The Brighton main line has gotten so bad Network Rail has decided it needs to be closed completely for two blocks of 9 days each over the next year or so, so they can stop the tunnels from leaking and patch up the signalling again. Commuters have been told that it might be a good time for them to take their holidays and that everything will definitely be tickety-boo when they come back.
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Broken & Late Ltd: Britain's Railways
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I hope it works.
I like the idea of this, in a crayonist way.
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/we..._campaign/bml2
Labour have made a lot of spending money out of the South East, so it would look a bit "meet the old boss" if they took it forward, however good it could be.
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Originally posted by Tubby Isaacs View PostI hope it works.
I like the idea of this, in a crayonist way.
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/we..._campaign/bml2
Labour have made a lot of spending money out of the South East, so it would look a bit "meet the old boss" if they took it forward, however good it could be.
Which makes the government judgement that there is no case to support the BML2 proposal seem rather odd. There are issues with it, such as the Uckfield route not being electrified and so requiring diesel units, but it wouldn't be without benefit. Apparently, they left the door ajar by saying it might become viable if the communities along the route agreed to build extra housing, but that would seem to be rather contrary to the goal of freeing up capacity.
* Either this or this I thinkLast edited by SouthdownRebel; 19-01-2018, 21:34.
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So the line from London to Brighton is rubbish? Jesus, I’d have imagined that all shiny and electric. England really hates its coast.Last edited by Lang Spoon; 19-01-2018, 22:00.
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Originally posted by Tubby Isaacs View PostThe Essex Coast is well served by electric trains.
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Originally posted by Lang Spoon View PostYeah, but that’s tons of folk right next to the megalopolis. Not too impressive further North. Alright the route toward Brighton is sparser populated than the north bank of the Thames Estuary, but I’m really surprised that hasn’t been upgraded or well maintained. It must have a fair amount of passengers on it.
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Hoping that might as well effect happens to the Fife Circle (maybe even to Dundee?) once EGIP/Shotts line works are finally completed. Otherwise near constant work and expertise building since at least the Alloa line/Bathgate/Airdrie connection maybe two decades back will be lost or scattered. Dunno if plans for post 2019 Transport for Scotland have been published, but I wouldn’t be optimistic for the transport budget to favour public transport at all. Car bams must be placated before serious rail infrastructure spending will be committed to (EGIP, Borders rail etc orginate with Slab plans pre 2007).
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No, that’s why they are mostly sadly truncated and only partially realized. SNP were fiscal realists for sure, but “dared to dream” a little more when it came to motorway and dual carriageway funding. Hark, a New Bridge (It is gorgeous but). “The finest British attention, to the wrong detail” attitude continues in the semi detached Statelet when it comes to the trains. But 30000+ people live in Levenmouth 10 miles east of Kirkcaldy, the largest Scottish “conurbation” without a rail connection, and it seems Scottish Govt last minute figure massaging and arm twisting took the six mile line rebuild back onto the Fife Circle out of the Edinburgh Region UK/Scot Gov “City Deal”.
To definitely possibly be assessed for looking into funding by other means. Aye right.Last edited by Lang Spoon; 20-01-2018, 01:16.
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All true, except an Independence Ref was never really a goer until the surprise majority in 2011. whether from triangulation for votes or from personal Ministerial prejudice, there isn’t much ambition regarding the SNP and rail. Not that I think the seeming current SLab policy of Nationalise Scotrail! now! Is workable unless you explain what investments will he made and how they will be funded.
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I was meaning they felt they had to keep the freeze longer than they would have done. I doubt it added much to their 2016 performance. Labour in Wales swerved it and lost only 1 seat, because of Leanne Wood getting exposure in the general election.
Fair play Sturgeon got rid of it and tax rises are now popular.
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Originally posted by Fussbudget View PostChicken and egg, innit. And the walk is hardly that long given that most people only have cabin luggage; put some trains on and signpost the walk properly and people would actually use it.
In many cases, the proliferation of good road connections and car parking, tied in with fast, frequent and potentially more luxurious trains, has also made them popular commuter stations for outward journeys.
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A while back (early November) I mentioned a trip from Lancaster to London that took over six hours due to delays caused by a fatality on the line. Since then I've declined two London meetings, and have driven to meetings in Manchester rather than take the train, because I'd rather sit in traffic, with the potential for trying an alternative route, than sit on a stationary train in the middle of nowhere for several hours.
On Saturday I returned to the railways, for a trip to London with my son. This time it was our train that hit a person on the line near Leighton Buzzard and another tragic fatality added to the statistics. Total delay of nearly three hours.
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Not quite on the same subject (although linked to HS2) but potentially of interest to Euston users - the Bree Louise has now closed down and awaiting demolition, much to the annoyance of my 19 year old son who has endured numerous pints of Coke in there over the years and was looking forward to picking from the beer selection for the first time, as we'd not had a London trip since he turned 18.
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