Recent content by InOban

A couple of weeks ago Andrew Haines was in front of the Transport Select Committe He stated quite clearly that the railway would have to focus on what it, and only it, could do : Express Intercity, commuter traffic into our major conurbations, and trainload freight. Obviously commuting...

Did First not believe that Hairmyres would open on schedule?

I'm sure I read somewhere that TfW had a surplus of traincrew - fewer had been retiring than predicted. Apparently they are lovely to work for! And since weekends are included in the working week there may be no overtime involved.

I'm not sure that's true. The carpark was being funded by the Council but it can no longer afford the full cost so NR are paying some of the it. In a sense the ScoGov is bailing out the Council.

I think that's quite normal in the countryside. Buses will pick up and set down anywhere it's safe. If there is a bus shelter it will be on the side where pupils wait for their bus to school. Obviously on the way home they've no need.

Since the Freight operators are using diesel because it's cheaper than electricity, maybe there's no incentive to upgrade the electricity supply

The last NR press release said that although the new station will be open ( I don't think the old Hairmyres could be) it was clear that much of the new car park ( which is a Council project ) would not be complete until the autumn

If you look at station data you will find that Croy is an exceptionally busy station, effectively Cumbernauld North and busier than any station in that fine town.

I believe the community minibus from Applecross goes over the Bealach nan Ba twice a week

It's much quicker by coach between Fort William and Glasgow because the road takes a much shorter route and nothing can be donr about that The coaches are also more frequent and, since we're stuck with 156s, more comfortable. I can't imagine why any local uses a daytime train unless they need...

For Stranraer to Ayr read Stranraer to Girvan. The line south of Girvan serves no useful purpose. It neither serves the ferries or the settlements in between such as Ballantrae Even the RailSail through ticket sold by Scotrail transfers you on to a coach at Girvan, I believe that there are...

There's been little improvement to the A9 North of Dornoch Bridge I suspect that the coaches are not only cheaper but produce less CO2

Makes no difference. The enormous increase in the number of intercity coach services has coincided with the expansion of the scogov scheme. Any alternative explanation?

Why are these services being subsidised by scogov via the bus passes? I would guess that the vast majority of the passengers are either under 22 or over 60.

since XC run to Glasgow via Carstairs, I assume that somewhere near there is the highest point on their network- around 800 m