Noel Dolphin
@noeldolphin.bsky.social
Electrify - everything today.... oh yes and public transportify it all. Was @noeldolphin on X.
A Birmingham Uni's rail research centre this afternoon, simulating the impact of different forms of traction power on rail freight for key routes around the country. Hopefully, we can ensure the future DfT train/infrastructure strategy also factors in freight
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A Birmingham Uni's rail research centre this afternoon, simulating the impact of different forms of traction power on rail freight for key routes around the country. Hopefully, we can ensure the future DfT train/infrastructure strategy also factors in freight
I'm continuing my tour of places the DfT, HM Treasury & SoS for Transport decided to leave behind, by cancelling Midland Mainline Electrification. Today I'm in Leicester, home of modern rail leisure travel (Thomas Cook). Leicester Mercury article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I'm continuing my tour of places the DfT, HM Treasury & SoS for Transport decided to leave behind, by cancelling Midland Mainline Electrification. Today I'm in Leicester, home of modern rail leisure travel (Thomas Cook). Leicester Mercury article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
Heading to the Railway Benefit Fund's Hearts of Gold Award in London town. Obligatory sunny photo of the Thames.
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Heading to the Railway Benefit Fund's Hearts of Gold Award in London town. Obligatory sunny photo of the Thames.
Following the 2010 austerity budget, many skills were lost at the DfT, with a significant impact at the time. I wonder if we are still feeling that?
www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/...
www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/...
West coast rail debacle blamed on Whitehall brain drain
Former cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell says skills shortages are hurting departments and calls for higher civil service pay
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Following the 2010 austerity budget, many skills were lost at the DfT, with a significant impact at the time. I wonder if we are still feeling that?
www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/...
www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/...
Leicester was also unhappy last week with the SoS for Transport's comments on Midland Mainline electrification. Link to article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions
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www.pressreader.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Leicester was also unhappy last week with the SoS for Transport's comments on Midland Mainline electrification. Link to article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
I like IMechE's report on inclusive transport, it's worth a read. My top two findings: embedding inclusive design in professional development & linking standards to measurable impacts.
www.imeche.org/policy-and-p...
www.imeche.org/policy-and-p...
En route to inclusive public transport
www.imeche.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I like IMechE's report on inclusive transport, it's worth a read. My top two findings: embedding inclusive design in professional development & linking standards to measurable impacts.
www.imeche.org/policy-and-p...
www.imeche.org/policy-and-p...
If you get bored, I have been trying to explain how the individual components that make up rail electrification equipment work. First 3 - are here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Electrification Explainers - YouTube
A series of shorts explaining rail electrification components.
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
If you get bored, I have been trying to explain how the individual components that make up rail electrification equipment work. First 3 - are here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Reposted by Noel Dolphin
Interesting - a fares freeze at the national level for rail in England next year.
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Relief for rail passengers as fare freeze in England announced for 2026
Chancellor will confirm the measure, intended to help commuters on expensive routes, in her budget speech
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Interesting - a fares freeze at the national level for rail in England next year.
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Meanwhile Scotland has abolished peak fares.
What's sorely overdue is just reforming the ticket system completely, but both are decent interim steps.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Reposted by Noel Dolphin
Rail fares in the UK to be frozen in Autumn Budget on.ft.com/4oicTDR
Rail fares in the UK to be frozen in Autumn Budget
Officials said season ticket holders on some of Britain’s busiest routes would save hundreds of pounds annually
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Rail fares in the UK to be frozen in Autumn Budget on.ft.com/4oicTDR
I am in Sheffield today, so it seemed like a good time to get this out in the Sheffield Star regarding the SoS for Transport's speech last week on Midland Mainline Electrification www.thestar.co.uk/travel/sheff...
Anger as electric trains to Sheffield 'cancelled'
Campaigners have criticised the ‘cancellation’ of electric trains to Sheffield after a 44-year wait.
www.thestar.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I am in Sheffield today, so it seemed like a good time to get this out in the Sheffield Star regarding the SoS for Transport's speech last week on Midland Mainline Electrification www.thestar.co.uk/travel/sheff...
Visited Rail Industry Association on this glorious day for meeting with Dept Biz & trade & Laos Gov. Laos is building a new freight/passenger line between Laos & Vietnam. Double-stacked freight & still electrified, because if you're building a new freight line of course it would be electrified
November 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Visited Rail Industry Association on this glorious day for meeting with Dept Biz & trade & Laos Gov. Laos is building a new freight/passenger line between Laos & Vietnam. Double-stacked freight & still electrified, because if you're building a new freight line of course it would be electrified
If you combine Network Rail's Platform 4 plan to build 40k homes on rail land with the government's plans to allow more buildings near stations, it could potentially provide a real opportunity to build social housing if the government wanted to.
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
If you combine Network Rail's Platform 4 plan to build 40k homes on rail land with the government's plans to allow more buildings near stations, it could potentially provide a real opportunity to build social housing if the government wanted to.
East-West Rail needs full electrification - increasing long-term leasing costs & calling that a saving, because it doesn't appear on public debt, is just an accountancy dodge. news.railbusinessdaily.com/east-west-ra...
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM
East-West Rail needs full electrification - increasing long-term leasing costs & calling that a saving, because it doesn't appear on public debt, is just an accountancy dodge. news.railbusinessdaily.com/east-west-ra...
I like the 1955 rail Modernisation Plan, but I am disappoined they rejected out of hand atomic-powered locomotives. www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.p...
November 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I like the 1955 rail Modernisation Plan, but I am disappoined they rejected out of hand atomic-powered locomotives. www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.p...
OK - at least it is not just me: www.railmagazine.com/news/train-m...
November 19, 2025 at 7:46 PM
OK - at least it is not just me: www.railmagazine.com/news/train-m...
Trying to understand what happened here. No one bid for their Hydrogen train tender.... including the people who did the trail on the line?
www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/du...
www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/du...
Dutch province abandons plan to run hydrogen-powered trains: reports
Groningen has opted to procure battery-electric trains instead, two years after H2 locomotive tender failed
www.hydrogeninsight.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Trying to understand what happened here. No one bid for their Hydrogen train tender.... including the people who did the trail on the line?
www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/du...
www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/du...
6 weeks of training Network Rail maintenance staff for the new Beaulieu Park Station has just wrapped up. Using 3D printed models in the classroom and then outside to train on it for real. My main involvement was fawning over the model in the office.
November 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
6 weeks of training Network Rail maintenance staff for the new Beaulieu Park Station has just wrapped up. Using 3D printed models in the classroom and then outside to train on it for real. My main involvement was fawning over the model in the office.
My morning thought - the Department for Transport is a shit show.
November 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
My morning thought - the Department for Transport is a shit show.
Can you imagine having to include 5% in all rail procurement tender submissions - to pay off the losers' costs? This is what the Locomotive Makers Association used to require of its members (not recently, I would hasten to add). etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24...
November 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Can you imagine having to include 5% in all rail procurement tender submissions - to pay off the losers' costs? This is what the Locomotive Makers Association used to require of its members (not recently, I would hasten to add). etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24...
Working on a project looking at the maintenance train strategies around Europe. What strikes me is that almost every country is moving towards electric/battery maintenance vehicles. I think we will be stuck with diesel for a long time (1/2).
November 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Working on a project looking at the maintenance train strategies around Europe. What strikes me is that almost every country is moving towards electric/battery maintenance vehicles. I think we will be stuck with diesel for a long time (1/2).
It was sunny yesterday in Cardiff, so though I would walk around and enjoy the bus station.
November 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It was sunny yesterday in Cardiff, so though I would walk around and enjoy the bus station.
I'm trying to unpick Heidi Alexander's speech... We are "only supporting projects that are fully costed and affordable".. so we cancelled Midland Mainline electrification - without costing or ensuring the alternative was affordable (1/2)
www.railwaygazette.com/uk/midland-m...
www.railwaygazette.com/uk/midland-m...
Midland Main Line electrification to the north ‘not affordable’
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander says the government's approach to rail investment 'will be guided by securing value for taxpayers' by 'only supporting projects that are fully costed and affordable'.
www.railwaygazette.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I'm trying to unpick Heidi Alexander's speech... We are "only supporting projects that are fully costed and affordable".. so we cancelled Midland Mainline electrification - without costing or ensuring the alternative was affordable (1/2)
www.railwaygazette.com/uk/midland-m...
www.railwaygazette.com/uk/midland-m...
Might just leave these here as a table decoration, for the rest of the journey home.
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Might just leave these here as a table decoration, for the rest of the journey home.
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...