The Huw Merriman MP phrase that pays in Parliament is 'our four great manufacturers'.
Ah yes, Met-Camm, English Electric, Brush Traction and BREL.

Anyone else getting spam text message valuations from 'webuyanycar' for cars they don't own?

Despite the eldest being 94, all still with marbles intact. I came away with the thought that if these guys were brought back to recover UK Rail today, it would be in a different place very quickly.

This is going to be an interesting one. The indy mini cinema & cafe in Bermondsey Sq SE1 existed because when the development was approved in 2005, it had to contain 'cinema and arts club / exhibition space'. New landlord hiked rent, cinema closed, but then recently withdrew a…

Gordon Pettitt’s 90th birthday lunch today. A rare opportunity to rub shoulders with Railway Royalty. Six General Managers; Patterson, Green, Warburton, Nelson, Ellis and, of course, Pettitt. A few other mere mortals inc John Swift, George Muir, Bob Breakwell, Michael Holden and self.

Travelling in style today. Even in standard, this is the nicest train interior I’ve travelled on for years. Nice one Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail

🇮🇹 Treni Turistici, state rail’s Restaurant/Bar/Sleeper - summer routes;
Overnight
• Cadore: Rome-Calalzo, Dolomites (& Venice)

Day restaurant car, 1st & 2nd compartments
• Versilia: Milan-Livorno
• Riviera: Milan-Ventimiglia
fstrenituristici.it - no dates/prices yet!

FREE: ECML's December 2024 timetable deferred due to outstanding issues - hubs.ly/Q02sGgvv0

That’s a wrap! Today is my last day in charge of Scotland’s Railway after nearly seven years in the job. It’s been the privilege of my life to run this country’s railway and work with the amazing people at ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland to deliver for customers. I’ll miss you. 😢

Mike Roger Ford RIA Yes - more than once Roger you were quoted today: 'an electric railway is a better railway – however you define better'. Covering all the bases - we also have looked at benefits:
riagb.org.uk/RIA/RIA/Newsro…

This just goes to show how attention to detail, some love and lots of pride can transform fleet performance - a Period 1324 Miles per Tech Incident (MTIN) for the IC225s of 37,545. Great work by the whole Northern 🚆 Neville Hill team 👏 Andy Marden London North Eastern Railway 225 Group

Irrelevant press release of the day.
'AI for Predicting Next Year's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: What Sports Bettors Need to Know'
Although I suppose AI could be used to predict the next new train order?

Huw Merriman MP You just said the upgrade is complete. Network North was only published in November last year. Are you seriously claiming that an upgrade was funded, authorised and completed in six months?

The Hope Valley Upgrade began in 2021. The Network North plan was announced in October 2023. And so many of the NN plans are just that, plans. Still unfunded and unconfirmed.

🇮🇹 Visiting a lost Italian railway…
Population decline or war didn't close the Lagonegro-Spezzano line - but a ‘slow earthquake’.
📍maps.app.goo.gl/jkuvr74QGqsih8…
Metre guage, 104km, rack, open 1930-1950s when the mountain moved... ⬇️🔗
🎓Wiki: de-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Bahnstrec…

Finally got to see the superb SWR Help retro liveried 455 in person. When I suggested seeing it, Chris Denham called me a nerd but immediately said he'd come too. A fascinating potted history of the 455s from Ian Walmsley coming up in our May issue

Would a Tornado need external tanks to interdict The Proclaimers?

True or false, Nicola Sturgeon is the only politician named after a torpedo bomber?

Visibility is everything:
Campaigns live and die by how many people see and engage with them; can you retweet this? Better yet can you spare the price of a pint of beer for 423417_GordonPettitt?

gofundme.com/f/Returning-34…

Every day the Transport Secretary refuses to act is another day closer to hundreds of job losses and catastrophe for the future of Britain's rail manufacturing industry.

My response to Mark Harper on the ongoing issues at Alstom & Hitachi.