United Airlines Introduce My Ideal Flying Class
The respected travelwriter, Simon Calder, on BBC Breakfast, alerted me to this story, which is fully reported in this article on USA Today, which is entitled United adds ‘Basic Economy’ fares with carry-on bag restrictions.
My Carry On Bag
When I flew to Las Palmas recently on easyJet, I did pay for baggage to go in the hold, as I thought I’d be taking more and I don’t have a carry-on bag, that is big enough.
Why is it, that all light carry-on bags seem to have wheels, which is just extra weight and wasted space,. to carry around?
All I want is a light square box with a comfortable handle. My current Mandarina Duck bag is shown in My Packing List.
Since then, I’ve cut down on what I take with me, so I do have a bit more space.
I could therefor easily use a smaller carry-on bag, especially, if I was going to a country I knew well like Germany, Italy,Spain or Poland.
On a more ambitious trip, I could certainly fill a bigger carry-on bag with useful items like lots of M&S Honeycomb Crispies.
But unfortunately, I haven’t found the ideal bag.
- No wheels.
- Small comfortable carry handle.
- No straps.
- Maximum volume to fit carry-on rules.
- Big enough to take a compact SLR and lens.
- Not too many specially-designed feature pockets.
- Secure.
I suspect that some clever American, will be designing the ideal carry-on bag for United’s Basic Economy.
Choosing Seats
I don’t!
This means I usually get an aisle seat, which is ideal for my needs.
- I tend to get a bit stiff sitting for three or four hours, so a walk to the toilet is easy to stretch my legs.
- I inevitably leave something I want in my carry-on bag, so if it’s in the overhead locker, can get it easily.
- I can get on at the last minute and know I can just sneak into my seat.
- I can usually get off easily.
- I can see what’s on the trolley, without reading the menu.
It will all go pear-shaped one day, when I get the dreadful centre seat of three.
My Coat
The picture shows the inside of my warm M & S winter coat.
My Winter Coat
Note the large internal pocket, which is big enough for a thick tabloid newspaper or a paperback book.
The external pockets, also are big enough for my camera, phone and a real hndkerchief.
A Few Travel Tips
Over the years, I have gradually cut down on what I take.
- Take a battery-powered electric toothbrush. The charger of most others takes up too much space.
- Charge phones, cameras and other devices, through a USB lead and just take a USB charger and adapter.
- Don’t take soap or shampoo, or anything the hotel should have.
- As I don’t use sun-screen, I don’t take that either.
- Take perhaps three still-rolled real handkerchiefs, as they have other users, like stylish tablecloths on trains.
- Take a spare SD card for your camera, already unpacked and ready for use.
- On a long trip, I take older socks, knickers and shirts, discarding them, when they get dirty.
- Take at least two credit cards in separate places, in case you lose your favourite.
- Don’t buy anything in duty-free. It only encourages them! And we have to carry it.
- Take a small shoe horn.
- Take an upmarket compact plastic knife/fork/spoon from IKEA, as you never know, when that delicious snack will need it.
- Never take nightwear.
- Take a torch.
- Take one of Sainsbury’s five pence orange shopping bags.
When I used to travel with C, we used to share a lot of things, like jumpers and tee-shirts, as we were of a similar size.
In fact, the last joke she ever said to me, was that I would have difficulty finding someone, to train to my packing habits.
Comclusion
I can’t wait for a European airline to introduce a Basic Economy class.
The Canary
One of my Google Alerts picked up a story from a web site called The Canary.
It looks like someone is trying to see up an independent news web site.
I wish them well!
I don’t think it’ll get many readers in Ipswich!
What Next For Class 385 Trains?
Scotrail have ordered a fleet of Class 385 trains, which will be built by Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe in the North-East of England.
If you look at Scotrail’s network, there are a lot of lines, where new trains will be needed in the next decade.
Most of these lines are not electrified, so will the Class 385 train, be available in a version say, that would handle lines like the Borders Railway?
Electrifying all lines will be costly and the Heritage Taliban, may object to overhead gantries marching all over Scotland.
Class 800 And Class 801 Trains
The Class 800 trains are electro-diesel trains with a range depending on the size of the fuel tanks, whereas the Class 801 trains are the pure electric version.
Like the Class 385 trains, they are members of Hitachi’s A-Train family, so I suspect that if asked to supply a bi-mode Class 385 train, that Hitachi know the route to create such a train.
Trains With Batteries
I have written two posts about the Japanese using batteries in electric trains.
- Japanese Trains With Batteries describes how some Tokyo Metro trains have batteries to get them to the next station, in an emergency situation.
- Battery Trains In Japan describes how battery trains are to be used on the OGA Line.
The Japanese technology, doesn’t seem as comprehensive as that I wrote about in Bombardier’s Plug-and-Play Train, but I’m sure that Hitachi must be thinking about trains with batteries,
Conclusion
I am inevitably drawn to the conclusion, that Hitachi will come up with a train, that can run say between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, substantially under its own power, aided by overhead electrification where it exists.
Is The Levenmouth Rail Link Going To Be Scotland’s Next New Railway?
I ask this question as this article in Global Rail News was asking the same question, with a title of Levenmouth – Scotland’s next railway?.
According to the article, the figures look good, for the reopening of the Levenouth Rail Link, with a Benefit Cost Ration of 1.3, which compares well with the figure of 0.96 for the successful Borders Railway.
This is also said in the Wikipedia entry for the Fife Circle Line under Future Services.
A Leven rail link would provide better services to support major industrial sites at Fife Energy Park, Methil Docks, the Low Carbon Park (under construction), Diageo, the businesses along the Leven Valley (including Donaldsons) and major retailers in Leven located close to the line (Sainsbury, B&Q, Argos, etc.). Levenmouth is an area of high deprivation and Fife Council estimates that an hourly train link (using the Fife Circle services)to Edinburgh would increase job vacancies by 500% since commuting for work would become possible.
There is one big difference between the Borders Railway and the Levenmouth Rail Link.
On a journey to Scotland’s capital from Leven, the travellers have to cross the large water.barrier of the Firth of Forth.
Is The Firth Of Forth A Psychological Barrier?
Does the Forth act as both a psychological batter, as well as a physical barrier to travel?
I don’t know for sure, but I hear the same sort of comments from my friends in Edinburgh about Fife, as North Londoners make about South London and probably South Londoners make about the North.
The much larger Thameslink project may get all the publicity and criticism, but London’s most modern cross-river link just keeps on giving.
The East London Line And The Levenmouth Rail Link
You might argue, what has the East London Line got to do with the Levenmouth Rail Link?
I believe that because of the geography of the two areas, with a major waterway between two centres of population, that the massive underestimation of passenger numbers, that occurred in East London could also happen across the Forth.
Luckily, that just as Marc Brunel provided a high-quality crossing under the Thames, the Victorians did this for the Firth of Forth.
Although, it could be argued that the Scottish crossing is more iconic and you get a better view.
As an aside, if the Forth Bridge, which opened in 1890 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surely Marc Brunel’s much older Thames Tunnel, should be similarly acknowledged.
Local Rail Services Across The Firth Of Forth
At present the local services across the bridge are four trains per hour on the Fife Circle Line.
That is not a high capacity service, given the line is not electrified.
If the Levenmouth Rail Link were to be rebuilt, it would connect to the Fife Circle and surely, it would mean that more trains could be timetabled to and from Edinburgh, via the new station at Edinburgh Gateway, which gives access to Edinburgh’s trams, the Airport and services to Glasgow and the West of Scotland.
Would those along the Levenmouth Rail Link respond to a new railway, as those who live in Hackney did to the East London Line?
I would be very surprised if they didn’t!
Rebuilding The Levenmouth Rail Link
The Levenmouth Rail Link is a classic branch line, with not much complication. Published plans show the following.
- It would be about five miles long.
- It would branch off the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line to the North-East of Glenrothes with Thornton station.
- It would terminate at Leven station.
- A branch would serve the large Diageo distillery.
This Google Map shows the junction with the main line.
Glenrothes with Thornton station is in the South-West corner of the map on the Fife Circle Line.
- Trains go West from the station to Edinburgh on the Fife Circle Line via Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline.
- There is a triangular junction to the East of the station.
- Trains go South from this junction to Edinburgh via Kirkcaldy.
- Trains go North from this junction to Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.
To the North of this junction, the line splits, with trains for Leven, branching off to the East.
This map from Wikipedia shows the stations on the Fife Circle Line
Note that the junction where the Fife Circle Line splits South of Markinch station, is the one shown in the Google Map.
Electrification
The Fife Circle and the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line are not electrified and there are no scheduled plans to do so, other than the aspiration of having more lines with electric services.
But various factors will effect the types of trains between Edinburgh and Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.
- Distances are not hundreds of miles.
- Virgin’s electro-diesel Class 800 trains will be working between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
- Could Hitachi build electro-diesel versions of their Class 385 trains, as they share design features with the Class 800 trains?
- Will Hitachi add energy storage to Class 385 trains?
- Abellio are rumoured to be introducing trains with energy storage in East Anglia. Would this expertise be used by Abellio ScotRail?
I think we could see a cost-effective strategy implemented, that included electric trains, but a limited amount of overhead wiring.
- Edinburgh to Dalmeny – Electrified
- The Forth Bridge could be left without wires, if it were thought too sensitive for the Heritage Taliban.
- North Queensferry to Perth – Electrified
- Ladybank to Dundee – Not electrified
- Fife Circle via Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline – Electrified
- Levenmouth Rail Link – Not electrified
Note.
- As Stirling and/or Dunblane will be electrified, will Stirling to Perth be electrified?
- Between Dalmeny and North Queensferry, diesel or battery power would be used on local services.
- I have flown my virtual helicopter round the Fife Circle and it doesn’t look that electrification would be a nightmare.
- The Levenmouth Rail Link could be run by battery trains, with a charging station, like a Railbaar, at Leven station.
Appropriate trains would provide all services.
Services
Obviously, what services are introduced depends on passenger traffic.
But after a quick look at the lines, I suspect that the Levenmouth Rail Link fits well with current services on the Fife Circle.
Bear in mind too, that reopening the St. Andrews Rail Link , could be a possibility.
Conclusion
The railways North from the Forth Bridge in the East and Stirling and Dunblane in the West to Perth and Dundee could be much improved. I would do the following.
- Some short lengths of electrification.
- Bi-mode or battery versions of Class 385 trains.
All trains going over the Forth Bridge, should have large windows. The Bridge Visitor Centre must also have easy access with perhaps a free shuttle bus from Dalmeny station.
One of Scotland’s major assets, must be made to work for its living.
Looking For Bond Street Station’s New Northern Entrance
Bond Street station is going to get a new Northern entrance on the North side of Oxford Street.
So I went for a walk in the area and took these pictures.
As you come out of the current entrances of the station on Oxford Street a building is rising on the opposite side of the road. Its Eastern end is on Marylebone Lane, where a new entrance is being built.
The New Marylebone Lane Entrance To Bond Street Station
Transport for London have produced a video called Bond Street station redevelopment for 2017 – virtual tour walk-through – Tube improvements.
It illustrates several features of the enlarged station.
But I can’t wait to experience the reality.
Are Murphy Group Playing A Long Game?
This news release on the Murphy Group web site is entitled Murphy Wins £60M+ London Overground Electrification Project.
Given, that it was known to be a difficult project, I don’t think I am alone in thinking that Murphy’s contract price was good value for London Overground.
Since then, progress has not been at a fast pace and some challenging problems seem to have emerged, but on whole professional commentators in magazines like Modern Railways an Rail Engineer have been broadly praising of the way the work is being done and what has so far been finished.
The troubles on the Holloway Road Bridge, which is not in Murphy’s contract, that I wrote about in Did The Project Management Go Wrong On The Holloway Road Bridge?, can’t have helped either.
I do wonder though, if the Murphy Group could be a beneficiary of the successful electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBlin).
This Google Map shows the area between Gospel Oak and Kentish Town stations.
Murphy Group’s Site In Kentish Town
Note.
- Gospel Oak station in the top left, where the GOBlin meets the North London Line.
- The Midland Main Line curves across the bottom of the map, with Kentish Town station, just off the bottom right corner.
- There is another rail line (Tottenham North Curve ?) connecting the GOBlin to the Midland Main Line, that is current used by freight trains.
Between all these lines is a massive builders yard, which is the home of the Murphy Group.
In some ways giving the Murphy Group, the contract for the GOBlin upgrade and electrification, is like giving your local builder, the job of upgrading your house.
The Murphy Group have even accessed some parts of the work, by putting gates in the security fence between the railway and their yard.
This map from carto.metro.free.fr, shows the railway lines in the are.
Lines Between Gospel Oak And Kentish Town
It shows how at times in the past, the rail connections from this area, were some of the most comprehensive in London.
There are already plans for some of the railways in the area.
- The Tottenham North Curve from Carlton Road Junction to Junction Road Junction is being electrified, so that electric-hauled freight trains can run between Barking and the Midland Main Line.
- Passenger services could be introduced on the Tottenham North Curve to create a second route across North London, linking Barking and Acton via West Hampstead Thameslink and the Dudding Hill Line.
- Could we even see a re-opened Highgate Road station?
I have a feeling, that all this, together with London’s enormous need for new housing will see the Murphy Group site developed, in a manner that is best for London. And the Murphy Group!
Consider.
- The development will have very good transport links.
- A reopened Highgate Road station, would be in the middle of the development.
- The development site is occupied by largely one company.
- The site is well-connected to railways for the transport of building materials and spoil.
- The site could be developed gradually, as the Murphy Group released the space.
Probably, the biggest problem would be finding the Murphy Group a new site.
It will be very interesting to see what happens on this very valuable site!
Brits Keen To Go Green But Don’t Want To Pay For It
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Energy Live News.
It is an interesting article.
- People in London and Northern Ireland are more likely to pay a green premium.
- People in the South-East and Wales are most unlikely.
- More than one in 10 of those willing to pay more would be happy to pay an extra 31-50% for greener energy.
I think it is better value to make sure you don’t use the energy in the first place.
I also feel, that much of our housing stock can never be made energy efficient and should be knocked down and replaced with better quality housing.
East Of Wathamstow Queen’s Road Station – 16th November 2016
Don’t knock it, but the sun ruined some of these pictures.
Note.
- I’m only one metre seventy, so taking pictures over a high bridge parapet iis not easy.
- Shrubland, Albert and Queen’s Roads are respectively Bridges 68. 69 and 70.
- From Bridge 70, you can get good views of the slab track.
- East of Bridge 70, there is extensive piling, that probably stabilises the cutting.
- East of Queen’s Road station, there was little evidence of overhead gantries.
- There appeared to be work going on at the Eastern end of the slab track, where the viaduct starts.
It looks to me, that there is still a lot of work to do and the planned reopening as a diesel-powered railway in February, that I wrote about in The Gospel Oak To Barking Line Is Planned To Reopen On February 6th 2017, must be in doubt.
Unless of course, all that the closure is intended to do, is get the track, bridges and viaducts, in tip-top condition for the actual electrification.
A little bird told me, that the work around Bridge 70 at Queen’s Road was particularly challenging, but there was very little evidence of work still being carried out. As the pictures show, there is slab track and lots of piling. The slab track is from Rhomberg and will hopefully last for sixty years (Modern Railways – August 2016)
It should be that the design of slab track used, is one that facilitates easy repairs if anything goes wrong.
The Impressive Coupling And Uncoupling Of Class 395 Trains
Class 395 trains seem to be fairly unique amongst trains running on the UK network, in that they can couple and uncouple automatically.
Under Design in the Wikipedia entry for the seven-year-old Class 395 train, this is said.
Each 6-car unit can work in multiple with another, creating 12-car trains. Coupling is automated and is designed to take less than 60 seconds.
This YouTube video, which is entitled Javelin Coupling, shows two trains coupling automatically.
And this YouTube video is called 395022 and 395009 Divide and Depart at Ashford International.
It is all very impressive.
- This is the gold standard, against which all train couplings and uncouplings should be judged.
- There is no trackside intervention by any staff.
- The trains have been doing this since 2009 in the UK.
I particularly liked how the doors appeared and faired around the coupling, as the first train in the second video drove away.
Do We Need A National Health Service?
You might say that’s what we’ve got, but what we really have is a National Illness Service
But it is not making best use of resources to make sure we don’t need it.
Consider some of the things that have happened to me in the last couple of days.
I ran out of statins yesterday, which indicated to me that I’d got to get a repeat prescription from Boots. But where was the message to say it was time to pick them up?
It doesn’t matter to me, as the Boots I use, as did my grandmother before the First World War, is only a bus ride away.
Whilst waiting for my prescription, I got talking to a young lady from Cancer Research UK, who was also waiting for her prescription. I teased her about not smoking and I was glad to see she didn’t. I wish my son George had been so sensible.
I then got talking to a lady, who must have been around eighty and we discussed how I tested my own INR. She was familiar with the device and had wanted one for her mother, who had had a stroke. But the cost was just too much, so the surgery used to send a nurse round.
I feel very strongly, that in the right hands self-testing is a real life improver, as any diabetic will tell you. After all, most of us can now use a well-designed device.
We also talked about my coeliac disease, as her two great-daughters had both been diagnosed, but she didn’t know, it can be a cause of not getting pregnant.
When I was diagnosed as a coeliac, a lot of the information I received from Addenbrookes was far too comprehensive and not very practical. But, gradually with the help of various trusted web sites and a previous GP, I’ve found a regime that works for me.
Perhaps, what is needed is a network of local mentors for diseases like coeliac disease, as what you can find differs very much as you go around the country.One regime definitely doesn’t fit all!
For instance, Cambridge, Glasgow and Liverpool are much easier than say Blackpool, Ipswich or Middlesborough.
Incidentally, on Sunday, a young lady and her boyfriend had been a bit confused as to what bread to buy in Marks at Waterloo station, so as I do when asked an opinion, I guided her through the gluten-free section. To be fair to Marks, their staff are usually helpful.
Over the last few months, I’ve been involved in the testing of a new anti-cholesterol drug, at the William Harvey Research Institute.
On a selfish note, it has allayed a lot of fears about my health.
I would certainly recommend that if you have a medical or psychological condition, that you check out the research around your local area and see if you can help by joining a suitable research project.
From my experience with Liverpool University, I know they are looking for people to assist with research, much of which is psychological and just involves answering a few questions.
Over the years, I’ve been involved in research at Moorfields Hospital, Liverpool University, Oxford University and the University of East London, none of which involved any more than looking at a computer screen or filling in a form.
The Moorfields research was in some ways the most interesting, where I had my eyes tested on a series of new machines and was then asked to say which ones I preferred. The project was attempting to find the best machines for the NHS.
So if your local University is looking for research volunteers, in something that might be to your advantage, why not volunteer.
After all, it is our National Health Service and we should bend it to our needs.
With the anti-cholesterol drug, I’ve seen some of the best doctors in the field and I’ve learned to inject myself. Hopefully, it’s a skill I won’t need again.
The Anonymous Widower 