Railway stations

[AndrewIrvine]

I've noticed in the north west of England, especially between Lancaster and Warrington, station staff seen to be using non analogue radio's. They use something that not only allows them to talk to each other, but connect to the PA system to make announcements.

I had:

Preston and Crewe, 453.550 / 94.8Hz,
Lancaster 453.550 / 82.5Hz
Warrington 453.550, never got the tone.

Carlisle is 453.550 / 118.8Hz, I didn't here it the last time passing through.


All the above are Virgin Trains used. Carlisle also has 446.1625 /103.5Hz, the user is Northern Rail.

[Davie Boy]

I get my local station on 453.5500 MHz... also rail shunters and track workers all around leics and notts use 453.5500 MHz and 453.9000 MHz up and down the tracks and stations... a new one to pop up around these parts is 453.5500 MHz DMR used as a repeater... I think this is a mobile set up they can erect at a site that needs further coverage while they work.

[Neil57uk]

Andrew

Virgin have been migrating to digi for about a year now. Same freqs used. Carlisle was one of the last to go.

BTW Warrington BQ is not 453.550. That was DBS in the yard, also now digi. WBQ is 460.400 (82.5)

Interesting that you have found a Northern freq on Carlisle. Didn't know they had staff there.

On the subject of trains, from your location in Irvine you may get the testing of the new RETB 180/181/182 freqs on the West Highland Line on the other side of the Clyde.

[AndrewIrvine]

Northern Trains serve Carlisle to Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Leeds, also to Lancaster via the Cumbrian Coast Line and Barrow In Furness. I have heard it while staying overnight in the city centre. They also have a long haul jaunt at 5.15am to Preston via the coast. This is their services tomorrow (11th)

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/ ... ual&toc=NT

I didn't realise the WHL trains were going to 181 etc, I thought they would also be going to GSM. I'm just a bit too far away to hear it. I do live at a height, I can go slightly higher onto the roof, but it's not always the weather for hanging around. I won't be in Glasgow until a week on Monday, even then not for long.

[Neil57uk]

Thanks Andrew

I realise that Northern operate into Carlisle but just realise that they had any staff on the station as trains are normally managed and dispatched by the Virgin Red Coats. Anyway, nice find.

The 204/205/206 RETB freqs are to be turned off in December and replaced by 20 or so 180/181/182 freqs. They were listed in the WTR a couple of years ago. Quite a bit on the web about the change. An analogue system expected to last 20 years which has been testing for some months.

When the Central Wales RETB system when digi there were lots of issues so I get the impression that they decided to stick with what worked but on new freqs.

[AndrewIrvine]

I'm in Warrington just now, I can hear a station on 453.550 / 94.8, it's a bit weak. It's got at least 14 platforms.
If I hear a headcode I'll try and find out where it is using realtimetrains.

[milly]

I'm in Warrington just now, I can hear a station on 453.550 / 94.8, it's a bit weak. It's got at least 14 platforms.
If I hear a headcode I'll try and find out where it is using realtimetrains.

Have to be Manchester Piccadilly if there's a platform 14? No other stations near Wallyton with numbers that high?

[AndrewIrvine]

I'm in Warrington just now, I can hear a station on 453.550 / 94.8, it's a bit weak. It's got at least 14 platforms.
If I hear a headcode I'll try and find out where it is using realtimetrains.

Have to be Manchester Piccadilly if there's a platform 14? No other stations near Wallyton with numbers that high?

Thank you for that, I'll listen in again when I'm back down for New Year.

I didn't think I could here it from that far away, I heard it from Runcorn too. The only confirmation I got while spending about 3 hours in Liverpool, was Lime Street Station. (Network Rail managed) on 453.025 on 110.9. I used to listen in to rail staff who would call back to the control as to which platform trains were leaving from, often enough time to get a good head start before it came up on the departure board and improve the chance of getting a seat.

Realtimetrains can tell you well in advance, although as I found out last Saturday, it was wrong by 9 platforms in Glasgow Central.

[AndrewIrvine]

NRN still alive in Cheshire / Manchester just now.

Thanks Andrew

I realise that Northern operate into Carlisle but just realise that they had any staff on the station as trains are normally managed and dispatched by the Virgin Red Coats. Anyway, nice find.

The 204/205/206 RETB freqs are to be turned off in December and replaced by 20 or so 180/181/182 freqs. They were listed in the WTR a couple of years ago. Quite a bit on the web about the change. An analogue system expected to last 20 years which has been testing for some months.

When the Central Wales RETB system when digi there were lots of issues so I get the impression that they decided to stick with what worked but on new freqs.

[eurofoz]

I'm in Warrington just now, I can hear a station on 453.550 / 94.8, it's a bit weak. It's got at least 14 platforms.
If I hear a headcode I'll try and find out where it is using realtimetrains.

Have to be Manchester Piccadilly if there's a platform 14? No other stations near Wallyton with numbers that high?

Crewe station used to be audible from almost Warrington to Stafford and Stoke to Chester,plus a large part of the Wirral on just a handheld with rubber duck ,not sure now as I have not visited the area for over 10 years, why they had such a powerful repeater I have no idea ?