Nick Kingsley

RT @SimonZev: This is a nice idea and thinking of how to make the most of Phase 1 is a must. But to make the most of Phase 1, we need to bu…

The way things are going, we'll end up with more genuinely private passenger rail services *after* 'renationalisation' than we had before the whole Williams Review saga started... (given the franchisees were hardly free of govt control post-2005) 🤨https://t.co/PQXc0x2gbP

RT @joncstone: cost of the fuel duty freeze extension: £3 billion next year, then about £900m every year after that https://t.co/juw2kXAbOw

Our summary of rail content in #Budget2024 ⬇️While #HS2 to Euston+EWR inch forward, cost pressure on rail will remain. As for reforming working practices...my hunch is agreements already made under this govt render that an impossible aim https://t.co/ZnLj0ay9kQ

RT @_wearepossible: This is why it’s wrong to freeze fuel duty while hiking bus fares by 50%. https://t.co/6v5HM7segB

RT @NoelDolphin: If this were a genuine list of reasons the cost has gone up - political meddling would be at the top https://t.co/7vqAm2gD…

Arrant nonsense. Arguably greatest strategic weakness of rail network is its inability to separate out different traffic types, hence why some stations in Staffs haven't seen a train since 2003! V sound decision (if confirmed) to revive #HS2 Ph 2a, backed by rail ops expertise

Andrew Gilligan @mragilligan

If true, this is insane. With other rail projects being asked to find cuts, and this sucking up all the money, it means most of the North will now never get better local and regional services.

RT @EngFocus: It truly is appalling that a man with so little understanding of how railways work was allowed to have such a big impact on s…

I knew @thomasforth would have macroeconomic stats to back up my hunch that ex-DDR cities are more prosperous than northern English ones. I wonder what this month's budget will offer to bridge this gap, which should be a matter of public embarrassment to UK politicians? 🤔

Tom Forth @thomasforth

Part of how Leipzig's economy caught up and overtook Manchester's, and every other large city in England North of London. https://t.co/gIHlSD0nkB https://t.co/x5D5i3KRjL

RT @MoTGM: @njak_100 https://t.co/ZFZrfvn8PP

As Jim Bowen used to say: Manchester, here's what you could have won... I've spent past few days on holiday in eastern Germany. This is Leipzig's cross-city rail tunnel completed in 2013. It does similar job to Mcr's aborted Picc-Vic project from the 70s IIUC 🚇🙁 https://t.co/PzD94aU6Tk

RT @matthewhodg: So that whole “let’s cut investment in rail, no one will use it post Covid” thing is going well huh…. https://t.co/QXAMy76…

The struggles of East-West Rail have shown that a slower, 'wigglier' railway would face all same hurdles as #HS2. Even this article, despite usual lurid quotes of dubious value, makes clear real issue was addition of vast amounts of tunnelling on Phase I

I know in the current climate we shouldn't begrudge increased access to rail, but...an hourly DMU might be part of 'MetroWest', but it's not exactly 'peak metro' is it?! 😬 https://t.co/nDV24Ds2nI

Been trying to get my head round this wild story all day. Solidarity to @GarethDennis in what must be a deeply troubling time. Is this really how industry leaders want to treat people who are fundamentally rail advocates?

Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis

In May this year, @LordPeterHendy pressured my now-former employer @SYSTRA_UKIRL to sack me by threatening them. Why did he do this? Because I'd highlighted safety and accessibility issues at Euston station. He is unfit for office and should resign. https://t.co/d7evLefdJz

Phrase 'part of an industry ambition to reform and simplify fares' sounds ominous. There were always fears that fares 'simplification' would have unintended consequences, yet it continues to be widely promoted as desirable. Do people ever wonder why rail ticketing is complex?

Rail Business UK @RailBusinessUK

LNER withdraws flexible off peak fares from more stations https://t.co/A6btjzL6lX

'Renationalise the railways to bring fares down!' 🤔 For years, ppl on here swore blind that ending franchising and cutting #HS2 would make rail more affordable. Today, policy is clear: price people off overcrowded infrastructure. Good job City Airport is expanding eh?!

The Man in Seat 61 @seatsixtyone

Unfortunately, for travel from 1 October onwards, LNER are extending their 'fares trial', and discontinuing affordable/flexible/refundable Off-Peak fares on ALL their longer-distance flows.