• About

Paul Bigland

~ Blogging on transport, travel & whatever takes my fancy.

Paul Bigland

Tag Archives: news

The blogger returns…

29 Thursday May 2025

Posted by Paul Bigland in Musings, Politics, West Yorkshire

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Musings, news, Politics, Travel, West Yorkshire, writing

Please accept my apologies for a prolonged absence, this has been due to a number of factors, but now I’m back to look over a world that seems to be getting madder and more bizarre than ever. My time away has been spent here at home in West Yorkshire where the long dry spell and constant sunshine has been replaced with grey skies, wind and rain. The rain’s been very welcome, especially as it’s not resulted in any flooding or mayhem. That said, it’s still nowhere near enough to fill the reservoirs, but the landscape is looking far less scorched and brown than it was. Now the valley’s displaying a multitude of shades of green and I’m spared a daily chore of dashing around with a watering can (for now at least). The winds have been a different matter, they’ve shredded a lot of trees, leaving forest paths littered with destroyed foliage and ripped off branches. Thankfully, I was prepared and my Lupins and other tall plants were already staked and tied in advance.

Whilst the weather’s changed the craziness of the political arena (both home and abroad) hasn’t. The orange felon in control of the White House is still as unpredictable and incoherent as ever. It’s excruciating to watch his TV interviews and pronouncements as it’s clear that Trump has all the intelligence of an amoeba. I look on with a mix of amusement and horror that such an ignorant narcissist can become the President of the most powerful country on earth – although he seems to be doing his best to ensure the US soon loses that appellation.

Meanwhile, here in the UK we have our own Poundshop version of Trump in the form of the ‘Fagash Fuhrer’, Nigel Farage. Like Trump, he has a cultlike following. Both followings have something in common. Poor education and a willingness to believe whatever nonsense their heroes feed them. Farage latest grift (Reform UK) is doing very well in the pools, but not so well in running the local councils they find themselves running. The only reason they haven’t made a complete balls-up of things (yet) is how many of their elected Councillors (and the Mayor of Lincs) are actually rebadged and recycled Tories. The ‘newbies’ are less fortunate (and even more incompetent competent) as there’s a steady stream of revelations about unsavory pasts that have led to a constant stream of suspensions or resignations – or new Councillors just not turning up and vanishing!

So, it’s been an interesting week. Next week will see me back on my travels as I have a few events to attend. Plus, Dawn and I are heading over to Southport for the weekend where we’ll have chance to catch up with some members of my family, friends – and attend the food and drink festival.

Expect regular blogs from herein…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

26th March picture of the day…

26 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by Paul Bigland in Memory Lane, Musings, Picture of the day, Politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Memory Lane, Musings, news, Picture of the day, Politics, trump, writing

Can we please stop living in ‘interesting times’ as I’m struggling to keep up with the deluge of batshittery that’s coming out of the USA nowadays. The latest revelations about a ‘signal’ chat group and the top ranks of the Trump administration is positively surreal – as it watching those members (including the head of the CIA) blatantly lie in front of Congressional Committees. OK, I’m old enough to remember when such stuff was the grounds of resignations and dismissals, but this is 2025 we’re talking about, where senior politicians lying through their teeth is seen as absolutely normal. And it’s not just any little old lie either. These people have neither shame nor honour. A fact that seems to be sinking in as many Americans who’ve served their country in the military know – and are articulating, loudly. Will it change anything? It’s difficult to tell as it’s obvious Trump and his administration have no shame. The only question is how much damage they can do to the USA before they’re ejected – one way or another.

No wonder Europe is girding its loins for a future where the USA is anything but a reliable ally. And it’s not just Europe. Conversations I’ve had with friends in SE-Asia suggest that part of the world is thinking along the same lines too – they’re just keeping their heads down.

Today – apart from observing the political shit-show – I’ve been busy at Bigland Towers. Operation ‘Spring Clean’ has suffered from what the military call ‘mission creep’ – so I’m knee-deep in boxes, books and all sorts of stuff that been packed away for ages. It’s an exercise which has provoked a lot of memories as I go through stuff that’s been boxed away for years – going right back to my teenage years. Most of the old books that have been in limbo for 15 year have found temporary homes at a local charity shop. But I couldn’t resist holding on to a couple – just for old times sake and the opportunity to re-read them again after so long.

One of them is today’s picture. Checking the inside cover I realise I’ve had this Michael Moorcock book since 1974, so – over half a century. I owned most of his books (and one of his albums) but now it’s time to let go and let someone else enjoy them. I’ll keep this one for now to enjoy somewhere on my travels before releasing it. Hopefully, whoever finds it may enjoy it as much as I did, even if they don’t understand the times it was written in. In some ways, they’re no more bizarre than the ones we’re living trough now.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

10th March picture of the day…

10 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by Paul Bigland in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, West Yorkshire

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

life, Musings, news, Nigel Farage, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, uk-politics, West Yorkshire

Another week beckons. It’s not quite been the start I’d planned but nevertheless it’s been reasonably productive. All the pictures I took on Sunday have been edited, captioned and are now on my Zenfolio website. Follow this link to find out which galleries they’ve been added to.

A frustrating part of the day was that the weather was far better than had been predicted, with several hours of clear skies and sunshine. The snow and rain that was predicted last week has disappeared off the charts, not that it really matters as I’ve too many things to sort out before heading off to the Community Rail awards on Wednesday. Hopefully I can have another productive day tomorrow, ensuring the decks are cleared as the awards will be a busy few days.

As usual when I’m working from home I’ve been keeping an eye on the political news, which has provided some moments of schadenfreude. The Reform party continue to disintegrate as the war of words between their main characters escalates and becomes more bitter. This saga is going to run and run! There’s only going to be one winner (Farage) but that could prove to be a costly win. It’s clear that Farage isn’t openly racist enough for some Reform supporters, who’re rallying behind Rupert Lowe as he talks their language. The potential for a party split looms large…

Meanwhile, across the Pond, Elon Musk is having a bit of a ‘mare. Twitter (or X as he insists we call it) has had several outages today which he’s blaming on attacks by hackers. Of course, the fact he’s sacked many staff and is running the platform on a shoe-string won’t have helped! To add to his woes, Tesla’s share price is losing ground fast. Oh, and he’s managed to alienate both Poland and US senator Mark Kelly with widely publicised insults. The irony of an unelected South-African calling Kelly, an American war-veteran and ex-astronaut a ‘traitor’ has not been lost on people – even on Americans, who normally struggle with irony!

I can’t help wondering what mess Trump and Musk are going to create next…

Right, it’s time for me to go. I’ll leave you with a picture to brighten the evening up with. Here’s a view of the Victoria tower atop Castle Hill just outside Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, that I took last Saturday.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

7th March picture of the day…

07 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by Paul Bigland in Flora and Fauna, Indonesia, Musings, Photography, Politics, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Flora and Fauna, Indonesia, Musings, news, Photography, Politics, Travel, uk-politics

Today’s my last one where I’m stuck behind a desk all day – at least for a while. The weather’s deteriorated and we’ve had a few showers here in the Pennines but the temperature has still be way into double figures, which has been nice. Not that it’s made much difference to me but it’s always good to crack open the office window, get some fresh air and hear the birdsong outside.

I’ve finally caught up with all my picture editing. All the various SE Asia shots are now on my Zenfolio site, along with all the recent pictures from the UK and 90% of the Norway images. Here’s a link to the ‘recent’ section of my website where you can browse what’s been updated. I’ve just a few more Norway shots to caption before I can write a blog about what Siemens and Norwegian railways are up to when it comes to resignalling the entire country over the next few decades. It’s a fascinating project.

Tomorrow we’re off to Manchester for the awards I talked about yesterday, then home again later on Sunday. Right now I’ve no idea what I’ll be doing for the first part of next week as the weather forecast is predicting rain and snow! On Wednesday the pair of us will be heading to Newcastle (on Tyne) to prepare for Thursday’s Community Rail Awards. The city’s predicted to be slightly warmer, but just as wet! Ho hum…

Of course, whilst I’ve been trapped at home I’ve kept one eye on the political madness that’s enveloping the world – and the latest chapter. Trump is still as mad as a box of frogs, but it’s what’s happening in the UK today that’s made me reach for the popcorn! Reform, the PLC (majority shareholder N Farage) that masquerades as a political party is having a bit of a ‘mare.

Splits have been appearing for sometime as Elon Musk has suggested that the ‘Fagash Fuhrer’ isn’t fit to lead the party he formed (don’t you mean the company he owns? Ed) and endorsed the millionaire and racist Rupert Lowe instead. Lowe is one of the 5 MPs have and makes £1000s a week from Twitter by shit-posting inflammatory stuff about the colour of people’s skin – and Islamophobia. As a consequence, he has a hardcore following of Reform ‘members’ (as they like to pretend). Unsurprisingly – and predictably, as he has past form for this at UKIP, the ‘Fagash Fuhrer’ doesn’t take kindly to his gravy-train being threatened, so has shot back by getting the party chair and ‘whip’ – 30p Lee Anderson to release this little missive.

OK, I have to admit I had to laugh out loud at the hypocrisy of the last paragraph! Apparently, lying, race-baiting and Islamophobia area perfectly acceptable activities in Reform, but bullying female staff isn’t. Oh, hang on, wasn’t one of their MPs jailed for assaulting his girlfriend in the past? Apparently, that’s OK too, so James McMurdock remains a Reform MP. It seems the only thing that gets you into trouble in Reform is challenging the ‘Fagash Fuhrer’. Lowe denies all the accusations, so this saga is set to run and run. Fuel to the fire is already being added by Lowe’s supporters. I wonder if ‘Space Karen’ Musk will get involved again?

Reform are already feeling the pressure due to their support for the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This is just adding more pressure on them, along with their poor showing in local elections. 9 seats were up for grabs on Thursday and Reform failed to win a single one. In fact, out of the 218 seats that have become vacant since the last general election Reform have only won 12. Hardly the ‘Tsunami’ that ’30p Lee’ Anderson keeps boasting of.

Who will win? There’s only one possible outcome. The majority shareholder will win. Reform are a PLC, not a genuine political party. The mugs persuaded to cough up £25 for ‘membership’ are about to find out the reality of what that buys them. Nothing. The money is trousered by Farage. It’s impossible for Farage to be deposed. As the majority shareholder he owns Reform!

Still, I’ll invest in some popcorn, as this saga is going to run and run. There’s nothing like a bit of right-wing political infighting. It rivals blood sports! Meanwhile, not all is well in the White House either….

Now it’s time to knock off and leave you with a picture to brighten your day, which comes from…Bali. I posted a picture of an unknown bird the other week. Thanks to readers it was identified as a female olive-backed Sunbird. That allowed me to ID this one as the male olive-backed sunbird.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Some people’s politics are as weird as ever…

25 Monday Nov 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Elon Musk, Musings, Politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Musings, news, Politics

I was going to title that British people but there’s quite a bit of evidence that the latest UK government petition that’s setting the right-wing world aflutter has been signed by a lot of people who’re neither British, or real.

You may ask what I’m talking about. Understandable, if you don’t live in the UK or if you don’t hang around on social media (especially the cesspit that Twitter has become nowadays) as this petition has only really existed in a social media vacuum chamber until the past 24 hours, when the mainstream media (especially the right wing outlets) have decided to cover it. So, let’s start at the beginning.

An e-petition calling for yet another general election was started on the Government’s petitions website 5 days ago, by someone called Michael Westwood. Here’s a link. Now, most of you will remember that we only had a general election back in July. Labour won it with a landslide and currently have a working majority of 259.

The petition would probably have died a death, but it’s been picked up and amplified by Elon Musk and many other right-wing commentators. So, as I type this, the number of ‘signatures’ stands at 2.4 million. It doesn’t take much to sign it. All you need is a UK postcode and a valid email address.

The right-wing are cock a hoop at the numbers and are flogging this like it actually means something. But there’s several problems – not least the fact the numbers are suspect. OK, let’s leave that one aside and pretend (just for the sake of argument) that the numbers are genuine.

In the last general election, 6.8m people were daft enough to still vote Tory. Another 4.1 million even more deluded souls voted for the ‘Fagash Fuhrer’ (Nigel Farage) and his private limited company (major shareholder, N Farage) known as ‘Reform’. That’s 10.9 million right-wing votes. So, less than a quarter of them signing a petition is hardly a popular revolt against the government!

There’s another thing. These petitions are meaningless. It’s clear some clueless souls think they lead to a vote in Parliament with a vote that could order a new general election. The reality is, they’re not even debated in the House of Commons, nor is any vote taken afterwards. They’re held in Westminster Hall and they’re little more than a talking shop. MPs are under no compunction to turn up either, which means they’re often very sparsely attended.

Now, even *if* this petition was debated in Parliament and *if* there was a vote, the Government have a working majority of 259. There wouldn’t be a cat in hell’s chance of it passing.

It seems some people are realising that this petition is pointless and have pivoted to saying it’s sending the Government a ‘message’. They’re not quite sure what that message is of course, but hey ho…

In truth, the message it’s sending isn’t the one they think it is. The real message is one of breathtaking hypocrisy, on several levels.

Remember, in 2016, almost all of these people (well, the real ones anyway) will have voted for Brexit. They’ve spent the past 8 years telling those that voted to remain that ‘you lost, get over it’. According to them, an advisory referendum that was 52-48% (with a huge number of abstentions) is inviolable and written in stone forever more, and petitions like these, which were signed by millions, had to be ignored. Only theirs is valid. Hypocritical, much? Damned right it is.

And yet, the result of a general election that Labour won by a landslide just 4 months ago should be overturned, now, despite the fact there will be another general election in just under 5 years time. So much for the ‘will of the people’, eh?

It seems that for the right-wing ‘democrats’, election results only matter when they win. Remind you of anyone? Oh, yes, the orange rapist and felon who’ll be re-entering the White House next year. And of course, who’s behind amplifying all this nonsense on social media, Trump’s chum Elon Musk! Now, hang on a minute, why are so many supposed British ‘patriots’ so happy that there’s foreign interference in UK politics? Weren’t these the people who railed against the ‘unelected bureaucrats’ of the EU or anyone from another country (Obama, Biden, et al) who had the temerity to opine about what was happening in the UK? But Musk, actively interfering? Come on in! The hypocrisy is weapons-grade.

PM Sir Keir Starmer has already burst their balloon by pointing out the fact that this “isn’t how our system works.”

There’s another interesting bit of fallout from this petition. It’s demonstrating just how irrelevant the Tory party are now. The agenda is being driven not by them but by constant noise from the right-wing media and vested-interest billionaires like Musk. It’s no wonder politics is in such bad shape nowadays.

I’ve no doubt the froth about the petition will die soon. It’s going nowhere. The right have the attention-span of a goldfish, the bots will be reprogrammed and move on to the next thing their masters deem worth their time. Besides, it’s almost the festive season. The right-wing always get outraged about Christmas and someone trying to ‘ban’ it. Imagine living your life in a state of permanent outrage, the way many of these right-wingers do?

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

7th November picture of the day…

07 Thursday Nov 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Community rail, Community Rail Network, Musings, news, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, trains, transportation

Today’s been one where I’ve managed to cut myself off from the troubles of the world (and the results of the American election) to concentrate on something uplifting. Right now I’m knee-deep in judging the Community Rail Awards 2025 entries, specifically the ‘It’s your station’ category. We’ve had 39 entries this year, many of them from stations which have never applied before. I’ve spent the day reading through the submissions, checking the information supplied and doing my first sift of the entries to see which categories they fall into. Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. I can assure you, it’s nor all about station gardens either. Here’s some of the winners from this years Community Rail Awards.

As always, there’s some fantastic entries. Most of the stations I’m familiar with as I’ve visited them some time in the past (or even recently), a few I don’t really know at all. It doesn’t matter as we judge on the entries, some of which are incredibly inspiring as they showcase the best of the areas they represent and the total cross-section of people involved. Sometimes it’s easy to become jaded and cynical. These people, their achievements and their commitments to their communities restore your faith in humanity – something very much needed right now!

So, today’s picture is a reflection of what I’m seeing, although it’s not from a station that’s entered this year. These are some of the fantastic local history boards on display at Marple station in Cheshire.

I’ve a gallery dedicated to community rail on my Zenfolio picture website. You can find it here.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

The politics blog…

05 Tuesday Nov 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Donald Trump, Kemi Badenoch, Musings, Politics, The USA

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

keir-starmer, Kemi Badenoch, Musings, news, Politics, The USA, uk-politics

I’ve not really commented on politics much recently. That’s mainly for two reasons. One is that since Labour won the general election we’ve had a tsunami of speculation and hyperventilation over what Labour are (or aren’t) doing and I’d rather wait and see the reality. Most of the commentary has been utter dross. Even once respectable news sources like the BBC have indulged in (non)stories that in a more reasoned age wouldn’t even have seen the light of day. Then there’s the increasingly down-market Telegraph newspaper, which is sinking to new levels of batshittery daily. It feels like it’s trying to out red-top the red-tops nowadays. Adding to the problem has been the decline of Twitter. Until Musk bought it and bastardised it in his own egotistical image it was a pretty good place to find political comment, from all sides. Now Musk has turned it into a right-wing cesspit where you can’t trust anything as, anything goes as long as it’s right-wing and designed to fulfill his and Donald Trump’s interests.

Which brings me rather neatly on to the American elections, where voting is taking place now. From a European perspective it’s difficult to understand how America has got itself in such a mess politically that the choice is between a convicted felon, rapist and dayglo pile of incoherent word-soup – and an ordinary person. Yet a large chunk of the American population (whichever way it goes tomorrow) see Donald Trump as ‘normal’, like him and will vote for him in their millions.

Thankfully, Europe (well, most of it) saw through demagogues like Trump years ago, back in the 1940s. one of ours ended up committing suicide in a bunker whilst the other ended up hanging from a lamp post, but not before Hitler and Mussolini had caused the death of millions. Do we as a species ever learn? Sadly not it seems. Whilst Labour have come to power and are gradually (and fitfully) getting to grips with 14 years of Tory misrule, we still have people in the UK who idolise the likes of the ‘fagash Fuhrer’ Nigel Farage (who’s yet again abandoned his Clacton voters to brown-nose Trump in America).

Still, it’s not all bad if you like a political joke – which is what the Tory party seem intent on becoming. The Tories have just elected Kemi Badenoch as their new leader. Well when I say ‘the’ Tories – only 1/3 of their remaining MPs backed her, the turnout in the membership election was less than 73% and of those Badenoch won by 56.5% compared to Jenrick’s 43.5%. Not exactly what you’d call a ringing endorsement, is it? Badenoch’s first interview as leader was with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg who’s known for giving Tories an easy ride. Despite that, it didn’t go well. Badenoch came across as arrogant, graceless and with no sign of having learned a single thing from the Tories election defeat.

Then she went on to choose her shadow cabinet (shouldn’t that be shallow cabinet? Ed), most of which have been announced today. Admittedly, after their electoral decimation the talent pool has become a puddle, plus many experienced Tory MPs are keeping their powder dry so that they’re not tainted by Badenoch’s failure when it happens and can step into the breech. So, who did she choose? The one that’s outstanding for me is ‘Penfold’, sorry Mark Francois, the MP (although why is a mystery) for Rayleigh and Wickford, a man whose ego is in reverse proportion to his stature. One of the pro-Brexit fanatics and trouble-makers of the ‘European Research Group’ Badenoch has appointed this former member of the TA as….Shadow Defence Minister!

The reaction on social media has been swift – and merciless!

As you can imagine, there’s many many more like that.

Badenoch’s claims that this is the Tory party learning and listening after its humiliating defeat is looking hollower by the day – and she’s not even been Leader for a week! I can’t help wondering how soon the first rejection letters from MPs are going to be going in to the 1922 Committee. On the bright side, the numbers of letters required to trigger a leadership election has increased from 13 to 40. As the Tories are reduced to 121 MPs that means Badenoch may be around long enough to cause some real credibility problems.

The champagne corks must be popping in No 10!

Let’s hope that the rest of us moderate, sensible people will be able to raise a toast to American President Kamala Harris on Thursday, closing the door on a political shit-show that includes not just Trump, but Putin…

God (of your choice, or none) bless America!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

HS2 will go to Euston.

01 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Euston, Hs2, London, Politics, Railways

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Euston, Euston station, Hs2, London, news, Politics, Railways, Travel

There’s been lots of stuff to unpick in Wednesday’s budget which was the first one from Labour for 14 years. Much of the endless speculation running up to it proved to be wrong. What wasn’t wrong was an expected announcement that High Speed 2 will be running to Euston.

Chancellor Rachel Reeve confirmed that the Government will directly fund the roughly £1bn cost of completing the 5.4-mile tunnel drive from Old Oak Common. The Tories has said this would only go ahead if private finance funded it. The new Labour government knows this was just an excuse for more dither and delay, so has committed to funding the work from Government funds.

Some people have expressed surprise that – whilst the tunnels will be built, there’s no announcement on building the HS2 station at Euston. There’s a reason for this.

The TBMs to bore the tunnels are already being assembled on site at Old Oak Common. There’s a tight window for launching them as any delay would impact on the construction of the HS2 station at Old Oak Common, so the decision had to be made quickly and the budget was a handy event to include it in.

The announcement of Euston station is much more complex. Plans for the station had changed a number of times due to the Government changing its mind on the size of the oversite development (OSD) and latterly, due to the station being designed by a Committee, the Euston Partnership Board. There’s an old adage that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. It’s similar in intent to ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’. All the different partners in the partnership wanted their needs and aspirations included in the station design and the costs escalated massively as a consequence. Now the new Government has redrawn plans yet again. Another budget announcement was the appointment of Bek Seeley to chair the Euston Housing Delivery Group which will be involved in Euston station design and the surrounding area. Meanwhile, funding for Euston station redevelopment isn’t expected to be announced until the March 2025 spending review. As things stand, there’s still considerable uncertainty over what the actual HS2 station will look like, many platforms it will have, or even when construction will begin – only that HS2 WILL get to Euston. For the rest, we’ll just have to wait and see…

Before the Tories dithered and delayed to waste 100s of £ms on HS2 at Euston…Here’s a 20th October 2021 view of the station’s Western wall under construction.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

A picture farewell to the West Midlands Class 323s.

26 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Birmingham, Class 323, Photography, Railways

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Birmingham, Class 323, local-history, news, Photography, Railways, Travel, west-midlands

This week sees the end of passenger operation across the West Midlands by the Hunslet transportation built Class 323s which have been a feature in the region since the early 1990s when 26 of the 43 built 3-car trains were allocated to the area by British Railways.

Numbered 323201-323222 and 323240-243, the units have slowly been replaced by the newly built Class 730s from Alstom (nee Bombardier). The last of the 323s will run this Sunday when a Branch Line Society railtour will take them along routes they served for so many years, but ending up in Liverpool Lime St!

Here’s a selection of pictures documenting their service over the years. But fear not, whilst some of the units will be going to store, others are being transferred to the North-West where they’ll join their sisters who work for Northern. The distinctive whine of the 323s electronics will be heard for many years yet!

Whilst many photographers have ignore the West Mids 323s (until now) I’ve been taking pictures of them for over 20 years. Here’s a small selection from different locations along the routes they’ve worked.

The first of the class, 323201 seen with a sister unit at Bromsgrove (the end of electrification) on the 16th June 2021.
It’s the 2nd May 2012 and 323203 sporting London Midland livery arrives at Sutton Coldfield with a service from Four Oaks.
323204 is seen through the tunnels on the approach to Birmingham New St on the 23rd March 2008.
323205 calls at Wylde Green on the 23rd April 2024 whilst working 2R39, the 1446 Four Oaks to Redditch..
Here’s 323206 at journey’s end in the bay platform at Wolverhampton after working a stopping train from Birmingham on the 8th August 2013.
323207 is at the rear of 323212 with a service leaving Longbridge on the 7th August 2013.
Whilst working a shuttle service from Birmingham to Birmingham International on the 7th September 2005, 323209 is seen at the latter destination before returning North.
Having terminated at Lichfield City the crew change ends before working back towards Birmingham on the 1st May 2012.
323212 approaches Sutton Coldfield from the Birmingham direction on the 2nd May 2012.
On the 14th January 2014, 323213 crosses the junction at Bescot stadium with a service from Walsall.
Here’s 323214 waiting to depart Bournville on the 25th February 2019.
323215 arrives at Stechford on the15th January 2014 whilst working the 12:47 to Birmingham International.
The previous day (14th January 2014) 323216 was captured crossing the junction outside Aston station with a service to Lichfield.
The end of the line. Here’s 323218 at the single platform station at Redditch on the 7th August 2013.
Taken a year earlier, this is the London Midland interior of 323218, seen on the 1st May 2012.
323219 approaches Tame Bridge Parkway station near Bescot with a service from Walsall on the 14th January 2014.
On the 2nd May 2012 323220 arrives at the Wolverhampton’s bay platform 1 with a service from Birmingham.
323221 has become a ‘celebrity’ after its repaint into the old ‘Centro’ livery. Here it is the first time around, seen in the turnback siding at Longbridge on the 21st February 2007.
An interior view of one of 323222’s driving cars after the seating had been re-upholstered by West Midlands Trains. Seen on the 23rd April 2024.
323240 picks up passengers from the impressive station at Sutton Coldfield whilst working 2R41, the 1516 Four Oaks to Redditch. The date is the 23rd April 2024.
On the same day, 323241 and a sister unit arrive at Four Oaks with 2P31, the 1229 Bromsgrove to Lichfield Trent Valley.
323242 calls at the rebuilt station at Alvechurch on the 24th February 2019.
It’s the 16th December 2006 and the last of the class is seen at journey’s end (Coventry) before working back to Birmingham.

If you want to find pictures of other members of the fleet (I have them all) simply visit my Zenfolio website and enter the unit number in the search bar at the top right hand side of the screen.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Huw Merriman MP. Never trust a Tory…

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Hs2, Huw Merriman MP, Politics, Railways

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

conservative-party, Hs2, Huw Merriman MP, news, Politics, Railways, Rishi Sunak, uk-politics

I’ll be honest, when I first heard that Huw Merriman the Tory MP for Bexhill and Battle since 2015 had been appointed Minister of State for Rail and HS2 back in October 2022 I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, He’d been a member of the Transport Select Committee since September 2017 so was well versed in the issues. Then, in January 2020 he’d been appointed Chair of the TSC and seemed to make a pretty good fist of it. He was intelligent and balanced, grasped the issues and managed to keep idiots like his fellow Tory MP Greg Hands (the virulently anti HS2 MP for Bucks) under control.

Sadly, as soon as he was appointed to the Government, the Tory Borg chip was implanted and he was assimilated.

Merriman in 2022. Enthusiastically backing HS2 all the way right until his boss did a volte face – and so did Merriman…

Telling the truth gave way to Owellian ‘Truthspeak’ – as today’s example shows. Merriman attended the opening of the rebuilt Dore and Totley station on the Hope Valley line which has being rebuilt. Here are his utterly BS tweets.

Jesus, where to start? Success? The December timetable has been delayed. There are no extra trains. When there are they’ll be limited to one extra train per hour because further work needs to be done at Manchester and Sheffield to provide capacity. The irony? Both of those locations were due to have capacity added by the very thing Merriman’s boasting about funds being diverted from – HS2.

Oh, the diverted funds bit is utter horseshit too (and Merriman knows it). You see, the Hope Valley upgrade was given funding in 2021, something that seems to have slipped Merriman’s mind – despite his time on the TSC. Here’s the DfT’s press release from that year announcing the work.

Claiming this is a ‘Network North’ project is complete bollocks. A fag packet would be embarrassed to have had this so-called plan drawn up on it. A ‘plan’ which dates from November 2023 – when Rishi Sunak unilaterally decided to cancel HS2 phases 2a and 2b. Y’know – the bits that were meant to deliver ‘levelling up’. The claim that this fictional money (which wasn’t due to be borrowed until 2029) has funded a project started in 2021 shows how Merriman and his boss (Sunak) are gaslighting people – and how Merriman is happy to promulgate a lie. Yeah, I know – he’ll pull the usual pained face he does when he’s caught out. But make no mistake, this is a lie.

Oh, I forgot. Electrification of the Hope Valley? Dream on! That was never a priority in anyone’s plans. It was added to ‘Network North’ ‘cos whoever wrote on the back of that particular fag-packet hadn’t checked real priorities. Of course, it’s pure co-incidence that some of the projects that did get a mention (like the Stocksbridge branch) go through Tory marginals and ‘red wall’ seats, honest! By the way, remember, this is written on the bottom of page 24 of the NN fag-packet plan.

So, what’s the business case for Hope Valley electrification? There isn’t one. And, if there was, it’s been hopelessly compromised by the scrapping of HS2 East and West.

How are any of Merriman’s boasted about improvements going to be delivered before the next general election? They’re not. Nothing’s going to happen at all. The Tories are taking you for fools. Are you going to fall for it again? I won’t. I gave Merriman the benefit of the doubt. As the old saying goes, ‘fool me once’…

A pair of East Midlands Railway DMUs pass through the Hope Valley in September 2023

I’ll leave you with this famous quote from a Russian writer and dissident which sums up the state of Tory politics right now.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • Rolling blog. Christmas carolling…
  • 17th December picture(s) of the day…
  • 15th December picture of the day…
  • TRU update. Batley to Ravensthorpe.
  • 9th December picture of the day…

Recent Comments

ramakrishnanaidu400's avatarramakrishnanaidu400 on London, HS2 and home…
Paul Bigland's avatarPaul Bigland on London, HS2 and home…
Steve Ashford's avatarSteve Ashford on London, HS2 and home…
Chuckster's avatarChuckster on Rolling blog. More Manchester…
ramakrishnanaidu400's avatarramakrishnanaidu400 on Shropshire sojourn. Part …

Archives

  • December 2025
  • November 2025
  • October 2025
  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • June 2013

Categories

  • 'Green' madness
  • 'Think Tanks'
  • 144e
  • 2005 London bombing
  • 2017 General election
  • 3 peaks by rail
  • 3 Peaks by ral
  • 51M
  • 7/7
  • Abandoned railways
  • Abu Dhabi
  • ACoRP
  • Adam Smith Institute
  • Adrian Quine
  • Advertising
  • Air Travel
  • Aircraft
  • Airports
  • Airshows
  • Allan Cook
  • Alstom
  • Amsterdam
  • Andrea Leadsom MP
  • Andrew Gilligan
  • Andrew Haylen
  • Andy Burnham MP
  • Anti Hs2 mob
  • AONBs
  • Arambol
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Australia
  • Avanti West Coast
  • Bali
  • Bangkok
  • Bank holidays
  • Barrow Hill
  • beer
  • Belgium
  • Bereavement
  • Berlin
  • Bigotry
  • Birmingham
  • Blists Hill
  • Blue passports
  • Boris Johnson MP
  • Bradford
  • Brazil
  • Brexit
  • Brighouse
  • Brighton
  • British Railways
  • British Railways (BR)
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Buses
  • Byline media
  • Calder Valley
  • Calderdale
  • Cambridge
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Canals
  • Cardiff
  • Carillion
  • Carolyne Culver
  • Censorship
  • Charities
  • Cheryl Gillan MP
  • Cheshire
  • Chester
  • China
  • Chris Packham
  • Claire Perry MP
  • Class 08
  • Class 155
  • Class 180
  • Class 313
  • Class 314s
  • Class 317
  • Class 319
  • Class 320
  • Class 321
  • Class 323
  • Class 365
  • Class 455
  • Class 456
  • Class 507
  • Class 508
  • Class 60s
  • Class 91
  • Climate Change
  • Communications
  • Community
  • Community rail
  • Community Rail Network
  • COP26
  • Corbynwatch
  • Coronavirus
  • Coventry
  • Covid 19
  • CP5
  • Crap journalism
  • Crazy anti Hs2 campaigner of the week
  • Crazy kippers
  • Crewe Hub
  • Crossrail
  • Cuba
  • Cumbria
  • Customs
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cycle India
  • Cycling
  • Dame Bernadette Kelly
  • Dawn
  • Democracy
  • Denmark
  • Derbyshire
  • Desiro City
  • Dewsbury
  • Diary
  • Dispatches
  • Doha
  • Donald Trump
  • Doomed
  • Dorset
  • Down memory lane
  • Duxford
  • East Lancashire Railway
  • East Midlands Railway franchise
  • East Midlands Trains
  • East-West rail
  • Easter fairy stories
  • ECML
  • Economic illiteracy
  • Economics
  • election2015
  • Elon Musk
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Essex
  • Eurostar
  • Euston
  • Extinction Rebellion
  • Fake News
  • Festivals
  • Film and TV
  • Flag shaggers
  • Flooding
  • Flora and Fauna
  • Food
  • Food and drink
  • Foot in mouth
  • Gardening
  • GBRf
  • GCRE
  • General election
  • General election 2019
  • General election 2024
  • Georgetown
  • Germany
  • Glasgow
  • Glossop
  • GNGE
  • GNRP
  • Goa
  • Goole
  • Grand Central trains
  • Grant Shapps MP
  • Great Western Railway
  • Greater Anglia franchise
  • Greater Manchester
  • Greece
  • Green issues
  • Green madness
  • Green Party
  • Grok
  • Gt Missenden
  • GTR
  • Guido Fawkes
  • GWML
  • GWR franchise
  • Gwyll Jones
  • Halifax
  • Hampshire
  • Harvil Rd Hs2 protest
  • Harz railway
  • Heathrow 3rd runway
  • High Speed 1
  • High Speed UK
  • History
  • Hitachi
  • Hong Kong
  • House of Lords
  • HS North
  • Hs1
  • Hs2
  • Hs2 Bow Group
  • Hs2 petitions
  • Hs2 Phase 2B
  • Hs2 to Crewe
  • Hs2aa
  • HS2Rebellion
  • HSUK
  • Huddersfield
  • Humberside
  • Humour
  • Hurricane Ophelia
  • Huw Merriman MP
  • Hypocrisy
  • I love my job
  • Imperial College London
  • Imperial War Museum
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Infrarail
  • Innotrans
  • Internet
  • Iolo Williams
  • Ireland
  • Islamophobia
  • Istanbul
  • Jacob Rees Mogg
  • jakarta
  • Jeremy Corbyn
  • Jeremy Corbyn MP
  • Jo Johnson MP
  • Joanne Crompton
  • Joe Rukin
  • John McDonnell MP
  • John Poyntz
  • Johnathan Bartley
  • Journalism
  • Kanchanaburi
  • Kemi Badenoch
  • Kent
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • Labour election
  • Lancashire
  • Laos
  • Law and order
  • Lazy journalism
  • Leicestershire
  • Levelling up
  • Liam Halligan
  • libel
  • Lilian Greenwood MP
  • Lincolnshire
  • Liverpool
  • LNER
  • Local elections
  • Local elections 2018
  • Lockdown
  • London
  • London Underground
  • Lord Berkeley
  • LRT
  • M62 motorway
  • Major Projects Authority
  • Malaysia
  • Manchester
  • Manchester Airport
  • Manchester Victoria
  • MAPA
  • Mark Keir
  • Marketing
  • Martin Tett
  • Mediawatch
  • Melton Mowbray
  • Memory Lane
  • Merseyrail
  • Merseyside
  • Michael Dugher MP
  • Michael Fabricant MP
  • Mid Cheshire against Hs2
  • Miscellany
  • Modern Railways
  • Monorails
  • Music
  • Musings
  • Mytholmroyd
  • Natalie Bennett
  • National Rail Awards
  • National Trust
  • Nepal
  • Network Rail
  • Never a dull life
  • New Economics Foundation
  • New trains
  • New Year
  • New York
  • New Zealand
  • Newcastle
  • NHS
  • Nigel Farage
  • Norfolk
  • Norland scarecrow festival
  • North Yorkshire
  • Northern Powerhouse
  • Northern Rail
  • Northumberland
  • Norway
  • Nostalgia
  • Nottingham
  • Obituaries
  • Old Oak Common
  • ORR
  • Ossett
  • Our cat, Jet
  • Oxfordshire
  • Pacers
  • Paris terror attack
  • Parliament
  • Pasenger Growth
  • Patrick McLouglin MP
  • Penny Gaines
  • Peter Jones
  • Peterborough
  • Photography
  • Photojournalism
  • Picture of the day
  • Poetry
  • Politics
  • Porterbrook
  • Portugal
  • PR nightmares
  • Preston
  • Protest
  • Public Accounts Ctte
  • Pubs
  • rail ale
  • Rail electrification
  • Rail fares
  • Rail Investment
  • Rail Live 2021
  • Rail Live 2022
  • Rail Live 2024
  • RAIL magazine
  • Rail Moderinsation
  • Rail PR
  • Railfreight
  • Railstaff awards
  • Railtex
  • Railway Benefit Fund (RBF)
  • Railway preservation
  • Railways
  • Rant
  • Religion
  • Reservoir blogs
  • RFEM
  • Richard Wellings
  • Ride India
  • Rishi Sunak
  • Road accidents
  • Rolling blogs
  • ROSCOs
  • Royal Mail
  • Royal Wedding 2018
  • RSPB
  • Rugby Observer
  • Rushbearing
  • SAIP
  • Sarah Green
  • Scores on the doors
  • Scotland
  • Scotrail
  • Sheffield
  • Ships
  • Shrewsbury
  • Shropshire
  • Siemens
  • Signalling
  • Silly season
  • Simon Heffer
  • Simon Jenkins
  • Singapore
  • Sleeper trains
  • Snail mail
  • Social media
  • South West Trains
  • Southport
  • Sowerby Bridge
  • Spectator magazine
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Pancras station
  • Stafford
  • Stamford
  • Station buffets
  • StopHs2
  • Surabaya
  • Surrey
  • Swansea
  • Talgo
  • Teresa May
  • Terrorism
  • Tesla
  • Thailand
  • Thameslink
  • The 'Beast from the East'
  • The BBC
  • The Big 6
  • The Cludders
  • The Daily Express
  • The Economy
  • The end of the line
  • The fog
  • The Grauniad
  • The Great Central railway
  • The Green Party
  • The Guardian
  • The Independent
  • The Labour Party
  • The Moorcock Inn
  • The Piece Hall
  • The PWI
  • The Railway Children
  • The Rodelblitz
  • The USA
  • The Woodland Trust
  • Tilford
  • Tony Allen
  • Torquay
  • Tourism
  • TPE
  • Traffic congestion
  • Trams
  • Trans-Pennine electrification
  • Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade
  • Transport
  • Transport Committee
  • Transport for Wales (TfW)
  • Travel
  • TRU
  • Turkey
  • Twilight years
  • Twitter
  • Twitter (and how not to use it)
  • UK
  • UK steel industry
  • UKIP
  • Uncategorized
  • Uxbridge
  • Vandalism
  • Victoria Prentis MP
  • Virgin Trains
  • Virgin West Coast
  • Vivarail
  • Wales
  • Walking
  • Warwickshire
  • WCML
  • Weather
  • West Yorkshire
  • Wigan
  • Wildlife Trusts
  • Wiltshire
  • Worcester
  • Work
  • World car-free day
  • World War 1
  • World War Two
  • Yorkshire
  • YorkshireStopHs2

Meta

  • Create account
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Paul Bigland
    • Join 465 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Paul Bigland
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...