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Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,WCML,Cheshire,WA1,Avanti,trains,tilting,train,panorama,at,WBQ,unusual,Warrington,Bank Quay,railway,rail,station
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3F7JBFW - . Avanti West Coast electric tilting train at Warrington Bank Quay railway station in Cheshire, England, shown in a wide panoramic view on the West Coast Main Line. Warrington Bank Quay is an important inter-city station between London, Birmingham, the North West and Scotland, with long-distance services linking Warrington directly with London Euston, Birmingham, the West Midlands, Cumbria and Glasgow. The station occupies a historic railway location where early lines through Warrington became part of the developing trunk route between London and the industrial cities of northern Britain. The first Bank Quay station opened in 1837 with the Grand Junction Railway, an important component of what later became the West Coast Main Line, while the present station layout developed through subsequent rebuilding and electrification. Avanti West Coast operates high-speed inter-city services on the route using electric trains, including tilting Pendolino units designed to negotiate curves at higher speeds. The photograph is suitable for editorial coverage of Avanti West Coast, British railways, train travel, railway infrastructure, West Coast Main Line, Warrington transport, electric rail, tilting trains, inter-city services, rail fares, passenger transport, commuting, railway modernisation and sustainable travel. The panoramic composition records the train, platforms, overhead electrification and station environment together, providing useful context for one of Cheshire's key long-distance rail connections. It can also support stories about rail investment, service reliability, franchise operations, passenger growth and the continuing strategic importance of Warrington as a junction and transport centre between major UK cities. The image also has relevance to discussions of decarbonising domestic travel, the competitiveness of rail against road and short-haul air journeys, and the importance of reliable north-south rail links to regional economies.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,railway,iPhone,rail,Edinburgh Waverley,smartphone,ticketing,West Coast Main Line,WCML,UK,travel,electronic,digital travel,technology,British,train,paperless rail ticket,booking,online journey planning,Apple Wallet travel pass,contactless station entry,barcode ticket scanning,rail fare booking,passenger transport technology,public transport app,smart ticketing system,digital transformation,sustainable mobility,modern,passenger,tourism,business travel concept,travel documentation,transport retailing,mobile commerce,journey management,train fare comparison,The Trainline
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3EPRNKH - Trainline digital rail booking is displayed on an iPhone resting diagonally across a printed British railway timetable. The app screen shows an outbound and return journey to Edinburgh Waverley on Tuesday 23 June, with options to download the tickets, print the eTicket or add it to Apple Wallet. A reminder not to forget the passenger's Railcard is also clearly visible. Beneath the smartphone, the traditional timetable page is headed Glasgow, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe and London, representing the principal West Coast Main Line corridor.
The image contrasts modern mobile ticketing with the dense columns, station names and departure times of a conventional printed railway timetable. It illustrates how UK passengers increasingly plan journeys, buy fares and carry travel documents through smartphone apps while older paper information remains associated with railway history and timetable research. Trainline distinguishes between eTickets, which may be supplied as a PDF and stored on a phone, and Mobile Tickets held within its app. Depending on the ticket type and route, a barcode can be scanned at a station gate or presented to railway staff for inspection.
Edinburgh Waverley is a major Scottish rail destination and is served by operators using both the East Coast and West Coast networks. The visible timetable heading connects Glasgow and Carlisle with Preston, Crewe and London, major locations on the West Coast Main Line, a major British inter-city route. The photograph is suitable for editorial coverage of digital transformation, paperless travel, rail booking technology, smartphone use, contactless passenger journeys, ticket retailing, Railcard discounts, journey planning, railway timetables, public transport, business travel and domestic tourism. It may also illustrate dependence on mobile devices, battery power and downloadable travel credentials, alongside the continuing need for passengers to carry any Railcard used to obtain a discounted fare.
Parker Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1LW
Description
Keywords: Gotonysmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,data centre,WCML,soap,powder,Cheshire,products,detergent,manufacturing,industrial,site,heritage,closure,demolition,redevelopment,brownfield,railway,landmark,decorated,silos,local,North West,Dante FS Group,post-industrial,modular,tank,art,tanks,Port Sunlight,connection,British,production,graphics,storage,skyline,infrastructure,AI,platform
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3E424BX - The former Lever Brothers and Unilever detergent factory at Warrington Bank Quay is pictured before demolition and redevelopment, with decorated Persil-style silo tanks, blue industrial buildings and railway sidings beside the West Coast Main Line. The site was a familiar landmark for passengers arriving at Warrington Bank Quay railway station, where the factory's white tanks, blue graphics and large industrial structures formed part of the town's working skyline. Warrington's Bank Quay area has a long association with soap, chemicals and detergent manufacturing, with Crosfields and Lever Brothers linked to the development of soap stock-photo/gotonysmith-Production.html?sortBy=relevant&pseudoid=237DAF28-A4ED-4448-8173-C0E81ABEEC6F Target=_Blank>production before the later Unilever era. The factory became associated with household laundry brands including Persil and Surf, and recent reports describe the former Unilever plant as a seven-acre Bank Quay site that manufactured those brands before closing in 2020. Demolition work has since been reported as underway, with proposals to transform the site into a major modular data centre. The image is commercially useful for stories about British manufacturing, industrial heritage, soap production, detergent brands, factory closure, brownfield land, demolition, data centre development, employment change and post-industrial regeneration. It can also illustrate the loss of visible manufacturing landmarks from railway corridors and town centres, as older industrial sites are cleared for new technology-led uses. The line of railway wagons, gantries, pipework, tanks, ladders and weathered cladding gives the photograph strong documentary value for industrial archaeology, local history, urban change and transport-side views of factories. As a stock image, it records a distinctive Warrington landmark at a transition point, before the physical memory of soap-making and laundry detergent production gives way to a very different kind of economic infrastructure.
Former Lever Brothers and Unilever Persil factory at Warrington Bank Quay, pictured before demolitio
Description
Keywords: Gotonysmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,silo,tank,painted,icon,decorated,detergent,washing,powder,soap,industrial,industry,heritage,manufacturing,history,railway,West Coast Main Line,WCML,closed,demolished,former,architecture,closure,brownfield,redevelopment,site,chemical,Crosfields,blue,white,Joseph Crosfield,soap-making,data centre,British,North West,landmark,demolition,programme
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3E424C3 - Decorated silo tanks rise above the stock-photo/gotonysmith-Former.html?sortBy=relevant&pseudoid=237DAF28-A4ED-4448-8173-C0E81ABEEC6F Target=_Blank>former Lever Brothers and Unilever detergent factory at Bank Quay in Warrington, a familiar industrial landmark for passengers arriving at Warrington Bank Quay railway station on the West Coast Main Line. The white silos, painted with blue Persil-style washing symbols, recall the town's long association with soap, detergents and chemical manufacturing. Warrington's Bank Quay area was central to British soap production, with Crosfields developing a major soap works and Lever Brothers later linked to the site before the growth of Unilever. The factory became strongly associated with household laundry brands including Persil and Surf, and for decades its large blue buildings and decorated storage tanks formed part of the everyday view from train platforms and passing rail services. Recent reports describe the former Unilever site at Bank Quay as around 130 years old, once at the heart of Warrington's historic soap-making industry, and now set for redevelopment as a major data centre following closure and demolition plans. The photograph is commercially useful for stories about industrial heritage, Warrington manufacturing, Lever Brothers, Unilever, Persil, detergent production, factory closure, brownfield redevelopment, railway views, data centre development and the changing use of prominent industrial sites. It can also illustrate the way brand imagery and functional infrastructure become local icons, remembered by commuters, visitors and residents even after production has ended. The silos' height, repeated cylindrical forms, ladders, platforms, weathered paint and blue decoration give the scene strong documentary value for industrial architecture, urban history, business change, chemical works, regeneration and the loss of traditional manufacturing employment. As a stock image, it records a distinctive Warrington landmark at the point where soap-making history, rail travel and post-industrial redevelopment meet.
Decorated silo tanks at the former Lever Brothers and Unilever Persil factory beside Warrington Bank
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Warrington,WBQ,WCML,warning,from the,platform,edge,turbulence,rail,railway,railway safety warning sign,UK railway safety,yellow railway sign,train station safety notice,rail travel safety UK,railways,railway safety culture,public warning signage,transport risk management,passenger safety awareness,infrastructure communication,travel and commuting UK,rail network operations,hazard awareness,human behaviour and safety,health and safety,WA1 1NW,Warrington Cheshire UK,railway platform sign,passing trains air turbulence,public safety message,station platform detail,British railway station,transport safety signage,editorial image,daytime interior
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3DCX6B9 - A close view of a yellow railway safety warning sign reading Keep back from the platform edge Passing trains cause air turbulence , photographed at Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Warrington WA1 1NW, Cheshire. The sign is mounted on a blue-painted column beneath the station canopy, with brickwork and structural elements of the platform visible in the background.
Such warning signs are a familiar feature of the UK rail network and form part of long-established efforts to communicate safety risks clearly to passengers. High-speed passing trains can create sudden air turbulence, particularly on busy mainline platforms, making clear and legible signage an essential component of accident prevention and passenger awareness.
Warrington Bank Quay is a major interchange station on the West Coast Main Line, serving long-distance intercity services as well as regional routes. Stations of this type experience frequent non-stopping services, increasing the importance of platform safety messaging for waiting passengers.
The sign's simple wording, high-contrast colour scheme and durable enamel-style finish reflect traditional British railway design principles, prioritising visibility, clarity and longevity in public safety communication. Images like this are often used editorially to illustrate stories about transport safety, rail infrastructure, commuting culture and everyday risk management in public spaces.
Photographed in daylight with shallow depth of field, the image isolates the warning message while retaining enough environmental context to situate it clearly within a working railway station. It offers strong editorial value for themes including public safety, transport systems, infrastructure design and the lived experience of rail travel in the UK.
Yellow railway safety sign reading ""Keep back from the platform edge"" at Warrington Bank Quay railwa
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpicUK,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,IMG_4784,Avanti,West,Coast,train,outside,Coventry,railway,station,Midlands,WCML
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3E6T4N5 - . Avanti West Coast train outside Coventry railway station, Coventry, England, UK. Photographed on 4 February 2025. The recorded location is Coventry railway station, Coventry, West Midlands, England, UK. The modern station frontage and passenger train illustrate inter-city rail services through Coventry. Seen through platform, the earlier context is that railways transformed British towns from the nineteenth century onwards, concentrating passenger movement around stations while creating new suburbs, goods yards and industrial connections
Station buildings, platforms, signals and rolling stock can date a transport scene as clearly as surrounding architecture. For shoreline, the historical context is that britain's coasts became increasingly accessible for leisure with railways, holidays and later long-distance walking routes
Beaches also retain industrial, military and artistic traces alongside their recreational role. The 2026 relevance of platform comes from the fact that rail reform, fares, accessibility and passenger information remain central issues as government develops the Great British Railways model
Photographs of stations, trains and earlier operating equipment can illustrate both current public transport and the rapid disappearance of previous brands and systems. For shoreline, the 2026 context is that coastal access, erosion, water quality and climate resilience remain important issues around Britain
Long-distance walking routes increase visitor use while local authorities continue to manage safety and environmental pressures. Relevant synonyms and subject phrases include rail transport, passenger railway, train service, rail infrastructure, station architecture, rail heritage, commuter travel, signalling, ticketing, coastal path, sea safety, coastal landscape, beach warning, public access, and coastal tourism. Alternative search wording includes long-distance path, seaside, @HotpicUK, IMG_4784, and WCML.
Coventry railway station, Coventry, West Midlands, England, UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,IMG_0047,rail,railway,road,UK,network,EUS,cancelled,delayrepay,delay repay,winter,cold,wet,weather,commuters,late,on,preparing,West Coast,WCML,services,NW,Glasgow,Manchester,Liverpool,Preston,luggage,tired,patient,wait,waiting,central,railways,British,travel,public,transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3FAFBEM - Crowd of passengers waiting beneath electronic departure boards at London Euston, one of Britain's busiest mainline railway termini. Travellers congregate on the concourse while awaiting platform information, a familiar feature of journeys from Euston where boarding details may be announced shortly before departure. The station is the London terminus for West Coast Main Line services to destinations including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and north-west England. The image is suitable for editorial coverage of rail travel, Network Rail, passenger crowding, disruption, commuting, intercity trains, station capacity, timetable information and the passenger experience. Euston has also been central to long-running debate about redevelopment and HS2, adding relevance to stories about major transport infrastructure and investment. Photographed as a documentary travel scene, the image shows the practical pressure created when large numbers of passengers must monitor shared information screens and then move quickly towards platforms. The image also contributes to wider discussion about how Britain encourages a shift from private cars to public transport while keeping services affordable, reliable and accessible. Passenger information, interchange quality, frequency, capacity and digital ticketing all shape whether travellers find rail and bus networks practical for everyday journeys. As an unstaged documentary photograph it can be used for reporting on transport policy, fares, infrastructure investment, accessibility, decarbonisation and the passenger experience, while also providing a time-specific record of vehicles, branding and station environments that may change.
London Euston railway station, Euston Road, London NW1, England, UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,UK,England,union,action,manned,ticket,offices,unmanned,Warrington,railway,rail,station,Cheshire,WA1 1LW,WA1,self-service,notice,of,strikes,strike,and,limited,services,due,to,card,contactless,cash,complicated,inconvenient,consultation,WCML,West Coast,mainline,main line,disabled,disability
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RG8Y9W - . Tickets To Everywhere,self-service machine warning of strikes and limited services,due to union action, Bank Quay, railway station, Warrington,WA1 1LW. Photographed on 29 July 2023, this summer image records the subject in its real-world setting and provides a contemporary visual reference for the place, activity, object or organisation shown. The recorded location is Warrington Bank Quay Rail Station , Parker Street, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 1LW, adding precise geographical context for editorial, documentary, travel and local-history searches. Key searchable subjects associated with the scene include union, action, manned, ticket, offices, unmanned, Warrington, railway, rail, station, Cheshire, WA1 1LW, providing natural SEO coverage without losing the specific documentary identity of the photograph. Transport context makes the photograph useful for stories about rail travel, passenger journeys, stations and interchanges, public transport investment, regional connectivity and the everyday experience of moving through the UK rail network. Railway architecture, passenger facilities, route identity, signage and operational infrastructure are important documentary themes, particularly as stations and services are modernised or altered over time. The transport setting gives the image wider relevance to mobility, infrastructure, roads and public transport, travel behaviour, local connectivity, logistics and the relationship between vehicles and the built environment. It can illustrate planning, transport policy, accessibility, congestion, public investment and the changing technologies and services used to move people or goods. The political or campaigning content is suitable for neutral editorial coverage of protest, organised labour, elections, public debate, campaigning, civil society and the way political messages are presented in public. The scene contributes a specific, place-based record rather than a generic illustration.
Warrington Bank Quay Rail Station , Parker Street, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 1LW
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.
2 Liverpool Rd, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA5 1AA
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.
2 Liverpool Rd, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA5 1AA
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,city,centre,BR,logo,British Rail,Lancaster Station sign,British Rail double arrow,railway station signage,WCML,Lancaster,Lancashire,England,UK,public,transport,signs,rusty,Northern Trains,TransPennine Express,Avanti West Coast,UK rail network,main line railway,intercity services,regional rail services,station name sign,railway branding,transport infrastructure,rail travel UK,commuter transport,long distance trains,northern England railways,blue sky,trees,outdoor sign,editorial photography,LA1 1JF,LA1
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R64RTD - This image shows the classic British Rail double arrow station sign for Lancaster railway station, photographed against a clear blue sky with surrounding trees. The sign identifies Lancaster as a key stop on the West Coast Main Line, one of the UK's most important intercity rail corridors linking London with the North West of England and Scotland.
Lancaster station is served by Avanti West Coast long-distance services, providing direct connections to London Euston, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. In addition, the station is an important regional hub for Northern Trains and TransPennine Express, offering onward connections across Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, and the wider North of England.
The continued use of the British Rail double arrow symbol reflects the enduring visual identity of the UK rail network, even decades after rail privatisation. Station signage of this type remains instantly recognisable and is widely used to represent rail travel, connectivity, and public transport in Britain.
Photographed in daylight, the image works well as editorial material illustrating UK railway infrastructure, regional and intercity rail services, transport policy, sustainable travel, and the role of provincial cities like Lancaster within the national rail network.
Lancaster railway station Lancaster, Lancashire, England, UK , LA1 1JF
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
Wigan North Western railway station, Wallgate, Wigan, Lancashire, England, UK, WN1 1BJ
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,Warrington Bank Quay,WCML,station safety signage,British railway,platform edge,Cheshire,North West England,UK rail network,passenger safety,accessibility,wheelchair symbol,pram symbol,luggage trolley symbol,hazard symbol,warning triangle,ground markings,station infrastructure,electrified railway,track and platform,commuter rail,long distance rail,documentary photography,editorial image,UK transport,West Coast Main Line,railway platform,sloping platform,apply brakes,platform warning,rail safety markings
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55J49 - This image shows painted safety markings on a sloping railway platform at Warrington Bank Quay railway station in Cheshire, a key stop on the West Coast Main Line. The clear yellow text reads Sloping Platform Apply Brakes and is accompanied by universally recognised pictograms indicating luggage trolleys, pushchairs, and wheelchairs.
Sloping platforms are a known safety consideration on parts of the UK rail network, where gradients can cause wheeled items to roll toward the platform edge if not secured. Ground-level warnings such as this are designed to be immediately visible to passengers, supplementing tactile paving and yellow safety lines near the edge of the platform.
Warrington Bank Quay serves long-distance intercity services as well as regional trains, meaning platforms must accommodate high passenger volumes, heavy luggage, and accessibility needs. The presence of inclusive symbols highlights the importance of designing safety messaging that addresses all users, including those with mobility aids.
Photographed from above in daylight, the image emphasises the functional design of railway safety infrastructure and is well suited to editorial use covering rail safety, station design, accessibility, transport policy, and everyday passenger experience on the UK rail network.
Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 1NW
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,Warrington Bank Quay,Cheshire,WA1,WBQ,WCML,West Coast,mainline,main line,the,scouse,name,a,train,trains,of,Runcorn,flying Scotsman,20th,celebration,celebrations,iconic,Pendolinos,funny,transport,rail,railway,engine,carriage,North West,service,Channel tunnel,services,new
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55J4J - . The Flying Scouseman Pendolino train, at Warrington Bank Quay, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 named by Echo reader Michael Dally, of Runcorn. Photographed on 19 May 2023. Virgin Trains Pendolino given Flying Scouseman name to mark firm's 20th birthday. ECHO competition won by Michael Dally, of Runcorn. Read more at ECHO teamed up with Virgin Trains to help celebrate the firm's 20th birthday and invited people to come up with a name for one of their iconic Pendolinos, used on the West Coast mainline between Lime Street and Euston. Other shortlisted suggestions for the new name included Mighty Mersey, Pride of Liverpool, Merseyside Express and Liver Bird. Arif Mahmood, Virgin Trains station manager for Liverpool Lime Street said the response to the competition had been overwhelming. Euston was London's first inter-city railway terminus, opening in 1837 as the southern end of the London and Birmingham Railway. The famous Doric Euston Arch and Victorian station were demolished during the controversial 1960s rebuilding. In 2026 Euston remains central to plans for HS2 and wider station redevelopment. In relation to station architecture, historical context shows that stations are both functional transport interchanges and pieces of civic architecture
Their canopies, footbridges, booking halls, signal boxes and signage reveal how passenger expectations and railway technology changed from steam-era operation to today's increasingly digital network. For the story of payment methods, it is useful to note that banknotes, coins, cheques and branch buildings document the everyday financial system before contactless cards and mobile payments became dominant
Regional banks and savings institutions also left distinctive architecture and branded paper evidence. The historical setting for coastal economy is that maritime gateways connect island and mainland economies, carrying residents, visitors, freight and vehicles while also supporting fishing, leisure craft and.
Warrington Bank Quay, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,train,England,UK,rail,public,WCML,West Coast,westcoast,mainline,main line,TOC,train operating company,Avanti West Coast,390124,CW2 6HR,CW2,Nantwich Road,Crewe,class 390,EMU,red,light,pulled,service,red light,red lights,signal,signals,coach,carriage,carriages,British Rail,Class 390,trenitalia,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R8T9G6 - 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
Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, England, UK, CW2 6HR
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Greater Manchester,England,UK,NPR,Northern Powerhouse,rail,north west,transport,outside,Stockport Railway station,British Railways,BR,exterior,with,SK3 9HZ,train,railway,building,Stockport,Cheshire,main,line,concourse,view,over,looking,M&BR,West Coast Main Line,route,routes,centre,town,stations,services,service,WCML,the
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2N28PPH - Stockport railway station in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, is 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly on the West Coast Main Line to London Euston.
The Manchester and Birmingham Railway opened in stages from Manchester and reached Stockport in 1840. The 5+1⁄2-mile (9 km) line ran from a temporary station in Manchester to another in Stockport at the north end of the uncompleted Stockport Viaduct. The temporary station, which was later renamed Heaton Norris, was Stockport's only station for more than two years. After the viaduct was completed, the M&BR built a station at its southern end as an experiment. The decision was prompted by complaints that the first station was a long way from the industrial parts of town and even farther from the residential districts on the south side. The second station opened on 15 February 1843 as Edgeley. By 1844, it was the town's principal station. Heaton Norris, at the north end of the viaduct, closed in 1959.
The station was operated by the London and North Western Railway and became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. In 1948, British Railways ran the system.
Most lines into the station were electrified at 25 kV AC, using overhead wires, under the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan
however, not all of the local lines were electrified.
Grand Central Way, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England,SK3 9HZ
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Greater Manchester,England,UK,railway,building,main,line,train,Stockport,Cheshire,SK3 9HZ,BR,British Railways,logo,Stockport Railway station,exterior,with,outside,transport,north west,NPR,Northern Powerhouse,rail,town,centre,principle,stations,route,routes,service,services,West Coast Main Line,WCML,the,M&BR
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2N28PT8 - Stockport railway station in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, is 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly on the West Coast Main Line to London Euston.
The Manchester and Birmingham Railway opened in stages from Manchester and reached Stockport in 1840. The 5+1⁄2-mile (9 km) line ran from a temporary station in Manchester to another in Stockport at the north end of the uncompleted Stockport Viaduct. The temporary station, which was later renamed Heaton Norris, was Stockport's only station for more than two years. After the viaduct was completed, the M&BR built a station at its southern end as an experiment. The decision was prompted by complaints that the first station was a long way from the industrial parts of town and even farther from the residential districts on the south side. The second station opened on 15 February 1843 as Edgeley. By 1844, it was the town's principal station. Heaton Norris, at the north end of the viaduct, closed in 1959.
The station was operated by the London and North Western Railway and became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. In 1948, British Railways ran the system.
Most lines into the station were electrified at 25 kV AC, using overhead wires, under the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan
however, not all of the local lines were electrified.
Grand Central Way, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England,SK3 9HZ
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Greater Manchester,England,UK,railway,building,main,line,train,Stockport,Cheshire,SK3 9HZ,BR,British Railways,logo,Stockport Railway station,exterior,with,outside,transport,north west,NPR,Northern Powerhouse,rail,town,centre,principle,stations,route,routes,service,services,West Coast Main Line,WCML,the,M&BR
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2N28PY0 - Stockport railway station in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, is 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly on the West Coast Main Line to London Euston.
The Manchester and Birmingham Railway opened in stages from Manchester and reached Stockport in 1840. The 5+1⁄2-mile (9 km) line ran from a temporary station in Manchester to another in Stockport at the north end of the uncompleted Stockport Viaduct. The temporary station, which was later renamed Heaton Norris, was Stockport's only station for more than two years. After the viaduct was completed, the M&BR built a station at its southern end as an experiment. The decision was prompted by complaints that the first station was a long way from the industrial parts of town and even farther from the residential districts on the south side. The second station opened on 15 February 1843 as Edgeley. By 1844, it was the town's principal station. Heaton Norris, at the north end of the viaduct, closed in 1959.
The station was operated by the London and North Western Railway and became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. In 1948, British Railways ran the system.
Most lines into the station were electrified at 25 kV AC, using overhead wires, under the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan
however, not all of the local lines were electrified.
Grand Central Way, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England,SK3 9HZ
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
Liverpool Lime Street Station, West Coast Mainline, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1NY
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Avanti West Coast,tickets to everywhere,train tickets,WCML,rail travel UK,card,contactless,cash,payment,collect,collection,tickets,UK,ticket vending machine,TVM,passenger ticketing,buy tickets machine,collect tickets,debit card payment,credit card payment,cashless ticketing,singles and returns,British rail fares,public transport technology,modern rail infrastructure,documentary photography,editorial image,stations,increase,increases,fare,fares,out of order
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R59X75 - This image shows a self-service railway ticket machine operated by Avanti West Coast at Warrington Bank Quay railway station in Cheshire. Branded with the slogan Tickets to everywhere , the machine allows passengers to purchase and collect train tickets for journeys across the UK rail network.
The ticket vending machine supports the purchase of single and return fares, as well as ticket collection for journeys booked online, reflecting the growing shift toward automated and cashless ticketing in British railway stations. Card payment facilities, on-screen instructions, and integrated printers are designed to reduce queues at staffed ticket offices and improve passenger convenience.
Warrington Bank Quay is a major interchange station on the West Coast Main Line, serving long-distance intercity services linking London with the North West, North Wales, and Scotland. Self-service machines like this play an important role in managing high passenger volumes, particularly during peak travel periods.
Photographed indoors under station lighting, the image is well suited to editorial use covering UK rail transport, passenger services, ticketing technology, public transport modernisation, and the everyday experience of travelling by train on Britain's mainline railway network.
Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 1NW
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,tour,76,L1 1HL,L1,DB,integrated,public,trains,train,and,station,underground,Queen Sq,mainline,BR,British,English,WCML,Northern,main,stations,Victorian,history,historic,glass,front,fronted,arch,arched,strike,strikes,industrial,action,sunny,dramatic
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K0KDNM - . This authentic period view of 76 Queen Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1HL in 2022 preserves the main subject alongside smaller contextual details that can acquire greater historical value as places and uses change. The location is represented through Integrated transport, trains, rail and buses, Lime Street station and Arriva buses, Queen Square. The image also relates to heritage-led regeneration, changing land use, historic townscape, trackside history, local history, historic rolling stock, period architecture, period detail, public realm, contemporary social history, public-realm investment, historical comparison, civic architecture, and urban regeneration. Viewed from the mid-2020s, the subject also connects with railway preservation, decarbonisation and how Crewe's identity remains tied to railway engineering and operations. The modern context includes continuing discussion of town-centre regeneration, adaptive reuse and the tension between preserving local character and creating modern commercial space. The image fixes local activity and public use within 76 Queen Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1HL at one identifiable point, providing a benchmark against changing commercial priorities. The photograph additionally reflects documentary photography, rail infrastructure, place-making, architectural character, regional identity, mixed-use redevelopment, community identity, and visual archive. Details involving Arriva, transport, Queen, station, and Integrated make the image more specific than a generic view and strengthen its local or historical value. The period setting at 76 Queen Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1HL helps place the main subject within real social and physical surroundings rather than isolating it as an abstract object. It also preserves a local visual benchmark within the wider story of 76 Queen Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1HL.
76 Queen Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1HL
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,side,BREL and British Rail Research Division Advanced Passenger Train prototype,research,engineering,advanced,passenger,rail,railway,railways,development,developments,innovation,innovate,British,Great,GB,United Kingdom,West Coast,mainline,main line,the,future,tilt,tilts,tilting
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2RDP - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,British Rail APT,side,BREL and British Rail Research Division Advanced Passenger Train prototype,research,engineering,advanced,passenger,rail,railway,railways,development,developments,innovation,innovate,British,Great,GB,United Kingdom,West Coast,mainline,main line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2RF4 - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,British Rail APT,BREL and British Rail Research Division Advanced Passenger Train prototype,side,side on,BREL,APT,Crewe,WCML,APT-P,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe Heritage Centre,research,engineering,advanced,passenger,rail,railway,railways,development,developments,innovation,innovate,British,Great,GB,United Kingdom,West Coast,mainline,main line,Crewe Railway Age
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2RKD - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,trains,livery,unveiled,on,loco,at,heritage centre,power unit,preserved,CW1 2DB,CW1,British Rail Engineering Limited,BREL,BR,British,rail,railways,passenger,freight,WCML,West Coast,Main Line,MainLine,black,red,logo,electric,class,87,Crewe Railway Age
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2RN2 - The British Rail Class 87 is a type of electric locomotive designed and built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) between 1973 and 1975. A total of thirty-six locomotives were constructed, to work passenger and freight services over the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
The type was developed in response to the need to add extra capacity to the electric traction fleet operated by British Rail (BR), in addition to the desire to introduce a higher performance electric locomotive than the existing Class 86, upon which the Class 87 was based. Class 87s were British Rail's flagship electric locomotives from their introduction until the late 1980s, at which point they began to be superseded by members of the newly-developed Class 90 fleet itself an improved derivative of the Class 87 design.
As a consequence of the privatisation of British Rail during the mid 1990s, all but one of the Class 87s were transferred to Virgin Trains. Under this operator, the type continued their passenger duties until the advent of the new Class 390 Pendolinos, after which they were gradually transferred to other operators or withdrawn between 2002 and 2007
A large proportion of the fleet has been exported to Bulgaria, where they have entered regular use once again.
Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,Glasgow,London,Euston,InterCity,InterCityAPT,comfort,second class,2nd,1st,seats,passenger,passengers,information,seat,numbers,historic,history,transport,technology,plan,diagram
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2TAG - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,car,carriage,shop,sandwiches,sandwich,high speed,HST,high,speed,prototype,prototypes,inside,interior,seats,seating,buffet,dining,cafe,the
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2TFC - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,car,carriage,shop,sandwiches,sandwich,high speed,HST,high,speed,prototype,prototypes,inside,interior,seats,seating,buffet,dining,cafe,the
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2TH2 - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,2nd class,standard class,carriage,Red,tartan,Euston,Glasgow,Scotland,HST,high,speed,prototype,prototypes,inside,interior,seats,seating,second,standard
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2TJP - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,driver,speedo,speedometer,dead mans handle,dead man handle,HST,high,speed,prototype,prototypes,inside,interior,seats,seating,drivers,driving,cab,compartment,dead mans,handle
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2TRH - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,CW1 2DB,1/4,Aa,quarter,of,a,mile,to Crewe,to,sign,signage,rail,BR,British Rail,WCML,railway,main,line,signal,box,signals,in big letters,capital,letters,this way,maroon,systems
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2W37 - . This dated editorial view of Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB in 2022 captures more than the immediate subject, retaining clues about local use, design, activity and change. The frame specifically shows A quarter of a mile, to Crewe, sign at the North Junction signal box, West Coast Mainline, WCML railway, Cheshire, England, UK , CW1 2DB. The frame also records themes of freight wagon, regional identity, railway heritage, surface public transport, working railway heritage, industrial railway, trackside history, transport accessibility, historical comparison, local bus network, passenger information, local history, documentary photography, and social history. The modern context includes continuing discussion of network modernisation, signalling technology and how Crewe's identity remains tied to railway engineering and operations. For current editorial use, local connectivity and integrated transport provide additional context, especially through the shift toward cleaner vehicles and integrated ticketing. The archival value lies partly in recording materials and architectural details around Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB before changing commercial priorities alters the character of the place. The location also brings in public realm, rail transport history, roadside transit, public transport stop, bus route infrastructure, period detail, street-side transport, and public-transport wayfinding. The recorded references to railway, Crewe, signal, quarter, and Mainline preserve clues about how the subject was presented, used or understood at the time. The wider setting at Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB matters because ordinary visual details often provide the strongest evidence of how a place actually looked and functioned. A further contemporary connection is network modernisation and how Crewe's identity remains tied to railway engineering and operations within the specific setting of Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB.
Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
-Onboard-Hub-for-ordering-food--drink-and-refreshments--from-your-train-seat-from-cafe-buffet-via-QR-code-2K148X3.jpg)
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,QR Code,scan,poor,service,at,your,seat,food,and,drink,West Coast,trains,WCML,closed,not,working,no,hot,water,for,order,ordering,of,from,cafe,tripadvisor,shocking,joke,chaos,shambles,overbooked,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K148X3 - 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
Euston Rd, London, England, UK, NW1 2AR
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,Hotpixuk,Parker street,Warrington,England,UK,rail,transport,station,RMT,union,train,delays,cancelled,display,indicator,action,Rail,Maritime and Transport,Workers,WCML,West Coast mainline,defend,pay,jobs,conditions,redundancies,pay increase,over,network,negotiated settlement,rail employers,unsafe,multiyear pay freezes,dispute,strike action,ASLEF,Avanti west coast,walkout,cancel
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JEKRBE - The RMT was formed in 1990 through a merger of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and the National Union of Seamen (NUS) to create a single transport industry trade union. Its president is Alex Gordon and its general secretary Mick Lynch
Rail union RMT launch 3 days of national strike action across the railway network.
Over 50,000 railway workers will walkout as part of 3 days of national strike action later this month, in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.
The union will shut down the country's railway network on 21st, 23rd and 25th June, due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT.
Network Rail and the train operating companies have subjected their staff to multiyear pay freezes and plan to cut thousands of jobs which will make the railways unsafe.
Despite intense talks with the rail bosses, The RMT has not been able to secure a pay proposal nor a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Parker street,Warrington,Cheshire, England,UK,WA1 1LW
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,NetworkRail,parking,dropoff,area,zone,sunny,mainline,WCML,Merseyrail,NW,northwest,network,routes,investment,subsidy,platform,platforms
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JDDPYT - . A grounded documentary photograph made at Liverpool Lime Street, railway station, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1JD in 2022, combining the immediate subject with evidence of the surrounding streetscape, public realm, business activity or local character. The principal subject is Main Network Rail entrance at Liverpool Lime Street, mainline railway station, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1JD. The image also relates to before-and-after reference, everyday life, transport interchange, urban change, rail mobility, social landscape, regional rail, public realm, passenger railway, trackside history, rolling stock, train operations, urban social history, and historical comparison. Today's relevance is strengthened by fares, regional connectivity and the continuing question of how historic rolling stock documents the industrial railway. From a 2025-onward perspective, footfall and commercial change are closely linked to this subject, alongside the documentary importance of recording everyday urban environments. The image fixes commercial use and occupation within Liverpool Lime Street, railway station, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1JD at one identifiable point, providing a benchmark against different community use. The photograph additionally reflects place identity, street-level documentary, freight wagon, pedestrian environment, station environment, contemporary social history, community identity, and industrial railway heritage. Elements such as entrance, railway, station, Liverpool, and Merseyside add documentary specificity and may become increasingly useful when compared with later records. The period setting at Liverpool Lime Street, railway station, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1JD helps place the main subject within real social and physical surroundings rather than isolating it as an abstract object. The period view preserves period character for future local research. The view records a trace of local identity before later change alters the scene.
Liverpool Lime Street, railway station, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1JD
Description
Keywords: @Hotpixuk,Hotpixuk,GotonySmith,Manchester Piccadilly mainline railway station,England,UK,Manchester Piccadilly West Coast,mainline,main line,WCML,interchange,Manchester,Store Street,transport for,system,Northern,railway,TOCs,train operating companies,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,retail,shops,HS2,High Speed2,NPR,Northern Powerhouse Rail,city centre,commuters,passengers,travelers,rail,workers,strick,RMT,strike,RMT union
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J880D1 - . Photographed at the recorded location in 2022, this detailed editorial image records the subject within its real surroundings and preserves a specific stage in the life of the location. The photograph centres on Manchester Piccadilly mainline railway station, west Coast mainline, England, UK, showing departure boards. Another layer of the photograph includes everyday life, contemporary social history, local history, everyday street life, community identity, place identity, changing land use, townscape record, urban social history, local character, passenger railway, archival record, visual archive, and station environment. For current editorial use, fares and reliability provide additional context, especially through the continuing importance of rail to regional connectivity. Current relevance extends to transport and footfall, particularly through the documentary importance of recording everyday urban environments. As a dated visual record of the recorded location, the frame retains landscape treatment and surrounding development, making it especially useful if different community use subsequently changes the scene. A second descriptive layer includes rolling stock, period detail, pedestrian environment, changing streetscape, historical comparison, regional identity, social landscape, and before-and-after reference. The combination of Manchester, mainline, departure, railway, and boards anchors the frame to a recognisable activity, place or moment. Around the recorded location, apparently routine details can become historically useful once businesses close, buildings change use or familiar features disappear. The setting also helps illustrate fares and the balance between railway heritage and network modernisation in a form that can be compared with future views of the recorded location. The record includes period character before later change alters the scene. The frame retains a trace of local identity as a date-specific reference.
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
Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,train,rail,railway,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,information,ticket,gates,desk,bright,displays,terminus,West Coast Main Line,WCML,commuters,commuting,TfGM,Andy Burnham,public,transport,retail,shopping,shops,cafes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PFJ - . A grounded documentary photograph made at Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA in 2022, combining the immediate subject with evidence of the surrounding streetscape, public realm, business activity or local character. The frame specifically shows Main concourse & waiting area, Manchester Piccadilly main line railway station and Metrolink tram interchange, North West England, UK. The subject also carries associations with period detail, rail infrastructure, regional rail, freight wagon, railway heritage, before-and-after reference, street-level documentary, community life, historical comparison, social landscape, public realm, everyday life, place identity, and documentary photography. Today's relevance is strengthened by public ownership, reliability and the continuing question of how historic rolling stock documents the industrial railway. From a 2025-onward perspective, community use and footfall are closely linked to this subject, alongside how regeneration alters the character of familiar places. As a dated visual record of Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA, the frame retains signage and branding, making it especially useful if changing commercial priorities subsequently changes the scene. The location also brings in rail mobility, city-centre activity, contemporary social history, community identity, rail corridor, visual archive, train operations, and changing streetscape. Elements such as interchange, waiting, concourse, Metrolink, and station add documentary specificity and may become increasingly useful when compared with later records. A later view of Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA may show a very different setting, increasing the value of this precise record of its earlier appearance and activity. The period view preserves a point of historical comparison before later change alters the scene.
Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Northern Powerhouse,North West,England,UK,scrapping return rail tickets,train,rail,railway,approach,Manchester,Greater Manchester,M60 7RA,Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road Capacity Scheme,Network Rail,Northern Powerhouse Rail,NPR,Victorian,information,ticket,gates,desk,bright,displays,terminus,West Coast Main Line,WCML,commuters,commuting,TfGM,Andy Burnham,public,transport,retail,shopping,shops,cafes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2J92PFN - . This location-specific image from Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA in 2022 provides a visual record of the subject in everyday context, useful for both contemporary editorial work and later historical comparison. The image documents Main concourse & waiting area, Manchester Piccadilly main line railway station and Metrolink tram interchange, North West England, UK. The frame also records themes of rolling stock, rail mobility, pedestrian environment, rail infrastructure, station environment, trackside history, contemporary social history, local identity, regional identity, railway heritage, industrial railway heritage, everyday life, townscape record, and social landscape. From a 2025-onward perspective, reliability and public ownership are closely linked to this subject, alongside how historic rolling stock documents the industrial railway. The wider contemporary story combines public-realm change, regeneration and how regeneration alters the character of familiar places. The archival value lies partly in recording equipment and working practice around Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA before altered transport patterns alters the character of the place. The surrounding story also includes urban social history, urban change, public realm, before-and-after reference, city-centre activity, place identity, rail corridor, and freight wagon. References to concourse, railway, waiting, Piccadilly, and station give the picture a strong period identity and tie it closely to its named subject. By fixing the subject within Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA, the image preserves more than the headline object or building: it records part of the locality's everyday history. The view records period character for future local research. The image fixes a trace of local identity before later change alters the scene.
Piccadilly Train Station Approach, Greater Manchester, England, UK, M60 7RA
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,TOC,train operating company,WCML,transport,public,Passenger Charter,passenger,Victoria Square,House,Birmingham,First TrainItalia,ltd,late trains,cancelled trains,Avanti West Coast Delay Repay Cheques,repayment for late and cancelled trains,repayments,Delay Repay,cheque,Cheques,repayment,for,late and cancelled trains,FirstGroup,PLC,delay,rail,train,December 2019,delay compensation,UK,legally entitled,to,compensation,Getting a refund for a cancelled or delayed train,tickets,travel
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BEYC16 - . This carefully observed view of the recorded location fixes a specific place, use and moment for later historical comparison. The defining feature is Avanti West Coast Delay Repay Cheques,repayment for late and cancelled trains, West Coast Main Line, repayments, delay compensation. Other aspects of the subject include regional identity, built environment, rail mobility, documentary photography, visual archive, social landscape, commuter travel, before-and-after reference, urban change, transport interchange, local history, passenger connectivity, contemporary history, and station environment. For contemporary context, public ownership and integrated transport are closely related themes, especially where the issue becomes linking trains more effectively with buses and trams. For later comparison, the photograph preserves street furniture and boundaries at the recorded location, details that may look very different after closure or conversion. The photograph additionally reflects place identity, rail corridor, public transport network, rail modernisation, mass transit, local character, social history, and trackside infrastructure. Details involving cancelled, compensation, Cheques, trains, and repayment make the image more specific than a generic illustration and strengthen its local or historical value. By fixing the subject within the recorded location, the image preserves more than the headline object or building: it records part of the locality's everyday history. Its period value extends to public ownership and linking trains more effectively with buses and trams without losing the local specificity of the recorded location. The location additionally provides evidence for accessibility and linking trains more effectively with buses and trams in a form that can be compared with future views of the recorded location. The frame therefore remains a dated reference for the recorded location and the changing story of the subject shown.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,railway station,electric,EMU,BR Class 390,TOC,Train Operating Company,WCML,West Coast Main Line,WA1,at night,night,dusk,Cheshire,England,Warrington,franchise,delays,late trains,poor service,good service,improvement,rebrand,rebranding,First Group,Avanti,unit,train 390155,new livery,evening,fleet,refurbished Pendolino,carriage,public transport,repainted,overbooked,overcrowded,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AR6MXP - 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 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.
Over the course of the franchise several timetable changes are expected to be made
Warrington , Cheshire, England,UK, WA1 1LW
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUk,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,fashion,clothing,clothes,line,denim,jacket,train,platform,in front,waiting,for a,rain,WCML,West Coast Main Line,wearing a,Bow Down,I Been On,denims,Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,Beyoncé,Knowles-Carter,Beyonce,lyric,quote,quotes,top,blond,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK,CW1 2DB,CW1
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFFW8G - . This location-based editorial photograph from Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB in 2019 preserves a recognisable subject together with clues about how the place was used and presented at the time. The location is represented through Girl on station,WCML,West Coast Main Line,wearing a ,This is My Shit,Bow Down Bitches, jacket - Bow Down / I Been On. Another layer of the scene includes rail mobility, place identity, railway branding, rail transport, historical comparison, local history, rail modernisation, everyday life, public transport network, railway heritage, changing streetscape, archival record, regional identity, and social history. Viewed from the mid-2020s, the subject sits within continuing debate about fares, public ownership and linking trains more effectively with other transport. As a documentary source, the frame records the way the place functioned before later physical or commercial change at the recorded site in Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB. The wider local story also touches on visual archive, historic context, changing land use, station environment, commuter travel, regional rail, trackside infrastructure, and transport interchange. Details involving Bitches, station, wearing, Coast, and jacket give the scene useful specificity and strengthen its local, cultural or historical identity. For Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB, the photograph contributes to a cumulative visual history in which changes in use, signs, access and appearance can be traced over time. The location additionally provides evidence of fares and linking trains more effectively with other transport as part of the longer story of Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB. A further contemporary connection is public ownership and preserving railway heritage while modernising the network when considered against later change at Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB. The scene captures a point of historical comparison for future local research.
Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: @Hotpixuk,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,WCML,day,Cheshire,van,response,engineers,delay,delays,repay,overhead,lines,cables,theft,electric,supply,disruption,ice,snow,early morning,morning,cold,Newtork,Rail,winter,working,repair,repairs,the,Pway,tracks,track,WA4 6TU,WA4
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE02JP - . This location-based editorial photograph from Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU in 2019 preserves a recognisable subject together with clues about how the place was used and presented at the time. At the centre of the frame is West Coast Main Line,railway,Network Rail response Unit - Track Maintenance PWay,frosty winters day,Cheshire,England,UK. The scene additionally carries associations with commuter travel, local character, regional rail, trackside infrastructure, visual archive, everyday life, railway heritage, changing land use, rail corridor, before-and-after reference, rail transport, historical comparison, documentary photography, and archival record. In the mid-2020s, accessibility and reliability keep the subject current, particularly through preserving railway heritage while modernising the network. With the passage of time, the view documents signage, materials, design and everyday use around Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU. The photograph additionally reflects period detail, community identity, historic context, rail mobility, public realm, public transport network, regional identity, and contemporary social history. The combination of Network, response, frosty, winters, and Maintenance anchors the image to a recognisable activity, place or moment. A later view of Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU may show a very different setting, increasing the value of this precise record of its earlier appearance and activity. The image also provides a reference for accessibility and linking trains more effectively with other transport in a form that can be compared with future views of Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU. Another useful connection is reliability and making rail simpler and more dependable within the real-world context of Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU.
Runcorn Rd, Moore, Warrington , Cheshire,England,UK, WA4 6TU
Description
Keywords: @Hotpixuk,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,dusk,Cheshire,railway,rail,night,winter,road,WA1,for,replacement,services,morning,cold,icy,ice,frost,WA1 1LW,stations,WCML,outside,stand,stands,shelter,shelters,bus stop,bus stops,integrated,public transport,WBC,Warringtons Own Buses,the,Cheshire Cat
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE02NA - . An authentic period view of Bank Quay, Bank Quay Station, Warrington, Cheshire, England WA1 1LW in 2019, showing a subject whose value extends beyond the immediate scene into local history and changing social context. At the centre of the frame is Bank Quay station bus stop, dusk, Warrington, Cheshire,England,UK, WA1 - for rail replacement services. The scene additionally carries associations with archival record, rail corridor, rail mobility, urban mobility, changing streetscape, visual archive, passenger railway, transport interchange, local character, rail modernisation, before-and-after reference, commuter travel, railway branding, and historical comparison. From a 2025-onward perspective, the scene also connects with integrated transport, accessibility and preserving railway heritage while modernising the network. In the mid-2020s, active travel and infrastructure investment keep the subject current, particularly through the shift toward lower-carbon and more integrated transport. From an archival perspective, the image captures the visual character of the locality at the time as seen at Bank Quay, Bank Quay Station, Warrington, Cheshire, England WA1 1LW. Further connections include documentary photography, place identity, surface transport, everyday life, social history, historic context, period detail, and roadside environment. The combination of replacement, services, Warrington, and station anchors the image to a recognisable activity, place or moment. By fixing the subject within Bank Quay, Bank Quay Station, Warrington, Cheshire, England WA1 1LW, the image preserves more than the headline object or building: it records part of the locality's everyday history. Another useful connection is integrated transport and preserving railway heritage while modernising the network when considered against later change at Bank Quay, Bank Quay Station, Warrington, Cheshire, England WA1 1LW.
Bank Quay, Bank Quay Station, Warrington, Cheshire, England WA1 1LW
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 - . Photographed at Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1 in 2019, this is a specific real-world record of the subject, its setting and the period details surrounding it. The view centres on Virgin Pendolino train,platform two,Euston bound,WCML train,Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1. The image connects the immediate subject with regional identity, archival record, working-industry history, local history, engineering heritage, industrial material culture, place identity, passenger railway, local character, labour history, community identity, rail transport, industrial archaeology, and rail modernisation. The present-day relevance extends to public ownership and fares, while a wider concern is linking trains more effectively with other transport. Current discussion around this subject increasingly includes adaptive reuse alongside embodied carbon, with particular attention to the relationship between local geology, manufacturing and the built environment. For place-based research, the frame records evidence of how the subject fitted into ordinary life in this part of Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1. The setting also brings in commuter travel, changing land use, production works, transport interchange, traditional building materials, before-and-after reference, rail mobility, and manufacturing heritage. The combination of Pendolino, Station, train, bound, and Patten anchors the image to a recognisable activity, place or moment. By fixing the subject within Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1, the image preserves more than the headline object or building: it records part of the locality's everyday history. The photograph keeps a trace of local identity as part of Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1's history.
Warrington Bank Quay Station,Wilson Patten Street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,rail,BR,railways,infrastructure,West Midlands,England,UK,train,transport,public,WCML,Victoria Rd,Tamworth,B79 7JT,B79,Staffordshire,Staffs,overhead,cable,electrified,electrification,service,services,red,signal,light,split-level,Trent Valley,Cross Country,route,routes,trains,Midland,Midlands Engine,signalling,delays
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M84KK3 - Tamworth is a split-level railway station which serves the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England. It is an interchange between two main lines
the Cross Country Route and the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line (WCML). It has four platforms: Two low-level platforms (1 and 2) on the WCML, and, at a right-angle to, and passing over these, are two high-level platforms (3 and 4) served by the Cross Country Route. Historically there were chords connecting the two lines, but there is no longer any rail connection between them.
The original station was opened on 12 August 1839[1] by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, a forerunner of the Midland Railway, on its original route from Derby to Hampton-in-Arden meeting the London and Birmingham Railway for London. Later, in 1842, the B&DJ built a branch to Birmingham, terminating at Lawley Street railway station.
Tamworth high level platforms, looking north.
On 26 June 1847 the London and North Western Railway opened its Trent Valley Line passing at a right angle beneath the original Birmingham and Derby line with a new joint station designed by John William Livock.
The joint station did not acquire the High Level and Low Level names until 1924. Since it was expected that only local trains would call, the low level platforms were on loops, with the running lines left clear for expresses. At that time there was a north to west curve linking the, by then, Midland Railway line with the LNWR line. This curve was opened in 1847, and closed in March 1969
Victoria Rd, Tamworth, Staffordshire,West Midlands, England, UK, B79 7JT
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.
Garston, Liverpool, England, UK, L19 5PQ
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,WC,loo,toilet,pan,Virgin toilet,Virgin down the toilet,number two,number one,engaged,flush,WCML,TOC,Train Operating Company,toilet engaged,carriage toilet,down the toilet,talking,talking toilet,Richard Branson,Branson,West Coast Main Line,Virgin Trains talking toilet,sign,sticker,train carriage,rail,railway,public convenience,public conveniences,information,blockages,blocking the toilet,toilet blocked,dirty,clean,humour,toilet seat,out of order
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PB6G53 - Virgin introduces talking train lavatories
Virgin Trains has turned to humour to tackle the vexed problem of blocked lavatories
In the heyday of British Rail, gentlemen were urged to lift the seat when using the lavatories,
Now rather more explicit instructions are being given to Passengers.htm Target=_Blank>passengers on Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Trains services to the west midlands, north west England and Scotland.
After the lavatory door shuts passengers are greeted with a pre-recorded message.
It declares: Please don't flush nappies, sanitary towels, paper towels, gum, old phones, unpaid bills, junk mail, your ex's sweater, hopes, dreams or goldfish down this toilet.
Lavatories have already been adapted on the fleet of 20 Voyager trains and work is under way on its 56 tilting Pendolino trains.
At times there have been problems with lavatories being blocked by inappropriate items flushed down the bowl.
Passenger forums suggest that the issue of blocked lavatories is a major source of annoyance for the travelling public
This has prompted Virgin, which earlier this year was given an extension of its franchise on the West Coast Main Line, to act.
When lavatories get blocked it means trains have to be taken out of service, a spokesman said.
It is also a huge inconvenience to passengers especially on a long trip.
We wanted to do something which would grab people's attention and a talking toilet does get the message across.
They are being well received, but time will tell. We're trying to face a serious issue in a chummy, informal way.
The initiative was welcomed by Antony Smith, chief executive of the consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus.
It can be frustrating to find that toilets are out of order or blocked, so hopefully the announcements will help this happen less.
Anything that gets useful information across to passengers in a fun way is to be welcomed.
Preston, UK
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,WC,loo,toilet,pan,Virgin toilet,Virgin down the toilet,number two,number one,engaged,flush,WCML,TOC,Train Operating Company,toilet engaged,carriage toilet,down the toilet,talking,talking toilet,Richard Branson,Branson,West Coast Main Line,Virgin Trains talking toilet,sign,sticker,train carriage,rail,railway,public convenience,information,blockages,toilet blocked,dirty,clean,humour,toilet seat,out of order,Channel tunnel,services
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PB6G55 - Virgin introduces talking train lavatories
Virgin Trains has turned to humour to tackle the vexed problem of blocked lavatories
In the heyday of British Rail, gentlemen were urged to lift the seat when using the lavatories,
Now rather more explicit instructions are being given to Passengers.htm Target=_Blank>passengers on Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Trains services to the west midlands, north west England and Scotland.
After the lavatory door shuts passengers are greeted with a pre-recorded message.
It declares: Please don't flush nappies, sanitary towels, paper towels, gum, old phones, unpaid bills, junk mail, your ex's sweater, hopes, dreams or goldfish down this toilet.
Lavatories have already been adapted on the fleet of 20 Voyager trains and work is under way on its 56 tilting Pendolino trains.
At times there have been problems with lavatories being blocked by inappropriate items flushed down the bowl.
Passenger forums suggest that the issue of blocked lavatories is a major source of annoyance for the travelling public
This has prompted Virgin, which earlier this year was given an extension of its franchise on the West Coast Main Line, to act.
When lavatories get blocked it means trains have to be taken out of service, a spokesman said.
It is also a huge inconvenience to passengers especially on a long trip.
We wanted to do something which would grab people's attention and a talking toilet does get the message across.
They are being well received, but time will tell. We're trying to face a serious issue in a chummy, informal way.
The initiative was welcomed by Antony Smith, chief executive of the consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus.
It can be frustrating to find that toilets are out of order or blocked, so hopefully the announcements will help this happen less.
Anything that gets useful information across to passengers in a fun way is to be welcomed.
Preston, UK
--Scotland--UK-PB6G56.jpg)
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Scotland,UK,Overhead,line,cable,wire,wires,electric,electric trains,electrification,railway station,Glasgow,TOC,overhead,cables,danger,northbound WCML,WCML,25 kV AC overhead system,overhead system,system,dangers,25 kV AC,25kv,AC,danger overhead wires,danger overhead cables,SPT,Strathclyde Partnership for Transport,Transport in Glasgow,Argyle Line,lines,25kV AC,rail,railway,transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PB6G56 - . This contextual photograph captures the visible identity of the recorded location, as photographed in 2018. The image record centres upon Overhead electrified lines, Scotrail, Motherwell Station and EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit), Scotland, UK. Further features of the subject include public transport network, railway operations, rail heritage, regional rail, train travel, passenger connectivity, mass transit, integrated transport, commuter transport, rail infrastructure, transport interchange, and sustainable mobility. Modern coverage of station investment frequently reaches beyond the immediate scene to questions of public ownership, decarbonisation and better links with buses and trams. Documentary value is strengthened by the precise setting at the recorded location, where even ordinary details of frontage, equipment, signs, traffic or public activity may disappear as the area evolves, specifically in relation to Overhead electrified lines. The view also records themes involving rail corridor, rail modernisation, rail transport, intercity travel, trackside infrastructure, passenger railway. Further recorded details include Motherwell railway station, Argyle Line, train operating company, franchise. For present-day editorial use, rail accessibility can also illustrate debates about reliability and town-centre connectivity, particularly where these affect lower-carbon mobility. The lasting documentary value lies in its record of the appearance of the built environment, local character, period design, changes of use, and public activity within the surrounding area. For future comparison, the scene preserves signage and branding, community life, physical infrastructure, commercial identity, and local continuity as part of the area's longer social history. That gives this view of the recorded location continuing value for local history, retrospective reporting and visual comparison, specifically in relation to Overhead electrified lines.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,rail,freight,railfreight,industry,industrial,services,service,at WBQ,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1,WCML,Main,line,at,WBQ,Heidelberg Cement,Hanson Cement,Hanson,66750,castle cement,wagons,pulling,GBRf,transporting,transport,cement,wagon,owned,by,HeidelbergCement,Castle Hill,Maidenhead in,Berkshire
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JHBJWG - Hanson Cement is a cement production company located in the United Kingdom. It was called Castle Cement until it was rebranded in 2009. The company is now owned by HeidelbergCement. Hanson Cement has a long history dating back to the early 19th century, when it was founded as the Portland Cement Company.
The company was formed in 1981 through an amalgamation of three firms:
Tunnel Portland Cement Company Ltd (founded 1874) with plants at West Thurrock, Essex (1874), Pitstone, Buckinghamshire (1937) and Padeswood, Flintshire (1949).
Ketton Portland Cement Company Ltd (founded 1929) with a plant at Ketton, Rutland.
Ribblesdale Cement Ltd (founded 1937) with a plant at Clitheroe, Lancashire.
The company was acquired by HeidelbergCement in May 2007.
In 2005, the company's depot in Birmingham was sold and subsequently redeveloped as Curzon Gate.
Environmental concerns
The company admitted to numerous environmental offences over the years leading up to 2009, during a case in which it was fined 250,000 pounds by the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) in February 2010.
Operations
The head office is in Castle Hill at Maidenhead in Berkshire, and the works are located in Ketton in Rutland, Buckley in Flintshire, Clitheroe and Avonmouth near Bristol. The company has a marine terminal at Avonmouth that is used for the importation of cement in bulk, with samples from there tested at the Ketton site's laboratory each week to ensure they meet British Standards. Cement is also imported through the Humber ports.
Hanson Cement holds an open day at the Ketton production facility every year in July.
Warrington Bank Quay, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GBRf,66750,pulling,transporting,castle cement,wagons,at,WBQ,Bristol Panel Signal Box,railfreight,Cheshire,services,WCML,Heidelberg Cement,Hanson,Hanson Cement,line,UK,industrial,WA1,Main,England,service,industry,freight,rail,transport,diesel,engine,owned,by,HeidelbergCement,Castle Hill,Maidenhead in,Berkshire
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JHBJWR - Hanson Cement is a cement production company located in the United Kingdom. It was called Castle Cement until it was rebranded in 2009. The company is now owned by HeidelbergCement. Hanson Cement has a long history dating back to the early 19th century, when it was founded as the Portland Cement Company.
The company was formed in 1981 through an amalgamation of three firms:
Tunnel Portland Cement Company Ltd (founded 1874) with plants at West Thurrock, Essex (1874), Pitstone, Buckinghamshire (1937) and Padeswood, Flintshire (1949).
Ketton Portland Cement Company Ltd (founded 1929) with a plant at Ketton, Rutland.
Ribblesdale Cement Ltd (founded 1937) with a plant at Clitheroe, Lancashire.
The company was acquired by HeidelbergCement in May 2007.
In 2005, the company's depot in Birmingham was sold and subsequently redeveloped as Curzon Gate.
Environmental concerns
The company admitted to numerous environmental offences over the years leading up to 2009, during a case in which it was fined 250,000 pounds by the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) in February 2010.
Operations
The head office is in Castle Hill at Maidenhead in Berkshire, and the works are located in Ketton in Rutland, Buckley in Flintshire, Clitheroe and Avonmouth near Bristol. The company has a marine terminal at Avonmouth that is used for the importation of cement in bulk, with samples from there tested at the Ketton site's laboratory each week to ensure they meet British Standards. Cement is also imported through the Humber ports.
Hanson Cement holds an open day at the Ketton production facility every year in July.
Warrington Bank Quay, Cheshire, England, UK, WA1
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,carriage,Engine,66746,at,Scotland,luxury,tourist,experience,attraction,UK,GB,Great Britain,rail,railway,platform,on the platform,Perth,train,transport,tourism,hauled,famous,WCML,Scottish,summer day,British,British Rail,heritage,old,tour,maroon,yellow,trainspotting,trainspotter,track,renovated,hotpix.org.uk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MGMJT0 - . This location-specific image from 14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK in 2018 provides a visual record of the subject in everyday context, useful for both contemporary editorial work and later historical comparison. The subject captured here is Royal Scot Engine 66746 at Perth Station. The wider scene also brings together regional identity, before-and-after reference, heritage asset, visual archive, documentary photography, local history, historic townscape, cityscape history, historical comparison, period architecture, heritage landmark, archival record, period detail, and built heritage. For current editorial use, embodied carbon and tourism provide additional context, especially through the balance between conservation, retrofit and modern accessibility. The image fixes signage and branding within 14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK at one identifiable point, providing a benchmark against new construction. The subject also sits alongside conservation architecture, urban fabric, historic streetscape, changing land use, social history, conservation interest, changing streetscape, and local character. Elements such as Perth, Royal, Engine, 66746, and Station add documentary specificity and may become increasingly useful when compared with later records. A later view of 14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK may show a very different setting, increasing the value of this precise record of its earlier appearance and activity. The wider significance includes embodied carbon and the balance between conservation, retrofit and modern accessibility within the real-world context of 14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK. Another strand within the photograph is embodied carbon and keeping older buildings useful without erasing their distinctive character within the specific setting of 14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK. The record includes a trace of local identity for later comparison.
14A St. Leonards Bridge, Perth PH2 0DR, UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonysmith,@HotpixUK,Interior,of an,overcrowded,Virgin train,Virgin,train,rail,TOC,franchise,West Coast Mainline,Voyager,passengers,crowded,UK,British Rail,privatisation,UK train network,franchise model,inside,busy Pendalino train,busy Pendolino train,full,busy,West Coast Franchise,night,dusk,evening,seats,seating,passenger reservations,Virgin train tickets,Class 390,British Railway Class 390,Alstom,WCML,West Coast Main Line,Angel Trains,Department Of Transport
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy MM99TA - In 2002, Virgin Trains in the UK began operating custom-designed Pendolino trains known as the Class 390 on its West Coast Main Line (WCML) franchise. The 53 9-car trains were constructed by Alstom and are leased by Virgin Trains from Angel Trains.
Owing to the failure of the WCML upgrade to provide in-cab signalling, these units are limited in service to 125 mph (200 km/h) operation rather than their 140 mph (225 km/h) design speed. In 2006, Virgin Trains announced that, over the following three years, they would be examining the possibility of running the trains at 135 mph (215 km/h) through the Trent Valley as part of their new WCML Franchise Proposal.
An Alstom Class 390 Pendolino in Birmingham
The Class 390 Pendolino were maintained by Alstom (West Coast Traincare) under contract to Virgin Trains until 2012. The main maintenance locations are Wembley, Midlands (Oxley, Wolverhampton), Manchester (Longsight) and Glasgow (Polmadie), as well as Liverpool (for minor work only) and several Traincare Points along the line of route (such as Euston and Carlisle). Headquarters for West Coast Traincare moved from the former Metro-Cammell factory at Washwood Heath in Birmingham upon its closure in November 2005 to Manchester Longsight depot with some functions being based at a new office facility at Oxley depot.
In 2008 DfT announced that 31 of the existing 9-car sets would be lengthened to 11 cars to increase capacity. Four new 11-car sets were also to be built. Angel Trains ordered the vehicles from Alstom in September 2008. Virgin Rail Projects has been selected to introduce the new trains. The longer units would require major infrastructure changes to allow stations and depots to accommodate the 11-car units.
Description
Keywords: Warrington,Wigan,WCML,West,Coast,seat,reservation,Ticket,privatisation,Orange,railway,station,GB,UK,United,Kingdom,Great,britain,British,travel,transport,public,mass,transit,Seat Reservation,Rail Tickets,British Rail Tickets on a timetable,Public transport,mass transit,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,unique,images,special,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,multiple
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy FDNNXP - . An on-location photograph from Wigan,Lancs,England,UK in 2016, showing the named subject as part of a wider social, commercial, cultural or physical setting rather than as an isolated object. The main point of reference is British Rail train Tickets on a timetable, England,UK. A broader reading of the photograph includes rail modernisation, rail infrastructure, station environment, social history, community identity, changing streetscape, commuter travel, historical comparison, regional rail, before-and-after reference, railway branding, public realm, local character, and documentary photography. In present-day coverage, the subject reaches into rail reform and station investment, not least because of the role of public transport in reducing congestion and emissions. The archival value lies partly in recording local activity and public use around Wigan,Lancs,England,UK before different community use alters the character of the place. The subject also sits alongside urban rail transport, period detail, contemporary social history, visual archive, place identity, rail mobility, integrated transport, and local history. Details involving train, British, Tickets, and timetable make the image more specific than a generic view and strengthen its local or historical value. By fixing the subject within Wigan,Lancs,England,UK, the image preserves more than the headline object or building: it records part of the locality's everyday history. The scene further reflects rail reform and the archival value of railway branding and infrastructure as operators change in a form that can be compared with future views of Wigan,Lancs,England,UK. Its period value extends to station investment and the reshaping of Britain's passenger railway in the mid-2020s within the real-world context of Wigan,Lancs,England,UK. The scene captures a trace of local identity as part of Wigan,Lancs,England,UK's history.
Wigan,Lancs,England,UK
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 - . Carlisle Citadel Railway Station, Cumbria, stock-photo/gotonysmith-England.html?sortBy=relevant&pseudoid=237DAF28-A4ED-4448-8173-C0E81ABEEC6F Target=_Blank>England, UK. Photographed at Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, Court Square, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, UK CA1 1QZ. The photograph was taken on 06 July 2015. This editorial stock image documents the subject as it appeared at that time, preserving a clear record of the place, its appearance and the everyday details surrounding it. The scene is closely associated with Carlisle Citadel Railway Station, Cumbria, WCML, Avanti, Station, bridge, platfoems, Victorian, deserted and platform, adding specific subject detail and useful search context without losing the documentary focus on the main subject. The scene has strong relevance to railway travel, public transport, passenger infrastructure and the everyday operation of Britain's rail network. It can illustrate editorial stories about stations, train journeys, commuting, regional connectivity, rail investment, rolling stock, freight, signals, platforms, accessibility and the relationship between railways and the places they serve. Visible railway furniture, signs, tracks, platforms, trains, signals or station buildings help place the photograph firmly in the practical environment experienced by passengers and railway staff. As a dated documentary image it also offers a useful record of transport infrastructure, branding and passenger facilities at the time the photograph was made. Search themes include British rail travel, railway stations, passenger journeys, tracks, platforms, signals, rolling stock, freight, regional connectivity and transport infrastructure. The scene is particularly useful for illustrating how railway facilities, signs and operational surroundings looked at a known point in time. The combination of a named subject, precise location and capture date gives the image particular value to editors who need a real, identifiable place rather than a generic illustrative photograph.
Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, Court Square, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, UK CA1 1QZ
Description
Keywords: VT WCML West Coast Main Line Mainline dusk,next,Virgin,train,to,night,nighttime,train,calling,at,railroad,track,railtrack,BR,British,Rail,BritishRail,GoTonySmith,Carlisle,Station,railway,Cumbria,information,indicator,sign,WCML,service,on time,evening,rail,infrastructure,services,cross-border,on-time,dusk
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED8PPR - . Empty Platform at Carlisle Station, Cumbria at dusk, indicator showing WCML Avanti train to Edinburgh. Photographed at Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, Court Square, Carlisle, Cumbria, stock-photo/gotonysmith-England.html?sortBy=relevant&pseudoid=237DAF28-A4ED-4448-8173-C0E81ABEEC6F Target=_Blank>England, UK CA1 1QZ. The photograph was taken on 11 December 2014. This editorial stock image documents the subject as it appeared at that time, preserving a clear record of the place, its appearance and the everyday details surrounding it. The low-light or evening setting is part of the subject, bringing illuminated signs, windows and street lighting into the documentary character of the scene. Signage, lettering, logos, numbers or other visible information form an important part of the record, helping identify the subject and capture contemporary branding or public messaging. The scene is closely associated with empty, deserted, platform, on-time, trains, Avanti, showing, Haymarket, Edinburgh and dusk, adding specific subject detail and useful search context without losing the documentary focus on the main subject. The scene has strong relevance to railway travel, public transport, passenger infrastructure and the everyday operation of Britain's rail network. It can illustrate editorial stories about stations, train journeys, commuting, regional connectivity, rail investment, rolling stock, freight, signals, platforms, accessibility and the relationship between railways and the places they serve. Visible railway furniture, signs, tracks, platforms, trains, signals or station buildings help place the photograph firmly in the practical environment experienced by passengers and railway staff. As a dated documentary image it also offers a useful record of transport infrastructure, branding and passenger facilities at the time the photograph was made. Search themes include British rail travel, railway stations, passenger journeys, tracks, platforms, signals, rolling stock, freight, regional connectivity and transport infrastructure.
Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, Court Square, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, UK CA1 1QZ
Description
Keywords: Townhall,B3 3DQ,B33DQ,nighttime,time,winter,autumn,fun,tourism,tourist,west midland,west midlands,council,virgin,train,trains,virgin trains,newstreet,New street,WCML,council house,Dhruva Mistry,The river,Gotonysmith,hotpixuk,@hotpixuk,City,centre,tourist,tourism,travel,Birmingham City,Birmingham city Centre,at,city
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED8PP1 - Victoria Square is a pedestrianised public square in Birmingham, England. It is home to both the Town Hall and the Council House, and directly adjacent to Chamberlain Square.
The square is often considered to be the centre of Birmingham, and is the point from where local road sign distances are measured. It is a short walk from St. Philip's Cathedral on Colmore Row and is on the main pedestrian route between the Bull Ring and Brindleyplace areas. Three major roads, Colmore Row, New Street and Paradise Street meet there.
Victoria Square, Birmingham, England, UK, B3 3DQ
Description
Keywords: Townhall,B3 3DQ,B33DQ,nighttime,time,winter,autumn,fun,tourism,tourist,west midland,west midlands,council,virgin,train,trains,virgin trains,newstreet,New street,WCML,council house,Dhruva Mistry,The river,Gotonysmith,hotpixuk,@hotpixuk,City,centre,tourist,tourism,travel,Birmingham City,Birmingham city Centre,at,city
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED8PP4 - Victoria Square is a pedestrianised public square in Birmingham, England. It is home to both the Town Hall and the Council House, and directly adjacent to Chamberlain Square.
The square is often considered to be the centre of Birmingham, and is the point from where local road sign distances are measured. It is a short walk from St. Philip's Cathedral on Colmore Row and is on the main pedestrian route between the Bull Ring and Brindleyplace areas. Three major roads, Colmore Row, New Street and Paradise Street meet there.
Victoria Square, Birmingham, England, UK, B3 3DQ
Description
Keywords: Townhall,B3 3DQ,B33DQ,nighttime,time,winter,autumn,fun,tourism,tourist,west midland,west midlands,council,virgin,train,trains,virgin trains,newstreet,New street,WCML,council house,Dhruva Mistry,The river,Gotonysmith,hotpixuk,@hotpixuk,City,centre,tourist,tourism,travel,Birmingham City,Birmingham city Centre,at,city
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED8PPE - Victoria Square is a pedestrianised public square in Birmingham, England. It is home to both the Town Hall and the Council House, and directly adjacent to Chamberlain Square.
The square is often considered to be the centre of Birmingham, and is the point from where local road sign distances are measured. It is a short walk from St. Philip's Cathedral on Colmore Row and is on the main pedestrian route between the Bull Ring and Brindleyplace areas. Three major roads, Colmore Row, New Street and Paradise Street meet there.
Victoria Square, Birmingham, England, UK, B3 3DQ
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Crewe works,rail,railway,trains,engine,transport,history,BR,British Railways,UK,Great Britain,APT,seats,standing not allowed,British,InterCityAPT sign,train formation,for high speed train,InterCity train,1970s,1980s,WCML,APT-E,APTE,Crewe Works,CreweWorks,advanced,tilting,seat,plan,area,areas,CW1 2DB,CW1,poster,guide,instruction
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AGMNXA - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood for 23 years.
Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1
Description
Keywords: Mainline,BR,British,Rail,railtrack,RD,Road,north,NW1,2BT,NW12BT,railway,train,rail,railroad,Network,Networkrail,West,Coast,main,line,engineer,London,and,Birmingham,&,main-line,1833,office,building,looking,up,Gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,woke,culture-wars,culture wars,war on woke,WCML
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DCE78J - Euston Station London
Robert Stephenson FRS (16 October 1803 12 October 1859) was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer
many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were the joint efforts of father and son.
Euston Railway Station, Euston, London, England UK NW1 2BT
Description
Keywords: Warrington Bank Quay,Parker St,Warrington,Cheshire,UK,gotonysmith,where,to,stand,on,railway,board,first,class,VT,Virgin,trains,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,WA1 1LW,train,station,platforms,area,history,historic,signal,signals,overhead,lines,electrified,post,WCML
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CFEFHN - Gold Zone Virgin trains sign, Warrington Bank Quay, Parker St, Warrington, Cheshire , UK
Virgin Trains introduced three sliding classes of travel. Instead of First and Standard, you'd have Gold Zone, Blue Zone and Purple Zone. Gold Zone was full First Class and available to full-fare First Open ticket holders only. This would always take up at least 2 of the First Class vehicles, but in the peaks would take up all of them.
'Purple Zone was Standard Class, available to all Standard ticket holders, and would take up at least 3 of the Standard Class vehicles. The other vehicles would be the Blue Zone, which was where it got controversial. The Blue Zone was available only to holders of full-fare undiscounted Standard Open singles and returns, but also contained Weekend First accommodation on weekends and off-peak. On weekends, it would include both First and Standard accommodation, but in the peaks Standard only.'
Warrington Bank Quay, Parker St, Warrington, Cheshire , UK, WA1 1LW
Description
Keywords: arrives,departs,arriving,departing,gotonysmith,dusk,dawn,platform,two,Bank,Quay,Railway,Station,Warrington,Cheshire,UK,british,rail,railway,railways,unilever,works,factory,fast,high,speed,network,Europe,european,gotonysmith,Warringtonian,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,buffet & Bar,bar,WCML,west Coast Main Line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF0NKN - . A Virgin train arriving at Bank Quay west coast mainline Railway Station, Warrington, Cheshire, UK at dusk, next to buffet & Bar. Photographed on 26 July 2009. The recorded location is Bank Quay Railway Station, Warrington, Cheshire, UK. From a heritage perspective, cash, banknotes and banking equipment document the everyday financial system before contactless cards and mobile payments became dominant
Bank buildings, notes, coins, cheques and cash machines also trace the history of regional banking, savings institutions and the changing design of money. The wider historical story is that railway scenes connect industrial-age engineering with everyday passenger mobility
Station architecture, platforms, signal boxes, ticketing and rolling stock show how the network has evolved from steam and regional companies through British Rail, privatisation and today's increasingly digital passenger railway. In the longer view, seasonal and low-light photography can emphasise the relationship between natural conditions and the built environment
Dusk, snow, mist or dramatic cloud often reveal lighting, silhouettes and reflective surfaces that are less apparent in ordinary daylight. As of 2026, cash is used less often than in earlier decades but remains significant, particularly for vulnerable consumers and some small businesses
FCA access-to-cash rules require designated banks and building societies to assess local provision and address significant gaps, making images of ATMs, notes and former branches relevant to financial inclusion. In the present 2026 context, britain's railway is in another period of structural change as legislation for Great British Railways progresses, bringing infrastructure and passenger services into a more unified publicly owned model
Images of earlier operators, ticket machines and station branding help illustrate how quickly the passenger railway changes.
Bank Quay Railway Station, Warrington, Cheshire, UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,HotpixUk,routes,station,WCML,Wallgate,Greater Manchester,public transport,bus franchising,success,Labour,party,bus stop,at,Transport for Greater Manchester,TfGM,yellow,town,commuter,transport,buses,services,public transport reform,public control,policy,regional,mayor,mayoral,transport policy,devolution,shelter,levelling up,local government,GMCA,Greater Manchester Combined Authority,Avanti West Coast station,signage,everyday
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3EF6C1G - A Bee Network double decker bus on stock-photo/gotonysmith-Route.html?sortBy=relevant&pseudoid=237DAF28-A4ED-4448-8173-C0E81ABEEC6F Target=_Blank>route 610 waits beside the bus stop outside Wigan North Western railway station on Wallgate in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The yellow and black livery shows the rebranded public transport identity introduced across Greater Manchester and the move to bring buses back under local public control through franchising. The image captures an everyday intermodal transport scene, with the bus stop shelter, station approach, red brick town centre buildings, paving and passengers all giving useful editorial context for urban mobility, commuting and local regeneration. Wigan was among the early areas included in the Bee Network bus rollout, making the picture relevant to stories about transport devolution, bus franchising, regional mayors, public ownership, fares, ticketing, accessibility, climate policy and alternatives to private car travel. Route 610 links the bus network with rail journeys from Wigan North Western, an important West Coast Main Line station managed by Avanti West Coast. The overcast sky and muted daylight suggest a typical cloudy spring or autumn day in the North West of England, with the bright bee yellow bus standing out against the darker station forecourt and Victorian commercial architecture. The scene also shows the practical street level reality behind transport policy: a local bus, a railway station, a simple interchange and pedestrians moving through a town centre. This makes it useful for news and feature use about local bus services, northern transport, rail and bus integration, town centre access, passenger information, bus stops, wayfinding, regional identity and everyday services. This documentary stock image can illustrate Greater Manchester Combined Authority policy, Transport for Greater Manchester, bus reform, public transport investment, town centre connectivity, sustainable travel, commuter journeys, local government transport strategy and the changing visual identity of buses in Wigan.
Bee Network route 610 bus at Wigan North Western station, Wigan, Greater Manchester, with Andy Burnh
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,rail,BR,infrastructure,West Midlands,England,UK,transport,public,WCML,West Coast Main Line,Victoria Rd,Tamworth,B79 7JT,B79,Staffordshire,Staffs,overhead,cable,electrified,morning,sunrise,electrification,early,sign,signs,TOC,train,operating,company,managed,by,cuts,services,route,routes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M84KJT - Tamworth is a split-level railway station which serves the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England. It is an interchange between two main lines
the Cross Country Route and the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line (WCML). It has four platforms: Two low-level platforms (1 and 2) on the WCML, and, at a right-angle to, and passing over these, are two high-level platforms (3 and 4) served by the Cross Country Route. Historically there were chords connecting the two lines, but there is no longer any rail connection between them.
The original station was opened on 12 August 1839[1] by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, a forerunner of the Midland Railway, on its original route from Derby to Hampton-in-Arden meeting the London and Birmingham Railway for London. Later, in 1842, the B&DJ built a branch to Birmingham, terminating at Lawley Street railway station.
Tamworth high level platforms, looking north.
On 26 June 1847 the London and North Western Railway opened its Trent Valley Line passing at a right angle beneath the original Birmingham and Derby line with a new joint station designed by John William Livock.
The joint station did not acquire the High Level and Low Level names until 1924. Since it was expected that only local trains would call, the low level platforms were on loops, with the running lines left clear for expresses. At that time there was a north to west curve linking the, by then, Midland Railway line with the LNWR line. This curve was opened in 1847, and closed in March 1969
Victoria Rd, Tamworth, Staffordshire,West Midlands, England, UK, B79 7JT
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,Hotpixuk,Parker street,Warrington,Cheshire,England,UK,WA1 1LW,rail,transport,station,RMT,union,train,delays,cancelled,display,indicator,action,Rail,Maritime and Transport,Workers,WCML,West Coast mainline,defend,pay,jobs,conditions,pay increase,over,network,negotiated settlement,rail employers,unsafe,dispute,strike action,striking workers,ASLEF,Avanti,cancel
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JEKRB7 - The RMT was formed in 1990 through a merger of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and the National Union of Seamen (NUS) to create a single transport industry trade union. Its president is Alex Gordon and its general secretary Mick Lynch
Rail union RMT launch 3 days of national strike action across the railway network.
Over 50,000 railway workers will walkout as part of 3 days of national strike action later this month, in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.
The union will shut down the country's railway network on 21st, 23rd and 25th June, due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT.
Network Rail and the train operating companies have subjected their staff to multiyear pay freezes and plan to cut thousands of jobs which will make the railways unsafe.
Despite intense talks with the rail bosses, The RMT has not been able to secure a pay proposal nor a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Warrington Bank Quay railway station, Parker street,Warrington,Cheshire, England,UK,WA1 1LW
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,station,train,trains,APT,BREL,WCML,West Coast mainline,370006,Crewe,APT-P,Crewe Heritage Centre,Intercity,side,BREL and British Rail Research Division Advanced Passenger Train prototype,research,engineering,advanced,passenger,rail,railway,railways,development,developments,innovation,innovate,British,Great,GB,United Kingdom,West Coast,mainline,main line
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JX2T7D - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was a tilting high speed train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s, for use on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The WCML contained many curves, and the APT pioneered the concept of active tilting to address these, a feature that has since been copied on designs around the world. The experimental APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 miles per hour (245.1 km/h), only to be bested by the service prototype APT-P at 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood until September 2006.
Development of the service prototypes dragged on, and by the late 1970s the design had been under construction for a decade and the trains were still not ready for service. The election of Margaret Thatcher brought matters to a head and she alluded to funding cuts for the project. Facing the possibility of cancellation, BR management decided to put the prototypes into service, with the first runs along the London-Glasgow route taking place in December 1981. The result was a media circus when every problem large or small received front-page coverage and the entire project derided as an example of BR's incompetence. The trains were withdrawn from service again by the end of the month, to the great amusement of the press.
In spite of the APT's troubled history, the design was highly influential and directly inspired other high speed trains such as the Pendolino. The considerable work on electrification that was carried out hand-in-hand with APT was put to good use with newer non-tilting designs like the British Rail Class 91. The APT's tilt system was returned to the WCML on the British Rail Class 390, based on the Fiat Ferroviaria tilting train design and built by Alstom.
Crewe Heritage Centre, Vernon Way,Crewe,Cheshire,England,UK, CW1 2DB
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,at,North Lanarkshire,Scotland,UK,Train,Red,325007 royal mail,DB,DB Schenker,Schenker,TOC,train operating Company,class325,Class 325,BR,British Rail,mail train,sorting,office,WCML,West Coast Main Line,post train,postal train,British Rail Class 325,EMU,Class 319 EMU,electric multiple unit,Overhead,lines,Class350,class 350,TOPS,numbers,oleo buffers,Class 325 fleet,DB Cargo UK,Train for post
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy PCTA1E - The British Rail Class 325 is a 4-car dual-voltage 25 kV alternating current (AC) or 750 V direct current (DC) electric multiple unit (EMU) train used for postal train services. While the Class 325 bears a resemblance to the Networker series of DMUs and EMUs, they are based on the Class 319 EMU. The Class 325 was British Rail's newest unit to take over parcels workings on electrified lines.
In the early 1990s, the parcels sector of British Rail was seeking a fleet of multiple units that would be more cost-effective to run than the locomotive hauled stock it was using. The initial proposal was to convert a number of redundant Class 307 units that were in the process of being withdrawn from passenger service into Class 300 parcels units. Owing to the age of these units however, it was subsequently decided to procure a fleet of new trains. These units, which were ordered in 1994, were initially given the TOPS classification Class 350, before being changed to Class 325.
The 16 units were built at ABB Derby between 1995 and 1996. They are very similar to Class 319 units, sharing the same traction equipment and body design, but are fitted with cabs of the same design as the ABB Networker family.
TOPS numbers are on the front of the cabs under the driver's window in a non-standard typeface (Plantin, the then corporate typeface of Royal Mail), and the units were numbered 325001 - 325016. The units are fitted with large round oleo buffers, and have no gangways between carriages. They carry a livery of Royal Mail red, with two yellow stripes running along the lower bodyside before turning sharply backwards and pointing up towards the roof, black cab window surrounds and a full yellow warning panel. Each set is made up of four cars, with roller doors in place of sliding ones and no windows. Each car has two roller shutter sliding doors on each side and is designed to hold up to 12 tonnes. They have a pantograph to pick up power from the 25 kV AC overhead lines, and also a s
Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,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,strike,discount,expensive,dirty,disruption
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M1F5RY - 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
Liverpool Lime Street Station, West Coast Mainline, Merseyside, England, UK, L1 1NY
Description
Keywords: HotpixUk,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,UK,England,English,WCML,at night,night,West Coast,Mainline,platform,Network Rail Windhoff Multi Purpose Vehicles,Network Rail,Windhoff,Multi Purpose Vehicles,Windhoff CargoSprinter,maintenance,track maintenance,diesel multiple unit,snow plough,de-icing,de-icer,MPV,repair,BR,Clearing Britains Railways,Clearing,Britains,Railways,anti-freeze,antifreeze,antifreezing,Multi Purpose Vehicle,98951,MultiPurpose Vehicle,cold
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AAT2K2 - The Multiple-purpose Vehicle or MPV is a purpose-built departmental derivative of a diesel multiple unit. Twenty-five two-car units were ordered by Railtrack to enable it to replace its varied collection of ageing departmental vehicles, many of which were converted from redundant passenger stock.
The vehicles were built in Germany by Windhoff. The design is based on the Windhoff CargoSprinter units that are operated by Deutsche Bahn (Germany) and CRT Group (Australia). Normally a unit consists of one powered vehicle fitted with twin 265 kW (355 hp) Railpac diesel engines, semi-permanently coupled to an unpowered slave unit without engines. The later orders for the South East of England and for overhead line replacement are instead composed of two powered units, to give better acceleration and top speed. When first built there were problems with the vehicles being 'out of gauge' when running empty.
The concept of the design is that each vehicle has a driving cab and an under floor engine/transmission with Multiple unit (MU) control. The majority of each vehicle is a flat load bed that can carry combinations of 10-foot and 20-foot modules that are secured using the locking system for ISO standard containers. Modules can be changed as required to suit current requirements.
In 2005, two powered MPV units were used to form a Freight Multiple Unit for freight trials, made by coupling standard freight wagons in between the pair of MPV units. Temporary multiple unit control cables were run along the wagons in order to connect the two MPVs, which are acting as locomotives working as a push-pull train.
Bank Quay, Warrington,Cheshire, England, UK, WA1 1LW
