Railway Myths (2013)

tbtc · 26 Aug 2013

Bald Rick said:
Myth 11(b):

Any route closed under dubious circumstances in the past 6 decades must by default have an overwhelmingly positive socio-economic business case for reopening today; any studies that demonstrate contrary-wise are written by those who don't have a clue.

In which case, may I add Myth 11(c):

It is entirely fair that HS2's business model is assessed in strict economic terms (will it recoup the costs of building it, in hard cash) whilst any proposal to reopen a branchline from Dibley to Ambridge closed under Beeching gets to use the wooly "social benefits" argument (when you point out that it'd get an average of three passengers a week).

RailUK Forums

Carlisle · 26 Aug 2013

The RMT and ASLEF have saved the day for railway employees if it was not for their existence all employees would be on minimum wage and zero hours contracts lol

AndyLandy · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 50: Re-nationalising the railways will solve all its problems. Anything Bob Crow says is by definition the correct course of action to take.

Andrewlong · 26 Aug 2013

The annual fare rise would go away if the railways were nationalised.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Myth 52: no railway lines were ever closed before or after the times of that Beeching man
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Myth 52: no railway lines were ever closed before or after the times of that Beeching man

tbtc · 26 Aug 2013

Myth #53:

Petitions to "save" a railway service (or get money spent on a line) always work and are well worth signing/ retweeting

Andrewlong · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 52: no railway lines were ever closed before or after the times of that Beeching man

TheEdge · 26 Aug 2013

Myth #54: Rail staff do not eat and excrete. We simply feed on the despair of others and excrete spite. Like a railway dementor.

Tomonthetrain · 26 Aug 2013

Myth #55: Passengers don't need a ticket!

tbtc · 26 Aug 2013

Myth #56:

Thirty seconds is the time you need to arrive at the station to buy your ticket before the service is scheduled to depart (not the time before the service is scheduled to depart that the doors close)

Andrewlong · 26 Aug 2013

Trainbasher said:
Myth #55: Passengers don't need a ticket!

Or rather - passengers don't need a ticket cos they can always buy one on the train or at their destination

34D · 26 Aug 2013

Myth #57 smartcards will soon be in operatoion and allow a journey from Edinburgh Airport to london oxford street to be done on itso payg

Myth #59 the Edinburgh tram will open soon

Tomonthetrain · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 60: You can save (up to) 43% by buying on thetrainline.com

Bishopstone · 26 Aug 2013

Myth: The ONLY reason the railway costs more today is private sector profit. If the railway were re-nationalised, the cost base would fall back to that of 1990. (Before TPWS, complex modern trains, wheelchair-accessible trains and stations, a decent living wage for drivers, Delay Repay etc etc).

tsr · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 62: The provision of a grubby white antimacassar is the sole item which constitutes satisfactory First Class accommodation, especially on routes where the journey time may be in excess of 2 hours.

yorksrob · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 60. Modern rolling stock is always "better " and more comfortable than the stock it replaced .

TheEdge · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 61: British Rail is still a thing.

lukeobrien02 · 26 Aug 2013

myth 62: Stratford international has a international train service

Railsigns · 26 Aug 2013

AndyLandy said:
Myth 50: Re-nationalising the railways will solve all its problems.

Myth 50a: Those who argue in favour of renationalising the railways claim it will solve all its problems.

yorksrob · 26 Aug 2013

tbtc said:
In which case, may I add Myth 11(c):

It is entirely fair that HS2's business model is assessed in strict economic terms (will it recoup the costs of building it, in hard cash) whilst any proposal to reopen a branchline from Dibley to Ambridge closed under Beeching gets to use the wooly "social benefits" argument (when you point out that it'd get an average of three passengers a week).

Myth 11d,

Railway re-openings are considered on a level playing field to other railway improvements/investments.

Supporting Case Study: Matlock - Buxton, Re-opening study showed that a large number of people travelling the route would be drawn from other services on the Midland Mainline/Hope Valley routes. This was counted against the business case, whereas it should have been added as a benefit as would any other capacity enhancements on the MML/Hope Valley.

GatwickDepress · 26 Aug 2013

Myth 63: All modern rolling stock is rubbish uncomfortable plastic crap. The railways would flourish if every service were operated by loco-hauled Mark IIs.

Myth 64: If you board the 0656 Gatwick Express service from Brighton to London Victoria with a peak Southern DaySaver, then you get what you bloody well deserve, you criminal low-life.

Myth 65: There's nothing British about the railways anymore.

yorksrob · 27 Aug 2013

Myth 66,

First Class will be a more saleable product if it is indistinguishable from standard class. Outmoded concepts of more comfortable seating and properly defined compartments are detrimental to the promotion and enforcement of first class accommodation.

TheEdge · 27 Aug 2013

yorksrob said:
Myth 66,

First Class will be a more saleable product if it is indistinguishable from standard class. Outmoded concepts of more comfortable seating and properly defined compartments are detrimental to the promotion and enforcement of first class accommodation.

Myth 66a: A small free instant coffee adds to the saleability of 1st.

Domh245 · 27 Aug 2013

Any fan noises on any train (particularly LU stock) can only ever be air conditioning, and it's supposed lack of function is entirely due to some member of railway staff, not the fact that generator systems are as useful for ventilation as an asthmatic ant!

yorksrob · 27 Aug 2013

TheEdge said:
Myth 66a: A small free instant coffee adds to the saleability of 1st.

66a(I) (negative myth) Free booze adds to the saleability of 1st.

CalderRail · 27 Aug 2013

Myth 67: The whole network is built to a single standard and any train can go anywhere on the network (even Electric units).

gnolife · 27 Aug 2013

Another fares one

Myth 68: on a line A-B-C-D, fares from B-C must always be cheaper than the A-D fare

Tibbs · 27 Aug 2013

Myth 69:

Standing on the platform at a terminating station when a train is pulling in will immediately result in your death. Somehow.

Tracked · 27 Aug 2013

Myth #70 - All train doors are wide enough for people to get on the train while other people are trying to get off

island · 27 Aug 2013

Myth 71: Parry People Movers can solve everything.

Trog · 27 Aug 2013

Myth 72:

Tree roots are good for Railway embankments, as they help hold them together.

Railway Myths (2013)

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