Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 3]
Discussion
ScotsDave said:
Where does the money go when Ofcom, Ofgem etc levy a fine on utility companies? Who runs them?
Example from OFCOM:The note says: `All financial penalties imposed by Ofcom's Content
Sanctions Committee are held in our account with the Office of HM
Paymaster General (OPG) for the benefit of the Exchequer. Funds are
transferred to the Bank of England account at agreed times for direct use
by the Exchequer. Neither OPG nor Ofcom benefit from or have use of any
monies made available to Ofcom.
OPG provides banking transaction services through various banks with
balances held securely at the Bank of England for a range of public bodies
and all central Government Departments. These balances are made available
at the end of each working day to the National Loans Fund to help minimise
the overall cost of Government borrowing.
OPG has been part of HM Revenue and Customs since April 2006, when
ownership was transferred from HM Treasury. In May 2008, OPG became part
of the Government Banking Service, which is the new banking service
provider to the public sector.'
Ayahuasca said:
SpeckledJim said:
?
singlecoil said:
Ayahuasca said:
SpeckledJim said:
?
Few train questions:
Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
dci said:
Few train questions:
Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Maybe because they have generally straight tracks or very gentle curves; their railways were built when the country was virtually empty. Long trains being pulled around tight bends tend to derail, though this can be mitigated with power units every so often. Also they have room for the enormous marshalling yards you need.Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
One of the oddest sounds I've heard is the air-brakes being released on a nearby mile-long (so it seemed) freight train in Seattle. It was like a wave of sharp cracks going from one horizon to the other at - I'd guess - the speed of sound.
dci said:
Few train questions:
Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
I doubt that there are many (any?) 1960's passenger trains working in South Wales/Valleys! Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
matchmaker said:
dci said:
Few train questions:
Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
I doubt that there are many (any?) 1960's passenger trains working in South Wales/Valleys! Why is that that freight trains in the uk are only about 17 carriages long but in the USA they can be many hundreds long?
Why are most trains (South Wales/ Valleys lines) so old? You don't get buses from the sixties still out on duty so why trains?
Why is everything related to the rails so expensive? I sometimes get involved with works for Network rail and they usually spec the most expensive equipment money can buy for no good reason.
I guess everything is expensive because if something goes wrong, it can go catastrophically wrong.
Willy Nilly said:
Why not replant moorland with trees? The land isn't used for much and it could be done over a number of years using the money already paid to the people that farm there to plant and take care of the trees
Three answers:1. Moorland is a fantastic wildlife habitat that supports grouse, golden plover, peregrine falcons, hobbies, lapwings, oystercatchers, red deer, etc. Pine forests (particularly commercial ones) are virtually devoid of animal life.
2. Most of it is designated either an area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special scientific interest.
3. Grouse shooting (which pays for keeping it wild and unspoilt and therefore ensures that the first two reasons are preserved)
AstonZagato said:
Three answers:
1. Moorland is a fantastic wildlife habitat that supports grouse, golden plover, peregrine falcons, hobbies, lapwings, oystercatchers, red deer, etc. Pine forests (particularly commercial ones) are virtually devoid of animal life.
2. Most of it is designated either an area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special scientific interest.
3. Grouse shooting (which pays for keeping it wild and unspoilt and therefore ensures that the first two reasons are preserved)
But given the UK used to be much more forested, aren't these, to some extent "artificial" environments?1. Moorland is a fantastic wildlife habitat that supports grouse, golden plover, peregrine falcons, hobbies, lapwings, oystercatchers, red deer, etc. Pine forests (particularly commercial ones) are virtually devoid of animal life.
2. Most of it is designated either an area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special scientific interest.
3. Grouse shooting (which pays for keeping it wild and unspoilt and therefore ensures that the first two reasons are preserved)
Vaud said:
AstonZagato said:
Three answers:
1. Moorland is a fantastic wildlife habitat that supports grouse, golden plover, peregrine falcons, hobbies, lapwings, oystercatchers, red deer, etc. Pine forests (particularly commercial ones) are virtually devoid of animal life.
2. Most of it is designated either an area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special scientific interest.
3. Grouse shooting (which pays for keeping it wild and unspoilt and therefore ensures that the first two reasons are preserved)
But given the UK used to be much more forested, aren't these, to some extent "artificial" environments?1. Moorland is a fantastic wildlife habitat that supports grouse, golden plover, peregrine falcons, hobbies, lapwings, oystercatchers, red deer, etc. Pine forests (particularly commercial ones) are virtually devoid of animal life.
2. Most of it is designated either an area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special scientific interest.
3. Grouse shooting (which pays for keeping it wild and unspoilt and therefore ensures that the first two reasons are preserved)
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