Sunday Variety

 

Channel Tunnel Competitive Trains.

Over the last few days the transport media has been a-buzz with news of a new train service from London to Paris.

Even starting in 2025. That would be some going!

And Evolyn has bought 12 new trains for the service.

Really?

Well, that is what the company has been saying.

It all seems pretty much cut and dried.

But Alstom seems to think differently.

Maybe a better turn of phrase would be that Alstom have signed an agreement with Evolyn that IF and WHEN Evolyn are in a position to buy new trains, they will buy from Alstom.

Not quite the same is the Sky News headline, eh?

Go Ahead Selling

Seemingly some global interests are beyond the interest of UK bus batons. Go Ahead operates trains in Germany an Norway .

Go-Ahead secured its first contract in the German rail market in November 2015 to operate several regional rail lines in the vicinity of Stuttgart; it took over services from the incumbent operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) on 9 June 2019. Multiple other contracts to operate other passenger services, such as in Munich and Lindau, have been awarded in the following years. Go-Ahead Deutschland has procured a mixed fleet of Stadler Flirt electric multiple-units (EMUs) and Siemens-built double-decker EMUs to operate these services.

Well, not any longer!

The German rail operations have been sold to Austrian State Railways (OBB) which will now compete for contracts (in Germany) with German State Railways.

Maybe the European market is not as attractive as it once seemed?

Spaghetti At Peterville?

The picture above is of No 1 Son's hand screwing a bit of "chocolate block" plus wires to fbb's baseboard. The plan is to construct a proper control panel rather than having bits of wire strung about haphazardly.

Before contrasting the box, fbb has arranged to have lots of wires strung about haphazardly.

The wiring has been temporarily installed on the surface of the baseboard and will later be hidden when the practicalities of controller and section switches are finalised. The exciting thing is that, having wired it all, it worked first time.

Notwork Rail should learn the lesson!

The track extension to the north is also in place. It will allow fbb to run more trains and, if a visitor wishes to join in, the layout can have two trans moving at the same time!

Italy Invests

Whilst Rishi seems to have given up on trains and trams as being all too difficult, the Italian Government, not renowned for its economic prowess and strength, has announced additional funding for rail.

Any new tram systems on the way, Rishi? Of course you have sort of announced one for Leeds and Bradford, using some of the HS2 cancellation money. Was that the Leeds tram that one of your many predecessors cancelled as being poor value for money?

Andy Has The Answer.

Young Mr Burnham - future leader of the Labour Party (????) has solved the problem of HS2 to Manchester abd Leeds.

There might just be a smidgen of a problem, Andy.

Will the "Northern Cities" have enough pennies to get on with the building.

Sorry, speak up, Andy.

Ah, the Government will still have to pay.

Keep up the good ideas, Andy.

Transport For London Is Confused

A quote, reported in a London newspaper.

TfL’s customer director Emma Strain admits the situation is confusing. She said: “Some people think it’s a Tube line. Some think it isn’t a Tube line. Both of them are confused. It is a tricky one for us.”

What is Emma talking about? Is it this?

Answer tomorrow!

Well Said Norm

Former Lib Dem MP and Transport Minister has written his clear response to the cancellation of HS2 north of Brum.

In his column in the respected Transport publication, Norm tells it how it is.

Notable Nightcap

After a busy day wiring the railway, fbb was treated to a can of ale by No 1 Son.

fbb enjoyed the drink, very hoppy and very "fresh"! (With just a hint of aftershave???). But the tag line simply baffled your elderly toper. 

(Actually fbb has never toped since he fell asleep on his bike after consuming alcohol on an empty stomach and riding into a dry ditch filled with stinging nettles!)

 Next TfL blog : Monday 16th October