Clipper ticket resurrects spirit of the Clippercard on Metrolink trams The Clippercard is dead… long live the Clippercard! Well, that’s how we may have reported on the self-cancelling ticket’s demise if East of the M60 was around in 2004. Years after the original ticket’s demise, Greater Manchester Transport’s ten-trips-for-the-price-of-nine tickets still carry fond memories. You…
Category: Trains
Guess The Moquette: The Answers
Were you as clued up on your bus, train, tram or tube moquette as everybody else at East of the M60 Towers? Fret not, here’s the answers One or two of you might have been racking your brains over our moquette quiz during the lockdown. After several weeks, we have either put you out of…
Face Masks to be Made Compulsory on Public Transport
Face coverings compulsory from the 15 June in England If you haven’t already ordered a face mask or face covering like the genius behind East of the M60, now is the time to buy one. Especially so if you make your daily commute on public transport. In today’s COVID-19 statement from the Houses of Parliament,…
Back By Unpopular Demand: Northern’s Pacer Units
Nodding Donkeys ‘home’ till Christmas Today, East of the M60 has learned that a small number of the universally derided Class 142 Pacer units will be making a comeback on Northern rail services. Thirteen of the units will be reinstated to provide extra capacity, and to ensure that social distancing practices will be maintained.
Can You Get From Westminster to Durham By Bus?
If you have any sense at this moment in time, the answer should be ‘No’ The list of places associated with disreputable goings-on with present and previous Conservative governments have grown in the last five years. There are now enough places to muster a Best of British coach tour. Till last week, we had a…
A Lost Train to London: The Highwayman
The cheap yet slow way of getting from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to London Road and rail competition, whether private car versus train or scheduled coach versus train is far from new. The private car was, and remains, a threat to the viability of any communal transport options due to its convenience and perceived economy. The opening of…
Guess The Moquette: An Escape to the Pantry Special
Are you as clued up on your bus, train, tram or tube moquette as everybody else at East of the M60 Towers? Moquette is something we take for granted on our local buses, trains, trams or underground systems. It is that fairly ugly pattern on the seats that is complex enough to hide any stains…
Bored This Week? Let's Play a Dice Based Race Game
Introducing The Transpennine Train Game, a dice based race game exclusive to East of the M60 With the Coronavirus leading to many people self-isolating and social distancing, there may come a time when you have tired of Facebook or had your fill of YouTube. You may be one of the lucky ones who can work…
Ten Things That Millennials Never Enjoyed About Train Travel: The Not So Perfect Ten
Ten things about British rail travel that people born after 1980 never had the chance to enjoy or endure For many passengers, today’s trains are shiny and efficient beasts. Some might say they are a little devoid of character. Sometimes they look scruffy or sport garish liveries. In the space of forty years, the joys…
Northern Nationalised: Franchise Transfers from Arriva Rail North to DfT
Northern franchise taken over by DfT as Operator of Last Resort from the 01 March After several rumours and persistent lobbying by Northern English political figures in the last six months, it was announced today that Arriva lost its Northern rail franchise. Under the Anglo-German company’s tenure, the rail franchise was dogged by poor service,…
Local Rail Passenger Numbers Rise Despite Punctuality and Reliability Issues
Despite Transpennine Express’ and Northern’s crises, more people are taking to the trains in Tameside and Glossop The latest ORR (Office of the Rail Regulator) figures for the Entries and Exits of our railway stations have been released for 2018 – 2019. Given the kerfuffle caused by delayed rail projects in Central Manchester and the…
The Shape of Bus Fares Before and During Franchised Bus Operations
The state of Greater Manchester’s bus fares before and during franchised bus operations Greater Manchester has over thirty different bus operators. At present, this means over thirty different fare tables. Over sixty should you count half fares within the City Region. Once you get into cross-boundary operations, there are two or more sets of concessionary…
