Friends of the Rail Forum

I did not know that work on HS2 went back that far!

With regard to the proposed standard gauge line from Mombasa, have any details been released for the planned route? I am wondering how they plan to overcome the escarpment near Mombasa, which is currently traversed by an open air spiral near Mazeras.

Shortly after midnight today, Saturday 6th July, two trams belonging to the VBZ [Transport Company Zürich] collided. The accident was caused by tram number 2071 of the type Be 4/6 operating on the line 13 service, when it collided with the rear coach of a Cobra tram type Be 5/6 number 3088.which wa...

This year the BLS - Bern Lötschberg Railway - which operates from Spiez to Brig is 100 years old, and has organized celebrations in the area. As well as the functions taking place around the district a film has been produced which covers the history of the line. The BLS was designed and built as an...

How things have changed. When I was in Kisumu during the early 60's the Kisumu - Maseno - Butere line was operated by Class 13 only, the line was off limits to anything bigger as the route was laid with 50 lb rail.. The shed at Kisumu would at that time contain Garratt locos for the [7 Down & 8 ...

Have just been reading about this and have discovered that it may never happen. Not because of Siemens problems with the train set or the Channel Tunnel, but because the UK Border Agency have stated that they will NOT implement 'on board' inspections and neither will they operate out of any new stat...

I welcome that arrangement, so long as the extra 4 million are not stood in front of me at check-in!

The thought of not having to battle the cross Paris traffic or overnight in Bruxelles is most welcome.

I agree that overcrowding goes back a long way. Do you remember the Clapham train crash which involved an overcrowded train, and the politicians shouted from the roof tops that this system was going to change on that it was guaranteed. For overcrowding may I take you back to the late 40s', the scene...

I cannot understand the British governments attitude to the major problem of passengers standing on trains. On buses serving the North East of Scotland it is illegal to run with passengers standing. The policy is simple, no seat no travel. Yet trains to the south and north are regularly seen leaving...

In 1857 the final section of the route from Basel to Olten was opened over the Hauenstein mountain. The 18 km section from Sissach to Olten being the most difficult with ramps of 23‰ and a 2.5 kilometer tunnel bored through very tough rock. As a through route the line was economical, but in 1916 a...

Do you think that the man standing needs to wear a deodorant?

Press statement from the GCRN. As many of you will be aware already, Saturday morning was marred by an incident at Quorn - this was at very low speed and involved 46521 being derailed in the trap points. The first thing to say is that no-one was injured - metal can always be replaced or repaired, bu...

Just a thought. What happens if the train fails and has to set back into the station? Do the detectors register a credit or hit you again with a charge?

Many thanks for that comprehensive reply. As you can imagine, it is difficult to get the overall picture when you are far away. As I have now entered my eighties I am not sure if I will ever get the chance to come out there, but my thoughts and best wishes are with you all. Please keep the photos co...

May I please ask, as somebody who is over 8,000 Kms away [as a sober Crow flies], for a little bit of background information on this project?