Category Archives: Trains

Mar
26
2013

Dispute with Northern Rail over GLaDOS PPN

by Skippy

Last week GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System (or more commonly known as the bike I sometimes ride)) was parked at Marple Station, She was located in the hatched area to the left of the Staff Only Space, in the corner, the hatched area is in place because the space is too small for [...]

posted in GLaDOS, Motor Cycle, Northern Rail, Railway, Trains | tagged with , , , , , | No Comments

Feb
22
2013

The Tail of one CITY^H^H^H^H Town

by Skippy

I am reading the Swindon Masterplan Report (Draft Rev C), while the document is not all about canals; in fact very little of it is about canals, the Swindon Evening Advertiser would have you believe it was a well supported plan to make the City Town of Swindon into some kind of Venice. The Swindon Town [...]

posted in Canals, Railway, Swindon, Trains | tagged with , , , , , , , , | No Comments

Feb
18
2013

Dear TOCs Airports are not something you want to be like…

by Skippy

Seth wrote this post on his blog: “Eleven things organisations can learn from airports” its a list of 11 things that Airports do wrong, and I feel that it all too often applies to the UK rail network 1. No one is in charge. The airport doesn’t appear to have a CEO, and if it does, you never [...]

posted in First Great Western, London Underground, Railway, Trains, Transport | tagged with , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments

Jan
22
2013

Taking the Piss

by Skippy

At Manchester Piccadilly Station they have Toilets for the travailing public to use while they are on the station, This is not unushal; however since Manchester Piccadilly is a “Principle Station”, it is operated by Network Rail; and Network Rail have a policy for charging for the use of toilets… However they have hidden them behind turnstiles, now looking [...]

posted in Manchester, Railway, Trains | tagged with , , , , , | No Comments

Jun
15
2012

Hippy’s cause trouble

by Skippy

Some of you may think I have some hippy tendancys; being that I live on a boat, and that I plan to be as off grid as I can, bma and I have over a number of years had a smiler talk; he is a fan of Greenpeace, the Green party, and CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament). However [...]

posted in Books, CCFE, Physics, Railway, Science, Task 16 - 100+ Reading Challenge, Task 22 - Live on a narrow boat for at least 6 months, Trains | tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Feb
29
2012

Trains and Cost – Part 5: Why Automatic Ticket Gates FAIL

by Skippy

One of those things that TOC’s seem to be fond of installing at Stations is ATGs (Automatic Ticket Gate see RIS-7701-INS – Rail Industry Standard for Automatic Ticket Gates at Stations). Obstensivly they claim that these are installed for revenue protection (reduction of ticket less travel), Reduce anti-social behaviour, and also seem to be a requirement of the franchise agreement [...]

posted in Bristol, First Great Western, Railway, Trains, Transport | tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments

Feb
21
2012

Trains and Cost – Part 4: Bustitution

by Skippy

Bustitution Etymology Blend of bus and substitution Pronunciation (UK) IPA: /ˈbʌst.ɪ.tjuː.ʃən/, SAMPA: /”bVst.I.tju:.S@n/ Noun bustitution (plural bustitutions) (rail transport) The temporary or permanent substitution of a rail (train, tram, etc) service with a bus service. Usage notes Bustitution can refer to either the permanent cessation of the rail service, or a temporary replacement bypassing a blockage [...]

posted in First Great Western, Trains, Transport | tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Jan
24
2012

Trains and Cost – Part 3: Public Investment v Wasteful Subsidy

by Skippy

In 2011 passengers contributed about £6.5bn and taxpayers £4bn a year to the running of the railways (ref). Now I will be the first to admit I don’t like how the Rail Network is set up at current [1, and 2]. However Let us quickly compare the cost and subsidy with the UK road network: Externalities: £48.7 [...]

posted in Car, Railway, Trains, Transport | tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments

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