156429 currently sat between Navigation Road and Altrincham with numerous people in high vis including some firefighters in attendance.
Northern have done a survey asking for views on revenue protection. I wonder if they're ready for the responses to the "Do you have anything else you want to add?" section. I'm sure lack of RPI training, guards who remain in the cab and doubled up Sprinter formations that don't allow guards to check a portion of the train are going to feature heavily. Then there's ticket offices that are frequently closed due to staff shortages and TVMs that don't offer Promise to Pay notices even when the ticket office is closed.
Former TFW 769 452 was observed by me passing Hoscar LC at around 15:30 this afternoon.
Apparently operator specific tickets are being abolished in Greater Manchester next month, with Off Peak singles introduced. Just tried some searches for 15 December and I was getting offered Advance Singles and Anytime Day Singles only.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/gmfares/
Currently on Journey Check "23:17 Manchester Victoria to Wigan North Western due 23:59 may be cancelled."
I notice today there's some Corkickle to Manchester Airport services, which appear to be extensions of the usual Barrow services, and still operated by 195s.
It makes sense to use any spare capacity off the MCR line instead of running an infrequent shuttle service to/from Corkickle, I suppose.
I thought some services being operated by 195s on that route was an unusual occurrence worth reporting, given the 195s normally stick to specific routes. They're not like 150s and 156s that get switched around all the time.
During storm Claudia a tree fell on the line between Manchester Piccadilly and the Airport. The line has remained closed all day today. Trains from Liverpool Lime Street via Newton le Willows have terminated not at Piccadilly but at Oxford Road.