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I don't follow this thread regularly so apologies if this has come up before but can any traction engineers explain why diesel electrics (say) above 2000hp are often co-co's, especially freight locos, whereas electric locos are often bo-bo's even though the power can often be well over double...

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/hs2-government-to-give-high-speed-rail-line-the-go-ahead.200154 I found Michael Heseltine's interview on PM two weeks ago most interesting. He pointed out that with projects of this nature, huge benefits accrue in time that cannot...

I like to think I am "train literate"(!) and wanting to purchase a return ticket from Swanwick (Hants) to Plumpton next week - which is entirely on Southern Trains I used National Rail to identify train times and selected a Southern Train from Southampton to Victoria ( change at Gatwick) and...

HS2 is specifying new trains capable of 360kph (perhaps the reality will prove to be 320 kph but still pretty quick). I am curious about the catenary behaviour at those speeds. I don't know what upward force the pantograph applies to the wire but I guess it must be fairly substantial to...

Hello - does Network Rail provide statistics of the mileage of track they replace or lay each year? I'm guessing the amount is quite high - certainly into 3 figures. The reason for the question is a foolish local politician (is there any other kind?) who was citing the reopening of the branch...

It's two questions really. 1) Where is the steel made that is used to make Network Rail's rail products? 2) Where are the rails made? I know that (2) used to be Corus Workington until closure then I believe it went to Scunthorpe. It would be easy for the Government instruct its Agencies...

There is a serious point to this question, so please, no guesses. I'm looking for reliable source data if it exists. South West Trains operates a third rail electrified branch between Brockenhurst and Lymington with modest patronage. We don't have any 2HAPs any more so SWT use a 4 coach...

Hi, does anyone know of any websites where it is possible to watch time lapsed films of major current rail infrastructure projects? As an example the Reading station upgrade project was very good for this and produced several eg for bridge replacements. I am hopeful that many smaller...

Hello, does anybody know the year that the rail link between Waterloo and Waterloo East was severed? ta.

My daughter has a student railcard. The ink has now faded to the point of being barely legible. Today I went with her to the station to pay for her ticket and the SWT ticket office staff refused to issue a railcard-priced ticket because he could not read the railcard. This is fair enough but he...

I was on the 1810 XCT to Bournemouth which was running to time for a change, while the SWT down slow to Portsmouth was around 15 mins late. On some other occasions the XCT train has been stuck behind the slow, leading to delays by Southampton. Yesterday the signaller brought the (down) XCT...

I am a humble passenger facing a long daily commute involving no less than 3 TOCs so I get to ride behind different stock daily. Typically my journey will involve 1) a SWT Desiro Class 444, 2) A XCT Voyager class 221 and 3) a FGW 165/1. I hate the 221 from a comfort perspective but it is clear...

SOmeone posed the discussion "What if Beeching had never happened?" My view is that without investment many branch lines would have become semi derelict and so run down as to dissuade travellers. But supposing the Beeching Act anticipated privatisation and allowed branches to be owned and...

Great news for those who like their Class 66s scarlet as DBS have just signed a contract with CMA-CGM to shift a minimum of 25k containers pa from Southampton. Will typically see three new trains per day 5 days per week in eahc direction to t'north. However questions:- a) is this new to rail...

In December a work colleague and I waited for two hours at Burnham as a result of the Didcot SC power failure.I am an annual season ticket holder recently renwewed, he a turn up and go once passenger. He complained and received his fare back in vouchers as per the Passenger's Charter. I...

I travel from Southampton to SLough daily so I get to compare first hand three companies - SWT, Cross Country and FGW. SWT may be much despised for their money grabbing exploitative attitude but their passenger communications are excellent. For example even when a cross country train is...

Hi, can an electrical engineer or fitter explain the cause or purpose of the high pitched warble which accompanies Class 444 and Class 450 units when they first pull away? I assume it is related to their initial acceleration and it seems to give way to a steady whine as soon as the unit gets...

In North Devon for a short break and saw the attached news story as the front page headline in the Western Daily News http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Rail-scheme-bring-return-train-travel/article-2753695-detail/article.html Having just reversed an 8 wheeler with a full load of scepticism up...

Planning approval granted for new houses in the cutting to the west of the current railhead in Alresford means that the railway can never extend. Everyone knows that the M3 was a massive obstacle to any plan to relay the remaining 6 miles to Winchester Junction, and developments at Itchen...

Most if not all preserved railways are operated under provisions of a Light Railway Order, which imposes restrictions on speed ( or does it?) I have heard tentative plans by one or two railways such as the MHR to explore ways to exceed the 25mph operating limit (legally), so what are the exact...