Caledonian Sleeper liveried 73966 is heading N through Newcastle this afternoon booked through platform 2 at 1520 but is currently 1 hour 40 mins late

I'm not sure if this is the first time a Class 73 has been through Newcastle.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-so...d-34456616

Numbers exceed expectations on Borders Railway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-34749022

Abelio fined for performance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-34749022

Abelio fined for performance.

I bet that amount, whilst a hit, will be peanuts compared to what they get for running it.

I bet that amount, whilst a hit, will be peanuts compared to what they get for running it.

It probably will to be honest.
In understand it will be reinvested too, so it wouldn't be beyond possible that Abellio benefit in some way.

The article has a link to a previous story that stated First paid back £576,000 in the year up to the their franchise ending.
Abellio have met half of that total in the first quarter!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-so...d-34913650

It looks like there will be a bit of bother, following a compulsory purchase order placed on a viaduct on the new Borders Railway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35153722

Scotrail unveils £475m improvement plan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35153722

Scotrail unveils £475m improvement plan

Good news for the Waverley to Queen Street route. Hopefully they'll have more cars than at present, because it doesn't half get busy at peak times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-gl...t-35195157
Tenders sought for Queen St redevelopment.

The storms have caused additional issues to the south west of Scotland.
The section between Girvan and Stranraer is closed, due to an issue with Laggansarroch Viaduct.

The following link is interesting.
http://www.ayrshireriverstrust.org/blog/...uct-works/
In it, they talk about the diversion of the river underneath the bridge.
I wonder what sort of impact it has had?

There is a bus replacement service - which taking into account the roads up there, will be a nightmare.

Anyone off to Glasgow soon?

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/QueenStreetTunnel

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-35323728

Looks like Westminster aren't happy with the Scottish 140mph train plans.

Anyone off to Glasgow soon?

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/QueenStreetTunnel

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-35766873

The whole network could come to a halt, should there be an issue during the 20 week period.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-35766873

The whole network could come to a halt, should there be an issue during the 20 week period.

I'm in Edinburgh on the 31st, and I was planning to pop along to Glasgow for the new Enviros. I think I'll use CrossCountry (*shudder*) between Central and Edinburgh instead!

I'm in Edinburgh on the 31st, and I was planning to pop along to Glasgow for the new Enviros. I think I'll use CrossCountry (*shudder*) between Central and Edinburgh instead!

Good luck! I am intending on staying well away from the place until it is sorted.

Lots of discussion about the future of the Borders Railway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-so...d-35833013.

Has anyone done it yet?

Lots of discussion about the future of the Borders Railway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-so...d-35833013.

Has anyone done it yet?

Yeah I did it a good few months back now. Was alright; good to see communities served easily with Edinburgh but I wouldn't go out of my way to go on it again. Found it rather boring. The idea of building it mostly single track is also somewhat daft this day in age. Understandably for some sections where there is no clearance for it, but to have the majority of the route singled isn't right. It takes one train to be late to knacker the rest of the services up.

Yeah I did it a good few months back now. Was alright; good to see communities served easily with Edinburgh but I wouldn't go out of my way to go on it again. Found it rather boring. The idea of building it mostly single track is also somewhat daft this day in age. Understandably for some sections where there is no clearance for it, but to have the majority of the route singled isn't right. It takes one train to be late to knacker the rest of the services up.

Yeah, the single track sections did puzzle me to be honest.

Metro Radio are playing a lot of adverts for Visit Scotland/Border Railway at the mo.
Tying it in with tourist attractions along the line.

I'm doomed!
Scotrail are striking and I can't get a train to Edinburgh tomorrow.
Queen Street is also mostly shut
I may end up going home via Carlisle!

I'm doomed!
Scotrail are striking and I can't get a train to Edinburgh tomorrow.
Queen Street is also mostly shut
I may end up going home via Carlisle!

Have they cancelled the direct XC's too like?

Have they cancelled the direct XC's too like?

Ticket not valid on the return and there are none on Sunday's

I came on the 09:35 service from Newcastle this morning (1S31) and that was XC 221130

Ticket not valid on the return and there are none on Sunday's

I came on the 09:35 service from Newcastle this morning (1S31) and that was XC 221130

You sure? Just double checked and their app is showing direct services.
Might be worth double checking ticket acceptance if the strike goes ahead.

http://www.railmagazine.com/galleries/pi...mage/21021

Pictures of new Scotrail stock.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-so...d-37246975

Summer of problems on Borders Railway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-37572746

Bit of a debate earlier on in Holyrood. Abellio are reputed to be making £1m profit each month,yet a third of all routes in Scotland have services which are late more often than they are on time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-37572746

Bit of a debate earlier on in Holyrood. Abellio are reputed to be making £1m profit each month,yet a third of all routes in Scotland have services which are late more often than they are on time.

Thing is, money doesn't magically create punctuality!

Thing is, money doesn't magically create punctuality!

Obviously depending what the issue is, money can be reinvested to improve punctuality.

It is never a case of 'sh¡t, our punctuality is shocking and we are being penalised for our performance. Let's just shrug our shoulders and continue down this road until the end of the contract.

Whether it's staff, stock, infrastructure, pathing, timetables or whatever else - additional money (somewhere down the line), will be (or should be) being spent to improve punctuality and ultimately improve performance. It might be on staff wages, it could be on recruitment, it may even be on train maintenance.

I agree that it won't be magic...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37629687

Central belt service revisions in place until December.

Further penalties for Abelio.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37799732