6SG76pJEsOB13dmIDspvhKyRsSY0YkcOvsYqwj5Gx75-vh_KU1Cxz4qsIFkhGMfxVKyprIYNHoyBgxplVOLbSXgXfdhz-MT4/s640/Screenshot+%252877%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9A7aDmMqwgjI-lNgkKLozj2W6WbmFnTMgabp2XrtzJ5wkHOhxxY_mJ3xlgsuzxeGExrvBrAfDLEdYe98w6aODuUYr5eXZipHwZc_iZv5N4949mDoJV69s2MMJ4oTRP03nFDyzkkm0gs/s1600/Screenshot+%252879%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9A7aDmMqwgjI-lNgkKLozj2W6WbmFnTMgabp2XrtzJ5wkHOhxxY_mJ3xlgsuzxeGExrvBrAfDLEdYe98w6aODuUYr5eXZipHwZc_iZv5N4949mDoJV69s2MMJ4oTRP03nFDyzkkm0gs/s640/Screenshot+%252879%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bt5mdeqS7Bkrt8atsOclV0TzLvyaRUSfmA9bYlzg1uemY50XAHkIy_CInaFILTI1mj-DdYfPgSmIvLqkexyU_TVlh3kBpNKXYSSNGogmk_6GYyLn5_jq4Q2DAEMWoT4pwTL8KX8xf7E/s1600/Screenshot+%252880%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bt5mdeqS7Bkrt8atsOclV0TzLvyaRUSfmA9bYlzg1uemY50XAHkIy_CInaFILTI1mj-DdYfPgSmIvLqkexyU_TVlh3kBpNKXYSSNGogmk_6GYyLn5_jq4Q2DAEMWoT4pwTL8KX8xf7E/s640/Screenshot+%252880%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ipswich Solo 241 on the 119 to Ipswich at Saxtead Green</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Those two events I knew were happening today. What I hadn't expected was Borderbus supremo Andrew Pursey telling me of fleet news at the Beccles firm, including a new arrival, brand new in fact this afternoon. That meant a trip over there to see what was going on. First of all the decker that was meant to be on the 522 today - former Ipswich Buses 46 - is going to be joined by her sister 47 in a few weeks. To tide the gap Borderbus have borrowed former Metroline E400 TE929 LK58 KGN which I understand will only be used on school journeys. Apparently it was only withdrawn from London duties on Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJTYdfAa71-mbTlTB2QmVhlado0O8z96q44d4hRhjajhzoV4_RaNiJE0Zd99Ur3H5Fzge0nAnk1HEzke8nWQhOj1qulL6zecjWF_izrQrZ9VNbNNVcrdouFdp3xzDZQYtSRIdaCfPOKI/s2048/IMG_20200901_155506_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJTYdfAa71-mbTlTB2QmVhlado0O8z96q44d4hRhjajhzoV4_RaNiJE0Zd99Ur3H5Fzge0nAnk1HEzke8nWQhOj1qulL6zecjWF_izrQrZ9VNbNNVcrdouFdp3xzDZQYtSRIdaCfPOKI/s640/IMG_20200901_155506_8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TE929 at Borderbus' yard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>So to the new arrival. Over the pit having its initial examination was a spotless, brand new, 367 miles on the clock Enviro 200 MMC. I'll be honest - I wasn't overwhelmed with excitement. I mean it's not as though it was the first electric vehicle North East of London, not even a hybrid. No mod cons like USB chargers or fancy floor lighting, just a bog standard E200 MMC and I know what they're like - and I don't like. So I accepted a seat on the test run with the usual resignation, especially when I sat on the seats and found the lumber support quite uncomfortable - backed up by a second opinion. However, I was in for a surprise.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitxSIp9D9IZVHCObM_-jvkKco3QhjA1NYqwmPX_DfvdbQ6S6YstvqZbMvJENWBESXfvkWcS4rdG3gbh1cKgnjVX72mDSdOk6Vhd7ccjOE37SRWO_ZoEg1Qcr2rD_VmQ-NOO3jemoBV1Y/s2048/IMG_20200901_155818_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitxSIp9D9IZVHCObM_-jvkKco3QhjA1NYqwmPX_DfvdbQ6S6YstvqZbMvJENWBESXfvkWcS4rdG3gbh1cKgnjVX72mDSdOk6Vhd7ccjOE37SRWO_ZoEg1Qcr2rD_VmQ-NOO3jemoBV1Y/s640/IMG_20200901_155818_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E200 MMC YX70 DKF</td></tr></tbody></table><br />From first movement I could feel something different about it, and then I realised what it was - this MMC comes with suspension. I mean real suspension, not the rock hard ADL suspension we're all used to, and it transforms the ride. As a result there is less body noise, as predicted some years ago it seems. But there is more. The brake tests were savage, and the acceleration is very impressive, not something normally associated with E200's, and as for the top speed, well suffice to say it surprised all of us but I've promised not to say so the drivers won't try to beat it! <div><br /></div><div>When we got back Dave Marshall, the Chief Wizard at Borderbus showed me the difference between the suspension on the MMC compared to the older models. To put it in terms I understand myself they've basically done away with the heavy, unyielding springs that gave such a rough ride, and doubled the number of airbags. It will be really interesting to see if that keeps body noise down for longer. It's at Borderbus for at least a couple of months so we'll get to find out. My thanks to Andrew, Dave, Colin and the rest of the Borderbus gang for the invite and ride which I'm fairly sure is my first on a brand new vehicle on Sept (or March) 1st!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraZtBoiN9ayPLfbtvFZIMph7-PH7H67yPVphfkezFuknTXxeswiupwDnBIxeOj3pxKrp9LSRMYDRq136d9vfXLvuNgRrIcFbFREsaKEJU6WHV_ZTkRTxMe1OtHllgjML8UJjWlD_6e1U/s2048/IMG_20200901_155702_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraZtBoiN9ayPLfbtvFZIMph7-PH7H67yPVphfkezFuknTXxeswiupwDnBIxeOj3pxKrp9LSRMYDRq136d9vfXLvuNgRrIcFbFREsaKEJU6WHV_ZTkRTxMe1OtHllgjML8UJjWlD_6e1U/s640/IMG_20200901_155702_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqJSkFn839tTDov9wcWs7CLW_yYmx4JzxgyXqd0BkTnu97yOiICJPo6gIwoW2t3LES9rvQ70SHiahyITfo3TI6jQJOwlYVP-vg9isXsgOxUvOg6NcCmhQlNtAq7E5WS4jtQV8f0v157M/s2048/IMG_20200901_155937_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqJSkFn839tTDov9wcWs7CLW_yYmx4JzxgyXqd0BkTnu97yOiICJPo6gIwoW2t3LES9rvQ70SHiahyITfo3TI6jQJOwlYVP-vg9isXsgOxUvOg6NcCmhQlNtAq7E5WS4jtQV8f0v157M/s640/IMG_20200901_155937_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQBDjickoK0-sWwb0snXPvJDb4V9qT-72qtaJY3aTVhnXoZkVp_v2qnY_HQbynZbzNuvrqHN8DdE4t473TrImx5M0ShOkJGua9gmtX5K1ZKWAgjPuDDc-R5PYe2cHEcsbm8qS0suL3gM/s2048/IMG_20200901_160822_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQBDjickoK0-sWwb0snXPvJDb4V9qT-72qtaJY3aTVhnXoZkVp_v2qnY_HQbynZbzNuvrqHN8DdE4t473TrImx5M0ShOkJGua9gmtX5K1ZKWAgjPuDDc-R5PYe2cHEcsbm8qS0suL3gM/s640/IMG_20200901_160822_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>For the first time in God knows how long today felt almost normal. It's a long time since I've been in a pit looking at the underside of a bus let alone seeing a new service launched, or something as simple as a new operator taking over a route. Obviously liking a bus from ADL was far from normal but it will be great if that particular tide has turned. It's good to see a local operator expanding their fleet and looking to the future when there is so much negativity floating about and it raises hope that the phoenix may be pruning its feathers, and bus use will start increasing again. It won't happen overnight, and operators may have to adapt to new working practices but today has produced a glimmer of hope, hope that has been lacking for most of the year. To paraphrase Basil Fawlty; "Ah normal - yes I remember that"!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-70151836348186416612020-08-22T11:36:00.000+01:002020-08-22T11:36:35.931+01:00Stonehaven: So Much Bullshit<p>On Wednesday 12th August, at 0938, in Carmont, Aberdeenshire, tragedy struck. A Scotrail IC125 set hit a landslide and derailed. The driver, conductor and a passenger were killed. </p><p>Since then, including in the immediate aftermath, there have been sensationalist and unfounded suggestions and claims as to what happened, and, ludicrously, who was to blame. Examples are "the train was travelling the wrong way", "going too fast", "why hadn't the driver been cautioned", and in today's Telegraph, laughingly "73.2mph is said to be within the limit of 75mph". Is said to be? </p><p>The thing is, this was one of the most easy to explain accidents on the railways I've ever heard about. Within a couple of hours it was obvious to anyone with half an inkling how the railway works what had happened. The train, 1T08, 0638 from Aberdeen to Glasgow, had been halted by the signaller who had received a report from a train travelling in the Down direction, that the Up line was blocked by a landslip. That down train, 2B13 is extremely relevant. Unable to proceed, 1T08 was turned round and sent back to Stonehaven. This meant waiting for a Network Rail engineer to set the crossover points so 1T08 could transfer from the Up line to the Down. Rarely used crossover points are routinely locked and pinned to avoid any accidental movement, which could cause a derailment.</p><p>After a delay of 2 hours, 1T08 started back to Stonehaven. It must be noted that not only had 1T08 already passed over this section of track with nothing suspicious to report, but so had 2B13. There was no suggestion of any blockage of the line, so no reason not to travel at line speed, which at this point was 75mph. Tragically though, in the time between 2B13 passing over the site, and 1T08 returning, there had indeed been another landslip, totally unconnected with the one further up the line. The train hit the landslip at 73.2mph, and all vehicles derailed, some hurtling down an embankment.</p><p>Then the media vultures arrived, looking for someone to pin the blame on. Never mind the fact 3 people had died, two of them doing a job they loved and were highly experienced at - someone must have cocked up. No they didn't. I'm not going to pre-empt the RAIB report, but from what they have already published it seems evident that the focus of the investigation is not going to be on the actions of the train crew or signaller. Unfortunately it would seem the media vultures, including some, sadly, who work for industry publications, are still hell bent on finding a scapegoat. Others are just plain ignorant as to how the railway works. </p><p>The geology of our planet is constantly on the move. That includes the hardest of substances, of which mountains are proof. Tectonic plates shifting miles under the surface cause the face of the Earth to be forever changing, albeit over millions of years. Extreme weather can exacerbate that process, and the storms the previous night had clearly weakened the landscape. No one was to know or predict the extent. Railway workers have an extraordinary array of skills and talent. Psychic ability, however, is not one of them.</p><p>It is an insult to Brett McCullough, the driver, Donald Dinnie, the conductor, and Christopher Stuchbury, the passenger who lost their lives to try and find fault that doesn't exist, blame that is unfounded, and innuendo that causes reputations to be tarnished.</p><p>The definition of the word "accident" is thus; "an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury" Source Oxford Languages. I suggest Stonehaven falls directly into that category without touching the sides. This truly was a tragic accident.</p><p>Railway workers live by the rule book regardless of their role. I don't know of another industry where that applies to such an extent. Spontaneity has no place on the Railway. That is why I am of the opinion that the final RAIB report will be of far more interest to geologists, and how land surrounding railways can be better monitored, than to railway workers. As for those so called journalists who are still trying to find fault with the train crew or signalers shame on you. You don't deserve to earn a living from what you do. You are an embarrassment to your profession, and cause nothing but misery to those you come into contact with. </p><p>Brett and Donald rest in peace - those who know, know. </p>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-79931059407488422192020-06-27T00:06:00.000+01:002020-06-27T00:06:40.817+01:00Suffolk To Get New Bus RouteYes, you read that correctly. In these dark times for public transport with everyone still being told to avoid unessential use (unless the sun's out, obviously) and fears for the future of vulnerable routes nationwide, I can exclusively (sorry but it's been a long time since I've had the chance to use that word) reveal that from September 1st Borderbus are introducing a new service 522, which will operate from Aldeburgh to Peasenhall. Except it mainly won't as the route is split into two overlapping sections - Aldeburgh to Saxmundham and Leiston to Peasenhall. <div><br /></div><div>Why Peasenhall, I hear you ask. Why indeed, and honestly I haven't got a clue! But since I live there and our last bus ran in March 2016 I'm not complaining one iota. I'm fairly certain, despite the good friendship I have with the Borderbus team, that this bus isn't being put on just for my benefit, although it certainly will benefit me. I know residents in the West side of Yoxford, for example have always commented that the Aldeburgh - Halesworth 521 doesn't serve nearly enough of the village, and after Yoxford the next turning point is Peasenhall. Even so, in 2016 we had an open your own door Transit minibus, one return journey to Saxmundham 4 days a week, and now there will be 5 journeys each way with a double decker! This obviously indicates a school journey involved, and indeed that is the case, as you can see in the timetable below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST14yqL0qamQMR5qJC0zyvLdooZ6X0wroQ5OSOX012kZFm8Ssk0g6vJEpU0MrVrAnSsZ3M5JqtcZ7rSHju2N84Afjtyk3IUhocFxPW9xdtVYtzXp9kzrDPNRB8XpMmYluCfemNOVLxgk/s855/Screenshot+%252839%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="712" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST14yqL0qamQMR5qJC0zyvLdooZ6X0wroQ5OSOX012kZFm8Ssk0g6vJEpU0MrVrAnSsZ3M5JqtcZ7rSHju2N84Afjtyk3IUhocFxPW9xdtVYtzXp9kzrDPNRB8XpMmYluCfemNOVLxgk/w650-h781/Screenshot+%252839%2529.png" width="650" /></a></div><div>I'm guessing here, but it looks like Borderbus have won a school contract serving Leiston Academy from Whincops of Peasenhall, which would explain the Peasenhall terminus. I really should have asked but I'm a little rusty after 3 and a half months so I'm sure Andrew Pursey will correct me if I'm wrong. Sir John Leman School in Beccles continues to attract pupils from all over the county, and the Leiston to SJL is either a new route or a contract won from another operator. Either way it's great to see the buses put to good use while the kids are at school - if it's ever safe for them to go back that is!</div><div><br /></div><div>However, as locals will know, there is already an hourly service between Saxmundham and Aldeburgh provided by First Eastern Counties' 64 from Ipswich. I can't see any variations to the route on the 522, so is there the demand for another bus, especially between Leiston and Saxmundham where there really isn't much apart from fields. This is where the theoretical side of me has gone into overdrive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chris Speed of FEC has long told me the 64 loses money hand over fist between Wickham Market and Saxmundham - indeed a few years ago it went to two hourly before being restored to hourly through council subsidy. Will the introduction of the 522 give First the excuse they need to pull out of Aldeburgh and Saxmundham once and for all? Will Suffolk CC still subsidise the Wickham Market to Sax part of the journey at a reduced frequency or will that link be lost forever?</div><div><br /></div><div>If First pull out of Aldeburgh then will Borderbus step in and restart the immensely popular Anglian 165 Aldeburgh to Ipswich via Snape service that was so savagely cut by Phil Eden when he replaced Andrew Pursey there. One of the reasons was logistics in case of breakdown - it's a long way from Beccles to Ipswich to deal with a breakdown, but Anglian managed it pre Go Ahead so who knows what the long term thinking is. It's going to be interesting to watch developments.</div><div><br /></div><div>My job now is to make sure the people of Peasenhall actually use the bus so there is no excuse to get rid of it again. Easier said than done, but opportunities like this don't happen every day! My thanks to Andrew for surprising me with the news (that's an understatement) and giving me the green light to go public. I should also say that Borderbus have retained the tender for the 521 for another 5 years, which is good news for both them, and the communities served by that important link. A 5 year tender in the current climate is some achievement, I think.</div><div><br /></div><div>There will be another post in a few days with an update on a bus I was lucky enough to drive in days of yore, that I featured a few years ago on here. In the meantime stay safe, and try to avoid the lemmings who think the virus has gone and it's back to normal!</div>Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-13995550947045728362020-05-16T14:24:00.000+01:002020-05-16T14:24:53.238+01:00What Happens Now?I hope wherever in the world you're reading this you are safe, well, and somehow getting through this planet changing episode in our history. These are strange and worrying times, and one has to wonder what happens now. If you have lost a loved one during this crisis my heart goes out to you - I've seen my Mother change from a vibrant, chatty, active if slightly batty and clumsy woman into a bed bound shell uttering a few incomprehensible sounds and not recognising anyone in the space of a couple of months. Thanks to lock down there has been no escape from it - not allowed to do anything or meet anyone to take minds off what's going on. That's tough. However, this is a transport blog so I'm going to concentrate on that side of things.<br />
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It's now two months since I've been on any form of public transport. I have absolutely no idea when I'll morally be allowed on it again. I'll be surprised if it's this year. I have a car so I'm expected to use it instead of public transport. Unless I want to go to London, of course, where the message is don't use public transport but don't drive either as we're hiking up the congestion charge and closing numerous roads so people can walk and cycle more. From places like Colchester and Milton Keynes no doubt. Go back to work if you can't work from home, but don't use public transport or your car to get there if your work happens to be in London. I have news for the people coming up with this advice, and I'm sure Sadiq Khan's dad would back me up - very few people take short bus journeys in London at peak times. The huge majority of City commuters, for example, walk to and from stations like Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street and Blackfriars anyway! They've been cooped up in offices all day and will be, or rather used to be packed into trains and tubes for another hour or more so they welcome the walk in between. Closing off roads will give them more room, but will not increase the numbers walking, or decrease the numbers needing to use buses as from my observations most bus journeys to and from work in London are too darned long to walk both ways, and not everyone is a born cyclist. The days where folks would jump on the platform of an RM and go a few hundred yards before hopping off again are long gone. I live in the country, yet I walk further in London than anywhere else, despite the transport system it has.<br />
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But what's happening outside London? Well, trying to get information out of bus operators isn't easy. Those that respond don't want to be quoted. However, it would seem that between 50 - 60% of the nation's bus fleet is currently SORNed. Heaven only knows what that figure is in the coach industry. The buses that are on the road have strict social distancing rules, so capacity is around 20% of usual. With the best will in the world no one can make any money operating at 20%, especially with the populace being told to avoid your product like the, well, virus. One manager told me today he thought the industry could bounce back well enough, and if this was to all finish tomorrow it might. But how long can it survive in its current guise? The State can't fund private operators ad infinitum so one of two things is going to happen. Firstly we see many independent operators fall leaving the big boys to pick up the choice cuts and abandon the rest, which is what they will do with their own routes anyhow. Buses will be for urban areas only, with rural services all but extinct. It is highly unlikely Councils will be adequately funded to subsidise any of the abandoned routes.<br />
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Or secondly the State will be forced to take the entire industry in house to guarantee services, which they won't as that would go against every Conservative sinew possible.<br />
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Add to that the current low public confidence in Public Transport and we have the perfect storm. If few people actually want to use buses why bother running them or indeed funding them? Key workers will suddenly seem less important - that process has already started - so we'll see a gradual yet definite and possibly terminal shedding of routes. I'm concerned to say the least. Any operator will tell you it's easy to lose passengers, but infinitely harder to win them back. If this new isolated way of life becomes the new normal, and let's face it, until the entire country has been vaccinated it will do, will anyone want to go back to the old ways? I really want to try out one of the new Caetano electric buses introduced in London this week, or find out just how loud the rattling on the new Excel Scania E400's is now, but genuinely can't see that happening this year. When transport has been your life for nearly half a century that's hard to take.<br />
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One other nail in the coffin of bus travel is the rural DRT and dial-a-ride services. Manned mainly by volunteers who can blame them for not wanting to put their lives on the line anymore, especially as their vehicles are the smallest and most enclosed of the lot. Getting those volunteers back in the same numbers won't be easy either.<br />
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There are lots of empty trains running we're all encouraged not to catch, and from tomorrow there will be even more of them. A slightly different situation financially from the buses as all rail services are run on behalf of the Government anyway, if not all by them. I don't think we'll ever see peak travel return to the old levels, as a lot of companies will realise having people work from home is mutually advantageous, and again social distancing means passenger capacity is greatly reduced. Except on the Underground, of course, which is where the Government's explicit and detailed advice of "following social distancing IF POSSIBLE" comes into play. In other words, "if you don't want to walk or cycle twenty miles then trust to luck". Again, outside London and the major cities it will be a confidence thing, and a conscience matter - after all when will it be morally acceptable to use public transport for leisure again? When will it be safe to travel in numbers again?<br />
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I can't see anything returning to its old self, be it the way we travel, the reasons we travel, or the way travel is operated and governed. Certainly my hobby has mirrored my dear old Mum - 3 months ago was in the peak of condition and is now a shell, staring blankly into space, not knowing or recognising anything, or aware of any future.<br />
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One last conundrum to ponder - when the schools go back presumably so will school transport. If school buses have the same social distancing rules as public buses that means 4 out of 5 kids won't be able to use them. If they don't have the same social distancing rules how will the Government justify it, or will that be the time they lift all social distancing measures on public buses and let everyone take their chances again? One to watch, I think.<br />
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Take care all, and stay safe, especially you wonderful folks keeping the wheels of the transport industry turning. I salute you all.<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-52959883931302897272020-03-25T14:40:00.000+00:002020-03-25T14:40:29.199+00:00Ensign Family ValuesLast night I received a message from Ross Newman, Director of just about everything at Ensignbus right now. He showed me a letter that had been sent to all the staff at Ensign. Regular readers will know the high esteem I hold Ensign in. If there's one thing I am proud this blog has achieved it's getting to know and be welcomed by these guys. The letter moved me to tears.<br />
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I asked Ross if I could publish the letter as with all the negative news about the way companies like Virgin, Wetherspoons and Sports Direct have treated their staff I thought it was important that as much of the world see how it should be done, and that there are companies who do treat their staff with compassion and huge respect.<br />
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I'm happy to say Ross has agreed to let me publish the letter. I urge all of you to publicise this post to as many as you can. This is how it's done. Thank you.<br />
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Today’s letter to everyone:<br />
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It’s fair to say the last few days have been like nothing we have ever known before. We understand the importance of sharing any updates we can but are mindful not to put out news that isn’t confirmed or is liable to change before being implemented so let me take this opportunity to bring you as up to date as we can.<br />
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Firstly, the all to obvious bad news. Being a fully commercial operation with no contracts that continue to pay even if we are not running our revenue has been decimated.<br />
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Private hires have dropped to zero with school trips, weddings and social gatherings all cancelled.<br />
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Service work saw revenue drop by around 60% before we went to an emergency timetable on Monday 23, with schools closed and businesses shuttered, clearly the service is now only for those that are key workers and need to travel and by operating it we are assisting them.<br />
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Bus sales are all on hold. Every operator in the U.K. has dozens of spare buses in their yards or have suspended their operations completely. Either way they don’t need replacement vehicles at this moment in time.<br />
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And now the good news, which I’m afraid is somewhat in short supply. The company was in a strong position before this chaos descended upon us. We have received positive soundings of support from the council towards the continued operation of the emergency timetable and Amazon have increased their requirements for both social distancing and extra staff needs.<br />
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Our priority, first and foremost is ensuring everyone’s safety and as such many workers have been sent home due to their own underlying medical conditions, their ability to be able to work from home, or simply as we want to reduce risk to you and others by having less people about.<br />
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Of course we know that the lack of work is of course a real concern to all of you and we want to do everything we can to ensure no employee at Ensign suffers undue financial hardship. As such everyone will be paid as normal this week and going forwards from then staff working as part of the skeleton team will be paid their wages as normal and in full for all hours worked.<br />
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Staff that we currently have no work for will be put on the ‘furloughed list’. This will allow us to claim back a proportion of your contractually based hours. However, we want to go further than that and have therefore provided more comfort as best as we can to try and further assist you and your families at this tough time. Therefore all furloughed staff will earn either 85% of their salary or 85% of their contracted hours. So, for example if you are on a 40 hour contract the government would assist us with paying 32 of those hours and we have added another two hours on top. Thus a 40 hour contracted worker on furlough will receive 34 hours pay. Obviously this pro-rata’s higher or lower based on your contracted minimum hours.<br />
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We believe that with the mortgage and tax holidays now available, no travelling or socialising costs etc. this level of income means you and your families can weather the storm with security.<br />
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Those of you that have been sent home without work will be added to the furlough list. Others of you will have been contacted by your line manager to explain the situation, others will remain working from home or indeed part of the team still ‘operating as normal’.<br />
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Years of operating a tight ship on costs and waste has put us in the position where it is possible for us to sustain this extra support for some time but should this shutdown last for an extended period we will of course have to review the situation again but we all hope dearly that does not become necessary.<br />
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It is often said that Ensign is a family and never have we felt that more keenly than in the last few days. We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the offers of help and assistance from staff and can only thank you for the kind words which certainly helped stiffen our resolve to find a way through this. On a personal level Peter remains at home shielded due to being in a vulnerable age group, whilst Steve remains in isolation for a few more days after his youngest daughter showed symptoms.<br />
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It may well be the largest crisis we have ever had to deal with but Ensign has won many wars over the years and we have absolutely no intention of losing this one.<br />
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In these trying times the most critical thing is to keep family safe and for us that is a large family, the Ensign family. We remain committed to doing all we can to get through this and come out the other side stronger than ever before.Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-9102256453588336082020-03-22T14:23:00.000+00:002020-03-22T14:23:42.044+00:00This Way Of Life Terminates HereHi everyone, sorry for the long gap - life has got a bit hectic, the storm before the enforced calm if you will. And in a matter of days the way of life, as we knew it, has changed, maybe forever. We are, effectively, at war. War with an invisible enemy who, left unchecked, has the potential to wipe out a proportion of the human population. It is already doing so in Italy, Spain, and Iran. It will do here unless people start taking it seriously.<br />
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In the last month the rail line to Berney Arms was re-opened. I was on the first train to stop there and it was great occasion. They may as well close it again. We are being told not to use public transport unless the journey is essential. There can be no possible "essential" journey to Berney Arms and anyone who gets the train there is putting others at risk. You can see from the header pic that more Class 745's are entering service. 745005 was the latest to enter on Thursday, and I've been told the last Class 90 loco hauled service will be tomorrow. Think on that. It was only two weeks ago I was told by a driver they expected the 90's to hang around till June. Now it's tomorrow. I'll try and find a very remote spot to take a pic, but it won't be a station, I won't attempt to travel on it, and that hurts. But since I had to pass through London on Thursday it would be highly inconsiderate of me to get close to any rail workers doing their best to keep the system going for those who really DO need to travel. But the fact it's happening speaks volumes, and suggests the reduced services starting tomorrow are here for a long time.<br />
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My mother is currently in assessment care in Kent, having been in hospital for 10 days after falling seriously ill with everything apart from Covid-19. Her assessment centre is in lock down, and I managed to wave at her through a window. As she's very confused right now heaven only knows what she's thinking, but I travelled down mainly to mothball her house until such time she needs it again as neither I nor my brother will be staying there as we have been over the last few weeks. It was the journey down that brought everything home to me. The 0740 Norwich to Liverpool Street normally carries well over 500 passengers. On Thursday there were 17 of us who travelled to London. 17 passengers on a 12 coach morning peak train. It was surreal.<br />
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Not wanting to use the Underground I doubled back to Stratford - which was busier than Liverpool St - and caught DLR to Woolwich. The Train Captains were chaining off the most popular seats at the front of the train and operating the doors from there, isolating themselves from passengers.<br />
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In Kent buses were being well used, and although the High St was quiet most of the shops still seemed well patronised. Not a patch on the shopping centres at Stratford, though, which were positively heaving as I journeyed home. The 1700 out of Liverpool St was busier than the journey up, but I reckon still less than 25% of its usual demand. I watched the train I alighted from at Darsham pull out the station, and wondered when my next trip on public transport would be. It won't be anytime soon. I have no need now. Cars are actually safer if travelling alone and if I really do need to get essential supplies I'll do it by road.<br />
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Eventually everyone else will get the message and public transport use will all but die. Who knows if it will ever recover to its former state. I doubt it. I was reading a blog by my good friend Roger French earlier, who suggested the only way forward would be to nationalise the rail and bus industries again until they were back on their feet, thus preserving jobs and services. I think he's right. Although this is an invisible war it is still a war, and wartime measures and thinking need to happen. If they don't then there will be no transport system to recover when this is over as everyone will have gone bust. Paying 80% of wages is one thing, but if there is no revenue coming in how are things like maintenance, fuel costs and insurance kept going? The State needs to take over and run all public services until the country has recovered enough to stand on its own to feet again - a bit like my poor old mum.<br />
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My heart goes out to everyone in the transport industry. I read a letter posted by Ensign the other day, apologising for having to cut services, and it almost broke my heart. There are people who have devoted their lives to the transport industry who are watching everything they have worked for come crashing down. The State owes them not only to save their operations, but to use their experience and wisdom to rebuild the transport network as and when the health issues allow. If they don't then everything could disappear outside London and other areas authority run.<br />
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When it does recover I can see changes to travelling behaviour happening that until the last few days would have been unthinkable. I was chatting to a couple of BTP officers at Liverpool St on Thursday, and we agreed that businesses would suddenly realise the value of employees working from home, the reduction of cost maintaining company premises, being able to downsize, and from the employees point of view the joy of the lack of daily commute, not to mention the cost and more time with their loved ones. We could see a huge reduction in demand at peak hours as businesses take stock and alter working practices.<br />
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Only time will tell, but in the meantime I urge anyone who doesn't have to use public transport not to. The fewer people that go out the harder it will be for the virus to spread. It's that simple. I'm listening to the traffic go by my window on a Sunday afternoon and wonder where the hell everyone is going - they can't all be hospital or other key workers.<br />
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To all my friends in the transport industry I'll be praying for you, everyone from MD's to cleaners. Thank you for what you're doing, those who will genuinely need your services will owe you a debt of gratitude, and let's all hope you are all still very much still doing what you do best long into the future. However, I do not genuinely need your services, so for the time being I'm putting the blog on ice. I won't be going out doing what I love - riding buses and trains - for who knows how long, until Government advise changes I guess, although if the last cl90 services is tomorrow then Greater Anglia don't believe this will be on the way out in 12 weeks anymore than the rest of us do. I'll still be active on Twitter (@busandtrainpage) so give me a follow there for any updates and what will be rare pics or vids.<br />
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Stay safe, be sensible, and we'll wait to see what colour light is at the end of this tunnel.<br />
<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-44954633783001667082020-02-17T22:28:00.000+00:002020-02-17T22:28:15.996+00:00Now I Know My ABC I Can Get To Peterborough!Doesn't rhyme, I know, but I've been up a very long time. Since yesterday in fact, as today saw the launch of the much anticipated new fleet of 19 Scania ADL E400 Citi buses on the formerly X1, then XL, (which made the route sound like a burger) Norwich to Peterborough route, all 84 miles of it. Now re-branded Excel it has 4 lettered routes, all variations on a theme, but providing new and well imagined variety and options on the route. As I was one of the first to know about the unique Scania/E400C combination I thought it only right that I should be the first passenger on one. That meant leaving home at stupid o'clock to drive to Kings Lynn in order to get the first new bus operated service, the 0530 Kings Lynn to Peterborough.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36911 in a still gloomy Peterborough, making the destination screen not camera friendly</td></tr>
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Make no mistake, these buses look magnificent inside and out. Best Impressions' Ray Stenning was let loose and he has truly excelled (sorry) himself. How long it will last after being assaulted by branches and bus washes I don't know, but the paint job on the exterior is arguably the best I've ever seen - I'm really struggling to think of anything better I've seen in recent times. Get inside and you are met with an interior East Anglia has never seen before. A superb colour scheme and contrast, really decent lighting that isn't in your face, information screens, mainly comfy seats - as usual with ADL and First the seats above wheels or electronics cupboards are far inferior to the majority. All seats have USB chargers, phone holders, coat hooks and a bell push. There are also two tables upstairs.The stairs are easy to negotiate and well lit one side with fancy lighting, and from the other by daylight as First went for the glazed stairwell option. However, since all windows are tinted, dignity is not in jeopardy.<br />
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So to the routes. There are four variations on the route. Route A is the old route - All Stops. The A's run mainly early and late journeys, plus Sundays. Route B is hourly all stops to Kings Lynn, then runs fast to Wisbech, before reverting back to all stops to Peterborough. Route C is the game changer, hourly again running fast from Easton for Norfolk Showground to Swaffham, bypassing Dereham. This cuts 25 mins off the journey time from Norwich to Swaffham and Kings Lynn. That's a lot. It then runs all stops Kings Lynn to Wisbech, before heading to Peterborough limited stop by omitting Thorney. If you're doing the whole route the B takes 3h17m, and the C 3hr7m, so not a huge difference, but if you are going between intermediate stops, as most will, then much faster journey times are available.<br />
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Which leaves the D. With the C missing out Dereham the gap had to be filled, and it's been filled twice over with the D running every 30 minutes fast between Dereham and Norwich, competing directly with Konect's Straight8. Add the B and there are now three buses an hour from Norwich to Dereham, the same number as Konect. The next few months will be interesting to see if there is a big enough demand to sustain 6 buses an hour, and if not who will buckle first. but clearly a lot of thought has gone into the new routes, and I hope they do well. I'll certainly be tempted to Kings Lynn more often with a 25 min shorter journey time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36904 at Kings Lynn</td></tr>
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So, the buses look great inside and out, the routes and timetable have been well thought out. All that's left is what happens when the wheels start moving. All I can say is if you have a table seat then don't, for the love of God, put a drink on the table that doesn't have a sturdy lid or you will end up drenched. The suspension is so hard it beggars belief. Every tiny imperfection in the road surface is noticed. My quote of the day was a passenger saying "if you put a jaffa cake in front of the bus the bump would be enough to spill your tea". That is not much of an exaggeration. Typing on the phone is hard going, sleeping I'd have thought will be damn nigh impossible as I was being thrown around like a plane suffering heavy turbulence. And there were rattles. First day out in service there were rattles. I knew there would be rattles. It's ADL so of course there will be rattles, and until an operator sends buses back refusing to accept them in that state there will always be rattles. They also seemed to catch the wind badly too, as my drivers were struggling at times to keep in a straight line. But the Scania engine is powerful and has a nice deep rumble to it, the top speed is impressive, and ironically the ride seems better at 60mph than it is at 30. Whether that's a down force thing or not I'm not sure, but I certainly noticed a difference. Oh, and one more thing - tables are great, but please, someone, remind the designers that buses move and go round corners, hopefully, so having a table surface as smooth as an ice rink is only going to result in one thing, especially in emergency braking scenarios. Get non slip surfaces on them asap or that lovely floor is going to be plagued with coffee stains, and lawyers fielding burned legs claims!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The not so luxurious front offside seats</td></tr>
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I spent part of my day with Roger French, ex Brighton & Hove supremo, who took far more and better pictures than I did, and he has also written a review on his blog, which I'd recommend reading, especially as he found the buses faultless! You can read it <a href="https://busandtrainuser.com/2020/02/17/excel-excels/" target="_blank">here.</a> I love picking Roger's brains and hearing him talk about his travels. Weather and man flu permitting I could be seeing him again very soon.<br />
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So conclusions. A lot of people have worked very hard to make this new Excel happen. The branding is good, timetable information good, the timetable itself is imaginative and deserves to succeed. The exterior and interior are the best this region this ever seen and it was worth the unsocial hours to be the first one on board. I just have this nagging feeling that in 6 months the body noise will have become unbearable and the ride even worse. I hope I'm wrong. When I set out this morning I was going to compare the Scania with the best bus that was trialled on the route - the BCI Enterprise, which is peerless in my opinion for comfort and ride quality. But I didn't. I didn't compare them to their predecessors either, those God awful E400's now to be found on the X1/2/11 between Lowestoft/Belton and Norwich. Instead I compared them to the Volvo B9 Geminis, who operated the route from 2008 - 2013, and are going to see their days out on local Norwich routes. 12 years on have we advanced. I'm not interested in fuel economy or technical details - I'm a passenger, and want my journey to be an experience I want to repeat again and again. If I want to then hopefully others will too. This should be the overriding ambition of any business, including bus operators, to have customers return time and time again. Despite the magnificent interior and exterior looks of the E400C's too many times I felt myself pining for a Gemini. I suspect the many senior citizens using the route who find their dentures loosened by the ride will do too. That is a shame when so many people have put so much into this project. However, that was the bit I knew well in advance of my 3am departure this morning. Everything else was a very pleasing and encouraging experience. It will be fascinating to see how the route evolves now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36907 on the B</td></tr>
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One final footnote - the Norwich Peterbrough route is used extensively by tourists in the warmer months, many of them transferring onto the X1 at Norwich to continue to Great Yarmouth, yet unlike the old E400 and Geminis there are no luggage racks. I do hope we won't see any suitcase v buggy v wheelchair scenarios. Might be worth thinking about before we do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently the only luggage space shared with buggy and wheelchair bay.</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-23921765781036374062020-02-03T16:07:00.000+00:002020-02-03T16:07:35.037+00:00All Change Please! All good things come to an end, and over the course of this weekend a lot of good things came to an end. Signals, signal boxes and manual crossing gates that have served the Wherry Lines between Norwich and Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth since the 1880's are being decommissioned and replaced by aspect signals and automatic barriers controlled from Colchester. I was out on the last day of service for the boxes and signals on the Great Yarmouth Branch, and 2 days before the end of the Lowestoft branch.<br />
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I started in Great Yarmouth, where there are many photos of glory days there, with numerous excursions and charter trains bringing thousands to the Norfolk coast. Friday, a mere shadow of its former self, the last day for the Semaphores and signal box had arrived. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzKaJC97hsaicVZIXN19a93omkD0aDrKCjmHFxc-1w8r4GQHMmcWrsX2MZB9_-QwXE-6iFCaBiMzu0h_A2fsZmV9x0mcVP1OelS-5-d6GYJ2sY6BH0_xzuXpoTfJStoWyl3fVLJAd_P0/s1600/IMG_20200131_121150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzKaJC97hsaicVZIXN19a93omkD0aDrKCjmHFxc-1w8r4GQHMmcWrsX2MZB9_-QwXE-6iFCaBiMzu0h_A2fsZmV9x0mcVP1OelS-5-d6GYJ2sY6BH0_xzuXpoTfJStoWyl3fVLJAd_P0/s640/IMG_20200131_121150.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Semaphores and Signal Box at Great Yarmouth </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_FsmJeON-FhQ4KG2Fqxz_8tJiD4dEgf_VmkylkSvH1qk2KUIq2rLBTzgk5J1RNd90_WYukp0p1YNBPzRD3fzni7vZxehUbFa24XUtboWZ0UG7Lmxrd3GXvEXG4vZTYdEqw1YixpO48o/s1600/Screenshot_20200203_125409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_FsmJeON-FhQ4KG2Fqxz_8tJiD4dEgf_VmkylkSvH1qk2KUIq2rLBTzgk5J1RNd90_WYukp0p1YNBPzRD3fzni7vZxehUbFa24XUtboWZ0UG7Lmxrd3GXvEXG4vZTYdEqw1YixpO48o/s640/Screenshot_20200203_125409.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">755328 passes the signals and box</td></tr>
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Next it was onto Acle, where I discovered the signal box is being taken over by the team who care for the station, so it is staying put and will hopefully become a visitor attraction on the line. The staff had made their own simple, but poignant tribute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJHV524bieZffItrk3gQpUe5WI7ReNc9Qnh9HFoHIu3QAwVyNcCAnfojGj9PIsnErud6JYAqpMKFOwAuiwrRLairoxzIeraCp-knrz6C1JXNiIGCm5uJHVoY-FaArWwXcXWK0XOoO6W8/s1600/IMG_20200131_140132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJHV524bieZffItrk3gQpUe5WI7ReNc9Qnh9HFoHIu3QAwVyNcCAnfojGj9PIsnErud6JYAqpMKFOwAuiwrRLairoxzIeraCp-knrz6C1JXNiIGCm5uJHVoY-FaArWwXcXWK0XOoO6W8/s640/IMG_20200131_140132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acle signal box</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu0X2wq_JiYDPr0M2lrIJhdrXKNWKhFxR0ieNrBveK0XDtrAGz1Fo1mDw9uu_RkpJqY4Tqn1_S5FynI0KEudQIpNs6R3sMybdxstvk9KmMa-0UojrikpMxNob5DNt5gf6xYnB3Msa_Bw/s1600/IMG_20200131_140937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1600" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu0X2wq_JiYDPr0M2lrIJhdrXKNWKhFxR0ieNrBveK0XDtrAGz1Fo1mDw9uu_RkpJqY4Tqn1_S5FynI0KEudQIpNs6R3sMybdxstvk9KmMa-0UojrikpMxNob5DNt5gf6xYnB3Msa_Bw/s640/IMG_20200131_140937.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you and Goodbye </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIehmmF_3yS9y-OOIirKvqE8TiW8GK5x5UnEQRDxhVkcI75SPGgEpjToeFOhB-2cmVJNyLhM4z-DRw21atTxYIjXHZ5Iz6qlbNeuHRTn6Q78CbNy0bcX3bD1S8o6ayyNUxwb6gTfph4/s1600/IMG_20200131_134724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIehmmF_3yS9y-OOIirKvqE8TiW8GK5x5UnEQRDxhVkcI75SPGgEpjToeFOhB-2cmVJNyLhM4z-DRw21atTxYIjXHZ5Iz6qlbNeuHRTn6Q78CbNy0bcX3bD1S8o6ayyNUxwb6gTfph4/s640/IMG_20200131_134724.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking East at Acle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcG0GT9q5S4kQ9h9pa0to6ahcBJ1HF74nxO62v2bRF2WwlB_LFox9yWGE9222gNShBIhm_XrlVOzGishoJAgZD0Am8JtYSWkfbcBzNYqS2P7YkB1PGPTpsb9HBaWVjAfKxsxYDfFhE6g/s1600/Screenshot_20200131_140828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcG0GT9q5S4kQ9h9pa0to6ahcBJ1HF74nxO62v2bRF2WwlB_LFox9yWGE9222gNShBIhm_XrlVOzGishoJAgZD0Am8JtYSWkfbcBzNYqS2P7YkB1PGPTpsb9HBaWVjAfKxsxYDfFhE6g/s640/Screenshot_20200131_140828.jpg" width="640" /></a>755333 heading to Great Yarmouth</td></tr>
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Unfortunately the old crossing gates at Lingwood had already been removed, so I continued to Brundall, where the Yarmouth and Lowestoft lines converge, or split depending which way you're travelling! Of all the intermediate stations, Brundall has the lot - double track, split platforms, nice footbridge, Semaphores and old manual crossing gates. This would be the last day for Yarmouth services, with Lowestoft services finishing two days later. I took my time at Brundall, enjoying sights I'll never see again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1e1b2KyVouJeUFpddMKrYTGABFES2L6u_nSJd2zml7YFZjEpWHwhr114n5dIdSpzN_YbBSEhI3SeebrN3Z7Z8c1ROhbNrpT3iUg1VLas07Xpvi0Gkk_vmamul8JNuW6XkzGX0sL9JAk/s1600/IMG_20200131_154939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1e1b2KyVouJeUFpddMKrYTGABFES2L6u_nSJd2zml7YFZjEpWHwhr114n5dIdSpzN_YbBSEhI3SeebrN3Z7Z8c1ROhbNrpT3iUg1VLas07Xpvi0Gkk_vmamul8JNuW6XkzGX0sL9JAk/s640/IMG_20200131_154939.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsotU2VGn5bmTBYgu2ueuOSoP3Iwa-G1svoRaOW_SdvA4F89vSPt7PEEdibzDxPhAkL2u-EubFSe_o1qYYMuLSfFZHEDlGFt949K9wnTUy3o6AWZ8I1tlqz-XBkH7FAnInr1agokq4AGo/s1600/IMG_20200131_154854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsotU2VGn5bmTBYgu2ueuOSoP3Iwa-G1svoRaOW_SdvA4F89vSPt7PEEdibzDxPhAkL2u-EubFSe_o1qYYMuLSfFZHEDlGFt949K9wnTUy3o6AWZ8I1tlqz-XBkH7FAnInr1agokq4AGo/s640/IMG_20200131_154854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycsugx7J4mF3waWmFKiZd_flVdSEBwhBI1quRcWzbwj44hrytFy6o5cFCb9AOYPe6oU2BifDSu2i49Km40piWIrWZFgZGqBTZIy1THjptmdHDX8sPb4daRuatCUePPq6Pyroqk0NDxAs/s1600/IMG_20200131_154924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycsugx7J4mF3waWmFKiZd_flVdSEBwhBI1quRcWzbwj44hrytFy6o5cFCb9AOYPe6oU2BifDSu2i49Km40piWIrWZFgZGqBTZIy1THjptmdHDX8sPb4daRuatCUePPq6Pyroqk0NDxAs/s640/IMG_20200131_154924.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-98pNe1buwiecg4TC35zUrT6m3ct6sEIjYSD5RMlfBRU0VnRjcPiG6lUO8O52ig72OmY3MUWjZ69Ma9LUxoIF3oVX8gzBMLIWKX6Pc6WJ-cnb2bhwTYKXSDkRnrxm87V7P9jxRn7MoU/s1600/Screenshot_20200203_153842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1600" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-98pNe1buwiecg4TC35zUrT6m3ct6sEIjYSD5RMlfBRU0VnRjcPiG6lUO8O52ig72OmY3MUWjZ69Ma9LUxoIF3oVX8gzBMLIWKX6Pc6WJ-cnb2bhwTYKXSDkRnrxm87V7P9jxRn7MoU/s640/Screenshot_20200203_153842.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">755333 heading for Yarmouth </td></tr>
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In 3 weeks all the new signals, barriers and new track will be operational, and the Berney Arms branch is due to be reopened - Berney Arms being the only GA station on the diesel network yet to be served by a Stadler. The stations will retain their charm, but it won't be the same.<br />
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Today, Monday, saw the final Class 156 Sprinter to leave GA and head for pastures new at East Midlands Railway. I was at Thetford to see 156417 pass through, handily hampered by one of its new classmates!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4a2afZXNtu6wP_23ow8rsERZpnsEgVxRiXfB5cL7_kF3_cENu1qjgS4bUULwqZFYbCw56YJ7rvifotqxij_NCAB1DlvI-MNXuL3jSI2S1jTvAHHjTMhfPwT8ewuSgDiGk-qS6EePuYE/s1600/Screenshot_20200203_101648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4a2afZXNtu6wP_23ow8rsERZpnsEgVxRiXfB5cL7_kF3_cENu1qjgS4bUULwqZFYbCw56YJ7rvifotqxij_NCAB1DlvI-MNXuL3jSI2S1jTvAHHjTMhfPwT8ewuSgDiGk-qS6EePuYE/s640/Screenshot_20200203_101648.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">156417 passes through Thetford </td></tr>
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With the notable exception of 745010, who really disgraced itself last week by failing at Forest Gate and stubbornly refusing to move, the Stadlers finally appear to be settling down, indeed I'm writing this post on 010 and all is well so far. The 3 week closure of the Wherry Lines gives a welcome restbite to sort out the remaining niggles, and today I have noticed no cancellations or delays caused by Stadler faults.<br />
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If this happy state of affairs continues for the rest of the week I'll finally be able to post my reports of the debuts of the bi-modes on the routes I haven't covered yet, not to mention the last 156 journeys on the East Suffolk Line and Marks Tey - Sudbury branch.<br />
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Make no mistake, these are gloriously good trains to travel on, and I remain convinced once bedded in will be the envy of the country, and despite the unfortunate issues GA should be proud of themselves for going against the DfT grain, and investing in trains that have passengers smiling as they board them. I can't please everyone with this blog, so GA were never going to please absolutely everyone with the Stadlers. But they've won over the huge majority I've witnessed. Hopefully much more to come on them.<br />
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To finish with here's the video a lot of the above pics were taken from, showing the Semaphores at Great Yarmouth, Acle and Brundall, plus 156417 passing rather shakily through Thetford.<br />
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Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-55890492645199737752020-01-25T22:50:00.000+00:002020-01-25T22:50:10.984+00:00Blog Trip To Nottingham<br />
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First of all an apology - the light on Thursday was abysmal all day for taking photos, so I'm sorry that some of them aren't as clear as I'd have liked.<br />
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Last week I received a very tempting offer from East Midlands Railway - London return to anywhere on the Midland Mainline for up to 4 people at £15 each. Immediately I knew what had to be done. My blog partner and best friend, Tim, had never been on an HST. Not once. Ever. In 45 years. This could not be allowed to continue, and with the MML now the only place to find HST's out of London this was the chance I'd been waiting for. Initially I thought Sheffield - may as well go as far as you can, but it transpired EMR's old girls mainly do the St Pancras - Nottingham run so that was decided for me.<br />
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I cunningly planned the journey so Tim would also get his first rides on a Class 745 Stadler both ways from Ipswich and thus our day began bright and early on the East Suffolk Line, Tim starting from Beccles and yours truly at Darsham. It also started late, which meant squeaky bum time almost immediately as to if we'd make the connection at Ipswich onto the 745. It was much too close for comfort at our ages involving a veritable sprint over the footbridge between platforms 4 and 2 at the Suffolk terminus. However, made it we did, and were soon breezing through the North Essex countryside at 100mph heading for London. Not for the first time I was thankful that the only new trains in the country (that I've been on) I actually like are on my own patch. They are different, quirky, go like stink and I've already grown very fond of them.<br />
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We made our way from Liverpool St to St Pancras via the Farringdon Cheat - that is by switching from Underground to Thameslink at Farringdon to avoid the ridiculously long walk from Kings Cross/St Pancras Underground station to the trains at St Pancras. Get Thameslink and you emerge right opposite the EMR entrance. We got to the platform barriers, and there was our steed looking majestic. A lot of you will relate to the feeling of anticipation you get when you know what lies ahead in cases like that.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scene that greeted us at St Pancras</td></tr>
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Although the train had yet to be advertised we were allowed through the barriers to take some photos, with nothing but friendly faces in evidence. So we did, and I can't help wondering if there has ever been a more photogenic train than the HST125. Note I said train not locomotive so all you steam fans get back in your box!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i_-_QJQIAMdpXgTX4BlqfaHoLPQLJuibQn97qwjkneYqt_09vAcSdgP_vsZjPsx6uCOakxozmAEF1fnyVXGI0Y5cSm61c0TEvMd85BClYdFDps7_nl1-rWak-r2lckzvXiOibbfiuyg/s1600/IMG_20200123_101922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i_-_QJQIAMdpXgTX4BlqfaHoLPQLJuibQn97qwjkneYqt_09vAcSdgP_vsZjPsx6uCOakxozmAEF1fnyVXGI0Y5cSm61c0TEvMd85BClYdFDps7_nl1-rWak-r2lckzvXiOibbfiuyg/s640/IMG_20200123_101922.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">43066</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">43047</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SrmKRN2NgFM-92Mq1NwI-IyDoKpz_XVFPDLmqEwnkIEmEUlp5qXXxtiFBlXtmSMR4V1Sa0gtdOVWjevauc55ueR-ffwRbJwSoYXGWt8mU0T5xX4VBYSnVq5lN9yFIY9yBXUgnmcjjWM/s1600/IMG_20200123_102419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SrmKRN2NgFM-92Mq1NwI-IyDoKpz_XVFPDLmqEwnkIEmEUlp5qXXxtiFBlXtmSMR4V1Sa0gtdOVWjevauc55ueR-ffwRbJwSoYXGWt8mU0T5xX4VBYSnVq5lN9yFIY9yBXUgnmcjjWM/s640/IMG_20200123_102419.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HST heaven at St Pancras</td></tr>
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Having finished our photographic duties we found our seats and nattered. In fact we nattered so intently we failed to notice that we continued to be the only ones on board. Until a chap came up and asked if we were travelling. "Yes", I replied, "on the 1034." Rather apologetically the chap said "erm, this is the 1134, the 1034 has just left from platform 1", the train on the right in the above pic, which had not arrived when we entered the platform. It arrived and turned round in 10 mins! That never happened at Kings Cross or Paddington! Cue some red faces and some grovelling to the rather amused Conductor on the 1105 to Nottingham, who let us travel on that instead. Which was great apart from one tiny detail...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYWtFSPK6Sbr-eJgCLN0tcXkLQt-0RFRsvdwonkkIZRcJmuaeF4oIi-yiaHEoKGarY6kqMnpImDm8q70z-AP4ywYBBMgCaM7U4ChIG7iY6CWYXexa9s49f7NHvrEkl_Koa-qAcoS1fik/s1600/IMG_20200123_125439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYWtFSPK6Sbr-eJgCLN0tcXkLQt-0RFRsvdwonkkIZRcJmuaeF4oIi-yiaHEoKGarY6kqMnpImDm8q70z-AP4ywYBBMgCaM7U4ChIG7iY6CWYXexa9s49f7NHvrEkl_Koa-qAcoS1fik/s640/IMG_20200123_125439.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh dear...</td></tr>
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...It wasn't an HST, which was rather the object of the exercise. But neither of us had been on a Meridian, and at least it was the right one for the year. To all intents and purposes Meridians are Voyagers, but with a different interior, and that makes a difference. I found the Meridian far more pleasant to travel on than a Voyager, certainly less cramped, and it seemed more sturdy and quiet too. I would happily travel on one again, in fact I intend to.<br />
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We arrived on time in a very dreary and murky Nottingham. It's been many decades since I was in Nottingham, and even then not in the centre, so having bought our excellent value combined bus, tram and train tickets to give us freedom of Greater Nottingham and beyond we jumped on our first tram. I like trams. Yes, the initial set up is costly and disruptive but once in operation they are Godsends. You don't get utilities constantly digging the track up, or numpties parking on them causing delays. Some of the roads we went on were normal terraced streets that you wouldn't expect trams on. But trams there were, and the sight of two enormous Park & Ride sites on the route, full trams and no cars in the City Centre speaks for itself. Another big car park at the terminus in Hucknall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB1yJoflIcZ8r2FPaHGQp8C01onolvqiox2V4XoCB90_R9CAKt1Ej7G7o7cF4c-Mb7MMJjM3K0z6rs64TgDQvB70hZAbeSPBqoVoTfGBNOl0jv5hb3AmsWLdGw1jjE3XnF0NVdkfCVG0/s1600/IMG_20200123_140858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB1yJoflIcZ8r2FPaHGQp8C01onolvqiox2V4XoCB90_R9CAKt1Ej7G7o7cF4c-Mb7MMJjM3K0z6rs64TgDQvB70hZAbeSPBqoVoTfGBNOl0jv5hb3AmsWLdGw1jjE3XnF0NVdkfCVG0/s640/IMG_20200123_140858.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the giant Park & Ride sites served by the trams</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LM93ld7WUSt_F-s5eBPkSFCnrNh6KMPzdhY22K1ig-yKILIXfpcDsQUycKwpv7GWH3WE6OmuoH7K5INJqnDOHZXKiQe6D2hg-Y6YJekyV3bgBxiFCGZvBSgGXtGmSkyLNwZI8LMKqqY/s1600/IMG_20200123_143013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LM93ld7WUSt_F-s5eBPkSFCnrNh6KMPzdhY22K1ig-yKILIXfpcDsQUycKwpv7GWH3WE6OmuoH7K5INJqnDOHZXKiQe6D2hg-Y6YJekyV3bgBxiFCGZvBSgGXtGmSkyLNwZI8LMKqqY/s640/IMG_20200123_143013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both types of tram in use in Nottingham</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1PFuqnJ0pKkSZyVpdzYxw6QDVFqw_g0N-x8RIaGZQ8d4Wzd7DGlE7KAu9WMyx1cFWJCjyNck2cL90vg558HLaLCYfQd0t830iv1Kf_-yW4BCMy-IfxHgchzPVdYrJI4NBMcPHFw1Go8/s1600/IMG_20200123_143041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1PFuqnJ0pKkSZyVpdzYxw6QDVFqw_g0N-x8RIaGZQ8d4Wzd7DGlE7KAu9WMyx1cFWJCjyNck2cL90vg558HLaLCYfQd0t830iv1Kf_-yW4BCMy-IfxHgchzPVdYrJI4NBMcPHFw1Go8/s640/IMG_20200123_143041.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tram we travelled on at Hucknall terminus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j7xeQEoZzdfMAtS-RYCd6wd9gvEtqpO57YapElyrC3gv8w1vaubkq-_Z-p_YRohRc0X9pO3PCblesQ9AU1mBBp65KJtb7IuVMoqPudDl9Bu3A_KwauffK2QluJthf16tczvSvpEyhUA/s1600/IMG_20200123_143403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j7xeQEoZzdfMAtS-RYCd6wd9gvEtqpO57YapElyrC3gv8w1vaubkq-_Z-p_YRohRc0X9pO3PCblesQ9AU1mBBp65KJtb7IuVMoqPudDl9Bu3A_KwauffK2QluJthf16tczvSvpEyhUA/s640/IMG_20200123_143403.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hucknall Park & Ride site</td></tr>
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One subject dominated our conversation, and that was why on Earth isn't there a tram system in Norwich. Like Nottingham Norwich has an airport, a thriving University, a large population, well used business areas and a popular City Centre. It's screaming out for a Nottingham style desire to rid the City Centre of traffic and build a modern, convenient, cheap transit system that will make people WANT to leave their cars at home or at the Park & Ride sites. It could be up and running in 5 years if the desire was there. But it won't be because there isn't. To further compare our combined bus, tram and train ticket cost £5.10 - a Norwich Area Fusion day ticket, which only covers the 4 main bus operators costs £7.00. Of course no one's going to leave their car at home.<br />
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We had intended to get the bus back into Nottingham, however our day of embarrassment continued when we couldn't find the bus stop, despite using Google Maps and any other aid we could access. When we did find a stop for a longer route the bus didn't turn up so we caught the train, and as it turned out that was a good decision.<br />
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It is rare these days to get a really comfortable train seat, and the EMR 158's we get at Norwich aren't the worst seats but not exactly the best either. Ok to Ely or Peterborough but I wouldn't want to go much further than that. So it was a joy to sit on the seats on 158889, which are the most comfy train seats I've sat on for years. It turns out that this unit is ex South West Trains, and the difference in comfort is striking. I don't know how many of them they have, but can we have them on the Norwich run please!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEVaTFbV6WfROH3x97x8lhewk8dEvNHQFNR44fHhqmmwZWxcuTVDyeTeQf9tn1xnNu6E8D_5OSkZgWC8moPv67Eg_tTgoLCaONsYbuFx7TR5RjB8JapoD-VNkRwXp3a2ooGA8LjmOz_s/s1600/IMG_20200123_150336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEVaTFbV6WfROH3x97x8lhewk8dEvNHQFNR44fHhqmmwZWxcuTVDyeTeQf9tn1xnNu6E8D_5OSkZgWC8moPv67Eg_tTgoLCaONsYbuFx7TR5RjB8JapoD-VNkRwXp3a2ooGA8LjmOz_s/s640/IMG_20200123_150336.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really, really nice seats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVYQkstZ_XE7D750ftyw3BRDzYRmg572F3GyxVCSmeiR6Aac_L0MEfyMZ1tExXM5wZEc79z8jb63HHswk_myBekFBb3kGOZZY0rFqbPJtT2jgzhvJvgqkkGKpTbIOtkqAtS7sSwxmIBY/s1600/IMG_20200123_151340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVYQkstZ_XE7D750ftyw3BRDzYRmg572F3GyxVCSmeiR6Aac_L0MEfyMZ1tExXM5wZEc79z8jb63HHswk_myBekFBb3kGOZZY0rFqbPJtT2jgzhvJvgqkkGKpTbIOtkqAtS7sSwxmIBY/s640/IMG_20200123_151340.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">158889 at Nottingham</td></tr>
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I had realised very quickly that you need more than 4 hours to take in what Nottingham has to offer. We never got near a bus, and that is something that needs to be put right. I'm hoping to spend a couple of days there later in the year, when it's warmer and brighter, because I have a feeling Nottingham is a City many others should use as a blueprint for the future. It made a deep impression on me.<br />
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Anyway back to Nottingham Station, and I had seen on Realtime Trains that Network Rail's Flying Banana HST Test Train was passing through half hour before our train to London departed. Another first for Tim, and this time the planning paid off!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82XFhxMjODXDUOA7cauFX1MMJZhDusfLbGPvGSOhzwXbjSJW8hL2TKzNa-DX4Q4CB9qP5chr4hvQv8OVvXGq4KDFWi85Xo_3Y2szUBCXqbbby66TspZUM7OOSZyBvCC1AXYFyae3ywBA/s1600/Screenshot_20200125_210720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82XFhxMjODXDUOA7cauFX1MMJZhDusfLbGPvGSOhzwXbjSJW8hL2TKzNa-DX4Q4CB9qP5chr4hvQv8OVvXGq4KDFWi85Xo_3Y2szUBCXqbbby66TspZUM7OOSZyBvCC1AXYFyae3ywBA/s640/Screenshot_20200125_210720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In fading light the "Flying Banana" passes through Nottingham</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgDSNGwx3jZyPcKKt8ZLSkRJLhqiE3sAw3mcF_YhkNVEIzBDD9HbTWLmG8_u-HT-gw7hDkR3jtfF2NDpSQTh0SR8Q4OEYo1LXVGcKU0MfM0AttqiVBAOGkTNkCs7F26TyPseaFR13H9k/s1600/IMG_20200123_155033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgDSNGwx3jZyPcKKt8ZLSkRJLhqiE3sAw3mcF_YhkNVEIzBDD9HbTWLmG8_u-HT-gw7hDkR3jtfF2NDpSQTh0SR8Q4OEYo1LXVGcKU0MfM0AttqiVBAOGkTNkCs7F26TyPseaFR13H9k/s640/IMG_20200123_155033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other end of the banana with 43081.</td></tr>
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The sharp eyed among you may have noticed something familiar in the first banana pic. Trying not to be seen at the back is one of the recently transferred Class 156 DMU's from Greater Anglia to EMR. This one was 156412, now renumbered 156912, which used to be the Sudbury branch's pride and joy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBUtuIs66NM2M7xYlmmB0rS3UydGFbLiz6mZXelpAKZiw5piuP4nV2_DJWLCtzcfYxLHjlyjahpLvb9LR8w_hOA0mJSA0bno9UIJ2LKxiOWG36GTWTHnbphHJ-3LA5QVFdqcPdTAKsUc/s1600/IMG_20200123_154028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBUtuIs66NM2M7xYlmmB0rS3UydGFbLiz6mZXelpAKZiw5piuP4nV2_DJWLCtzcfYxLHjlyjahpLvb9LR8w_hOA0mJSA0bno9UIJ2LKxiOWG36GTWTHnbphHJ-3LA5QVFdqcPdTAKsUc/s640/IMG_20200123_154028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">156912 on a local service to Newark</td></tr>
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Then, finally, after 45 years of waiting, Tim travelled on an HST, an experience so exciting and nerve tingling he was asleep before we left! (I was up early! T) He did manage to stay awake for most of the journey though, so he can tick it off his bucket list.<br />
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Tim: Because it was dark I didn't get the full speed feeling as the smoothness and comfort felt so good I now know what I had missed. Really grateful to Steve for the idea and our faux pas will go down in folklore but that's the joy of travel. Bonus on the Banana as it is not seen by many from our area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZwCAKQAZl_MY8CKbjjwb1_Fo4nnST4DIg9pyxdmMGFF4QwquGJKf_J6BBED7doLAcI0DTg1ypbjoAwKW60lJAU_ApqXZhhACWvJj-Wu-fg6_hUa1RFB11lTYwAooIhi4uo7i3YQKBaw/s1600/IMG_20200123_184912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZwCAKQAZl_MY8CKbjjwb1_Fo4nnST4DIg9pyxdmMGFF4QwquGJKf_J6BBED7doLAcI0DTg1ypbjoAwKW60lJAU_ApqXZhhACWvJj-Wu-fg6_hUa1RFB11lTYwAooIhi4uo7i3YQKBaw/s640/IMG_20200123_184912.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">43089 back at St Pancras</td></tr>
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It was a return journey in all senses back home, a freight train blocking the platforms at Ipswich held us up on the still impressive 745, and it was another sprint across that dratted footbridge and a run almost to Westerfield as the bi-modes still can't use the full length of Platform 1 at Ipswich in case they pull the wires down! We are getting too old for that!<br />
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So, in conclusion, a day to remember and laugh at. Thanks to Tim for his company, thanks to the EMR staff who are friendly, very friendly. So many staff said hello to us on the platforms at Nottingham which was really nice, you don't get that everywhere. Thanks to the Conductor for letting two twits travel on a later than booked train, thanks to Phil from Modern Railways for his advance tips and advice and most of all thank you to Nottingham for making me want to return. It was like the sample of the wine the sommelier gives you for approval. I heartily approve and I want the rest of it.Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-30693063376584581442020-01-08T23:00:00.000+00:002020-01-08T23:00:24.754+00:00007 Ends 61 Years Of Hurt On GEMLWhat year 1958 was - Great Balls of Fire was no 1, Bolton Wanderers won the FA Cup, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister, and the first section of motorway in the UK, the Preston Bypass opened. It was also the last time the Great Eastern Main Line had a brand new train make its maiden trip. Until today.<br />
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61 years down the line and the first Greater Anglia brand new Intercity train left Norwich at 0740 to begin a new chapter of history. The 12 car Stadler, 745007 made light work of the 114.5 mile journey, arriving in Liverpool St 3 minutes early. But what of the trains themselves? I boarded this morning expecting a longer version of the bi-mode 755's. To some extent they are, but to my surprise in other ways they are entirely different.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxhpyk8Ni8HSUA1E1sLVCjPc97QGW7JsnHwlj3ujy1Jmku2cMvL1Gr4N7W0FrKMGcDqqYtzMTXnjbOgJYcTkJOR-sQDfqmHsXvGQCD40Q9fwUJJyZVzEqCnsQfQ4ERXNguwEZNps-RB8/s1600/IMG_20200108_072146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxhpyk8Ni8HSUA1E1sLVCjPc97QGW7JsnHwlj3ujy1Jmku2cMvL1Gr4N7W0FrKMGcDqqYtzMTXnjbOgJYcTkJOR-sQDfqmHsXvGQCD40Q9fwUJJyZVzEqCnsQfQ4ERXNguwEZNps-RB8/s640/IMG_20200108_072146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">745007 at Norwich waiting to form the 0740 to London</td></tr>
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The ride is effortless, with thanks to Roger French aka Busandtrainuser for that word, as I was struggling. He's right, you're doing 100mph before you know it without acceleration to take your breath away. Quiet, smooth, visual through the large windows. Air conditioning at the right temperature for me at least - everyone is different so that really is a matter of taste. Comfortable seats as on the bi-modes, WiFi, charging points, the familiar and reassuring voice of Julie Berry on the announcements, two refreshment trolleys and a cafe bar, far more seats than the old trains and you have a bit of a winner. It is, quite simply, like no other train in the UK.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhADSWWIP23tShYeA57ooXDRzPINCuIS3iDr6yI2DMiTQ4-3yBDDK0Ms41vFI5846h2kl2BximqV4Yzb522vWF88MRoVH2V4IRHvukBYRMkzMtt8LZVKwPKuM-3zjVMGzeGTij803E3g/s1600/IMG_20200108_072852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhADSWWIP23tShYeA57ooXDRzPINCuIS3iDr6yI2DMiTQ4-3yBDDK0Ms41vFI5846h2kl2BximqV4Yzb522vWF88MRoVH2V4IRHvukBYRMkzMtt8LZVKwPKuM-3zjVMGzeGTij803E3g/s640/IMG_20200108_072852.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a looong train!</td></tr>
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Like the bi-modes the seats over the bogies are raised, but not every coach is the same. Some are like the bi-modes, where the end seats are raised by a step, but others the floor slopes up so most of the seats are raised with no step. Of course that means the floor also slopes down in the next coach which could prove entertaining. First Class is quirky beyond measure with quiet secluded sections, raised cubby hole type tables, and seats that appear quite firm at first, but didn't seem to feel any harder as the journey progressed, so once they are bedded in I think they'll be fine. The only negative point I heard was regarding the very bright lighting. It would be good if there was a lower setting, especially as the reading lights above the seats are of particularly good quality.<div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHVXalSAm821idrROhf9uqv0tZOQd-kBKGog2x4Z7Oyngve82FL3bJqlAoeBqzE5Nr-A483DAh884QiLUxMDPywB2l7VlK99ZZxP5EXKbdKVMMyIT1W5biSQqsQT7Baf9F0NGmXatdYM/s1600/IMG_20200108_072645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHVXalSAm821idrROhf9uqv0tZOQd-kBKGog2x4Z7Oyngve82FL3bJqlAoeBqzE5Nr-A483DAh884QiLUxMDPywB2l7VlK99ZZxP5EXKbdKVMMyIT1W5biSQqsQT7Baf9F0NGmXatdYM/s640/IMG_20200108_072645.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the quirky First Class tables</td></tr>
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The Cafe Bar looked attractive, but it is heavily towards the First Class end of the traiu, so if you are in the rear standard coach you have a considerable walk to get to the cafe bar, and I'd rely on the trolley! I expected more toilets too, only 5 for the whole train and only one accessible toilet, again at the First Class end where the only wheelchair bays are. That might be something that needs retrospectively looking at as those 5 loos are going to be extremely well used, so tanking is going to be vital.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRsitoHJH7iL3FCbJ_Ufek0-juP_Otz6-Hs0hcf4x5nbg_DOLLIPcbi0kHKdImeL_V14_OJpqS7JDFuKf0fcd5uFKCS5bsdy3Ull9pjPSE2ivPO63TC7N06CK7Dmsz13obC3Zjpgm7tw/s1600/IMG_20200108_072727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRsitoHJH7iL3FCbJ_Ufek0-juP_Otz6-Hs0hcf4x5nbg_DOLLIPcbi0kHKdImeL_V14_OJpqS7JDFuKf0fcd5uFKCS5bsdy3Ull9pjPSE2ivPO63TC7N06CK7Dmsz13obC3Zjpgm7tw/s640/IMG_20200108_072727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cafe Bar area</td></tr>
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I travelled back from London in the company of the aforementioned Roger French, and the Deputy Editor of Modern Railways magazine, Phil Sherratt, and we had a tete a tete comparing the 745's to other new fleets around the country. The general conclusion was these 745's are just about the best new trains around right now, including the IET's on GWR and LNER. I would much rather travel to Scotland on a 745 than Azuma, and no one disagreed. It made for a really interesting journey, so thanks to Roger and Phil for their company and wisdom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpYNXNM2N2igxGu_ssPdVnYy3Ghw-ZnRhxoh5j7z4OunsLb6X4mU3d7qQ8fKFO15R9rj65njfi5g6R7t7fv4btQtO_9fIgv40KG4XT8eHe4axgBoX2hyjoc4r9hODYAQ3dbWhspI-S8c/s1600/IMG_20200108_094745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpYNXNM2N2igxGu_ssPdVnYy3Ghw-ZnRhxoh5j7z4OunsLb6X4mU3d7qQ8fKFO15R9rj65njfi5g6R7t7fv4btQtO_9fIgv40KG4XT8eHe4axgBoX2hyjoc4r9hODYAQ3dbWhspI-S8c/s640/IMG_20200108_094745.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting at Liverpool St to return to Norwich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE9Db6MvcKTO4Qk8OZksz0Yqav0mfOidBEYRR_QJnk21PRXz7B-O6EBTaXOq0kbgFbpg00l3dhdBjiDJ9PtjpA5lH7eA8slTblbDzjV8Lyb6hIw55JZtpnEl9WJoGDsQuFvPLkW8h2wo/s1600/IMG_20200108_114811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE9Db6MvcKTO4Qk8OZksz0Yqav0mfOidBEYRR_QJnk21PRXz7B-O6EBTaXOq0kbgFbpg00l3dhdBjiDJ9PtjpA5lH7eA8slTblbDzjV8Lyb6hIw55JZtpnEl9WJoGDsQuFvPLkW8h2wo/s640/IMG_20200108_114811.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And back at Norwich with one of the old warhorse Class 90's for company</td></tr>
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It was at Norwich that Phil came into his own. Sometimes the obvious is that obvious it goes straight over your head, well it does mine, and I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed that the grey and white on the 745's is the mirror of that on the 755's. A nice touch and another example of the thought that has gone into these units.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ycX6gzEF14bkG9086GWmeC692XUROQZb-aDAEdQnc90KlWjEb1vkzfdMGk9xxP6ZSORkh93RNDve4v835nu5YSYcWniMA5pjvSuWlj9UcEXEYz2eLiz2-0ZZsMIF4LSB2wmFfyN1l_Q/s1600/IMG_20200108_135006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ycX6gzEF14bkG9086GWmeC692XUROQZb-aDAEdQnc90KlWjEb1vkzfdMGk9xxP6ZSORkh93RNDve4v835nu5YSYcWniMA5pjvSuWlj9UcEXEYz2eLiz2-0ZZsMIF4LSB2wmFfyN1l_Q/s640/IMG_20200108_135006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compare this 755/3 with the 745.</td></tr>
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One final quirk. Walking through them at the halfway stage you reach what looks very similar to the engine compartments on the bi-modes. No engines on these 745's though so what are they? I asked the friendly driving team who told me they were, in fact cab ends without the cab, as the 12 car units are, it turns out two 6 car units joined together. That means they can be split in the sheds for maintenance purposes if necessary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahjciqdnn5k-dkrIDKwwYEPAQ4Te3o9otrU0g1kXQu2XN1Lb2wETLabat51u5kpCJyLwZsnFfD6KNcjgD3Eld353fKlU7R-7ZTxLQJRbxvI32lOBnbhQr9QQOXbf5NqVh_XtnQaiVgEg/s1600/IMG_20200108_120704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahjciqdnn5k-dkrIDKwwYEPAQ4Te3o9otrU0g1kXQu2XN1Lb2wETLabat51u5kpCJyLwZsnFfD6KNcjgD3Eld353fKlU7R-7ZTxLQJRbxvI32lOBnbhQr9QQOXbf5NqVh_XtnQaiVgEg/s640/IMG_20200108_120704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The middle of the train outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5CeWLc_MknTr_FOzwd0rm6MM0dl3GSHyiWKWLRxtUreWNbafC9q_IS5-OrP32-L6EcCSArAm8P5AhyphenhyphenYbZE2Em1_nXLMpIxoXSJqrW3vELt_LxmoT4cWAXHFF3FOHHePJfTGGfLPkUs0/s1600/IMG_20200108_120737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5CeWLc_MknTr_FOzwd0rm6MM0dl3GSHyiWKWLRxtUreWNbafC9q_IS5-OrP32-L6EcCSArAm8P5AhyphenhyphenYbZE2Em1_nXLMpIxoXSJqrW3vELt_LxmoT4cWAXHFF3FOHHePJfTGGfLPkUs0/s640/IMG_20200108_120737.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And inside</td></tr>
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In conclusion I think the huge majority of passengers will love these trains, the level access and wide doors make boarding and alighting much easier, the on board facilities will be popular, but if you're travelling home on a Friday evening I suggest you use the loos at the station, because I fear the on board ones will be in great demand. The short set enticed enthusiasts from round the country to the area. I have a feeling Greater Anglia's unique new fleet will too. They have set the bar high, and make fleets only months older look already dated. 61 years melted away in 115 minutes.</div>
Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-63046361594965743242020-01-04T19:40:00.000+00:002020-01-04T22:18:35.388+00:00In Defence Of Greater AngliaNo, I haven't lost the plot over the silly season, or suddenly found a partner working for Greater Anglia! I have been as frustrated with constant delays and cancellations on our railway network as anyone else, but I have been equally as frustrated at the false information put out by local media and armchair warriors as to who is to blame for the mass disruption to Greater Anglia services in recent weeks.<br />
<br />
I'll tell you right now it is NOT Greater Anglia.<br />
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Those who know how the railway works, or indeed doesn't work these days will be aware that Greater Anglia have little say on anything. I have studied a franchise application and the Department of Transport control everything from train formations to when staff are allowed to break wind. Well almost. So let me try to explain the predicament Greater Anglia have found themselves in.<br />
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As part of the franchise agreement Abellio pledged to replace every single train on the Greater Anglia network. That's a lot of trains. Not only that but they pledged to design the new trains themselves, rather than leave it up to the people at the DfT who think ironing board seats are perfect for long distance travel, and we have already seen the care and thought that went into the design of the Stadlers - they are amazing trains. However, not all has run smoothly.<br />
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First of all when GA announced the timetable for the introduction of the new trains the DfT went "Whoopee - we can use your old trains elsewhere"! Promptly set dates for lease contracts to end on current rolling stock, promising them to other operators all over the country, and Wales! That did not allow sufficient time for testing, driver training, and above all the teething troubles which occur with all new fleets. And boy have there been teething troubles, some of which, with the best will in the world, can not have been predicted.<br />
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I still have not heard a definitive reason why the signals stopped recognising trains, or level crossings ceased behaving themselves. I do know it affected more than the Stadlers, however, so to level all the blame at them, which many have done is inaccurate at best, and if you are in the media plain irresponsible. You can test and test and test, and indeed the Stadlers had been in service for many weeks before these problems surfaced, coinciding with leaf fall season, yet not predict a problem like that. Network Rail were entirely correct to say hang on a sec, if our signals aren't recognising those trains, then those trains cannot run. Imagine the outcry if they had shrugged it off, then a fatal collision at a level crossing had ensued, or, with so many single line sections in our area, another Cowden type incident. Damned if you do damned if you don't. Greater Anglia is obliged to adhere to Network Rail's instructions. Network Rail own the tracks, signals and everything else. It is the equivalent of the Highways Agency putting a weight restriction on a road meaning double deckers can no longer operate on it. Not the bus operator's fault, and if most of their fleet is deckers then there are problems that cannot be solved overnight.<br />
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But why has the impact been so acute compared to other operating companies introducing new trains? Well, it's really quite simple. Most other operators are replacing trains that are being scrapped, or stored at the very least. LNER have had all the time in the world to introduce the Azumas, as apart for a few HST sets to East Midland Railway, nothing was being cascaded anywhere else. GWR was the same as apart from a handful of sets to Scotrail nothing was needed elsewhere. Northerns new 195's are replacing to be scrapped Pacers, Great Northern's 717's replacing to be scrapped 313's, Scotrails 385's replace to be scrapped 314's. Yes a few 170's have moved South to Northern but there was no exact timescale on that. No other operator was going to lose their entire fleet to other operators as GA have done with the 170's and 153's to Wales, and now the 156's to EMR.<br />
<br />
Except one. That one being London Overground, whose entire fleet of Class 172 demus operating the Gospel Oak - Barking line was promised to West Midlands Railway on completion of the electrification of the Goblin line. And duly, on the set date they did. Except their replacements weren't ready due to late delivery by Bombardier. London Overground had to adapt some Class 378's and operate a 50% service for months - and that's only a 6 train fleet! GA's is a whole lot bigger and they, through no fault of theirs, have lost most of the existing fleet before any problems with the new fleet could be identified let alone ironed out. When Southeastern introduced the 375's we had untold software updates to correct little niggles, but there was no pressure to get rid of the slam doors until the 375's were bedded in. Rank stupidity by the DfT, but we should know that by now, and they will be controlled by the same party for the next 5 years!<br />
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The problems involving the Stadlers has caused havoc with driver training, which is behind, and testing on the remainder of the new fleet, where each individual unit has to be tested for a certain amount of trouble free miles before it is allowed into traffic. Had GA had their old fleet to fall back on the disruptions would have been minimal. But they didn't, and could do nothing about it.<br />
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So why wasn't the short set brought back? Why weren't trains earmarked for scrapping in other areas brought in as a temporary stop gap? Firstly, who was going to pay for it? GA certainly weren't, and who can blame them when it seems the infrastructure, more than the trains was at fault. Stadler certainly weren't, as it hasn't been proven their trains were to blame. Network Rail certainly weren't, as they aren't responsible for passengers, and the DfT were busy fighting an election and there was no one to take decisions. Stalemate. Secondly all drivers and guards have to be qualified to work the types of train they do, and if they go too long without working them need to be retrained. No one at GA is trained on pacers, or HST's, which were the only diesel types being withdrawn. A conversation with a Norwich Conductor told me most of the staff's qualification on the short set had lapsed, so what with the Stadler training still ongoing it would have been no gain at all, despite more than I wishing the broads and marshes were echoing to the sound of English Electric's best again.<br />
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So GA were stuck between a rock and a hard place, and ultimately, as is always the case, it was the travelling public who suffered. Now, because the knock on effect has also impacted on the introduction of the Intercity 745's, mainline passengers are enduring sets that really shouldn't be out there. GA had a plan to keep a few sets in reserve, which had been spruced up a bit, in case there were teething probs with the 745's. Those sets are being spruced up at Bounds Green now, which means sets that no one expected to still be running are. It's far from ideal, but anything is better than nothing.<br />
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So, now I've put the record straight have GA handled this perfectly? No. I think the communication to customers has been poor, and we haven't seen enough people at stations explaining situations. Trouble is, as I alluded to earlier, no one seems to know what the real problem is, and you can't give information out if you haven't got it. I'm reminded of the lady at Faversham one chaotic Friday evening who berated me for not announcing I had no information to announce, while I was on the phone frantically trying to get some information to announce. I do believe, however, that GA could have been quicker to jump on the false news being banded about, especially by local media, which would have helped their reputation a little, and guided the public towards the facts, rather than fallacy and sensationalism. Except GA aren't allowed to blame NR or the DfT for anything. Operating companies are the Government's whipping boys, and let's face it if someone has given you a franchise you aren't going to then publicly criticise them, and since the DfT, who gave GA the franchise also own Network Rail.....<br />
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It would have been easy to jump on the bandwagon of criticism for GA. In my recent travels I have been as inconvenienced as anyone - Thursday alone I was affected by 5 cancellations and a poor signalling decision, but, just like GA I was a victim of circumstances honestly out of my control. GA could never have reasonably expected anything like the problems there have been, and ultimately it was down to the DfT to sort it out, but they went AWOL, apart from the new MP's now making a noise trying to make a name for themselves. GA have been operating with both hands behind their back, their mouth gagged, and as usual the front line staff have taken most of the grief. Hopefully the situation will soon be resolved. Ironically the 21 day closure of the Wherry lines in February will give some breathing space, as long as the new signals actually recognise the trains!<br />
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When all routes are operating normally I'll resume my reports because there has been some good news amongst the disruption, such as the new Norwich - Stansted service. But that can wait until everyone is a bit happier, GA and passengers alike.<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-61053809794630109502019-12-09T16:04:00.001+00:002019-12-09T16:04:17.115+00:00Stadlers At A Virtual StandstillI was hoping this post would be a retrospective look at the introduction of the new Stadler Class 755's onto the Ipswich - Cambridge and Lowestoft routes, including arguably the happiest passenger I've ever seen, However all is not well.<br />
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There is a crisis. In fact, if you will allow me to quote Blackadder; "This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you got a moment, it's a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying 'This Is a Large Crisis'"<br />
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It would appear that there is an issue with the new trains having an adverse effect on the track circuits (signals), and rather more worryingly, level crossing sensors. I understand there was a very near miss near Norwich where barriers thought the train had past and raised before it had, causing the train to miss a car by around a quarter of a second. Obviously safety has to take priority over everything else, so draconian speed restrictions have been put in place, along with, I'm told, prohibitions on Stadlers going on several routes until the cause of this has been identified and fixed.<br />
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As I type there are no trains running on the Ipswich - Felixstowe/Peterborough routes, a limited service on Ipswich - Cambridge, and there have also been suspensions on the Marks Tey - Sudbury branch. In addition to that there are no trains running Cromer - Sheringham, and less than 50% service on the rest of the route. There are numerous cancellations on Norwich - Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft routes, and all Norwich - Cambridge services are terminating at Ely. Slippery rails are causing issues on the East Suffolk Line. There has been no announcement as to when these measures will end.<br />
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Apart from replacement buses there seems to be no contingency whatsoever. You'd have thought the short set would have been rushed back, as it's hardly the height of the charter season, an emergency recall of the 153's, even the 170's yet to be refurbished by Transport for Wales - after all this IS an unforeseen and quite drastic development. But so far nothing, and that does not look good to the customer standing in the freezing cold waiting for, hopefully, a bus to turn up.<br />
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So I feel it would be inappropriate to wax lyrical about new introductions on routes that have had them taken away just as quickly! I may go out to see if there are any replacement buses around - I know Ensign have sent a couple to Norwich today - so watch this space for updates.<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-1795292250015030862019-12-04T13:26:00.000+00:002019-12-04T13:26:42.654+00:00Scania E400 Citis for ExcelAfter more than a year since I was told (and asked not to publish), First Eastern Counties have finally revealed that the new buses for their flagship Norwich - Peterborough XL route are to be E400 Citis built on a Scania chassis, the first time this combination has been put together, hence the secrecy, and not MMC bodies as was widely speculated. <div>
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In an announcement on their website, First proudly boast that all buses will have coach style seats, free WiFi (with hopefully more data allowance than the current ridiculously small amount), USB charging at all seats, seat back phone docks with wireless charging, and bus stopping buttons at every seat. They hint at other features which are still to be revealed. You can read the full announcement <a href="https://www.firstgroup.com/norfolk-suffolk/news-and-service-updates/excel-new-standard-travel-comfort-arriving-spring-2020" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
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I have no pics as present, although a few are doing the rounds on Facebook, but can say the livery is similar to the new red livery being rolled out around the country. What distinguishing extras the excels will have is to be seen. I just hope the Scania chassis proves to be sturdier than the ADL chassis. I've been on a couple of 2yo Citis in London recently and the body noise was horrific - even a driver said it gave him migraines. So when First say "build quality, ergonomics and style are all integral to the Alexander Dennis bodywork" you'll have to excuse me for sitting firmly on the fence for a few months! </div>
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There will no doubt questions as to what's happening to the current fleet on the XL. As far as I know they will be transferred to Lowestoft for use on the X2, with the current X2 Volvo B9's going to Norwich for the Orange Line, amongst others which should see the end for the final Presidents there. </div>
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The new buses are scheduled for entry into service "Spring 2020", which could mean anything between February and May, I guess. The obvious direct contrast will be the new Optare Metrodeckers being built for Greenline 702, which will enter service at roughly the same time. I want to be pleasantly surprised. Time will tell.</div>
Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-48703819092973622282019-12-01T21:01:00.000+00:002019-12-01T21:01:57.568+00:00The Sun Sets on Greater Anglia's ScudsPart of my focus on the transition from the old fleet at Greater Anglia to the new, is reporting the final days of the old fleet. Yesterday was a significant day, in that it was the final day of the single coach Class 153 units, nicknamed Scuds. I have had the kind of affection for these units as you would a guide dog puppy, or that kitten in a litter with the extra spirit. Although not particularly nice if they are packed, from the outside they look like real life dinky toys, and any driver you care to talk to will tell you how reliable they have been over the years. And many years it has been.<br />
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Converted from Class 155's in 1991-2 the five units (originally seven until 2004) have been operating on all of Anglia's diesel lines, particularly the Ipswich - Felixstowe/Cambridge and Norwich to Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft/Sheringham routes. I doubt regulars on those will especially mourn their departure, but I'll certainly miss seeing them moving around the network.<br />
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They were all named - 155306 Edith Cavell, 309 Gerard Fiennes, 314 Delia Smith, 322 Benjamin Britten and 335 Michael Palin. As yet it is unknown if those names will be transferred to new units.<br />
In the last couple of full days' operations I managed to photo all 5 units, and yesterday, for 4 of them their final day (306 didn't go out), I saw the very last one to operate a service in East Anglia leave Darsham and disappear into the gloom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kYkBVQlOEI1rA8faK08pxir2Felo6IuIrjx6rgMGyUdINUBNX2IPdn933IJfQj0tyMt_DTezMeGbXSNc0qrPju6LaCDIN16gk7GptQd9fxh0T8M_lmZdBabV3uTEo6LCMvJ71QMptbI/s1600/IMG_20191128_111936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kYkBVQlOEI1rA8faK08pxir2Felo6IuIrjx6rgMGyUdINUBNX2IPdn933IJfQj0tyMt_DTezMeGbXSNc0qrPju6LaCDIN16gk7GptQd9fxh0T8M_lmZdBabV3uTEo6LCMvJ71QMptbI/s640/IMG_20191128_111936.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">153306 at Ely, 28/11/19, on an Ipswich to Peterborough service</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGQ7KJk-5p43qs3psJIe1nY9CLs81yK-ehE8vSHOoaGqgi3vkIApv3MJjct5pBAJzg-uEQtMBbrLnktHOEKNwzRSlzNfLSFDoRQg7gY7mhQHLaxZRmQLFF5iheHckXZJxhWwzOKIPjvU/s1600/IMG_20191129_182411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGQ7KJk-5p43qs3psJIe1nY9CLs81yK-ehE8vSHOoaGqgi3vkIApv3MJjct5pBAJzg-uEQtMBbrLnktHOEKNwzRSlzNfLSFDoRQg7gY7mhQHLaxZRmQLFF5iheHckXZJxhWwzOKIPjvU/s640/IMG_20191129_182411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">153309 at Ipswich, 29/11/19, having just arrived from Cambridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">153314 in the setting sun at Felixstowe, 29/11/19</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqoCLfHfrsMYKj808L-S5SB8cJx6qc4Cx-hI6oXMnPJ-hPQDiEiGQKwFbU2x1t2EG-zaCWeZlGdN54jrPS7P1svrqk4ZQG-SNIdVzdtG3OJ1NhfL2Dib6DBR1z7ubGRsKaFbVqlDc-Lw/s1600/Screenshot_20191130_195334_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqoCLfHfrsMYKj808L-S5SB8cJx6qc4Cx-hI6oXMnPJ-hPQDiEiGQKwFbU2x1t2EG-zaCWeZlGdN54jrPS7P1svrqk4ZQG-SNIdVzdtG3OJ1NhfL2Dib6DBR1z7ubGRsKaFbVqlDc-Lw/s640/Screenshot_20191130_195334_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">153322 on the final Scud service, 1907 Lowestoft - Ipswich, 30/11/19 at Darsham</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfWiqXm_TxDXfpm4Rjp-SnWZqWv8kcUsskh-guNpZQc6jPFy70iTwmeR4WdbWAd1ao9FdYHXyDteRQtFzWzdQNzU2xXsRM04bCq6EK_82Kuo2qHyRH-ywVkKkkpeNOK75ucybiqDoXy8/s1600/IMG_20191129_134244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfWiqXm_TxDXfpm4Rjp-SnWZqWv8kcUsskh-guNpZQc6jPFy70iTwmeR4WdbWAd1ao9FdYHXyDteRQtFzWzdQNzU2xXsRM04bCq6EK_82Kuo2qHyRH-ywVkKkkpeNOK75ucybiqDoXy8/s640/IMG_20191129_134244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">153335 at Lowestoft, 29/11/19 about to head to Norwich</td></tr>
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All 5 units are going to be refurbished and have accessible toilets fitted prior to entering service in Wales. It will seem strange not seeing them around here anymore. Anyway time moves on, and another route, this time the Lowestoft to Ipswich line is about to see its first Stadlers. A report on that, and a belated report on the introduction on the Ipswich - Cambridge route last week, where I saw arguably the happiest passenger ever.<br />
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I'll leave you with the video I took at Darsham last night, of 153322, the final scud on the final service in East Anglia. I then dashed to Diss to watch it go ECS to Norwich, but that didn't quite go to plan, and it's a very short fly pass!<br />
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Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-41892387496067148882019-11-28T07:54:00.001+00:002019-11-28T07:54:56.644+00:00First 3 Car Stadler Enters ServiceNo prancing hares or 25 men and women in suits for this one, but at 0604 this morning the first 3 car Stadler bi-mode for Greater Anglia quietly entered service on the Ipswich - Felixstowe line. 755336 was the unit given the honours, and I was on it. The first bum on the first 3 car and no one can take that away from me!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 car 755336 at Ipswich having arrived out of service from Norwich</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brand new, smelling very new too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7YHcJ54L6gm7WNrWolmRoku_ZMBmdfrEtFqC33yaucZuFI3VclNDsDpo94eKZIUiqWrPRvz6r_xDQvfrk6jeGHTwHFYPcA_inu6cAgbbap9yca5V0MAUOZNShyj6olMbIoGKoTWnjls/s1600/IMG_20191128_060332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7YHcJ54L6gm7WNrWolmRoku_ZMBmdfrEtFqC33yaucZuFI3VclNDsDpo94eKZIUiqWrPRvz6r_xDQvfrk6jeGHTwHFYPcA_inu6cAgbbap9yca5V0MAUOZNShyj6olMbIoGKoTWnjls/s640/IMG_20191128_060332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where else would you want to go on a windy, rainy Thursday morning!</td></tr>
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To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between the 3 and 4 car versions. I was hoping for even better acceleration but given the conditions I can fully understand the driver taking it easy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs4Vxn19r67LtKD6Rv8JcGPAuN-IiX0o7jOrPtgYy17m70GpT0lHt2Rrrj3Wpv2TGJM3FQ1ZUGokCY8KOfeNm0OUv7Hmi03cD-QQPVrsRIb0gIQau5nOIA5NRogejbTIVf1a0ZsVTH4U/s1600/IMG_20191128_062937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs4Vxn19r67LtKD6Rv8JcGPAuN-IiX0o7jOrPtgYy17m70GpT0lHt2Rrrj3Wpv2TGJM3FQ1ZUGokCY8KOfeNm0OUv7Hmi03cD-QQPVrsRIb0gIQau5nOIA5NRogejbTIVf1a0ZsVTH4U/s640/IMG_20191128_062937.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 car sits at Felixstowe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO1q9FQLLWTuMEua5fNyXlzDdpkqSFhAyujGrVQi-AU11mWtTyN2oQERlqoD5Vc29QWK0ZggHdRRfLEvlEtfzWYjhdRTcZG8bqZo-4srFX7sBsj-EUTyzoDc87JjyOXyx0MgJF8bfCJ8/s1600/IMG_20191128_063010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO1q9FQLLWTuMEua5fNyXlzDdpkqSFhAyujGrVQi-AU11mWtTyN2oQERlqoD5Vc29QWK0ZggHdRRfLEvlEtfzWYjhdRTcZG8bqZo-4srFX7sBsj-EUTyzoDc87JjyOXyx0MgJF8bfCJ8/s640/IMG_20191128_063010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet Felixstowe Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-UOOxMxaIRYnfZubJt9FPNH8Gr0vsEaJskZaL-Zlk7TaD-tuqrnuESV7I_nKFFrisoFmezvORR_WO1NeoCeEDtLTphq07aYHprLEjwEdW0dstjxxvXHhKyyR4BOrbSxgsMZlLWPOkXo/s1600/IMG_20191128_063142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-UOOxMxaIRYnfZubJt9FPNH8Gr0vsEaJskZaL-Zlk7TaD-tuqrnuESV7I_nKFFrisoFmezvORR_WO1NeoCeEDtLTphq07aYHprLEjwEdW0dstjxxvXHhKyyR4BOrbSxgsMZlLWPOkXo/s640/IMG_20191128_063142.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Felixstowe end driving cab.</td></tr>
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I was joined by Tim for the second journey when the darkness had faded enough to get a picture at Felixstowe showing the full length of the train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAx25EiO53gYqM8BT6eWqDMXDGVIF7XCHGlPHhwIZGLzLvBHdWUEzOrhp0zouQ8w8iMaaJoIXIMfJ6RL0Di8EkncVUawgKrtlmAesIzFDXdGwxUlGbv50j96s1EZaczTzNIDiXbul69Y/s1600/IMG_20191128_074033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAx25EiO53gYqM8BT6eWqDMXDGVIF7XCHGlPHhwIZGLzLvBHdWUEzOrhp0zouQ8w8iMaaJoIXIMfJ6RL0Di8EkncVUawgKrtlmAesIzFDXdGwxUlGbv50j96s1EZaczTzNIDiXbul69Y/s640/IMG_20191128_074033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 car unit in its glory</td></tr>
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The single car class 153's are being taken out of service at the end of the week. I will be attempting to capture them all in their final hours on our patch before heading to pastures new in Wales.<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-65696158600296020072019-11-19T22:16:00.002+00:002019-11-19T22:16:58.542+00:00First Flirt For FelixstoweToday saw the introduction of the new Greater Anglia class 755 Stadler bi-mode trains on the Ipswich to Felixstowe branch line. I may have mentioned I like these trains, really like them, in fact they are by a street the best new train I've been on in the last 20 years. It seems the good people of Felixstowe think so too, as they appeared to be revelling in the comparative vastness of the Stadler - known as a Flirt (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train) to the one coach class 153's which have been the staple diet of the Felixstowe branch for many years.<br />
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I just happened to be out and about when news reached me of the debut, and I thought it merited some attention. So here is a selection of photos I took at various points along the route, culminating in a video.<br />
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We start in Ipswich;<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv68RFVDGoTgwfrbkDIpq4FwbbJOutcWbNIQXj9KxclG7UzwBsFCqG_Rxasv4o1rTQOKHthXoCZ5fJU3caqguspZGR-TOe3g1N3_lTqeU1lDeMlj5Y2iJp7nfYoDN0cuEkzgbyLuGfNM/s1600/IMG_20191119_135921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv68RFVDGoTgwfrbkDIpq4FwbbJOutcWbNIQXj9KxclG7UzwBsFCqG_Rxasv4o1rTQOKHthXoCZ5fJU3caqguspZGR-TOe3g1N3_lTqeU1lDeMlj5Y2iJp7nfYoDN0cuEkzgbyLuGfNM/s640/IMG_20191119_135921.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Departing Ipswich for Felixstowe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs8mCLQt7wCbQ-07SPvEKVpVYKyE8BG7mknTqhBesKkIJKr9WDveFgHt4x3pOoH6L9ougDADyR-0Zgl22wWK1gMKyTHVU2FQqTuQqccC5oAEsSfB2drqFWY56uMIs4XgvI5cU05U6xjc/s1600/IMG_20191119_135524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs8mCLQt7wCbQ-07SPvEKVpVYKyE8BG7mknTqhBesKkIJKr9WDveFgHt4x3pOoH6L9ougDADyR-0Zgl22wWK1gMKyTHVU2FQqTuQqccC5oAEsSfB2drqFWY56uMIs4XgvI5cU05U6xjc/s640/IMG_20191119_135524.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Ipswich with a class 156, soon to be replaced</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPx7y7PRCWenKJ_ojvfa6CTp_MB7uPqoIPZMOVthM5uJNUbSzx3SS9ctdkvuT1knCBZVfF5e7z9SrsXW6YLrf0_6X0uxdnCSeKgFbAjImuJ6K49Ny0fcon1kaQJwaJ6h5SkBHHyYHxe8/s1600/IMG_20191119_135256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPx7y7PRCWenKJ_ojvfa6CTp_MB7uPqoIPZMOVthM5uJNUbSzx3SS9ctdkvuT1knCBZVfF5e7z9SrsXW6YLrf0_6X0uxdnCSeKgFbAjImuJ6K49Ny0fcon1kaQJwaJ6h5SkBHHyYHxe8/s640/IMG_20191119_135256.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking quite small on the 12 car platform at Ipswich.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Moving onto Derby Rd;<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi1mDHht_oJwyUST9ViNOaHnV6wtifyFhRm0JI9qfSxPA3VE3k6GHWLFXM6VHE2YqPPcqgJRFdKmblYS2MN6L7Agzx4ZTNdofzkWfFwkV1EyQ-5FlQyCoeNfcb8fWOkIN9FxDSvkAt4E/s1600/IMG_20191119_131130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi1mDHht_oJwyUST9ViNOaHnV6wtifyFhRm0JI9qfSxPA3VE3k6GHWLFXM6VHE2YqPPcqgJRFdKmblYS2MN6L7Agzx4ZTNdofzkWfFwkV1EyQ-5FlQyCoeNfcb8fWOkIN9FxDSvkAt4E/s640/IMG_20191119_131130.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stadler enters Derby Rd Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjfB-ediqKMXE9402VhPZ7TREVCYw__6_-bDESZx642M1uCu3MUaSog3M3wq6ZIFoO4UvBy_xDs0dljIYGScMM6RZicWX9UkI4pQmuereANYxMbwFS6WF8viY5Y1uTzELeyv-Gspt1U8/s1600/IMG_20191119_131135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjfB-ediqKMXE9402VhPZ7TREVCYw__6_-bDESZx642M1uCu3MUaSog3M3wq6ZIFoO4UvBy_xDs0dljIYGScMM6RZicWX9UkI4pQmuereANYxMbwFS6WF8viY5Y1uTzELeyv-Gspt1U8/s640/IMG_20191119_131135.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a stand..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjsIs_1RBOMGb4ZyrsBRVQrBFOzckHajD3xBqfNFtZyvI8eYwz1QVUjRMT_ro1wYZs6mIwRT-o_SC-S1xsCWK4TPI94vPM-1AMYn59avyoY1ksMPhciBJzV1HAb6zyjcT8ByLrnb5-sI/s1600/IMG_20191119_131238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjsIs_1RBOMGb4ZyrsBRVQrBFOzckHajD3xBqfNFtZyvI8eYwz1QVUjRMT_ro1wYZs6mIwRT-o_SC-S1xsCWK4TPI94vPM-1AMYn59avyoY1ksMPhciBJzV1HAb6zyjcT8ByLrnb5-sI/s640/IMG_20191119_131238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and departing.</td></tr>
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<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7jV4zRoNo7RFuxewBzKckdvA3ZO2-mH5hrWVsM5Nwo3jkfwBV2WtKULYKEBBgiWKMz4S3GJwDG81oq3WlA9ubYxitZv1kRYNCe2n4tfZ82fdMkG22OYhb51qOdm884rhPAkD5R42z2E/s1600/IMG_20191119_124730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7jV4zRoNo7RFuxewBzKckdvA3ZO2-mH5hrWVsM5Nwo3jkfwBV2WtKULYKEBBgiWKMz4S3GJwDG81oq3WlA9ubYxitZv1kRYNCe2n4tfZ82fdMkG22OYhb51qOdm884rhPAkD5R42z2E/s640/IMG_20191119_124730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the other platform heading for Ipswich</td></tr>
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Next stop Trimley;<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8iCbwS7B-ociyA9KloTI7pAWsJDV-9cI_USqxaXuckiDv7jlcVmoMUvVxElwJQO9GLvVnjjuicjz3b3zJvNXFGxEyu6SdvoQsn_uNj88-VfVtWSAyLsxZgeecDC9X42YE06jPpdbSXU/s1600/Screenshot_20191119_214548_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8iCbwS7B-ociyA9KloTI7pAWsJDV-9cI_USqxaXuckiDv7jlcVmoMUvVxElwJQO9GLvVnjjuicjz3b3zJvNXFGxEyu6SdvoQsn_uNj88-VfVtWSAyLsxZgeecDC9X42YE06jPpdbSXU/s640/Screenshot_20191119_214548_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">755412 passes over Trimley Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidtycPy5q_Hw78jDqluXJGVUPtDTGrNsjIRr2_UICHghnqHsle8iAEKS3xLo6hlVOTk5chyphenhyphen36Kkz3IK_Et3oyScRlDF-6tbcauthlUCDKe9nEcMNTnseZAS825sxW0f0Lfj_PA7Ig7uk/s1600/Screenshot_20191119_214633_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidtycPy5q_Hw78jDqluXJGVUPtDTGrNsjIRr2_UICHghnqHsle8iAEKS3xLo6hlVOTk5chyphenhyphen36Kkz3IK_Et3oyScRlDF-6tbcauthlUCDKe9nEcMNTnseZAS825sxW0f0Lfj_PA7Ig7uk/s640/Screenshot_20191119_214633_com.huawei.himovie.overseas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And departs the station<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally Felixstowe;<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp3dExGzzx4xJflz_zALvACYu4rYU2r9QVbKtBPUXo3KmxnPfkweqL_gdX3T8JuZPnVUzY7q_sVuGdS4siqZ6hA7Zl2FNXdVK3IK0BMZJtP8ayfKVNxLRpKKbdX_q2ELe05arKlTAIV0/s1600/IMG_20191119_112627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp3dExGzzx4xJflz_zALvACYu4rYU2r9QVbKtBPUXo3KmxnPfkweqL_gdX3T8JuZPnVUzY7q_sVuGdS4siqZ6hA7Zl2FNXdVK3IK0BMZJtP8ayfKVNxLRpKKbdX_q2ELe05arKlTAIV0/s640/IMG_20191119_112627.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Felixstowe Station</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko4cwNTpSjhLTbb7l_z_eX9XnyAisri0XfoX10LhMnFPTSS-7mZ89O0wwg82eksmchhis6IjmYLaxh-n32J5nRGoMo6O0YtF-A-wO2lmywh4S1NMgPdowGLZCzLNDqfXkokpunpY2TzY/s1600/IMG_20191119_112645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko4cwNTpSjhLTbb7l_z_eX9XnyAisri0XfoX10LhMnFPTSS-7mZ89O0wwg82eksmchhis6IjmYLaxh-n32J5nRGoMo6O0YtF-A-wO2lmywh4S1NMgPdowGLZCzLNDqfXkokpunpY2TzY/s640/IMG_20191119_112645.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The distance view at Felixstowe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqm8WfJutHvcvUnuHabcOpa3unKwLwM4iSt72Vbhb84_73EaW6ntzVBFUHfuJSXMcusLm6aHQ2m15X5RzUrSf3esRr8yPQNh8RXK0aHqPAYeqP3glulzKkZ1DRjJJyyJRE5WWjMG65VU/s1600/IMG_20191119_112828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqm8WfJutHvcvUnuHabcOpa3unKwLwM4iSt72Vbhb84_73EaW6ntzVBFUHfuJSXMcusLm6aHQ2m15X5RzUrSf3esRr8yPQNh8RXK0aHqPAYeqP3glulzKkZ1DRjJJyyJRE5WWjMG65VU/s640/IMG_20191119_112828.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to depart Felixstowe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over the next few weeks I will be extensively covering the transition from the old stock to the new. Not just when the new stock is introduced but also covering the last days of the old stock, as the exercise of replacing an entire fleet on this scale may not happen again very soon, and I consider it important it is reported and archived. So check in regularly as there will be two or three posts a week.<br />
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Now, as promised, the video of the day, shot at Ipswich, Trimley and Felixstowe.<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-53406736013140206262019-11-13T14:59:00.000+00:002019-11-13T14:59:07.639+00:00Blog UpdateHi everyone - apologies for being away for so long. No particular reason except nothing new to report apart from the same old same old. I have been waiting for confirmation on a couple of things which are dragging out a bit - one for over a year now. It must be said my enthusiasm is at an all time low, and it's going to take something pretty special to lift it again.<br />
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In the meantime we have lost more bus routes, with even more on the way - Konectbus have announced the X6 is being scrapped and yet another town - this time Attleborough - is being abandoned by Go East. More cuts coming in January. The usual "woe is us" moans from the usual suspects in regard to council funding came from the Bus Forum in Norwich last weekend, yet those same operators can't get their backside in gear to sort out the bus stop timetable debacle, or adequately promote their own services and then wonder why no one uses them. Honestly, the apathy in this area compared to the likes of Harrogate and Nottingham is not only breathtaking, it's very depressing.<br />
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On the rails the roll out of the new Stadler trains slowly continues. I'm hoping to cover as many of the significant moments as possible but that is not in my hands and I'm awaiting responses from others. In the meantime, and this is based on nothing other than gut instinct, I'm not so sure we've seen the last of the short set after all. It will be interesting to see what happens when the leaf fall season is complete.<br />
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I am hoping to reveal the news I've been sitting on for a year now in the next couple of weeks, so you can guarantee it will be leaked before I'm given the official green light! Watch this space, but please don't waste too much time watching it.<br />
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SteveSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-3794713169341967412019-09-11T16:40:00.001+01:002019-09-11T16:40:15.670+01:00When Is Naming Not Blaming?If you follow me on Twitter you will have seen that recently I have had some lively discussions with a well respected member of the railway media regarding information given to the travelling public by train operating companies. I believe the public should be well aware of who is responsible for what on the railway, whereas my combateur believes the railway is one unit, and no one should be blamed for anything - the operating company dealing with all issues as though they are responsible, because they are the ones taking our money.<br />
<br />
Except they're not are they. Let's look a little more closely at who pays for what. When I go to the station and buy a ticket who exactly am I paying? Well yes, I'm paying the operating company, who then pay the Government for the privilege of running trains. The operating company also pays Network Rail line rental - literally in this case. If a train is delayed due to the fault of the operating company they get fined by Network Rail. If the delay is the fault of infrastructure then they claim back compensation from Network Rail. There are armies of people whose sole job is to extract as many minutes delay as they can from an incident, and then make claims to the opposite party. I have seen a 3 minute delay to one train at Lewisham in Southeast London develop into over 5,000 minutes claimed due to snowball effects on other services.<br />
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So, if a train is delayed due to a signal failure it is the responsibility of Network Rail. If it's because of disruptive passengers, a train fault, or staff problems then it's down to the operating company. Seems all clear and crystal like. Except it's not. I've had passengers have a right go at me because they've been delayed by issues neither I, nor my employer had any control over, and that is simply not fair. It has always been something I've wondered - why there is not more education of the travelling public of exactly who is responsible for what on the railway, and I've reached the conclusion that the people who run the railway, and indeed some who make a living out of reporting on the railway, just don't want the people who pay to travel knowing.<br />
<br />
I have been badgering the Association of British Commuters for well over a year now to produce a publication to lay to rest some of the myths about the railway. To educate the public so when things go wrong they know who is responsible, and don't take it out on the wrong people such as barrier staff, Conductors or Twitter teams. Despite several hints at "an announcement I'd like" there has been nothing, which surprises me as you'd think a passenger lead pressure group would want the truth out there. But it's all gone very quiet.<br />
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And then of course there is Network Rail. Owned by the State - us to be precise. So when you buy your ticket not only is some of your money going to Network Rail in line rental, it's also going to Network Rail through the taxation system, because it's your taxes that fund Network Rail! So in effect we are paying for all parts of the railway - the operator and the infrastructure maintainer. So you'd have thought that letting the public realise that if a signal continuously fails outside Norwich it has nothing to do with Greater Anglia but is down to Network Rail would be natural. It makes the railway transparent, and informs the public, which as fare AND taxpayers they surely have a right to know. In any other industry, if Government money is concerned, when something goes belly up there are inquiries galore. But not the railway, and I think I know why.<br />
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The operators run trains on behalf of the Government. Sub contracted. The Department of Transport dictate timetables, train length, most fares, specification of new rolling stock (mostly), how many staff on the train and more. Not many people know that, so if a train is frequently rammed they take it out on the operating company, who have to clear it with the D of T before they can lengthen it. So the it's the name on the train who gets the blame.<br />
<br />
Yet think on this. Network Rail is owned and run by the Department of Transport. Of course they don't want the public knowing what it is responsible for because so much of the time it is infrastructure that goes wrong. Much better for the name on the train to get blamed - after all if a Government Department was seen to be badly running things that could cost votes. The operating companies are scapegoats so the public, who fund Network Rail are kept ignorant and so don't blame the Government! Sir Humphrey would be proud - "if you tell the public what they want to know - then they'll know and that could be disastrous". This must be why whenever Network Rail are mentioned by an operating company as being responsible for a delayed train there are shrieks of horror from parts of the industry, and the operating company instantly slapped down. Never let it be said customers got told the truth.<br />
<br />
But it gets worse. The other day The Norwich - London mainline was disrupted because a freight train broke down. It happens. Trains/locos break down - just surprising some pedant didn't point out the train didn't break down but the locomotive did! Now if I'm in a traffic jam on the motorway and it comes over the radio "tailbacks on the A12 due to a broken down lorry" I don't immediately want all trucks banned from the roads, or the truck owner put in stocks on a roundabout. It is just letting me know why I am sitting there twiddling my thumbs. If I'm on a train and hear of a delay due to a broken down freight train I'm not going to want the driver sacked, or the freight operating company dissolved! It's just one of those things, and the more the public know the easier they will take things. I DO know that from experience. The public get far more agitated when information is withheld, than they do when they're given the facts. If it's a shared line with other operators, and one of their trains is causing the delay then the public have a right to know, as their money pays for the railway. Fact isn't slander. Fact isn't libellous. Information is vital in this day and age. And believe me - if I'm on a train stuck in the middle of nowhere, as I was a couple of years ago, and by looking at the live diagrams I see a freight train has broken down in front I'm going to let those round me know, to protect the poor sods on board from getting extra grief. Of course there are some who'll have a go at the person in uniform anyway, but even if one person doesn't as a result of the information it's worth it.<br />
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So, as we, the travelling public pay for all aspects of the railway either through fares or taxes don't we have a right to transparency, information and fact, or are the railways so badly managed that everything has to be hushed up so the truth doesn't out? Makes you wonder, but my opinion, or stance is not going to change. The ONLY way our railway is one railway, as I'm frequently told it is, is that the public pay for it, in many, many ways. They have a right to be told, regardless of which sensitive soul in an office miles from the front line it upsets.<br />
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It used to be let the train take the strain. Now it's let the train take the blame.Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-80892539891240987452019-09-05T14:21:00.000+01:002019-09-05T14:21:02.441+01:00Greater Anglia Officially Launch The FlirtsYesterday (4th September) saw the official launch of Greater Anglia's fleet of Stadler Flirt trains. There were events at Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, where the great and the good celebrated the new trains. At Norwich and Yarmouth there was a giant hare present, the symbol on the Swiss built trains, and a steel band. No, I don't know either!<br />
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Anyway, while the rest of the media concentrated on Norwich and Great Yarmouth, I went to Lowestoft as I had noticed the enormous effort made by Martin, Tim and Jackie, the Station Adopter Team, to deck the station out in bunting and other decorations, even sweeping puddles away, and guessed correctly it would be ignored by other media. Even the giant hare ignored Lowestoft, but the steel band were there, and I have to say livened up the place, even though I was disappointed not to see Greater Anglia management have an impromptu limbo dancing contest! A Stadler was used to ferry them around, which was open for public viewing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDuOIFevfdGtsmSma96rm1CPgG03JFTHgq1PX1A71P_0EV9O-Pe44h1PuC18F17kvn9Ks4B4ySQBd9HjtTa67RScMUZP-pSkrs_wH8Nm21EiYpcBQOQS3y8oLng6VfqSm1myRYgXqsI0/s1600/IMG_20190904_135821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDuOIFevfdGtsmSma96rm1CPgG03JFTHgq1PX1A71P_0EV9O-Pe44h1PuC18F17kvn9Ks4B4ySQBd9HjtTa67RScMUZP-pSkrs_wH8Nm21EiYpcBQOQS3y8oLng6VfqSm1myRYgXqsI0/s640/IMG_20190904_135821.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">755413 arrives at Lowestoft for the launch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EQNXJrEQbIxkzkVObPQWwU19bO1OQeMDdYMuHm0NYBlkPu89cw0X9ES9Y653mydxhs__cQrTk-i6H6Y8Fzrgh_icMb43ISEBELh_QeOM1hVqvQboeKKEQsKLm4YrHXbcQuuQjSszRB0/s1600/IMG_20190904_140240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EQNXJrEQbIxkzkVObPQWwU19bO1OQeMDdYMuHm0NYBlkPu89cw0X9ES9Y653mydxhs__cQrTk-i6H6Y8Fzrgh_icMb43ISEBELh_QeOM1hVqvQboeKKEQsKLm4YrHXbcQuuQjSszRB0/s640/IMG_20190904_140240.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Steel Band do their stuff</td></tr>
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There were speeches which unfortunately I missed as I was giving someone a tour of the Stadler, and happy to say very proud to do so as they really are remarkable trains on so many levels. Yet again I sat in one of the seats and my back purred with pleasure. First impressions count but so do third, fourth and fifth, and my enthusiasm hasn't waned one little bit.<br />
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At one point all three ;platforms at Lowestoft were in use with the 755, a 156 and a 153 all present.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFAX1gY8VvoM2AGBqNHDVJ_xuAEqwui4ZVe3Xey5GFddrZWd8RMbxfgphAYSuPJscTH0eD3Dl0AuVECxqd_iSF9JFOY77xclY-CLw0rOeCxBlbm_IOZXxmyZbbuY8ZRAXH40TK3Ezk84/s1600/IMG_20190904_140732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFAX1gY8VvoM2AGBqNHDVJ_xuAEqwui4ZVe3Xey5GFddrZWd8RMbxfgphAYSuPJscTH0eD3Dl0AuVECxqd_iSF9JFOY77xclY-CLw0rOeCxBlbm_IOZXxmyZbbuY8ZRAXH40TK3Ezk84/s640/IMG_20190904_140732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a sight to be seen for much longer</td></tr>
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Then things went a bit pear shaped, and the various men and women in suits were scurrying around, fearing a PR disaster. The 1457 to Norwich was cancelled, which you don't want when you have a brand new train on display, and a plethora of management proclaiming how good the future is. However, it pleases me to say the day was saved extremely efficiently. Free coffee and cake was handed round to all Norwich bound customers, and a place on the management special to Norwich awarded, which became an "extra service". Well done to all concerned.<br />
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Now, you can have all the testing you like, but you really don't know how something is going to work until it's out there in the big wide world, and then there will be teething troubles. We had them on Southeastern with the Electrostars, and every new fleet of trains, and indeed buses take time for everything to be smoothed out. The Stadlers are proving no different, and various little niggles are cropping up. I urge everyone to be patient as these trains are going to be worth a bit of inconvenience. If they were the standard of the 700's or Great Northern's 387's I'd be a lot more critical, but these are trains not used in the UK before, and when the niggles are sorted will be the envy of the country.<br />
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There will be more launches around the network as the new trains, pluss the Intercity 745's and Commuter 720's are introduced in the next few months. I hope to catch as many of these as possible as an entire fleet of trains being replaced doesn't happen very often!<br />
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I did video the Stadler leaving, but it crawled away so, in the best of traditions, here is one I prepared 5 days earlier, at Oulton Broad North. The acceleration and lack of noise from the engines are both highly impressive. Have I mentioned I quite like them......<br />
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<br />Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com7