Unusual Sightings & Allocations (Read 30,239 times)

[DPL233 (33LUG)]

Jun 30, 2014 13:16:48 GMT sheflad said:

What gets me about all of this though is the fact that the train concession was unique to South Yorkshire residents, you don't see pensioners in other areas of the country acting in the same way as the protesters have to get something which essentially was a nice extra perk.

When West Yorkshire decided to dispense with the 35p concession and make trains half fare, did they have demonstrations and protests?

NO, as responsible ADULTS they accepted that their 'extra perks' had come to an end and started paying the new half fare.

[tofskilemons]

The only thing I can say is that if it was my generation, 'youfs', that had this done (i.e train travel discount taken away from the MegaTravel/16-18 passes) there would be some grunting about it but none of the mess and protests what have gone off here. Most would get a Travelmaster - and move on. Case closed. If we made any attempt to protest - the older generations would tut over it and most likely say our behaviour is disrespectful and disgusting.

All that is being achieved by travelling without a ticket is breaking the law and loss of revenue to NORTHERN RAIL, NOT SYPTE. The protest has no effect on the people you are trying to target, SYPTE or the Government!

Next time - I hope all are issued the standard full fine for travelling with no ticket, as per the National Conditions of Carriage for failure to produce a valid ticket.

[lysander]

From the Department for Transport....


" The Government wants to ensure that bus travel is affordable to those on limited income and those who have mobility difficulties"

"In 1997 the total, non-concessionary subsidy to bus operators was £763,000. In 2011/12 this had reached £2.3 billion. This equates to 45% of all bus companies total revenue. In Metropolitan Districts each passenger journey is subsidised, on average, to the tune of 8.9p".

"The statutory concessionary fare is estimated to give the bus operators an additional £1 billion of income, annually. This is funded as a part of the standard formula grant to each local authority. It is estimated that the average subsidy per concessionary fare user is of the order of £100.00 per annum".[ It is up to each local/transport authority to decide its own priorities with regard to free or subsidised rail travel.]

"In London the concessionary pass is valid on all local trains during off-peak hours".

I am not in "hole", as you put it, but, obviously in something of a minority on this forum. I am trying to argue the case, rationally, and on a factual basis. You, alas ,argue without facts but from a prejudiced stand point...Incidentally, I was providing for my retirement but circumstance meant that I lost most of my planned income....a lesson to you, never to "assume" as it frequently will make "an ass of u and me" My wife and I live on basic state pension.

Self evidently, on the grounds of equity it can be argued that if it is good enough for a pensioner living in London to have free off-peak rail travel, to say nothing of Wales, then how can it not be justified in the rest of the country? The truth is that despite OAP's being the section of the population most likely to vote they are, because of age and often infirmity, the least likely to protest....which is why we suffer from such a low basic state pension and why, as far back as 2001, it was felt necessary to start to give small "perks" ,rather than increase the basic pension in line with other countries; most notably the original members of the EU and EFTA!** In the realms of Government spending an additional £100.00 per annum ... and not to not every pensioner...just those who use public transport... is really something of an insult by comparison with the £billions Pensioners contribute to the economy ( not least their free child-minding and taxi services they provide.)

Hence my support for those who have protested and, thus far, I have read nothing on here to even make me consider changing my stance. The violence used by the police was shocking.

Please excite me with a factually based counter argument!

** Sweden...OAP is earnings related and is max £25,000; Germany is similar..£25,155; as is France...£15,811;. However, Netherlands is not earning related..£10,981; nor is Denmark...£10,981 or Ireland...£10,415 note the UK which is...£5,500 (due to rise to £7,488 in 2016)!

[sweb]

TPE did a loco hauled working for the Tour De France today which passed through Sheffield, workings were 14:00 Manchester Piccadilly - Doncaster and 17:50 Doncaster - Liverpool Lime Street, the latter ran through Thrybergh Junction as opposed to Swinton.

Apparently there was also a loco hauled working booked from Bradford non stop to Sheffield at 16:40, due in Sheffield 18:00.

[sweb]

There was a 150/2 on the Sheffield - Huddersfield runs all day yesterday (936, 1236, 1536 etc ex Sheffield) assume this should have been a two or three car 144.

At 15.45 there was a 150/1 at the far end of Platform 1 waiting to come down into the station, I assume this went onto do the 16.00 Cleethorpes run and 18:36 return, very unusual for this to be anything other than a pacer or 153, return would have been a 150 and 153 combination (brings back one of the Barton units).

[snowdonranger]

DRS class 68 004 made a visit to Doncaster to day to deliver a coach to Wabtec from Norwich Crown Point depot.

Here is a link to some my photos of what is believed to be the first visit of a class 68 in revenue earning service.

www.flickr.com/photos/snowdonranger/

Regards,
Darren.

[sweb]

There were four class 20s in Sheffield this morning, two in orange HN Rail livery and two in British Rail livery, they did three return trips to Tinsley Yard and one to Thrybergh Junction before returning to Derby. I believe they were been used by GBRF, I assume route learning, if that is the case it will be interesting to see if anything materialises.

The 13.30 Sheffield to York working was formed of 1 x 158 and 1 x 142 (booked for former), the usual unit exchange did not take place (158 is usually exchanged for a Heaton 142 off the back of an ECS move the prior night), return working was just the 142.

[TC60054]

Dec 6, 2014 17:37:54 GMT sweb said:

There were four class 20s in Sheffield this morning, two in orange HN Rail livery and two in British Rail livery, they did three return trips to Tinsley Yard and one to Thrybergh Junction before returning to Derby. I believe they were been used by GBRF, I assume route learning, if that is the case it will be interesting to see if anything materialises.

GBRf have won the Bardon Hill Quarry contract from Freightliner, one service of which runs into Tinsley on weekdays.

[sweb]

The 08:10 Huddersfield to Sheffield journey was operated by 2 x 3 car 144s today, one set locked out of use, upon arrival into Sheffield one set formed the 09:36 return to Huddersfield and the other formed the 09:31 York service, the use of a three car 144 on the latter is equally unusual, usually this is a 142 which runs from the sidings.

[vwd14]

Here's a strange (or at least I think it's strange) one I saw today (Thursday). I got the 1410 from Weston to Bristol TM. When we were around Yatton (at least I think it was there!), the train stopped before we got into the station, as it had to leave another train go by and overtake us. This turned out to be a Cross Country Class 43 / Mk3 set! I don't think it was actually in service, I don't think they operate via Weston at that time of day?? I looked up National Rail for next Thursday and apparently the only Crosscountry train that goes via Weston even close to that time is the 1515 from Taunton to Bristol TM.

[sweb]

150275 did the 1203 Sheffield to Cleethorpes and 1520 Cleethorpes to Sheffield return working yesterday, I assume as a result of the derailment on platform 2 limiting access to/ from the sidings.

Through workings that usually go via platforms 1 and 2 were using platform 5.

I was told that the train that did the 0800 Sheffield to Cleethorpes and return went on to do the 1330 York working, usually this is a 158 which is changed at York for a 142 brought down from Darlington the previous night, not sure therefore if the former was a 158 or there was something different on the York working, RTT if correct, suggests a unit exchange did take place (arrived into Platform 6, returned from Platform 1).

[sweb]

class 153 on the 8.03 Sheffield to cleethorpes & return, also one on the 16.00 Sheffield to Cleethorpes, this should have returned as x 2 as that run brings back the spare Barton line one. Both workings are usually a 142 or 144.

[sweb]

142025 and 142071 on the 8am Sheffield - Cleethorpes and return, not sure why two sets were needed.

150117 on the 12pm Sheffield - Cleethorpes and return, I believe this came off of a Leeds stopper instead of from the sidings.

150/2 on the 9.06 Sheffield - Leeds stopper, usually Pacer, unit went on to do a Huddersfield working at Leeds

[29721]

Northern 156483 made what I believe to be a rare visit to Sheffield, was working the 17:14 Sheffield-Manchester Piccadilly on Tuesday.

Dave.

[29721]

144012 working the 0640 Sheffield to Lincoln central this morning, first time I've seen this since its upgrade / refit.