37175 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Golden Ticket nominations are now being taken - deadline is 29th May. https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/site/xfp/scripts/xforms_form.aspx?formID=417&language=en If your postcode doesn't bring up an address select "Address not found" and proceed through to the next page where you can simply type your address. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr magnolia Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Personally I'd rather the 158s with their end doors used the route than the one-third, two-thirds door layout 170s. The 158s have a better long-distance ambience than the 170s, and it could be argued that being able to open the windows of a 156 would enhance off-peak journeys at least. interesting thought - having recently done the edinburgh/inverness/elgin and return combo on a mixture of 170s and 158s, I would probably agree with you. A refurbished 158 has a nicely 'enclosed' feeling to the seating sections. Not sure whether they perform better than the 170s though, and they need to be able to carry more bikes! (IMHO) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 interesting thought - having recently done the edinburgh/inverness/elgin and return combo on a mixture of 170s and 158s, I would probably agree with you. A refurbished 158 has a nicely 'enclosed' feeling to the seating sections. Not sure whether they perform better than the 170s though, and they need to be able to carry more bikes! (IMHO) 158s are quicker off the mark than 170s, and more fuel efficient. I agree with your 'nicely enclosed feeling' comment. There is usable space at the intermediate ends of 158s to improve bike stowage. I haven't seen the Abellio refurbishment plans, but it is certainly possible in a 158. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 We appear to be getting 60 year old rolling stock 3 days a week. Check out page 5 below. http://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/150401_jeff_speech_eng.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 We appear to be getting 60 year old rolling stock 3 days a week. Check out page 5 below. http://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/150401_jeff_speech_eng.pdf Now that is good news! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted April 2, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 2, 2015 fegguk, on 01 Apr 2015 - 14:39, said: We appear to be getting 60 year old rolling stock 3 days a week. Check out page 5 below. http://www.abellio.c..._speech_eng.pdf Check the date of this "announcement"! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaddeus Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Check the date of this "announcement"! There hasnt been a retraction statement. It is strange that they are releasing a long term policy statement on 1st April, doesnt inspire confidence, but, maybe that is how they do it in Holland. All the rest is pretty mundane stuff I've read somewhere else before, new trains, smart ticketing. Maybe they are looking for plausible deniability on their entire long term policy and projections as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Check the date of this "announcement"! It's a coincidence, true, but it just happens that the new franchise was always scheduled to commence on 1st April. The CEO was discussing this address last week, and clearly really looking forward to it. I can't wait for the opportunity for some linesiding and a couple of steam trips in addition to using the new service, as I had previously intended. We have exciting times ahead! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 There hasnt been a retraction statement. It is strange that they are releasing a long term policy statement on 1st April, doesnt inspire confidence, but, maybe that is how they do it in Holland. All the rest is pretty mundane stuff I've read somewhere else before, new trains, smart ticketing. Maybe they are looking for plausible deniability on their entire long term policy and projections as well. As it was the launch day of the new franchise I can't see any way it can be seen as strange. Why wouldn't it inspire confidence? Shaking head in disbelief! Hundreds have worked around the clock for over a year to compile a winning bid, mobilise that bid and now begin to deploy their initiatives. I actually find the cynicism naive. If new trains and smart ticketing are mundane then bring on old trains and dumb ticketing, maybe that seems a jolly good way forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaddeus Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Put it this way, would you believe a politian who broadcast his party manifesto on April 1st. Why should or would it inspire confidence?I have lived in East Anglia for seven years now, I have seen THREE franchises, Abellio is the current incumbent. Has there been VISIBLE positive investment and forward planning? No, not much can be seen. They repainted a couple of 153s a couple of years back and replaced the branding and signage. The ONE branded 170s still look pretty much the same as they did 7 years ago but with another 7 years wear and tear, they haven’t even removed the ONE branding properly, but, to be fair neither did National Express. Sure the service is now hourly between Ipswich and Lowestoft, but those plans were in hand before Abellio took over. Am I cynical when a well paid company executive makes extravagant claims "on the first day of the franchise"? When I have seen firsthand what they don’t do in rural Suffolk? Yes, yes I am. Is that naive?As for your statement "Hundreds have worked around the clock for over a year to compile a winning bid" I'm going to shake my head in disbelief at that. Hundreds? Really? Around the clock? you’re saying 24 hours a day? Really? For over a year? And you’re proud of that? I would be too if I was paid 24 hours a day for a year to come up with what amounts to a 10 page policy document, you’re quite right. Also, I did not imply "old trains and dumb ticketing, maybe that seems a jolly good way forward" just that it was boring. Yes, new trains are great ~when they’re new~, three weeks down the line they’re being compared to the old trains and how bad the new ones are for lack of seats, hard seating, poorly positioned windows, lack of bicycle/luggage space, poor access to handicapped toilets etc etc etc. When it comes down to it, a train is a train is a train. So long as they produce reliable revenue for the operating company at their expected level (or better) with as long a time between failures as possible that is all that matters to the operating company, passenger comfort is not high on the list. As for smart ticketing, don’t you think that is just an excuse for further de-maning stations? Now that is a jolly good way forward.Personally I wish Abellio all the best, I'm sure they'll do a great job. But do I want to defend them before I have seen any results, no I do not. But I do have to question your motives to defend them so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Put it this way, would you believe a politian who broadcast his party manifesto on April 1st. Why should or would it inspire confidence? I have lived in East Anglia for seven years now, I have seen THREE franchises, Abellio is the current incumbent. Has there been VISIBLE positive investment and forward planning? No, not much can be seen. They repainted a couple of 153s a couple of years back and replaced the branding and signage. The ONE branded 170s still look pretty much the same as they did 7 years ago but with another 7 years wear and tear, they haven’t even removed the ONE branding properly, but, to be fair neither did National Express. Sure the service is now hourly between Ipswich and Lowestoft, but those plans were in hand before Abellio took over. Am I cynical when a well paid company executive makes extravagant claims "on the first day of the franchise"? When I have seen firsthand what they don’t do in rural Suffolk? Yes, yes I am. Is that naive? As for your statement "Hundreds have worked around the clock for over a year to compile a winning bid" I'm going to shake my head in disbelief at that. Hundreds? Really? Around the clock? you’re saying 24 hours a day? Really? For over a year? And you’re proud of that? I would be too if I was paid 24 hours a day for a year to come up with what amounts to a 10 page policy document, you’re quite right. Also, I did not imply "old trains and dumb ticketing, maybe that seems a jolly good way forward" just that it was boring. Yes, new trains are great ~when they’re new~, three weeks down the line they’re being compared to the old trains and how bad the new ones are for lack of seats, hard seating, poorly positioned windows, lack of bicycle/luggage space, poor access to handicapped toilets etc etc etc. When it comes down to it, a train is a train is a train. So long as they produce reliable revenue for the operating company at their expected level (or better) with as long a time between failures as possible that is all that matters to the operating company, passenger comfort is not high on the list. As for smart ticketing, don’t you think that is just an excuse for further de-maning stations? Now that is a jolly good way forward. Personally I wish Abellio all the best, I'm sure they'll do a great job. But do I want to defend them before I have seen any results, no I do not. But I do have to question your motives to defend them so. I think getting hung up on the April 1st thing is irrelevant and worthy of tabloid journalists, rather than people on here who are much better informed, yourself included. The train service requirement for rural Suffolk is a matter of contractual agreement between the operator and DfT. If the operator has contracted to operate the same, probably subsidised, level of service as before, then that is what they must do, reliably and punctually, to achieve agreed targets. If they fail to achieve these targets they are penalised. You have selectively quoted my next point. I said 'compile the bid, mobilise and deploy.' Yes. Hundreds of people are involved in those phases. And fair enough, it won't be round the clock for everyone for the whole time, a massive amount of effort goes in at all hours of the day or night. These people are on average railway wages and pretty run of the mill specialist rates. A Corporate Communications/ Press person has compiled the ten page press release document. The bid document probably had a page limit of 200 pages. Plus annexes, diagrams, rosters, train plan, etc rough that out to 300. Bidders don't show their exam workings, it's not like doing your A-levels. But imagine the submitted data is only 10% of the total work done to reach the optimum solution. New trains and smart tickets - call them boring as you see fit. Scenic trains and allocated slots for steam workings over the Borders railway strike me as very exciting indeed. New trains are legally required to have full disabled access, and all trains that run after 31st December 2019 are mandated to comply with the appropriate European Standard. So the comment on 'handicapped' toilets is way wide of the mark. As for my motives for defending Abellio, that's not my intention, and you may question as much as you like. I'm simply trying to set the record straight about why the CEO has made a statement. And, getting back on topic, as a devout supporter of the new railway, I am delighted that the incoming operator is prepared to state its commitment to making its promises work and putting its ideas into practice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaddeus Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Indeed, I will also look forward to Abellio putting its promises into practice. Now, lets get back on topic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purley Oaks Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I'm pleased that the CEO's commuting by Scotrail between Edinburgh and Glasgow daily. I hope that he does some of this in rush hour. Wonder what the other scenic routes are for steam trains? Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness? Glasgow to Oban &/or Fort William? Inverness to Kyle? All sounds good. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad McCann Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I understand Ayr/Girvan - Stranaer is under consideration. It would bring some badly needed traffic and trade to Stranraer itself. If ever a place was in need of new life and regeneration, there's it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Top up ballasting at the city bypass. Only the S&T to hook up and the station to finish now. https://youtu.be/Su1cL2T6vzc edit apologies there seems to be an element of time travel in the few first minutes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr magnolia Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I see the shadowy sinister figure of the time traveller himself cannot be hidden. He seems to be an early riser. Thanks for the video. Donald Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I see the shadowy sinister figure of the time traveller himself cannot be hidden. He seems to be an early riser. Thanks for the video. Donald No, the Sun still sets in the west in 2016. The new government elected in 2015 has eliminated the duty of beer, unfortunately I cant tell you who won as it may effect who to vote and disrupt the space time continuum. Also looks like the diet didn't work out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I understand Ayr/Girvan - Stranaer is under consideration. It would bring some badly needed traffic and trade to Stranraer itself. If ever a place was in need of new life and regeneration, there's it! I agree, however it looks increasingly unlikely, Network Rail have just disconnected the trackwork into the old Town station and yard. Chances are that the harbour station will be the next to be rationalised, expecially if plans to relocate it closer to the town come to fruition. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad McCann Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Shame that. At this rate they'll be bulldozing the whole town into Loch Ryan. :-( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Recent calls for the Hawick extension to the railway (is there is an election on) have spurred me on the finish editing this video that looks at how it might make its way out of Hawick to the north. Filmed at the end of last year. http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/borders/articles/2015/04/04/529278-no-excuse-not-to-look-at-extending-borders-railway/ https://youtu.be/WXY39WGWBS4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted April 16, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2015 Recent calls for the Hawick extension to the railway (is there is an election on) have spurred me on the finish editing this video that looks at how it might make its way out of Hawick to the north. Filmed at the end of last year. http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/borders/articles/2015/04/04/529278-no-excuse-not-to-look-at-extending-borders-railway/ https://youtu.be/WXY39WGWBS4 Hi there, I believe Borders Council have already done an initial assessment into this possibility? It would be interesting to know what they see as the major obstacles that would need to be overcome once this possible extension becomes reality! Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi there, I believe Borders Council have already done an initial assessment into this possibility? It would be interesting to know what they see as the major obstacles that would need to be overcome once this possible extension becomes reality! Thanks Love it! I can't watch here in the office environment - too tricky. But I'm going to jot down the key obstacles on my commute home, along with my carefully suggested remediations.... Watch this space for later updates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi there, I believe Borders Council have already done an initial assessment into this possibility? It would be interesting to know what they see as the major obstacles that would need to be overcome once this possible extension becomes reality! Thanks Most of the obstacles are from Melrose to St Boswells where new roads have been build. I filmed these last year see below. These were my first efforts before I worked out how to fix the sound . I'll be updating them soon as I try to film the rest of the old line north of Hawick. I just have Hassendean to Charlesfield to film and other and stuff already done to edit. Then there is south of Hawick https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkWsLKnw6ersSdnSSLyNA0c3iz41lE8k0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Two of the new foot bridges in Gala are now open for business. We can see why the save Plumtree Brae campaign was such a non starter. Also shows how the station and interchange are developing. https://youtu.be/eYGpBBMLQHA Also the next section of the out of Hawick takes us as far as Hassendean. You will need wellies for this one. This was filmed in December 2014 https://youtu.be/LapKHk1COps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fegguk Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 The final time table has appeared. http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/122963_newcraighall-edinburgh.pdf Interesting to note A, presumably relates to Steam hauled services taking these paths on the days concerned. A - May not run Wednesdays and Thursdays until 15 October. Please telephone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.scotrail.co.uk before travelling. i wonder how many different trains you can go on in a single day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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