Charles

Live in Wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿| Mainline (🚅TfWrail) train guard|Various heritage rlys 🚂|Enjoy photography|Dum spiro spero, apparently.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

I was keeping an eye on 1Z18, during my shift today. I should have missed it by 10 minutes on my journey to Manchester (1H92) but in the event it waited for me!

…and it is still where I left it over an hour ago with no sign of progress.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@NicholasLe81575 @lateturn Holds can cause further problems down the line though.

The layover may allow that train to recover its diagram but what if it knocks other services at junctions and stations.

Better to have more frequent services so holds aren’t necessary.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@NicholasLe81575 @lateturn Obviously I understand the accountants point of view and I know the service has to go some way to cover costs - but…

The railway only works if there are good connections, journey options that actually suit customer needs etc which you don’t get if you strip services back.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@mikeparry8 While arguably he could do with a hair cut and beard trim, a suit and tie seems a rarity these days. He also looks in relatively good shape.

Better that than the sports tops and baseball caps.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

So, the neighbours son in law was “repairing” the fence when I spoke to him (he grunted back) this morning.

Actually he was fitting ugly plastic anti bird spikes to fence.

I’m pleased to say within ten minutes, one had proved they don’t work!

We love our garden birds #RSPB

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@ZubyMusic I would say the figure is much closer to 100%.

Even if you get what you think you want or something close to it, it’ll become clear that “they aren’t doing it right” or there are unintended consequences…

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@ChimeWhistle Our ticket machines flag “recently purchased” tickets if they were bought in the last few minutes.

Such tickets can then be flagged for revenue staff to check for repeat offenders, patterns of behaviour and short fares.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@Telegraph Experts are not “baffled”.

Experts from @raibgovuk will be examining evidence, data recorders, taking statements, checking infrastructure and documenting their findings.

This doesn’t happen overnight but a full report with conclusions and recommendations will be published.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@stephen37292ML Over in Wales, two or three full checks on a long journey is a regular occurrence following crew changes.

A few passengers do complain but it is very effective revenue protection and since QR code tickets came in the data is useful.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@tomhfh Concrete has been used on the railway for over 100 years and is the most practical material for viaducts now. The labour cost and construction time for a brick viaduct alone would be ridiculous.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@ClarkeMicah Cost of operating the train, shunting car carriers at either end, loading and offloading, admin, list goes on was far higher than the revenue.

The restrictive British loading gauge doesn’t help and with the size of modern the figures would probably be much worse.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

Who owns the train, out of interest?

[Department for Transport @transportgovuk]

Introducing the very first Great British Railways train 🚆

You can now spot the new GBR train in real life as the new branding starts rolling out gradually across the rail network.

Another step towards a simpler, better railway under GBR which puts passengers and customers first.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@DanielJHannan It doesn’t matter who “owns” or “runs” the railway - your metrics are defined by policy and culture.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@Electra88007 @LocoServicesGrp @Guard_Amos It’s been the highlight of my week on the Settle and Carlisle line.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@DownOnTheStour To be fair, it has been somewhat interesting and it certainly wasn’t on the bingo card for the week.

Other than that it has mostly been Sheds and Avanti diversions…

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

@ChimeWhistle That is beautiful craftsmanship…

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

I have very mixed feelings about AI.

One thing I will say is #AprilFools day has been completely ruined by poor quality AI images which show little creativity.

There was a time a real April Fools set up required effort and proper thought.

[Charles @CharlesTheGuard]

Public service and merit?

Dried up, unelectable ex MPs.

I think I prefer hereditary peers with a sense of duty.

[Cabinet Office @cabinetofficeuk]

This is the biggest reform to our Parliament in a generation. 🇬🇧

This morning, the 700-year-old system of hereditary membership in the House of Lords was abolished. Membership is now earned through public service and merit, not granted by an inheritance. ✅