A Scheme : A Plan : A Strategy
Scotland has had its very own railway for some time. The canny Scots have allowed LNER to cross the border and run vis the East Coast to Edinburgh and further north ...
Similarly Avanti (First Rail) runs via the West Coast to Glasgow with ...
... and, without even "transing" the Pennines, this lot gets a look-in!
But, despite these incursions from the strange folk, oft wrongly called Sassenachs, from south of Mr Hadrian's wall, most trains in Scotland are Scottish and nationalised.
[A Sassenach is a Scot from the Scottish lowlands; not an Englishman!]
And glorious they are in so many ways; whether suburban ...
And, as you would expect from the financially "careful" Scots (they are most definitely NOT mean!), the fares are stonkingly good value as well.
What Scotland has always been good at (when England has given it a fighting chance) is electrifying its railways.
Some of us are able to remember the Glasgow Blue Trains which, after a few weeks of unreliability due to exploding condensers, utterly transformed "commuter travel" in the city.
Now, with the soon-to-be-completed Barrhead and East Kilbride services, ALL Glasgow suburban trains will be electric. Likewise all FOUR routes between Glasgow and Edinburgh are now served by electric trains.
You can go quickly via Falkirk and rather slowly via Coatbridge (see above) ; you can nearly go via Cumbernauld; that would make five.
Then there is a slow route via Shotts ...
... and less frequent fast-ish trains via Carstairs. Click on the maps for an enlargement.
So what next for electric Scotrail?
The minister is excited (aren't they always?).
Fiona has even travelled on a train!
She has seen things happening!
And here is a picture of it happening!
Pity it's an LNER train and not one with a spotty white-on-blue part saltire; but, hey, it's journalism so what do you expect?
Yes, Scotrail has much bigger plans for more wires.
How is England's rail electrification going, Heidi (If you are still Minister after the most recent turmoil!)?
To Sheffield? To Cardiff? To Bristol? To Plymouth, Penzance even? Waterloo to Exeter? Birmingham to York? North Wales? Bristol locals? Several Greater Manchester routes? Hope Valley?
The current answer is usually Bi-Mode or Tri-mode!
To be fair, Bi-Mode features in Scotrail's grand plan; but in a very different way.
Tomorrow's blog will look at Fiona's immediate plans and the long term vision.
Meanwhile : A Puzzle Picture
It is on an old postcard. It is not in Scotland. Is it the equivalent, back in black-and-white times, of today's so-called AI, Always Implying Accuracy Impossible?
Answer Impending tomorrow.
A Shot In The Dark
Although fbb's tank wagon collection is pretty much complete for early Hornby Dublo days, one wagon has escaped his eager grasp.
Does anyone have one of these?
fbb possesses a version of the wagon in a red colour and does not normally collect different liveries. In this case, however, the partular "cream plus blue Esso" is relevant to a later model development. fbb would like to complete the link physically.
The wagon can be in any condition as long as the tank itself is not significantly damaged. fbb will transfer the tank to a spare chassis if necessary.
A fair payment plus postage is offered.
fbb@xephos.com
Next Electric Scotland blog : Thur 11 Sept
It would have been better if the Borders Railway, 10 years old this month, had been electrified from the start. It is a pity that the Scottish Government are less keen to extend the line southwards to Hawick or on to Carlisle. They are also less keen on supporting bus passengers with no cap on fares.
ReplyDeleteNo the Scottish government are too quick to bribe the under 22’s with free bus and coach travel whilst raising taxes for everyone else.
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