Search results

A lot of the issue with sourcing buses is finding reputable companies who are registered and can provide compliant coaches that meet PSVAR regulations as set by the DfT. Unfortunately, a lot of coach companies prioritise other work (such school contracts) over rail replacement work, which isn’t...

I’m sure Chiltern’s rail replacement was provided by Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS), who covered the other Arriva TOCs such as Cross Country & Grand Central. ARTS are/were also responsible for Northern’s RR even when Arriva were stripped of the Northern franchise in March 2020. Again...

I had an interview with a TOC back in 2021 and to this day I have never heard a dickie bird back from them!!!! CJ

I can’t speak for LNER but Avanti West Coast use a video interview system called Launchpad that sounds very similar to what you have described. It seems to be an external IT programme purchased by Avanti that has an American woman doing the introduction and taking you through the process. You...

On the subject of Costa Coffee, I’ve noticed the outlet on the top level (close to platforms 13 & 14) at Manchester Piccadilly has permanently closed and the one located near the bay platforms where the ATMs are has been closed the last few times I have walked through the barriers. CJ

Some of the shelves were already looking bare yesterday, so I shudder to think what that WHSmiths store will look like come the end of November. The Manchester Arndale branch has a basement area where they stock their books and alas there is hardly ever anyone down there on the few occasions I...

I went into Central Manchester earlier today and the main WHSmiths store on Market St (part of the Arndale) is already preparing to close it’s doors with signs up saying the nearest branch will be at the Trafford Centre. Whether this is indirectly referring to the Piccadilly WHS is also at risk...

Embarrassing moment for me is vacating my seat on a busy train to allow a pregnant lady to sit down (I like to think my parents brought me up well!) only to realise shortly afterwards that the lady in question wasn’t pregnant - she simply had a gut belly probably brought on by a diet of...

The one that always tickles me is Euxton Balshaw Lane pronounced as ‘Ookston Balshaw Lane’. CJ

Just logging into an account regularly, isn't enough sometimes. Companies where employment is highly sought after, may delete the account if the account holder has not applied for anything in the last six months. CJ

The Wilko's on Standishgate in Wigan is across the street from B&M bargains. Both of them occupy prime sights - Wilko's is in the former Debenhams site, while B&M has the former BHS site. For a town already on it's a**e, the closure of one of these shops is just several more nails in the...

If your account has not been active for six months, under GDPR regulations the TOC may simply delete the account. My former account with DB was deleted last year, despite having a Cross Country application on there that was still shown as 'under consideration' from 2021. CJ

Most job interviews I’ve had in the last few years have been no more than maybe eight competency based questions. A lot of prospective employers want candidates to provide good solid detailed answers to the questions they ask at interviews. There are other type of questions that are just...

Very sad considering George was very open about his illness and continued to front the news when his health was in decline. I see Trevor Francis (the first million pound footballer) has also died today too. RIP to them both. CJ

Busaholic I couldn't possibly tell you if an appeal was made. There was another case I read about a while ago where the male offender had been potted about four times for drink driving over X number of years and had a long history of other driving offences. He was eventually given a life time...

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-drink-drive-woman-banned-12994961 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/student-banned-roads-eighty-years-11217928 Busaholic I have added a couple of links above that relate to life time bans. The Salford driver who was 20 at the...

As a former police officer, I was actually sickened by PC Harper’s death that was probably one of the worst circumstances a serving police officer has died in this country. However, I still believe the actions of the three offenders (who were blatant thieves) was not premeditated murder and...

Aside from what we think about the prison sentence, would it not be a suggestion to impose a life time ban never to hold a driving licence again in these circumstances? I do know there has been other cases in the past where judges have banned people from ever getting behind a wheel. CJ

Safety is priority on the railways, so never escalate a hostile situation into a potential aggressive one, whereby you put yourself or other passengers in any immediate danger. Another thing to remember is that when warning fare dodgers they may face a 'reception committee' at the next station...

I always recall Peter Kay's gag some 20 years ago about the cinema pick 'n' mix and having to take out a mortgage to purchase refreshments from the cinema. The grim fact is that Mr Kay's gags are in fact the harsh reality of why Empire has hit the wall. I once used to work with someone who...