Should All Trains Have Grab Handles By The Doors?
These pictures show the vertical grab handles on London Overground Class 710 trains.
Note the vertical handles everywhere and especially tucked into the corner behind the door.
These pictures show the interior of a 1973 Stock train on the Piccadilly Line.
There are worse trains in the UK.
It should be noted that the trains were extensively refurbished in 1996-2001.
Should all trains have lots of grab handles like these two examples? And especially by the door?
I think they should.
This is an interesting picture of a Siemens design study, which I wrote about in Siemens’ View Of The Future Of The Underground.
Note the grab handles by the sides of the doors.
So at least Siemens are following the rule of grab handles by the door.
Train-Platform Interface On Platform 1 At Willesden Junction
Access to trains at Willesden Junction station can be difficult for some people.
I took these pictures of the access between train and platform for a Bakerloo Line train at Platform 1.
It is a step down from the platform of at least twenty centimetres.
These for a Watford DC Line train are not much better.
Once at this station, an elderly Indian lady in a sari was getting off one of these trains. She shouted something like “Catch me!” and jumped. Luckily, I caught her and it was smiles all round.
Of the ten stations that are shared by both services, it appears that only Queen’s Park has level access for both services.
These stations are an accident waiting to happen.
Hydrogen-Powered Ambulance Drives Into Glasgow Ahead Of London Trial
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on New Atlas.
This is the first paragraph.
Back in February, ULEMCo and industry partners announced plans to design an electric rapid response ambulance for the UK’s NHS Trust that would run on batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Now, the working prototype has driven into Glasgow to give global leaders attending the UN’s COP26 climate summit a closer look at the technology.
Surely, this is a good application of hydrogen power.
Could they be used in the scenario I proposed in Big London Hospital Was Close To Running Out Of Oxygen?
Hospitals would have an electrolyser, which would produce the following.
- High grade oxygen for the hospital.
- Hydrogen to power the vehicles and especially the ambulances.
Note.
- There would be no oxygen delivery problems.
- The excess hydrogen could be stored to use as an emergency power supply.
- Would it improve the air quality by the hospital?
I have checked with the world’s premier electrolyser company; ITM Power of Sheffield and my idea is feasible.
Death Of A Commuter At Waterloo
This tragic accident is reported in this article on ITV, which is entitled Commuter Crushed To Death After Falling Unseen Into Tube Gap At Waterloo.
These are the first two paragraphs.
A commuter was trapped and crushed to death by a Tube train after he fell down the gap on the northbound Bakerloo line train at Waterloo, an investigation has found.
Tube staff did not spot the man after he slipped and fell on to the track where he lay for more than a minute before being hit by a second train, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said.
The accident is partly blamed on the curve of the track in the station.
I took these pictures at Waterloo station.
Note.
- Pictures were taken on both platforms, which are similar, as they are above each other.
- The gap is wide, but not the widest on the Underground.
- When I boarded a train, I realised there was no grab handle.
- I got my hand rather dirty using the door to pull myself across the gap.
Could this have been a factor in the death of the commuter, in that he looked for the grab handle, noticed there wasn’t one and then overbalanced?
This picture shows the detail on the inside of the door.
I’m sure a design could be created, that would give those who needed a pull-up something to grab.
Restoring Your Railway Planning Funds Allocated
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
The Department for Transport has announced the successful bidders for the third ’and for the foreseeable future final’ round of funding from the Restoring Your Railway programme’s Ideas Fund.
The DfT received eighty-nine applications and these were the lucky thirteen.
Reopening The Darlington – Weardale Line To Passenger Services
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
See Reopening The Darlington – Weardale Line To Passenger Services
Reopening The Ashton – Stockport Line To Passenger Services
I wrote about this line in July 2020 in Beeching Reversal – Stockport And Ashton Line.
Reopening The Middlewich Line To Passenger Services
I wrote about this line in July 2017 in Business Case Requested For Middlewich Reopening.
Introducing Passenger Services On The East Lancashire Railway Between Rawtenstall And Buckley Wells Near Bury
I wrote about this in January 2019 in Rossendale Reopening Prospect.
Reopening Corsham Station
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
Reopening Stonehouse Bristol Road Station
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
See Reopening Stonehouse Bristol Road Station
Reinstating The Line Between Tavistock And Bere Alston And Providing New Services To And From Plymouth
This would appear to be a change of emphasis, so I have written a new post.
Reopening The Gaerwen – Amlwch Line On Anglesey
I wrote about this in March 2017 in Reopening The Anglesey Central Railway
Reopening The Oswestry – Gobowen Line
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
See Reopening The Oswestry – Gobowen Line
Reopening the Stoke – Leek Line
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
See Reopening the Stoke – Leek Line
Reopening The Askern Branch
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
See Reopening The Askern Branch
Reopening The Don Valley Section Of The Former Woodhead Line Between Stocksbridge and Sheffield Victoria To Passenger Services
I haven’t covered this one before, so I have written a new post.
Reinstating the Beverley – Market Weighton – York Line
I wrote about this in July 2020 in Beeching Reversal – Reinstatement Of The Beverley And York Rail Line
The DfT will provide up to £50 000 to cover 75% of the cost of developing early-stage proposals and business cases for each scheme.