https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/10/book-a-bike-on-board-scotrail-through-the-app/
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Rail latest
(590 posts)-
Posted 6 months ago #
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“
Campaign for Borders Rail
Selected extracts from
The case for completing the Borders Railway
a report prepared for the Campaign by
Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd“
http://www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2310-Arcadis-Report-Summary-Oct-2023.pdf
Posted 6 months ago # -
...book-a-bike-on-board-scotrail-through-the-app/
I have never tried to book a bike space without the direct help of ticket desk staff. Does the app allow you to check bike space availability before buying a ticket? There's obviously no point buying for yourself and then discovering you can't book the bike onboard.
Posted 6 months ago # -
“The proposals that have resulted from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers, and so the government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.”
but
A train operator source told the PA Media news agency: “There is quiet fury in the rail industry about where we’ve got to. The plan was signed off by civil servants and ministers. They’ve U-turned.”
which is the same view held by my rail and ex-rail industry friends.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Posted 6 months ago #
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Edinburgh Waverley has had no trains running since around 5pm.
Train tickets can be used on some bus routes.
The trams of course aren't working after 7pm.
Or you could rely on your car if you have one. Or use a bike. Or fly if you need to get to London.
Assume Caledonian Sleeper is still off...
Looks like it is.Thursday 2nd November 21:50 – Services between Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London Euston – please be aware that there will be a significant delay to these services this evening. All services in the central belt have been suspended due to an electricity failure in Edinburgh and we are working with our industry partners for a solution. If you wish to cancel and receive a full refund, you may do so by contacting us on Live Chat.
Posted 6 months ago # -
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Trains can run to and from Edinburgh Waverley again this morning, following last night’s signalling failure. Disruption is likely to continue for several hours though, as we work with operators to get their trains and crews back into position. @networkrail @NetworkRailEDB
“
https://twitter.com/was/status/1720323584021745796
6:14 this morning
Posted 6 months ago # -
Story mostly based on Twitter.
Last “Updated 2nd Nov 2023, 23:51 GMT”
Posted 6 months ago # -
This story seems to be based on the Scotsman story with extra updates from Twitter!!
“
Scotrail warns of Friday disruption after Edinburgh signal fault
1 hr ago
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Posted 6 months ago # -
LATEST
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Hi Jay, really concerned - the taxi should have been free of charge as we pay for those booked for customers. Can you DM me details and we will investigate. ^Angus
“
Posted 6 months ago # -
“
Sorry if you're affected by the signalling issue we're dealing with in the Uphall areas this morning.
Technicians in the signalling centre working to fix it ASAP, and we've response teams on their way to Livingston North and Newbridge as a precaution too. @ScotRail
“
https://twitter.com/networkrailscot/status/1720355907064701031
Posted 6 months ago # -
Boarded the Glasgow to Edinburgh train at Polmont at 5 pm last night when all the problems occurred (it is on my cycle/train commute). Train was cancelled and everyone had to get off. I had an unplanned cycle back to Edinburgh. Not the worst thing in the world and certainly better than the situation for the several hundred folk who ended up in an unfamiliar town and trying to sort out their way home.
Posted 6 months ago # -
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It comes after Edinburgh Waverley was brought to a standstill on Thursday due to a huge power surge so severe it "effectively fried everything in the system."
.”
Posted 6 months ago # -
Been lucky with my use of train recently. One journey from Tweedbank last week and today back from Dunbar after a bike delivery. Both on time more or less.
Mrs LB joined me using a Trans Pennine ticket but we had to use a TPE train on return as later LNER one not permitted. Manned ticket office explained restrictions.
Travelling when you don't want to does save money tho! ;-)A mere £5.30 for 28 miles in 22 mins.
Question 1 Will ScotRail run more trains once East Linton opens?
Question 2 Will the fares ever offer more flexibility as not really going to make people use a train if they can't change when they travel.
Question 3 Will the overhead lines ever have enough power to allow the TPE trains to run their electric capability? Seems crazy that they use diesel in a landscape festooned with renewables!Posted 6 months ago # -
Question 2 Will the fares ever offer more flexibility as not really going to make people use a train if they can't change when they travel.
Flexible fares offer flexibility but you have to pay for it. At least we don't have the off/peak ticket problem anymore, nearly got stung down south a few weeks ago having instinctively picked the off peak ticket, the youngest decided she wanted to go back from York at 1630, guess when peak time starts. Thankfully the station was rural enough that it didn't have gates and the guard took pity on us.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Question 1 Will ScotRail run more trains once East Linton opens?
I don't know about this, but I know that the Waverley-Musselburgh-Dunbar Scotrail trains are going to stop at Wallyford as well when the new timetable comes out, and then at East Linton as well when that station opens.Posted 6 months ago # -
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Comment It’s a dispute that has bedevilled ScotRail and other train operators for years – and I can’t believe I’m still writing about it more than a decade on.
The vexed issue of who controls the opening and closing of train doors has returned to haunt Scotland’s main operator with the impending launch of electric services on the Glasgow-Barrhead line in a month’s time.
“
Posted 6 months ago # -
At least we don't have the off/peak ticket problem anymore
'Anymore' is not strictly true. The trial is for six months, and at the end of it - 1 April 2024 - peak time fares will return, with the trial then reviewed by ScotRail et al.
Question 1 Will ScotRail run more trains once East Linton opens?
ScotRail already committed to having all of its available stock in use for the off-peak trial, and deployed additional units on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High route, and also on the route between Airdrie and Balloch. Whether that rolling stock will then be re-redeployed to East Linton services, I don't know. Dunbar is serviced mostly by six-carriage class 385s, and occasionally four-carriage class 380s and 385s, so for ScotRail's part I imagine East Linton will see the same. There don't seem to be any extra train formations to go round though once East Linton opens.
It would be interesting, academically, to see the train path diagrams for Dunbar to Edinburgh, and how they are to be adjusted to accommodate East Linton.
Posted 6 months ago # -
'Anymore' is not strictly true
Fair! Currently.
I didn't realise it was only a short term test.
Posted 6 months ago # -
"The trial is for six months"
Depends when the election is, as to whether the trial will be extended for another 6 months or not. ;)
Posted 6 months ago # -
There is a suggestion being floated that this is the government trying to bring the current round of industrial action to an end in order to be able to paint themselves in a good (or maybe less rubbish) light in preparation for the upcoming election. This is on the basis that that the TOCs, who make up the RDG, basically have to do what the DfT says, given that they're all operating under management contracts now rather than franchises.
There may be a few stumbling blocks in this plan:
1) The offer has made to the RMT members by the various TOCs, and voted on. That said, the prevailing view seems to be that both the TOCs and their RMT members will be in favour, so it's probably a procedural thing as much as anything;
2) A corresponding offer has yet to be made to ASLEF (as mentioned in the article);
3) AIUI the offer to RMT only covers the dispute re terms up to and including 2022. A whole new pay round kicks off in 2024 (possibly back-dated to 2023) which some are taking as a pointer to the election being called earlier rather than later.It's not as if the post-COVID problems with the railways are the sole or even main issues that the government is struggling with at the moment e.g. environment policy, NHS, prisons, other public services, local council funding etc etc
Posted 6 months ago # -
Question 3 from earlier:
Answer from Alastair Dalton / Scotsman.
Since being introduced two years ago, the Nova 1 trains have been forced to operate under diesel power between Longniddry in East Lothian and Chathill in Northumberland – a 70-mile section of the 120-mile line between Edinburgh and Newcastle.
TransPennine is now investigating whether software adjustments can be made to its Nova 1 trains so that they would draw less electric power from the overhead wires, permitting them to be switched from diesel.
The operator said power supplies may not be upgraded to enable the trains to run at full electric power for another two years.
It said the upgrade of electricity sub-stations included ensuring any impact on an archaeological dig at Marshall Meadows, north of Berwick, was minimised.
The problem has arisen because the necessary upgrades by Network Rail have not been taken into account when train operators announced new train fleets and extra services.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has said the situation is “farcical” when “electricity is flowing through cables just a few feet above the trains”, “needlessly adding to climate change”.
However, the restriction is not thought to affect LNER, ScotRail and Lumo, which also use the line.
You would think this problem would have been solved by now. TPE were going to limit the energy draw of their trains to avoid tuning in diesel. Article from last year.
Then again with strikes etc...
Posted 6 months ago # -
Does anyone know why the TPE trains draw more than the LNER trains.
Don't they both run essentially the same rolling stock?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Based on my experience of LNER during the flooding, their trains must also draw a lot of Amps. Because near the Morpeth floods we slowed down to 20mph then accelerated back up to 90mph in a matter of seconds, 4 times over.
Perhaps an "intelligent" motive unit could sense any voltage drop on the overhead lines and reduce power accordingly?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Bear in mind that the OLE is at 25kV. According to this table (from what looks like a reasonably authoritative source) a 9-car Class 80x has a maximum traction power output of 4.5MW, so current draw at full power would be roughly 180A. Then there's the 'hotel' services - heating/aircon and lighting - which also draw power.
The Class 80x sets are actually slightly lower powered than the Class 81 electric locomotives which they are replacing, which were rated at 4.7MW. My understanding is that the Class 80x trains are lighter than the Class 91+9xMk4 carriages+DVT that made up an InterCity 225 set, so overall their performance is actually better. According to Wiki the maximum acceleration of a class 80x is 0.7m/s^2, or about 1/14th of a g, which should mean that 20mph to 90mph can be achieved in about 45 seconds - though that will depend to a degree on the passenger load being hauled.
I still remember a run from Berwick to Edinburgh late* one dark winter night when there can't have been more 100 or so pax on board an IC225, if that. There was a definite shove in the back as we accelerated away from the various speed restrictions in the twisty bits, and batting along at 125mph with the pitch dark outside, all alone in my carriage, was a pretty memorable experience.
* Both a late hour, and running late due to some problem further south. We did make up a decent chunk of time on the final segment of the journey, and the driver looked pretty pleased with himself when he alighted from his cab at Waverley. I think he'd been having fun.
Posted 6 months ago # -
So from 20mph to 90mph at 0.7m/s^2 would take around 45 seconds, assuming that max acceleration could be maintained throughout that speed range
Posted 6 months ago # -
So is it timing? Do the LNER trains get a full, not block, bit(?) between transformers of OLE to themselves so they can draw full power while the TPE trains are sharing so can't?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Does anyone know why the TPE trains draw more than the LNER trains.
Don't they both run essentially the same rolling stock?
They don't, really, and yes, but only sort of.
Electric trains are part of the problem because of the amount of power they draw, and the limiting factor to the number of high powered trains the railway can handle is the capacity of the electrical supply throughout the length of the ECML.
It isn't a new problem; the ECML electrification was done rather on the cheap, and Network Rail has known about power constraints for a long time. It's running its East Coast Main Line Power Supply Upgrade project. The first phase between London and Doncaster was signed off in 2020, but that took about seven years and included work on about 23 substations, plus a completely new connector to the National Grid, just south of Essendine. It looks prosaic but it's 400kV.
The second phase is Doncaster to Edinburgh and that started as soon as the first was completed. The big upgrade was a new substation at Hambleton junction where the ECML crosses the Hull-Selby-Leeds line. In our neck of the woods, you can see the supply points to the ECML, opposite Craigentinny Depot and the next one is where it passes Torness power station.
The TPE Nova 1 trains are deployed on the Liverpool to Newcastle to Edinburgh route and are the class 802/2 bi-mode trains, so it stands to reason that, in the face of currently limited electrical power in the OLE for the types of trains everyone wants to operate, these are the ones that are required to switch to diesel running. But, y'know, climate change and net-zero emissions and all that: Network Rail is shooting to become net-zero by 2050.
So in the meantime, TPE for its part is trying to reduce the electrical power its bi-modes use, in order to not run on diesel. Though why everyone else with class 80x trains shouldn't be doing the same tinkering is another question. Electricity is still fuel, after all.
Posted 6 months ago #
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