Post by thewintersoldier on May 6, 2016 13:22:46 GMT
Unfortunately the AC traction train I was supposed to drive had a fault and reverted back to its old version. I'm due to be rebooked next week. Sod's law.....
Post by thewintersoldier on May 12, 2016 13:58:40 GMT
Finally drove an AC traction train. It's a little different from a drivers point a view. Drivers are taught to put the brake into step one, power to power notch one, feel a "kick" then release the brake. The kick no longer happens now. Which I had to get used to, and so did my trainee. They are quicker on acceleration, and have excellent brakes. A much needed upgrade as down of those units have suffered over the years and every single one of them seems to behave differently particularly the 455/9 variations are known to have poo brakes.
The test livery is simpler than current suburban fleet as that has a vertical yellow area flanking each door opening, I expect these will be added along with the wavy orange section by the drivers doors
The test livery is simpler than current suburban fleet as that has a vertical yellow area flanking each door opening, I expect these will be added along with the wavy orange section by the drivers doors
We have training school staff in Germany learning the stock at the moment.
Post by thewintersoldier on May 19, 2016 12:27:08 GMT
Platform extensions are beginning on the Windsor Side according to a recent traincrew bulletin -
Feltham platforms 1&2 country end Egham 1&2 London end Virginia Water platforms 1&2 country end Chertsey 1&2 Virginia water end Sunningdale 1&2 country end Ascot 1-3 London end Martins heron 1&2 country end Working platform 1 country end Camberley 1&2 frimley end
Ascot and Virginia water are gaining new footbridges
Platform extensions are beginning on the Windsor Side according to a recent traincrew bulletin -
Feltham platforms 1&2 country end Egham 1&2 London end Virginia Water platforms 1&2 country end Chertsey 1&2 Virginia water end Sunningdale 1&2 country end Ascot 1-3 London end Martins heron 1&2 country end Working platform 1 country end Camberley 1&2 frimley end
Ascot and Virginia water are gaining new footbridges
Work will be on going untill summer 2017
So that means the level crossing is going? Feltham-a place to avoid!
Platform extensions are beginning on the Windsor Side according to a recent traincrew bulletin -
Feltham platforms 1&2 country end Egham 1&2 London end Virginia Water platforms 1&2 country end Chertsey 1&2 Virginia water end Sunningdale 1&2 country end Ascot 1-3 London end Martins heron 1&2 country end Working platform 1 country end Camberley 1&2 frimley end
Ascot and Virginia water are gaining new footbridges
Work will be on going untill summer 2017
So that means the level crossing is going? Feltham-a place to avoid!
It looks like it. It's misused anyway by people using it to get out/in the station without tickets or people who can't be arsed to use the footbridge and jump over. So I can't wait to see the back of it, however, the traffic will PILE over Hounslow road. I'm glad I don't drive the 90!
Platform extensions are beginning on the Windsor Side according to a recent traincrew bulletin -
Feltham platforms 1&2 country end Egham 1&2 London end Virginia Water platforms 1&2 country end Chertsey 1&2 Virginia water end Sunningdale 1&2 country end Ascot 1-3 London end Martins heron 1&2 country end Working platform 1 country end Camberley 1&2 frimley end
Ascot and Virginia water are gaining new footbridges
Work will be on going untill summer 2017
So that means the level crossing is going? Feltham-a place to avoid!
Post by thewintersoldier on Jun 6, 2016 23:20:54 GMT
The shepperton branch is to close for 8 days in July to allow work to be done in and around fulwell tunnel. Should be interesting for enthusiasts and unpopular for local residents.
MTR Corporation are partnering with First Group to bid for the South Western franchise. An interesting development in the battle against Stagecoach.
UK: Shortlisted bidder FirstGroup announced on May 16 that MTR Corp (UK) is to join it in a joint venture to bid for the next South Western rail franchise.
The Department for Transport has appoved the agreement, which will see the UK subsidiary of Hong Kong-based transport group MTR take a 30% stake in the joint venture. Both FirstGroup and MTR already hold Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Passports enabling them to express interest in franchises without resubmitting financial and other competence data.
‘We are pleased that we will be partnering with MTR in a joint venture to bid for the South Western rail franchise, for which we were shortlisted in February 2016’, said First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery. ‘We have extensive expertise of running commuter, inter-urban, regional and long distance services – such as those that make up the South Western franchise – and a strong track record in delivering passenger growth. MTR run successful suburban and commuter railways; their knowledge from running London Overground and TfL Rail on behalf of Transport for London will add further depth and understanding to an important component of this franchise.’
‘The skills and experience of our joint team will enable us to put together a compelling and innovative bid’, said Jeremy Long, CEO of MTR Corp’s Europe Business. ‘South Western is a complex mix of shorter and longer distance services.’ Long said MTR’s experience of metro, open access inter-city and from December 2016 commuter services in Sweden would be combined with FirstGroup’s ‘strong track record of running commuter, inter-urban, regional and long distance services and delivering passenger growth.’
‘MTR’s international experience of running integrated railways also means we can bring particular insights and expertise around the areas of the franchise jointly operated with Network Rail – including the Waterloo Integrated Control Centre, the Waterloo station team, and the capacity and planning teams and joint performance teams.’
Around 14% of all UK rail journeys are made on the South Western network, with 1 700 trains/day serving more than 200 stations in London, Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire Surrey, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight. Stagecoach has operated the services since 1996 under the South West Trains brand, and is the other shortlisted bidder. The next franchise is scheduled to start when the current contract ends in June 2017.
MTR Corporation are partnering with First Group to bid for the South Western franchise. An interesting development in the battle against Stagecoach.
UK: Shortlisted bidder FirstGroup announced on May 16 that MTR Corp (UK) is to join it in a joint venture to bid for the next South Western rail franchise.
The Department for Transport has appoved the agreement, which will see the UK subsidiary of Hong Kong-based transport group MTR take a 30% stake in the joint venture. Both FirstGroup and MTR already hold Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Passports enabling them to express interest in franchises without resubmitting financial and other competence data.
‘We are pleased that we will be partnering with MTR in a joint venture to bid for the South Western rail franchise, for which we were shortlisted in February 2016’, said First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery. ‘We have extensive expertise of running commuter, inter-urban, regional and long distance services – such as those that make up the South Western franchise – and a strong track record in delivering passenger growth. MTR run successful suburban and commuter railways; their knowledge from running London Overground and TfL Rail on behalf of Transport for London will add further depth and understanding to an important component of this franchise.’
‘The skills and experience of our joint team will enable us to put together a compelling and innovative bid’, said Jeremy Long, CEO of MTR Corp’s Europe Business. ‘South Western is a complex mix of shorter and longer distance services.’ Long said MTR’s experience of metro, open access inter-city and from December 2016 commuter services in Sweden would be combined with FirstGroup’s ‘strong track record of running commuter, inter-urban, regional and long distance services and delivering passenger growth.’
‘MTR’s international experience of running integrated railways also means we can bring particular insights and expertise around the areas of the franchise jointly operated with Network Rail – including the Waterloo Integrated Control Centre, the Waterloo station team, and the capacity and planning teams and joint performance teams.’
Around 14% of all UK rail journeys are made on the South Western network, with 1 700 trains/day serving more than 200 stations in London, Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire Surrey, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight. Stagecoach has operated the services since 1996 under the South West Trains brand, and is the other shortlisted bidder. The next franchise is scheduled to start when the current contract ends in June 2017.
I wonder what colour uniform I'll be wearing next year? All interesting development.
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