Recent content by Bishopstone

Sir Bob Reid. Lost his right hand in a meat mincer as a child, but became an accomplished left-handed golfer.

It’s unfortunate that, because the wheels of justice (or bureaucracy) turn so slowly, the viewer doesn’t get to see the outcome of the high value fraud cases featured. Because the rest of the programme is a succession of ticketless under-30s giving RPIs lip, stating they live at Tescos, then...

Thanks, I wasn’t aware Travelcards were available on Key - will investigate that option next time.

I found this so irritating and embarrassing, having to seek assistance at every barrier line, that I’ve abandoned Travelcards and now use Southern PAYG to my London terminal, then TfL PAYG in the zones. It costs a few pounds more, on an average trip, but well worth it for avoidance of hassle...

Putting Brighton and Gatwick back on the cross-country network sounds like a great idea to me (in East Sussex, admittedly), but I note the wall of pro-railway (presumably?) folk who think that having more trains, opening-up more direct journey opportunities, at no direct cost to the taxpayer, in...

Just a guess, but I recall certain rail tickets are, or were, valid on the bus route currently branded as 'Excel' which runs from Norwich to Peterborough via Kings Lynn (but not via Ely). This being a legacy of the closure of the rail routes between Norwich and Lynn via Dereham, and Lynn and...

Grays terminators on the LT&S are long-standing, but until relatively recent times the services starting and finishing there came from Upminster, via Ockendon. (Or Romford, if we go back to the 50s). If I have my timeline right, it was the opening of Lakeside shopping centre and nearby housing...

It's done to retain driver knowledge of the turnback move at Newhaven Marine, so this can be used in times of service disruption on the branch. I question whether midday is the best time to lose one of the half-hourly Seaford services, but then I would say that because I'm generally out and...

Laindon, on the LT&S/c2c. In the Basildon built-up area, but one stop short of the town centre. An historical situation, with Laindon having opened in 1888 on a generous plot of land, whereas Basildon station didn’t arrive until 1974 following growth of the new town, and has a constricted site...

A problem has been recognised. The most effective way of dealing with it would be an enhanced BTP (or similar) presence, but that would be expensive and there's no budget. Also, stepping-up enforcement too much creates opposite risks of the enforcers becoming over-zealous, leading to sob stories...

I've needed to use the Hainault branch quite a bit over the last month, and it's been common to encounter an interval of >10 minutes, followed by three trains within five minutes. On the one occasion I needed the half-hourly Woodford shuttle service at Hainault, it didn't wait for intending...

Fair point.

Yes, it’s worth complaining. Avanti would struggle to argue catering is complimentary, because all other aspects of the first class experience can be had for a lower outlay in Standard Premium. Ask for some money back.

Agree, and I think this adds to the case for the LTC, on the basis 20% (or whatever) of the traffic currently using Dartford will gravitate to the new crossing, making cross-river journey times - car or bus - more predictable.

After the original Dartford Tunnel opened, a bus service dubbed Thames Weald Tunnel Express operated, from Romford to Sevenoaks. At various times there were different termini both north and south of the river, but the gist of the service remained the same. I think it lingered on until the late...