Recent content by OliverS

We were advised at York that tickets weren't being accepted (this was around 15:00). Ended up on the first southbound through after a while in the queue at Grantham. The crew of 1G50 were excellent in keeping us informed of what was going on once we were moving.

I think Mistley station is nearer to Manningtree than Manningtree station is. By a hundred yards or so, but neither are central to Manningtree.

If you assume that there is a 1% chance that a given signal box will fail on a day, irrespective as to whether it is a mechanical, power or ROC then the question is surely whether you are better having say 4 boxes covering a route or 1. On a linear route like the GEML, then with a single ROC...

A few years ago I priced up the relative costs of buying a second car to commute vs train vs motorbike. The train came out best, followed by motorcycle followed by car a long way behind. That was because I was considering the full cost of the car, including depreciation, rather than the...

Widening the under-bridge would help, it is currently one lane with southbound priority if I recall, allowing continuous flow northbound should reduce the number of northbound cars wanting to go over the crossing. With the current layout you have to give priority to traffic northbound over...

I can see the argument for phase 1. The links to Guildford from Horsham aren't great as you have to change at either Redhill/Gatwick or Dorking. A direct line would be good. Cranleigh could do with a station if you can sort out the approach to Guildford. If you want to get expensive, combine...

I've had two trains over the years put in an extra stop for me. First one was where the previous train missed Culham, so the dozen of us wanting to go there got off at Didcot and persuaded the next northbound train to put in an extra stop. The other was when the electricity was off around...

I remember wagons on the quay at Mistley. I think there was an 08 tucked away somewhere to shift them around. I seem to recall that the railway was mentioned in one of the court cases about turning part of the quay into a village green.

With respect to grade separation of Kings Cross vs Thameslink: surely there is a grade separated route from Kings Cross to the down slow by using the down fast to avoid the up slow. So as long as there is a slot on the down fast there isn't a conflicting move necessary.

As someone who has sat on the management side of a grievance procedure I would say that a union rep sitting at your side is a great benefit. Don't underestimate how helpful it is to have someone who is sufficiently distant from the reasons for the grievance yet well enough versed in the...

A couple of millimetres in copper as I recall. Similar in aluminium and so probably of that order in steel.

I disagree with those who say that the CPS should not have brought this case. Someone has to decide how much evidence is needed to secure a conviction. That someone, in our legal system, is a jury. So now the CPS knows that a guard following the rules isn't going to be convicted and so the...

Last time (15 years ago???) they closed the underpass for improvements the queues were half way up Cox's Hill a lot of the time and I have memories of queuing over White Bridge from the other side. As for the water table, you are a couple of metres above sea level at that point. Wignall...

If you were going to do that would you extend platform 4 to be full length? There isn't much room behind the waiting room and I would hate to have it demolished and just have a bus shelter there. It gets cold on Manningtree station in the winter wind! Thinking of platform 4, when was the...

As an example. Perhaps a union and an employer had agreed that there should be a minimum amount of overtime be available to the staff. If the union then said "We won't work overtime" that would be industrial action as the company would not have the staff to do the job because of union action.