Green Signals30 Mai 2024

35. Turbo Pendolinos for HS2? Is a directing mind required & why Tornado cost £1m to overhaul

HS2 Phase 2 to Manchester may have been cancelled but the problems have only begun. How to deal with the 54 brand new Alstom / Hitachi trains on order? What about fewer seats being available on Britain’s most valuable route, London – Manchester? And then there’s Euston station – what on earth do we build now? Chris Gibb, a senior figure in the railway industry previously a director of Virgin Cross Country, Virgin West Coast and Network Rail to name but three thinks he knows what to do – and he’s written it down in a dramatic new plan which we discuss in detail with him.

Andrew Haines has appeared at the Public Accounts Committee where he and the DfT officials also present seemed to reject the notion of a directing mind. The Labour Party, possibly the next party of Government, appear to think otherwise. Is there a showdown coming?

There’s mixed news in the Heritage Sector. In an interview with Steve Davies MBE, Chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust which owns celebrity locomotive 60163 Tornado, we discuss how its recent general overhaul cost £1m as well as the challenges faced when installing a modern electronic signalling system onto a steam engine. Then we consider the desperate times faced at the Nene Valley Railway which needs £300,000 to stay afloat.

And, there’s good news from the Community Rail sector. We discuss Community Rail week and the marvellous work volunteers carry out to promote their loco lines and stations.

Green Signals: Website - ⁠http://www.greensignals.org⁠

YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals⁠ Newsletter - ⁠http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list⁠ Follow: X (Twitter) - ⁠https://twitter.com/greensignallers⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd⁠ Instagram - ⁠https://instagram.com/greensignallers⁠ Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

With thanks to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust for additional material

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Episoder(233)

144. Failure to electrify Britain’s railway is costing the UK £Billions!

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143. Why does heat wreak havoc with the railway? And what can we do about it?

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2 Jul 1h 5min

142. Bedford Train Crash Latest – What we know… And what we don’t.

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25 Jun 1h 7min

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23 Jun 26min

We ride a Class 70 to Boulby - Rare track, freight only, semaphore signals. Wow!

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19 Jun 57min

141. Is the Government’s Rail Reform failing? And how do we fix it?

Is the Government’s Rail Reform failing? And how do we fixit?Andy Burnham says he’ll bring back HS2 to Manchester if he’ssuccessful at becoming PMAnd we catch up with RealTimeTrains founder TomCairns ...

18 Jun 1h 4min

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Two thirds of all Great British Railways spend will be with the railway supply chain. It’s a dynamic environment that is constantly adapting, constantly changing and constantly investing. One of the b...

16 Jun 18min

140. Government to cut Transport spend in favour of Defence?

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11 Jun 1h 5min