Will you take several hundred cans of time expired ‘Hunky Chunks Mackcerel Surprise’ as a sort of barter, while I look down the back of the couch and chairs?
Thanking you in anticipation

Of course

When you open them put sandbags around them and stand well back…it’s like plutonium, you don’t want it on your clothes….the smell is to die for ….. and you probably will.

thats the problem the way the trains are run. they must make a profit or try to scam councils to run off peak services. used to catch a train pre privatisation about midnight from coventry and i was never the only one to get on or were the carriages empty either. if there was an event at the NEC you were lucky to get a seat. then abracadabra they pulled it off soon after the privatisation scam started up.

Privatisation means increase profits year on year to generate dividends for the share holders, the general public don’t come into the thoughts of the private companies.

Nationalized industries become ineffective and lack innovation then they are privatized then they lose track of what they are required to do then it's nationalized again. It's a circle over 20 to 30 years.

It can be nationalised and work with effective management…… better the profits are kept to pay for the system and no greedy governments (of all party’s):are allowed to have their fingers in the till.
Same with the buses.

It can be nationalised but at what cost, investment in the rail network over years has been next to nothing apart from the wasted billions on HS2.The problem with the U.K. Rail Network is we are trying to run trains on networks which were never geared up for modern high speed trains.
Virgin tried the tilting trains on the West Coast Line, I copied and pasted this about the failure of the tilting train.

With the famous tilt sticking, that mainly was due to the cold and frost conditions, at speed the cold air being forced under the train accelerated its flow and had a much bigger “chill factor” which literally froze the hydraulic oil and/or solenoids, they moved very slowly or stuck. The temperatures were much lower in practice than anticipated. However, the government insisted on it going into full service regular service. Rather than finish the testing services, and sort out the freezing problems, the project was summarily closed down and the design teams dispersed.

The Labour plan is to take the passenger companies into national hand when the franchises expire. No cost except ongoing revenue risk.

Freight and open Access operators stay as is. The track, signals and stations are already in government hands. The plan makes sense.

Integration will save on duplicate costs in the train operating companies. Integration will give cost and service efficiencies.

Profits reinvested to improve services generating more demand and income.
It's only ideology that has stopped the current government do this which is accepted throughout the industry, rail journalists, unions etc etc as the best way forward from the current mess.
It's not a " socialist" policy just common sense.

To be honest, I think too much is made of the HST…They go fast enough for my liking, they’re just not worth all that investment to get to London 30 minutes earlier.
I’d like to see reliable, comfortable trains charging accessible fares for rail travellers as more of a priority.

i cannot be the only one who never uses trains because of the cost of the journey or the inability to get home with them finishing early. the actual journey time taken is of little importance. if they cut the fares in half and added a hour to my travelling time i,d leave the car at home and come to the match on it instead.

That's fair comment Mr Accy. I enjoy travelling on trains, especiallyto footy days out.
Anywhere in the london area I always use the train/tube to get to the matches.
I appreciate where I live train travel is less of a hassle to use and I always buy a rail card.

Great where if live an area where you can get a train to more or less direct to your place of work, what trains from Hartlepool could get to your local place of work ?

Depends what you class as ‘local’.

Anywhere where the train stops from Middlesbrough to Newcastle if the time table suits your hours, or is that not possible
Not living or working in the area restricts my knowledge on that one.

It can be nationalised but at what cost, investment in the rail network over years has been next to nothing apart from the wasted billions on HS2.The problem with the U.K. Rail Network is we are trying to run trains on networks which were never geared up for modern high speed trains. [/quote]

To be honest, I think too much is made of the HST…They go fast enough for my liking, they’re just not worth all that investment to get to London 30 minutes earlier.
I’d like to see reliable, comfortable trains charging accessible fares for rail travellers as more of a priority.[/quote]
i cannot be the only one who never uses trains because of the cost of the journey or the inability to get home with them finishing early. the actual journey time taken is of little importance. if they cut the fares in half and added a hour to my travelling time i,d leave the car at home and come to the match on it instead.[/quote]

That's fair comment Mr Accy. I enjoy travelling on trains, especiallyto footy days out.
Anywhere in the london area I always use the train/tube to get to the matches.
I appreciate where I live train travel is less of a hassle to use and I always buy a rail card.[/quote]

Great where if live an area where you can get a train to more or less direct to your place of work, what trains from Hartlepool could get to your local place of work ?[/quote]
Depends what you class as ‘local’.[/quote]

Power Station, Seal Sands,Wilton, North Tees Hospital, etc.

You got it right first time Mr D….I tend to use the term ‘local’ to describe Hartlepool though, I suppose the best word could be ‘region’.

[/quote="Jamie1952"]It can be nationalised but at what cost, investment in the rail network over years has been next to nothing apart from the wasted billions on HS2.The problem with the U.K. Rail Network is we are trying to run trains on networks which were never geared up for modern high speed trains. [/quote]

To be honest, I think too much is made of the HST…They go fast enough for my liking, they’re just not worth all that investment to get to London 30 minutes earlier.
I’d like to see reliable, comfortable trains charging accessible fares for rail travellers as more of a priority.[/quote]
i cannot be the only one who never uses trains because of the cost of the journey or the inability to get home with them finishing early. the actual journey time taken is of little importance. if they cut the fares in half and added a hour to my travelling time i,d leave the car at home and come to the match on it instead.[/quote]

That's fair comment Mr Accy. I enjoy travelling on trains, especiallyto footy days out.
Anywhere in the london area I always use the train/tube to get to the matches.
I appreciate where I live train travel is less of a hassle to use and I always buy a rail card.[/quote]

Great where if live an area where you can get a train to more or less direct to your place of work, what trains from Hartlepool could get to your local place of work ?[/quote]
Depends what you class as ‘local’.[/quote]

Power Station, Seal Sands,Wilton, North Tees Hospital, etc.[/quote]



No use whatsoever, but the buses do.
Buses for local travel, trains for regional travel, although buses cover that as well.

I can't get direct to any Hospital in my area by train but I can get to the lot by bus, should I choose public transport.
On the occasions I came to Hartlepool by train for night matches before Grand Central was introduced I use to go via Newcastle and on the tea time trains to Hartlepool there were dozens of people going home from work. I assume that's still the case.

I checked the new timetable (2nd June) and there was the new express every 2 hourly from Middlesbrough to Newcastle stopping at Hartlepool from 8.40am till 6.40pm. Great i thought.
Then i checked the returns from Newcastle to Middlesbrough and THEY DO NOT STOP AT HARTLEPOOL.
Its unbelievable that this is the situation.
So i am afraid this thread will still remain until at least December 2024 when the timetables change again.
I have the Samaritans number if anyone wants it.[/quote]
WARNINGI’m gonna swear here …WHAT DEMENTED FUCK WIT WITH THE BRAINS OF A TURNIP THOUGHT THAT UP !
Have the council or MP not been contacted[/quote]
I have contacted Network Rail and Northern train and have asked them why it will not stop. Then i will do something with the council/politicians.[/quote]


Any further developments in respect of the above Mr B? I ask as I have heard a rumour that the Platform 3 has been deemed as being ‘too narrow’ for use by 21st century travellers despite being perfectly adequate for over 100 years previously ie until the old footbridge became unsafe. It’s probably a load of tosh but in the absence of any ‘official’ explanation for the ridiculous delay in opening the platform such rumours are inevitable.

Keep up the investigation fella, you are doing a great job - although you would think that the once respected publication that is the Hartlepool Mail would be carrying out ‘investigative journalism on behalf of the good burghers of the town.

WARNINGI’m gonna swear here …WHAT DEMENTED FUCK WIT WITH THE BRAINS OF A TURNIP THOUGHT THAT UP !
Have the council or MP not been contacted[/quote]
I have contacted Network Rail and Northern train and have asked them why it will not stop. Then i will do something with the council/politicians.[/quote]


Any further developments in respect of the above Mr B? I ask as I have heard a rumour that the Platform 3 has been deemed as being ‘too narrow’ for use by 21st century travellers despite being perfectly adequate for over 100 years previously ie until the old footbridge became unsafe. It’s probably a load of tosh but in the absence of any ‘official’ explanation for the ridiculous delay in opening the platform such rumours are inevitable.

Keep up the investigation fella, you are doing a great job - although you would think that the once respected publication that is the Hartlepool Mail would be carrying out ‘investigative journalism on behalf of the good burghers of the town.[/quote]

I think it might be best if the Mail stays out of it. They'd probably find a way of making the situation worse.

I am awaiting a reply from Northern. Network rail says the timetabling of trains is nothing to do with them. I will update you all when I have something further.

Nothing will surprise me.

Network rail do the timetable for all TOC's and FOC's that's how they program ARS (Automatic Route System) on part of their network.
The foot bridge is probably awaiting an official safety certificate from Network Rail and Local Authority as it's hasn't been tested yet and the timetable clashes with other services passing through the station, that's why the Newcastle train can't be routed Bidirectional into platform 2, without causing a delay which will probably be about £250 per minute on a regional service. An Intercity delay is £2,500 minimum per minute.
Platform 3 will probably be opened in December.

One thing about the railway is, they'll tell you the plan, month of completion but never the YEAR. Class 43 (HST) 40 year old temporary train.....

Thanks for that information but network rail have said in writing it opens 2nd June.only 12 days to go so let's see what happens. It's getting very complicated.

Thanks for the responses and update guys - its good just to receive some feedback! It’s a shame that none of the individuals who claim to have the best interests of the town at heart ie our beloved MP, the leader of the Hartlepool Labour-controlled Council nor even Lord Houchen himself have deigned to show any interest in this increasingly farcical issue.

I recall that the latest previously advised ‘completion date’ was ‘Spring 2024’. I believe that ‘Spring’ officially ends on May 31st so June 2nd could well prove to be correct- but I’m not holding my breath.

What become of The Hartlepool Development Corporation set up by The Tees Vally Mayor, they bought the shopping centre but have any refurbishments started ?

Haven’t you got a link.

No I am waiting for you to post it.

I leave that to you.

Depends what you class as ‘local’.[/quote]

Power Station, Seal Sands,Wilton, North Tees Hospital, etc.[/quote]



No use whatsoever, but the buses do.
Buses for local travel, trains for regional travel, although buses cover that as well.[/quote]
there was talk once about attempting to make that happen with a co ordinated network of public transport. however its something i have not heard much about since privateisation came in with the bus and rail industries.

I think we need a whole new thread for the shopping centre as it seems a bigger farce.Where has those £25 millions gone?

This will be the second one The Akers Belchers had their video out available on YouTube ….I think things might be a bit clearer once the Council settle in as it will probably have been held up by the elections but can’t see it being a problem….and is the sale complete….?

Hmm, out of the proverbial blue the Tories call a snap General Election for 4th July. What’s the betting that within the ‘key’ seat of Hartlepool, events such as the grand opening of the refurbished Railway Station, work commencing on the multi million £ regeneration of the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre etc finally take place under the media spotlight within the next six weeks?

It’ll make no difference to anything, anyone swayed by those things is rare on the ground.

Of course it won’t make any direct difference Snowy but although he publicly maintains that the Tories can actually win the election, in his head Sunak must surely know that damage limitation is the very best that he and his hard right colleagues can possibly hope for. Even his own North Yorks seat could be in jeopardy so anything that puts the local Tories in a positive light may be seen as being beneficial. Desperate times call for desperate measures lol.

Yes Joe I think you are right in thinking all of this was being held back awaiting an election date.I hope no one swallows it.

Permission to open the new platform 3 is "hoped" to be given by 31st May. The timetable changes 2nd June and i have been told that if permission is given both the North and South bound "express" trains will all stop at Hartlepool.
Only 7 more sleeps

George Stephenson was to be asked originally , but for some reason he cannot attend.

His spirit will be there waving the flag.

I have heard it all now.

Overheard a conversation between a member of the public and a rail worker today about the opening of the new platform to all services.
The rail worker said " i dont think it will open until the new/reinstated Northumberland line (Blyth) opens in August. Nothing happens quickly on the railway"
Eh Eh Eh
I need to lie down.

Are they extending the line up to Bliyth then…..
Imagine a line running from Blyth to Saltburn every half hour, it would really open up the North East Coast.

I really dont know where this rail worker got this one from........too much diesel fume i think.

It looks like its in the bag.

For next week you can book on the Northern Trains website tickets on the north and south bound expresses from Newcastle both stopping at Hartlepool.

But the online timetable only shows the north bound ones

This morning i went down to the Hartlepool Train Station and I can finally confirm to all that the new/reopened platform 3 is now being used for all south bound traffic.
Therefore i can now draw a line under this thread.

But hang on................years ago we had regular direct trains to Darlo. £130 million is being spent on the Darlington station to increase its capacity and a very important hub to basically everywhere in the Uk.
Houchen has promised this but he has a £40 million price tag on it. I dont know why as all the tracks there??

Nut Casey Jones and the Fat Controller want a word with you, they said they’ll pop round to see you….buy a metal detector