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TM Blake - Eurostar Profile
TM Blake - Eurostar

@TMBlakeEurostar

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1,680
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International Train Manager for Eurostar based in London. Here to share my adventures and stories from the UK, France and Belgium.

England/France/Belgium
Joined December 2018
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
Afternoon everyone, after the last few weeks and months I have been considering whether I can continue to support Twitter/X. I really value interacting with you all so I don’t want to lose that, in that effort I have created a Bluesky account, if you want you can join me there
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Remember a few weeks back when the UK’s ATC system went into meltdown? We put on several extra trains at late notice. People often ask “can’t you just run another train” if you’re interested, here’s a thread to explain what goes into running an extra service 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
You’ve heard me say I’m “prepping” a train many times, but what does that actually mean? If you’re interested, here’s your beginner’s guide to getting a train ready to head out under the sea 🌊 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Blimey there’s some BIG weather in Northern France this evening, this is Arras getting a good drenching from a cloudburst. I’m on my way over to Paris to end my week by bringing #ES9063 back to London. 2113 from Paris, 2230 arrival London, see you there if you’re with us!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Thought that bloke on the train the other day looked a bit odd
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@BBCScienceNews
BBC Science News
@BBCScienceNews
1 year
Rescued Swedish bear arrives in Devon via Eurostar
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
398.92 metres, it’s fair to say Eurostar trains are very long! Have you ever wondered when traipsing all the way to coach 1 or 18 why they are quite so long? I don’t suppose you’ve given it a second thought really - there is a reason, allow me to explain 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I try not to do political things here but I’m going to make an exception this time - this is our delay stamp, it comes with a simple instruction “show this stamped ticket at the ticket office and they’ll help you”, adding “if there is one” is not in any way passenger friendly.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
“Bridge passed as fit for traffic with a speed restriction”
@Philippe_Peray
Philippe Peray ®
@Philippe_Peray
2 years
Sans pont ! 😱 Prochaine fois ils tentent ça sans rails.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Fact of the day for you all - if you kitted out an A380 entirely with economy seating it would take 853 passengers, one of our e320 trains will take 902, and that’s with 6 coaches of first class!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Ever wondered how the pantograph on top of the trains that connects to the overhead wires works? Notice how the wire moves from left to right and back to even out wear and tear, also note how complex overhead wires can be!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Good afternoon everyone from sunny Paris, a bittersweet day for me as I prepare the empty train to take to Disney as it will be my last trip on the route, our service to Disney ends in early June. Here’s a quick thread about how we do it 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Public service announcement - In coaches 3 and 14 on our e320s you’ll find this door. It is the train managers office not a toilet, you can wait outside it for as long as you like it’s not going to become a toilet. Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
That's that then, 5 + 1/2 years of serving East Anglia from London to Sheringham, Lowestoft to Peterborough and everywhere in between! It's been a pleasure, but my new adventures start on Monday!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
So after a couple of weeks settling in, I'm very pleased to let you all know I've joined the team @Eurostar as a Train Manager. I'll be in training for a few months yet but hopefully I'll be able to share so interesting bits and pieces with you all!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Good evening and welcome aboard #ES9063 , the last London train from Paris of the evening. Our estimated journey time is approximately 6 government resignations with an arrival scheduled shortly after the change of Prime Minister.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
17 days
The first train of the day from Paris safely delivered back to London and before I can head home from my overnight I find myself waiting for one of our International Driver Managers….but why would a TM need to see one of them? Join me for a short thread #BehindTheScenes 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 years
So…it only took two years and two months, but after a very long day today with @EurostarStephan I’m very pleased to say that I’ve FINALLY qualified as an International Train Manager. It’s a very good day! See you on board soon! 🎉🎉🥳
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
10 months
Still sitting right here in London, the late cover crew are the only train crew in the building. Pumping in the tunnel appears to be going well but we are waiting for the expert analysis of the engineers. We’re here now to operate a test train if needed.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I hope you’ve found that clear enough to understand and at least slightly interesting. Looking forward to answering your questions if I can, better pop the kettle on, or ask @EurostarJustinp who has just joined me nicely to do it when he gets back from prepping a train 🤔😉
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
If you’ve travelled by train in the UK, including Eurostar, your train will most likely have been shunted around the depot by a Class 08, affectionately known as “Gronks”. First built in 1952 and now getting converted to battery operation. Heroic little things.
@postractionuk
Positive Traction
@postractionuk
1 year
They see me rollin’ 😎 #08e
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I was asked recently what kind of mileage our trains do, here’s an example for you. This train has just arrived from Brussels and has ticked over to 2,348,479km or 1,459,277 miles. That’s 6 trips to the moon and back and it’s less than 10 years old! 🤯
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
How often do we hear of people lamenting the British railway network? Extolling the virtues of the French, Japanese and Chinese networks. They’re so good because they invested in their future and built high speed rail. Just. Build. It.
@guardian
The Guardian
@guardian
1 year
Even HS2's defenders are abandoning it. Rishi Sunak, it's time to follow suit | Simon Jenkins
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 years
When your work phone rings half way through doing an announcement but your ringtone is the Thomas the tank engine theme tune and 800 passengers on your Eurostar hear it 😬😬🙊
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Why is my train cancelled today? A thread! (yay!) It's hot, it's 20oc sat here at 0519, this causes a lot of problems with the infrastructure, so @networkrail have had to put some speed restrictions in place to keep everyone safe
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
8 months
A query from an interested passenger on board this evening: How are the train numbers allocated? After a long discussion, I thought it might be wise, for the benefit of the generally interested of the artist formally known as twitter, to put together a little thread 🧵👇
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Very relieved to hear in an announcement at King’s Cross St Pancras underground station this evening that due to issues on the Victoria line today, First Capital Connect will accept my ticket. Will @TfL also provide the time machine?
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Big news for all of us at Eurostar today as it was confirmed to us yesterday that once the migration to the new ETCS signalling system is complete across our core high-speed routes our trains will operate without a driver! More on this huge change ⬇️🧵
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Did you travel on #ES9117 from Brussels to London today? Did you leave your new toilet roll on the train? Contact us here:
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Please don’t come to Aachen, it’s awful here. Sitting outside eating and watching people walk and cycle past while music is provided, it’s absolutely terrible and you definitely don’t want to come here with a single change in Brussels from London in 4 hours, stay at home.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
10 months
Ditto for us, we don’t spend all that time asking you to fold your pushchairs and put them/your bags in the racks not in front of the doors or blocking the corridor for no reason. Well done to the safety crew on the JAL flight, expertly done be proud of yourselves.
@CommutingStew
Code B
@CommutingStew
10 months
We have NINETY SECONDS to evacuate an aircraft, 90. So when we ask you to put your seat back and tray tables in their full upright position, buckle your seatbelt and stow bags completely under the seats, it's for this type of situation. To get everyone off the airplane alive.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 years
I bring terrible news from St Pancras.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
A belated apology to everyone who travelled on #ES9038 the 1601 London to Paris service this afternoon for our 58 minute late arrival. Unfortunately while undertaking the safety checks prior to departure I identified an issue with one of the access doors ⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
One for the the railway people amongst you....very much enjoying a leaving gift from some friends at Greater Anglia! Might come in handy for my commute 😂
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
So next time you find yourself tempted to come out with the classic “are we walking to Paris then?” As you make your way up the platform just remember, as always, it’s safety first and we’re very lucky to have infrastructure that has safety by design.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Ever wondered what train drivers can see at night? Well, the headlights are more so that other people can see the train than so the driver can see ahead! This footage from the back cab should demonstrate, it's pretty much darkness, signals and the odd station!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
4 months
I couldn’t show you this picture of our set for last night’s #ES9063 yesterday, today I can! Going for 🥇
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
And there we are, one international high speed train taken through it’s pre departure health check. The only remaining stage? Get yourself a cup of tea and get writing a thread for all of the good people of Twitter
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
It looks so easy “just put on an extra train” “just add another carriage”, but the reality is a lot of hard work, from a lot of people to get the job done. It’s tough, but the pride of seeing that extra train leave with people who can now get home? Worth every bit of it.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I know some of you find the concept of being in a tunnel under the sea challenging, I hope it’ll ease your worries to know that there’s a plan for all eventualities and that you’re always surrounded by people specifically trained for the environment, it’s what we’re paid to do!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
* Not an exhaustive list, unfortunately there are some parts of the job I can’t share here, I’m sure you’ll all understand!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
With comments such as "is this REALLY going to Yarmouth?" and "Now this is a bit more like it" it's fair to say the new trains are going down well. Rolling out over over local routes and intercity services over the near future 👍
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Word has reached my that my old Class 90 + Mk3 trains will operate their last service for @greateranglia today. I took great pride I knowing by sound or intuition when something was wrong with them and in knowing how to fix it. They served Anglia well, but their time has come.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Fairly certain alien life is currently trying to contact earth via my ticket machine.....👽
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
A very snowy @StPancrasInt this evening
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Good morning everyone! Normally when you’re on a cover shift with us coming in to find red next to your name is not a good thing, not so today, I’ll just call my colleagues in Lille to book on then we’ll talk a little bit about the mysteriously named “hidden rules” 🧐🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
My apologies to those of you in Coach C on the 1102 service this morning for the foul language from two fare evaders. They were removed from the train by the British Transport Police and have been reported to court for their fare evasion.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
19 days
Celebrating 10 years on the railway today, I’m sure you’ll agree the shift work hasn’t aged me one bit
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Well that's my last Mk3/Class 90 train worked for GA 😔 tomorrow is my last day on the trains in this chapter of my career and I've arranged for it to be Stadler shaped....
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Good afternoon from a uneventful cover shift at St Pancras so far, I’ve stumbled upon a very special power car, who can tell me what’s unique about this one? 🕵️‍♂️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
As you can imagine, making sure all of that plugs together takes time and expert negotiations from my colleagues. The image below is not representative (it is illegal for traincrew not to try and wind up our colleagues in “control” when an opportunity presents itself)
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
You’ve all heard of “Train à grande vitesse”, but I bet few of you have seen the British spin off series, “Rain à grande vitesse”
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
9 months
Our Eurostar (Channel) arrival from London next to a former Thalys now Eurostar (Continental) in Paris, possible as our train is off to the depot so no need to be on a secured platform. Nice to arrive under the proper roof for a change!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
Unexpected train manager tasks episode 235 - removing a block of butter from the retracting steps before it causes a fault when the doors are closed
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
11 months
Spoilt for choice
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Morning all, back to the grind (only for three days this week thanks to some leave). First job, rebrand myself! New name badge and lanyard collected, our new ties are still in the post!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Standby for a very niche British cultural reference, you'll either get it or you won't! I was rather excited to see this parked up next to the line at Llwynypia on the journey back to Cardiff from Treherbert
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
If we use this train now will I cause us issues further down the line?(sorry). Some trains for example need to end the day at a specific depot for checks and maintenance. It’s never as easy as “just take that one”.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
8 months
Just dropping this in as a reminder that projects cancelled by the government do come back to life. Sent from the Channel Tunnel, about 15 miles off the coast of Kent, while travelling at 100mph. #HS2
@BBCArchive
BBC Archive
@BBCArchive
8 months
#OnThisDay 1975: The government had scrapped the Channel Tunnel project, so why did tunnellers appear to still be building it? Bernard Falk investigated.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
9 months
Belgian rules training day two and we’ve got to get a bit hands on today so it’s time to get out the hi-viz. A Eurostar speciality this one as it’s double sided to be changed to whichever colour is needed for that country, we’ll be needing the yellow today.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Hope you all found that interesting, thankfully this is a contingency plan, we’re all highly trained in what to do should anything go wrong, but we spend all our time making sure it doesn’t go wrong in the first place.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Every now and then the view from my office window just blows me away - here’s a frosty Medway river valley bathed in the morning sunlight for you all, I really do hope you have a good day ☀️❄️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
My train to work is out there somewhere, the fog has descended on the provinces this morning. Welcome to all of you new followers, 6k of you now, I assume at least 3k of you aren’t bots! I’ll do my best to keep it interesting…even if the threads only come along once in a while.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
10 months
Fresh from a wash and brush up our e300 for #ES9031 back to London at 1310 has just arrived in the station, who can spot the feature that shouldn’t be there though?
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
Welcome home @TeamGB ! 🥇
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
9 months
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Ian Lavender, who I was honoured to meet nearly 10 years ago when learning the route between Ipswich and Peterborough. He was off to the premiere of the Dad’s Army film. Lovely bloke and the end of an era of British TV.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 years
I wouldn’t normally be so happy with an 0500 alarm but seeing as it’s my first chance to go into work in person since March 2020 I’ve got a smile on my face this morning! Have a good day everyone 😁
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 months
Well this wasn’t supposed to happen, I was supposed to be going home, instead after 8 hours at work I find myself off to Paris. Our Paris base is struggling for crew today so every single Londoner has been sent.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
The first thing to realise is that the railway runs on long term plans. We know how many services we’re running, to where and when months in advance. We have to do this to make sure we have a train to run each service, the crew and the rights to run over the various lines.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
Four hundred metres of high speed train stretching back into the station, did you know, you could lay the Eiffel Tower on it’s side and one of our trains would still be 100m longer? Amazing isn’t it
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 years
It’s simulator day again! All Eurostar train managers are trained to set up the driving cab, saving vital seconds in an emergency if the driver needs to change ends, especially in the channel tunnel. Plus, who doesn’t love playing trains! 🚂
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Good afternoon everyone, todays’s lesson in high speed railway operations is on the subject of “Voies d’évitement” or “Emergency sidings” 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
One empty departures lounge at St Pancras yesterday as the last Eurostar of an era departed above, as of today Eurostar and Thalys are under one umbrella. I’m looking forward to seeing what new things come from this, it’s an exciting time! Here’s to the future of high speed rail.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
We need a departure time in London that works for Network Rail and won’t affect southeastern trains, that needs to get us to the tunnel at a good time to avoid affecting the car shuttles, then we need to get to Calais at a good time to not affect TGVs on the LGV in France.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
10 months
One last departure from St Pancras for the year, we’re off to Paris with #ES9040 at 1631. Full train after yesterday’s disruption, let’s get 900 people to where they need to be before the year runs out.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
These passages are located, you guessed it, on average every 375 metres for the length of the tunnel, this means that should our 400 metre long train have an issue there will always be an access door alongside us, pretty clever ey?
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
Made in Europe in 1994 and still serving Europe in 2023 - I’m getting 373016 and it’s other half ready to head to Marne la Vallée for Disneyland with my London based colleagues on board this morning
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Of the many things we check when we prepare a train, the fire doors between the coaches are one of the most important elements. It might not look like much, but the small gap between these doors means they won’t function correctly 1/3
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Ok, so we have a train we can use. Do we have a driver? Train managers? Catering and safety crew? We’ll need to use spare or cover crews, what are they doing tomorrow? Do they have the right competencies for that route? Do they have enough working hours left to complete it?
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
This has been written with Eurostar in mind, but the same can apply to any train operators. It’s often easy to look at the railway and see it as a simple thing to do, I think that’s where a lot of frustration comes from.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
When we look at adding an extra service, the first thing we need to check is if we have an available train. “Available” is the key word, there might be a train in London that can be used, but where does it need to be tomorrow? Does it need to go to the depot?
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Ever got on one of our trains and thought, what is that mysterious ticking noise? Our newer e320 trains have a speaker by the door that emits a sound to assist visually impaired persons in finding the door and it’s control buttons once it’s available to be opened.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Excellent excellent news from somewhere in northern France everyone - our e300 trains have finally got new coffee machines. No more instant coffee for yours truly!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
The tunnel is in fact three tunnels, one for trains to France, one for trains from France and one central service tunnel which is a small road for access and maintenance, see below the high quality diagram I’ve spent 5 seconds drawing for you
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I don’t know what the joke was but it was obviously very funny
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
The train I’d love to be taking home, seen from the one I am taking home! @LNER looking great in the evening light of t’Cross
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
“What’s that?” Asks an interested young passenger amongst his other questions about his trip. “I’m glad you asked!” I respond, “That is a Berne key, would you like to hear all about it?” 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
UK railway twitter folks, anyone else noticed an increase in commuting these last few weeks? These early morning trains up to London have loads more people on than when I was last on earlies at the end of September! Be interested to hear what you’re seeing
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
8 months
Built in Europe for Europe, our original @Eurostar trains are celebrating 30 years of service this year. This one train that will be off to Paris soon has coaches built in: Bruges (It’s in Belgium) 🇧🇪 Washwood Heath 🇬🇧 La Rochelle 🇫🇷
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
(My mother was an art teacher, I’m sure you’ll agree it shows)
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Being up at the crack of dawn on Sunday? Not great fun. Having one of the world’s finest railway termini to yourself? Priceless.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Ever wondered why you’ve got on one of our trains in the summer to find all the blinds down? It’s all to keep the train nice and cool in the heat and reduce the demand on the air conditioning - that reduces a/c unit failures and it’s good for the planet! #behindthescenes
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
4 months
e320’s ruling the roost here in Paris this afternoon, at the front ours for #ES9047 , behind it the one we bought from London earlier and at the very back one we’ve lent to our colleagues on the continental side to do a Paris-Amsterdam 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇧🇪 🇳🇱
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
11 months
Friday evening’s commute not going so well, we’ve gone as far as St Neots and now we’re stuck here. An overhead wire problem all the way up at Retford has backed things up so much that all the platforms north of here are full……and there was me thinking I’d get to the pub!
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
5 years
Back to school again today! Shiny new trains time! (And yes new train smell is a thing!)
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
I’ve barely scratched the surface here and I’ve had to make it understandable for everyone, what I’m saying is we really do appreciate peoples patience in these circumstances, some things do just take a lot of work to put into place.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
2 years
There isn’t a day goes by when I don’t look out of the window in France and think of what has happened in the past in the part of the world we now zoom through without too much thought, the cemeteries are a good reminder. I will never take it for granted. 🧵⬇️
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Everyone meet Nala, who has adopted Stevenage station as her own. Responsibilities include ticket checks and giving fare dodgers a good hard stare.
@official_danik
DRB - LOSC, Stevenage FC & Winnipeg Jets fan!
@official_danik
1 year
1/2 Meet Nala. This cat has been hanging around #Stevenage station a lot recently. She now just hangs around the main concourse & gets lots of attention. (She has a GPS tracker and address/phone number on collar so she is not lost!). @TLRailUK @GNRailUK
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
How do you deal with marking the horn switch with “high” and “low” when the train is going to be operated by multiple nationalities? You hope the drivers were paying attention in music class that’s how! 🎶🎵
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
If they’re going to need to stay overnight can we get them accommodation? It takes so much to get just one crew together and it’s almost impossible to do just with cover staff so you’re going to have to get the overtime chequebook out.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
1 year
Signal 104 “Non-franchissable”/“Not passable” Did you know that in France there are red signals that the driver can pass of their own accord? I always find it fascinating how different countries set up their railways, same end goal, 20 different ways to get there.
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@TMBlakeEurostar
TM Blake - Eurostar
@TMBlakeEurostar
3 months
We made it, finally. My thanks to everyone on the “18:31” today, your patience was very much appreciated as we did our best to get you to where you needed to be. Sleep well 😴
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