Glenfinnan viaduct: Jacobite steam train route repairs & HS2 Old Oak Common station progress | Ep 43

[@gzk6nk]

Can you guys please use your influence to get Starmer to reverse Sunak's inexplicable decision and at least approve HS2 as far as Crewe? That bit is essential and relatively cheap, unlike the 10 mile tunnels Crewe to Manchester and uncertainty over whether HS2 Manchester station should be over or under ground. Just get Handslope to Crewe built to bypass the Stafford bottleneck on WCML, and do it to cheaper European HS line standards, not the gold plated slab track HS2 ones!

[@GreenSignals]

It is absolutely essential. Though are influence probably doesn't extend quite so far as you suggest, we will keep banging the drum.....

[@ernestbailey9194]

I must say if it wasn't for the booking office at Barnsley station heaven knows what I would have done. We were booking tickets to Mallaig from Baensley.The gentleman behind the desk came out to get the best tickets from the Machine which saved us a lot of money, ie purchasing different tickets that were cheaper than the normal ticket. For us old age pensioners we do rely on ticket office staff's help. So glad they have kept ticket offices open

[@GreenSignals]

Is not rather then point of the previous booking office proposals though Ernest? The member of staff came out and helped you use the TVM - which is great. But a big part of the proposals was to have those members of staff always out on the concourse / platform helping people. Glad you got the joutney sorted though. Barnsley to Mallaig must have been a wonderful adventure!

[@ernestbailey9194]

@@GreenSignals Thank you for your reply. I purchased the tickets a couple of weeks before we were due to go. Unfortunately we didn't go as my wife had to go to the hospital the day before we were set to go. So I went back to see what refunds I could get, I saw the same gentleman,and he went through all the tickets to see where I Could be refunded. So helpful again. Still on our bucket list to do. Love your videos.

[@MJAlford98]

Your interview with Anthony Smith has to be the epitome of the reason I find this podcast so interesting - lots of insights and diverse, but still professionally informed opinions.

[@GreenSignals]

Thank you! We know that sometimes people will agree or disagree, but as long as it stimulates and people find it informative and interesting, we will keep doing it.

[@macstar2010]

Thank you Nigel for your comments regarding the effect of those level crossing near-misses on us drivers. Very much appreciated. Keep up the good work with this podcast.

[@stephenbates306]

More level crossing idiocy video released by NR. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3y3YWWjjbignassi=gFtvaNu4YJEjd_P-

[@anthonypowell5665]

Happy toddler listening to you tonight gentlemen. These trespass and level crossing incidents people forget how it effects drivers and staff having to deal with it

[@jamesallardice4645]

Great content as usual guy's, just a quick blast from the past i was involved with the entire clean up of the viaduct back in the 80's all the rails all the ballast the old girl was left naked for about two months, we looked into every nook and cranny no horse nothing plenty of original builders markings and the likes.

[@chrishopper340]

A very enjoyable and informative hour - thank you.

[@andyknott8148]

The interview with Alan Ross, first debunking the myth of the horse and cart, but then confirming it did happen but at another viaduct, was excellent. He obviously is enthusiastic about his job and all it entails.

[@GreenSignals]

Totally agree Andy!

[@northernblue1093]

Informed, engaging and always much-anticipated.

[@IBLRG]

Thanks as always from us all here at The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group. Feel free to come to the quaint market town of Brigg using the unique and unacceptable 1 round trip Monday to Friday service.

[@scottthompson8386]

As a suggestion for Richard - to make the quiz slightly more tricky or change the format... think back to the days of those cryptic questions Ted Rogers used to ask contestants on 3-2-1... never got (or to be fair understood) any of those!!! 😂 Keep up the good work, team 👏

[@stephenbates306]

Another great episode guys. Just a couple of points, Richard’s fear, not to denigrate a real thing, is of course not one of heights, but of gravity. My biggest bugbear with independent retailers is their imposing of booking fees on top of the fare charged. The reference to SkyScanner by Anthony Smith was incorrect in that it doesn’t sell tickets itself but send prospective buyers to the website of the operator of the flights concerned.

[@GreenSignals]

True. It's the not the fall that hurts, it's the rather sudden stop at the end. I don't know where it has come from. I used to be a keen rock climber but had a nasty accident when I was 18. Perhaps it was that - who knows!

[@simonpilk]

Superthanks sent! You really have became a great authority in keep up to date with matters within the UK and are keep us all up to date on interesting subjects to so many ! Great work from us all and thank you for your podcast! Compulsive viewing!

[@Richardhill1978]

Top class episode great to see mr Ross giving a great talk on Scotlands climate challenge and also mr smith in rail tickets

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Richard. They (and Sam Clark at HS2) were all really good!

[@Richardhill1978]

@@GreenSignals how could I forget Sam what an engineering feat a transport super hub Last week I had the pleasure of seeing a legacy of the HS2 works at Euston the reburial of Captain Matthew Flinders in his home town after removal from the cemetery next to Euston station

[@Carlos-im3hn]

Fantastic show with great topics, interviews, and recent news. Always the best.

[@GreenSignals]

Thank Carlos. Lovely feedback and much appreciated.

[@jonesrob]

Thanks

[@GreenSignals]

Cheers Rob. Much appreciated!

[@briannewton9283]

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative as we have come to expect - thank you Nigel, Richard and Stef!

[@staffordian]

A real variety of subjects as usual, and as I've often discovered, some of the most interesting parts are the ones I didn't expect to enjoy, such as what could have been a stodgy item on tickets with Anthony Smith but gave some fascinating insights into things I'd not really thought about. Many thanks as ever to the whole team for such splendid content. Cheers, Rob

[@danielslater5734]

(Another) hello from Christchurch NZ. A great listen to keep me up to date with the railway news back in Old Blighty. Keep up the great work!

[@Goldenoldie49]

Excellent content. Keep it up.

[@FlyingScott]

If I had 1/10th of Richard's reaction time when he called for the protection of his email, I would have a few more zeroes on my monthly paycheck! Also, if I can be a little cheeky, you can place a flag 50 metres under the sea, for I listened to this episode on board the Eurostar :)

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good evening green signals 😊 Really interesting interview about train tickets 🤔 My daughter flew back from Las Vegas this week and wanted to catch the train to Newcastle but she flew instead as it was considerably cheaper. Great content as always and I love green signals as it’s like having a talking magazine every week 👍🏻

[@GreenSignals]

A talking magazine! A lovely quote and idea.......!

[@julianroberts8760]

The fact that your daughter flew to Newcastle as it was considerably cheaper is exactly the problem with rail tickets that has got to be addressed - they are frequently uncompetitive in price with the alternatives unless you know how to beat/gain/get round the system

[@grenfellroad8394]

Another fantastic show folks, thank you for your comments about train drivers at the beginning, we don’t get much praise these days 😂. It’s interesting to see where the government are taking the railways at the moment, there’s lots of speculation and guessing but we need more guidance. On the subject of independent retailing of tickets, it’s astounding how many people come into Reading station for trains they’ve been sold tickets for, that don’t exist. Trainline have a habit of selling tickets for non-existent trains, and passengers demand their train is running. I’ve had discussions with passengers too who have told me their phone tells them their train is on platform 5, when I’ve just brought it in on platform 4, but because their app tells them it’s departing from platform 5, they won’t take our insistence it’s not there, and consequently miss their train. Also the trainline app causes so many problems because they think they’re buying an open return, yet end up with two fixed time trains that they consequently miss then demand they travel on another service they haven’t paid for. A lot of work needs to be done to educate and provide correct information on these independent apps.

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks - some great points there!

[@macstar2010]

Thanks. Buy yourselves a coffee.

[@robertwalsh1724]

Thanks!

[@GreenSignals]

Cheers Bob! That's much appreciated.

[@jonhigginson4096]

entertaining and informative, thanks fellas. I was but a knee high at the time prog was popular but have to say I love a bit of curved air.

[@GreenSignals]

Excellent!

[@RichardMigneron]

Been watching for 2 months already, weekly, from Terrebonne, Québec (North suburb of Montréal, QC, Canada).

[@mrbaker7443]

Can you please put network rail under pressure to get bridges and structures weed free? I cry to see the damage being inflicted on the vital infrastructure by rampant budleja everywhere prising masonry apart… it’ll be very costly to repair

[@GreenSignals]

It's a very good point. Something to do a programme on I think.......

[@davidahugill99]

How can through ticketing be made to work when there are multiple train operating companies spread all over the country ? OR is the idea to have one huge operating publicly owned company OR body cooperating with the private sector to make it all work ? Cheers , Dave H Carnforth

[@GreenSignals]

Through ticketing can work perfectly well with multiple parties involved. The issue remains complexity and access to tickets overall.

[@MercenaryPen]

slight quibble on Nigel's use of the royal we... the royal we is usually used to mean I, whereas Nigel is clearly using we to mean you in this instance... clearly Nigel is using the managerial we

[@GreenSignals]

An excellent contribution to pedant's corner - though, undoubtedly correct!

[@allanmorton6022]

Great to see the West Highland Line featured again, must be your most common location for stories! Enjoyed the interview with great pictures. Government is certainly stretching the definition of day one! Fares need to redesigned from scratch to scrap split tickets and simplify ensuring passengers are confident they are not being ripped off. What's happened to the full and standing campaign? I sometimes repost some X's to you. Even saw one that a train arrived full from Leven at Cameron Bridge!

[@GreenSignals]

It does feel that way Allan! And watch out for a forthcoming episode when I hopefully get to ride up front on the very line we are talking about! Full and standing probably needs a bit of a reboot. Thanks for the nudge... Cheers. Richard

[@mikeschumacher]

Been listening from San Diego, California for a while. Listening to the conversation with Anthony Smith, I wonder why (shadow) GBR can't eventually reach international customers and offer better marketing. I look to SBB in Switzerland and DB in Germany, and I get all sorts of newsletters from them - plus I can buy a ticket on their Web sites or apps weeks in advance. It would take a major overhaul and centralization of fares first

[@GreenSignals]

You’re most welcome. San Diego, such a lovely place! I suspect you are right but given organisations such as Trainline already has the infrastructure in place and given there are so many other pressing priorities for GBR, I wonder whether it would be the best use of their time and resources?

[@mikeschumacher]

@@GreenSignals It's definitely not a priority in the immediate or even medium-term. The priorities that Labour has set out are the right ones. But if fare simplification centralizes ticketing and pricing to GBR long-term, they'll have to eventually work on expanding marketing and outreach.

[@robertwalsh1724]

HS2 cancellation brings a new definition to arbitrary and capricious. Bloody minded and clearly done for the big oil crowd.

[@superted6960]

The money it's costing has nothing to do with it then

[@GreenSignals]

it would certainly have helped if he had at least sought the counsel of those who understood the consequences of the decision before doing it.....

[@andrewkozminski6466]

With todays VoIP tech, I don't see why we need to close booking offices. Each booking office could also handle ALL "call centre" functions, answer "Help Point" calls, and could even provide a live "Help" feature to ticket machines, where the staff member "takes over" the machine to provide what the customer wants, machine screen shows confirmation, customer accepts/declines and the local machine then takes payment and issues ticket.

[@gwrydd]

What does shadow GBR actually mean? in terms of what us the passenger will see. A return of the intercity and regional railways liveries?

[@grahamsmith6443]

I feel that the best model would be although state owned/operated, keep the individual train companies as now. Allowing regions/companies to be more innovative and in competition so that they can drive performance and experience. If not we may go back to british rail days

[@robertwilson738]

Nothing wrong with BR days. The latter years were the best our railways have been. Killed off in its youth.

[@ethmister]

There are to many operators currently. If we can trim the numbers that be better. Also some of the current operators are crap.

[@domtweed7323]

I like trains.

[@grahamfrear9270]

Why is there never no fuss about the the Riverhead viaduct

[@GreenSignals]

Thanks Graham. Do you mean Ribblehead?

[@tridentmusic5570]

You two need a little (h) ELP. If you think you need some Brain (salad) surgery, Tarkus through it? Yes? We have time-and a word, fragile though it is.......... Terrific and informative show once again. Ticketing and Connecting services could do with serious review here, twixt Greatbeam, and, If Fuddle. I must go South to go far north! Frustrating it is. Much Deja Vu there and back again. To be United with Owls without visiting Rams would be a great achievement.............and one can only dream of directly collecting steamy Black Puddings without leaving Hope behind.......I'm Suprised Alan Ross didn't employ Quiddich technology, rather than men dangling on twine, but nevertheless the results are pure Magic.........(You started it ! ) X

[@GreenSignals]

Good grief - that post is a work of art in itself. Many thanks!

[@Cartoonman154]

And there's me thinking the Glenfinnan viaduct was stone.

[@GreenSignals]

Now you know!

[@alexisdespland4939]

are you limited to uk rail news.

[@GreenSignals]

Definitely not!

[@anthonypowell5665]

Bringing operators back into public ownership not exactly a good. Thing we've had quite a few cutbacks with TFW including swanline being kept at 2 hourly. By now it should be hourly your not going to get more people using it if the frequency is so poor. People wonder then why Maesteg services are getting so busy it's because people like me drive to Tondu as we can get an hourly service

[@rpmillam]

It's good bye from me and its good bye from him.

[@GreenSignals]

Quite.

[@phil2hoots]

I appreciate that you need clear boundaries but the law if taken as written and applied means there are no excuses. No ticket for whatever reason means a fine and potential prosecution. This doesn’t allow for any failure of the railway companies ticket buying facilities. This is against natural justice I would have thought as there is no defence . It is also not train exactly user friendly.

[@GreenSignals]

i think you may have misunderstood. If the ticket machines were not working at a station then it may not be a bylaw offence because there is a defence for this specific scenario in the law.

[@charlo90952]

I think you should advocate for renaming "train drivers" as something more elevated, like engineer as in US, or perhaps train captain, like the German zugfuhrer or Indian locopilot.

[@tridentmusic5570]

"Zugfuhrer" YES ! Who would DARE complain about 5 mins late ??? Besides which, there's more than enough "DB" here to justify it !

[@jonathanveitch3947]

Thanks

[@GreenSignals]

Jon - that is extraordinarily kind. Thank you - really appreciated. R, N & S

[@tonysimons2860]

Thanks!

[@simonpilk]

Thanks

[@ChrisExley-sk1fh]

Thanks

[@grahambaker8941]

Thanks