Striking Wall Painting

@FreddieUK I didn't know that, but my journeys must have been just before the sale. I found out thanks to the names on a route map or similar in one of the carriages.

Most of the services in the South are operated by the First Group, based in Edinburgh I believe, but using brands like Great Western Railways and South-Western Railways to hide the fact.

(GWR: Weymouth via Yeovil to Bath and Bristol. SWR: Weymouth - Poole - Southampton - London, and Exeter - Salisbury - London).

First has a few others around the country including the Docklands Light Railway and - if it's even finished - HS2.

The fares on the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle route (Northern) are significantly cheaper than for comparable distances "Down Souf" !

......

By co-incidence, as I typed that the News briefly announced Britain's first battery-powered trains go into public passenger service today, on a short line serving Chingford, in Essex.

I thought all the railways in that region have been electrified for 100 years or more, but perhaps this is partly experimental, leading eventually to larger battery-electric trains capable of longer distances on the thousands of miles of lines not electrified. E.g. Exeter - London, "the Heart of Wales Line", even at 75mph over the Pennines on the Skipton - Settle - Carlisle line.

@ArishMell I'm very sorry to correct you again, but I know you like accuracy.

First Group are based in Aberdeen.
South Western Railway are now run by the DfT.
GWR is operated by First (until later this year), but under a direct contract, as opposed to a franchise, from the DfT. The name changed when the franchise ended and the direct contract began.
The Docklands Light Railway is operated by KeolisAmey Docklands.
The Saturday only battery operated train runs on the Greenford branch and is operated by GWR. It has had a long period of running without passengers and today begins the trial with them. Mark Hopwood, MD GWR, does not think the current battery technology is good enough for this version to be rolled out beyond this experiment, but is certain that this will improve swiftly to enable more practical versions.

@FreddieUK I had based my answer on having examined First's own web-site but must admit it was a a while ago.

I think they should have been kept State-owned, BUT allowed to be operated by people who know how, not politicians and stock-market types; and not have their operating-profits raided so they cannot invest properly. Effectively, run as if the nation is simply the share-holder, but be accountable to it.

The train is Essex was stated simply as beginning public service today, not how long it has been tested. That was not reported. However I hope and am sure it will succeed and be the prototype for more - and I hope those designed and built in Britain by British companies, not merely imported.

@FreddieUK Well you have good taste.
It's an interesting choice for ad in Leeds.

@FreddieUK I was in Leeds in August. I wonder if it was there then.

@ninalanyon I would imagine so, but am not certain. Since CrossCountry Trains is due to be nationalised before too long, I am guessing they wouldn't be putting this up so near to that.

@val70 But a long way from the railways station (20min walk). You need a taxi to get there if you have heavy luggage

@FreddieUK Only went with the busses then. Can't say that I liked the town

@val70 The CITY (😂) didn't impress me on my few days there, mainly because the roads were being dug up in the centre and walking around wasn't very pleasurable. I will give it another try some day.

@FreddieUK All hand painted. That is very impressive.

@Degbeme I'm not sure. I'm going to have to do some research as the interest is so great.

@JoyfulSilence No. Amish as such do not live in the UK. The Anabaptist tradition is almost non-existent in any form in this country.

@ninalanyon It's a mural so it's long term.

@H1raeth I might be in Leeds again in the summer. If so I'll take a look, I like to see public art.