Philip Haigh @philatrail Twitter profile

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

7 months

This would make a great departures and information board.

Paul Prentice

@paulbyrail

7 months

The Screen at Euston - now just doing animation. I don’t have a strong view on it. Quite a calming backdrop as I munched my breakfast in a box 🍳

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

6 months

“Flying taxis… should be a reality by 2028” says Department for Transport. Sounds fanciful from an organisation that can’t even build a railway line.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

7 years

Snow plough reaches Carlisle following West Coast Main Line clearing duties in Scotland tonight. Pic from @NetworkRailSCOT

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

HS2 has 54 trains on order from Hitachi/Alstom in a £2bn deal. DfT is apparently now suggesting that deal is renegotiated for a smaller number of trains with an alternative option of trying to find work elsewhere for those not needed for HS2 services.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

Birmingham to Crewe is the simplest part of HS2 it seems to me. And as I understand it, DfT still plans to build the Manchester tunnels for Northern Powerhouse Rail. So almost all the cost but next to none of the benefits. It just doesn’t make sense…

Paul Prentice

@paulbyrail

11 months

I don't get it either - Phase 2a taking HS2 as far as Crewe has already been given Royal Assent. It would seem an awful lot of trouble to reverse this in Parliament.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

When planning started for HS2 in 2009, passengers made 1.26 billion journeys that year. Last year passengers made 1.45bn journeys. Rail is becoming busier. Build HS2.

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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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

LNER is introducing a new livery for its Class 91/Mk 4 stock. It mixes BR intercity livery with LNER colours. First to receive the new colours is 91127.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 month

With @CrossCountryUK expected to breach contractual cancellation levels with its reduced timetable, the transport secretary is insisting XC deliver a remedial plan and makes clear threat of removing contract. This is an extract of her letter to XC, just published by DfT.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

It may not be easy or cheap to get HS2 into London Euston but cutting the line back to Old Oak Common is not that simple. It would need a massive redesign to turn OOC from a through station to a terminus. I’m not sure the site even has enough space.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 months

This is madness by Royal Mail who clearly have no environmental interest as it switches from electric rail freight to diesel lorries pounding the motorways.

Graeme Pickering

@PickGS

2 months

BREAKING NEWS this morning that Royal Mail is to cease all its remaining rail operations from October 10th. Low Fell-Willesden ceased last month. DB Cargo UK has circulated this staff communciation to its press contacts and is seeking urgent talks with Government & stakeholders.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

I fear many of the rail schemes in yesterday’s announcement will go this way. DfT will have a look at them and decide not to proceed. That would leave HS2 ‘savings’ largely going to road schemes.

Daniel Holland

@danhollandnews

11 months

BREAKING After just 24 hours, the government has dropped its commitment to reopen the Leamside Line. It was included yesterday in the initial Network North announcements, now it’s gone. Roads minister Richard Holden tells me Govt is now just ‘committed to looking into it’.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

4 years

Pictures from ScotRail derailment are grim...

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Read and weep. DfT's 10-platform HS2 station at Euston is now set to cost more than the previous 11-platform design, according to the National Audit Office. DfT scrapped the 11-platform plan in an attempt to save money.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

If government can cancel a major project like HS2’s northern half in the face of vociferous opposition from senior local politicians then what chance do the replacement slew of small rail schemes have? They’ll be easy to axe with minimal opposition.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Also on Traksy, here’s the final message from the signallers at Birmingham New Street signalbox which closes today.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

If govt announces transport improvements delivered more quickly than HS2’s second phase to Manchester then those improvements can’t be funded using money govt was going to borrow for HS2. That’s because govt wasn’t going to spend on HS2 to Manchester until much later this decade.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

According to government documents, this is what Britain is losing from its decision to hack back HS2 to be a London-Birmingham line. Say goodbye to shorter journey times north from Birmingham and to more trains linking local towns and space to take freight from the roads.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 days

This is a very worrying. Raising safety concerns should always be possible and given that NR’s safety regulator had said the same thing removes any thought that these concerns were unfounded.

Jon Stone

@joncstone

11 days

UK rail minister got engineer sacked for raising safety concerns about Euston station overcrowding Peter Hendy threatened to withhold public contracts from the man’s employer while urging disciplinary action — and asked officials to “deal with him”

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

This doesn’t look good. East Coast Main Line between Newcastle and Morpeth. Southbound trains are using the northbound line under bi-directional signalling this morning.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

The core reason for HS2 was capacity. This 2010 map shows how it relieves current main lines. Delete the bit between E Mids and Sheffield and you lose MML and ECML relief. And while Leeds tram might be welcome, it does nothing for inter-city capacity.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 years

Not seen LNER’s pair of remembrance Class 91s together like this before. Both on the blocks in Edinburgh Waverley’s new bay platforms.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Rail accident investigators RAIB reckon this week's freight train derailment at Carlisle was "almost certainly" caused by a wheel set with a false flange derailing on points. It says false flanges develop when wheels stop turning as a train continues to move.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

HS2 was set to provide a useful alternative to using a car between several major UK cities. If the population keeps growing, I can only see road congestion becoming ever greater. Makes me think the government is declaring a war on motorists.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

Avanti West Coast is to attempt a record-breaking London-Glasgow run on Thursday, leaving Euston at 1036 and arriving Central at 1429, no calls on the way.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

RAIB's report into the freight train collision at Doncaster on July 5 2022 contains this table of the hours the driver worked in the run-up to the collision. It shows very well why rest days are important.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

4 years

BREAKING: Transport Scotland unveils its rail decarbonisation map, plans to electrify to Aberdeen, Inverness, Tweedbank, Carlisle via Dumfries.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Here’s a graphic of the new branding applied to Eurostar and Thalys stock…

Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Brand will roll out across current Eurostar and Thalys fleet by end of this year. Combined operation is aiming for 30 million annual passengers by 2030. New website and app coming.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

9 months

It’s time for HSTs to go.

Paul Sweeney

@PaulJSweeney

9 months

Horrendous tree impact damage to a ScotRail InterCity 125 locomotive today, en route from Dundee to Glasgow. Thankfully, the driver is unharmed. Whilst a British railway icon, the crashworthiness of the 125 does not meet modern standards. The driver's cab is a fibreglass shell.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Two press releases from Network Rail land one minute apart. First announces that the East Coast Main Line will be closed on 18/19 February. Second announces that the West Coast Main Line will also be closed on 18/19 February. So no direct London-Scotland trains that weekend.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

As part of TransPennine Route upgrade work, Network Rail has uncovered a turntable pit from Huddersfield Hillhouse locomotive shed, which closed in January 1967. NR plans to use the site for carriage sidings.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

10 months

Having all but insisted that English train operators announce major cuts to ticket office (prompting predictable and vociferous complaints), it now looks like ministers are set to leave those operators high and dry. One senior manager summed up industry position to me: Livid.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

A bit more on Euston HS2. Building the station and tunnels from Old Oak Common now depends on private money, I understand. If there's no private sector investment then there's no Euston station and HS2's revised 8tph service will terminate at OOC.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

RAIB finds that a Lumo driver didn't see a junction indicator as an April 17 2022 service approached Peterborough at 25mph. Seeing only green, driver accelerated without realising train was approaching 30mph points. Train passed those points at 76mph, throwing luggage from racks.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

9 months

I see DfT has dropped plans to deliver a centralised Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

And now in the flesh… red Thalys and blue Eurostar both in new Eurostar branding at Brussels.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 months

Hope Valley upgrade work started long before the prime minister’s rash decision to cancel northern half of HS2 last October. Looks like the rail minister is trying to rewrite history.

Huw Merriman

@HuwMerriman

5 months

The upgrade is just one of hundreds we’re delivering as part of our Network North plan, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding – delivering further upgrades on this vital line, including electrification, to cut journey times and improve capacity.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Rail hit 99% of pre-pandemic use on Friday November 18 for the first time, according to latest DfT figures. Tube reached 105% on Saturday November 12. Rail is heavy dashes on 28-day moving average, Tube is light dashes and road is solid line.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Not long to go… Crossrail is coming.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 years

With talk of abolishing air passenger duty for domestic flights, failure to implement fuel duty escalator for road fuel and a policy of making rail passengers pay more, I wonder how serious government is about promoting green travel?

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

I’m beginning to think ⁦ @LNER ⁩ is short of stock as another ‘91’ appears at York this afternoon.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Eurostar launches new brand…

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

DfT: We don't need to electrify the Midland Main Line because we're building HS2 East. Also (probably) DfT: We don't need to build HS2 East because we can electrify the Midland Main Line. Result? Nothing gets done.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

6 years

Perhaps Thameslink should ditch ‘delay repay’ and only charge passengers who complete their journeys on-time?

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

4 years

DfT's language around its emergency pandemic funding for public transport is interesting. For train operators it was 'support', for regional tram companies it was 'cash boost', for Transport for London it was 'bailout'.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

This is why any company that now orders high-floor trains is deliberately excluding passengers such as those who use wheelchairs.

Bob Price - bobsrailrelics

@Huxleypiguk

2 years

Paging @GarethDennis The woman with the buggy was very impressed by our new 231's

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 months

DfT confirms funding for Alstom to build at Derby 10 Class 345 electric multiple units for the Elizabeth line.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Network Rail has released a map showing which routes it plans to have running during next week’s strikes. It warns passengers to check with operators to see what trains will be running.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

Press release from DfT this morning lauding HS2 to Manchester as "boosting local economies through better connections, more capacity, improved reliability and slashed journey times". If HS2 is good for Manchester, why not Leeds too?

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

6 days

If the HST replacement in Scotland is a brand new fleet then it must, in my view, have #levelboarding .

Transport Scotland

@transcotland

6 days

Today @FionaHyslop announces that procurement will begin to replace @ScotRail High Speed Intercity Trains. This will: 🔹 improve comfort and accessibility 🔹 ensure reliability 🔹 reduce emissions Read more ➡️

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

BREAKING: RMT announce strikes for 13-14, 16-17 December 2022 and 3-4, 6-7 January 2023 for train operators. Strike dates for Network Rail are 13-14, 16-17 December 2022 and 3-4, 6-7 January 2023.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

Good picture from Network Rail of work to reopen the railway at Salisbury Tunnel Junction following October 31's collision and derailment. Line should open on Tuesday November 16. This pic was taken yesterday by NR.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Hearing that Network Rail has landed the funding it needs for the major TransPennine Route Upgrade remodelling work around Huddersfield. I can imagine DfT ministers will want to announce this one - hopefully soon.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

8 months

Hello Lydia…

Philip Haigh

@philatrail

8 months

Here’s some of the crowd waiting for the TBM’s big entrance…

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 months

Labour is to announce tomorrow its rail policy. Will bring DfT train operators into public sector under a unified, publicly owned, accountable and arm's length Great British Railways as contracts expire. 1/6

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 years

The final LNER HST leaves Edinburgh Waverley, repainted especially into original BR colours. It heads for Leeds today and London tomorrow. Despite their LNER withdrawal, ScotRail still uses HSTs frequently from Waverley while CrossCountry also brings them to the city.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Transport Secretary is ditching First Group from TransPennine Express. Operator of last resort will take over from 28 May. DfT says change will not instantly fix problems but will allow a reset of relationships with staff, trade unions and passengers.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Could be translated as: We’ve noticed the railway has dismally failed to give passengers 12 weeks notice of timetables so we’re looking at changing the rules to 8 weeks instead.

ORR

@railandroad

1 year

📢 We’ve opened a consultation on the requirement to provide timetable information 12 weeks in advance of trains running. We’re seeking evidence of the impact on rail passengers and other users of reducing this notice to 8 weeks. Find out more ➡️

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

LNER is offering free travel for passengers affected by British Airways’ cancellations. Offer applies tomorrow and Tuesday for BA cancellations up to 2359 Monday. A canny way of converting air passengers to rail I reckon.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

BREAKING: RMT suspends upcoming strikes and will enter intensive negotiations.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Northern has just published a tender notice in which it wants a supplier for up to 450 multiple unit trains (able to be converted to electric or battery electric operation later) under a framework agreement. Let's hope Northern specifies level boarding...

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

13 days

If @lner ’s new trains from CAF do not feature level boarding for passengers using wheelchairs, it will be interesting to hear the company’s explanation in the court cases that I suspect will follow. #levelboarding

Tanni Grey-Thompson

@Tanni_GT

14 days

At 22.17 (train got in at 22.02) I decided to crawl off. Had to move all my stuff onto the platform. Member of cleaning staff offered to help. They’re not insured.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

8 months

This view looks towards Euston from Old Oak Common and should be from where one of the Euston TBMs starts work. In the foreground is what HS2 staff have nicknamed ‘Old Oak Lido’. #hs2

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Today ScotRail completes 25 years in the private sector. National Express took over from British Rail on March 31 1997. First replaced NX in 2004. Abellio started in 2015. Tomorrow Scottish ministers take control with nationalisation.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Let’s hope it’s connected directly to Euston.

Huw Merriman

@HuwMerriman

1 year

Old Oak Common will be the best connected and largest new railway station built in the UK. Met @HS2ltd , @TfL , @networkrail and @GWRHelp to ensure the station is built with minimum disruption to existing passengers. Viewed progress from above as important talks were prioritised.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

7 years

Beef today. Country of origin? Yorkshire! #goodeffort

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Major downgrade for TransPennine Express services now it’s under government control. December timetable is a far cry from First’s proposals and will do little to encourage people to switch from the M62.

Pip Dunn 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺

@pipdunn

1 year

An utter sh*t show from the DfT for which @TPExpressTrains will take the flak. Brand new trains with no future because no one is prepared to make them work or train the staff. Instead, 20 year old trains will replace them with a reduced service. Make the Mk 5s work and use them!

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 years

A TPE 125mph Class 397 sits in Carlisle bay platform 5 between tests runs. A peer inside shows that standard class bays of four seats around a table line up with windows. CAF builds these trains.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Latest transport use figures from DfT (to March 13 2023) show rail reached 100% of pre-COVID numbers on February 10 2023 (and again on Feb 11-14 and 22). Graph shows 28-day moving average as solid bold line for road, heavy dashes for rail, light dashes for Tube.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

Six platforms for HS2's new station at London Euston. Don't know why reading that made me think of Marylebone. Perhaps it's because Marylebone is small and tucked out of the way.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 months

British Rail’s CrossCountry timetable in summer 1993 was better than today’s… discuss. (Southbound weekday services shown here.)

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 months

Railways Bill now making its way through Parliament will prohibit franchises and will make it legal only to award passenger service deals to public sector companies. Relevant bits are here…

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

6 months

I’ve never alighted at West Ealing before but here we are to find out a little more about GWR’s battery Class 230 which can recharge from short rails laid in stations.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

4 years

Train derailed was 0638 Aberdeen-Glasgow. It stopped south of Carmont having seen a landslip. It was returning north, initially on the southbound line, then on the northbound having crossed at Carmont. It then hit a second landslip and derailed as it was returning to Stonehaven.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

I wonder for how much longer we’ll see Class 91s on East Coast services? I could see cost pressures forcing LNER to switch to using only IEP stock. Anyway, here’s 91105 just landed at York.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 month

I had no idea that @SouthernRailUK offered electric car charging at Merstham station.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Part of Network Rail's Trans Pennine Route Upgrade is to build a new viaduct over the River Calder and Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal. This will be Baker Viaduct, named after Stuart Baker, the railwayman who died in 2020 and the man behind the famous rail atlas.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 months

I look forward to hearing how Labour’s DfT solves rail’s capacity challenges, particularly north of Birmingham to help passengers and freight.

Louise Haigh

@LouHaigh

2 months

The hard work starts today. Transport is at the heart of Labour’s mission-led Government. We will deliver the biggest overhaul of public transport in a generation - putting passengers first, and transport infrastructure fit for modern Britain.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Latest press release from Network Rail urges passengers using the East Coast Main Line to plan ahead as it switches engineering works from weekends to weekdays (it's noticed weekends are now busier). In a fine example of planning ahead, NR's first closure is next Tuesday.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

DfT has increased funding for Network Rail’s Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade from £2.9bn to £9bn. Latest announcement includes £1bn to continue Manchester-Stalybridge electrification. DfT’s press release helpfully includes semaphore signalling picture from Shrewsbury.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 years

Little says you care about your stations more than leaving unmatched halves of the previous operator’s signs in place nearly five years after you took over.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

In shock news, DfT has discovered that diesel trains produce on-board air quality that's "poorer than desired". There's a one-word answer to the problem - Electrification.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

North Somerset Council has told the DfT that it has raised an extra £35m to fund the expected £152m cost of reopening the railway to Portishead. With this funding, the council says that DfT could grant permission by 14 November.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

7 years

GTR and Beacon Rail have repainted 313201 into original BR blue and grey livery (except the doors which need to be different today for accessibility reasons). As 313001, it was the first from BREL York in 1976.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

DfT reveals that Network Rail will lead a 2-year study to see how to deliver High Speed 2 services to Leeds. Study will include examining original eastern leg.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

8 months

First Group has applied to ORR to expand Hull Trains services into Sheffield, running from London King’s Cross, calling at Retford, Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield. It hopes to start in the second half of 2025.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Major report from Network Rail looks at how to use capacity released by HS2 for services on the West Coast Main Line. Tests 5 concept plans against 5 objectives.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Network Rail abolished Macclesfield signal box last Friday, August 26. Manchester ROC now controls trains through the town. BR built the box in 1965 with a standard 55-lever frame.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

RMT members at Transport for Wales have accepted a pay offer of 4.5%, increasing to 6.6% with productivity elements. Vote was 795 for, 92 against. For conductors, productivity includes New Year's Day services on Cardiff Valley Lines from 2024.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

5 months

Interesting choice of venue when many criticise Trainline for taking money out of the rail industry.

Louise Haigh

@LouHaigh

5 months

This morning I set out Labour's roadmap to fix Britain's railways. Labour's plan means delivering a publicly owned railway within five years, putting passengers first, and bringing down costs for taxpayers. Only Labour has a plan to get Britain moving.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

I hadn’t realised that Sundays were outside the working week for Northern’s customer information systems…

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

9 months

DfT has finally announced funding of £3.9 billion to deliver the Huddersfield-Dewsbury remodelling of the TransPennine Route Upgrade.

Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Hearing that Network Rail has landed the funding it needs for the major TransPennine Route Upgrade remodelling work around Huddersfield. I can imagine DfT ministers will want to announce this one - hopefully soon.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

Confirmation from Transport Secretary that there will be no major Transport Bill in current session of Parliament. That pushes the Great British Railway reforms that need new legislation further down the tracks.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 years

York station is a listed building. Yet several of these clunky monstrosities have appeared recently.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

11 months

They might also like to go to Manchester or Leeds in half the time it takes today. And by removing today’s Avanti West Coast London trains from Birmingham New Street station there will be space for better services to places like Nottingham and Derby.

Sky News

@SkyNews

11 months

"I'm sure the people of Birmingham would really rather have the option of going by faster train to Nottingham, Derby and other places like that, rather than go to London maybe half an hour quicker," Labour peer Lord Berkeley tells @KayBurley . 📺 Sky 501

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

Salisbury collision: GWR 1708 Portsmouth-Bristol struck object, derailed as it approached Salisbury. Derailment knocked out signalling. SWR 1720 London-Honiton hit Bristol train. Reports of injuries. This from NR press statement.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 years

DfT is authorising Network Rail to electrify the line from Lostock Junction near Bolton to Wigan North Western station by 2024/25 in a £78m project. It's almost 13 miles and project includes making platforms at Hindley, Westhoughton and Ince stations longer, for 6-car trains.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

2 months

Catching up with stuff this week and I see that nationalised train operator Northern has been issued a breach notice for exceeding TOC-on-self cancellations.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

1 year

Drivers' union ASLEF has lifted the overtime ban at TransPennine Express following what it calls "productive negotiations this week". Government nationalised TPE a couple of weeks ago.

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Philip Haigh

@philatrail

3 months

Spotted a dash of former Avanti West Coast at Leeds this morning with a Voyager now working for CrossCountry.