The Price Hike!
It is claimed by the various private companies, that it is their hope by 2020 to have a modern fleet of all new trains across the mainland U.K? Meanwhile they also say that the last batch of Class 66 locomotives with many newer types will mean the mass selling off of all other existing classes either to preservation or overseas buyers?
This perhaps explains the price hike in fairs for 2018, but it also means that regional governments such as Scotland and Wales may have their last opportunity to expand or re-build lines before Brexit?
London and the south-east will benefit from Cross-rail and the extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, which in long overdue.
The government wants to build a high speed line from London to Pembroke dock, by passing Swansea, this will be via Carmarthen for freight? Meanwhile the proposed electrification may reach Cardiff, after it was cancelled?
All of this could just be another clever way of covering up raising the prices each year?
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
New trains for the U.K.
Class 700/707 and the Virgin Azuma.
A new fleet is underway for delivery in the Class 700 for Thames-Link and the 707 for South-West trains from their initial first batch trials from 2015.
Both of these classes belong to the German Seimans Desiro City mobility design. Thames-Link has received fifty-five, 12 car and 60, eight car units, while SW-Trains has 30, five car units. It is estimated that these trains in peak hour traffic will move 18,000 people.
The trains have some of the London Underground features such as walk-through. This new concept has proved to be very effective in cutting down crime, the train is also level for wheel chair access.
Meanwhile Virgin Trains have invested 140 million pounds in their new Japanese Hitachi Azuma high-speed stock, for east-coast operations. Azuma is Japanese for east, in 1964 Hitachi built the first Bullet train.
Virgin claims that the Azuma has a top speed of 140 mph, but o-to 60 is much faster than it current fleet, meaning that Kings Cross London to Scotland will knock off 30-minutes on the existing times?
A new fleet is underway for delivery in the Class 700 for Thames-Link and the 707 for South-West trains from their initial first batch trials from 2015.
Both of these classes belong to the German Seimans Desiro City mobility design. Thames-Link has received fifty-five, 12 car and 60, eight car units, while SW-Trains has 30, five car units. It is estimated that these trains in peak hour traffic will move 18,000 people.
The trains have some of the London Underground features such as walk-through. This new concept has proved to be very effective in cutting down crime, the train is also level for wheel chair access.
Meanwhile Virgin Trains have invested 140 million pounds in their new Japanese Hitachi Azuma high-speed stock, for east-coast operations. Azuma is Japanese for east, in 1964 Hitachi built the first Bullet train.
Virgin claims that the Azuma has a top speed of 140 mph, but o-to 60 is much faster than it current fleet, meaning that Kings Cross London to Scotland will knock off 30-minutes on the existing times?
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Cumbria, Ireland and Scotland Floods.
Rescue Services
This past week the United Kingdom and Ireland suffered severely from the aftermath of Atlantic storm Desmond, with winds well over 120 mph and severe flooding. Many people were stranded and cut off in their homes without power. Carlisle was the worst effected with a large part of the city under 5-9 feet of water. The east-coast rail line was also flooded between Preston and Glasgow, I think for the first time?
The R.N.L.I. was the main force employed with rescue boats to ferry out the old and those who were either disabled or ill. Other services such as the Coast Guard, mountain rescue and military provided helicopters for those really bad areas.
Fourteen inches of rain fell in a 39 hour period across these islands and most rivers could not cope, even with recent improved defences. There will be many questions in relation to infrastructure and did the building of banks and glass walls really help?
Money will always be the main issue in these matters and perhaps the failure to dredge rivers is one of the main problems, apart from building on low level land to the water table.
The inflatable comes into its own in these types of flood condition, there were also many other small boats involved with outboard engines.
This past week the United Kingdom and Ireland suffered severely from the aftermath of Atlantic storm Desmond, with winds well over 120 mph and severe flooding. Many people were stranded and cut off in their homes without power. Carlisle was the worst effected with a large part of the city under 5-9 feet of water. The east-coast rail line was also flooded between Preston and Glasgow, I think for the first time?
The R.N.L.I. was the main force employed with rescue boats to ferry out the old and those who were either disabled or ill. Other services such as the Coast Guard, mountain rescue and military provided helicopters for those really bad areas.
Fourteen inches of rain fell in a 39 hour period across these islands and most rivers could not cope, even with recent improved defences. There will be many questions in relation to infrastructure and did the building of banks and glass walls really help?
Money will always be the main issue in these matters and perhaps the failure to dredge rivers is one of the main problems, apart from building on low level land to the water table.
The inflatable comes into its own in these types of flood condition, there were also many other small boats involved with outboard engines.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Retrun of the Trams.
The three U.K. Types.
The need for the tram has returned to the United Kingdom, not for love of them but rather for their vital need in inner city urban fast transport. Great Britain was the origins of the trams from Swansea in Wales to Yorkshire to Blackpool. From horse drawn to their hey day in electrification.
The first trams suffered from two problems one they were hard to turn and two if the line was blocked end of the journey. Today priority has been granted to the three types in operation across the U.K with more being planned for Scotland and Wales.
Bombardier M5000 Flexity-2 Swift working Manchester, these 70 seats have a speed of 43 mph. These are one of three different types in service. The Sheffield Super Tram and more than six new type Stadler trams for the Croydon area network in south-London.
Not all areas have been mentioned, but hope to follow on looking at each type. The DLR, Newcastle Metro and Glasgow tube will be dealt with in separate articles, as some already have been.
The need for the tram has returned to the United Kingdom, not for love of them but rather for their vital need in inner city urban fast transport. Great Britain was the origins of the trams from Swansea in Wales to Yorkshire to Blackpool. From horse drawn to their hey day in electrification.
The first trams suffered from two problems one they were hard to turn and two if the line was blocked end of the journey. Today priority has been granted to the three types in operation across the U.K with more being planned for Scotland and Wales.
Bombardier M5000 Flexity-2 Swift working Manchester, these 70 seats have a speed of 43 mph. These are one of three different types in service. The Sheffield Super Tram and more than six new type Stadler trams for the Croydon area network in south-London.
Not all areas have been mentioned, but hope to follow on looking at each type. The DLR, Newcastle Metro and Glasgow tube will be dealt with in separate articles, as some already have been.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Eurocopter EC-135/145.
Most Versatile.
The EC-135 is perhaps one of the most reliable and versatile helicopters ever built. Used by the emergency services, police, air ambulances, line inspections it is fuel officiant and has good seating options for a compact light machine.
As far as I know military versions are in use in other countries. The helicopter has built up a reputation of being it is easy to operate for the trained pilots and push around.
This was all very true up until the Glasgow, Scotland crash on the Clutha pub. We still do not know the cause of this tragic crash, it has been suggested it ran out of fuel? Normally the most feared failure in a helicopter is the Jesus nut in the rotor area.
It's called the Jesus nut, because when it fails you will be calling on his name.
So we will have to wait and see what the enquiry into this crash finds.
Since the grounding of the EC-135, I have only seen the Wales Air Ambulance G-WASN make two dashes over Swansea City. But I have not seen the Heddlu pronounced (Hethli)/police G-WONN flying.
The EC-145 is a slightly larger version and I expect it uses similar components to the EC-135.
Tuesday 4th March 2014.
It would seem that the EC-135's are back flying again with the Police and Air Ambulance services.
The EC-135 is perhaps one of the most reliable and versatile helicopters ever built. Used by the emergency services, police, air ambulances, line inspections it is fuel officiant and has good seating options for a compact light machine.
As far as I know military versions are in use in other countries. The helicopter has built up a reputation of being it is easy to operate for the trained pilots and push around.
This was all very true up until the Glasgow, Scotland crash on the Clutha pub. We still do not know the cause of this tragic crash, it has been suggested it ran out of fuel? Normally the most feared failure in a helicopter is the Jesus nut in the rotor area.
It's called the Jesus nut, because when it fails you will be calling on his name.
So we will have to wait and see what the enquiry into this crash finds.
Since the grounding of the EC-135, I have only seen the Wales Air Ambulance G-WASN make two dashes over Swansea City. But I have not seen the Heddlu pronounced (Hethli)/police G-WONN flying.
The EC-145 is a slightly larger version and I expect it uses similar components to the EC-135.
Tuesday 4th March 2014.
It would seem that the EC-135's are back flying again with the Police and Air Ambulance services.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Helicopters. Part-Two.
Sea King/S-61 to Eurocopter EC-135/145.
The helicopter in our moder world has become both an essential and invaluable tool. Since last week 9 people were sadly killed, when a EC-135T2 fell out of the skies and hit a pub venue in Glasgow, Scotland. U.K.
But despite this we must not think that helicopters are now dangerous, more people die in the British isles each day in car incidents. They are either at the wheel or are pedestrians, but that does not mean we have to stop driving!
The Eurocopter family were derived from some very succesfull machines such as the Alouette III and the Bolkow BO-105. Both the EC-135 and newer 145 are now widley used across the globe for their versitilty. Police, military, air ambulance, search and rescue, as well as electricity and oil line inspections.
The Westland Seaking and Sikorsky S-61 soldier on with their long range capability for search and rescue, both at sea and mountains. They have a great ability to operate in severe weather conditions. Yet all machines really operate becuase of the skill of very well trained and astute pilots, who take chances only when needs be. Thank you for them.
The helicopter in our moder world has become both an essential and invaluable tool. Since last week 9 people were sadly killed, when a EC-135T2 fell out of the skies and hit a pub venue in Glasgow, Scotland. U.K.
But despite this we must not think that helicopters are now dangerous, more people die in the British isles each day in car incidents. They are either at the wheel or are pedestrians, but that does not mean we have to stop driving!
The Eurocopter family were derived from some very succesfull machines such as the Alouette III and the Bolkow BO-105. Both the EC-135 and newer 145 are now widley used across the globe for their versitilty. Police, military, air ambulance, search and rescue, as well as electricity and oil line inspections.
The Westland Seaking and Sikorsky S-61 soldier on with their long range capability for search and rescue, both at sea and mountains. They have a great ability to operate in severe weather conditions. Yet all machines really operate becuase of the skill of very well trained and astute pilots, who take chances only when needs be. Thank you for them.
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