https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/dec/14/6-of-the-best-new-european-train-journeys-for-2022
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Rail latest
(663 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Not just rail but overall transport trend in Scotland.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/covid-scotland-reductions-in-car-train-and-bus-travel-shows-pandemic-effect-is-very-much-still-with-us-alastair-dalton-3510150
ScotRail goes back into state ownership in April.
Will it adopt e-ticketing and stop punitive charges on single journeys?Posted 2 years ago # -
M-tickets have been available in the ScotRail app for a while now.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I generally like Alastair Dalton's commentary. However, I think he has missed the key issue in his latest piece. Car travel is down around 10% on pre-pandemic levels. Bus and rail travel are down by 40%-50%. This is catastrophic.
Taxpayers are providing tens of millions of pounds a month to keep trains and buses running due to the dearth of fare revenue. Clearly, this is a good thing as public transport is a key player in tackling the climate crisis. However, the level of support required cannot be sustained in the long run. Will passenger numbers recover before calls to reduce emergency funding are met? Will service cuts start creeping in (already happening with rail) which will drive more people towards car use? Is this the start of a death spiral for public transport?
Honestly, our entire public transport system could be in the balance over the next 18 months.
As an aside, I see Transport Scotland stopped publishing Covid related transport data in September - when it was clear car travel had returned to pre-pandemic levels while public transport use (and also walking) were well below previous levels. Coincidence?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@CycleAlex - good point about m-tickets - I don't have app loaded so maybe not visible on standard web or not looking hard enough. Other sellers of stuff though let you buy tickets from standard browser (e.g. Cameo cinema)
Posted 2 years ago # -
@morningsider one area that I did some groundwork on, 3 years ago was the delivery of the proven IntercityRailfreight system when the new, faster Edinburgh-Glasgow trains started running - this was stalled because of the problems with the new trains, and the work taking place at Queen Street Station
We have established cycle logistics operations in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and now even more locations, so that a door to door premium package from city centre to city centre could take an hour, or even less.
This traffic is available to fill space in currently under-used trains at minimal (if any) cost to Scotrail, but I still get a negative "Well what about a detailed business case", in a chicken & egg stasis that makes no progress, when we might have the spark of a pilot project/trial, perhaps like Pedal & Post in Oxford getting medical supplies, biological test samples &c on to 125mph trains out of Oxford to London, Birmingham &c
In Glasgow we've now got both Zedify & Urb-It with Zedify and ? in Edinburgh, and some clients expressing interest in this RedStar reborn offer. Time to promote this idea more strongly?
Meanwhile - using the 50% discount on rail fares that my bus pass offers I dodged 40 minutes or so slogging out to Mount Vernon Wickes, and took a 12 minute train ride. Coming back I was seriously disturbed by the lack of mask wearing, notably the 6 girls heading for a night out ... no wonder Scotrail staff are getting impacted by infection surrounded by such behaviour
Posted 2 years ago # -
@Tulyar I can't see that photo.
Coming back I was seriously disturbed by the lack of mask wearing, notably the 6 girls heading for a night out
Yes, I noticed this before Christmas - people who appeared to be commuters were all masked, young people who looked like they were going out, not so much... This was one factor in my decision to stop going in to the office and return to working from home in the run up Christmas.Posted 2 years ago # -
“
These services are an essential part of the nation’s fabric, but still ministers fixate on cutting costs over providing a service
“
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/10/uk-railways-nationalise
Posted 2 years ago # -
Does this compute? (My Italics)
“
As part of our strategy to become more modern & efficient, we’re proposing some changes to ticket office opening hours. No staff would lose their jobs but customers would see improvements. @TransportFocus public consultation on our proposals starts today - https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotrail-ticket-office-consultation
“
Posted 2 years ago # -
“
NEW: Due to a major fault with the communication system between drivers and signallers, services have been severely affected on the following routes:
Helensburgh Central – Edinburgh
Balloch – Airdrie
Dalmuir – Larkhall
Milngavie – Motherwell
Milngavie – Edinburgh via Airdrie“
Posted 2 years ago # -
Looks like Caledonian Sleeper have had a re-think about carrying e-bikes. They will carry them subject to a few conditions:
Posted 2 years ago # -
The e-bike is not charged using the train’s power supply
E-bikes are allowed on ScotRail and LNER services. They have similar rules in place.
Well scotrail went one better with their bike carriages and do allow ebike charging.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That face-saving "well fine...but you have to switch the battery off!" element is just comedy. Who's going to leave their bike stowed for ~7 hours with the battery on slowly draining, ya numpties?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Aren’t all/most auto switch off these days?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@chdot: Aren’t all/most auto switch off these days?
I don't think mine is (four years old, Bosch battery & drive system) - but then I always switch it off when I'm not using it so for all I know it is. I also remove the battery from the bike, which is a pretty definitive "it's switched off", though I believe this is not always possible/easy with some e-bike systems.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think they want the battery left on the bike, it's theoretically safer if the battery is in a system than disconnected. Much less likely to short the battery which rarely ends well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“
RADICAL plans have emerged for a 'one network' public transport system for western Scotland with smart card payments and integrated ferries, buses, trains and subway.
“
Posted 2 years ago # -
"Radical" = the system that was in place during the 1970's and early 1980's. The last vestiges of which, SPT control over rail services in Strathclyde, were done away with in 2005.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Aye, what will they think of next - hoverboards?
Posted 2 years ago # -
ScotRail shutting down for Storm Dudley from 4pm tomorrow: https://t.co/13t6aDarsB
Posted 2 years ago # -
“
operator TransPennine Express has agreed to stop at the station five times per day, with its Edinburgh to Newcastle service
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https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/special-edinburgh-train-becomes-first-23203218
“
Bikes on board
If you'd like to bring your bike on board with you and it doesn’t fold, you’ll need to book a space for it before you travel.
There’s six easy ways to book:
• Log into My Account, select Bookings and then select 'Make a seat / cycle reservation'
• Tweet us @TPEAssist
• WhatsApp us on 07812 223 336
• Call us on 0345 600 1671 (Option 4 and then Option 5 for Customer Services)
• Book when you buy on our website
• Visit the booking officeFrom 19th May 2019 you can book a cycle space up to 15 minutes before you travel, but it’s best to book early as space on each train is limited and can book up quickly.
“
https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/travelling-with-a-bike
Reston about 50 miles to/from Ed
NCN 76
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2519639#map=8/55.997/-2.623&layers=C
MANY other route options.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm not saying the Scottish rail industry is a complete shambles, but the Scottish Government is funding the construction of a railway station which (by the time it opens) will not be served by the Scottish Government owned and funded ScotRail. Instead relying on a franchise supported by the UK Department for Transport.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Instead relying on a franchise supported by the UK Department for Transport.
Can you elaborate on this, Morningsider? Are we talking about East Linton?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@Arellcat - the new Reston station will only be served by TransPennine Express services for the foreseeable future. Not sure about East Linton - although I reckon the limited number of ScotRail Dunbar services could stop, timetable permitting.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm not saying the Scottish rail industry is a complete shambles, but the Scottish Government is funding the construction of a railway station which (by the time it opens) will not be served by the Scottish Government owned and funded ScotRail. Instead relying on a franchise supported by the UK Department for Transport.
Is that particularly shambolic in the grand scheme of the UK transport industry? Reston is well beyond the current southernmost reach of ScotRail on the ECML and the line has capacity issues with slow/fast services conflicting already. Stopping existing intercity trains there makes operational sense, and probably increases the usefulness of the line for locals. This is surely not very different to the current situation where some ScotRail services terminate at Carlisle. I think the real shambles would be if arbitrary franchising/funding concerns got in the way of sensible service provision.
Posted 2 years ago #
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