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Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,England,integrated,Platform B,east,&,Manchester,UK,Manchester Metrolink,Piccadilly Metrolink,Platform B Metrolink,eastbound Metrolink,tram platform Manchester,light rail UK,public transport Manchester,Metrolink signage,Greater Manchester transport,urban transport infrastructure,Metrolink platform signage,Platform B Piccadilly,trams to Ashton under Lyne,Etihad Campus tram,Manchester tram system,accessible transport UK,yellow safety rails,modern station design,commuter transport,city centre travel,Transport for Greater Manchester,northern England transport,public transit signage,tram network,infrastructure,Platform B signage,at,Piccadilly Metrolink stop,eastbound
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3CGCJRX - This photograph shows Platform B at the Piccadilly Metrolink stop in Manchester city centre, part of the city's extensive light rail network operated by Manchester Metrolink. The bright yellow platform signage clearly indicates eastbound services to Ashton under Lyne and the Etihad Campus, two key destinations on the eastern side of Greater Manchester.
The image highlights the clean, functional design of the Metrolink system, with high contrast signage, tactile surfaces, and yellow safety rails supporting accessibility and passenger safety. Piccadilly Metrolink forms a major interchange point, linking tram services with Manchester Piccadilly railway station, buses, and wider city centre travel routes.
Metrolink plays a central role in Manchester's public transport network, supporting daily commuting, leisure travel, and access to major employment, residential, and sporting destinations. The reference to the Etihad Campus underlines the system's importance during major events, including football matches and concerts, while the Ashton under Lyne route serves a mix of town centre, residential, and commercial areas.
Taken indoors under artificial lighting, the photograph functions as both a documentary record of modern urban transport infrastructure and a practical illustration of wayfinding design in a busy metropolitan transit system. It reflects Manchester's long term investment in light rail as a sustainable alternative to private car use and a core element of city region connectivity.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Village,City of York,North Yorkshire,England,YO19 5UF,rail,platform,station,museum,visitor attraction,history,historic,heritage,green,DVLR,York railway heritage,railway architecture,British railway history,preserved railway,countryside railway,station signage,rural railway,historic transport,Edwardian railway,timber framed building,railway preservation,industrial heritage,transport history,countryside England,heritage transport,former railway line,building,original station signage
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2X2CG2N - This image shows a traditional railway building associated with the Derwent Valley Light Railway, located near York in North Yorkshire, England. The structure features distinctive timber framing, cream infill panels, and green painted detailing, typical of early twentieth-century light railway architecture. Prominently displayed on the building is signage reading Derwent Valley Light Railway, clearly identifying its historical association with the former rural railway line.
The Derwent Valley Light Railway was opened in 1913 to serve the agricultural communities of the Derwent Valley, providing an important transport link for both passengers and freight in a largely rural area to the south-east of York. Designed as a light railway to reduce construction and operating costs, the line played a significant role in supporting local farming and rural industry before declining passenger numbers and changing transport patterns led to its eventual closure in the mid-twentieth century.
Today, surviving buildings and remnants of the railway are valued as part of North Yorkshire's transport and industrial heritage, offering insight into the development of rural railways and their impact on local communities. The image captures the character and craftsmanship of historic railway architecture and is suitable for editorial and commercial use relating to British railway history, heritage transport, rural England, and the preservation of historic infrastructure.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Village,City of York,North Yorkshire,England,YO19 5UF,rail,platform,station,museum,visitor attraction,history,historic,heritage,shunter,shunting,limited,Ltd,engine,at,transport,Nesle,Mackintosh,No3,No 3,siding,Derwent Valley,Light Railway,BR,British Rail,green,livery,Rowntree Mackintosh shunter,industrial locomotive,factory shunter,Haxby Road
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2X2CG2R - This image shows a green industrial shunting locomotive marked Rowntree Mackintosh Ltd, associated with the historic confectionery manufacturing operations of Rowntree in York, North Yorkshire, England. The locomotive would have been used for internal rail movements within the extensive factory railway system that served the Rowntree works, moving raw materials, packaging, and finished goods around the site and connecting with the wider national rail network.
Rowntree Mackintosh was formed in 1969 following the merger of Rowntree & Company of York and Mackintosh's of Halifax, creating one of Britain's most significant confectionery manufacturers. The company was later acquired by Nestl?? in 1988, marking a major shift in the ownership of one of York's most important industrial employers. For much of the twentieth century, the Rowntree factory operated its own internal railway infrastructure, reflecting the scale and logistical complexity of large British manufacturing sites of the period.
Industrial shunting locomotives such as this were a common feature of factories, docks, and warehouses across the UK, allowing efficient on-site rail handling without relying on mainline locomotives. Today, surviving examples are valued as part of Britain's industrial and railway heritage, illustrating the close relationship between rail transport and manufacturing. This image is suitable for editorial and commercial use relating to British industrial history, railway heritage, manufacturing, corporate history, and the social and economic history of York.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,transport,trains,platform,platforms,carriages,unreliable,at,Scotland,UK,Princes St,EH1 1BE,EH1,intercity train,UK rail travel,passenger train,long distance rail,British railways,train at platform,Edinburgh Waverley,railway platform,station interior,modern train,rail transport UK,commuter travel,business travel,public transport,rail operator branding,urban transport,travel infrastructure,UK railway network,Pendo,Pendolino,West Coast Main Line,WCML train
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2X2CG2G - This image shows an Avanti West Coast passenger train standing at a platform inside Edinburgh Waverley railway station in Edinburgh, Scotland. The photograph captures the side of the modern intercity train, clearly displaying Avanti West Coast branding, with carriage windows reflecting the historic stone architecture of the station surroundings. Platform markings, tactile paving, and station infrastructure are visible, situating the scene firmly within a busy city-centre transport hub.
Edinburgh Waverley is Scotland's principal mainline railway station and one of the busiest stations in the United Kingdom outside London. Located between the Old Town and New Town, the station sits within a dramatic valley setting and plays a vital role in connecting Scotland's capital with destinations across England. Avanti West Coast operates long-distance services on the West Coast Main Line, linking Edinburgh with Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and London Euston.
The image reflects contemporary UK rail travel, combining modern rolling stock with historic station architecture. It illustrates themes of intercity transport, public infrastructure, business and leisure travel, and the ongoing importance of rail connectivity between major UK cities. The photograph is suitable for editorial and commercial use relating to transport, travel, railway operations, urban mobility, and the British rail network.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Yorkshire,rail,railway,Metro,stations,transport,Northern,WYPTE,West Yorkshire,LS13 4DU,LS13,sign,platform,platforms,Leeds-Bradford,line,lines,part,of the,network,Bradford,service,link,links,infrastructure,suburban,district,area,signage,public,council,and,Stanningley
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2T2841X -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Yorkshire,rail,railway,Metro,services,stations,public transport,transport,Northern,WYPTE,West Yorkshire,LS13 4DU,LS13,sign,platform,platforms,Leeds-Bradford,line,lines,part,of the,network,due,to,on,the,criminal,damage,theft,infrastructure,suburban,district,area,signage,public
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2T2841Y -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Yorkshire,rail,railway,Metro,services,stations,transport,Northern,WYPTE,West Yorkshire,LS13 4DU,LS13,sign,platform,platforms,Leeds-Bradford,line,lines,part,of the,network,infrastructure,urban,suburban,district,area,signage,public,council,and,Stanningley,Brameleia,Bramelei.
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2T28420 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Beasain,Basque Country,Edinburgh Trams,Edinburgh Airport tram,light rail Scotland,public transport infrastructure,modern tram,public transport,tram platform,electric tram,sustainable transport,Scottish public transport,urban mobility,passenger transport,city transport system,street running tram,transport investment,documentary photography,stopped,Annfield,Leith,Edinburgh,EH6 4UD,EH8,Edinburgh Tram at Newhaven Terminus,Newhaven Place,Edinburgh EH6 4DF,low emission transport,city transport Scotland,public transport Scotland,tram network,transport infrastructure,passengers boarding,editorial transport,daytime exterior
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2REGJBA - Edinburgh Tram stopped at the Newhaven terminus on Newhaven Place, Edinburgh, postcode EH6 4DF. The image shows a modern low-floor tram at the platform with overhead power lines and passenger facilities, illustrating contemporary urban public transport infrastructure in the north of the city.
The Newhaven extension forms part of the Edinburgh Trams network linking the city centre with Leith and the waterfront areas, significantly improving public transport connectivity between residential districts, employment areas, and key visitor destinations. The tram system is designed to support sustainable travel by providing a reliable alternative to private car use.
Newhaven has a long maritime and industrial history as part of the wider Leith area, and the arrival of the tram represents a major investment in regeneration and urban mobility. The integration of modern light rail vehicles into existing streetscapes highlights the balance between historic urban environments and contemporary transport needs.
Photographed in daylight under overcast skies, the image documents everyday tram operations and is suitable for editorial use relating to public transport policy, sustainable cities, urban infrastructure investment, and life in modern Edinburgh.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,trains,SE1,Waterloo station,London,SE1 8SW,at,SWR,platforms,travellers,terminus,South,Western,rail,train,platform,service,services,public,transport,infrastructure,electrified,modern,carriages,carriage,terminal,Portsmouth Direct Line,busiest,interchange,WAT,south west,main line,mainline
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RBXAPE - Waterloo station also known as London Waterloo, is a central London terminus on the National Rail network in the United Kingdom, in the Waterloo area of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is connected to a London Underground station of the same name and is adjacent to Waterloo East station on the South Eastern Main Line. The station is the terminus of the South West Main Line to Weymouth via Southampton, the West of England main line to Exeter via Salisbury, the Portsmouth Direct line to Portsmouth Harbour which connects with ferry services to the Isle of Wight, and several commuter services around west and south-west London, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
The station was opened in 1848 by the London and South Western Railway, and it replaced the earlier Nine Elms as it was closer to the West End. It was never designed to be a terminus, as the original intention was to continue the line towards the City of London, and consequently the station developed in a haphazard fashion, leading to difficulty finding the correct platform. The station was rebuilt in the early 20th century, opening in 1922, and included the Victory Arch over the main entrance, which commemorated World War I. Waterloo was the last London terminus to provide steam-powered services, which ended in 1967. The station was the London terminus for Eurostar international trains from 1994 until 2007, when they were transferred to St. Pancras.
Waterloo is the busiest railway station in the UK, handling 41 million passengers in the year to March 2022. It is also the UK's largest station in terms of floor space and has the greatest number of platforms.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,trains,SE1,Waterloo station,London,SE1 8SW,at,SWR,platforms,travellers,terminus,South,Western,rail,train,platform,service,services,public,transport,infrastructure,electrified,modern,carriages,carriage,terminal,Portsmouth Direct Line,busiest,interchange,WAT,south west,main line,mainline
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RBXAPN - Waterloo station also known as London Waterloo, is a central London terminus on the National Rail network in the United Kingdom, in the Waterloo area of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is connected to a London Underground station of the same name and is adjacent to Waterloo East station on the South Eastern Main Line. The station is the terminus of the South West Main Line to Weymouth via Southampton, the West of England main line to Exeter via Salisbury, the Portsmouth Direct line to Portsmouth Harbour which connects with ferry services to the Isle of Wight, and several commuter services around west and south-west London, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
The station was opened in 1848 by the London and South Western Railway, and it replaced the earlier Nine Elms as it was closer to the West End. It was never designed to be a terminus, as the original intention was to continue the line towards the City of London, and consequently the station developed in a haphazard fashion, leading to difficulty finding the correct platform. The station was rebuilt in the early 20th century, opening in 1922, and included the Victory Arch over the main entrance, which commemorated World War I. Waterloo was the last London terminus to provide steam-powered services, which ended in 1967. The station was the London terminus for Eurostar international trains from 1994 until 2007, when they were transferred to St. Pancras.
Waterloo is the busiest railway station in the UK, handling 41 million passengers in the year to March 2022. It is also the UK's largest station in terms of floor space and has the greatest number of platforms.
Description
Keywords: Warrington,centre,WA1,Cheshire,England,English,UK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,closed,manufacturing,facility,WA5,2,WA5 1AA,major,soap,detergent,detergents,WBQ,Avanti,train,WCML,West Coast Mainline,platform,Pendolino,service,engine,station,Bank Quay,sunny,blue sky,blue skies,West Coast,Surf,plant,household products,Charlotte Nichols,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RHH6G0 - Read more at https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/unilever-north-west-plant-persil-17657936
Unilever North West plant where Persil and Surf are made could close after 'irreversible decline in demand'
The household products giant said the plant is 'running at less than half its capacity'
Global household products giant Unilever is set to close an historic North West plant where Persil and Surf laundry detergents are made, after what it called an irreversible decline in demand for washing powder.
The British-Dutch firm said it was launching a strategic review into the 136-year-old factory in Warrington that employs more than 100 people but is currently running at less than half its capacity.
The statement from the firm, whose brands include Dove and Lynx, said one potential outcome would be to close the entire plant, and that it would be challenging to find a commercially sustainable alternative.
Unilever said: [We] appreciate that this is difficult and unsettling news for the 123 employees at Warrington and will support them through this review.
Jon Strachan, vice president of supply chain, added: This decision has not been taken lightly.
Whatever the outcome, the review is likely to require difficult decisions. We understand this will cause considerable concern for our Warrington employees, suppliers and the local community and that the outcome may have significant implications for them.
We are committed to treating our employees fairly throughout and providing support during this period of uncertainty.
Following the announcement, GMB, the union for Unilever workers, together with Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, have called on the company to save the historic factory.
Description
Keywords: Warrington,centre,WA1,Cheshire,England,English,UK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,closed,manufacturing,facility,WA5,2,WA5 1AA,major,soap,detergent,detergents,WBQ,Avanti,train,WCML,West Coast Mainline,platform,Pendolino,service,engine,station,Bank Quay,sunny,blue sky,blue skies,West Coast,Surf,plant,household products,Charlotte Nichols
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RHH6G6 - Read more at https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/unilever-north-west-plant-persil-17657936
Unilever North West plant where Persil and Surf are made could close after 'irreversible decline in demand'
The household products giant said the plant is 'running at less than half its capacity'
Global household products giant Unilever is set to close an historic North West plant where Persil and Surf laundry detergents are made, after what it called an irreversible decline in demand for washing powder.
The British-Dutch firm said it was launching a strategic review into the 136-year-old factory in Warrington that employs more than 100 people but is currently running at less than half its capacity.
The statement from the firm, whose brands include Dove and Lynx, said one potential outcome would be to close the entire plant, and that it would be challenging to find a commercially sustainable alternative.
Unilever said: [We] appreciate that this is difficult and unsettling news for the 123 employees at Warrington and will support them through this review.
Jon Strachan, vice president of supply chain, added: This decision has not been taken lightly.
Whatever the outcome, the review is likely to require difficult decisions. We understand this will cause considerable concern for our Warrington employees, suppliers and the local community and that the outcome may have significant implications for them.
We are committed to treating our employees fairly throughout and providing support during this period of uncertainty.
Following the announcement, GMB, the union for Unilever workers, together with Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, have called on the company to save the historic factory.
Description
Keywords: Hits,radio,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,M3,tram,trams,lightrail,passengers,commuter,commuters,service,route,routes,sunny,blue,sky,skies,city,centre,England,UK,M3 4LG,yellow,Manchester,TfGM,Metrolink,metro,Ashton,bound,at,stop,arrives,arriving,hub,GMex,platforms,livery
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RC95RD - Deansgate-Castlefield is a tram stop on Greater Manchester's Metrolink light rail system, on Deansgate in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre. It opened on 27 April 1992 as G-Mex tram stop, taking its name from the adjacent G-Mex Centre, a concert, conference and exhibition venue
the G-Mex Centre was rebranded as Manchester Central in 2007, prompting the Metrolink stop to be renamed on 20 September 2010.[1] The station underwent redevelopment in 2014?15 to add an extra platform in preparation for the completion of the Second City Crossing in 2016?17.
Deansgate-Castlefield serves as a transport hub by integrating with National Rail services from Deansgate railway station by a footbridge. Exits from the station lead to the Great Northern Warehouse, the reconstructed Mamucium Roman Fort, the Beetham Tower, and Deansgate Locks. Part of Zone 1, the stop is one of the most used on the Metrolink network.
In August 2010 Metrolink announced it would be changing the name of the stop from 'G-Mex' to 'Deansgate-Castlefield'. On 2 September 2010, signs at the stop were changed to 'Deansgate-Castlefield'
a couple of days later temporary vinyl GMEX stickers were placed on top which were removed on 20 September 2010 when the name change was made.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,WN1,WN1 1BJ,WCML,West Coast,main,line,rail,public,transport,Avanti,Lancs,Greater Manchester,town,centre,north,west,western,platform,BR,front,outside,British Rail,logo,electric,trains,electrified,WGN,electrification,project
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55JM0 - Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Avanti West Coast, and is also served by Northern Trains.
Wigan's other station is Wigan Wallgate, which is about 110 yards (100 m) away, on the opposite side of the street named Wallgate, for services to Manchester (Victoria, Deansgate, Oxford Road & Piccadilly), Southport and Kirkby. Both stations are centrally located on the southern fringe of Wigan town centre. The station is named North Western, not because of its location but because it formerly belonged to the London and North Western Railway. The drop in usage figures for Wigan North Western in 2006/07 was due to the adjustment of the allocation between the town's two stations. In 2009 North Western station was identified as one of the ten worst category B interchange stations for mystery shopper assessment of fabric and environment and was set to receive a share of ?50m funding for improvements
The station is served currently by Avanti West Coast. There is an hourly service on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, which continues northwards to Glasgow Central, with additional peak services terminating at Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle. The journey time from London is less than two hours (1 hour and 55 minutes). There is also an hourly service in the opposite direction calling at Warrington Bank Quay and London Euston. It is also served by Avanti West Coast's services from London Euston via Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central (alternate hours). The single London Midland service from Birmingham New Street to Preston that used to call in the evening was withdrawn at the end of the 2007-8 timetable.
With completion of the first stage of the North West electrification programme, most TransPennine Express services between Manchester and Scotland were re-routed
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,WN1,WN1 1BJ,WCML,West Coast,main,line,rail,public,transport,Avanti,Lancs,Greater Manchester,town,centre,north,west,western,platform,branded,Avanti West Coast,poor,service,services,Partnership,WGN,electrification,project,Network Rail,NetworkRail,waiting area,platforms,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55JMG - Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Avanti West Coast, and is also served by Northern Trains.
Wigan's other station is Wigan Wallgate, which is about 110 yards (100 m) away, on the opposite side of the street named Wallgate, for services to Manchester (Victoria, Deansgate, Oxford Road & Piccadilly), Southport and Kirkby. Both stations are centrally located on the southern fringe of Wigan town centre. The station is named North Western, not because of its location but because it formerly belonged to the London and North Western Railway. The drop in usage figures for Wigan North Western in 2006/07 was due to the adjustment of the allocation between the town's two stations. In 2009 North Western station was identified as one of the ten worst category B interchange stations for mystery shopper assessment of fabric and environment and was set to receive a share of ?50m funding for improvements
The station is served currently by Avanti West Coast. There is an hourly service on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, which continues northwards to Glasgow Central, with additional peak services terminating at Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle. The journey time from London is less than two hours (1 hour and 55 minutes). There is also an hourly service in the opposite direction calling at Warrington Bank Quay and London Euston. It is also served by Avanti West Coast's services from London Euston via Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central (alternate hours). The single London Midland service from Birmingham New Street to Preston that used to call in the evening was withdrawn at the end of the 2007-8 timetable.
With completion of the first stage of the North West electrification programme, most TransPennine Express services between Manchester and Scotland were re-routed
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,WN1,WN1 1BJ,WCML,West Coast,main,line,rail,public,transport,Avanti,Lancs,Greater Manchester,town,centre,north,west,western,platform,electric,trains,electrified,branded,Avanti West Coast,poor,service,services,Partnership,WGN,electrification,project,keep back from the platform,high speed trains,warning,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55JMM - Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Avanti West Coast, and is also served by Northern Trains.
Wigan's other station is Wigan Wallgate, which is about 110 yards (100 m) away, on the opposite side of the street named Wallgate, for services to Manchester (Victoria, Deansgate, Oxford Road & Piccadilly), Southport and Kirkby. Both stations are centrally located on the southern fringe of Wigan town centre. The station is named North Western, not because of its location but because it formerly belonged to the London and North Western Railway. The drop in usage figures for Wigan North Western in 2006/07 was due to the adjustment of the allocation between the town's two stations. In 2009 North Western station was identified as one of the ten worst category B interchange stations for mystery shopper assessment of fabric and environment and was set to receive a share of ?50m funding for improvements
The station is served currently by Avanti West Coast. There is an hourly service on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, which continues northwards to Glasgow Central, with additional peak services terminating at Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle. The journey time from London is less than two hours (1 hour and 55 minutes). There is also an hourly service in the opposite direction calling at Warrington Bank Quay and London Euston. It is also served by Avanti West Coast's services from London Euston via Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central (alternate hours). The single London Midland service from Birmingham New Street to Preston that used to call in the evening was withdrawn at the end of the 2007-8 timetable.
With completion of the first stage of the North West electrification programme, most TransPennine Express services between Manchester and Scotland were re-routed
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,evader,diddymen,Liverpool,Merseyside,England,UK,public art,British comedy,Sir Ken Dodd,Diddymen,Liverpool humour,cultural heritage,bronze statue,mainline railway station,Northern rail,intercity rail,station concourse,travel hub,British entertainers,civic tribute,memorial sculpture,urban public art,transport and culture,everyday city life,editorial photography,documentary image,civic,famous,scouser,scousers,platform,terminus,high level,L1,L1 1JD
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R64K9D - This image shows the bronze statue of Ken Dodd situated on the concourse beside the platforms at Liverpool Lime Street railway station. The sculpture depicts the comedian in animated pose, reflecting his distinctive performance style and enduring association with Liverpool humour and popular culture.
Ken Dodd, born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, was one of Britain's most recognisable comedians and entertainers, renowned for his marathon stand-up performances, rapid-fire jokes, and the fictional Diddymen. He became a cultural icon closely identified with the city, and the statue serves as a civic tribute to his contribution to British comedy and entertainment.
Liverpool Lime Street is the city's principal mainline railway station and a major gateway for visitors arriving by rail. The placement of the statue within an active transport environment connects Liverpool's cultural identity with everyday movement, travel, and public space, allowing commuters and visitors to encounter a figure central to the city's character.
The background of platforms, departure boards, and trains situates the artwork within the working life of the station, blending public art with transport infrastructure. Photographed in daylight, the image is well suited for editorial use covering British cultural heritage, public sculpture, Liverpool identity, rail travel, and the commemoration of nationally significant entertainers.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Wirral,Merseyrail,underground station platform,centre,City,Region,transport,rail,electric,travel,public transport,England,UK,tube,way out,exit,yellow,platform,Merseyrail signage,travel information boards,station wayfinding,yellow station walls,underground railway,commuter rail,urban transport system,Wirral Line,train timetable display,platform information,UK rail infrastructure,passenger information system,everyday commuting,transport hub,editorial photography,documentary image,CH41 6JW,CH41
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R64MP8 - This image shows platform signage and passenger information displays at Hamilton Square station, part of the Merseyrail underground network serving the Wirral and Liverpool City Region. The distinctive yellow wall panels, station name sign, and clearly presented travel information boards reflect the consistent visual identity used across the Merseyrail system.
Hamilton Square is one of the busiest stations on the Wirral Line and plays a key role in commuter travel between Birkenhead, Liverpool city centre, and surrounding areas. As an underground station, it forms part of a network that combines deep-level sections with surface rail, providing frequent, high-capacity services for daily travel.
The image highlights practical elements of rail infrastructure, including wayfinding, timetables, and platform guidance, all essential to the smooth operation of a high-frequency suburban rail system. The signage also illustrates how passenger information is prioritised in busy urban stations to support accessibility and efficient movement.
Photographed in even interior lighting with no passengers visible, the image provides a neutral, documentary view of modern UK suburban rail infrastructure. It is well suited for editorial use covering public transport, urban mobility, commuter rail systems, and the everyday operation of the Merseyrail network.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,London,England,English,British,UK,city,centre,transport,public,service,services,EMU,Great Britain,NW1 2RT,NW1,mainline,failing,rail,operator,TOC,suspended,suspension,engine,trains,390152,at Euston,platform,1,one,electric,train,terrible,poor,bound,central,failed,operator of last resort,West Coast Partnership
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R39Y6M - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,West Coast Main Line,railway departure board,train information display,passenger information system,long distance trains,intercity rail,platform sign,Avanti,Mainline,Main Line,standard,late,railway station,British rail network,train timetable,service information,calling at stations,first class and standard class,commuter travel,business travel,public transport,transport infrastructure,digital signage,amber LED display,platform canopy,travel delays,expected time,documentary photography,editorial image,UK transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55J76 - This image shows an electronic passenger information display at a UK railway station, advertising a service to London Euston operated by Avanti West Coast on the West Coast Main Line. The sign provides key travel details including departure time, destination, expected running time, intermediate calling points, and carriage class layout.
London Euston is one of Britain's principal long-distance rail termini, serving routes linking London with the Midlands, North West England, and Scotland. Digital information boards such as this are a central feature of modern railway operations, helping passengers navigate complex timetables and manage delays or platform changes.
The amber LED display is mounted beneath a station canopy, with steel and timber roof structures visible above, situating the scene firmly within a traditional British railway environment. The combination of historic station architecture and contemporary digital signage reflects the layered evolution of the UK rail network.
Photographed indoors under ambient station lighting, the image is well suited to editorial use covering rail transport, public infrastructure, commuting, long-distance travel, business journeys, and the everyday experience of Britain's railway stations.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,CW1,carriages,pano,panorama,trains,livery,Avanti West Coast,green Pendolino,Class 390,Pendolino train,Crewe station,eco livery,sustainability branding,UK intercity train,long wide panoramic image,railway platform,Italian design train,tilting train,passenger rail UK,modern rolling stock,climate message,environmental awareness,Our Planet Means The World To Us,station platform view,side profile train,panoramic railway photo,transport infrastructure,rail travel,documentary photography,editorial image,UK transport,public transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55J7D - This long, wide panoramic image shows a green-liveried Avanti West Coast Class 390 Pendolino standing at Crewe railway station, one of the most important junctions on the West Coast Main Line. The train carries prominent environmental branding reading Our Planet Means The World To Us, reflecting Avanti West Coast's sustainability and carbon-reduction messaging.
The Class 390 Pendolino fleet forms the backbone of high-speed electric intercity services linking London with the North West, West Midlands, North Wales, and Scotland. Known for their tilting capability, Pendolinos are designed to maintain higher speeds on curving mainline routes while remaining fully electric, reinforcing rail's role as a lower-carbon alternative to road and air travel.
The image's wide, side-on composition emphasises the length of the train and the bold green graphics applied across multiple carriages, making it particularly suitable for layouts requiring panoramic or banner-style imagery. The platform environment and partial station architecture situate the scene within an active mainline railway setting.
Photographed in daylight at platform level, the image is well suited to editorial use covering UK rail transport, sustainable travel, rolling-stock branding, climate messaging in public transport, and modern intercity rail operations.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,platforms,rail,WCML,FirstGroup,and,TOC,engine,390141,BR,EMU,class 390,electric,electrified,managed,by,London NorthWestern Railway,London NorthWestern,302,Elder Gate,Milton Keynes,Buckinghamshire,MK9 1LA,MK9,South East,SE,intercity,services,service,sign,signage,arrived,boarding,franchise,strike,strikes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RADRX1 - Milton Keynes Central railway station serves Milton Keynes and surrounding parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire (England). The station is located on the West Coast Main Line about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London. The station is served by Avanti West Coast intercity services, and by West Midlands Trains regional services.
This is the principal station for the city, one of seven serving the Milton Keynes urban area. Milton Keynes Central, which opened on 17 May 1982, is by far the busiest and most important of these, as well as being the largest in terms of platforms in use, having overtaken Bletchley when platforms 2A and 6 became operational.
Milton Keynes Central has a total of seven platforms. Platforms 1 and 3 are the south and northbound slow platforms, while 4 and 6 are the south and northbound fast platforms. Platforms 2 and 5 are reversible, being slow and fast respectively. Platform 2 is used mainly by terminating stopping services from London Euston, whilst platforms 1 and 3 are used by West Midlands Trains services between Euston and Northampton, Birmingham New Street or Crewe. Platforms 4, 5 and 6 are used by Avanti West Coast inter-city express services between London and the West Midlands, north Wales, the north-west or Scotland.
Platform 2A is a five-car south-facing bay platform, originally intended for the extension of Marston Vale Line services from Bedford into Milton Keynes Central this proposal no longer appears in plans for East West Rail, being replaced by a planned service to/from Oxford or Aylesbury (see below). Meanwhile, platform 2A is used only by exception when additional platform capacity is needed, such as when there is a service delay. To the north of the station the six lines reduce to four (two slow and two fast) and there is a mile of five-track running to the south before this also reduces back to four.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Merseyside,England,UK,city,public,transport,rail,HuntsCross,L25,HNX,Speke Road,L25 0NN,railway,train,station,profit,performance,stats,statistics,signs,display,platform,platforms,times,clock,commuter rail network,commuter,rail network,sunny,blue skies,blue sky,livery,info,information
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R1WX3R - Merseyrail is a commuter rail network serving the Liverpool City Region and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail operates 66 railway stations across two lines ? the Northern Line and the Wirral Line, which are dedicated 750 V DC third rail electrified lines converging into rapid transit-style underground sections in the centres of Liverpool and Birkenhead. Merseyrail branding is also applied to stations and ticketing on the City Line, which are within the Liverpool City Region but operated by other train operating companies, predominantly Northern Trains. The City Line services operate on the Liverpool to Manchester Lines and the Liverpool to Wigan Line using a mix of AC electric and diesel trains.
The Merseyrail third rail network has 68 stations, 66 of which are managed by the company,[a] and 120.7 km (75.0 miles) of routes,[1] of which 6.5 miles (10.5 km) are underground. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the network carried 31 million passengers per year.
The first part of the urban network was opened in 1977 by merging separate rail lines by constructing new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead. The full 1970s plans for the network were not realised, but the network has been extended on its peripheries with additional peripheral extensions proposed. The extensions were created by electrifying existing lines and then transferring the electrified sections into Merseyrail.
Merseyrail is operated for Merseytravel by 50:50 joint venture Serco-Abellio, who superseded Arriva Trains Merseyside in 2003. The 25-year contract expires in 2028, with the aspiration of the Liverpool City Region government being to bring the network and its infrastructure under local public ownership. As of 2015, Serco-Abellio operates a fleet of 59 trains and employs 1,148 people
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,infrastructure,wires,cables,cabling,cherry-picker,access,platform,&,and,home,lines,works,in,a,street,urban,added,by,for,OpenReach,Cheshire,UK,Grappenhall,Warrington,England,WA4 2PI,van,vehicle,pole,telephone,telegraph,tower wagon,mobile,crane
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R0MKE3 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,infrastructure,wires,cables,cabling,cherry-picker,access,platform,&,and,home,lines,works,in,a,street,urban,added,by,for,OpenReach,Cheshire,UK,Grappenhall,Warrington,England,WA4 2PI,van,vehicle,pole,telephone,telegraph,tower wagon,mobile,crane
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R0MKE6 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,infrastructure,wires,wiring,cables,cabling,cherry-picker,access,platform,&,and,home,lines,works,in,a,street,urban,added,by,for,OpenReach,Cheshire,UK,Grappenhall,Warrington,England,WA4 2PI,van,vehicle,pole,telephone,telegraph,tower wagon,mobile,crane
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R0MKEF -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,centre,train,carriage,platform,North West,Northern Powerhouse,BR,public,railways,Northern,TOC,EMU,electric,electrified,electrification,M1,M1 6FU,service,wet,on,a,rainy,at,trains,system,transport,rain,closed,doors,departing,late,on time,cancelled,services
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PMT9P8 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,centre,train,carriage,platform,North West,Northern Powerhouse,BR,public,railways,Northern,TOC,EMU,electric,electrified,electrification,M1,M1 6FU,service,wet,on,a,rainy,at,trains,system,transport,passengers,commuter,commuters,rain,closed,doors,departing,late,on time,cancelled,services
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PMT9RK -
-Train-carriage-at-Lime-St-station-platform--Liverpool--Merseyside--England--UK--L1-1JD-2PJHNWB.jpg)
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Merseyside,England,UK,L1,city,centre,L1 1JD,train,company,TOC,platform,passengers,clock,wide,pano,panorama,train carriage,trains,carriages,service,waiting,to,board,depart,DMU,multiple unit,line,tourism,profit,franchise,Abellio East Midlands Limited,transport,group,strike,industrial action,unions,EMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PJHNWB - Abellio East Midlands Limited, trading as East Midlands Railway (EMR), is a train operating company in England, owned by Transport UK Group, and is the current operator of the East Midlands franchise
In March 2017, the Department for Transport announced that Arriva, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, and incumbent Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next East Midlands franchise. Abellio was added in February 2018.
FirstGroup and Trenitalia pulled out of the bidding process in April 2018 to focus on the West Coast Partnership franchise. In April 2019 the franchise was awarded to Abellio, with East Midlands Railway (EMR) to take over the franchise from East Midlands Trains (EMT) on 18 August 2019 for a period of eight years.
In June 2019, Abellio revealed branding and colour scheme using distinct purple and white colours to reflect the heritage of the East Midlands. It also confirmed it would divide the services into three segments:
EMR InterCity for long-distance services from London St Pancras
EMR Regional for services across the East Midlands
EMR Electrics for the outer suburban London St Pancras to Corby service
In April 2021 it was announced that EMR Electrics would be rebranded as EMR Connect.
In February 2023, Transport UK Group concluded a management buyout of Abellio's United Kingdom business, which included EMR
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,north,Wales,Cymru,coast,Victorian,architecture,LL30,traditional,holiday,N Parade,Parade,Llandudno,Conwy County,north Wales,UK,grade II,listed,building,in,deep-water landing stage,platform,preserved,steamers,steamer,Sir,James William Brunlees,John Dixon,company,big,white,ferris,wheel,near,old,cast iron,castiron,promenade
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PH9M9C - Llandudno Pier is a Grade II* listed pier in the seaside resort of Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom. At 2,295 feet (700 m), the pier is the longest in Wales and the fifth longest in England and Wales. In 2005, was voted Pier of the Year 2005 by the members of the National Piers Society.
At the end of the pier is a deep-water landing stage, completely rebuilt for the third time in 1969, which is used by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for occasional excursions to Douglas, Isle of Man, and for an annual visit of the PS Waverley or the MV Balmoral preserved steamers. The June 2007 sailings of the Balmoral were rescheduled to start at Menai Bridge Pier, after it emerged that Llandudno Pier's Landing Stage was no longer safe to use. The Landing Stage was rebuilt in 2012 and the MV Balmoral called there, the first ship since 2006, on 2 July 2015. In the present day the landing stage is no longer used for steamers but has its use as a platform for anglers to fish off the end of the pier and is not accessible to the general public.
Located on the coast of North Wales between Bangor and Colwyn Bay, the pier is very unusual in that it has two entrances, one on the promenade at North Parade and the other, the original entrance, on Happy Valley Road (Which is no longer used and is locked permanently) Between the two entrances is the Grand Hotel.
The pier had its origins in a much shorter pier of just 242 feet (74 m) built on 16 wooden piles, opened in 1858 by the St George's Harbour and Railway Company
The present pier was designed by civil engineers Sir James William Brunlees (1816-92, knighted 1886) and Alexander McKerrow (1837-1920) and built by the contractor John Dixon for the Llandudno Pier Company. After the original designs were approved on 29 May 1876 by Parliament, the town's Improvement Commissioners and the Mostyn Estate, revised designs for the ornamental ironwork and elaborate kiosks were worked on by the architects Charles Henry Driver
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,north,Wales,Cymru,coast,Victorian,architecture,LL30,traditional,holiday,N Parade,Parade,Llandudno,Conwy County,north Wales,UK,grade II,listed,building,in,deep-water landing stage,platform,preserved,steamers,steamer,Sir,James William Brunlees,John Dixon,company,end,of,the,piers,windfarm,offshore,Gwynedd,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PH9M9M - Llandudno Pier is a Grade II* listed pier in the seaside resort of Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom. At 2,295 feet (700 m), the pier is the longest in Wales and the fifth longest in England and Wales. In 2005, was voted Pier of the Year 2005 by the members of the National Piers Society.
At the end of the pier is a deep-water landing stage, completely rebuilt for the third time in 1969, which is used by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for occasional excursions to Douglas, Isle of Man, and for an annual visit of the PS Waverley or the MV Balmoral preserved steamers. The June 2007 sailings of the Balmoral were rescheduled to start at Menai Bridge Pier, after it emerged that Llandudno Pier's Landing Stage was no longer safe to use. The Landing Stage was rebuilt in 2012 and the MV Balmoral called there, the first ship since 2006, on 2 July 2015. In the present day the landing stage is no longer used for steamers but has its use as a platform for anglers to fish off the end of the pier and is not accessible to the general public.
Located on the coast of North Wales between Bangor and Colwyn Bay, the pier is very unusual in that it has two entrances, one on the promenade at North Parade and the other, the original entrance, on Happy Valley Road (Which is no longer used and is locked permanently) Between the two entrances is the Grand Hotel.
The pier had its origins in a much shorter pier of just 242 feet (74 m) built on 16 wooden piles, opened in 1858 by the St George's Harbour and Railway Company
The present pier was designed by civil engineers Sir James William Brunlees (1816-92, knighted 1886) and Alexander McKerrow (1837-1920) and built by the contractor John Dixon for the Llandudno Pier Company. After the original designs were approved on 29 May 1876 by Parliament, the town's Improvement Commissioners and the Mostyn Estate, revised designs for the ornamental ironwork and elaborate kiosks were worked on by the architects Charles Henry Driver
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Wales,welsh,UK,Cardiff,city,centre,rail,train,for,railway station,Cardiff city centre,platform,at,Caerdydd Heol y Frenhines,viewed,from,seen,Queen St,Helmont House,10,Churchill Way,CF10 2HE,south,office,offices,buildings,architecture,south Wales,city centre,hotel,hotels,modern,accommodation
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PGJX01 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Germany,train,rail,railway,DB,passenger,system,electric,electrified,EMU,AG,Rhineland-Palatinate,Bacherach,station,local,Regio Mitte,carriage,RB,multiple unit,platforms,RE2,Der,platform,one,German,Rhine,line,lines,network,suburban,medium,distance,route,routes,services,service
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2NK3E24 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Germany,train,rail,railway,DB,passenger,system,electric,EMU,AG,DB Regio Mitte,station,local,Regio Mitte,carriage,RB,multiple unit,platforms,TransRegio,Koln,at,Bacharach,dusk,evening,460006-0,platform,German,Rhine,line,lines,network,Bacharch,white,arrived
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2NK3E5R -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Germany,train,rail,railway,DB,passenger,system,electric,electrified,EMU,AG,DB Regio Mitte,Rhineland-Palatinate,Bacherach,station,local,Regio Mitte,carriage,RB,multiple unit,platforms,in,the,commuters,German,Rhine,line,lines,network,night,evening,late,trains
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2NK3E92 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,city,centre,Yorkshire,England,UK,South,rail,BR,S1,Sheaf St,Sheffield City Centre,S1 2BP,public,transport,DMU,195118,Diesel multiple unit,Manchester,Piccadilly,service,to,station,platform,platforms,Northern rail,class195,class 195,195,Man Picc,CAF,services,empty platform,strikes,industrial,action,ASLEF,RMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PMNDNB -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,train,rail,railway,station,main,platform,platforms,TPE,engine,802203,bi,mode,multiple,unit,blue,new,livery,Merseyside,L1 1JD,L1,transport,public,Northern Powerhouse,NPR,TOC,First,limited,delays,poor,service,services,Matthew Golton,apology,unreliability,unreliable
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2MGPE0T - TransPennine Express (TPE), legally First TransPennine Express Limited, is a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that operates the TransPennine Express franchise. It runs regional and inter-city rail services between the major cities and towns of Northern England and Scotland.
The franchise operates almost all its services to and through Manchester covering three main routes. The service provides rail links for major towns and cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. TPE run trains 24 hours a day, including through New Year's Eve night. TPE trains run between York, Leeds and Manchester Airport at least every three hours every night of the week. The franchise operates across the West Coast Main Line, Huddersfield Line, East Coast Main Line and part of the Tees Valley line.
TransPennine Express was one of several train operators impacted by the 2022 United Kingdom railway strike, which was the first national rail strike in the UK for three decades. Its workers were amongst those who participated in industrial action due to a dispute over pay and working conditions
On 26/01/2023, the boss of under-fire train company Transpennine Express has apologised to passengers and admitted services have not been good enough.
Transpennine, which operates across the North of England and into Scotland, has been cancelling trains on a daily basis for months, disrupting many journeys.
Calls have been made for the company to lose its contract for the service.
Matthew Golton, managing director of Transpennine, told the BBC the operator had a recovery plan to do better.
The government has previously said action will be taken if the company can't be turned round.
Asked about Transpennine cancelling 40% of its services last week, Mr Golton said: It isn't good enough.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,England,train,rail,railway,station,mainline,main,line,platform,platforms,TPE,engine,802203,bi,mode,multiple,unit,blue,new,livery,Merseyside,L1 1JD,L1,transport,public,Northern Powerhouse,TOC,First,limited,delays,poor,service,services,strikes,cancelling,transportation,worst for train cancellations,Government control
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2MGPE4T - TransPennine Express (TPE), legally First TransPennine Express Limited, is a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that operates the TransPennine Express franchise. It runs regional and inter-city rail services between the major cities and towns of Northern England and Scotland.
The franchise operates almost all its services to and through Manchester covering three main routes. The service provides rail links for major towns and cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. TPE run trains 24 hours a day, including through New Year's Eve night. TPE trains run between York, Leeds and Manchester Airport at least every three hours every night of the week. The franchise operates across the West Coast Main Line, Huddersfield Line, East Coast Main Line and part of the Tees Valley line.
TransPennine Express was one of several train operators impacted by the 2022 United Kingdom railway strike, which was the first national rail strike in the UK for three decades. Its workers were amongst those who participated in industrial action due to a dispute over pay and working conditions
On 26/01/2023, the boss of under-fire train company Transpennine Express has apologised to passengers and admitted services have not been good enough.
Transpennine, which operates across the North of England and into Scotland, has been cancelling trains on a daily basis for months, disrupting many journeys.
Calls have been made for the company to lose its contract for the service.
Matthew Golton, managing director of Transpennine, told the BBC the operator had a recovery plan to do better.
The government has previously said action will be taken if the company can't be turned round.
Asked about Transpennine cancelling 40% of its services last week, Mr Golton said: It isn't good enough.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,train,rail,railway,station,mainline,main,line,platforms,L1 1JD,L1,train station,public,Merseyside,Northern Powerhouse,NPR,DMU,engine,carriage,Nottingham,bound,to,158865,British Rail,Class 158,Express,at,Lime St,night,evening,integrated,service,services
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2MGPE91 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Merseyside,city,centre,platform,dusk,night,service,WCML,poor,Alstom,Pendolino,390112,EMU,Electric,trains,train,at,unreliable,renewed,failed,intercity,to,Euston,London,stopped selling,advance,tickets,Richard Scott,First Group,Trenitalia,worst performing,drivers,overtime,strikes,timetable,peak
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M1F601 - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Scotland,UK,Edinburgh,EH1,rail,capital,service,services,public,transport,city,centre,EH1 3EG,engine,EMU,electric,mainline,800108,TOC,RMT,ASLEF,at,platform,R,British Rail,Class,800,Intercity,Express,train,bi-mode,biMode,multiple unit,Hitachi,AT300,IET
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KRXPPM - The British Rail Class 800 Intercity Express Train or Azuma is a type of bi-mode multiple unit train built by Hitachi for Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway. The type uses electric motors powered from overhead electric wires for traction, but also has diesel generators to enable trains to operate on unelectrified track. It is a part of the Hitachi AT300 product family.
The Class 800 was produced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) as a replacement for the Intercity 125 and Intercity 225 fleets of high speed trains. The trains were manufactured by Hitachi between 2014 and 2018, assembly being performed at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan
no body construction takes place in the UK. As well as resembling the Class 801, the units are also very similar to the Class 802 units, which have uprated diesel engines and larger fuel tanks.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Scotland,UK,Edinburgh,multiple unit,Express,British Rail,ASLEF,EH1 3EG,EH1,rail,public,transport,service,services,city,centre,engine,TOC,RMT,platform,Your,travel,station,platforms,route,routes,unit,carriages,carriage,public transport,joined up,integrated,yellow line,express
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KRXPY2 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Scotland,UK,Edinburgh,EH1,rail,capital,service,services,public,transport,city,centre,EH1 3EG,engine,EMU,electric,mainline,800108,TOC,RMT,ASLEF,at,platform,R,British Rail,Class,800,Intercity,Express,train,bi-mode,biMode,multiple unit,Hitachi,AT300,IET
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KRXR47 - The British Rail Class 800 Intercity Express Train or Azuma is a type of bi-mode multiple unit train built by Hitachi for Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway. The type uses electric motors powered from overhead electric wires for traction, but also has diesel generators to enable trains to operate on unelectrified track. It is a part of the Hitachi AT300 product family.
The Class 800 was produced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) as a replacement for the Intercity 125 and Intercity 225 fleets of high speed trains. The trains were manufactured by Hitachi between 2014 and 2018, assembly being performed at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan
no body construction takes place in the UK. As well as resembling the Class 801, the units are also very similar to the Class 802 units, which have uprated diesel engines and larger fuel tanks.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,UK,Edinburgh,Scotland,land,mark,Scotland in winter,in,icon,iconic,EH2 2EJ,garden,gardens,Scottish,author,Sir,Walter Scott,Victorian,Gothic,viewing,platform,stone,Binny,sandstone,skyline,cityscape,Jenners,building,architecture,ornate,history,historic,tower,climb,climbing,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M3JBRM -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,EMR,Railway,TOC,Midlands,company,train,trains,night,platform,at,on,operator,of the,East Midlands,franchise,DMU,GBR,Great British Railways,Diesel,multiple,unit,Warrington central station,Cheshire,WA1,integrated,transport,public,fare,increase,increases,RMT,strike,driver,staff,salary
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KG3KCW -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,Cheshire,WA1,train,rail,main line,1LW,stations,west Coast,railway,platform,service,electrified,TOC,First,transport,public,FirstGroup,and,Trenitalia,welcome,arrive,arrival,North West,Northern Powerhouse,trains,engine,carriage,carriages,EMU,electric,fast,intercity,inter-city
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KG41TD - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,Cheshire,WA1,train,rail,main line,1LW,stations,west Coast,railway,platform,service,electrified,TOC,First,transport,public,FirstGroup,and,Trenitalia,welcome,arrive,arrival,North West,Northern Powerhouse,trains,engine,carriage,carriages,EMU,electric,fast,intercity,inter-city
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KG4252 - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,railway,station,transport,rail,Great Western Railway,direct award,franchise agreement,First Group,Station Rd,Oxfordshire,England,UK,OX11 7NR,platform,switch,from,electric,sign,Oxford,hybrid,class800,point,accident,incident,signage,red,signal,stop,change,here,driver,drivers,FGW,First Great Western,Class 800bi-modes,Hitachi,bi-mode trains,BiMode
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K7NBH5 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,Market Street,Greater Manchester,UK,SK14 6AX,rail,public,transport,village,Glossop line,rolling,stock,BR,overhead,lines,passenger,passengers,way out,tickets,waiting room,stations,platform,platforms,commuter,line,TfGM,route,routes,service,services,disruption,delay,upgrade,upgraded,electric,electrified,electrification
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K1NRK2 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,Market Street,Greater Manchester,UK,SK14 6AX,rail,public,transport,village,Glossop line,rolling,stock,BR,overhead,lines,stations,platform,platforms,commuter,line,TfGM,route,routes,service,services,disruption,delay,upgrade,upgraded,electric,electrified,electrification,heritage,zone
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K1NRK4 -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,England,UK,train,trains,public,transport,158897,passenger train,East Midlands Railways,at,platform,Warrington,railway,station,Cheshire,The Lincoln Castle Explorer,Lincoln Castle,Cheshire Lines Committee,WA2,WA2 7FW,express,sprinter,route,service,services,East-West,Diesel train,rolling stock,carriage,carriages,ontime,on time,KPI,stats,statistics
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K0PRNR - In March 2017, the Department for Transport announced that Arriva, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, and incumbent Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next East Midlands franchise. Abellio was added in February 2018.
FirstGroup and Trenitalia pulled out of the bidding process in April 2018 to focus on the West Coast Partnership franchise. In April 2019 the franchise was awarded to Abellio, with East Midlands Railway (EMR) to take over the franchise from East Midlands Trains (EMT) on 18 August 2019 for a period of eight years
EMR operates commuter services from London St Pancras to Corby, as well as intercity services from London St Pancras along the Midland Main Line to Nottingham and Sheffield with limited extensions to Lincoln. EMR also operate the local East Midlands services and inter regional services to Liverpool and Norwich (Express service). Services from Nottingham to Liverpool Lime Street were to transfer to another operator during the life of the franchise, although following a review by the DfT, this will no longer take place
the service instead being split at Nottingham as intended but remaining with EMR. The Barton line was expected to transfer from Northern in 2019 but this was delayed until May 2021
Warrington Central railway station is one of three main railway stations serving the town of Warrington in the north-west of England. It is located on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester Lines (the former Cheshire Lines Committee route between Liverpool and Manchester), being situated approximately halfway between the two cities. Central station is served by diesel trains to Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport and East Anglia.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,England,UK,train,trains,public,transport,158897,passenger train,East Midlands Railways,at,platform,Warrington,railway,station,Cheshire,The Lincoln Castle Explorer,Lincoln Castle,Cheshire Lines Committee,WA2,WA2 7FW,express,sprinter,route,service,services,East-West,Diesel train,rolling stock,carriage,carriages,ontime,on time,KPI,stats,statistics
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K0PRP1 - In March 2017, the Department for Transport announced that Arriva, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, and incumbent Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next East Midlands franchise. Abellio was added in February 2018.
FirstGroup and Trenitalia pulled out of the bidding process in April 2018 to focus on the West Coast Partnership franchise. In April 2019 the franchise was awarded to Abellio, with East Midlands Railway (EMR) to take over the franchise from East Midlands Trains (EMT) on 18 August 2019 for a period of eight years
EMR operates commuter services from London St Pancras to Corby, as well as intercity services from London St Pancras along the Midland Main Line to Nottingham and Sheffield with limited extensions to Lincoln. EMR also operate the local East Midlands services and inter regional services to Liverpool and Norwich (Express service). Services from Nottingham to Liverpool Lime Street were to transfer to another operator during the life of the franchise, although following a review by the DfT, this will no longer take place
the service instead being split at Nottingham as intended but remaining with EMR. The Barton line was expected to transfer from Northern in 2019 but this was delayed until May 2021
Warrington Central railway station is one of three main railway stations serving the town of Warrington in the north-west of England. It is located on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester Lines (the former Cheshire Lines Committee route between Liverpool and Manchester), being situated approximately halfway between the two cities. Central station is served by diesel trains to Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport and East Anglia.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,rail,railway,train,trains,Victorian,signalbox,frame,green,signals,signalling,old,fashioned,traditional,British,English,signal,workplace,equipment,at,CW1 2DB,CW1,box,boxes,Crewe,Station,A,schematic,diagram,map,layout,down,platform,through,lines
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JWGTBP -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,Westinghouse,All Electric,Style L,lever frame,indicator,indicators,points,point,and,signal,Up fast,Up Slow,Crossing,Slot,red,black,signals,levers,of,power,rail,railway,BR,box,Up thro,1940,1940s,lever,platform
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2WPK -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,BR,5,Wales,UK,LL20 8SN,rail,railways,station,paltform,1,one,Platform and Refreshment room,British Rail,platform,railway station,preserved,Llangollen Railway,Denbighshire,sign,people,passengers,staff,volunteers,station master,history,historic,heritage,old,olden,times,system,systems,route,routes,hotpix.org.uk,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JR5WDB -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,BR,5,Wales,UK,LL20 8SN,rail,railways,station,paltform,1,one,Platform and Refreshment room,British Rail,platform,railway station,preserved,Llangollen Railway,Denbighshire,sign,people,passengers,staff,volunteers,station master,on,a,Victorian,historic,heritage,history,platforms,waiting,area,room,rooms,refreshment,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JR5WDK -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Wales,welsh,Denbighshire,Cymru,British,Railways,North Wales,UK,LL20 8SN,LL20,preserved,rail,signal,tracks,engine,loco,traditional,train,transport,summer,platform,travel,GB,Great Britain,heritage,history,tourist,tourism,attraction,carriage,waggons,picturesque,rural,preservation,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JRA3YA -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Wales,welsh,railway,Denbighshire,heritage,The Corn Mill,river,hills,GB,great Britain,name,station,terminus,transport,Cymru,British,Railways,sightseeing,steam,tourism,tourist,attraction,visitor,platform,historical,Great Britain,railways,Dee,background,valley,railings,trust,charity,vintage,volunteer,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JRA4FB -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,railway,station,NPR,canopy,platform,Northern,rail,diesel,train,DMU,trains,CH1,City road,Cheshire,England,UK,CH1 3NS,evening,newtown,summer,blue sky,blue skies,bright,view,image,route,routes,public transport,TOC,TOCs,Northern Railway,BR,British Rail,stations
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JMWGPW - Chester railway station is located in Newtown, Chester, England. Services are operated by Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern and Transport for Wales. From 1875 to 1969 the station was known as Chester General to distinguish it from Chester Northgate. The station's Italianate frontage was designed by the architect Francis Thompson.
Work on a ?10 million regeneration scheme, the Chester Renaissance programme was completed in 2007. The development includes a new roof, improved customer facilities and improved access to the station. A plaque commemorating Thomas Brassey is installed on the wall opposite the booking office. The station marks one end of the Baker Way a footpath leading to Delamere railway station.
Scheduled services from Chester station are operated by Avanti West Coast to London Euston and Holyhead, Merseyrail to Liverpool, Northern to Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds and Transport for Wales to Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Airport, Crewe, Birmingham New Street, Cardiff Central, Llandudno and Holyhead
Starting in 2005, the station was restored in the Chester Renaissance Project. Improvements made by Network Rail included groundworks around the east end frontage and repairs to the fa??ade's east and west wings, renewal of the roof's glazing, enhancements to the train shed and other general improvements. Improved local traffic management and access to the station was achieved by alterations to Station Square which were completed in December 2007. Architectural lighting was installed in strategic areas and a new concourse was opened by Arriva Trains Wales in October 2008. Between 2009 and 2010, improvements included a second staircase to access the island platform, structural repairs to platforms, restoration of the overbridge and work to enhance the station's frontage.
The station is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building. It is one of 22 Grade I or II* listed railway stations in England
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,SE1,passengers,commuters,public,transit,transport,tube,LU,London Underground,for,zone one,zone,1,train,mainline,station,platform,Station Approach Rd,London,England,UK,SE1 9SP,waiting,masks,mask,busy,crowd,crowded,tunnel,subway,tubes,interchange,interchanges
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JKB6JR -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,railway,the,London,LU,trains,passenger,passengers,commuters,travel,zone,one,1,capita,integrated,underground,Victoria,Line,lines,platform,signs,busy,KingsX,London underground,city,centre,England,UK,mass,transit,metro,tunnel,tunnels,waiting,for,a,train
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JKC2GT - The Victoria line is a London Underground line that runs between Brixton in south London and Walthamstow Central in the north-east, via the West End. It is printed in light blue on the Tube map and is one of the only two lines on the network to run completely underground, the other being the Waterloo & City line.
The line was constructed in the 1960s and was the first entirely new Underground line in London for 50 years. It was designed to reduce congestion on other lines, particularly the Piccadilly line and the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line. The first section, from Walthamstow Central to Highbury & Islington, opened in September 1968 and an extension to Warren Street followed in December. The line was completed to Victoria station in March 1969 and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II who rode a train from Green Park to Victoria. The southern extension to Brixton opened in 1971, and Pimlico station was added in 1972.
The Victoria line is operated using automatic train operation, but all trains have drivers. The 2009 Tube Stock replaced the original 1967 Tube Stock trains. The line serves 16 stations and all but Pimlico provide interchanges with other Transport for London or National Rail services. The line, the most intensively used on the Underground, is used by over 200 million passengers each year, making it the sixth-busiest tube line.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,London,NW1,Wembley,Harrow,Uxbridge,Watford,Amersham,metro,busy,Victorian,entrance,entry,to,lines,LU,London Underground,public,transport,original,stations,of the,Metropolitan Railway,clock,gates,platform,platforms,GB,British,history,historic,tourist,tourism,travelling,around,capital
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JJG0DC - Baker Street is a London Underground station at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster. It is one of the original stations of the Metropolitan Railway (MR), the world's first underground railway, opened on 10 January 1863.
The station is in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five lines. On the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines it is between Great Portland Street and Edgware Road. On the Metropolitan line it is between Great Portland Street and Finchley Road. On the Bakerloo line it is between Regent's Park and Marylebone, and on the Jubilee line it is between St John's Wood and Bond Street.
Location
The station has entrances on Baker Street, Chiltern Street (ticket holders only) and Marylebone Road. Nearby attractions include Regent's Park, Lord's Cricket Ground, the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds.
Baker Street station is the combination of three separate stations, with several booking offices throughout its operational years. Major changes took place in 1891-93 and 1910?12. The first part is the Circle Line station, which has its two platforms now used by the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. They are situated on a roughly east-to-west alignment beneath Marylebone Road, spanning approximately the stretch between Upper Baker Street and Allsop Place. This was part of the original Metropolitan Railway from Bishop's Road (now Paddington (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) station to Farringdon Street (now Farringdon) which opened on 10 January 1863.
The platforms serving the main branch of the Metropolitan line towards Harrow, Uxbridge and beyond are located within the triangle formed by Marylebone Road, Upper Baker Street and Allsop Place, following the alignment of Allsop place. This station is the second section which opened on 13 April 1868 by the Metropolitan & St. John's Wood Railway. This was later absorbed by the Metropolitan Railway, which is usually known to them as Baker Street East station.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,station,Central,on,platforms,passengers,travellers,public,transport,train,trains,metro,subway,tube,tubes,LU,LUT,travelling,around,capital,the capital,city,centre,crowd,crowded,busy,commuters,packed,crush,crushed,public transport,interchange
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JJG0DH -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,central,people,crowds,and,platform,at,brown,platforms,tube station,stations,transport,public,London,England,UK,crowd,crowded,busy,commuters,packed,crush,crushed,public transport,interchange,night,evening,claustrophobic,claustrophobia,congested,congestion hot,fetid,Bakerloo,line,lines
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JKCBD5 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,London,tunnel,Channel Tunnel,Channel,English,platform,platforms,unit,British Rail,Class 374,EMU,electric multiple unit,passenger,service,services,Siemens Velaro,high-speed,rail,Getlink,Eurostar International Limited,EIL,EU,Brexit,train,link,Chunnel,international,high speed,rail service,route,routes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K16ARJ - Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom with France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Most Eurostar trains travel through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France, owned and operated separately by Getlink.
The London terminus is London St Pancras International
the other and since suspended British calling points used to be Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in Kent. Intermediate calling points in France are Calais-Fr??thun and Lille-Europe. Trains to Paris terminate at Paris-Nord. Trains to Belgium and the Netherlands serve Brussels-South and Rotterdam Centraal, before terminating at Amsterdam Centraal. Additionally, in France there are direct services from London to Marne-la-Vall??e?Chessy (Disneyland Paris) until June 2023 and seasonal direct services to the French Alps in winter.
The service is operated by 11 Class 373/1 trainsets, each with 18 coaches, and 17 Class 374 trainsets, each with 16 coaches. The trains run at up to 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph) on high-speed lines
In December 2021, Eurostar said it intended to move its administrative activities from London to Brussels as part of a forthcoming merger with Thalys which was approved in March 2022, citing problems with doing business in the UK, post Brexit, and stating that being based in an EU country would make expansion and development easier.
Description
Keywords: London,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,tunnel,Channel Tunnel,Channel,English,platform,platforms,unit,British Rail,Class 374,EMU,electric multiple unit,passenger,service,services,Siemens Velaro,high-speed,rail,Getlink,Eurostar International Limited,EIL,EU,Brexit,train,link,Chunnel,international,high speed,rail service,route,routes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K16ARK - Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom with France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Most Eurostar trains travel through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France, owned and operated separately by Getlink.
The London terminus is London St Pancras International
the other and since suspended British calling points used to be Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in Kent. Intermediate calling points in France are Calais-Fr??thun and Lille-Europe. Trains to Paris terminate at Paris-Nord. Trains to Belgium and the Netherlands serve Brussels-South and Rotterdam Centraal, before terminating at Amsterdam Centraal. Additionally, in France there are direct services from London to Marne-la-Vall??e?Chessy (Disneyland Paris) until June 2023 and seasonal direct services to the French Alps in winter.
The service is operated by 11 Class 373/1 trainsets, each with 18 coaches, and 17 Class 374 trainsets, each with 16 coaches. The trains run at up to 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph) on high-speed lines
In December 2021, Eurostar said it intended to move its administrative activities from London to Brussels as part of a forthcoming merger with Thalys which was approved in March 2022, citing problems with doing business in the UK, post Brexit, and stating that being based in an EU country would make expansion and development easier.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,TFL,transport,infrastructure,platform,at,underground,metro,subway,Transport For London,TfL,empty,High Barnet,Edgware,tunnel,N1,N1 2AR,map,schematic,ad,ads,advertising,promotions,adverts,clean,tidy,black,line,deep-level,interior,signs,tracks,track
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K16ATA - The Northern line is a London Underground line that runs from North London to South London. It is printed in black on the Tube map. The Northern line is unique on the Underground network in having two different routes through central London, two southern branches and two northern branches. Despite its name, it does not serve the northernmost stations on the Underground, though it does serve the southernmost station at Morden, the terminus of one of the two southern branches.
The line's northern termini, all in the London Borough of Barnet, are at Edgware and High Barnet
Mill Hill East is the terminus of a single-station branch line off the High Barnet branch. The two main northern branches run south to join at Camden Town where two routes, one via Charing Cross in the West End and the other via Bank in the City, continue to join at Kennington in Southwark. At Kennington, the line again divides into two branches, one to each of the southern termini at Morden, in the borough of Merton, and Battersea Power Station in Wandsworth.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,interchange,Mersey,travel,rail,transport,bus,Garston,Merseyside,Speke,city,line,south,parkway,Merseyrail,Northern Line,hub,Stagecoach service 82,82,service,services,platform,platforms,Innovation,Award,Network,80A,86A,inside,interior,concourse,integrated,route,routes,public transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JHPYE7 - Liverpool South Parkway station is a railway station and bus interchange in the Garston district of Liverpool, England. It serves, via a bus link, Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the neighbouring suburb of Speke, as well as providing an interchange between main line services and the Merseyrail rapid transit/commuter rail network
The station is located towards the southern end of Merseyrail's Northern Line and on the junction of two main lines: the City Line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington and the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line to London via Crewe
Allerton Traction Maintenance Depot is situated to the immediate east of the station
The station was built at a crossing point between two railway lines that had until then been served by separate stations. The first was the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) line from Liverpool Central to Manchester via Warrington Central, which ran from west to east. The second was the line built by the St Helens Railway from Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay, which crossed from northwest to southeast. The latter route became part of the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line when it was connected to a new route from Crewe via the newly built Runcorn Railway Bridge. The original line to Warrington Bank Quay is now closed to passenger trains. The two lines were served by two separate stations in the area, respectively Garston and Allerton (though the latter was also located in Garston)
The first proposals for an interchange station at Garston were made in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Merseyrail semi-underground network was being planned
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,evening,night,time,nighttime,Oxford Rd,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,train,trains,rail,railway,BR,platforms,at,in,the,M1,station,service,services,electric,electrification,driver,drivers,shortage,industrial,action,RMT,union,unions,dispute,disputes,English,Northern Powerhouse,main
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JMB -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,evening,night,time,nighttime,Oxford Rd,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,train,trains,rail,railway,BR,platforms,at,in,the,M1,station,service,services,electric,electrification,driver,drivers,shortage,industrial,action,RMT,union,unions,dispute,disputes,English,Northern Powerhouse,main
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JMD -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Unite Students,flat,flats,M1,Uni,University,at dusk,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,new,from,platform,empty,course,platforms,lines,power,night,evening,dusk,station,transport,public transport,concourse,travel,travelling,alone,lonely,all,Manchester Oxford Road,Station
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JME -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Unite Students,flat,flats,M1,Uni,University,at dusk,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,new,from,platform,empty,course,shortage,student,accommodation,term,university,block,apartments,night,evening,night time,nighttime,platforms,the,city,centre,skyline,cityscape
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JMG -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,evening,night,time,nighttime,Oxford Rd,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,train,trains,rail,railway,BR,platforms,at,in,the,M1,station,service,services,carriages,old,delay,cancellation,strike,strikes,dispute,disputes,English,Northern Powerhouse,main
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JMJ -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,evening,night,time,nighttime,Oxford Rd,Manchester,England,UK,M1 6FU,train,trains,rail,railway,BR,platforms,at,in,the,M1,station,service,services,electric,electrification,driver,drivers,shortage,industrial,action,RMT,union,unions,dispute,disputes,English,Northern Powerhouse,main
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JG5JMK -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,city centre,Merseyside,England,UK,Levelling up,Northern Powerhouse,rail,station,RMT Union,strike,striking,infrastructure,at,railway station,L1 1JD,BR,trains,52303,TfW,Transport For Wales and Borders,train,diesel,NW,northwest,network,routes,investment,subsidy,platform,platforms,Welsh,Wales,Cymru,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JDDPPC -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,city centre,England,UK,Levelling up,Northern Powerhouse,Lime Street,Liverpool Lime St,rail,railway,RMT Union,strike,striking,transport,infrastructure,L1,at,mainline station,Eurovision,2023,NW,northwest,network,routes,investment,subsidy,platform,platforms,blue,city,station,WCML,mainline,main line,L1 1JD
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JDDPPK -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,city centre,Merseyside,England,UK,Levelling up,Northern Powerhouse,rail,station,RMT Union,strike,striking,transport,infrastructure,at,railway station,L1 1JD,BR,platform,platforms,building,canopy,roof,TfW,Chester,times,departure,board,indicator,service,services,Victorian,shed,6,7,timetable,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JDDPPR -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@hotpixUK,Hotpixuk,England,UK,CF10,Central Square,Wales,CF10 1EP,multiple,unit,platforms,night,safety,services,Cymru,station,night trains,trains,evening,danger,dangers,travel,public transport,rolling,stock,poor,lighting,leaving,arriving,arrives,departs,doors,door,closed,at,the,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JDJ4FA -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,a,crowded,NPR,COTS,crowd,of,commuters,boards,board,Norwich,bound,destination,EMR,platforms,14,13,rail,DMU,Diesel Multiple Unit,train,carriage,57865,at,Piccadilly,station,mainline,railway,regional,simplified,fares,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PEK -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,train,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,shed,platform,platforms,TfGM,carriage,carriages,service,track,TPE,Trans-Pennine-Express,&,trains,at,First TransPennine Express,Limited,FirstGroup,franchise,TOC,DMU,railway
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PEN -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,train,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,shed,platform,platforms,TfGM,carriage,carriages,service,track,Avanti,WCML,EMU,destination,Electrical Multiple Unit,at,Avanti West Coast,late,cancelled,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PEP - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,train,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,shed,platform,platforms,TfGM,carriage,carriages,service,track,DMU,at,diesel,multiple,unit,architecture,building,NP
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PET -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,train,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,shed,platform,platforms,TfGM,carriage,carriages,service,track,railway,&,DMU,EMU,unreliability,unreliable,worst,cancelations,class,BR
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PF2 -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,RMT,ASLEF,train,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,platform,platforms,TfGM,carriage,carriages,service,track,railway,&,DMU,EMU,franchise,TOC,Limited,shed,services,route,routes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PF5 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@Hotpixuk,Sutton Coldfield,railway Station,Royal,West Midlands,England,Midlands,train,trains,station,rail,railway,B74,dusk,night,nighttime,night time,platform,waiting,EMU,electric train,Mind The Gap sign,Mind The Gap,sign,evening,service,services,British,journey,season ticket,season,ticket,return,single,workers,strike,RMT union,RMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AND2WG -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@Hotpixuk,Sutton Coldfield,railway Station,Royal,town,West Midlands,England,Midlands,train,trains,station,rail,railway,B74,dusk,night,nighttime,night time,platform,waiting,EMU,electric train,Mind The Gap sign,Mind The Gap,sign,evening,service,services,passenger,passengers,British,journey,season ticket,season,ticket,return,single,RMT Union
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AND2WR -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@Hotpixuk,Sutton Coldfield Station,Sutton Coldfield railway Station,Sutton Coldfield,railway Station,Royal Town Of Sutton Coldfield,Royal,town,West Midlands,England,Midlands,West Midlands Railway,train,trains,public transport,station,rail,railway,B74,dusk,night,nighttime,night time,Platform ticket machine,platform,fare,evasion,free travel,dodging,dodger,fare dodger,ticket inspection,inconvenient,ticket offices,union,unions
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AND2WT -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,train,public transport,Waverley,station,railway,Scotland,UK,platform,rail,Edinburgh,new,new livery,blue,British Rail,BR,TPE,TOC,train operating company,franchise,Civity,EMU,roiling stock,route,routes,night,at night,Edinburgh Waverley Station,Edinburgh Waverley,Station,regional passenger train,Spanish,rolling stock,manufacturer,Spain,Nova 2,Eversholt Rail Group,cancelations
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBD6 - The CAF Civity is a platform of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. Available as both a diesel and electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.
Train length: 43?140.2 m (141 ft 1 in?460 ft 0 in)
Weight: c. 100 t (98.4 long tons
110.2 short tons)
Built at: Irun
Zaragoza
Newport
The British Rail Class 397 Civity is built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group
Announcement of new trains was made by FirstGroup when it was confirmed that they would become the next operator of the TransPennine Express franchise from 1 April 2016. In May 2016 it was announced by TransPennine Express that they had ordered twelve five-car electric multiple units from CAF to replace the fleet of ten four-car Class 350/4 Desiro units which presently operate TransPennine Express services between Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland.
Testing of the first set began at the Velim railway test circuit in July 2018.
An option for up to 22 extra units was available to TransPennine Express, but it was not exercised.
Mainline testing of the Class 397 was carried out from Manchester International Depot, operating between the depot and Carlisle via Crewe, the test runs being operated by Rail Operations Group.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,train,public transport,Waverley,station,railway,Scotland,UK,platform,rail,Edinburgh,new,new livery,blue,British Rail,BR,TPE,TOC,train operating company,franchise,Civity,EMU,roiling stock,route,routes,night,at night,Edinburgh Waverley Station,Edinburgh Waverley,Station,regional passenger train,Spanish,rolling stock,manufacturer,Spain,Nova 2,Eversholt Rail Group,HotpixUK.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBD7 - The CAF Civity is a platform of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. Available as both a diesel and electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.
Train length: 43?140.2 m (141 ft 1 in?460 ft 0 in)
Weight: c. 100 t (98.4 long tons
110.2 short tons)
Built at: Irun
Zaragoza
Newport
The British Rail Class 397 Civity is built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group
Announcement of new trains was made by FirstGroup when it was confirmed that they would become the next operator of the TransPennine Express franchise from 1 April 2016. In May 2016 it was announced by TransPennine Express that they had ordered twelve five-car electric multiple units from CAF to replace the fleet of ten four-car Class 350/4 Desiro units which presently operate TransPennine Express services between Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland.
Testing of the first set began at the Velim railway test circuit in July 2018.
An option for up to 22 extra units was available to TransPennine Express, but it was not exercised.
Mainline testing of the Class 397 was carried out from Manchester International Depot, operating between the depot and Carlisle via Crewe, the test runs being operated by Rail Operations Group.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,train,public transport,Waverley,station,railway,Scotland,UK,platform,rail,Edinburgh,new,new livery,blue,British Rail,BR,TPE,TOC,train operating company,franchise,Civity,EMU,roiling stock,route,routes,night,at night,Edinburgh Waverley Station,Edinburgh Waverley,Station,regional passenger train,Spanish,rolling stock,manufacturer,Spain,Nova 2,Eversholt Rail Group,cancelations
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBD8 - The CAF Civity is a platform of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. Available as both a diesel and electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.
Train length: 43?140.2 m (141 ft 1 in?460 ft 0 in)
Weight: c. 100 t (98.4 long tons
110.2 short tons)
Built at: Irun
Zaragoza
Newport
The British Rail Class 397 Civity is built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group
Announcement of new trains was made by FirstGroup when it was confirmed that they would become the next operator of the TransPennine Express franchise from 1 April 2016. In May 2016 it was announced by TransPennine Express that they had ordered twelve five-car electric multiple units from CAF to replace the fleet of ten four-car Class 350/4 Desiro units which presently operate TransPennine Express services between Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland.
Testing of the first set began at the Velim railway test circuit in July 2018.
An option for up to 22 extra units was available to TransPennine Express, but it was not exercised.
Mainline testing of the Class 397 was carried out from Manchester International Depot, operating between the depot and Carlisle via Crewe, the test runs being operated by Rail Operations Group.
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,public transport,railway,rail,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,platform,station,train,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Waverley,terminate,rolling stock,rail passengers,Scottish Government,Scottish Parliament,early,failing,privatised rail,substandard,renationalise,renationalisation,nationalise,running late,late trains,mismanagement,punctuality,cancellations,capacity,targets,fail,failing to achieve,breach level,SQUIRE targets,Dominic Booth,Abellio UK,RMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBE2 - Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early
Abellio ScotRail's contract to run train services in Scotland will end early, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.
The Dutch firm has been running the franchise since 2015 but had faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels.
The contract, worth more than ?7bn over 10 years, was due to last until 2025.
But Mr Matheson said a so-called break clause would be used to end the franchise three years early, in 2022.
He told MSPs he was looking at other options for the future, including the franchise being run by the public sector.
What is the ScotRail franchise?
ScotRail operates about 2,400 train services a day, and covers all services in Scotland except those run by other operators which cross the border.
It is not responsible for the maintenance of the track, which falls under Network Rail nor the operation of the main rail routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London.
There had been political pressure on ministers over the service with complaints over a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy.
Image caption Mr Matheson told the Scottish parliament a break clause will be used to end the franchise early
Mr Matheson said Abellio had successes and challenges over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise, but that his decision was the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers.
He confirmed the contract would now run until 31 March, 2022.
It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end, he said.
The franchise system for Britain's railways is grinding to a halt.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Dec 2019,Virgin Trains,franchise,TOC,train operating company,delays,complaints,WBQ,train,rail,railway,UK,England,British Rail,British,Avanti West Coast,re-brand,rebranded,new brand,Avanti FirstGroup TrenItalia,Warrington,Cheshire,advert,advertisement,publicity,evening,WCP,platform,station,WA1,Keep away from Platform edge,red,orange,West Coast,poor service,cancelled,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AJRRJE - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that began operating the West Coast Partnership franchise on 8 December 2019. It replaced Virgin Trains, which had operated the franchise since 1997.
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high-speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high-speed operator. In June 2017, the DfT announced that three consortia had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:
FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019. Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission
Avanti West Coast initially operates the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Dec 2019,Virgin Trains,franchise,TOC,train operating company,delays,complaints,WBQ,train,rail,railway,UK,England,British Rail,British,Avanti West Coast,re-brand,rebranded,new brand,Avanti FirstGroup TrenItalia,Warrington,Cheshire,advert,advertisement,publicity,evening,Class390,WCP,Pendolino,platform,station,EMU,WA1,Platform two,Platform 2,delayed,cancelled
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AJRRJM - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that began operating the West Coast Partnership franchise on 8 December 2019. It replaced Virgin Trains, which had operated the franchise since 1997.
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high-speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high-speed operator. In June 2017, the DfT announced that three consortia had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:
FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019. Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission
Avanti West Coast initially operates the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,The Printworks,leisure,night,winter,Manchester Exchange Square Metrolink Tram stop,beside Arndale Shopping Centre,Next,city centre,England,UK,at dusk,tram,beside,tramway,platform,stop,tramstop,tram stop,Printworks,Vue,IMAX,dusk,evening,retail,Costa,sore,Arndale,centre,waiting,area,Exchange Square Manchester,North West England,M2 1NP,M2,commuters,travel,public transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ADR2AA -
Description
Keywords: @Hotpixuk,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,NW1,Euston Departures Board,Euston road,North London,rail,transport,HS2,digital,board,Euston,station,railway station,terminus,BR,Free WiFi,platform,8 to 11,Preston,Glasgow Central,Birmingham,New Street,Mainline,Manchester,workers,strike,RMT union,RMT,display,info,information,boards,Network Rail,Hotpix.org.uk,HotpixUK.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE02DJ - Euston railway station (also known as London Euston) is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden, managed by Network Rail. It is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line, the UK's busiest inter-city railway. Euston is the fifth-busiest station in Britain and the country's busiest inter-city passenger terminal, being the gateway from London to the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. Intercity express passenger services are operated by Avanti West Coast and overnight services to Scotland are provided by the Caledonian Sleeper. London Northwestern Railway and London Overground provide regional and commuter services.
From Euston, trains connect to the major cities of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is also the mainline station for services to and through to Holyhead for connecting ferries to Dublin. Local suburban services from Euston are run by London Overground via the Watford DC Line which runs parallel to the WCML as far as Watford Junction. There is an escalator link from the concourse down to Euston tube station
The station was controversially rebuilt in the mid-1960s, including the demolition of the Arch and the Great Hall, to accommodate the electrified West Coast Main Line, and the revamped station still attracts criticism over its architecture. Euston is to be the London terminus for the planned High Speed 2 railway and the station is being redeveloped to handle it.
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,Cheshire,England,GB,Great Britain,Merceir,train,to,at,WBQ,station,railway station,Wilson Patten St,Warrington,WA1,to Manchester Piccadilly,blue,yellow,night,dusk,evening,transport,TfW,platform,platforms,display,indicator,On Time,DB,livery,TOC,Train Operating Company,Piccadilly,gorsaf
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ABJGGC -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUk,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,English,BMO,GWR,City Centre,West Midlands,Historic,transport,architecture,platform,travelers,Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,restoration awards,Chiltern railways,rail,public transport,station,stations,infrastructure,BR,British Rail,Moor St,Moor Street,Brum,Birmingham Moor Street,Victorian,historic railways,preserved,terminus,route,London Marylebone,services,service
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AAT2GN - Birmingham Moor Street is one of three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham, England, along with Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
Today's Moor Street station is a combination of the original station, opened in 1909 by the Great Western Railway as a terminus for local trains, and a newer Moor Street station with through platforms, a short distance from the original, which opened in 1987, replacing the original. The two were combined into one station in 2002, when the original was reopened and restored, and the newer station rebuilt in matching style.
Moor Street has become more important in recent years
two of the original terminus platforms were reopened in 2010, and the station is now the terminus of many Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone, as well as being an important stop for local services on the Snow Hill Lines. It is now the second busiest railway station in Birmingham.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUk,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,English,on platform,Keep back from the platform,edge,yellow,sign,passing trains,train,trains,Scotland,keep back from platform,closing ticket offices,accident,beware,danger,commuters,passengers,users,advising,station,warning,warnings,station sign,safety,health,health and safety,accidents,warrington,WA1,WA1 1LW,disabled on platform,WBQ,keep back,from,platform
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AAT33Y -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUk,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,English,B4,platform,heritage,historic,Railway station,Chiltern Trains TOC,TOC,Chiltern,Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company owned by,Oxfordshire and Warwickshire,as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands,Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford,with some peak-hour services extended to Kidderminster. Chiltern Railways also,and on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford,RMT,dispute,vintage,Victorian,platforms,stations,public transport,history,rail,route,routes,service,services,inside,interior,roof,ceiling,rooflights,No4,No5
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AAT341 - Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company owned by Arriva UK Trains that has operated the Chiltern Railways franchise since July 1996. It operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services extended to Kidderminster.
Chiltern Railways also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (some of which continue on to Aylesbury Vale Parkway), and on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUk,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,English,B4,platform,heritage,historic,Railway station,Chiltern Trains TOC,TOC,Chiltern,Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company owned by,Oxfordshire and Warwickshire,as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands,Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford,with some peak-hour services extended to Kidderminster. Chiltern Railways also,and on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford,vintage,Victorian,platforms,stations,public transport,history,rail,route,routes,service,services,inside,interior,roof,ceiling,rooflights,Nos,1 & 2,3 4 & 5
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AAT342 - Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company owned by Arriva UK Trains that has operated the Chiltern Railways franchise since July 1996. It operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services extended to Kidderminster.
Chiltern Railways also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (some of which continue on to Aylesbury Vale Parkway), and on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,Cheshire,England,GB,Great Britain,Wilson Patten St,at,WBQ,railway station,WA1,transport,Warrington,platform2,Virgin,Pendolino,Train,WCML train,railway,mainline,Persil factory,platform,platforms,service,services,history,TOC,historic,brand,branding,branded,better,times,on,the,WCML
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ABJGGF -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,Hotpixuk,GoTonySmith,TOC,Station St,Birmingham,England,UK,B2 4QA,Train,info,coach,rolling stock,rail,railways,transport,door,New Street,RMT,Rail Workers,Union,cancellations,delays,disruption,destination,next,seats,1-40,this end,CrossCountry,pink,silver,livery,platform,dark,drama,dramatic
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AERPEW -
Description
Keywords: Hotpixuk,@Hotpixuk,GoTonySmith,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,town,village,station,SWT,West Somerset Railway,WSR,train,train station,transport,history,historic,tourist,tourism,attraction,GWR,Restored Watchet Station,restored,office,booking office,train times board,bookings,tickets,waiting room,platform,bridge,old,line,cut,cuts,Beeching,rail,heritage,preserved
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2DAPRAF - Watchet railway station is a station on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, England. It is situated in the small harbour town of Watchet.
History
Terminus: 1862?1873
The station opened on 31 March 1862 when the West Somerset Railway (WSR) opened from Norton Junction (later Norton Fitzwarren), serving as the WSR's original line terminus. Watchet was chosen as the WSR line's terminus, as it had been since the Middle Ages an important regional port on the Bristol Channel. Local iron ore, timber and paper products were exported, whilst from the same time, it had become an important national port for the import of French wine and salt. The commercial aim of the WSR in choosing Watchet as its terminus was hence to provide a wider and cheaper distribution route for goods from the port.
The GWR increased the capacity of the line in the 1930s. Because of the position of the goods shed opposite the platform, it was not possible to add a second track and platform, and a passing loop was constructed at Kentford just 0.75 miles (1.21 km) west of the station. It opened on 10 July 1933 but the signal box was only used during the daytime each summer.
Nationalisation in 1948 saw the GWR become the Western Region of British Railways. On 24 August 1952, the signal box at Washford closed, and the one at Kentford remained open until 7 May 1964 when it also closed. Freight traffic was withdrawn on 6 July 1964 and passenger trains on 4 January 1971.
Preservation
The station was reopened by the new West Somerset Railway on 28 August 1976
Description
Keywords: Hotpixuk,@Hotpixuk,GoTonySmith,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,town,village,station,SWT,West Somerset Railway,WSR,train,train station,transport,history,historic,tourist,tourism,attraction,GWR,Restored Watchet Station,restored,lamp,lighting,Watchet lamp,old,line,cut,cuts,Beeching,rail,heritage,preserved,platforms,signs,TA23,Brendon Road
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2DAPRAG - Watchet railway station is a station on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, England. It is situated in the small harbour town of Watchet.
History
Terminus: 1862?1873
The station opened on 31 March 1862 when the West Somerset Railway (WSR) opened from Norton Junction (later Norton Fitzwarren), serving as the WSR's original line terminus. Watchet was chosen as the WSR line's terminus, as it had been since the Middle Ages an important regional port on the Bristol Channel. Local iron ore, timber and paper products were exported, whilst from the same time, it had become an important national port for the import of French wine and salt. The commercial aim of the WSR in choosing Watchet as its terminus was hence to provide a wider and cheaper distribution route for goods from the port.
The GWR increased the capacity of the line in the 1930s. Because of the position of the goods shed opposite the platform, it was not possible to add a second track and platform, and a passing loop was constructed at Kentford just 0.75 miles (1.21 km) west of the station. It opened on 10 July 1933 but the signal box was only used during the daytime each summer.
Nationalisation in 1948 saw the GWR become the Western Region of British Railways. On 24 August 1952, the signal box at Washford closed, and the one at Kentford remained open until 7 May 1964 when it also closed. Freight traffic was withdrawn on 6 July 1964 and passenger trains on 4 January 1971.
Preservation
The station was reopened by the new West Somerset Railway on 28 August 1976
Description
Keywords: Hotpixuk,@Hotpixuk,GoTonySmith,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,town,village,station,SWT,West Somerset Railway,WSR,train,train station,transport,history,historic,tourist,tourism,attraction,GWR,Restored Watchet Station,restored,sign,bench,platform,old,line,cut,cuts,Beeching,rail,heritage,preserved,platforms,signs,TA23,Brendon Road
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2DAPRAK - Watchet railway station is a station on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, England. It is situated in the small harbour town of Watchet.
History
Terminus: 1862?1873
The station opened on 31 March 1862 when the West Somerset Railway (WSR) opened from Norton Junction (later Norton Fitzwarren), serving as the WSR's original line terminus. Watchet was chosen as the WSR line's terminus, as it had been since the Middle Ages an important regional port on the Bristol Channel. Local iron ore, timber and paper products were exported, whilst from the same time, it had become an important national port for the import of French wine and salt. The commercial aim of the WSR in choosing Watchet as its terminus was hence to provide a wider and cheaper distribution route for goods from the port.
The GWR increased the capacity of the line in the 1930s. Because of the position of the goods shed opposite the platform, it was not possible to add a second track and platform, and a passing loop was constructed at Kentford just 0.75 miles (1.21 km) west of the station. It opened on 10 July 1933 but the signal box was only used during the daytime each summer.
Nationalisation in 1948 saw the GWR become the Western Region of British Railways. On 24 August 1952, the signal box at Washford closed, and the one at Kentford remained open until 7 May 1964 when it also closed. Freight traffic was withdrawn on 6 July 1964 and passenger trains on 4 January 1971.
Preservation
The station was reopened by the new West Somerset Railway on 28 August 1976
Description
Keywords: Hotpixuk,@Hotpixuk,GoTonySmith,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,town,village,station,SWT,West Somerset Railway,WSR,train,train station,transport,history,historic,tourist,tourism,attraction,GWR,Restored Watchet Station,restored,lamp,platform,old,line,cut,cuts,Beeching,rail,heritage,preserved,platforms,signs,TA23,Brendon Road
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2DAPRAP - Watchet railway station is a station on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, England. It is situated in the small harbour town of Watchet.
History
Terminus: 1862?1873
The station opened on 31 March 1862 when the West Somerset Railway (WSR) opened from Norton Junction (later Norton Fitzwarren), serving as the WSR's original line terminus. Watchet was chosen as the WSR line's terminus, as it had been since the Middle Ages an important regional port on the Bristol Channel. Local iron ore, timber and paper products were exported, whilst from the same time, it had become an important national port for the import of French wine and salt. The commercial aim of the WSR in choosing Watchet as its terminus was hence to provide a wider and cheaper distribution route for goods from the port.
The GWR increased the capacity of the line in the 1930s. Because of the position of the goods shed opposite the platform, it was not possible to add a second track and platform, and a passing loop was constructed at Kentford just 0.75 miles (1.21 km) west of the station. It opened on 10 July 1933 but the signal box was only used during the daytime each summer.
Nationalisation in 1948 saw the GWR become the Western Region of British Railways. On 24 August 1952, the signal box at Washford closed, and the one at Kentford remained open until 7 May 1964 when it also closed. Freight traffic was withdrawn on 6 July 1964 and passenger trains on 4 January 1971.
Preservation
The station was reopened by the new West Somerset Railway on 28 August 1976
-Rail-Station---Minerva-Street--Glasgow--Glasgow-City--Scotland--UK--G3-8LD-2K41M11.jpg)
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,railway,rail,train,transport,SEC,Hydro,Rail Station,Glasgow,Scotland,UK,G3 8LD,Scotrail,event,Glaswegian,Stobcross,Finnieston,site,venue,exhibitions,conference,conferences,icon,iconic,stop,platform,platforms,centres,centre,arena,exit,way,out,diagram,schematic,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K41M11 - Exhibition Centre railway station, previously called Finnieston (1979?1986) and Stobcross (1894?1959) due to its location in the Stobcross area of the city, is a railway station in Glasgow on the Argyle Line. It serves the OVO Hydro, the SEC Centre and the SEC Armadillo which are accessible by adjoining footbridge from an island platform. The station suffers badly from congestion at concerts as most of Greater Glasgow can be reached from the station. There is a siding adjacent to Platform 2, that can be used as a turnback siding for trains terminating at Anderston or Glasgow Central Low Level. The line is served by Class 318s and Class 320s. Ticket gates are in operation.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Liverpool,for,way out,above us only sky,Merseyside,North West England,UK,LPY,West Coast Main Line,WCML,Speke,interchange,bus interchange,Garston,L19,platform,M,Merseyrail,public transport,transport,sign,platforms,the,airport,bus,Beatles,travel,rail,railway,station,stations,airports,Northern Powerhouse
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AGPHAJ - Liverpool South Parkway station is a railway station and bus interchange in the Garston district of Liverpool, England. It serves, via a bus link, Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the neighbouring suburb of Speke, as well as providing an interchange between main line services and the Merseyrail rapid transit/commuter rail network.
The station is located towards the southern end of Merseyrail's Northern Line and on the junction of two main lines: the City Line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington and the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line to London via Crewe.
Allerton Traction Maintenance Depot is situated to the immediate east of the station.
As the orbital route had been closed, the impetus to eventually complete the station was to improve public transport access to the expanding Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and also to provide new journey opportunities for rail passengers in south Liverpool by giving easy interchange between Northern Line, City Line and West Coast Main Line services.
Construction began in 2004. Allerton station closed in July 2005 and the new station was built on its site. The concourse, bus station and car park were built on land that was once the home of South Liverpool F.C. An information board situated on the footpath towards the main road explains the history of the site. The station opened on 11 June 2006, the day after Garston station closed.
At the time of opening, the Merseyrail City Line service (which had been hourly at the former Allerton station) was increased to half-hourly. The station also became an additional stop on the Liverpool-Birmingham service (then operated by Central Trains). From 11 December 2006, the Monday-Saturday evening service on the Northern Line was increased to run every 15 minutes, instead of half-hourly as previously.
Initially, many long-distance services omitted Liverpool South Parkway from their timetables.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,by,restaurant,group,Burrito,Bond,chain,BurritoBond,BurritoBond2,BurritoBond 2,8%,APR,free,food,burritos,high risk,Financial Conduct Authority,Chilangos,product,financial,finance,M1,50 Oxford Street,RD Capital Partners,Tortilla Mexican Grill PLC,Tortilla,disaster,crowdfunding,platform,Crowdcube,Eric Partaker,Dan Houghton,lost,cash
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K3XN9Y - How investors got burned by Chilango's burrito bonds
As investors in restaurant chain Chilango's burrito bonds face losing all their money
With average interest rates on savings accounts falling to under 1% for the first time, promises of 8% returns are bound to attract attention. But don't be fooled into placing your cash in high-risk mini-bonds. A mini-bond is a high-risk form of corporate debt.
This is something investors in restaurant group Chilango are just discovering. More than 1,000 people bought ?5.8m of its mini-bonds. The investments were dubbed burrito bonds because if you invested more than ?10,000 you could claim one free burrito a week. In November 2018 MoneyWeek warned readers to think long and hard before you sink your money into the burrito bond.
Now the vast majority of those bond holders stand to lose their money after Chilango announced it is entering administration. They will be reliant on returns from the sale of its assets, which the company warned last year could lead to them losing 99% of their investment, says Sarah Butler in The Guardian.
This is only the latest example of the significant risk mini-bonds present. In 2015 Secured Energy Bonds collapsed, losing investors more than ?7m. In January 2019 London Capital & Finance (LCF) went bust, leaving 12,000 investors facing a ?236m loss. Mini-bonds are examples of high-risk investment products that should come with a health warning, Myron Jobson, a personal finance campaigner at Interactive Investor, told The Times. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Mini-bonds are an unregulated product
The problem with mini-bonds is that while the marketing is regulated, the product isn't. This means that, unlike cash savings, money invested in mini-bonds is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which will compensate you with up to ?85,000 if your bank or building society goes bust.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Hotpix,Tony Smith,HousingITguy,365,Project365,2nd 365,HotpixUK365,Scotland,Hamilton,West,Scotrail,Pano,Panorama,wide,shot,platform,passengers,station,train,summer,railroad,tree,Hamilton West,West Hamilton,passenger
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4398562116 - 'An EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit) 3 carriage train, led by 7794 (for you gricers out there - I know who you are....)
If you are on Twitter, do add a follow there and I will follow back in return mobile.twitter.com/HotpixUK
Have a look at my archived photography, from ten years back at www.flickr.com/photos/hotpixuk/
All images (c) Tony Smith - @HotpixUK - No images to be used without express permission',
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,town centre,railway,platform,EMU,Electrical Multiple Unit,Scotrail train,Scotland,UK,sunshine,summer,electrification,electric trains,transport,SLC,train in station,train at platform,departing train,pano,panorama,passenger services,passenger service,Hamilton Station,Hamilton West Station,Caledonian Railway,BR,British Rail,platforms,footbridge,ticket office,Scottish transport,Railways in Scotland,blue livery,overhead,electric cables
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PE1J40 - Hamilton West railway station serves the Hamilton West area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in Scotland, lying on the Argyle Line.
It is situated near the headquarters of South Lanarkshire Council
the Hamilton campus of the University of the West of Scotland
Hamilton Sheriff Court
and the Hamilton Racecourse. It is situated next to New Douglas Park, home to Hamilton Academical Football Club.
The station is operated by Abellio ScotRail who also provide all passenger services.
The station was once part of the Caledonian Railway and later, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. It was originally opened by the Caledonian in September 1849, as the terminus of their branch line from Newton and was originally known simply as Hamilton.[2] The branch was then extended to Motherwell and also to Ferniegair (to join existing routes southwards to Strathaven & Coalburn) in December 1876 - a new Hamilton Central station serving the town was opened on this route at the same time, with the former terminus renamed Hamilton West and rebuilt for through traffic.
Services south of Haughhead Junction to Larkhall & Coalburn ended in October 1965 due to the Beeching Axe, but the line as far as Larkhall was reopened in 2005. The Hamilton Circle line was electrified by British Rail in 1974, as part of the wider scheme to electrify the northern end of the West Coast Main Line.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,platforms,Mainline,Abelio,UK,Gordon St,people,passengers,roof,shops,retail,Glasgow Central Concourse,transport,public transport,canopy,Central,station,Mainline Station,workers,strike,RMT union,Champagne Central,pub,pubs,bar,bars,Victorian,history,historic,infrastructure,stations,Scottish,99,Gordon Street,commuters
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PE1J44 - Glasgow Central also known simply as Central) is the major mainline rail terminus in Glasgow, Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 1 August 1879 and is one of nineteen managed by Network Rail. It is the northern terminus of the West Coast Main Line (397 miles (640 km) north of London Euston), and for inter-city services between Glasgow and England. The other main city-centre railway station in Glasgow is Glasgow Queen Street.
With over 32 million passengers in 2016?17, Glasgow Central is the twelfth-busiest railway station in Britain, and the busiest in Scotland.[6] According to Network Rail, over 38 million people use it annually, 80% of whom are passengers. The station is protected as a category A listed building.
In Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins, the station was one of only ten to be awarded five stars. In 2017 the station received a customer satisfaction score 95.2%, the highest in the UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,England,GB,Great Britain,Lime Street Low Level Railway Station Entrance,North West England,UK,Merseyrail,Lime St,Lime,Street,Low Level,station,Entrance,underground,entrance,escalator,rail,platform,loop tunnel,Merseyrail Loop Tunnel,ticket hall,mainline station,transport,public transport,terminus,subway,pedestrian subway,NetworkRail,Network Rail,infrastructure,refurbished,refurbishment,Merseyrail underground stations,Merseyrail underground station,Wirral Line loop,Wirral Line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PCTA5K - The underground, low level station consists of a single platform, alongside the Liverpool Loop tunnel, a single track tunnel bored in the 1970s, and a ticket hall above. The station, opened in 1977, is connected to the mainline station by means of a pedestrian subway and escalators, accessed via a long passageway which crosses beneath Lime Street itself, and by a lift from the main concourse.
As part of a programme of improvements by Merseytravel, the underground station has been fitted with automatic ticket barriers and machines.
Network Rail announced in early 2013 that Lime Street was to be the third station to be refurbished as part of the ?40 million investment which would see all Merseyrail underground stations excluding Conway Park refurbished. This included the refurbishment of the platform and the booking hall. The station refurbishment work took place between April and August 2013.
Subway refurbishment
The subway linking the underground station to the mainline station was refurbished in June 2014. The subway was fitted out with new tiles, lighting, flooring and automatic doors to some of the entrances.
The underground station had WiFi installed in January 2016.
In March 2016, it was announced that the Wirral Line loop would be having its track renewed. The underground station was closed between 3 January 2017 and 18 June 2017 whilst the works took place.
Services
Services operate on a 5-minute frequency Monday-Saturday, and between 5- and 10-minute frequency on Sundays in the winter. All trains travel through to Liverpool Central and Birkenhead of which:
4 trains per hour continue to New Brighton
4 trains per hour continue to West Kirby
4 trains per hour continue to Chester
2 trains per hour continue to Ellesmere Port
To reach destinations on the Northern Line of the network, passengers must either use the Wirral Line and change at Liverpool Central station or walk the short distance to the station.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Yellow train,Liverpool,EMU,underground train,Merseyside,North West England,UK,platform,Mersey,Merseyrail underground,rail station,Birkenhead,Rail Station,panorama,commuter rail network,rail network,Liverpool city region,city centre,Serco-Abellio,Serco Abellio,Serco,Abellio,Wirral Line,underground,Merseyrail Electrics,train operating company,TOC,integrated transport,Merseytravel,Wirral,Merseyrail network,network,Shop till you drop,yellow,yellow carriages
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PCTA9J - Merseyrail is both a train operating company (TOC) and a commuter rail network in and around Liverpool City Region, England. It is a part of Serco-Abellio, and is formed of two electrified lines of the National Rail network known as the Northern Line and the Wirral Line which run underground in central Liverpool. A third line, separate from the electrified network, is named the City Line, which is a term used by the governing body Merseytravel referring to local services it sponsors on the Liverpool to Manchester Lines and Liverpool to Wigan Line operated by Northern.
The Merseyrail network has 68 stations and 75 miles of route, of which 6.5 miles are underground. Carrying approximately 110,000 passengers each weekday,[6] or 34 million passengers per year, it forms the most heavily used urban railway network in the UK outside London. The network is operated by a joint venture between franchise holder Serco and Abellio, who superseded Arriva Trains Merseyside in 2003. The contract is for 25 years expiring in 2028. Serco-Abellio operate a fleet of 59 trains and as of 2015, employ 1,200 people.
The large comprehensive urban network was formed in 1977 by merging separate rail lines by the construction of new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead. Although financial constraints have prevented some of the 1970s plans for the network being realised, the network has been extended, with additional extensions proposed.
The Merseyrail name became the official brand for the network in the days of British Rail, surviving several franchise holders, although the name was not used by Arriva when holding the franchise. Despite this, Merseytravel continued the Merseyrail branding at stations, allowing the name to be adopted colloquially. Merseyrail is referred to as Merseyrail Electrics by National Rail Enquiries, and as Serco/Abellio Merseyrail by Merseytravel.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Main Line,railway station,British,UK,English,England,British Rail,BR,Network Rail,Platform,canopy,guard,morning,VT,rail network,renationalisation,Carlisle Citadel,Grade II* listed,listed,graded,neo-Tudor style,architect William Tite,city,centre,door open,open doors,Voyager Train,Voyager Carriage,Guard checking,service,services,route,routes,DMU,diesel
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P69RFR - Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, is a Grade II* listed railway station serving the city of Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It is on the West Coast Main Line, 102 miles (164 km) south east of Glasgow Central, and 299 miles (481 km) north north west of London Euston. It is the northern terminus of the Settle and Carlisle Line, a continuation of the Midland Main Line from Leeds, Sheffield and London St Pancras.
In September 1847, the first services departed the station, even though construction was not completed until the following year. It was built in a neo-Tudor style to the designs of English architect William Tite. Carlisle Station was one of a number of stations in the city, the others were Crown Street and London Road, but it was the dominant station by 1851. The other stations had their passenger services redirected to it and were closed. Between 1875 and 1876, the station was expanded to accommodate the lines of the Midland Railway which was the seventh railway company to use it.
The Beeching cuts of the 1960s affected Carlisle, particularly the closure of the former North British Railway lines to Silloth, on 7 September 1964, and the Waverley Line to Edinburgh via Galashiels on 6 January 1969. The closure programme claimed neighbouring lines, including the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway and Portpatrick Railway (the Port Road) in 1965, resulting in a significant mileage increase via the Glasgow South Western Line & Ayr to reach Stranraer Harbour, and ferries to Northern Ireland. The station layout has undergone few changes other than the singling of the ex-NER Tyne Valley route to London Road Junction in the 1972?73 re-signalling scheme, which was associated with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line (WCML). Renovations to the platforms and glass roof were performed between 2015 and 2018.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Main Line,railway station,British,UK,English,England,British Rail,BR,Network Rail,Platform,canopy,train,carriages,carriage,walkway,footbridge,bridge,rail,rails,track,TOC,train operating company,franchise,rail network,renationalisation,Carlisle Citadel,Carlisle Railway Station,Cumbria,Grade II* listed,graded,listed,neo-Tudor style,architect William Tite,city,centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P69RFT - Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, is a Grade II* listed railway station serving the city of Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It is on the West Coast Main Line, 102 miles (164 km) south east of Glasgow Central, and 299 miles (481 km) north north west of London Euston. It is the northern terminus of the Settle and Carlisle Line, a continuation of the Midland Main Line from Leeds, Sheffield and London St Pancras.
In September 1847, the first services departed the station, even though construction was not completed until the following year. It was built in a neo-Tudor style to the designs of English architect William Tite. Carlisle Station was one of a number of stations in the city, the others were Crown Street and London Road, but it was the dominant station by 1851. The other stations had their passenger services redirected to it and were closed. Between 1875 and 1876, the station was expanded to accommodate the lines of the Midland Railway which was the seventh railway company to use it.
The Beeching cuts of the 1960s affected Carlisle, particularly the closure of the former North British Railway lines to Silloth, on 7 September 1964, and the Waverley Line to Edinburgh via Galashiels on 6 January 1969. The closure programme claimed neighbouring lines, including the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway and Portpatrick Railway (the Port Road) in 1965, resulting in a significant mileage increase via the Glasgow South Western Line & Ayr to reach Stranraer Harbour, and ferries to Northern Ireland. The station layout has undergone few changes other than the singling of the ex-NER Tyne Valley route to London Road Junction in the 1972?73 re-signalling scheme, which was associated with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line (WCML). Renovations to the platforms and glass roof were performed between 2015 and 2018.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Court Square,Cumbria,Carlisle,CA1 1QZ,to,via,Dumfries,at,platform 1,platform One,Scotrail train,North West England,UK,156435,156 435,08,16,central,Glasgow Central,Central,Diesel,Multiple,Unit,at the platform,Reile na h-alba,Alba,seat,seats,empty,morning,slow,train,livery,Abellio
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P69RG5 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,leaving,speed,speeding,blur,tube,train,at,Euston,Euston station,station,interchange,underground,metro,north,London,tunnel,warm,hot,not,crowded,line,travelcard,zone1,moves,speeds,though,a,stations,speedy,carriage,carriages,platform,platforms
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JHB6TA - Euston is a London Underground station served by the Victoria line and both central branches of the Northern line. It directly connects with Euston main line station above it. The station is in Travelcard Zone 1.
Euston was constructed as two separate underground stations. Three of the four Northern line platforms date from the station's opening in 1907. The fourth Northern line platform and the two Victoria line platforms were constructed in the 1960s when the station was significantly altered to accommodate the Victoria line. Plans for High Speed 2 and Crossrail 2 both include proposals to modify the station to provide interchanges with the new services.
On the Northern line's Bank branch the station is between Camden Town and King's Cross St Pancras. On the Charing Cross branch it is between Mornington Crescent and Warren Street. On the Victoria line it is between Warren Street and King's Cross St. Pancras. The station is near Euston Square station allowing connections at street level to the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,arriving,rail,North West England,UK,atmospheric,Oxford Street,city centre,GMPTE,integrated transport,Oxford Road Platform,architecture,drama,dramatic,station,Northern,Northern Rail,MSJAR,investment,lines,wooden,TOC,morning,canopies,canopy,roof,cover,William Robert Headley,Max Clendinning,curve,curves,innovative building,building,inside,platform,conoid shell roofing,timber,structure,RMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P2X7YG - Manchester Oxford Road railway station is a railway station in Manchester, England, at the junction of Whitworth Street West and Oxford Street. It opened in 1849 and was rebuilt in 1960. It is the second busiest of the four stations in Manchester city centre.
The station serves the southern part of Manchester city centre, the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, on the line from Manchester Piccadilly westwards towards Warrington, Chester, Llandudno, Liverpool, Preston and Blackpool. Eastbound trains go beyond Piccadilly to Crewe, Leeds and Sheffield.
The station is notable for its laminated wood structures and was Grade II listed in 1995. English Heritage describes it as a building of outstanding architectural quality and technological interest
one of the most dramatic stations in England
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,subway,railway,city centre,train,transport,passenger,passengers,orange,rolling stock,Metro Cammell,Glasgow District Subway,narrow guage,Outer Circle,Inner Circle,integrated,electric,branding,corporate identity,people,leaving,platform,Orange white,white,Orange and White Train,leaving platform,Glasgow,Scotland,UK,G2,public transport,history,historic,underground,metro,line,circle
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P53BTN - The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. It is the only heavy rail underground metro system in the United Kingdom outside London, and also the only one in the United Kingdom which operates completely underground. It is also one of the very few railways in the world with a track running gauge of 4 ft (1,219 mm). Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines were never expanded. The line was originally known as the Glasgow District Subway, but was later renamed Glasgow Subway Railway. It was so called when taken over by the Glasgow Corporation who renamed it the Glasgow Underground in 1936. Despite this rebranding, many Glaswegians continued to refer to the network as the Subway. In 2003 the name Subway was officially readopted by its operator, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). A ?40,000 study examining the feasibility of an expansion into the city's south side is in progress.
The system is not the oldest underground railway in Glasgow
that distinction belongs to a 3.1 mi (5.0 km) section of the Glasgow City and District Railway opened in 1863, now part of the North Clyde Line of the suburban railway network, which runs in a sub-surface tunnel under the city centre between High Street and west of Charing Cross. Another major section of underground suburban railway line in Glasgow is the Argyle Line, which was formerly part of the Glasgow Central Railway.
The Subway runs from 06:30 to 23:40 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:12 on Sunday.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,subway,railway,train,transport,passenger,passengers,orange,rolling stock,Metro Cammell,Glasgow District Subway,narrow guage,Outer Circle,Inner Circle,integrated,electric,branding,corporate identity,grey orange,grey,livery.grey orange livery,train stopped,carriages,stationary train,leaving,joining,leaving platform,Glasgow,Scotland,UK,G2,public transport,history,historic,underground,metro,line,circle
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy P53BTW - The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. It is the only heavy rail underground metro system in the United Kingdom outside London, and also the only one in the United Kingdom which operates completely underground. It is also one of the very few railways in the world with a track running gauge of 4 ft (1,219 mm). Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines were never expanded. The line was originally known as the Glasgow District Subway, but was later renamed Glasgow Subway Railway. It was so called when taken over by the Glasgow Corporation who renamed it the Glasgow Underground in 1936. Despite this rebranding, many Glaswegians continued to refer to the network as the Subway. In 2003 the name Subway was officially readopted by its operator, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). A ?40,000 study examining the feasibility of an expansion into the city's south side is in progress.
The system is not the oldest underground railway in Glasgow
that distinction belongs to a 3.1 mi (5.0 km) section of the Glasgow City and District Railway opened in 1863, now part of the North Clyde Line of the suburban railway network, which runs in a sub-surface tunnel under the city centre between High Street and west of Charing Cross. Another major section of underground suburban railway line in Glasgow is the Argyle Line, which was formerly part of the Glasgow Central Railway.
The Subway runs from 06:30 to 23:40 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:12 on Sunday.
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,Gotonysmith,City,centre,City Games,Manchester City Games,Manchester CityGames,Deansgate,closure,closed,city centre,Road,issues,laying,track,laying track,surface,platform,workers,working,preparation,prepare,event,event set up,event setup,fenced off,cage,Waste of money,city event,sign,Parking Suspension sign,traffic sign,traffic suspended,yellow,yellow sign,Great City Games,Arcadis,Arcadis City Games,Arcadis CityGames
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MNFTCF -
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,Gotonysmith,City,centre,City Games,Manchester City Games,Manchester CityGames,Deansgate,closure,closed,city centre,Road,issues,laying,track,laying track,surface,platform,workers,working,preparation,prepare,event,event set up,event setup,fencing,fenced off,cage,Waste of money,city event,crane,building,assembling,industrial crane,heavy crane,orange,orange crane,crane lifting into place
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MNFTCJ -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,factory,plant,at,Warrington,Bank Quay,West,Coast,Main,Line,Mainline,Platform,rail,trainline,morning,four,Platform Four,Platform4,Brothers,Lever Brothers,industry,chemical,manufacturing,consumer,goods,products,West Coast Mainline,West Coast Mainline station,North West England,Pollution,Cheshire,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,dusk,dawn,early morning,soap powder,cleaning
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MGMJWH -
Description
Keywords: England,UK,Lancaster,Railway,Station,rail,railway,facilities,unisex,male,gentlemen,bathroom,bathroomd,transsexual,transgender,GB,Great Britain,travel,signs,Gotonysmith,free,toilets,free toilets,passenger care,passenger,care,charged,for,cost,costed,Urinal,Uranals,tourist,tourists,travellers,on,platform,on platform
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MHM67R -
Description
Keywords: GoTonysmith,@HotpixUK,train,sunset,platform,Lanarkshire,passenger,tilting,British Rail,West Coast Mainline,Fiat Ferroviaria,Maintained,transport,delay,strike,RMT Union,subsidy,union,RMT,integrated public transport,public transport,Alstom Manchester Train Depot,West Coast Main Line,WCML,BR,tilting train,EMU,dramatic,GB,UK,passengers,evening,town,north,sunrise,arrives,arriving,at,city,rail
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MM9A1H -
Description
Keywords: GoTonysmith,@HotpixUK,train,arrives,arriving,rail,sunset,sunrise,at,city,platform,town,north,Lanarkshire,evening,UK,GB,passenger,passengers,dramatic,tilting,tilting train,BR,British Rail,EMU,WCML,West Coast Mainline,West Coast Main Line,Fiat Ferroviaria,Alstom Manchester Train Depot,Maintained,transport,integrated public transport,public transport,subsidy,union,RMT,RMT Union,strike,delay
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MM9A1M -
Description
Keywords: GoTonysmith,@HotpixUK,UK,Lancashire,concorse,Piccadilly,Railway,BR,Rail,Station,people,person,train,trains,Piccadilly Concourse,Transport,Passenger,integrated,Virgin,Northern,Northern Rail,rail,network rail,mainline,Store Street,Manchester London Road,Network Rail,building,Train shed,platform,platforms,retail,shopping,interchange,Metrolink,tram,train operating companies,TOC,Refurbishment,modern
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MM9A07 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonysmith,@HotpixUK,Warrington Bank Quay station at dusk,Cheshire,England,UK,winter,at platform,in station,yellow,tamper,Railway,Network Rail,Networkrail,track maintenance,engine,vehicle,at,night,nighttime,night time,BR,British Rail,Railtrack,Network Rail Maintenance Engine,DMU,Track Repair,Red Signal,MPV,investment programme,GRIP,Governance for Railway Investment Projects,Railway Investment Projects,measuring,Running the railway,infrastructure monitoring train,maintaining and renewing track,necessary maintenance,RMT Union
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MM99XN - Network Rail is the owner (via its subsidiary Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd which was known as Railtrack plc before 2002) and infrastructure manager of most of the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales.Network Rail is an arms length public body of the Department for Transport with no shareholders, which reinvests its income in the railways.
Network Rail's main customers are the private train operating companies (TOCs), responsible for passenger transport, and freight operating companies (FOCs), who provide train services on the infrastructure that the company owns and maintains. Since 1 September 2014, Network Rail has been classified as a public sector body.
To cope with quickly rising passenger numbers, Network Rail is currently undertaking a ?38 billion programme of upgrades to the network, including Crossrail, electrification of lines, upgrading Thameslink and a new high-speed line.
Description
Keywords: City,Centre,transit,City Centre transit,transport,City Centre Transport,Circle Line,Circle Line Train,passengers,London underground,England,UK,LU,Westminster,platform,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,problem,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ6RJ -
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Keywords: South,West,Trains,TOC,South West Trains,franchise,zone6,xone,six,6,artdeco,suburban,Platform 3,Kingston,West London,England,UK,London,Surbiton Station,BR,building,Waiting Room,Fare,Fare zone6,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,problem,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ6XD -
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Keywords: LDN,Comedy,South West Trains,TOC,Stagecoach,railway,BR,display,British Railways,Clapham Junction,Waterloo,Jingle Bells,UK,GB,fun,Train Operating Company,station,platform,deck the halls,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,problem,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ6Y6 - London train stations have been given a festive makeover with a series of Christmas puns.
South West Trains made the change to celebrate the coming of the Christmas holidays and provide some much-needed cheer to long-suffering London commuters.
Delighted passengers have been sharing pictures and video of the new names, which include London Winterloo and Deck the Vauxhall.
Other highlights included Three Kingston, New Mald-wine and Raynesdeer Park
Description
Keywords: LDN,Comedy,South West Trains,TOC,Stagecoach,railway,BR,display,British Railways,Clapham Junction,Waterloo,Jingle Bells,UK,GB,fun,Train Operating Company,station,platform,Jingle,bells,London winterloo,Surrey,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,problem,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ709 - London train stations have been given a festive makeover with a series of Christmas puns.
South West Trains made the change to celebrate the coming of the Christmas holidays and provide some much-needed cheer to long-suffering London commuters.
Delighted passengers have been sharing pictures and video of the new names, which include London Winterloo and Deck the Vauxhall.
Other highlights included Three Kingston, New Mald-wine and Raynesdeer Park
Description
Keywords: red,railway,railways,rail,rails,TOC,train operating company,SouthWest,train,SouthWest Trains,night,dusk,evening,morning,door,open,door open,England,UK,platform,late,on time,ontime,on,time,punctual,Waterloo,station,Ready To Depart,Waterloo Station,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ718 -
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Keywords: trains,traveler,journey,traveller,travelers,infrasructure,infrastructure,Network,transit,TOC,privatised,public,ownership,public,building,Victorian,platform,Scotrail,City,Centre,Glasgow Central,City Centre,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,Scottish,British,Scotland,Street,Glasgow,G1,3SL,at,dusk,evening,red,lights,dawn,travel,tourism,delay,Virgin,trains,WCML,Virgin,trains,WCML,West,Coast,Main,Line,Intercity,Inter-City,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Gordon St,G1 3SL,Gordon Street,Gordon St,Platform passengers,In The Evening,On the platform,Dawn Train,Network Rail,Virgin Trains,Virgin Trains,Main Line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM3E -
Description
Keywords: transport,rail,train,passenger,journey,traveller,passengers,infrasructure,infrastructure,Network,transit,TOC,privatised,public,public,building,Victorian,platform,Scotrail,Euston,Passengers boarding,West Coast Main Line,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,Scottish,British,Scotland,Street,Glasgow,G1,3SL,at,dusk,evening,red,lights,dawn,travel,tourism,light,daytime,Virgin,trains,WCML,West,Coast,Main,Line,Intercity,Inter-City,City,Centre,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Gordon St,G1 3SL,Gordon Street,Gordon St,Platform passengers,In The Evening,On the platform,Dawn Train,Network Rail,walking down the platform,Virgin Trains,Main Line,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM3F -
Description
Keywords: art,Great,Western,railway,station,rail,pioneer,history,historic,new,First,TOC,operating,company,artwork,platform,travel,traveller,communication,Paddington Station,Paddington Railway Station,First Group,First Great Western,train operating company,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM23 -
Description
Keywords: art,Great,Western,railway,station,rail,pioneer,history,historic,new,First,TOC,operating,company,artwork,platform,travel,traveller,communication,Paddington Station,Paddington Railway Station,First Group,First Great Western,train operating company,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM25 -
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Keywords: Queue,of,people,VR,Virtual,Reality,AR,promoting,studio,studios,at,Kings,Cross,Rail,Railway,Station,London,entrance,platform,fold,out,viewer,Smartphone,Daydream,Queue of people,Google Cardboard,Virtual Reality,Augmented Reality,Inside Abbey Road,Kings Cross,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,different,unique,smartphones,NME,iconic,musical,landmark,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,Photo of,Fold Out,Google Store
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H36655 -
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Keywords: New,WCML,Cheshire,pano,wide,electric,train,Engine,69104,Pendo,driving,end,coach,first,class,franchise,TOC,Stagecoach.operating,company,privatised,privatized,rail,railway,public,transport,system,engineering,heavy,Warrington Bank Quay,First Class,First Class Coach,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,new,black,electric,electrification,platform,hornby,Powercar,Power,Car,Pendlino,french,english,built,manufactured,high,voltage,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Power Car
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H552T6 -
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Keywords: Platform,1,One,platform,board,boarding,express,transport,travel,rail,Scotrail,platforms,locomotive,locomotives,public,rail,railways,scotland,scottish,station,stations,Scots,Platform One,Platform 1,Virgin Train,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,different,unique,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,Photo of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H19DG8 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,British,England,problem,problem with,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,WA2 7TD,WA2,Bicycle,cycle,bikes,storage,town,centre,Bicycle storage,platform,locks,platform 1,town centre,Cheshire,North West England,cycle2work,cycle to work,commuter
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy GJBME0 - Warrington has a widespread network of cycle routes with new routes being added all the time. Improvements are also being made to our roads to make them safer and easier for cyclists to use.
Our cycle map has been updated for 2017 and now includes a plan of all the signed routes around town to help you plan your journeys.
Because Warrington is relatively flat and compact, most places are within easy cycling distance to each other.
Description
Keywords: Yorkshire,England,UK,English,Clocks,hand,hands,English,Electronic,Pul,Syn,Etic,PulSynEtic,Pul-Syn-Etic,time,Northern,Rail,Roman,Numerals,finger,fingers,BR,British,Rail,Electrical,history,historic,Coat,Of,Arms,North,Eastern,Northern Rail,Roman Numerals,British Rail,Main Line,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,platform,ECML,clocks,relic,relics,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Coat Of arms,North Eastern Railway
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy G9BJTJ - York railway station is the main-line railway station serving the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on Britain's East Coast Main Line (ECML), 188.5 miles (303 km) from London. Originally it was part of the North Eastern Railway.
Despite the small size of the city, York is one of the most important railway stations on the British railway network because of its role as a key railway junction approximately halfway between London, the capital of England, and Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is few miles north of the point where the Cross Country and TransPennine Express routes via Leeds leave/join the ECML connecting Scotland and the North East with southern England, the North West and the Midlands. The junction was historically a major site for rolling stock manufacture, maintenance and repair.
Description
Keywords: M?nchen,Hauptbahnhof,Munich,Hbf,railway,station,Germany,city,centre,center,red,Wurzburg train,Hbf,double,deck,deck,decker,doubledecker,platform,gleis,crowd,passengers,travel,transport,travel,public,rail,railcar,railroad,station,trains,transport,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,9-Euro,ticket,nine euro,German
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy F7NBT0 - M?nchen Hauptbahnhof (German for Munich main railway station) is the main railway station in the city of Munich, Germany. It is one of the three long distance stations in Munich, the others being M?nchen-Pasing and M?nchen Ost. M?nchen Hauptbahnhof sees about 450,000 passengers a day, which puts it on par with other large stations in Germany, such as Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.
It is one of 21 stations classified by Deutsche Bahn as a category 1 station. The mainline station is a terminal station with 32 platforms. The subterranean S-Bahn with 2 platforms and U-Bahn stations with 6 platforms are through stations.
The first Munich station was built about 800 metres to the west in 1839. A station at the current site was opened in 1849 and it has been rebuilt numerous times, including to replace the main station building, which was badly damaged during World War II.
Description
Keywords: night,at,train,Victorian,Greater,Railway,station,Manchester,England,UK,showing,platform,empty,delayed,waiting,line,lines,Northern,Rail,franchise,at night,Stalybridge At Night,Greater Manchester,at dusk,Northern Rail,GoTonySmith,First,Express,Trans,Pennine,BR,bar,pub,CAMRA,pano,panorama,wide,shot,wideshot,ale,train,trail,TransPennine,Stalyvegas,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,First TransPennine,First TransPennine Express,First Trans Pennine Express,British Rail,wide shot,Ale Train,Staly Vegas
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RN9 - Stalybridge railway station serves Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. It lies on the Huddersfield Line, 7? miles (12 km) east of Manchester Piccadilly and 8? miles (13 km) east of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by First TransPennine Express.
Stalybridge station was built by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway and opened on 23 December 1845. There was a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway station adjacent but this closed in 1917. The main function of the station was as a junction for the Stockport-Stalybridge Line, which allowed passengers from London and the South to transfer to the Huddersfield Line. This role has been lost since it is now possible for passengers to change at Manchester Piccadilly station. The Micklehurst Loop also diverged from the original 1849 Huddersfield & Manchester main line here - it was closed in 1966, but the disused tunnel it used to pass below the town's northern suburbs can be seen alongside the original one that is still used today by trains heading to and from Yorkshire.
Description
Keywords: Huddersfield,England,UK,west,Yorkshire,Metro,Northern,Rail,BR,British,Rail,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,platform,ale,train,aletrain,West Yorkshire,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,ale trail,popular,TPE,transpennine express,West Yorks,Yorks,town,centre,line,service,services
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KCP -
Description
Keywords: Stalyvegas,sign,signs,pub,CAMRA,real,ale,realale,est,1885,Transpennine,aletrail,Tameside,Greater,Manchester,England,UK,public,house,Victorian,Railway,British,Rail,best,north,west,drinking,famous,platform,buffers,tourist,attraction,Stalybridge Station,Original Buffet bar,north West,GoTonySmith,oldfashioned,old,fashioned,retro,room,rooms,traditional,train,waiting,area,pumps,keg,draught,ale,Rassbottom,St,street,Penine,awards,award,homemade,home,made,saloon,English,platform4,Northern,afternoon,evening,tea,1st,class,first,real,cask,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,waiting Room,Pennine Real Ale Trail,Platform 4,Victorian station,buffet bars
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KEA - Step back in time & visit one of the very few remaining Victorian station buffet bars.
Dating from 1885 the Stalybridge Buffet Bar has retained the original marble-topped bar, back fittings and the welcoming fire.
A dozen years ago it was extended and included the 1st class ladies waiting room with its ornate ceiling, keeping all original features. It's a veritable museum with photographs of the station in it's heyday, railway and other memorabilia. See http://www.stalybridgebuffetbar.co.uk/ to read more about the Buffet Bar.
Description
Keywords: Stalyvegas,sign,signs,pub,CAMRA,real,ale,realale,est,1885,Transpennine,aletrail,Tameside,Greater,Manchester,England,UK,public,house,Victorian,Railway,British,Rail,best,north,west,drinking,famous,platform,buffers,tourist,attraction,Stalybridge Station,Original Buffet bar,north West,GoTonySmith,oldfashioned,old,fashioned,retro,room,rooms,traditional,train,waiting,area,pumps,keg,draught,ale,Rassbottom,St,street,Penine,awards,award,homemade,home,made,saloon,English,platform4,Northern,afternoon,evening,tea,1st,class,first,real,cask,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,waiting Room,Pennine Real Ale Trail,Platform 4,Victorian station,buffet bars
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KEC - Step back in time & visit one of the very few remaining Victorian station buffet bars.
Dating from 1885 the Stalybridge Buffet Bar has retained the original marble-topped bar, back fittings and the welcoming fire.
A dozen years ago it was extended and included the 1st class ladies waiting room with its ornate ceiling, keeping all original features. It's a veritable museum with photographs of the station in it's heyday, railway and other memorabilia. See http://www.stalybridgebuffetbar.co.uk/ to read more about the Buffet Bar.
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,aletrail,WestRiding,bar,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,pennine,transpennine,train,trains,trail,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,sign,outside,waiting,facilities,BR,Black,Sheep,Ale Train,Ale trail,waiting facilities,British Rail,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF2 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,bar,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,pennine,transpennine,train,trains,trail,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,inside,interior,room,Ale Train,Ale trail,Dewsbury No 1,No 1,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF3 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,aletrail,WestRiding,bar,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,transpennine,train,trains,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,inside,interior,with,drinkers,pints,pot,beer,beers,blond,bitter,clock,potts,Ale Train,Ale trail,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF4 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,aletrail,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,pennine,transpennine,train,trains,trail,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,inside,interior,certificates,awards,Ale Train,Ale trail,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,wall,walls,historic
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF5 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,aletrail,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,pennine,transpennine,train,trains,trail,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,inside,interior,Wellington Road,Wellington,RD,road,sign,Ale Train,Ale trail,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF7 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,CAMRA,aletrail,WestRiding,bar,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,transpennine,train,trains,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,sign,Stalybridge,public,outside,out,side,external,stone,stonework,Ridin,Ale Train,Ale trail,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF8 -
Description
Keywords: Real,Ale,realale,aletrail,bar,pubs,bars,drinking,drinkers,trans,pennine,transpennine,train,trains,trail,train,ales,platform,buffet,cafe,Stalybridge,public,inside,interior,Potts,Timepiece,clock,wallclock,Ale Train,Ale trail,Wall Clock,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KF9 -
Description
Keywords: UK,platform,building,brickwork,line,rails,empty,lonely,cold,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,no,train,trains,strike,strikes,main,Carlisle,Citadel,city,Railway,BR,railways,infrastructure,Cumbria,bridge,Victorian,platforms,mainline,WCML,NetworkRail,Network Rail
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RJJ -
Description
Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,privatised,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,operator,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco-Abellio,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,Humza,Yousaf,GoTonySmith,anainn,gaelic,national,cycle,network,interchange,Glasgow,Carlisle,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM6 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
Description
Keywords: red,british rail,railtrack,rail,track,Scotrail,platform,Annan,station,warning,do not trespass,penalty,?1000,?1,000,England,English,Scottish,Scotland,bridge,safety,health,H&S,Health and Safety,privatised,franchise,Passengers must not cross the line,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,notices,notice,danger,dangers,crossing,penalties,British Transport Police,police
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM7 -
Description
Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,privatised,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,operator,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco-Abellio,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,GoTonySmith,operated,by,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM8 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
Description
Keywords: ClearChannel bus shelter ad,Grappenhall,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,scan,QR,reader,code,use,your,phone,to,interact,smart,smartphone,tech,technology,emerging,advertising,advertise,tap,radio,target,(acting,like,a,credential),NFC initiator (as a reader) and NFC peer to interact,GoTonySmith,blue,black,proximity,card,technology,Channels,Mobile,Platform,brings,Metro,Channels,busstop,stop,mobile,enabled,mobile-enabled,mobileenabled,informationlink,point,scan,scanner,street,shopping,link,linked,linking
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED8PR7 - On tapping or scanning their smartphone over the QR code or NFC tag to the right of the poster, a unique url will open in their phone's browser. If the campaign is mobile-platform enabled, this will lead straight to the advertiser's website or content
if not, they will be taken to a standard Clear Channel landing page. On a scroller or digital panel (where multiple advertisers are involved), on scanning or tapping, the consumer will be presented with a list of advertisers whose campaigns are mobile platform enabled for them to select from.
Near field communication (NFC) is a set of ideas and technologies that enable smartphones and other devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity, typically a distance of 10 cm (3.9 in) or less. Each full NFC device can work in 3 modes: NFC target (acting like a credential), NFC initiator (as a reader) and NFC peer to peer. Most of the first business models like advertisement tags or other industrial applications have not been successful, always overtaken by another technology (3D barcodes, UHF tags, ...)
The main advantage of NFC is that NFC devices are often cloud connected. Connected credentials can be provisioned over the air unlike a standard card (Hotel or visitor applications). All connected NFC enabled smartphones can be provisioned with dedicated apps, which gives any application hundreds of millions of potential dedicated readers in opposition of the traditional dedicated infrastructure of ticket, access control or payment readers. All NFC peers can connect a third party NFC device with a server for any action or reconfiguration.
Description
Keywords: Cumbria,railways,BR,BritishRail,british,rail,Great,Britain,UK,United,Kingdom,dusk,Northern England Train Serco-Abellio Serco Abellio train transport railways,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,bound,train,British,Rial,Railways,evening,night,to,Newcastle upon Tyne,Newcastle-upon-Tyne,NE,Northern Powerhouse,platform,platforms,public,transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED9ERE -
Description
Keywords: white,grey,red,gray,platform,waiting,at,BR,British,Rail,franchise,railway,station,London,England,UK,United,Kingdom,high,speed,tilting,system,vehicle,Tiltronix,anticipatory,technology,low,energy,consumption,Eco,electric,braking,European,regulations,11,9,car,carriage,GoTonySmith,highspeed,ETCS,ERTMS,Glasgow,Birmingham,Manchester,Edinburgh,services,routes,WCML,West,Coast,Mainline,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0K -
Description
Keywords: platform,platforms,train,trains,lit,lights,Battersea,tube,tube train,passenger,passengers,guard,accident,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,Clapham,Junction,Railway,station,rail,rails,lines,carriage,carriages,Gotonysmith,tube trains,mind,the,gap,mind the gap,376215,378218,dusk,nightshot,nightshot,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,front
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0G -
Description
Keywords: platform,platforms,train,trains,lit,lights,Battersea,tube,tube train,passenger,passengers,guard,accident,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,Clapham,Junction,Railway,station,rail,rails,lines,carriage,carriages,Gotonysmith,tube trains,mind,the,gap,mind the gap,platform one,platform1,front,in-front,nightshot,Overground,TfL,Junction platform One at night
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0J -
Description
Keywords: platform,platforms,train,trains,lit,lights,Battersea,tube,tube train,guard,accident,England,UK,GB,Great Britain,Clapham,Junction,Railway,station,at Night,rail,rails,carriage,passenger,passengers,waiting,passengers waiting,signal,Gotonysmith,tube trains,mind,the,gap,mind the gap
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0M -
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Keywords: Clapham,Junction platform One at night,London,England,UK,First Great Western,First,Great,Western,train,operator,wide,panorama,pano,railways,railroads,travel,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,safety,way out,alone,exit,Overground,TfL,platform one,platform1,nightshot,lit,well,lighted,dusk,evening,late,late night
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0R -
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Keywords: Clapham,Junction platform One at night,London,England,UK,Railway,station,First Great Western,First,Great,Western,train,operator,wide,railroads,travel,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,alone,exit,Overground,TfL,platform one,platform1,nightshot,lit,well,lighted,dusk,evening,late,late night
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EC2T0T -
Description
Keywords: at night,on,platform,4,London,city,train,suburban,empty,lonely,clean,not,so,busy,busiest,ready,to,go,Gotonysmith,delay,delays,cancelled,cancelation,cancelations,fault,night,evening,safety,safe,SW,South West,trains,carriage,carriages
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EBFWET -
Description
Keywords: city England,UK,busy,busiest,interchange,St,Johns,Hill,in,the,south-west,of,Battersea,Wandsworth,termini,London,Waterloo,and,London,Victoria,terminus,building,sign,signs,platform,two,2,big,large,SW112QP,SW11,2QP,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,delays,problems,avoid,cancellation,trains
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DJ7B0D - Clapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction.
Many routes from London's two busiest termini, London Waterloo and London Victoria, funnel through the station making it one of the busiest in Europe by number of trains using it, more than one hundred an hour outside peak periods.
Each day about 2,000 trains, most stopping, pass through the station, more than through any other station in Europe.[5] At peak times 180 trains per hour pass through of which 117 stop. It is not the busiest station by number of passengers, most of whom (about 430,000 on a weekday, of which 135,000 are at rush hours) pass through. Interchanges make some 40% of the activity and on that basis too it is the busiest station in the UK.[6]
In 2011, the station had three entrances, all with staffed ticket offices, though only the south-east entrance is open 24 hours a day. The most heavily used of the three, this leads from St John's Hill via a small indoor shopping centre, into a subway some 15 ft (4.6 m) wide that connects to the eastern ends of all platforms.
The north entrance, which has restricted opening hours, leads from Grant Road to the same subway. The subway is crowded during rush hours, with the ticket barriers at the ends are pinch points.
Description
Keywords: 49,England,UK,city,GB,Great,Britain,platform,passenger,passengers,Docklands,light,railway,interchange,sun,sunny,day,sunshine,viaduct,and,consists,of,a,single,island,platform,electric,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,dockland,east end,transport,public,rail,commuters
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DJ7B0N - It opened on 31 August 1987 as part of the first tranche of DLR stations. Initially designed for one-car DLR trains, Shadwell's platform underwent extension to two-car operation in 1991. The station underwent further refurbishment in 2009, which extended the platforms to accommodate three-car trains, revamped the station entrance at ground level, and added an emergency exit at the east end of the platforms.
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Keywords: 54,fiftyfour,fifty,four,number,numbers,integer,integers,square,hipstamatic,iphone,railway,platform,Lime,St,Limest,Liverpool,city,England,UK,GB,Great,Britain,TonySmithThatHousingITGuy,TonySmith,F16TOE
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 1226051514 - 'View this whole set here. If you do Twitter add me here.
Fifty Four is a 19-gonal number. Twice the third power of three, 54 is a Leyland number. An Holt graph has 54 edges.
Xenon has the atomic number 54. To phone Argentina, use the prefix +54.
Studio 54 was a popular New York nightclub from 1977 until 1981 when it was sold by founders and creators Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. It was called the most famous nightclub of all time and was a sophisticated, groundbreaking multi-media visual extravaganza. It continued to operate as a nightclub until 1991 by other owners.
Located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York City, the space was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming CBS radio and television Studio 52. Since November 1998 it has been a venue for the Roundabout Theatre Company and is still called Studio 54, but is no longer a nightclub. A separate restaurant and nightclub, called 54 Below, operates in the basement of the famed venue
This shot is from Liverpool Lime Street station in England. International viewers will remember that beat combo of four lads from that city. If travelling by train to see the Cavern or other places touched by their lyrics, this might be where you will arrive. Rest assured, just 40 minutes away is another city, home of Graham Nash, The Bee Gees, 10cc, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Smiths, The Fall, Happy Mondays, 808 State, Doves &
Oasis if you need a wider musical heritage. Did i mention we have some great pubs too?
(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - tone@Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC',
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,problem,with,problem with,issue with,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,HotpixUK,queue,Passengers,arrivals,leaving platform,Northern terminus,Avanti trains,Avanti,trains,transport,public transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DCE7C8 -
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Keywords: The,West,Riding,Pub,Dewsbury,Station,The,Ale,Train,from,Stalybridge,to,Batley,real,ales,pub,public,house,interior,inside,refreshment,rooms,room,West,yorkshire,sign,train,plate,railway,CAMRA,world,beers,waiting,room,platform,2,two,real,cask,ales,goods,office,clock,fireplace,fire,place,interior,gotonysmith The West Riding,Platform Two,Dewsbury Station,Wellington Road,Dewsbury,West Yorkshire. WF13 1HF WF131HF inside the,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DANJJY - The West Riding Pub Dewsbury Station , A prominent pub on the Ale Train from Stalybridge to Batley
Description
Keywords: Dewsbury,sign,Station,West,Yorkshire,England,UK,Yorks,CAMRA,on,platform,inside,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,problem,with,problem with,issue with,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,WF13 1HF,WF13
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DDJPM6 -
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Keywords: Tony,Smith,Tonysmith,hotpix,tonysmithhotpix,tonysmiththatit,tonysmiththatithousingguy,9,nine,number9,numbernine,number,numbers,platform,platform9,lime,st,limest,limestreet,street,liverpool,square,hipstamatic,iphone,shot,phone,mobile,cell,signalbox,signal,box
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 7228459488 - 'View this whole set here. If you do Twitter add me here.
Nine is a composite number, its proper divisors being 1 and 3. It is 3 times 3 and hence the third square number. Nine is a Motzkin number. It is the first composite lucky number, along with the first composite odd number.
Nine (\u4e5d pinyin ji\u01d4) is considered a good number in Chinese culture because it sounds the same as the word 'longlasting'. Indeed, cats are often believed to have 9 lives.
The nine muses in Greek mythology are Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (song), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).
In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the digit 9 is called 'Novenine'.
Nine was also the true number of dwarves, before 'Farty' and 'Pervy' were airbrushed out by Disney in the late 1950's.
Someone dressed 'to the nines' is dressed up as much as they can be.
Checkout Nine below zero here.
(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - tone@Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC',
Description
Keywords: Virgin,Pendo,Pendolino,train,standing,at,platform,three,3,gotonysmith,Warrington,Bank,Quay,railway,station,Parker,St,Warrington,Cheshire,Voyager,express,west,coast,main,line,mainline,westcoast,Unilever,factory,background,Crossfields,Crossfield,Lever,Bros,Brothers,local,intercity,arrived,arriving,Glasgow,Euston,Birmingham,Crewe,depart,departing,looking,up,the,platform,toward,towards,north,NW,no,kissing,nokissing,gotonysmith,Warringtonians,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CFEFJ3 - Virgin Pendo Pendolino train standing at platform three, Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Parker St, Warrington, Cheshire
Description
Keywords: Interior,Bank,Quay,Railway,Station,Warrington,gotonysmith,inside,main,line,mainline,Virgin,Rail,Cheshire,England,UK,GB,Westcoast,west,coast,platform,platforms,red,white,refurbished,refurbishment,empty,no,kissing,commuter,commuters,passenger,Parker,St,Street,do not linger near Lever Unilever factory Crossfield Crossfields,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CFEFJ5 - Interior Bank Quay Railway Station Warrington, North West England, Cheshire, England, UK
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,rail,EMU,Electric,train,EMU 323238,323238,northern,northern rail,Piccadilly,trains,public,transport,Manchester Piccadilly,Manchester,platform,mainline,station,railway station,electrification,overhead,power,lines,electric train,passenger train,season tickets,declining,passenger numbers,commuters,empty platform,working from home not going to the office,NW,North West,Northern Powerhouse,M60 7RA,M60
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BPCNKC -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,Hotpixuk,@Hotpixuk,Radcliffe Central,Clifton Junction,Salford,Manchester,train,sign,pre-Beeching cuts,Beeching,North West,Bury,Collection,stations,old stations,Greater Manchester,Southport,PR8,all,platform,history,historic,British,NW,BR,railway,cut,collection,signpost,signposts,heritage,old,olden days,1960s,1970s
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BN387R -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Steam Engine 80080,Bury ELR,80080,Preserved British Steam Locomotive,Preserved,British Steam Locomotive,in steam,steam engine,trains,public transport,engine in steam,English,British Railways,BR,Beeching,cuts,Baron Beeching,Richard Beeching,Dr Beeching,history,olden,days,1950,1950s,steam,loco,locomotive,platform,platforms,at,the,steaming,arriving,arrives
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BNKK7Y - 80080 was built at Brighton in March 1954. It was based on the Eastern Region working on the London, Tilbury and Southend Line (LT&S) working commuter services out of London until that route was electrified in 1962.
It was withdrawn from service in July 1965 whilst based at Croes Newydd which by this time was a London Midland Region after being transferred from the Western Region in September 1963.
80080 was then sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers at Barry. It arrived at Barry in January 1966 and it remained there for the next fourteen years during which time it suffered the ravages weather, metal thieves, and later preservationists removing parts. When the locomotive was purchased in the autumn of 1980 all non-ferrous and motion parts were missing and it was no more than a skeletal hulk.
80080 was purchased for restoration in 1980 and moved to Matlock in November of that year but was moved to the Midland Railway at Butterley thee years later for restoration.
80080 also became the first steam engine to work a normal stopping passenger service on the mainline for over a quarter of a century back in March 1993, it worked for over a week on the Settle and Carlisle line working from Carlisle to Kirkby Stephen and back. It also returned to the famous Cambrian network in 1992.
80080 returned to steam following an overhaul in November 2010 and shortly afterwards was hired to the East Lancs Railway. In December 2016 the locomotive returned to the West Shed of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust where it will undergo some engineering work after failing its annual boiler inspection.It is understood that three of its superheater flue tubes failed.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,East Lancs Railway,greater Manchester,England,UK,East,Lancs,Lancashire,train,station,platform,heritage,rail,23A Bolton St,Bolton Street,BL9,pano,BR,British Rail,British railways,history,historic,railways,locomotive,technology,Victorian,old fashioned,old-fashioned,working,preserved,platforms,engine,engines,panorama
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BPCNK1 -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,East Lancashire Railway Bury station,greater Manchester,England,UK,East,Lancs,Lancashire,Railway,train,station,platform,rail,railway,23A Bolton St,Bury BL9 0EY,Bolton St,BL9,steaming up,in steam,loco,British Railways,history,historic,railways,locomotive,technology,Victorian,old fashioned,old-fashioned,working,preserved,platforms,engine,engines
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BPCNK6 -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,ELR,greater Manchester,England,UK,East,Lancs,Lancashire,Railway,train,station,platform,heritage,rail,railway,23A Bolton St,Bury BL9 0EY,Bolton St,BL9,BR,British Rail,British railways,history,historic,railways,locomotive,technology,Victorian,old fashioned,old-fashioned,working,preserved,platforms,engine,engines
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BPCNKT -
Description
Keywords: TRAIN,TRAINS,model,tony,smith,hotpix,matthew,hotpics,hot,picks,hotpicks,selective,colour,color,cut,out,cutout,toned,blue,engine,station,platform,england,UK,hotpix.com,#tonysmith,#tonysmithhotpix,#tonysmithotpix
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 5540845679 - 'Trains - 'Porcupine Tree' - Play this track here.
\u00bfWhats this iPod Shuffle set all about? Read about it here
Porcupine Tree are a prog (progressive) rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, UK. A big fan of Tangerine Dream, Neu! and Can, Steven's style has moved more in recent years to heavy metal. From the 'In Absentia' album, when the band started to work with Danish photographer and filmmaker Lasse Hoile. This involvement created a distinctive image for the band and is part of the Tree's live experience.
In 2007 the band was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album with their album 'Fear of a Blank Planet' and then again in 2010 with 'The Incident'. Steven Wilson has also been involved with No-Man and Blackfield. Both of whuch are worth checking out too.
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Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train. In 1964, Hornby and Meccano were bought by their competitor Tri-Ang, and sold on when Tri-ang went into receivership. In the 1980s Hornby Railways became independent.
Like most kids I had one when I was young.
Hornby was at first a tradename for the railway productions of Meccano Ltd and based in Liverpool, which released its first train, a clockwork 0 gauge (1:48) model, in 1920. An electric train soon followed but was under-designed and the few that were made were sold out in France. In 1925, a much more successful electric model was introduced , operating on high voltage (220-240V ouch!) AC power. Safety concerns saw low voltage 4V and then 6V motors introduced, followed by a reliable 20V AC system, which was developed in the early 1930s. However, clockwork remained the mainstay of the Hornby 0 gauge trains until 1937 and became the only power available in Liverpool-made 0 gauge trains from 1949.
All Hornby train sets come with a TrakMat - a scenic underlay sheet which you can use as a base for your layout at any stage in its development. A TrakMat also tells you where to put the track, buildings and other accessories to complete the full TrakMat layout. So its still childs play. Grass, hedges, vegetation and gravel is easily added as is lighting for homes, shops, stations and pub models. Dont forget a railway cottage and trackside fencing to finish off!
If Matthew (pictured) reads this, it will cost me about another \u00a3150!
Checkout more w=33062170@N08\' target=\'_blank\'>people from my photostream.
Keep in touch, add me as a contact www.flickr.com/relationship.gne?id=33062170@N08 so I can follow all your new uploads.
(c) TonySmith Hotpix / HotpixUK
( just f )',
Description
Keywords: Waverley,station,at,dusk,in,winter,snow,Princes,St,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,mainline,main,line,railway,station,train,gotonysmith,blue,evening,night,shot,red,lights,signals,signal,platforms,RF,hotel,clock,national,british,rail,Edinburgh,and,Glasgow,Railway,LEcosse,Edimbourg,Schotland,Schottland,La,Scozia,Edimburgo,Escocia,Edimburgo,railroad,tour,tours,tourist,BR,railtrack,Scotrail,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF7D88 - Waverley station at dusk in winter snow, Princes St, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh Waverley railway station (referred to by National Rail simply as Edinburgh but also commonly called Waverley) is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres (101,000 m?) in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being London Waterloo
it is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail. It is the northern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, and the terminus of the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line.
Waverley is the second-busiest railway station in Scotland, with only Glasgow Central handling more passengers. According to Network Rail, which manages the station, over 19.2 million people use it annually
Description
Keywords: Street,west,coast,main,line,mainline,westcoast,electrification,project,HS2,HS1,hi,speed,pendo,pendalino,hi-speed,Hispeed,engineering,alstrom,London,station,train,operating,company,in,the,United,Kingdom,owned,by,Virgin,Group,and,Stagecoach,intercity,NW,England,North,west,NORTHWEST,upgrade,PPM,Gotonysmith,stations,red,white,&,gray,livery,development,agency,Class,221,Super,Voyager,Richard,Branson,Branston,Pickle,British,diesel-electric,multiple-unit,express,trains,built,in,Belgium,by,Bombardier,Transportation,GB,Great,Britain,Class,220,Voyager,units,BR,British,Rail,Chester,Crewe,Warrington,BQ,Bank,Quay,franchise,premiums,Office,of,Rail,Regulation,statistics,derailed,derail,on,the,platform,platforms,at,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DRH88D - Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by Virgin Group (51%) and Stagecoach (49%) that has operated the InterCity West Coast franchise since 9 March 1997.
Virgin Trains operate long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between Greater London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. The service connects the major cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow which have a combined metropolitan population of over 18 million people.
Description
Keywords: South,West,Trains,TOC,South West Trains,franchise,zone6,xone,six,6,artdeco,suburban,Platform 3,Kingston,West London,England,UK,London,Surbiton Station,BR,building,Waiting Room,Fare,Fare zone6,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,London,Greater,problem,with,problem with,issue with,LDN,City,Centre,cities,Urban,Urbanist,town,infrastructure,transport,tour,tourism,tourists,urban,attraction,attractions,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,Greater London,British Isles,City Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ6Y2 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,Glasgow Central Station,UK rail transport,Scottish public transport,public ownership railways,rail nationalisation Scotland,transport policy Scotland,public services debate,sustainable transport,rail reform UK,commuter mobility,everyday public transport,Glasgow Central G1 3SL,Glasgow Scotland UK,ScotRail EMU,railway platforms interior,station architecture Scotland,commuter rail Scotland,nationalised railway,rail travel UK,transport infrastructure,editorial image,daytime interior,landscape format,commuter,carriages,trains,stacked,ready,at,platforms,Abellio train carriages,following petition to bring back into state ownership,after poor service,G1,G1 3SL,GBR,Great British Railways
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ6BD - ScotRail passenger trains stand at the platforms inside Glasgow Central Station, Glasgow G1 3SL, one of the busiest and most architecturally significant railway stations in the UK. The image shows modern ScotRail rolling stock beneath the station's historic iron-and-glass roof, highlighting the contrast between Victorian engineering and contemporary rail operations.
ScotRail operates Scotland's domestic passenger rail services and, since 2022, has been run as a publicly owned railway under the control of the Scottish Government. The move marked a significant shift in UK transport policy, positioning Scotland as the first part of Great Britain in modern times to return a national rail operator to public ownership. The change followed ongoing debate over rail franchising, performance, value for money and public accountability.
Glasgow Central is a key hub within Scotland's rail network, handling long-distance intercity services as well as dense commuter traffic across the Central Belt. As such, it plays a vital role in daily mobility, economic activity and efforts to promote rail as a lower-carbon alternative to road and air travel.
Images like this are frequently used editorially to illustrate discussions around public ownership of infrastructure, transport reform, sustainable travel and the future of railways in the UK. The presence of multiple trains and platforms reinforces the scale and complexity of operating a national rail system as a public service.
Photographed in landscape format with clear station context, the image offers strong editorial value for coverage of Scottish transport policy, public services, rail nationalisation, commuting culture and contemporary railway operations.
Description
Keywords: transport,rail,railway,train,trains,passenger,traveler,journey,traveller,travelers,infrasructure,infrastructure,Network,transit,TOC,privatised,public,ownership,public,building,Victorian,platform,Scotrail,City,Centre,Glaswegian,walking down,City Centre,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,Scottish,British,Scotland,Street,Glasgow,G1,3SL,at,red,lights,dawn,travel,tourism,delay,shadow,shadows,dark,nighttime,Virgin,trains,WCML,Virgin,trains,West,Coast,Main,Line,Intercity,Inter-City,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Gordon St,G1 3SL,Gordon Street,Gordon St,Platform passengers,In The Evening,On the platform,Dawn Train,walking down the platform,Virgin Trains,Virgin Trains,Main Line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM3H - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,centre,train,carriage,platform,North West,Northern Powerhouse,BR,public,railways,Regional,on time,cancelled,services,late,rain,busy,waiting,commuter,commuters,wait,passengers,transport,system,rainy,M1 6FU,wet,on,trains,at,a,Liverpool Lime Street,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,hub,scheme
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PMT9XX -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Merseyside,city,centre,platform,dusk,night,service,WCML,poor,Alstom,Pendolino,390112,EMU,Electric,trains,train,at,unreliable,renewed,failed,intercity,to,Euston,London,stopped selling,advance,tickets,Richard Scott,First Group,Trenitalia,worst performing,drivers,overtime,strikes,timetable,off-peak,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M1F5T4 - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.
During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). In August 2019, the DfT awarded the WCP franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system. Since then a number of contract changes have taken place due to COVID-19 and then poor performance by the company. As of March 2023, the company's contract will expire in October 2023.
Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. However, this allegation was disputed by Aslef, which accused the company of lying and blamed their lack of recruitment, especially of train drivers, for the problems. Trains were running at one service per hour on the majority of routes, as opposed to the three which would typically occur on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route. Following these changes, Avanti West Coast was subject to public criticism
news stories emerged of numerous train cancellations, overcrowded services, delays, and expensive fares. Many commuters faced difficulties reaching their destinations on the reduced services and some travellers have been left to wait for to two days before travel for tickets to be released for sale
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AJRRHJ - Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that began operating the West Coast Partnership franchise on 8 December 2019. It replaced Virgin Trains, which had operated the franchise since 1997.
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high-speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high-speed operator. In June 2017, the DfT announced that three consortia had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:
FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019. Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission
Avanti West Coast initially operates the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2MAEY78 -
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PMNDNC -
Description
Keywords: Airport,at,dusk,at,Carlisle,station,purple,platform,night,BR,British,rail,franchise,privatised,privitisation,doors,closed,express,Cumbria,transport,travel,GoTonySmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,illuminated,evening,arrived,departing,public,carriage,carriages,DMU,old,older,Siemens,Desiro,Class 185,DHMU
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED9ERC - In a diesel?hydraulic multiple unit (DHMU), a hydraulic torque converter, a type of fluid coupling, acts as the transmission medium for the motive power of the diesel engine to turn the wheels. Some units feature a hybrid mix of hydraulic and mechanical transmissions, usually reverting to the latter at higher operating speeds as this decreases engine RPM and noise.
The British Rail Class 185 Desiro is a class of diesel-hydraulic multiple-unit (DHMU) passenger trains built by Siemens Transportation Systems in Germany for the train operating company First TransPennine Express. They are currently operated by TransPennine Express.
A ?260 million order for 51 three-car trains and associated maintenance depots was placed in 2003, and deliveries took place between 2006 and 2007.
In 2003, First TransPennine Express (FTPE), a consortium of FirstGroup and Keolis, was awarded the TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise. One obligation under the franchise agreement was to introduce a new fleet of diesel multiple units, capable of operating at speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h). Also specified was air conditioning, two toilets per vehicle with one suitable for reduced-mobility passengers, gangways between individual carriages, luggage and bicycle storage space, passenger compartment CCTV, provision for wheelchair passengers, and first-class seating. Additionally, the train's acceleration was to be an improvement on the Class 158, and comparable to the Class 180. The agreement specified 168 carriages, with an initial option to reduce the carriage order by 18
The franchise agreement also required the construction of two depots for the new rolling stock
the main depot was to be at Manchester, with a depot for stabling and maintenance at York. In addition, a depot at Cleethorpes was to be upgraded with refuelling and controlled emission toilet servicing facilities, and a train electric auxiliary supply.
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Keywords: @HotpixUK,public transport,railway,rail,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,platform,station,train,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Waverley,rolling stock,rail passengers,Scottish Government,Scottish Parliament,early,failing,privatised rail,substandard,renationalise,renationalisation,nationalise,running late,mismanagement,punctuality,cancellations,capacity,targets,fail,failing to achieve,breach level,SQUIRE targets,Dominic Booth,Abellio UK,workers,strike,RMT union
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBE0 - Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early
Abellio ScotRail's contract to run train services in Scotland will end early, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.
The Dutch firm has been running the franchise since 2015 but had faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels.
The contract, worth more than ?7bn over 10 years, was due to last until 2025.
But Mr Matheson said a so-called break clause would be used to end the franchise three years early, in 2022.
He told MSPs he was looking at other options for the future, including the franchise being run by the public sector.
What is the ScotRail franchise?
ScotRail operates about 2,400 train services a day, and covers all services in Scotland except those run by other operators which cross the border.
It is not responsible for the maintenance of the track, which falls under Network Rail nor the operation of the main rail routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London.
There had been political pressure on ministers over the service with complaints over a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy.
Image caption Mr Matheson told the Scottish parliament a break clause will be used to end the franchise early
Mr Matheson said Abellio had successes and challenges over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise, but that his decision was the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers.
He confirmed the contract would now run until 31 March, 2022.
It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end, he said.
The franchise system for Britain's railways is grinding to a halt.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,overcrowded railway carriage,Scottish rail commuting,peak time train Scotland,public transport pressure UK,Scotland,commuter challenges,rail overcrowding,transport policy Scotland,reliability and performance debate,sustainable transport tension,everyday commuter experience,public service strain,cost of living travel impact,waiting for trains,passengers,Glasgow Central,G1,G1 3SL,Glasgow Scotland UK,ScotRail passenger train,busy station platform,rail capacity issues,commuting Scotland,weekday rush hour,rail travel demand,transport infrastructure strain,editorial image,daytime interior,people,delays,punctuality,issues,strike,strikes,industrial action
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy HEJ68T - Passengers crowd a ScotRail train and platform at Glasgow Central Station, Glasgow G1 3SL, illustrating peak-time congestion and the everyday pressures of rail commuting in Scotland's busiest transport hub. The image shows a dense flow of people boarding and alighting from a modern ScotRail carriage beneath the station's historic iron and glass roof.
Glasgow Central handles some of the highest passenger volumes in the Scottish rail network, serving long-distance intercity services as well as heavily used commuter routes across the Central Belt. During peak periods, platforms and carriages can become severely crowded, reflecting sustained demand for rail travel linked to employment patterns, housing location and urban concentration.
Since ScotRail's return to public ownership in 2022, issues such as capacity, reliability, rolling stock availability and timetable resilience have remained central to political and media debate. Supporters of public control argue that long-term planning and social value should take precedence, while critics highlight ongoing challenges faced by daily commuters, including overcrowding and service disruption.
Images like this are commonly used to illustrate discussions around commuter experience, transport investment, public service delivery and the limits of existing rail infrastructure. The visible mix of ages, workwear and shopping bags emphasises the role of rail as an essential, everyday service rather than a discretionary mode of travel.
Photographed at platform level with strong contextual detail, the image carries high editorial value for coverage of commuting pressures, public transport policy, rail reform and the lived experience of passengers in Scotland's urban centres.
-zero-hours-gig-economy-delivery-service-DD4RHG.jpg)
Description
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DD4RHG - Just Eat plc is an online food order and delivery service. It acts as an intermediary between independent take-out food outlets and customers. It is headquartered in the United Kingdom and operates in 13 countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The platform allows customers to search for local take-out restaurants to place orders online, and to choose from pick-up or delivery options.
It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY5KEB - Step back in time & visit one of the very few remaining Victorian station buffet bars.
Dating from 1885 the Stalybridge Buffet Bar has retained the original marble-topped bar, back fittings and the welcoming fire.
A dozen years ago it was extended and included the 1st class ladies waiting room with its ornate ceiling, keeping all original features. It's a veritable museum with photographs of the station in it's heyday, railway and other memorabilia. See http://www.stalybridgebuffetbar.co.uk/ to read more about the Buffet Bar.
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM9 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
