|
Post by snoggle on Oct 30, 2018 23:47:25 GMT
I've read a couple of press items which said Grayling not only liked trains but was something of a railway buff. I just remembered thinking that if this joke liked trains, heaven help us if he turned against them! Still, he's a May loyalist/lapdog so will last as long as her.... please God, let the nightmare end. Well that's a recipe for chaos then. We had that with Andrew Adonis and look where that got us - a HS2 project that is likely to eventually eat up the entire railway budget just to pay off the financing charges for a project that has swallowed billions of pounds and achieved next to nothing apart from blighting half of southern Camden. HS2 will become a monster that devours the entire railway revenue and which skews pricing decisions and brings little respite for people expecting it from Manchester southwards on the WCML. Oh and an electrification programme that Network Rail were instructed to pursue with inadequate planning and preparation, then added to wrecklessly by George Osborne in every budget which has then given Grayling and the usual suspects at the DfT and Treasury all the ammo they need to stop electrification and revert to "hydrogen / bionic duckweed (TM Roger Ford) / some other fantasy propulsion idea" type trains thus delaying achieveable and proven improvements for another 20-40 years. Adonis rode London Buses for a week and decided he then knew everything about buses. That's just utter nonsense. I know more than he does and I've not worked in the bus industry since the 1980s. There are thousands of bus drivers across the country who know more buses than any of the politicians. Grayling sees himself as the "saviour" of the railways which is why he is happy to be SoS for Transport. That's the same sort of "saviour" that he's seen himself as in every department he's been in charge of and where his successors have had to unravel everything he's done at the further cost of billions of pounds following the absolute chaos and non achievement of the savings Graying thought his marvellous ideas would generate. You will note he is setting off with a "rail review" which will no doubt lead to chaos for years. I wouldn't trust the man to sell me an ice cream never mind be in charge of a national rail system which he denies any ministerial or actual responsibility for. Deluded people who think they are both clever and knowledgeable are very very dangerous if they get into positions of political power. That applies equally to Adonis and Grayling despite the two of them thinking themselves to be the polar opposite of the other and hating each other. The sad thing is that they are remarkably similar. I agree Grayling is safe while May is in number 10. She's unlikely to be there for long after March 2019 at which point the Tory Party will tear itself to bits over a successor. Jo Johnson clearly hates his ministerial role at the DfT, McLoughlin was decent enough but I can't see his face fitting back at cabinet level under Gove / Johnson / whoever as PM. I just don't see anyone in the Tory MPs with any knowledge or enthusiasm coupled with some competence as wanting to take on the transport role and actually do some of the difficult things that need doing.
|
|
|
Post by TA1 on Nov 29, 2018 9:13:07 GMT
A quick 717 update, 20 have been delivered to the UK although are dotted in a number of places being Ferme Park, Hornsey, Cricklewood and Bedford, although the latter was for graffiti removal on two units that had some artwork applied. the numbers for anyone interested are 717001-012, 014-016, 018-022.
Due to issues with signal sighting as a result of the emergency exit cab door and the class being slightly longer than the incumbent class Selective door operation will be implemented at Old Street on the up road, Possibly Highbury, although no infrastructure has been installed as of yet, Drayton Park on the down road. Moorgate received remedial work to ensure SDO was not implemented at the station.
One was due to enter service this week, as opposed to the test run a unit does throughout the day but their are a number of operational issues still to iron out, but It looks like some will be in service after the timetable change, a week monday if not sooner. - Quicker than the 710's so it may appear.
Sticking with The Northern City Line, Sad news with the NSE signage has started to be removed and replaced with newer signage, it is expected that all of the Underground NCL will lose it's long standing NSE signage.
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Nov 29, 2018 11:25:08 GMT
A quick 717 update, 20 have been delivered to the UK although are dotted in a number of places being Ferme Park, Hornsey, Cricklewood and Bedford, although the latter was for graffiti removal on two units that had some artwork applied. the numbers for anyone interested are 717001-012, 014-016, 018-022. Due to issues with signal sighting as a result of the emergency exit cab door and the class being slightly longer than the incumbent class Selective door operation will be implemented at Old Street on the up road, Possibly Highbury, although no infrastructure has been installed as of yet, Drayton Park on the down road. Moorgate received remedial work to ensure SDO was not implemented at the station. One was due to enter service this week, as opposed to the test run a unit does throughout the day but their are a number of operational issues still to iron out, but It looks like some will be in service after the timetable change, a week monday if not sooner. - Quicker than the 710's so it may appear. Sticking with The Northern City Line, Sad news with the NSE signage has started to be removed and replaced with newer signage, it is expected that all of the Underground NCL will lose it's long standing NSE signage. Thanks for the top re the old NSE signage. While I have some photos I may have to make a last dash to get some. Is the reference to "remedial work" at Moorgate a kind way of saying something was demolished to make room? It'll be interesting if they do get the 717s into service that soon if there is still PTI related work to do. A couple of weeks to sort that type of issue out is pretty fast IME. I can only assume unions, management and safety people are agreed on the nature of both the problem and also the solution to be implemented so it's just a case of doing the work and testing it in situ to ensure the risks are correctly mitigated.
|
|
|
Post by snowman on Nov 29, 2018 11:48:16 GMT
A quick 717 update, 20 have been delivered to the UK although are dotted in a number of places being Ferme Park, Hornsey, Cricklewood and Bedford, although the latter was for graffiti removal on two units that had some artwork applied. the numbers for anyone interested are 717001-012, 014-016, 018-022. Due to issues with signal sighting as a result of the emergency exit cab door and the class being slightly longer than the incumbent class Selective door operation will be implemented at Old Street on the up road, Possibly Highbury, although no infrastructure has been installed as of yet, Drayton Park on the down road. Moorgate received remedial work to ensure SDO was not implemented at the station. One was due to enter service this week, as opposed to the test run a unit does throughout the day but their are a number of operational issues still to iron out, but It looks like some will be in service after the timetable change, a week monday if not sooner. - Quicker than the 710's so it may appear. Sticking with The Northern City Line, Sad news with the NSE signage has started to be removed and replaced with newer signage, it is expected that all of the Underground NCL will lose it's long standing NSE signage. Thanks for the top re the old NSE signage. While I have some photos I may have to make a last dash to get some. Is the reference to "remedial work" at Moorgate a kind way of saying something was demolished to make room? It'll be interesting if they do get the 717s into service that soon if there is still PTI related work to do. A couple of weeks to sort that type of issue out is pretty fast IME. I can only assume unions, management and safety people are agreed on the nature of both the problem and also the solution to be implemented so it's just a case of doing the work and testing it in situ to ensure the risks are correctly mitigated. There is an incentive to get the 717s in service, as the 313s were scheduled off lease by 31/12/18 Of course the owners of the 313s would probably be happy to rent them out at a (large if they can get it) fee for few extra weeks.
|
|
|
Post by TA1 on Nov 29, 2018 12:56:51 GMT
A quick 717 update, 20 have been delivered to the UK although are dotted in a number of places being Ferme Park, Hornsey, Cricklewood and Bedford, although the latter was for graffiti removal on two units that had some artwork applied. the numbers for anyone interested are 717001-012, 014-016, 018-022. Due to issues with signal sighting as a result of the emergency exit cab door and the class being slightly longer than the incumbent class Selective door operation will be implemented at Old Street on the up road, Possibly Highbury, although no infrastructure has been installed as of yet, Drayton Park on the down road. Moorgate received remedial work to ensure SDO was not implemented at the station. One was due to enter service this week, as opposed to the test run a unit does throughout the day but their are a number of operational issues still to iron out, but It looks like some will be in service after the timetable change, a week monday if not sooner. - Quicker than the 710's so it may appear. Sticking with The Northern City Line, Sad news with the NSE signage has started to be removed and replaced with newer signage, it is expected that all of the Underground NCL will lose it's long standing NSE signage. Thanks for the top re the old NSE signage. While I have some photos I may have to make a last dash to get some. Is the reference to "remedial work" at Moorgate a kind way of saying something was demolished to make room? It'll be interesting if they do get the 717s into service that soon if there is still PTI related work to do. A couple of weeks to sort that type of issue out is pretty fast IME. I can only assume unions, management and safety people are agreed on the nature of both the problem and also the solution to be implemented so it's just a case of doing the work and testing it in situ to ensure the risks are correctly mitigated. Haha, No demolition work needed - I doubt if it was considered it would have been ruled out almost instantly due to cost and space constraints. On Platform 9, I've noticed the most changes for a number of reasons, one, I've barely been down the NCL in the last few weeks and everytime I have I've been routed into Platform 9. Knowing my luck on one of my three trips into Moorgate today i'll be routed into 10. Platform 9 has seen stopping positions altered with the buffer stop light moved into the tunnel bore, installed with a 717 car stop mark to ensure signal sighting isn't a problem at the country end, a traction-specific prohibition board has been installed on the tunnel head for 313's to not draw up to the buffer stop as prior to the works, their was an affixed buffer stop attached the tunnel head at Moorgate. Sorry, I cannot comment on whether all the stations have lost their NSE signage but the rest will follow suit imminently.
|
|
|
Post by TA1 on Nov 29, 2018 13:01:43 GMT
Thanks for the top re the old NSE signage. While I have some photos I may have to make a last dash to get some. Is the reference to "remedial work" at Moorgate a kind way of saying something was demolished to make room? It'll be interesting if they do get the 717s into service that soon if there is still PTI related work to do. A couple of weeks to sort that type of issue out is pretty fast IME. I can only assume unions, management and safety people are agreed on the nature of both the problem and also the solution to be implemented so it's just a case of doing the work and testing it in situ to ensure the risks are correctly mitigated. There is an incentive to get the 717s in service, as the 313s were scheduled off lease by 31/12/18 Of course the owners of the 313s would probably be happy to rent them out at a (large if they can get it) fee for few extra weeks. Indeed, the lease does expire on 31/12/18. There is a rumour floating around that it may of been extended until the end of February. Although looking at the diagrams from the depots doing inner work including the new inner depots at Welwyn and Hornsey. The initial diagrams have a mixture of 717's and 313's in the carriage workings. Although Weekend diagrams still show 313's in the carriage workings, which lead me to believe that GTR will play it safe and utilise 313's until more drivers are trained up on the 717's to prevent cancellations as result of a lack of traction knowledge which occurred in the past following recent stock cascades and introductions.
|
|
|
Post by TNL33036 on Dec 2, 2018 11:20:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Dec 4, 2018 17:05:26 GMT
To the surprise of just about no one the DfT have confirmed that Govia will retain the GTR franchise through to 2021 (can be extended by the SoS beyond that date). There are some measures to cap / reduce profits from now through to 2021 and Govia have to cough up £15m to be spent of "schemes that will benefit passengers". Looks to me as if the extension of Oyster PAYG is an unstated element of the overall settlement with Govia. I suspect Govia have said they want the scheme - it's been on the books for years - even though any revenue benefit accrues to DfT under the franchise contract. Should allow Govia to reduce cost of ticket selling at stations covered by the extension. DfT Announcement
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on Dec 5, 2018 0:31:35 GMT
To the surprise of just about no one the DfT have confirmed that Govia will retain the GTR franchise through to 2021 (can be extended by the SoS beyond that date). There are some measures to cap / reduce profits from now through to 2021 and Govia have to cough up £15m to be spent of "schemes that will benefit passengers". Looks to me as if the extension of Oyster PAYG is an unstated element of the overall settlement with Govia. I suspect Govia have said they want the scheme - it's been on the books for years - even though any revenue benefit accrues to DfT under the franchise contract. Should allow Govia to reduce cost of ticket selling at stations covered by the extension. DfT Announcement£15 million... can some of this be spent on upgrading Denmark hill Station or has Govia forgotten that they actually operate the wretched stations on the Catford Loop. Announcements regarding GTR franchise but nothing on South East
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Dec 5, 2018 0:48:03 GMT
£15 million... can some of this be spent on upgrading Denmark hill Station or has Govia forgotten that they actually operate the wretched stations on the Catford Loop. Announcements regarding GTR franchise but nothing on South East I think you'll be waiting until 2019 for an announcement on South Eastern. I know the franchise end date is looming but DfT can shift that if they need to. I thought Denmark Hill is South Eastern so GTR won't spend money there?
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Dec 5, 2018 0:48:23 GMT
To the surprise of just about no one the DfT have confirmed that Govia will retain the GTR franchise through to 2021 (can be extended by the SoS beyond that date). There are some measures to cap / reduce profits from now through to 2021 and Govia have to cough up £15m to be spent of "schemes that will benefit passengers". Looks to me as if the extension of Oyster PAYG is an unstated element of the overall settlement with Govia. I suspect Govia have said they want the scheme - it's been on the books for years - even though any revenue benefit accrues to DfT under the franchise contract. Should allow Govia to reduce cost of ticket selling at stations covered by the extension. DfT Announcement£15 million... can some of this be spent on upgrading Denmark hill Station or has Govia forgotten that they actually operate the wretched stations on the Catford Loop. Announcements regarding GTR franchise but nothing on South East Or Brixton so it actually resembles a station & not a prison
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on Dec 5, 2018 1:05:29 GMT
£15 million... can some of this be spent on upgrading Denmark hill Station or has Govia forgotten that they actually operate the wretched stations on the Catford Loop. Announcements regarding GTR franchise but nothing on South East I think you'll be waiting until 2019 for an announcement on South Eastern. I know the franchise end date is looming but DfT can shift that if they need to. I thought Denmark Hill is South Eastern so GTR won't spend money there? Whilst Southeastern and LO both operate more trains per hour from the station GTR manages to still be the operator of Denmark Hill. From what i can see GTR does not enage with the station at all. On the four platforms of Denmark Hill station, please tell me why there is not even one bin for litter let alone recycling. There are least used stations that Geoff Marshall has covered that have at least a plastic bag. Again this busy station which serves a large areas of South East london has 1 ticket machine and a limited / part time ticket office. I can only describe the station as a joke.
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Dec 5, 2018 1:13:41 GMT
I think you'll be waiting until 2019 for an announcement on South Eastern. I know the franchise end date is looming but DfT can shift that if they need to. I thought Denmark Hill is South Eastern so GTR won't spend money there? Whilst Southeastern and LO both operate more trains per hour from the station GTR manages to still be the operator of Denmark Hill. From what i can see GTR does not enage with the station at all. On the four platforms of Denmark Hill station, please tell me why there is not even one bin for litter let alone recycling. There are least used stations that Geoff Marshall has covered that have at least a plastic bag. Again this busy station which serves a large areas of South East london has 1 ticket machine and a limited / part time ticket office. I can only describe the station as a joke. I apologise, I genuinely thought it was run by South Eastern. I've never caught a train there (been through on LO services) so I guess ignorance is bliss. I do know that it is now extremely busy a lot of the time. I suspect that the only way you really improve it is to spend big bucks and that's not happening after the Access for All accessibility works. Obviously your day to day operational observations need management effort rather than big bucks. Apparently the spending of the £15m is to be decided in conjunction with passengers so perhaps drop Mr Verwer, MD of GTR, a little note suggesting some more staff, ticket machines and proper litter bin / bag provision would be a nice place to start? Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on Dec 5, 2018 1:14:59 GMT
£15 million... can some of this be spent on upgrading Denmark hill Station or has Govia forgotten that they actually operate the wretched stations on the Catford Loop. Announcements regarding GTR franchise but nothing on South East Or Brixton so it actually resembles a station & not a prison There is a reason i have never used Brixton overhead station (not just because it is awkward to reach on the network), because i can tell from looking at it from Atlantic Road that the station is in a horrid state. I much prefer to use Herne Hill and catch the bus, than exit / enter Brixton For me this is where i have a problem with privatisation of the railways. The private companies generally (and maybe even genuinely) feel that slapping paint on the walls and lampost of a station, once theyve won a franchise is an improvement. Meanwhile the DfT is also nodding away and treating this as acceptable. It’s simply not good enough. London overground has proven that decent levels of investment can invigorate suppressed demand. This is what the Thameslink and Southeastern franchises are crying out for.
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on Dec 5, 2018 1:36:35 GMT
Whilst Southeastern and LO both operate more trains per hour from the station GTR manages to still be the operator of Denmark Hill. From what i can see GTR does not enage with the station at all. On the four platforms of Denmark Hill station, please tell me why there is not even one bin for litter let alone recycling. There are least used stations that Geoff Marshall has covered that have at least a plastic bag. Again this busy station which serves a large areas of South East london has 1 ticket machine and a limited / part time ticket office. I can only describe the station as a joke. I apologise, I genuinely thought it was run by South Eastern. I've never caught a train there (been through on LO services) so I guess ignorance is bliss. I do know that it is now extremely busy a lot of the time. I suspect that the only way you really improve it is to spend big bucks and that's not happening after the Access for All accessibility works. Obviously your day to day operational observations need management effort rather than big bucks. Apparently the spending of the £15m is to be decided in conjunction with passengers so perhaps drop Mr Verwer, MD of GTR, a little note suggesting some more staff, ticket machines and proper litter bin / bag provision would be a nice place to start? Nothing ventured, nothing gained! No need for apologies. Southeastern had run the station until 2012/13 then idiotcally this was switched to GTR (the logical move would have been to switch to LO who had just started serving the station). I will definitely be drafting a polite correspondence to Mr Verwer. The station is well staffed and there are enough Ontrak team members around. The main problem is the station building in situ was designed on passengers numbers from 2008/09 and does not work at all for the amount of people that use the station today or will use it once Thameslink and London Overground increase the service. During AM peaks you will have 3 services (2 very full, 1 half empty) at once and all passengers from these services have to squeeze through the 2 (of 5) ticket barriers. The narrow corridors also do not support the large crowds as most passnegers use the old staircase which is closer to the ticket concourse than use the new Access for All ramp. The local MP has previously contacted the TOC regarding the Station capacity problems. From what I remember the outcome was a half baked promise on adding an entrance.
|
|