INBOX
From: Nonsuchmike Subject: Gen Y Rail kicks off in the North East
The whole event was tremendous fun for all the young people who attended. I was impressed with their attention to detail, especially about transporting the Polar Bear (remember the one on wheels?), arguably the most powerful and ferocious of land animals in the world.
Some of their efforts as a team or as individuals would have put many of their elders and supposed betters in the shade for presentation and delivery skills. And some of them were only just 11.
The care with which they thought of incorporating braking systems, temperature control, passenger comfort, energy efficiency and ‘green’ concerns tells me that the future is safe in their hands, provided my generation (which has managed to botch things up in a grand manner) will only give them half a chance. Well done to those organising the events across the country, and well done to those young people who participated.
(Editor’s note: more information on the aims behind Gen Y Rail can be found here: www.
railtechnologymagazine.com/ ukritt/genyrail)
From: Ricp Subject: Dawlish
Network Rail appears to have worked very hard to get this devastated sea-wall line rebuilt so speedily. Congratulations not criticism for once!
Having consolidated this route it is time to work with the Environment Agency to look at ways to break these waves with either breakwater lines, or dumping some large boulders on the seaward side of the wall. Reinforcing the rest of that sea wall is also urgent and Network Rail needs to put in crossovers for operational flexibility with single line working.
Then the alternative route needs to be decided on quickly. The best solution is to restore the former L&SW railway line serving Okehampton and Tavistock, as this option offers social and economic benefits to areas cut off from rail 40-plus years ago. This line can be laid out for higher speeds, but reversing trains at Exeter and Plymouth is not a problem as most trains have cabs at each end, whether an HST, the new IEP, or 142, 150 and 153 DMUs. The sooner this decision is made, the better for the West of England, to maintain the local economy.
From: Mikeyb Subject: SWT trains more suitable for ‘armless monopods’ than humans – MP
Compared with commuters in other parts of the country, who have to cram into Class 142 Pacers and Class 150 Sprinters, Penny Mordaunt is relatively lucky that
16 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 14
she can travel in Class 450s.
From: Kent Railman Subject: 3+2 style seating
Seating 3+2 used to work well (remember the VEP and HAP stock on Southern Region?), although not particularly comfortable for longer journeys. But internal dimensions of trains are a little narrower than they used to be, to allow for sliding doors and stronger body sides. And seats are wider than they used to be to accommodate the fattening of the British population, who still manage to hang off the sides of the seats.
As a result, the aisles between 2+3 seats are very difficult to walk through.
Bring back the EPBs with their six- a-side seating: nearly 1,000 seats on a 10-coach train.
From: Roger Moulding Subject: Extending HS2 services to Ebbsfleet and Javelins to Old Oak Common
Greengauge 21’s proposal makes perfect sense. I would go even further and suggest ALL HS2 services are extended at least to Ebbsfleet and ALL Javelin (and possibly Eurostar) services are extended at least to Old Oak Common,
with both services
providing interchanges to Crossrail on both sides of London.
An underground through-station would be required somewhere in the Euston/St Pancras area, but this could be much smaller than the proposed Euston terminus, which could be deleted completely. The incredible waste of space that is St Pancras International could also be put to much better use.
The present plans for HS2 will simply create another commuter route into central London, with
very little benefit to people from the provinces wishing to travel to Europe, Kent, or even east London.
I sincerely hope Greengauge 21 suggestions are taken up and we get a properly joined up high- speed rail network. Otherwise there will be an urgent need to upgrade the already very busy footway between Euston and King’s Cross/St Pancras!
From: Retired Train Planner Subject: Stoke’s HS2 plans
As usual the amateurs are shouting the loudest. They use the phrase ‘international interchange’ as though we would change at Stoke for all points in Europe which is as farcical as it is untrue. The whole HS2 project cannot be viewed as international as there are no connectional points with the Channel tunnel services at all, and there are no plans for there to be any.
You will have to walk to St Pancras as you currently do now to join international services, so let us drop all this nonsense of Stoke or anywhere else on HS1/2 being an international interchange. This is purely political hype.
From: Tony Hill Subject: Rail sewage dumping figures must be revealed – RMT
I find it absolutely astounding that
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