XC is one of those routes that would benefit from ALL trains being (a) fully electric, (b) all at least 10 cars long and (c) at least 2 tph. The whole country would genuinely benefit. Even bi-mode to start with (though maybe not Hitachi given its recent engine troubles) just to get the ball rolling.

Also a huge contributor to the overspend on HS2. The people moaning to force it into a green tunnel are the same as those then moaning about the cost. You’ll never please them.

BR blue would have been infinitely better

That is the most awful livery I have EVER seen. We’re all going to hell in a handcart.

Great podcast. I might have asked this before but has anyone looked at private finance for wires to then lease/pay back?

And yet the ORR claims that extending 3rd rail is unsafe while simultaneously allowing existing 3rd rail to operate (implying it must be sufficiently safe to do so). Schrödinger’s cat 3rd rail - both safe and unsafe at the same time!

Which ever way you define it, an electric railway is a better railway. Amen.

Happy birthday!

Awesome playlist! Been soundtracking my day.

Still the most comfortable train I’ve ever been on. Hoping to use it at least one more time before they are retired!

The Scots yet again showing the U.K. how to do rail investment (and electrification) properly!

Increased capacity thru increased acceleration, lighter weight trains so less track wear, less costly train maintenance, etc - all reasons why electrification happened before decarbonisation was a thing, giving lower long term costs & higher revenue. This has been forgotten it seems!

Nice work. Out of interest, what has had to be changed to increase the speed capability of the OLE?

When will they realise that electrification is about getting a *better railway* - lighter trains, more reliable trains (both reducing maintenance costs) more capacity, etc - and the decarbonisation comes for free? Justifying on decarb alone is dangerous because someone always says it’s good enough.

What was the supposed announcement? I only saw the admission of the April fool (ie your screenshot), not the fake news itself!

Was the reaction positive, i.e. are they carrying on?

At least this would get things started without waiting for government to fund it which, as you say, isn’t looking hopeful any time soon.

Is a solution to get packages of new trains plus partial wires funded privately together? Lease period of say 20-30 years, covering trains plus wires, by the end of which ownership of the wires is passed to NR?

Interesting. Is this TDNS2-lite in the public domain yet? I’d be interested in the maps you showed later…