Saturday Variety

Bargain Basement By Bus?

The Bus Bargain item will now appear as part of Monday's blog.

Or Train?

More, please!

Funding is questioned again. 

Unfortunately it is not quite what it seems according to Gareth from The Telegraph. You and me might expect an offer like this from all the Nationalised railway companies. After all, we are all Great British Railways.

Heidi says so!

And it will get better ...

... even the barriers will be branded!

Corporate identity rules!

So what about this offer of a £1 fare for the kiddies.

So it looks like all the nationalised train companies are behaving like the privatised train companies they used to be ...

... and doing their own thing!

As usual!

       Great       

      British      

 Fragmented 

     Railways   

Good, innit!

If GBR is to succeed, it needs to be more of a "proper" nationally owned and operated network, not just a collection of the old operating companies answerable to H M Government rather than shareholders - and painted in a garish livery!

Opportunity missed?

Great British Horse Tram

Most readers will be familiar with the only Horse Tram service in the British Isles. It is at Douglas on the Isle of Man.

But in 2019 part if the line was closed to facilitate improvements to the esplanade.

The section, from a "temporary" terminus at Villa Marina ...

... to Sea Terminal, ceased operation.

The good news is that the politicians of Man have found the funding to rebuild and reopen the missing bit.

Well done Tim Crookall, infrastructure minister.

Docklands Development

This was Thames Wharf.

Due east of 'The Dome' and just across the Thames we see a scar of cleared land that was once riverside docklands.

The docks are long gone and the blasted heath will become something like this ...

... lookimg west towards The Dome.

Here is what Wikipedia tells us:-

As part of the construction of the London City Airport extension in the mid 2000s, a gap in the viaduct due west of the western end of Royal Victoria Dock, between Canning Town and West Silvertown stations - was passively safeguarded for a future station. Development was restricted by safeguarding for the future river crossing, and the area is surrounded by brownfield and industrial sites.

In the 2010s, a new Thames river crossing was announced - the Silvertown Tunnel. Following the completion of the tunnel in 2025, around 5,000 homes will be built on the site, and a new DLR station would be constructed. As part of the 2018 budget, the Chancellor announced funding for the DLR to support this and other development in the Royal Docks. Funding for the station was put on hold in June 2021.

So a potential new station for the Docklands Light Railway is planned.

More tomorrow.

Say It With Flowers

Any train "launch" in India seems to involve decorating the front end of the rolling stock with extensive floral garlands.

No doubt the UK Health and Safety spoil sports would find some spurious reason why it couldn't be done here. 

How about a display of red, white and blue roses ...

... to adorn the next GBR EMU PR "do".

Maybe Heidi could dress appropriately?

Maybe just a smidgen too much?

How Much?

Check the spec!

And Emma Chizzit?

And here is the actual preserved 'Blackmore Vale'.

But the model is too pricey for most and probably too valuably to actually run on a layout. Perhaps most of these Black Label models will sit, unused, in a posh display cabinet?

fbb prefers cheap and cheerful, then it doesn't matter too much if it falls on the floor and bits break off!

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 26th July