Roger Ford
@Captain_Deltic
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Industry & Technology Editor: Modern Railways.
Joined February 2010
York yesterday at 10.00.These are not pensioners without mobile phones, or people with disabilities. Just normal day-to-day travellers, of all ages, who want advice before buying their ticket. Only 2 people using the 4 TVM
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From a DfT press release:.“Taxpayers contributed £1000 per household to protect train drivers’ jobs during the pandemic.” .And I thought it was to keep the railway running so that essential workers could get to their jobs, and freight trains could still run.
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If a buyer can't be found for Chelsea FC, isn't the obvious solution to transfer the company to DfT's Operator of Last Resort?.
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Chiltern is saying please don't travel because we are going to be so busy with the Nuneham Viaduct closure. If we had a proper Integrated railway, extra rolling stock would have been brought in and max length trains would be running a max frequency Oxford Shuttle service.
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According to Shapps the £16bn support for the railway was all about protecting railway workers jobs at a cost of £160,000 per head. Nothing to do with keeping vital rail services running for essential workers then?.
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Don't want to over-dramatise, but the only interpretation for this change is anti-democratic.
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In a DfT press release Grayling says thousands of new trains are being introduced. Listen carefully Minister , a single passenger coach is a vehicle. If you join several vehicles together they become a train. These highly technical terms are not interchangeable.
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I'm waiting for the re-branding of the armed forces as Great British Army, Great British Navy and Great British Air Force.
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A thought for our troubled times. In 1992, when British Rail was battling the recession and under pressure to cut costs, Intercity Director John Prideaux told @Modern_Railways "cutting 10% of train miles cuts 10% of revenue but nothing like that percentage of costs".
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Today's train driver "inflation busting pay-deal" bashing article in the Daily Telegraph is written by Tom Harris, who I vaguely remember as a Transport Minister in the dim and distant past. Well, certainly dim.
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Perhaps we should see if we can get Marcus Rashford to campaign for a rolling programme of electrification ?.
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Fact : The East Coast Main line has modern four aspect colour light signalling from the mid-1970s which is now life expired. Peterborough itself has digital interlockings installed in 2003. So who fed DfT this "Victorian" nonsense?.
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So HS2 has confirmed that its new coaches will now have two doors per side instead of the one specified. To quote the former Met-Camm MD Bryan Ronan, "variation orders turn a net loss into a gross profit".
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Making Old Oak Common the initial southern terminus of HS2 to get the benefits as soon as possible has echos of Grayling cancelling the extension of the Midland Main Line electrification because bi-mode trains will bring passenger benefits earlier,.
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According to @Mark_J_Harper changing travel patterns after the pandemic mean that "the railways are still losing money and require significant subsidies". They required significant subsidies before the pandemic.
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If the new HS2 trains will now stop at just two, possibly three, dedicated stations, shouldn't the floor height provide level boarding at standard height Network Rail platforms?.
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A Telegraph feature on the state of the railways says of the John Major privatisation "an added complication was that the state retained ownership of the vastly expensive infrastructure". Funny, I could have sworn I bought shares in a company Rail something. Railtrack was it?.
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On this day 20 years ago I came to after an emergency operation with tubes in various orifices, a new orifice in the form of a temporary ileostomy and a diagnosis of colon cancer. I record this only because it might give some encouragement to someone in a similar situation today.
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Something that fascinates me is the way respected TOC managers continued to promote Ticket Office closures as necessary and offering better services to passengers, after 750,000 objections had been received and it was clear ministers would disown them. A form of mass hysteria?.
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Why is rail conniving in its own demise by slavishly parotting the government's "do not use public transport" message when we should be saying "our trains are ready to carry you safely"?.
On many routes we’re now running at 95% pre-Covid provision but only seeing 30% of usage. Meanwhile car usage has reached 80% of previous. We’ve increased timetables, upsized buses and are clean & safe. We now need our lapsed customers back before other habits manifest themselves
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Revisiting John Prescott's "Transport 2010" White Paper from July 2000, the ambition is staggering by today's standards - not least the "up to" 25 light rail lines outside London and the rail freight growth targets. Sadly, it would all fall apart, but the vision was there.
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I used to think, based on long experience of writing about railways that the Department for Transport was uniquely incompetent. The COVID 19 crisis is revealing that it is the universal condition across Government.
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What on earth does @LouHaigh mean by the railway "costing the economy nearly £3 million a day"? Is she referring to subsidy? In which case why not say "costing the taxpayer"? Must ask the DfT press office tomorrow.
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Having analysed the aspirations for the ECML upgrade in the Integrated Rail Plan for @Modern_Railways . I can claim independent verification of Brandolini's Law:."The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit really is an order of magnitude larger than to produce it.".
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An interesting thread for the perceptions of the general public on ticket prices. Note that, as ever, the cost of a car journey is seen in terms of fuel alone. Perhaps we need an industry advertising campaign on how to get the best ticket deal.
Can’t believe trains have become so unreliable and so expensive that I’m planning to drive from London to Liverpool on a Friday night. Wild horses couldn’t have dragged me to consider this in the past given the queue potential. Crackers.
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Following publication of the IRP it has been suggested that we need a 'Golden Railway Infrastructure Announcement' Award. The winner would be the scheme which has been announced as new the most times.
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They are making a pig's ear of this announcement. It's not about nationalisation, it's the first stage of putting a fragmented railway back together. Structure not ownership.
Do you use South Western Railway? Change is coming down the tracks in 2025. It’s the first operator whose services we’re bringing into public control under the Public Ownership Act. The start of our plan to create a more reliable, affordable and accessible rail network.
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In his statement on TPE to parliament Mark Harper refers to "the huge financial cost of nationalisation". What cost is ge talking about? All there is to "renationalise" are the train operators with National Rail Contracts which you simply don't renew. ,#desperate.
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Thought for the day:. "For those outside looking in, the railway industry is impossible to understand. For those inside looking out, it is impossible to explain". @Modern_Railways Editorial 2018.
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Just had a cold caller on the washing machine insurance game. Asked for make of machine. Told him English Electric Liberator. How old? We got it around 1965. Seemed to lose interest.
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@HuwMerriman It's not some Beechingesque branch line, it's a potential strategic addition to the rail network. And it should be electrified from the start if your Department had any vision.
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TOURIST NEWS.Visitors to London next week will be able to see a unique event held only every five years. Funding for the railways is allocated for five years at-a-time , known as ‘Control Periods’ or CP. The new CP7 starts on 1 April and will be marked by two ceremonies.
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The BBC licence fee announcement is just like the Williams-Shapps Plan for rail. Broadest brush proposal of where they want to be: no idea of how to achieve it or of potential collateral damage. Vision without action is a daydream. Cue Monkees.
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Even Richard Osman has broken off from murder mystery writing to tweet against TO closures. 22.9k likes. I never expected the opposition to take off like this. Could it still be an issue at the up-coming byelections?.
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Now the fun starts. LNER (DfT owned) has to work out a new ECML timetable for 2020 because Network Rail (DfT owned) has failed to deliver the infrastructure enhancements on which the VTEC business plan was based and decide how many IEP will be surplus (DfT contract). Deep joy.
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Following up my post yesterday about TOC MDs supporting Ticket Office closures when all was obviously lost, I have been reminded that senior managers never buy tickets. I recall in BR days a manager being surprised at the price of a ticket in his business.
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When the going gets tough, the irreplaceable Class 37 gets going. Who ya going to call? English Electric.
Our standby . route proving locos that have been hired in awaiting their path into Scotland zone at Carlisle earlier today. Credit : Katherine Tuck
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Well, that's the second covid jab done. Very efficient. In and out In 20 minutes including the 15 minute post injection observation period.
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A Happy New Year to all as the UK railway steps into the unknown.
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I follow as many drivers as I can. Here's a Christmas message for all of you from Gerry Fiennes in his book "I tried to run a railway". "It is the Front End only which positively gets us there safely, speedily, punctually, comfortably".
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Are there any more dispiriting words than "We shall be speaking to Michael Gove after the news"?.
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My tweet about adding more capacity on Marylebone-Oxford services while the GWR Oxford service was a deliberate provocation. The response was largely as expected: various reasons why it couldn't be done. I like to think Adrian Shooter would have seized the opportunity.
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Just got a release listing the members of the East West Railway Advisory Group, described as " bringing together the brightest and the best across a range of industries to act as a sounding board for new ideas and initiatives". How about an electric railway? Nah, too radical.
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Chiltern's new contract running to 2027 looks like tacit admission that Great British Railways is running late.
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"You will have noted, Watson, the significance of Network Rail's response to the government's Integrated Rail Plan"?."But Holmes, there has been no response". "That, Watson, is the significance".
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Look for Sunak to promise to make steam traction a condition of approval for future new open access rail operations if re-elected.
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At around this time 20 years ago, the slow death of rail privatisation began. At 16.30, on Friday 5 October 2001 Rail Regulator Tom Winsor had been called in to see Transport Secretary Stephen Byers and was told that Railtrack was insolvent.
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Did you know the contact wire in over head line electrification is staggered so that pantographs don't wear in the same place. You can start a staggering rolling programme of electrification by authorising completion of the Midland Main Line electrification.
It takes 15 minutes for my mate to walk to the pub and 30 minutes for him to walk home. The difference is staggering.
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Just been reminded of another of Sir Peter Parker's sayings. " From the ashes of yesterday's corporate plan rises the Phoenix of tomorrow's cock up". Timeless wisdom from the late, great BR Chairman.
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In a parallel universe the British Rail Intercity board has just watched a presentation by the commercial director It started with Flybe's UK routes overlaid on the rail network then discussed proposed changes to the May 2021 timetable to exploit potential new demand.
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That's a new record. From being woken by the @BBCr4today to doing an on line interview about the Hitachi 800 Series problems in 20 minutes. Hope I wasn't too incoherent.
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"Don't call it Great British Railways" says Alistair Darling. The public will call it British Rail anyway, he argues.
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That's going to take more than 2 pages of A4.
As first priority: I've ordered data on why train punctuality has declined for 7 yrs. This not only infuriates commuters 😱 but overshadows a DOUBLING in passenger journeys over past 20 yrs👍. I want trains to be reliable + punctual with delays minimised. More on this issue soon!.
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A great simile for the cancellation of HS2 and the list of alternative projects from Madeline Grant in the DT. "Sorry darling, the vet had to kill Tiddles with a bolt gun, but here's a hand written promissory note for a unicorn".
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What I find truly depressing about the recent publication of the draft Transport Bill and the George Bradshaw presentations by the Rail Minister and his Labour shadow, is that a once self-confident rail industry is standing outside the room, waiting to be told what to do.
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Not another rail centre of excellence. Apparently it will be used for testing cutting edge green technology. To quote Greta Thunberg "blah blah blah". Just get the boring wires up.
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Why would a new railway organisation bringing track and trains together and with passengers at its heart, want to sub-contract responsibility for those passengers to a third party? The equivalent of a supermarket outsourcing the management and staffing of its checkouts.
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I'd have more confidence in the "reforms" needed to save the industry if @networkrail and @RailDeliveryGrp would spell them out with the notional annual saving when implemented. For example how much would DOO save and where? Or multiskilled teams in one van on maintenance?.
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Thinking of all the drivers, train crew and Network Rail teams who will be out there throughout the night. Stay safe people.
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With apologies to.@garius .GRAYLING: We're going to punish you severely over the GTR timetable fiasco. VERWER: You're going to strip us of the franchise?.GRAYLING: No you're going to retain it to the end of the Agreement. VERWER: Bugger.
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Getting our COVID jabs tomorrow. If the conspiracy theorists are right and there are micro chips in the vaccine, will I be TOPS coded?.
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VTEC to LNER has to be the smoothest, good humoured forced transition from franchise to state operation. All credit to LNER Chairman Robin Gisby and @DavidHorne and their teams. May go political tomorrow but handover shows that running the railway is what matters, not ownership.
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Extension of the Midland Main Line electrification to Derby Sheffield and Nottingham is shovel ready. Authorise it now to prevent the skilled installation teams being stood down.
What rock group has four blokes that don't sing?.Mount Rushmore. (Well it is Independence Day!).
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I think we need to start a campaign to make East West Rail a proper electrified mixed traffic railway.
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Disappointing conclusion from Transport Scotland's year-long pilot removal of peak fares. "What is clear, however, from the robust analysis undertaken, is that there has not been a significant shift from car to rail use ". Do we need to dial down expectations from modal shift?.
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Proud Granddad Warning. All England Dance finals.Senior musical theatre trios & quartets. Unanimous gold medal.
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Isn't it time OLR was rebranded? Last Resort is a bit down beat. My suggestion New Railway Management.
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Good Grief! The Chairman of the Transport Select committee is arguing that hydrogen power is greener than electric traction because electrification depends on generators which emit CO2.
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Time to wish all Twitter followers, @Modern_Railways readers and Informed Sources a peaceful and happy Christmas.
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In 1993, with the government rubbishing BR, I wrote this:.If after 14 years of Tory rule the railways are not run the way the government likes. It is, to a considerable extent, their own fault for not apponting the right Board member to make things happen. For 14 read 12.
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All hail @DriverPotter !!."The industry is currently considering options for.the extension of third-rail electrification to pockets that depend on diesel operation, so that electric trains can be used on more journeys". Gospel according to Williams-Shapps.
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Letter from Philip Beck in the Telegraph today asking what rational motive ministers can have for renationalisation after 45 years of British Rail failure. Is the name familiar? Yes, Chairman Railtrack 1999-2001. And what happened to Railtrack in 2001? .Talk about chutzpah.
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A word of appreciation to all the railway social media teams who just get better and better, widening the gap to the efforts of other transport modes. Here's to another year of keeping us all informed.
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Make sense of this. According to DfT "our railways are not financially sustainable and it is unfair to continue asking taxpayers to foot the bill". But the Network Rail Strategic Business Plan assumes an increase in subsidy over the next five years.
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DfT's press release on £1 billion funding for the installation of ETCS between King's Cross and Stoke Tunnel, quotes Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as saying "This £1 billion investment will allow us to replace unreliable Victorian infrastructure with cutting-edge technology".
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According to DfT's just released GBR legislation consultation document, "Historically, British Rail was.unable to plan properly or deliver efficiently and operated year-to-year leading to.inefficiency". As can be seen when you compare, say, electrification then and now. Snork.
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Now's your chance to show you're not a total prat. Put down the bumper fun book and while your boss is in quarantine authorise completion of the Midland Main Line electrification to Derby Nottingham and Sheffield. It's ready to go with some preliminary work done.
I was going to start taking self defence lessons but I decided on algebra instead. I'm a firm believer there's safety in numbers. .
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With my last tweet of 2020 it's time to wish every one a happy New Year ( although given the way things are Terms & Conditions apply). Thanks for keeping me informed, amused, entertained and sometimes put in my place. I hope I have contributed something in return. Now for 2021.
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Blimey, there's a new comedy series on BBC Radio 4 based around a new rail franchise. This coming Friday at 11.30. Hmm.Bet it won't be as funny as the real thing.
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More discriminatory institutional steamism at tomorrow's Azuma media launch. Mallard at York and Scotsman at Darlington. Once again the big two-tone green diesel machine that launched the modern speed revolution on the ECML is ignored. I must protest to my MP!.
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Now you have brought up electricity why don't you authorise completion of the Midland Main Line electrification to Derby Nottingham and Sheffield? The overhead wires are being tested to Kettering and the installation team is ready to continue.
Why did Mr Ohm marry Mrs Ohm?.He couldn't resistor.
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Just passed Bounds Green and delighted to see the sign on the side says "Maintenance Depot". None of this "train care centre" nonsense!.
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Leadership.
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TV reporters are still being interviewed standing outside Westminster and St Thomas' Hospital tonight when they could just as well be in the studio or at home.
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So £100 million for roads, £10 million to fiddle at the edges of Manchester and the Reversing Beeching smokescreen gets thicker. Thanks a bunch.
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When IC125 was introduced Britain had the highest point to point average speeds for passenger services in the world outside Japan. Achieved on existing tracks and with diesel traction.
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Just applied for the new voting Photo ID. For a start when it asked for National Insurance number it wouldn't accept the number on a winter fuel payment letter which missed the final letter. Then you have to take a digital self portrait and upload it.
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Just thinking of a name for the merged Alstom and Bombardier. How about Bomtom?.
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Wonderfully faux-naive article in the Telegraph by @Mark_J_Harper pretending that Union negotiations with Network Rail - a DfT body, and train operators - funded by DfT under contract, are nothing to do with DfT, but he is ready to act as a facilitator.
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Completion of the Midland Main Line electrification to Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield is shovel ready with some preliminary works completed. Authorise it now.
My Mate has just memorised a handful of pages in the dictionary. I don't know why; all he's done is learn next to nothing.
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Many of the non-tech savvy elderly without a driving licence or passport won't be up to this process although bus passes will be accepted. I can see chaos at polling stations when people of all ages who haven't heard about change and don't have photo ID on them are turned away.
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Well, well, well. Who'd have thunk it. Highly relevant Press release of the day. "Live travel information to be displayed on Euston advertisement screen after passenger feedback".
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Great quote in the latest @Modern_Railways . In Scotland they spell Decarbonisation E-L-E-C-T-R-I-F-Y. So should we all.
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September 1991. British Rail InterCity launches a recession-busting package with " best ever" timetable and a huge promotion to fill empty seats. Boots promotion offers BOGOF rail ticket.
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Drat and double drat! When I replied to the pitiful political punster's Roman numerals pun, I missed the chance to point out to @chhcalling that MML electrification will start the rolling programme leading to Decarbonisation of the railway by - wait for it - MML.
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