tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post3488484848466409864..comments2024-03-18T21:18:19.020+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: Carry On AbellioSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-79366192183102683202016-09-17T16:15:50.568+01:002016-09-17T16:15:50.568+01:00Ipswich overhaul looks fab, now completed pretty m...Ipswich overhaul looks fab, now completed pretty much. Signalling solutions apparently being arranged for 2019 when Wherry lines upgraded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-12074726344545784352016-09-17T16:13:43.199+01:002016-09-17T16:13:43.199+01:00Hi Steve. Correction to your post. Wi fi is now be...Hi Steve. Correction to your post. Wi fi is now being added to the MKIII stock and to stations, pilot scheme been underway. Abellio got new supplier. https://www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/wi-fi-channel-latest---11th-july-2016-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-9930407766491762372016-08-21T08:09:31.675+01:002016-08-21T08:09:31.675+01:00Apparently Soames (forget me not travel Ltd) is go...Apparently Soames (forget me not travel Ltd) is going to be taken over by NORSE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-32206639576684183332016-08-20T18:23:27.401+01:002016-08-20T18:23:27.401+01:00Belay that comment apparently NR have changed thei...Belay that comment apparently NR have changed their minds 😕suffolkraiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352527625849770984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-19940928948559255912016-08-19T18:17:45.934+01:002016-08-19T18:17:45.934+01:00Could well be - I simply don't know.Could well be - I simply don't know.Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-35269713873458255712016-08-19T18:00:20.175+01:002016-08-19T18:00:20.175+01:00I don't think Orient Way is theirs to sell - p...I don't think Orient Way is theirs to sell - probably land is owned by Network Rail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-44426080678042981432016-08-19T11:21:19.895+01:002016-08-19T11:21:19.895+01:00Perhaps they will keep a wheel grinder there to pr...Perhaps they will keep a wheel grinder there to prevent the autumn farce of lines being closed due to leaves on the line<br />I would have thought fitting leaf blowers and sand boxes to the heavily affected lines would also help to reduce the problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-54161732084664378702016-08-18T21:13:03.920+01:002016-08-18T21:13:03.920+01:00Which seems an excellent idea. Not only does it us...Which seems an excellent idea. Not only does it use some long-derelict land, it places trains at the middle of the route rather than the ends, which should be useful and more reliable. I wonder though what they will do with the Orient Way depot in Leyton, which is rather off the main line anyway - perhaps selling that will fund Manningtree?Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-83472521010442040192016-08-18T07:24:07.050+01:002016-08-18T07:24:07.050+01:00Abellio are building a new maintenance depot to s...Abellio are building a new maintenance depot to serve North Essex & Suffolk lines in the Manningtree areaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-30606670208605674762016-08-12T00:52:16.798+01:002016-08-12T00:52:16.798+01:00And I suppose the unmentioned question is how effe...And I suppose the unmentioned question is how effective is the contract; how well does it incentivise the operator (or penalise for poor performance if you like)? Isn't the Southern franchise criticised for failing in that regard and having the taxpayer too much on the hook when things go awry? Or is that just sour grapes for the inevitable? Good publicity is inevitable at this stage, as Steve hints, and nothing wrong with that, but it pays to look between the lines (no pun intended).smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-12115646093980165872016-08-11T16:35:19.135+01:002016-08-11T16:35:19.135+01:00My reaction too. We are spared a rebranding hiatus...My reaction too. We are spared a rebranding hiatus, I hope. Whilst new trains and track improvements are fine and necessary, they take time; but they need to ensure they're on the ball when things don't work as they should (which will always happen). The impression that I get is that too often things fall apart when a problem occurs with passengers left in the dark, slow provision and inadequate rail replacement, and what's the excuse for filthy carriages, or lack of rolling-stock? The measure is how well they deal with the unexpected, against what they could do. And that won't change with old stock or new stock. Most rail operators, public and private, when they've been good have been very good (rather like the rest of us) and when they've been bad they've been very bad, when as Mae West used to say, we need to be better. Compensation is a measure of failure, not of success.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-29171283823065646282016-08-11T13:31:52.051+01:002016-08-11T13:31:52.051+01:00Not perhaps relevant to this discussion but wonder...Not perhaps relevant to this discussion but wondering why they are replacing newer stock already in place: if you're going to replace all the stock (effectively) to get the benefit aren't you going to have to reduce costs, and that means changing working practices? Two sides of the same coin. From the passenger perspective, it shouldn't matter; we are interested in the result not the process.<br /><br />Second thought which occurs to me: this looks as though it's based on the pre-Brexit rosy view of the economy, with never-ending ballooning London growth. I still suspect it's "no real change"; but if things change (and there's a real risk) I suspect it doesn't need very much lower growth to send all the projections awry: and what then? We have an awful lot of our eggs in the commuter basket/second home owners/rich retirees living off their investments.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-16897674986327734192016-08-11T11:30:01.425+01:002016-08-11T11:30:01.425+01:00The Sudbury train will be serving Colchester TownThe Sudbury train will be serving Colchester TownAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-597672759289315452016-08-11T11:28:12.034+01:002016-08-11T11:28:12.034+01:00The problem is the UK railways are not run as a tr...The problem is the UK railways are not run as a true franchise where you have common branding and quality and standard and prices<br /><br />There is also no real group in overall control of the UK rail network. It is a strange mix of the train operators and the government which does not really work and there is a strange mix of the train operators and the government sort of responsible for rail investmentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-70299113834853920272016-08-11T11:23:08.622+01:002016-08-11T11:23:08.622+01:00I think in theory at present they have enough trac...I think in theory at present they have enough track capacity s long as the trains keep to time which of course they don't. Another issue is TfL ant to try to increase the frequency of the services they have taken over but the capacity certainly does not exist. Some capacity will be freed up at Liverpool street when they take the Shenfield line into Crossrail but it only goes onto separate track just after Stratford<br /><br />One bottle neck on the West Anglia lines is at Cheshunt where the two branches join up. Why they have never doubled the track their I don't know. It is only the section between Cheshunt & Broxbourne and it runs along the edge of the Lee Valley Country park so would be quite easy to doAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-6480430709793172512016-08-11T11:14:50.335+01:002016-08-11T11:14:50.335+01:00IT will have some impact as the train is a lot qui...IT will have some impact as the train is a lot quicker and they will be serving Colchester Town. It would probably mainly be commuters 30 minutes odd as opposed to about an 1 and ten minutes is a big differenceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-59396941180771683592016-08-11T11:12:07.383+01:002016-08-11T11:12:07.383+01:00Alas prices go up every year but yes,probly steepe...Alas prices go up every year but yes,probly steeper increases this time round for the season ticket veterans....they giveth in one hand yet taketh away in the other... That I'm afraid will never change...Trevor Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11580679352006526817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-15956205681950731232016-08-11T10:00:19.059+01:002016-08-11T10:00:19.059+01:00Just, hopefully, this time they've made progre...Just, hopefully, this time they've made progress the substitute for change. Rather than what we've become used to; the other way around. <br /><br />For today's travellers though, the usual promise of jam tomorrow, or the year after the year after next. Some of these things should have been done in the last franchise, but we've always left things late.<br /><br />I wonder what's happened to Beaulieu Park (second Chelmsford) station and the associated passing loop on the Great Eastern Line? I can't keep up with the delays but I think it's now some time in to the mid 2020s, and still not committed. Still at least they're proceeding with Cambridge North after more than a decade, so there's hope yet!<br /><br />Just one thing, bet the prices will go up.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-88400539679040849912016-08-11T08:28:34.956+01:002016-08-11T08:28:34.956+01:00As I recall, one problem with the old East Suffolk...As I recall, one problem with the old East Suffolk and Perborough through services from London is that they were formed of single 170 sets which ran a few minutes ahead of Intercity services to Norwich. Not only was this poor line and stock utilisation (i.e. a three-car train taking up a path, a diesel unit running for 70 miles on an electrified line) but the trains frequently were crowded as far as Ipswich as they effectively served as "reliefs" for the IC trains ... passengers turning up early at Liverpool Street on "open" tickets would all pile on rather than waiting for a faster and more comfortable service which only arrived a few minutes later.<br /><br />Mind you, I'm old enough to have travelled on the fabled 4.50 pm from Liverpool Street to Lowestoft - the only through train of the day and formed of corridor stock hauled by a Class 37. In those days the London-Ipswich-Norwich service was two-hourly with no peak time enhancement - amazing!Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-35033071904336393002016-08-11T08:21:48.790+01:002016-08-11T08:21:48.790+01:00I see that some of the units are supposed to be 10...I see that some of the units are supposed to be 10-car Intercity sets. These will bring a lot of capacity enhancement due to not having a locomotive using up platform space. That's assuming they don't have two wide sets of double doors in the middle (as per the 321s) but are more akin to something like Voyagers. There is a picture but that may only be speculative. Let's hope they have a proper IC specification with decent 2+2 seating!<br /><br />There are a lot of "suburban" sets and this troubles me a bit as presumably they will be used on main line stopping services where they are not ideally suited (says he, having travelled between Ipswich and London both ways on 321s the other day!) What is most intriguing are the dual mode electrodiesels which is just what we need for the East Suffolk etc. through services. These seem to be the coming thing - I think the new Great Western trains now under test are ED and aren't TransPennine thinking about them too? The important thing here will be for the diesel engines to have enough "guts" - the old Southern Region locos only had enough horsepower off-line for shunting or low speed work: I remember seeing the Channel Islands Boat Train coming through Soothampton in the early 70s, it was hauled by a Class 74 but this had to be replaced by a 33 at Bournemouth for the run on non-electrified track to Weymouth.Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-331846406103873702016-08-10T19:44:24.640+01:002016-08-10T19:44:24.640+01:00I read also that in 2 years the Wherry lines and B...I read also that in 2 years the Wherry lines and Bittern will be upgraded to digital signalling as the test bed for future projects suffolkraiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352527625849770984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-7757748360121150612016-08-10T18:55:03.561+01:002016-08-10T18:55:03.561+01:00Trust me I've been trying to work that one out...Trust me I've been trying to work that one out myself, and of course they want to increaae freight too. Network Rail have got their work cut out to make this work. Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-11387556771321368572016-08-10T18:54:02.171+01:002016-08-10T18:54:02.171+01:00Ignore the above reply - got the wrong comment! No...Ignore the above reply - got the wrong comment! No chance of that being implemented in near future as they simply haven't got the rolling stock or probably the inclination. Everything will be done in a blaze of pomp and publicity when the new trains and timetables arrive.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-27195969144493639082016-08-10T18:52:17.176+01:002016-08-10T18:52:17.176+01:00I would guess minimal impact. Firstly only passeng...I would guess minimal impact. Firstly only passengers living near Sudbury Station would make the switch. Secondly the train is more expensive, and crucially Colchester Station is nowhere near the Town Centre, meaning either a very long walk, a bus anyway or change of train to Colchester Town.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-4587479536023283602016-08-10T18:51:30.859+01:002016-08-10T18:51:30.859+01:00I would guess minimal impact. Firstly only passeng...I would guess minimal impact. Firstly only passengers living near Sudbury Station would make the switch. Secondly the train is more expensive, and crucially Colchester Station is nowhere near the Town Centre, meaning either a very long walk, a bus anyway or change of train to Colchester Town.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com