Train delays due to high temperatures .... what!!!

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

I think the main difference is other countries have had the intelligence to invest the time, Money and the land in creating decent rail networks where as in this country we're still trying to run a modern railway on an old fashioned network. Another difference being that again in other countries they seem to just get on and do things but here we spend most of our time looking for reasons why things can't be done.

In this country we spend all the money on overpaid railway staff!!!

 

[Garage_Doors]

Guess its not then

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I think the main difference is other countries have had the intelligence to invest the time, Money and the land in creating decent rail networks where as in this country we're still trying to run a modern railway on an old fashioned network. Another difference being that again in other countries they seem to just get on and do things but here we spend most of our time looking for reasons why things can't be done.

This.

 

[British Bulldog]

In this country we spend all the money on overpaid railway staff!!!

They are worth every penny of it though! Well most of them.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

The highest on Saturday was in Eastbourne where it always seems to get hotter than others and was 48 degrees and rail temp at 18.00 tonight there was 41 degrees. Heat affects new and old rails the same, it all depends if it has the correct stress when installed or maintenance carried out.
I was at a site of railway work many years ago and watched a gang cut a rail on the hottest day of that year(wouldn't happen now), when the rail was lifted out and 200 yds of clips removed that secure it to the sleeper, it was overlapping 2 1/2" such was the expansion and could not be put back in until 10 hours later at 2 am!

Always wondered why it was called the Viagra line

 

[Justice]

They are worth every penny of it though! Well most of them.

Are you taking the piss? I hope so bunch of clowns that never know anything.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

That's a mild buckle! Try this for size...

View attachment 44575

Perhaps he was swerving to avoid a rabbit !

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think the main difference is other countries have had the intelligence to invest the time, Money and the land in creating decent rail networks where as in this country we're still trying to run a modern railway on an old fashioned network. Another difference being that again in other countries they seem to just get on and do things but here we spend most of our time looking for reasons why things can't be done.

Good post from someone who knows what he's talking about.

 

[Mental Lental]

A few good articles about public transportation in Japan if you want a bit of contrast with how rail networks work in other countries...

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/japanese-trains

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/co...rivately-owned-rail-systems-work-so-well/389/

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

In this country we spend all the money on overpaid railway staff!!!

Not in my opinion. Some are vastly underpaid.

 

[KingstonSeagull]

Take my pen knife, my good man!

I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
Monorail!
What's it called?
Monorail!
Once again...
Monorail!
But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Mono...Doh!

THERE NO MORE FUN FOR YOU!

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Not in my opinion. Some are vastly underpaid.

Which ones would those be then? And presumbably youd be happy to pay them more in the form of increased ticket prices

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Which ones would those be then? And presumbably youd be happy to pay them more in the form of increased ticket prices

Station staff, ticketing staff and the buffet people are not paid that well from what I understand; some are on little more than the minimum wage. I used to like the days when joining the railway was a career choice; now they pay some areas a pittance and the customer has to put up with the consequences of higher turnover of staff and the lack of train/railway knowledge which comes with it. And yes I'd be happy to pay them more from the huge dividends the TOCs pay out.

To put it succinctly, Id like a rail service like the ones they have in Switzerland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Japan, etc etc etc. If the can do it, and without bendy hot rails (come on, this is a total indefensible joke) then why can't the UK? It's not Rocket science (good pun eh?)

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Station staff, ticketing staff and the buffet people are not paid that well from what I understand; some are on little more than the minimum wage. I used to like the days when joining the railway was a career choice; now they pay some areas a pittance and the customer has to put up with the consequences of higher turnover of staff and the lack of train/railway knowledge which comes with it. And yes I'd be happy to pay them more from the huge dividends the TOCs pay out.

To put it succinctly, Id like a rail service like the ones they have in Switzerland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Japan, etc etc etc. If the can do it, and without bendy hot rails (come on, this is a total indefensible joke) then why can't the UK? It's not Rocket science (good pun eh?)

PS £241 million in dividends from just the top 5 TOCs last year.

 

[Simster]

In this country we spend all the money on overpaid railway staff!!!

Some of them are overpaid, certainly, but I think British Bulldog's explanation probably accounts for 90% of the problem. Successive governments failed to invest in the railways at all for 40 years, and for the past 15 years the newly privatised companies have been expected to do so. That would be fine, except they're also companies with shareholders who want their cut.

Overall, money is being spent on playing catch-up with rail investment, paying the shareholders, and paying ludicrous salaries for those at the top and those doing semi-skilled work.

 

[goldstone]

Some of them are overpaid, certainly, but I think British Bulldog's explanation probably accounts for 90% of the problem. Successive governments failed to invest in the railways at all for 40 years, and for the past 15 years the newly privatised companies have been expected to do so. That would be fine, except they're also companies with shareholders who want their cut.

Overall, money is being spent on playing catch-up with rail investment, paying the shareholders, and paying ludicrous salaries for those at the top and those doing semi-skilled work.

And now, instead of spending money fixing and improving the existing network we're going to blow £42bn on the HS2 vanity project.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

And now, instead of spending money fixing and improving the existing network we're going to blow £42bn on the HS2 vanity project.

I'm all for infrastructure investment but HS2 is unneeded. And we'll spend years and years discussing it as opposed to just doing it. A decent London airport is a higher priority in my opinion.