Take one single train ticket, then add the most powerful elected mayor outside of London. Introduce another single train ticket for a journey within Greater London. Simmer for 24 hours or more on social media then add to existing North-South Divide and Us Versus London arguments till the end of time.
Continue reading “Greater Manchester’s Rail Fares: An Un-Fare Advantage?”
It has been a while since you could transfer from three modes of transport in Stalybridge town centre. 90 years ago to be precise. If you count trolleybuses as a third mode, that was 61 years ago.
Continue reading “Stalybridge Bus Station: A 2030 Vision”
If we put our minds to it, we can let the train take the strain even more. Not only passengers from A to B, also our worldly goods like parcels, raw materials and fuel oil. For carrying heavy loads at once, nothing beats the goods train’s ability at taking more cars off the roads.
Continue reading “Cars on Trains: The Wonders of Motorail”
“It was 9.29, 29… 9.29 back street, big city/The sun was going down, there was music all round, it felt so right.”
– Last Train to London, Electric Light Orchestra (1979)
Continue reading “When are the Last Trains to London?”
At 1714, arriving three years and nine minutes late on Platform 5 at Stalybridge station was the 1531 train from Southport to Stalybridge. Though the journey itself seems far from headline-grabbing, the kind of rolling stock and its delay is even more so.
Instead of the usual Class 150 Sprinter unit, the 1531 was operated by 769 442. The four-car unit is one of eight Northern trains that are bi-mode units.
Continue reading “‘Bridge Bi-Mode Breakthrough”
The pandemic has been disastrous for our hospitality industry. Pubs have been closed for over a year with some facing depubification. With Brexit in full swing and many countries off limits to Britons thanks to COVID-19, the British tourism industry have changed the definition of Stay At Home. Instead of taking that holiday in Portugal, Spain or Turkey, they have chosen to Big-Up Britain.
Continue reading “New Ski Resort Set to Bolster Tameside Tourism”
Rail Franchising, a part of British railway policy since 1994, was laid to rest at the age of twenty-six. Its original aim was to raise standards across the rail network and improve on services launched by the outgoing British Railways Board. Today, it was announced by Transport Minister Grant Shapps that all franchised operations will be replaced by Emergency Recovery Management Agreements for six to eighteen month periods.
Continue reading “Rail Franchising, 1994 – 2020: An Honest Obituary”
From the 14 September, rail passengers in Hyde, Woodley and Marple would have been left high and dry by temporary changes to their rail service. In just over a week’s time, there would have been no trains from Rose Hill Marple apart from a once weekly parliamentary service. This would have meant more traffic congestion, little scope for social distancing on alternative routes, and more finicky journeys.
Continue reading “Rose Hill Marple Rail Services Saved From Temporary Axe”
It is fair to say that at any point in our lives, we Britons have had some link with W.H. Smith and Sons in more ways than one. Indirectly, we have had our newspapers and magazines delivered by them, through a network of wholesale newsagents. In Tameside, for example, the nearest branches were in Bredbury and Oldham.
Continue reading “WHSmith in Turmoil: The Ashton Review of Shops Extra”
If you have been taking part in our bus and train livery, we now have the answers to Guess the Bus and Train Livery Blocks. In true tradition, the answers have arrived a week late.
Continue reading “Answers to Escape to the Pantry’s Guess the Bus and Train Livery Blocks”
