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  1. dorsetdesiro

    Sitting with a person when a train is empty

    Funnily I've had that happened to me last week in a car park with narrow spaces when I had a doctor's appointment. The car park was mostly empty with just 3 cars, I was about to get out but a car pulled up next to mine so I couldn't get out. The driver was an elderly guy seemed preoccupied with...
  2. dorsetdesiro

    UK rolling stock in 2044

    Considering how elderly and such workhorses the 483s were on the Island Line before withdrawal, then I reckon the 484s will still be running come 2044 possibly outlasting the other 230s as only D78s/Vivarail units in service. If the extensions to Ventnor & Newport go ahead - very unlikely - the...
  3. dorsetdesiro

    Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

    Wouldn't surprise me if the DfT strips back and back further then the 810s probably will end up being very similiar to SWR's 444s, no buffet, replaced with trolley service if you're lucky to get one also "standard plus" labelled as first class - better buy that Costa takeaway before boarding the...
  4. dorsetdesiro

    Could the railways be renationalised under Labour and what should happen in the meantime?

    Convert the soon to be built Phase 1 part as a conventional non-high speed mainline alternative to the WCML by relieving some congestion at New St by having some Euston-Bham services terminating at Curzon St and run existing stock like 390s also order new cheaper 80xs without the need for new...
  5. dorsetdesiro

    Could the railways be renationalised under Labour and what should happen in the meantime?

    I'm a bit sceptical whatever is said about nationalisation at this stage as an election is coming, all parties are guilty of saying anything to win the keys to No10. The railways did not get nationalised as a whole under the 1997-2010 Labour government, only bailing out East Coast & pre-Govia...
  6. dorsetdesiro

    Future of Class 379

    Whatever happens with the 379s, hope they'll have a future at some point with young-ish stock like the 360/2s getting scrapped due to the unpredictability of UK railways and with too high ROSCO leasing costs. It is looking precarious for the 379s together with the 350/2s when LNR have finished...
  7. dorsetdesiro

    Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

    The Post Office's reputation would be in tatters due to the Horizon scandal, it may go through a rebranding possibly with a new name "PostShop?" to begin a new chapter to regain public trust or become something like "Postbank" for everyone to do in-branch banking once many bank branches have...
  8. dorsetdesiro

    Great Northern Fleet Tender

    Great if GN gets the 379s, I think the 2+1 first class section may get ripped out with more standard seating fitted in and a new smaller 2+2 first class section as GN is a predominantly commuter TOC. I would have preferred to see the 379s stay with GA to be returned exclusively for Stansted...
  9. dorsetdesiro

    LNER launching a mascot

    Just seen the advert, it was indicated earlier on from the preview image that Eleanor would be a muppet sort character, I did think she'd be a LNER guard or hostess in uniform however she turned out to be an average rail user like most of everyone - so if LNER are trying to attract the budget...
  10. dorsetdesiro

    Ryanair on Rail

    Stagecoach once ran "Megatrain" through South West Trains - not sure if they also did that on East Midlands Trains? If Stagecoach were still in the UK rail market, they may still be running Megatrain inside its TOCs or even launch an open access service under the Megatrain brand somewhere...
  11. dorsetdesiro

    LNER launching a mascot

    Cheers for this, forgot about them
  12. dorsetdesiro

    LNER launching a mascot

    So LNER joins these TOCs on the mascot bandwagon so far: GA - Origami hare TPE - Bucket & spade SWR - Piegon & seagull (why?? The latter absolutely would tear to shreds & devour the former in real life!) GWR - Famous Five EMR - Miles the cat like muppet
  13. dorsetdesiro

    EMR Class 360's

    How are the 170s with EMR, any better? A few weeks ago I travelled in & out of Nottingham and both trips were on 170s on the Robin Hood line, perhaps I was lucky I found to be faultless and on time. The interiors were fine & comfortable though unrefurbished, I arrived in a 170 in Scotrail...
  14. dorsetdesiro

    Class 222 refurbishment

    As the EMR livery thread is no longer open, I realise I have grown to like the livery that I think it was a missed opportunity SWR didn't go for a similar approach when it began in 2017. Think of the EMR livery however with dark red/maroon colour scheme with "S W R", would have fit in nicely...
  15. dorsetdesiro

    Class 222 refurbishment

    I do like the grey fabric for the 222s' mini-refurb, looks smart & business like as the intercity stock previously used by Greater Anglia and currently by Chiltern. Makes sense as a stop gap measure until the 222's either get burgundy XC or blue ScotRail colours, wherever they do end up...
  16. dorsetdesiro

    TfW rebrand of Arriva/turquoise station signage

    Are there any bits of the NatEx Wales & West/Wales & Borders of old still lingering on the TfW network such as dark blue paint etc? If not, then ATW did quite a job covering everything up in their colours!
  17. dorsetdesiro

    should LNR/WMR have been a single brand?

    The London Midland name would be a better choice obviously, however when it existed from 2007-17, it also ran services that never got anywhere near London such as the Stourbridge shuttle with "London" in the name, didn't seem to cause any issue at the time. Also EMR runs to St Pancras, again no...
  18. dorsetdesiro

    should LNR/WMR have been a single brand?

    As it is really one company with two brands appearing like two separate companies, it might make more sense to have the whole company under one brand - West Midlands Railway - the whole franchise (inc LNR part) overseen by the WMCA as most routes go through Birmingham/West Midlands anyway? Even...
  19. dorsetdesiro

    SWR Class 458 to be retained

    I did wonder about the full yellow gangways instead of half like the 450s then concluded this might be possibly for identification purposes as the 450 and 458 look very similiar when looking from the front/rear. The full yellow is to set the 458 apart from the 450. Likely no issue between 444 &...
  20. dorsetdesiro

    How a new, re-nationalized railway could be created and how existing TOCs could be integrated.

    Are Scotrail and TfW still refusing to be associated with GBR, I can't see this working if GBR only applies to England? I feel the only way this could work if all TOC brands, including SR and TfW, are retained though with the GBR/BR double arrow logo attached on a smaller scale. Thought this...

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