2017 on British railways
Posted: 05 Jan 2018 08:46
Might be a while to collate some thoughts on what went right and wrong in 2017!
For me, a few highlights:
- Introduction of new Crossrail stock on TfL Rail (it's pretty swish!)
- Ordsall Chord in Manchester opened to traffic
- Phasing out of the Thameslink Cl.319s with all services now run by Cl.700s
- Waterloo blockade completed, with all the suburban platforms able to handle 10 coaches
- Night Overground
- Scottish Government getting very excited about commissioning work getting to London by rail in 3 hours
- Latest industry operational finances looking solid, and the railway pretty much covering its running costs
- Pretty much every train manufacturing plant in the country with jam-packed order books.
and some lowlights:
- Confirmation that the introduction of Thameslink 24tph would be pushed back a year
- Virgin Trains East Coast ending early, so that Stagecoach don't have to pay those back-loaded premiums...
- Continuing obsession by politicians with the ownership of our railways, while failing to actually acknowledge the bigger problems
- Sadiq Khan's slashing of pretty much any long-term investment on London Underground, as he has no money to pay for anything. (Additional Jubilee and Northern rolling stock, etc).
Your thoughts?
For me, a few highlights:
- Introduction of new Crossrail stock on TfL Rail (it's pretty swish!)
- Ordsall Chord in Manchester opened to traffic
- Phasing out of the Thameslink Cl.319s with all services now run by Cl.700s
- Waterloo blockade completed, with all the suburban platforms able to handle 10 coaches
- Night Overground
- Scottish Government getting very excited about commissioning work getting to London by rail in 3 hours
- Latest industry operational finances looking solid, and the railway pretty much covering its running costs
- Pretty much every train manufacturing plant in the country with jam-packed order books.
and some lowlights:
- Confirmation that the introduction of Thameslink 24tph would be pushed back a year
- Virgin Trains East Coast ending early, so that Stagecoach don't have to pay those back-loaded premiums...
- Continuing obsession by politicians with the ownership of our railways, while failing to actually acknowledge the bigger problems
- Sadiq Khan's slashing of pretty much any long-term investment on London Underground, as he has no money to pay for anything. (Additional Jubilee and Northern rolling stock, etc).
Your thoughts?