Recent content by Heartland

I noticed the electrification works have proceeded well since June 2017, with almost of the posts erected and wires in place from Rugeley towards Hednesford. I also noticed some of the posts have large square concrete foundations, could this provision made to allow for the former underground...

Last Thursday, I saw a 345 at Crewe, and later working along the WCML, is the Stafford- Crewe line being used for unit testing?

Whilst there has been several transfers of lines between franchises, the classic being my former employer Central Trains who lost a network through such transfers, would the former Wrexham, Mold & Connahs Quay main line benefit from such a change? Perhaps a transfer to Merseytravel may provide...

The current state of services from Blackpool North appears to remain chaotic, with buses replacements a common occurrence. Is it possible to find an explanation or at least a list of reasons why this is happening on the line to Preston? Staff shortages, route learning, availability of stock...

Whilst the new West Midlands franchise has promised new trains, there is the issue of where they will run. Will the network be the same as London Midland, or will services be lost. When the local West Midland Rail Group was set up their published map identified West Midlands tracks and West...

I have a feeling that any new Cross Border services, be it Scotland/ England or England/France has at present an enforced handicap as the DfT has a tight grip on change. As to who might operate the service depends if it is part of a franchise or as open access. There is also the question of...

I have noticed at Wolverhampton Station that the name boards state City of Wolverhampton with City Badge. I was curious as to when the change happened and more importantly I recognise a trend where universities and colleges appear on the station name boards of certain stations now. Is this a...

Closure of fuel burning power stations has had a dramatic impact on freight movement. Movement of coal was once a very significant traffic, now reduced to a trickle from the odd opencast site and from abroad. There was a time when coal from British mines was exported. Coal traffic by both water...

Route knowledge has always been a key tool used by the Driver and Conductor. For the train operating company the cost of regular training and revision is an expense that they are keen to avoid and removal of this tuition would increase profits. Yet as the digital railway is now on the horizon...

The report of this case will be of interest, in view of the arguments for DOO. Whenever I have travelled by LMR, the senior conductor has always left the rear cab to look down the train to open/ close the doors. Whether I have been fortunate in this case, I cannot say. LMR and their predecessor...

Stand B31 at the Railtex Exhibition (Birmingham NEC 9-11th May) had a novel method of seat collapse where passenger seats could be folded back to allow the conveyance of parcels, bicycles or wheel chairs in the space created. it had been noted by the designers that some train services have times...

Can somebody confirm what will be the fate of the Liverpool and Manchester Bridge over the Irwell. Will it remain beside the new Chord or will it be lost with the new works?

The Italian rail operator may be involved in the new bid for the combined WCML and HS2 franchise. The number of foreign owned franchises appear to exceed those in British hands. There was a time when we were world leaders in rail technology, but with the closing of the former railway works and...

The clearance of vegitation from the former South Staffordshire Railway route is the start of regenerating the line from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill. It includes on off rail section where the trams climb up to and down from Dudley Town Centre and another at Brierley Hill to terminate near Mill...

There is a wider issue regarding security which is greater than the London Midland issue, hence my separate post, now closed. That is (1) Threat to staff (2) Damage to rolling stock (3) graffiti on lineside structures, stations and rolling stock (4) Threat to passengers These issues have been...