GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Scotrail's HSTs will be a roaring success and other franchises will fight over the remaining off-lease sets.
I think this is a good one and I think you may well be correct.
Scotrail's HSTs will be a roaring success and other franchises will fight over the remaining off-lease sets.
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I fear a fatal accident,
I fear a fatal accident
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Why do you both fear a fatal accident? Is it specifically for next year or just generally in the future?
If you look back at the number of lucky escapes the railway in general has had over the last few years where 1 minor difference in a small incident would have resulted in a major one then I'd agree that my No1 fear for 2018 is our luck runs out and we have the next fatal accident.Why do you both fear a fatal accident? Is it specifically for next year or just generally in the future?
I find this comment to be a bit odd. What do you actually mean? The decision was made a long time ago: no barriers until an additional bridge is installed.Hopes
I hope that a decision is finally made on the barrier situation at Sheffield.
I hope CrossCountry up their game in terms of ceasing to prosecute valid ticket holders.CrossCountry up their game in terms of Revenue Protection, especially at Burton On Trent, perhaps they could arrange for EMT to have officers do checks there, as it is their station.
Rivalling it in terms of ludicrousness and being as detached from reality as possible?Virgin trains will invent a new catchphrase for their marketing, rivalling "Arrive awesome" and "Be bound for glory".
Someone from EMT's Prosecutions office told me a while ago that they are "still trying" to have a barrier installed at Sheffield, make of that what you will.I find this comment to be a bit odd. What do you actually mean? The decision was made a long time ago: no barriers until an additional bridge is installed.
I predict TP electrification will get the go ahead with most of it actually scheduled to get wires because the consequences for the government otherwise would be too great.
Hopes:
Stagecoach and SNCF win the bid for the West Coast Franchise and HS2 keeping the Virgin brand alive on the WCML and giving it the honour of being the first company to work on HS2.
SWR abolish the idea of 2x2 first class (Long shot, I know) and introduce reservations on the WofE line, making use of the reservation slip slots on the 158/9 seats.
GWR refurbish more interiors and retain their franchise. (Otherwise all my livery updates are for nothing ) plus introduce hot food in first class on weekdays, for the awful downgrade in first class seating and comfort with the transition from HSTs leather works of art to IETs hard things (albeit with very nice head cushions)
Virgin Trains Both Coast up their game on food offerings, increasing reliability of the weekday menus and improving weekend offerings, perhaps by changing the weekend upgrade to a seat only offer?
VTEC 800s get fitted with a better interior than those on GWR's patch (another long shot).
Tighten up the rules on quiet zones! Guards I'm talking to you.
Fears:
That current projects such as HS2, East West Rail Link and such don't get delayed!
Why would you think that? I believe the government's already taken the political flak from ruling it out so what would make it worse?
Hopes:
- HS2 phase 2 is approved formally.
Looking into my crystal ball I see:
Blackpool to Preston going into delays and wont re-open for several more weeks and the May 2018 recast will again be pushed back to May 2019.
I just want honesty from my Employer (not silence and DfT approved script) and the RMT (not 70s sounding rhetoric) and bang their heads together to get a resolution otherwise for everyone who uses and works on our railway network it will be a horrible year. Come to an agreement that benefits everyone and not just shareholders.
I can already say this prediction is correct- Crazy ticket price risesS
Abellio creating a permanent day ranger ticket similar to London Midlands Great Escape