62613

That also keeps them on "quieter" routes, where it can, or on slow lines

Ships quite often change name, as they change owner/flag state/different company in the same group.

"Supported by £240 million from existing budgets"; so what's losing out?

Or adequate for the service levels when designed, but overtaken by the increase in numbers travelling by train? It would be interesting to know how passenger levels now (even after the Covid "drop - off") compare with then?

That G.E, de Glehn looks interesting!

Short - haul air as well. I think you mean convenient. My old car recently failed its MOT (I expected it). I seriously considered doing without a car; I don't make that many long journeys in the course of a year (two last year, one so far this) as I'm retired. I have an old fogey's bus pass which in Manchester paying an extra £10, I can get anywgere by bus, train or tram for free, if I'm willing to expend the time. I worked out that the basics for my car were costing me £150 a month, that's a lot of money. If you're on not much more than a state pension. In the end, I bought another as at times it's needed.

At the moment, all the Glossop/Hadfield, Rose Hill Marple, New Mills, TransPennine terminators, and Sheffield via Stockport (and Bredbury) services are concentrated on platforms 1 - 3 at Manchester Piccadilly (it's historical!); almost every time I use the train from my local station, there are delays entering Piccadilly, as the outgoing train clears; that's after a slowing to 20 minutes. Meahwhile, Avanti have the use of platforms 5, 6, and 7 for their London services (out of 12 terminating platforms). If those trains had been removed to the new Manchester HS2 station, there would be more room for these trains to spread out, maybe providing more services and speeding them up.

A few years ago, the A62 over Standedge was heavily gritted; for the next few days, motorists had to be aware that there might be sheep in the road, licking at the salt residue.

Which isn't "investment" but day - to - day spending, yes?

Pretty much what I thought.

Meanwhile, The Express (or The Mail) is trumpeting that "Rishi" is going to spend £5 billion of the "Saved" HS2 money from cancelling Phase 2 on "Boosting Northern transport". 1) is this actual saved money? 2) What would £5 billion actually get you? and 3) Where has the other £31 billion from the estimated price to complete Phase 2 gone?

There was a meeting between Mossley Town Council, and some of the TRU people last Wednesday evening, to explain the plans for Mossley station. As some who live near that town know, there are problems getting the knitting under Stamford Road bridge (Mossley Brow); the bridge can't really be raised, due to the gradients of the road. This means that either the track and platforms would have to be lowered, or the solution proposed, a new station in a different location. There are problems of access for infirm and disabled people at the existing station The second solution is going to be adopted; a new station, 300 yards uphill from the existing one with proper disabled access (lifts). This is in the area of the exit from the old goods yard. The existing ticket office is listed and will be repurposed (apparently). Looking at Greenfield station, some similar problems exist there, IMHO.

Excellent pub!

As a former marine engineer, I find that very difficult to believe, being as the main angines on all the motor ships I was on were 2 - strokes. I remember at college, the marine power plant lecturer drawing diagrams showing how a 3 - cylinder economy Doxford engine could be self - started at any crank position.

The world of unregulated (mostly) privatised bus services, where it's almost possible to remove, add, or alter a bus route with very little notice

Apparently, ULEZ charges don't apply to 90% of the vehicles using the roads in London now. It doesn't apply to my daughter's 09 reg. Suzuki Swift, for instance.

Dugald Drummond, no?

As mentioned above. Corrected for you. I too am disappointed that GOBLIN didn't become an official name

Went past Longsight depot last week; still one set in the sidings there

Also the loss of revenue from motor fuel duty, with fewer car jouneys being made (Yes, seriously! I have seen this given as one of the reasons for not reinstating the Lewes - Uckfield route)

Two things: first, why did the trucker try to drive onto the crossing with the lights flashing and the barriers dropping? Secondly, the time and distance it took the train to stop from speed (had the engineer already put the brake in when he saw the obstruction)? They certainly like their train horns in the USA!

Except that the hypothetical worst case scenario happened. You don't think it a good idea to investigate why, so that prventive measures can be taken to prevent a re - occurrence? Speaking as a non - railway person.

Agreed, but should it happen all the time?

Happens all the time near our house. We have a situation where two residential streets go into a sort of approach road from the main through road. It forms the stalk of a 'T' with them both. I have, on a number of occasions, watched cars turning right onto the stalk either completely on the wrong side of the road (with no cars coming the other way - can no - one turn right properly?), swerving to get back into the correct lane when they see me approaching either junction, beckoning me out when I'm turning right at either junction, or looking nonplussed when I just exercise my right of way when turning right.

Yes, it seems more and more that our PM was showing some "Leadership"!