LOL, well they could not question the parentage of the trains, as that *is* known!
I wonder whether the fine choice of words was also in response to a suggestion that these trains extend their sphere of operation to include Merseyrail tunnels, whilst travelling 484 mode?
A busy road bridge over the Central line along Broadmead Road in Woodford failed a safety check and had to be closed as a matter of urgency.
Lineside areas below the bridge were also closed, because of the risk of falling debris.
Given this risk to parked cars and pedestrians on either side of the railway its a wonder that Central line trains are still allowed to pass below that bridge!
btw, the bridge needs replacing but the local council (LB Redbridge) does not have the funds to do this.
Things are not going well - out of five units only one is available for use (today) but it cannot be allowed out because if it fails there will be nothing that can rescue it.
There was a day last week (or the week before) where the subway from platforms 8-11 was shut in the morning, the entrance with escalators also shut, and then a queue for the staircase which got temporarily closed just as I reached it, due to overcrowding. I decided to walk to Warren Street to access the northern line, and it ended up counting as two separate journeys. It’ll be annoying if I have to keep contacting TfL for a refund every day I walk to Warren Street during these escalator works!
Separately, I took 16 minutes between tapping out at King’s Cross and then in at Euston the other day, and TfL have refused to merge the ‘two journeys’ as one because of it being over 15 mins (I didn’t tap in straight away as my train wasn’t at Euston yet!).
Maybe the traditional prepaid Travelcard season tickets will work out both cheaper and more convenient?
Am sure I remember ety Intercity stock using the Watford - Euston line when the mainline was closed,saw them passing Stonebridge Pk.This was in the days of Cl 87/90 traction.
Maybe though hauled by a diesel loco?
Anyway, yes, at one time railways were just that and providing the train physically fitted the route (not too wide / tall / heavy for bridges etc) then almost anything could go anywhere.
Perhaps ... because there are more westbound destinations whilst eastbound everything (usually*) follows the same route, even if some trains stop short of the ultimate destinations.
*) From this station District trains to High Street Kensignton are very rare.
This film references some of what taylor said about Karlsruhe - I am still to make the film which shows the tram-trains sharing tracks with 175mph ICE trains, other InterCity trains and container trains.
However, what this film shows is enough - the German Railways was short of trains for local services so for a year or so in circa 1991 they used tramtrains on the local service, and to their surprise even noted an increase in passenger numbers.
As an aside, the Central line to Epping and Newbury Park via Woodford did something similar, albeit with fewer mainline trains; possibly also the Northern line to High Barnet and Edgware via Finchley Central and if I am right East Finchley station still has smoke baffles (for steam trains) on the underside of a footbridge over the central pair of tracks
As I've said before, in some respects our mainline railways here in the UK are far behind the times when compared with best practise overseas..
But we are catching up, with a new digital signalling system being introduced on the tube line between Moorgate and Finsbury Park - something which might yet become relevant to the Bakerloo line's track sharing north of Queens Park. The Victoria line has already shown how trains with different automated signalling systems can use the same tracks.
I know that I saw and filmed these trains - both whilst in passenger service and when on exhibition at Woodford - but am unsure if I actually got to ride them.
Would have cost more... but from a point of view of transport integration, connectivity with more of the UK, (etc) it would have been a very good idea.
Has the new train been out in service since its debut, or was it just a public launch thing and back into works again? Was it out all day, or just a couple of trips?
The launch day was a for one return trip.
I think it has been out since, but perhaps only for one mid-morning return trip at a time
Subject to having enough rolling stock and platform capacity at OOC this should be easily accomplished - just extend all the trains that currently terminate at Paddington.
Maybe also send some trains beyond OOC but that is a different issue.
I went to the exhibition, said hello to Tim, saw this layout - its superb ... the level of detail is fantastic. Oh and all in 2mm fine scale, which means that everything is very, very small.
Possibly catching one or several buses will shorten the interchange time, but alas catching buses breaks OSI fares - although in what to my eyes looks like 'double standards' catching a train (of any ownership) as part of a multi-modal journey does not break the bus / tram Hopper fares.
Anyway, as you suggest, this wont be an OSI and wont be a viable interchange.
The new Thamelink Brent Cross West opens this coming Sunday, how practical will it be to walk between here and Brent Cross shopping centre - and between this station and Brent Cross Northern line station?
Also, will the two Brent Cross stations be an OSI (out of station interchange)?
I was pleased to see Gants Hill in his list (my home station since I started travelling to school by train in 1971) ... but I would prefer it if the barrel roof was painted sky blue and given fluffy white clouds. ie: make it seem as if we are actually at an open air station.
Certainly this happened on the Great Western Main Line with an Elizabeth line train stranded for at least four hours - by when the battery lights had extinguished. I do not know if any other trains were affected.
I find it somewhat alarming that the batteries were unable to power the lights for the entire duration. As upset as passengers were I can imagine them being even more upset had this happened below ground, with the passengers facing being in pitch black.
Or do the tunnels have emergency lighting? - Ideally fed from several sources with redundancy in case one circuit failed.