Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Preston PSB Simulation

PC Rail Simulations has released its sim of North Lancashire - part of the area covered by Preston Power Box.

The timetable is based on a weekday in May 2009 with 269 virtual trains for the signalling sim enthusiast to control.
More Information Here

Monday, 15 October 2012

Virgin to continue for another year

Following the dramatic u-turn over the WCRC franchise earlier this month, Virgin have been asked to continue running West Coast services for an extra nine months beyond the end of the current contract in December. Given that Richard Branson has previously offered to do precisely this, it seems unlikely that Virgin will turn down the contract extension.

The implication is that new bids for the WCRC prize will have been submitted, scrutinised and a decision made by some time in September 2013. Whilst all this will be seen as good news by some, the whole debacle has cost the tax-payer an eye-watering sum and perhaps more importantly, set-back any schedule for investment and station upgrades on the line by as much as a year.

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

More Photos - old and new

10 more 1960s photos from David Eaves added to the Archive

The Ribble Steam Railway Diesel Gala, photos from Mark Bartlett

Thursday, 4 October 2012

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

West Coast Main Line Deal Scrapped

It has been announced overnight that the decision to award the WCML franchise to First Group, has been overturned and the whole bidding process must begin again.

Ministers have agreed with Richard Branson's assertions, saying that there were were "significant technical flaws" in the way the risks for each bid were calculated.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin described the mistakes made by his department as "deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable".

It's unclear whether Virgin will continue to operate on the WCML until the re-run process has been complete, or whether the line will return to public operation as has happened on the ECML.

Two reviews will now take place looking into the WCML deal and the wider franchise bidding system.