Martin is Mightily Miffed
Mr Gannon reckons he had been promised extra trains but has now been told he won't be getting them ...
Since quite a long time ago, the aim has been to have two trains every hour between Newcastle and Manchester. There is currently only one, a sample shown here on the right of the timetable extract.
But hold fast there! Surely there were two trains an hour only a couple if years ago?
So how come the second train is now "impossible"? Could it be that track space has been given to main line operator LNER for extra trains from London?
Pardon?
Oh, sorry, effectively they already are!
Nationalisation Non News
As well as pedalling wrong news, on-line so-called news sites can be utterly misleading.
Erm, just a mo, Bristol Live; we've known that for a couple of years. Heidi has just announced the next few to join the club ...
... with West Midlands in early 2026, followed by Thameslink and Great Western "next".
What difference will it make?
Disused Viaduct? 
In fact, trains have been using the viaduct for 150 years; it refers to the Settle and Carlisle line which opened in 1875.
And what IS that train on the viaduct?
In fact the article refers to trains from the East Coast main line being diverted via the S&C which last happened 12 years ago.
Not quite the same?
New Station?
A half truth wrongly illustrated. Northumberland Park is a stop on the Whitley Bay loop of the Tyne and Wear Metro which opened in 1980.
So what?
There it is as built; a simple island platform with station entrance on the bridge. But check out that third set of rails on the right. That is one track of the recently re-opened national rail branch to Ashington.
Northumberland Park station is being substantially modified to accommodate interchange with the Ashington line.
Typo Or Truth
In a recent edition of Passenger Transport magazine, the Mega Manchester Metro Mayor is featured enthusing about the success of his Bee Line network.
The people of Greater Manchester are less sure, citing the only significant change as yellow paint on the buses.
The first paragraph of the piece is "interesting".
"Unbeat"?
Now, is that a printing error that actually tells the truth? Or is it a subversive plan by the sub-editor to cast doubts on Andy's so-called success?
Or was the bus summit just boring?
Costs in Manchester have doubled since his plan came to its splendid peak.
Expensive yellow paint?
At Last The Truth?
Seen outside a cake shop in Falmouth!
fbb always puts the clotted cream on first, then the jam. That way you can get more cream to stick to the Skon or Scone!
Milford Haven's Magnificent Hopes
This is Aberdaugleddau station about 100 years ago long before its Welsh name was resurrected.
... and this today.
... noting the lavish facilities!
But this shows the proposed lavish improvements.
Lavish??? Don't you just love the lavish protection from the Western Wales Weather?
Keep a brolly handy!
Tomorrow we return to Cornwall.
Cornwall's A Mess blog : Mon 29 Sept
Was in Manchester last week. Buses were very good indeed. Well presented and on time.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt FBB can produce actual figures, with sources, to show that Manchester bus costs have “doubled”.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly Milford Haven "today" as all of the Class 175s had been withdrawn by Transport for Wales by he end of 2023.
ReplyDeleteThe published budget for Bee Network bus operations in 2025-26 is £226.5m. This compares to subsidised bus services at approximately £25m and concessionary fares at £75m prior to franchising. All figures taken from TfGM/GMCA committee papers.
ReplyDeleteIf you’ve read the report you will know that it is not as simple as that, with changes to the way concessions and BSOG are funded and also that in the period conferred the network wasn’t fully franchised. Passengers also continue to enjoy a £2 fare cap.
DeleteThe S&C diversion is for the WEST Coast main line during 1-14 Jan for resignalling work.
ReplyDeleteThe ECML timetable complete rewrite from Dec 2025 was postponed from May 2022. The primary need was to introduce a 6th train per hour from Kings Cross. The plan was always that it would be an LNER Newcastle service. However it causes major problems to stopping patterns and local / regional services, hence the long delay to sort out a workable compromise. Until the York to Newcastle section has more improvements, the 2nd Newcastle to Manchester service is a casualty.
Class 175 - these were withdrawn from Wales and have sat around. They are now being reworked and will be starting on the GW Exeter area services soon. Initial requirement is to replace the last 4 Castle class short HST sets on the Plymouth to Cardiff stopping service and then to add capacity to the Barnstable service followed by other regional routes.
ReplyDeleteThe Penzance (not Plymouth) to Cardiff stopping services were split at Exeter from the May timetable. There are no longer any through services. The 175s are for Penzance to Plymouth/Exeter local services and as you say Barnstaple/Okehampton. No 175s will operate east of Exeter.
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