Harry Potter’s ‘Hogwarts Express’ off the rails & has Keir Starmer bottled it on HS2?

Harry Potter’s ‘Hogwarts Express’ off the rails & has Keir Starmer bottled it on HS2? | Ep 15

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Күн бұрын

Has Harry Potter’s favourite train the ‘Hogwarts Express’ hit the buffers now that Jacobite steam train operator West Coast Railways has been derailed by the ORR?
Has Labour leader Keir Starmer bottled it on HS2?
Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper responds to Richard’s letter on HS2… except that he doesn’t…
And ASLEF announces yet more strikes. But are they working, and is it time to really ‘take the gloves off’?
On this week’s show:
00:00 Intro and welcome
02:52 Update on Rishi Sunak and his penchant for helicopters
04:51 Mark Harper's response to Richard's letter
10:36 Has Keir Starmer bottled it on HS2?
20:48 West Coast Railway Company vs ORR
33:04 ASLEF announces more strikes
39:00 Driving a driverless train with a steering wheel on the Docklands Light Railway
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Пікірлер: 68

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

If you enjoy this episode, please click the like button 👍It makes a massive difference to us and helps us to keep bringing you more episodes. Thank you!

@lnerrules-iw6ry 6 ай бұрын

Another excellent video there Nigel and Richard. Especially your views about West Coast Railways and CDL to their MK1s. Now Locomotive Services Ltd have done CDL to their MK1s why not West Coast? Well I think personally that David Smith, head of West Coast does not want to listen what people of ORR got to say, he likes to make up his own rules and doesn't like people tell him what to do.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks - glad you enjoyed the show!

@lnerrules-iw6ry 5 ай бұрын

And also Nigel, I first meet you at the Great Central Railway in 1995, during the Thomas weekend and you was the Fireman of Thomas, during Brake Van rides at Quorn and you was talking to me and my dad about Steam Railway Magazine on which you was Editor at that time?

@grahameccles9804 6 ай бұрын

It puzzles me too why DfT deliberately have chosen to treat ASLEF and RMT differently. I think there are three potential explanations. First, they think Drivers earn enough and they aren’t prepared to pay them anymore. They can take action to their hearts content. No one cares. Second, DfT simply can’t decide exactly what changes they want to make to Ts and Cs, be that locally or nationally, and how best to implement them. They don’t want to give what would be a significant inflation based pay rise and lose the leverage that could provide for condition changes. Third. They intend to break ASLEF and the power it has once and for all. At a time that suits them they will introduce new contracts with the terms and conditions they want. Drivers will have an accept and stay or decline and leave option. If I was Mick Whelan I’d be closely examining the proposed contracts for drivers that TOCs are currently seeking to recruit.

@gordondudman240 6 ай бұрын

As usual Graham, a very perceptive insight. My own view is that to an extent The Treasury, as guarantor to the RPS, do not want a massive increase in basic (pensionable) pay that then starts to erode the actuarial value of each TOC section of the RPS, coupled with “new” CoS which in turn drive up overtime costs!

@grahameccles9804 6 ай бұрын

Good point Gordon. Another reason why the DfT/RDG strategy of negotiating at a national level was fatally flawed.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I wonder Graham whether all there of your options may be running in parallel. Not sure they are mutual exclusive!

@moelSiabod14334 6 ай бұрын

Gent's, instead of silly vinal stickers why not have a clear see through cover so any interested party can watch the various gauges , clocks and dials to see what is happening as the trains on DLR move along their route, possibly a small explanation via some type of app or similar, nothing to complex or difficult to take in but enough for a parent to amuse a child as to how and why things work how they do, surely next to no cost involved and it might cultivate a bit of interest in how things work.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

It would cultivate interest definitely, but not sure it would cost next to nothing?

@mrcogginsgarage7062 6 ай бұрын

Last usage of the apparatus to collect and drop off mail on a TPO service.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Cheers! Answer and winner announced next week 😊

@robbarker9907 6 ай бұрын

Great episode, very entertaining. This weeks quiz: Final use of equipment to collect and drop off mailbags.

@pauldarlington9157 6 ай бұрын

I agree and was going to post that answer

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks - have to wait and see though! Answer and winner announced next week 😊

@GreenJimll 6 ай бұрын

I would hope Nigel has done more than just pretend to drive trains! 🤣🤣🤣 One of my favourite moments on the footplate was a diesel footplate turn when we'd stopped at Leicester North and were waiting for a few minutes before running round. A Dad asked if his son could look in the cab which the driver said was fine, so he sat the child in the secondman's seat I'd just vacated. I had to leave quickly when the father knowledgeably said to his son, "look at the big steering wheel they have here" pointing at the hand brake wheel....

@nigelharris6873 6 ай бұрын

I would hope so too Jon, but not recently. You know how much I love handling steam engines from our time together on the GCR and I really REALLY miss it! So if any railways are seeking a jobbing freelance driver from time to time I'd be happy to 'learn the road.' I noticed t'other day that the Whipsnade Railway was advertising of casual drivers a couple of says a week during the summer for its trains turned by the ex Bowaters 2ft 6in gauge engines and seriously thought of applying! I quite like narrow gauge and miniature railways these days, so am open to offers!!!!!!

@S2RUF 6 ай бұрын

4th October 1971, was it last collection and drop off of mail from a moving train?

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks! Answer and winner announced next week 😊

@guyb3785 6 ай бұрын

Great enjoyed listening to you both, thank you

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it!

@chairmakerPete 6 ай бұрын

"ASLEF is a wonderful union with a proud history". Good grief - I have heard it all now 🤦‍♂

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I suspect there's more things we will be saying over the coming weeks and months you may not have heard before - so do keep listening and we do hope you enjoy the show!

@chairmakerPete 6 ай бұрын

@@GreenSignals I love the podcast / show precisely because I don't generally agree with you, but it's important to listen to the other side of any argument. As you are "insiders", can you do a spot on what's being done on train automation? The Aussies are running humungous freight trains over vast distances with no crew: that seems like progress in terms of cost and more importantly capacity since rolling stock is not constrained by crew schedules / working hours etc. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nsxlnKWT0sfXYqs.htmlsi=HsoLFo1UZszbgjLJ Has our freight sector has done anything in this regard? Automating freight trains would seem an ideal starting point for a 21st century railway that could compete in freight on traffic other than bulk flows of raw materials by completing trunking work overnight, for example. I know the unions would probably go ballistic and say it couldn't be done blah blah, but surely rail management has done some work on this? Keep up the good work. You're winning when the sceptics like me are tuning in!!

@derekgibson7037 6 ай бұрын

Travelling post office Mail Drop and pick up.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Derek. Answer and winner announced next week 😊

@srfurley 6 ай бұрын

Over the years since the ‘60s I have twice been on a train where a door was opened on the wrong side and was hit by a train passing in the opposite direction, have been walking along and came to where a door should have been but it was fully open with the train running at full speed on the ECML, and have been on a train on the LTS line from Upminster to Barking where every time another train passed us the door would pull out onto the second catch. I had to summon the guard at Barking and he locked the faulty door. I used to travel by train much more than I do now, but I would have travelled on only a tiny minority of the trains which were run so the fact that I saw four incidents involving slam door#. I agree that these should not be allowed to rub without CDL.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

They really were quite dangerous in regular use like that. Sorry to hear you witnessed so many incidents - as you say, it just shows how many there were!

@michaelbattman2971 6 ай бұрын

New Galloway station was at Parton. Now the start of a lovely walk to Stroan Loch.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I thought it was in the village of Mossdale and indeed the station was sometimes known locally as such? Good to learn something new though, Michael! Thanks.

@michaelbattman2971 6 ай бұрын

@@GreenSignals Oh, you are giving me doubts now. You could well be correct; maybe Parton was the station nearer Castle Douglas!

@richardwallace5550 6 ай бұрын

Again, from the Simon Calder interview regarding the strikes: Rishi Sunak has “no interest” in ending the long-running UK train strikes, Simon Calder has suggested. The Independent’s Travel Correspondent also described Mr Sunak as the “most anti-rail prime minister we have ever seen” during an appearance on BBC Politics London on Sunday 21 January. “He’s got no interest in settling the incredibly long-running [dispute] - we are now in the third calendar year of strikes by Aslef train drivers - and it’s now increasingly seen as an election wedge issue,” Mr Calder said. That's it in a nutshell - government is happy to see this dispute continue and they couldn't care less about the disruption caused to passengers and the economy.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Richard - yes, Simon Calder shares our view there. If Sunak wanted to end the strikes, he could.

@marktownend8065 6 ай бұрын

SWR desiros are still running with power output artificially restricted. That was after much supply strengthening. They're still generally more lively than the Mk1 EMUs they replaced.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I never knew that - thanks Mark!

@allanmorton6022 6 ай бұрын

Always enjoy a new Green Signals video! Really disappointed with that FOI response - shocker and they complain trust in politicians is falling! West Coast railways are a strange company. Years to meet regulations and instead of taking action like others, instead prefer to challenge a safety ruling in the courts - surely they didn't expect to win! Be interesting to see what happens when the tourist season starts in the spring. Maybe try to demand a subsidy for Scottish Gov. I'd like you see you cover the new LNER tickets they have just announced, possibly with a special knowledgeable guest. Looks like only the most expensive ticket will allow refunds and interoperability with other operators which is shocking given the amount of disruption on the route. Looks like a cash grab to me and against principles of turn-up and travel railway.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Allan. Watch this space re tickets......! Cheers. Richard

@davidhoward8270 6 ай бұрын

You may be interested in Network North: Transforming British Transport - Department of Transport 2023 if you haven’t already seen it. Figure 8 of which, shows that London & the Southeast are estimated to accrue 45% (41% & 4%) of the benefits of HS2 and the Midlands & the Northwest also accruing 45% (16% & 29%) of such benefits. The 16% was cited as a reason to retain Phase 1 but the 29% doesn't appear enough to justify Phase 2. The report also shows that Phase 2 could accrue benefits of £1.20 for every £1 spent, but they preferred to take the lower bound figure of £0.80 as reason for cancelling. Worth also noting Figure 9, showing how passenger numbers are returning since the pandemic. As regards ‘firemen’, 55 years since BR last operated steam locomotives, Mick Whelan and his approach to industrial relations is just as antiquated.

@simonaltham9054 6 ай бұрын

The quiz answer, the last run of a double deck train, the 4DD on Southern Region.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the answer, you'll have to listen to the next show to find out what it was!

@R1chardH 6 ай бұрын

Interesting to hear the stories of flying doors. Would be good know the current statistics.

@petermugridge27 6 ай бұрын

While I don't know what happened for the last time on 4th October 1971, I do seem to recall reading in Steam Railway a few months ago that this was the date on which 6000 broke the steam ban, so whatever was the last - there was also a significant first on the same date...

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

That's a very interesting fact, thanks for sharing that. You'll have to listen in to the next show then to find out what happened for the last time!

@richardwallace5550 6 ай бұрын

Re Harper's comments and then the later decision to scrap HS2 from Birmingham - I think that can be answered in two words - Andrew Gilligan. It is also worth listening to Simon Calder's piece aired on BBC Politics London this morning. I quote - "The government doesn’t really care".

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

It's a great shame Richard - it will unwind of course and the short term nature of the decision will become clear - but the question is will those who can reverse the decision realise it in time.

@mattm5356 5 ай бұрын

🤔 Maybe The Government doesn’t want to improve connectivity between London and ‘The North’. Look at all the companies and organisations that would relocate part or all of their London based operations to reduce their overheads, making London less significant.

@GreenSignals 5 ай бұрын

Well, I genuinely don't think that would be the reality. There is a wonderful labour pool in both locations - for example the creative industries alone that are thriving in the north are really exciting. We just need far better connectivity.

@threeshirescyclist554 6 ай бұрын

I dont suppose there is a link to the referred to "what Harper said" on "the " website? Love ot listen to that.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Yep. If you look at our Blog page you’ll find a post with the additional materials from this week’s episode. There’s a link to the tweet there which has the video embedded in it. Thanks for the comment!

@richardhill475 6 ай бұрын

4th oct 1971 last use of line side apparatus for travelling post office pick up near penrith

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

thanks Richard. Listen in next week for the answer - and the winner!

@northstar1950 6 ай бұрын

Surely the 'problems' with the Mk 1 carriages, when they were in general use, wasn't their design but rather with the goons that used them? The next development will be the ORR will ban slam door stock from preserved railways?

@Naladin1 6 ай бұрын

I expect that NH or RB will soon answer this for you but as I understand it following the inquiry into a passenger accident on the GCR ORR told heritage railways that they must be able to demonstrate that they had Risk Assessment documentation to show that they had carried out such assessments and having decided what reasonably practicable measures needed to be taken to ensure peoples' safety. That they needed to be told was disappointing because they should already have done so as result of the introduction of ROGs.

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I think the reality is that the Mk1 was a wonderful technology for a period of time but the world (and we) have moved on. In the 1960s we were happy with drum brakes, crossply tyres and as a child i remember my father making a bed fo me and my sister across the back seats of our Vauxhall Victor. No isofix, no belts - just two children who would have been projectiles likely killing or at least seriously injuring our parents in the event of a collision.. Now. society expects (rightly in my view) 3 point seatbelts, NCAP 5 star ratings and crumple zones, ABS and the like. So we move on with the times and expectations. Slam doors were never great in terms of incidents, whether you categorise ordinary members of the public as goons or otherwise. I think the real issue is that the HMRI / ORR have been clear about their expectations for some time now as the competent body and safety regulator. I tend to think it's best to comply with carefully thought through ROGS and move on. So many other issues to address! Cheers. Richard

@dianaday4819 6 ай бұрын

1971? Was this when BR changed its pricing from Pounds Shillings & pence £sd to the new decimal coinage pounds & pence?

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

Good guess, but not the answer we were looking for. Listen in to the next episode and we'll tell you the answer!

@harryspeakup8452 6 ай бұрын

Is it not relevant to HS2 that Sunak is reported to have ordered the sale of properties that were subject to CPO on the route, so as to make it impossible to revive the project?

@GreenSignals 6 ай бұрын

I believe that as long as the Act of Parliament is on the statute book then within the timeframes set within it, the compulsory purchase powers are still 'live'.