An HS2 construction update this week with the completion of an incredible 4,500 tonne deck slide for a viaduct at Small Dean in Buckinghamshire
Richard takes a trip to see the wonderful semaphore signals and manual signalboxes at Shrewsbury
And… We find out all about hotly anticipated The Greatest Gathering at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane to celebrate Railway 200
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:28 HS2’s Small Dean deck slide
21:45 The Greatest Gathering launch
27:16 Shrewsbury semaphore signals
42:23 Reflections on Rachel Reeves’ speech
45:52 Thanks to Super Thanks and Members
47:24 Railway News Round Up
47:28 Cardiff Parkway new station plans
48:22 End of Britain’s longest timetabled train journey?
51:50 RSSB climate change scenarios
52:47 Severn Valley Railway landslip update
55:06 The Quiz
58:04 Northern engineering apprenticeships
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Credits:
Presenters – Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Correction:
02:31 Credit: Google Maps – Airbus, Landsat / Copernicus, Maxar Technologies, Map data 2025
21 Comments
Richard's piece about HS2 was probably the best HS2 video I have seen to date, including those produced by the HS2 media team. It would be fantastic to see much more 'out on site' pieces like this in the future from you guys. I also think you should extract this piece and have it as a standalone video (it will help your channel and get many more views as some folks won't want to sit out or skip through a 61 minute podcast video). Keep up the outstanding work.
Just going back to the runway stuff. Manston airport was earmarked to be updated into a cargo-only airport and it was rejected. Reeves doesn't bring that option up as an option to revive or expand standards on staggered runways like Manchester.
Thanks!
Need to go to Manchester
Cross country train 1st Capital service needs more rolling stock urgently the other 8 voyager from the Department for transport urgently
Shortage of Rolling stock on Cross country trains arriva 1sq capital is urgent
Shrewsbury needs signalling upgrade On Cardiff Central to Manchester piccadilly main line in Future to Liverpool lime street
100 years of Bristol Greyhound coaches now National express coaches limited Bristol bus and coach station to London victoria on 11 th February 2025
But we need to new labour government Birmingham to Manchester piccadilly
Forgive me if I'm wrong guys but I believe there is only ONE record-holding, long-distance CC train a day and that runs from Aberdeen to Penzance. There is no corresponding through service in the other direction. So a shame for train buffs if the service is axed but, as you say, rather unlikely that any other folks would want to make the journey and therefore it's loss won't, in my opinion, really adversely affect Cross Country's offering on the South West to North East/Scotland axis. All best wishes, JP, Cheltenham.
Lord Peter Hendy and Hydi Alexander mp Rail minister and secretary of state for Transport needs to urgently sort out cross country train Arriva 1sq capital services Rolling stock with extra Train units on top of 12 units transfer planned
Richard Nigel we need a programme on Arriva 1sq capital service cross country train upgrading rolling stock
I think Arriva 1sq capital cross country are talking to the UK government and Scottish government about the Penzance to Aberdeen inter city cross country train services.
Transport for Scotland have I believe raised concerns about the Scottish Proposal
Try and get Arriva 1sq capital services David Martin chair on the programme
National express coach services limited and megabus Scottish City link coaches Flixbus look at alternative services cross country train Arriva 1sq services are very important as well as the coach network not all Scottish Welsh and English trains go to London
I know you both praise the HS2 PR team but considering the size of the project and the opposition should it not be much bigger? They really needed to win hearts and minds of public and politicians, but have failed. Cancelling phase 2 should have been politically unthinkable!
Discuss please.
Pity EKFB fabricated this in Strasbourg from German steel. That's what happens I guess when we award contracts to French contractors………
Cross Country Trains is a failing operator. Prove me wrong.
If my memory is not playing tricks, some years ago, Sir Winston Churchill went to the Watercress Line at Ropley for cosmetic overhaul. It was mentioned several times on the much missed Wednesday Gang blog on their website. On completion it was in very good visual condition, but I forget whether it it had a full repaint. Maybe just a full rub down and varnish?
Thanks for a great edition, I really enjoyed the bridge slide. I bet Brunel would have been impressed. Also the Severn Bridge Junction Signal box. I’ve got the video produced by Video 125 “One Day in Severn” & have watched it numerous times, fascinating. Thanks to both of you.