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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 12h

Apologies for the cryptic post 😅. Just back from Birmingham. I had the privilege of walking 1.6km over the newly completed Water Orton Viaduct over the M42. An incredible opportunity. Video coming soon.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 16h

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 How the 'Midlands Rail Hub' could transform railway travel across Birmingham and Beyond. ▶️ youtu.be/dvBZepfdCoo ◀️ #Birmingham #WestMidlands

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

"The union remains available for meaningful talks with the company." "The company". It's almost like they're trying to hide the fact Chiltern has been "nationalised". At what point are they going to admit they're in dispute with the DfT and not a private company. 1/2

RMT strike action announcement from Twitter. In dispute with the DfT over drivers opening and closing doors, despite the fact EWR trains will have a second crew member onboard

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Have just scanned the 28 page "Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy" (wish list). Is it even worth digging into the little detail there is? I had imagined it would at least provide some sort of timeline for the replacement of 40 year old diesel trains!

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Attempting to watch #StarTrek in order, have watched Enterprise, Discovery and SNW. Attempted TOS, but I just can't watch it, so skipping to the animated series 😅

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

⚠️ Latest Video ⚠️ West Midlands Metro Eastside extension construction news! ▶️ youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 ◀️ #Digbeth #Birmingham #HS2

youtu.be

Midlands Metro Eastside Construction Update 🚧

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The latest issue of @todaysrailwaysuk.bsky.social contains a feature from myself which provides an update of the work taking place to construct the #HS2 Old Oak Common "super hub"

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I may be being over cynical here. But given the fact Avanti only manages the service on behalf of the DfT & the service cuts were instructed by the DfT, could the Gov have been deliberately making Avanti's job more difficult so when GBR does take over they can claim victory? 🤔

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Quite a productive week. 2 videos edited and some new video graphics created. Don't forget to check out my latest video which provides a crucial update about the phasing of the Eastside Metro extension work. 👇 youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 #Birmingham #Digbeth

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 Just in case you missed it! West Midlands Metro Eastside extension crucial construction update. ▶️ youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 ◀️ #WestMidlandsMetro #Birmingham

youtu.be

Midlands Metro Timeline to Digbeth?

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Wednesday's video about the Midlands Rail Hub is available early and ad free for Patreon and YouTube members. Other membership benefits included member's only content, access to the members Discord and a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you're supporting the chanel 😁 ▶️ www.patreon.com/Chris_Rail_F... ◀️

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A fictional speech that feels more relevant than ever 🫤

Mon Mothma giving a speech to the Senate in the series Andor.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 West Midlands Metro Eastside extension crucial construction update. 👇 ▶️ youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 ◀️ #MidlandsMetro #Birmingham

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

⚠️ Latest Video ⚠️ West Midlands Metro Eastside extension crucial construction update. 👇 ▶️ youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 ◀️ #Digbeth

youtu.be

Midlands Metro Timeline to Digbeth?

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

⚠️ Latest Video ⚠️ West Midlands Metro Eastside extension crucial construction update. 👇 ▶️ youtu.be/GA0k19vy6U8 ◀️ #Birmingham #HS2 #WestMidlandsMetro

MWR and LNR Class 730s passing the HS2 Curzon St station site.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Completely changed my schedule. I was going to release a Midlands Rail Hub video on Sunday, but instead I plan to release a Midland Metro Eastside video tomorrow afternoon, so make sure you look out for that 👀 #Birmingham

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Interesting visit to Birmingham on Tuesday. I managed to get some drone shots of the progress at Curzon St station and will be able to provide an update regarding West Midlands Metro East Side progress. Watch out for that video in the coming weeks. www.youtube.com/@rail_focus #HS2 #Birmingham

New Canal Street, Birmingham. Curzon St station progress

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Somebody with a blue badge making it impossible for anyone with a walking aid, wheelchair or pushing a pram to use the pavement on a busy road. You'd think they'd know better. And no there is absolutely no reason for the car to be parked on the pavement. #PavementParking

Nissan Micra parked 2/3s on the pavement making it next to impossible for people with mobility issues to use and blocking access to houses.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Great view of the HS2 route from Curzon St station to Curzon No. 2 viaduct at the moment 👌

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Always amusing hearing passenger information messages at stops/stations which aren't open yet. Opening of the Dudley extension must be getting close

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🚧 HS2 Construction Update 🚧 Check out how HS2 managed to build a series of bridges over the M42 and M6 while keeping disruption to a minimum. youtu.be/A7VsyANZI-o #HS2 #Birmingham #WestMidlands

youtu.be

How HS2 crossed the M42 & M6 | Birmingham Update

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

To get a sense of 'what went wrong' at Botley Road and the impact utilities companies have on UK projects as a whole check my most recent video on the subject 👇 youtu.be/dYy5G93b0_U #BotleyRoad #Oxford

youtu.be

Oxford Botley Road Big Update | Oxfordshire Connect

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Absolute state of BBC News ragebait. This is not a ban on St George flags, but an injunction stopping people from putting any flag on street furniture, which is NOT designed to support a flag! It's also a dumb headline because people have be installing Union and football flags

Headline reads: St George flag raisers could face fines under new council rules

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Apparently I was overreacting 👀. I get that it's a fresh load of passengers. But, this represents a not particularly busy 5 car train in the evening. There are more than a few people saying "oh it's fine". Why do passengers have to settle for "fine" or "it'll do"?! We can and should aim for better.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 Britain's quirkiest rail vehicle? Everything you need to know about the Parry People Movers Class 139 & the Stourbridge Shuttle. ▶️ youtu.be/tjeUQgoRUxM ◀️ #Stourbridge

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 Britain's quirkiest rail vehicle? Everything you need to know about the Parry People Movers Class 139 & the Stourbridge Shuttle. ▶️ youtu.be/tjeUQgoRUxM ◀️

youtu.be

The Stourbridge Shuttle Class 139 Parry People Movers

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

🚨 Latest Video 🚨 Britain's quirkiest rail vehicle? Everything you need to know about the Parry People Movers Class 139 & the Stourbridge Shuttle. ▶️ youtu.be/tjeUQgoRUxM ◀️ #Stourbridge #WestMidlands

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

Patrick Harvie @patrickharvie.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

There are few things as pathetic as the insecure whining of the super rich. To sit there on top of such a vast pile of wealth, complaining that it's all so unfair. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK

Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

Gareth Dennis @garethdennis.uk · 18/09/2026

The DfT just posted this self-congratulatory propaganda on Facebook. This is horseshit. Battery trains have a very minor role to play as a transition technology, but in the foothills of a seismic energy crisis, swapping one form of energy dependency for another is crap politics and worse planning.

a big photographic poster style picture with the text "Electric or battery electric trains? Battery is better. Here's why."

Electric trains are powered by overhead lines or a third rail. Compared to diesel, electric trains are:
1. faster - they accelerate and decelerate quicker
2. quieter - there are no motors, reducing vibrations
3. lighter - increasing capacity, reducing stress on rails
4. emission free - helping us reduce our reliance on diesel

Battery-electric trains use the
Overhead lines or a third rail to also charge a battery. They:
Use existing power lines - reducing the need for new infrastructure and allowing investment elsewhere
Avoid complex upgrades - like building new infrastructure on uneven land, which is costly and takes longer
Avoid disruptions to services - caused by infrastructure upgrades & repairs

Battery-electric trains can be charged at train stations and on electrified lines.
Trains then run on non-electrified portions of the network.
This technology can help spread the benefits of electric trains to more communities, much sooner.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Glad to see the new barriers at #Chester have hel....... oh wait 😬

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

Nick Badley @nickbadley.com · 18/09/2026

VIDEOOOOO!! (Which I accidently uploaded slightly late as I forgot..) Riding the new DLR trains with @coastwaywill.me! As they are now in service, again. youtu.be/CHVY9aR_GTs

youtu.be

The NEW DLR Trains Are Here! (Again...)

YouTube video by Nick Badley

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

So the EWR service will begin soon right? As everyone seems to think it's Chiltern Railways' fault............

From this Sunday, Chiltern passengers will travel on services back in public hands.

Each step in renationalising the railway enables us to tackle what people care about most – better and more reliable services.

We're building a railway that puts passengers, not profit first.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Heading home the long way via Bicester and Birmingham.

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Much more civilised than Euston and with pleasing symmetry

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Find out much more about the work taking place over the #M42 and #M6 this coming weekend 👇 ▶️ youtu.be/A7VsyANZI-o ◀️ #Birmingham

youtu.be

HS2: Bridging the M42 & M6 in Birmingham

YouTube video by Rail Focus

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

#Railnatter podcast @railnatter.uk · 17/09/2026

"I'm a track team leader for NR, there's so much I could say, that I've wanted to say for a long time but cannot for obvious reasons... It seems to me that we have learnt absolutely nothing. Lives seem cheap and people have short memories." Catch last night's #Railnatter now.

the thumbnail from last night's railnatter with a stern looking Gareth in front of a derailed train in his oranges, with the text "this was a choice"

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Looks like they've managed to squeeze more barriers into the same space at Chester? Question is does it solve the Merseyrail tap in/out problem?

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

Class 507 Preservation @class507.org.uk · 16/09/2026

The wait is over! Our 2027 calendar has arrived, with 12 wonderful images contributed by our talented members and railway enthusiasts. Enjoy a year of 507s and 508s on your wall for just £10+postage. Order now at www.class507.org.uk/shop/

Front cover of 2027 calendar depicting 507001 in Litchurch Lane works

September 2027 page of calendar showing 507001 at New Brighton during the "Wirral Swan Song" railtour

Back cover of calendar showing thumbnails of all 12 months.

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Reposted by Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

dear men: having healthy views on gender and all the expectations that come with it is hot, actually

youtube.com

Educating haters (again)

YouTube video by blumineck

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Completely normal for a nation's most important railway to have power uses, requiring the use of diesel under the wires even though services are operated by bi-modes

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Chris Howe (Rail Focus) 🏳️‍🌈 @railfocus.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I'd say Farage's government, but it's probably not too far from how he pictures himself. England prevails.

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