East of the M60 EXCLUSIVE: Nodding Donkeys become beautiful bi-modes with revolutionary technology 10-car Pacers set for DDA compliant overhaul; New breed of Nodding Donkeys go electric. Set to carry on for a longer period of time than the UK’s Brexit negotiations is the fate of Northern’s Pacer units. Due to disability legislation, the much-maligned…
Category: Railway services
Red Star: When Parcels by Rail Were Faster By Far
Who remembers Red Star Parcels when you could send your worldly goods by train? Once upon a time, not so long ago, we used to deliver a lot of our post by rail. Before the late 1980s, our newspapers came by train. Such was the importance of Travelling Post Office trains, mail trains used to…
The Duffers’ Guide to Rail Operations #2: Sleeper Trains
A rough guide to nocturnal and, mainly horizontal, travel options Imagine boarding a long distance train by night and waking up in another part of the world the following morning. In another country, or another part of the country. Most of the great long distance trains, for example the Trans-Siberian Express, traverse more than one…
Skipstopageddon: Reading Between the Lines on Tameside’s Train Torment
How an incomplete timetable – and more besides – have caused chaos for Tameside and Saddleworth rail passengers Everything looks good on paper. Last month we looked at how radical changes to our train timetables would have affected Tameside and Saddleworth passengers. Our overall verdict was that the timetable was unfinished. We said it should…
Skip-Stop Is Coming! Timetable Trauma Threatens Trans-Pennine Links
How Standedge line skip-stop approach will sever links between Tameside, Saddleworth, and Colne Valley villages Staggered services to result in slower journey times for local trips; Stalybridge sees 33% cut in trans-Pennine services; Skip-stop ‘stopgap’ added to nark off Rail Ale Trailers? From the 20 May, sweeping changes are going to be made to Northern’s…
Adaptable Carriages: 42 Technology’s Answer For Provincial Routes
Could adaptable carriages with retractable seats be a bold move? In spite of its expense and plethora of fare options, Britain’s railways are carrying more passengers than ever. For many people it is their only way to work. Some view buses as a slow option and drive to the nearest railway station. Anyone travelling in…
Christmas 2017 and New Year’s Day 2018 Trains and Trams in Tameside
Christmas and New Year train and tram service information for passengers in Tameside and surrounding area Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again. Following on East of the M60’s look at Yuletide buses in the Tameside area, we turn our attention to local trains and trams. Besides being a good time for…
Calling All GM Stations: A Look at TfGM’s Action Stations Plan
How Action Stations aims to transform Greater Manchester’s railway stations Greater Manchester has 97 railway stations. Many of them are unstaffed with some lacking any disabled access at all. Most of the City Region’s stations are managed by its principal rail franchisee, Arriva Rail North’s Northern franchise. Stockport is managed by Virgin West Coast; Manchester Piccadilly…
Fares Unfair 2017: Priced Out of the Powerhouse?
East of the M60 draws comparisons between last year’s rail fares and this year’s price rises First the spin: that rail fares have risen by an average of 2.2%. In reality, many casual train travellers do not believe this for one second. Especially if they make a local journey; at least with some long distance trips,…
Slam Door Trains We Have Known and Loved: The Not So Perfect Ten
A good excuse to reminisce about pre-privatisation diesel and electric multiple units Alongside today’s Pacers and Sprinters, our first generation EMUs and DMUs were known in the late 1980s as Heritage Units. The bulk of which being slam-door trains.
Countdown to Black Monday, 08 September 2014: Your Questions Answered
Everything you need to know about changes to evening peak fares this coming month On hearing about the changes covered in our previous article, we at East of the M60 were aggrieved to say the least. Incensed because of the effects it would have on casual travellers. Fuming over this sanction being the most retrograde rail…
DfT Imposes Evening Peak Restrictions on Northern Rail Users
Price of a cheap day trip set to double in September Evening Ranger tickets face abolition; Blow for Northern English nighttime economy; Changes set to boost Metrolink patronage and increase road congestion. From the 08 September, the price of a short train journey between 4.00 to 6.30pm is set to double on weekdays. Passengers wishing to travel by…
