Recent content by supervc-10

I remember standing on the platform at Camden Road (having been dumped off by a late running Overground service that went express to Willesden Jct) when a 47 came through dragging a shiny purple 360. Made quite a great noise when the driver opened it up!

Where do we start..... Firstly- agree that cars are not the answer for all over mobility, but EVs are definitely the answer for road vehicles. You mention the Renault 5 being expensive- a base model Clio is nearly £18k these days, all cars are expensive. Hell. All things have gotten expensive...

Stratford High Speed would definitely be a more sensible name. I did wonder though, given the issues Eurostar have had with queues and overcrowding at St Pancras resulting in unfilled trains, whether it would be worth starting stopping some services as places like Stratford Intl or Ebbsfleet...

I also wonder about tying in with replacing stock elsewhere. A *proper* sprinter replacement, replacing the whole job lot across the country, on all the branchlines? Risky perhaps but could be workable!

Definitely agree on the gangways - although perhaps not necessary on a hypothetical 6-car unit. My proposed 3-car should definitely have them.

Batteries are recyclable, which does lessen their impact significantly, and used batteries that might not have the capacity left for use in cars/trains are still useful as stationary power buffers to help smooth the grid (especially with the more variable energy production from renewables)...

I think getting perfectly level boarding for every door across every train at every platform is just not going to happen. We have a standardised 915mm platform height for *most* platforms. We should aim to have level access to at least one coach on each train from this 915mm semi-standard. The...

A portion of 'dropped floor' in longer units is a no-brainer IMO. I can't quite see what the argument against it is! Especially in an EMU- almost every modern EMU seems to have a car where there's virtually nothing underneath it.

Stratford Int'l DLR is very useful for those of us who live in East Village, as someone who can see the station from his balcony I can assure you that! Walking through Westfield is an absolute nightmare. I don't think it would be easy to route the DLR through any other way than through the...

The SWR 158s/159s need replacing with something with bi-mode capability, not another overly heavy diesel unit, and definitely not the Voyagers. The Voyagers are far too heavy, fuel thirsty, and don't have enough seats for replacing the 159s. The 185s are also too fuel thirsty. Both units lack...

Personally I'd take Chorlton over that, as someone how is now long past being 22! But we have absolutely no plans to start a family, and so we are perhaps the outliers. However I do agree that MK has quite a draw, in terms of the economic power of the place. It wouldn't be growing to 500k...

It definitely made sense to hold off completing Oxford until the remodel. Wasn't something similar said about Temple Meads too? In a *logical* world, which obviously is not the one we live in, both Oxford and Bristol Temple Meads would be wired up properly and some '801' type units would be...

It's not like car manufacturers don't have software issues. Look at all the issues VW Group have been having- various important new EVs have been delayed by software troubles with their 'Cariad' software subdivision. Software troubles affect a lot of companies.

Well, they're aluminium bodied, so I'd hope that the bodyshells aren't rusting!

Definitely much needed good news. The basic Desiro trains are very solid, and giving them a proper re-fit and TLC will keep them running for many years. A refurbishment further down the line in 10-15 years only needs be a deep clean, repaint, and change of seat covers, if done right the first...