Michael C

@mikewillsee

He/Him Sustainable transport advocate & enthusiast (usual trainspotter) Human rights enjoyer Founder of @networknews.org.uk I also make YouTube videos: youtube.com/@mikewillsee

237 Following584 Followers373 Posts

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Michael C@mikewillsee· 14d

Make sure to tune in LIVE to surreyhillsradio.co.uk between now and 7PM as I'm going to be discussing the latest rail news!

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jun 23

Forgot to do a post earlier but I can confirm that I am now LIVE on surreyhillsradio.co.uk to discuss the latest rail news Don't forget to tune in!

Michael sits excitedly in front of the microphone at a radio station whilst giving a thumbs up to the camera

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jun 17

Meme showing someone facepalming with the caption "My goodness, what an idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jun 9

About to go LIVE on surreyhillsradio.co.uk to discuss the latest news from the railway world, including (but not limited to) the recent cuts to HS2, Lumo's new West Coast route, the latest progress with GBR, and the introduction of overnight trains between Gatwick and Reading. Make sure to tune in!

Michael sitting in the radio studio giving a thumbs up to the camera while sitting in front of a microphone.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jun 4

The same video popped up in my feed, but with a slightly different thumbnail. Doesn't seem quite so bad at first glance, but is incredibly cursed for anyone who knows anything about trains or who has ever used St Pancras station.

A GWR (Although who knows, as the livery seems to be completely fictional) class 800 sits within some nonexistent platforms (roughly in the same area as the Eurostar platforms) at St Pancras International station with a nonexistent footbridge passing over the top, A questionably photoshopped-in YouTuber can be seen standing on the empty (nonexistent) platform in his pyjamas.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jun 4

Okehampton Interchange is looking largely complete! Whilst no opening date has been confirmed at this stage, my guess is that it will be opening sooner rather than later!

A picture taken earlier today of the new Okehampton Interchange station, showing how the platform and footbridge look pretty much complete and ready to go.

Michael C@mikewillsee· May 21

Coming Soon™ to a YouTube Near You!

Michael C standing proudly in front of the first ever GBR-liveried class 387

Michael C@mikewillsee· May 10

Who's this new kid on the block then?

A lumo class 222 running at speed along the west coast mainline. Seen at South Kenton.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 28

I am now LIVE on surreyhillsradio.co.uk for the next two hours to talk about the latest rail news!

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 23

New meme template just dropped: (Watch the newest video to understand the context - youtu.be/DB05WCxlKgA)

A meme featuring two panels. Panel one shows Michael holding an LNER coffee cup whilst smiling into the camera, with the caption "Me when HS2 was going well". Panel two shows Michael in a large amount of discomfort with a blurred coffee cup and the caption "Me after Sunak cancelled all the useful bits".

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 14

Thanks to everyone who tuned into this, I hope you enjoyed listening to it as much as I did presenting it! If you missed it live and would like to catch up, you can do so here: www.mixcloud.com/surreyhillsr...

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 14

Make sure you tune in to surreyhillsradio.co.uk LIVE from 5PM - 7PM for the full, uncut interviews with those behind the reopening of the Northumberland Line, as well as a discussion with @garethdennis.uk on the future of level boarding at Old Oak Common and much much more!

The opening ceremony for Bedlington Station, featuring Alex Hornby, Dennis Fancett, and Glen Sanderson, amongst others.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 5

Merseyrail and Glasgow Subway use third rail, but T&W metro doesn't. It instead uses 1500V DC OLE

A Tyne & Wear Metro Class 555 pulling out of a station. Overhead catenary can be seen above it with the train connecting to it via a rooftop pantograph.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Apr 1

New banner who dis? (Also a teaser for my next video 👀)

A screenshot of my account page on Bluesky featuring a new banner showing me in front of the recently opened Bedlington station with a Northern Class 156 in the background.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Mar 21

Congratulations to @fynnjones.bsky.social on achieving 1000 subscribers, hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here! Do be sure to check out his channel if you haven't already!

Michael C@mikewillsee· Mar 11

Be sure to save this image and use it when the Greens take his seat in the next election I've a feeling it's going to age BEAUTIFULLY! 😜💚

A screenshot of a new YouTube video from The New Statesman of an interview with David Lammy and the thumbnail text "The Greens will never take my seat"

Michael C@mikewillsee· Feb 10

Join me LIVE on surreyhillsradio.co.uk from 5PM - 7PM where I'll be discussing some of the latest railway news, including LNER's new trains, GWR's battery trains, the nationalisation of West Midlands Trains, and MORE! Don't forget to tune in!

Michael sitting in the radio studio giving a thumbs up to the camera

Michael C@mikewillsee· Jan 31

Been out for one last ride on the 455s today! ...amongst other things!

Michael points at a class 455 pulling in behind him at Clapham Junction

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 21

An absolutely mad (but very enjoyable) farewell tour for the 455s. Thanks to everyone who helped organise the event, and those who were onboard to make it such an enjoyable experience!

A SWR Class 455 sits in Kingston Station wearing a special nameboard reading "Class 455 Farewell"

A SWR Class 455 sits in Dorking Station wearing a special nameboard reading "Class 455 Farewell"

A SWR Class 455 sits in Haslemere Station wearing a special nameboard reading "Class 455 Farewell"

A SWR Class 455 sits in London Waterloo Station wearing a special nameboard reading "Class 455 Farewell"

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 15

First ever Lumo train into Glasgow Queen Street? Done it mate! Video coming soon! 👀

A lumo class 803 sits in Glasgow Queen Street station having travelled up from King's Cross.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 15

I was quite happily exploring the streets of Newcastle until the footpath I was walking on ended abruptly in the middle of nowhere. I'd expect this in Florida but not in the middle of one of the UK's biggest cities! #CarsRuinPublicSpaces

A wet footpath next to a road which just ends abruptly with nowhere obvious for pedestrians to go.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 9

Join me LIVE on surreyhillsradio.co.uk from 5PM where I'll be discussing the new GBR branding, the December Timetable Change, the new EMR trains, the potential for Eurostar to serve Germany, the new Enterprise trains, and a major expansion of Cardiff Central station. Don't forget to tune in!

Me sitting in the Surrey Hills Radio studio preparing my show whilst giving a thumbs up to the camera

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 8

With that said, there is this crossover on the high speed line which makes me think that, if wrong-way running can be accommodated, it may still be achievable? There would be an inevitable loss in capacity but for the sake of 2 or 3 trains a day I think it *could* be made to work (though only just!)

Michael C@mikewillsee· Dec 8

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't see how it would need to cross over 6 tracks. From looking on openrailmap, I think I've found a route which would only see it cross over one track and make use of grade-separated junctions elsewhere. Unless I'm missing something such as the track only being one-way?

1. Use the westernmost track out of Koln Hbf Platform 1

2. Use this crossover next to all the sidings to switch over one track

3. From there you're on grade-separated tracks all the way to the high speed line.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Nov 19

I'm in the middle of editing and just realised I accidentally did the meme pose

The 'Absolute Cinema' meme except it's ME putting my hands up with the caption underneath.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Nov 2

It's giving Regional Railways

A British Rail Class 158 in Regional Railways livery

Michael C@mikewillsee· Oct 15

The lack of toilets sadly isn't surprising given how small the station is. However I think the bit about the lack of disabled parking must be an error on the National Rail website - every other station on the Northumberland line has them, and they are shown in the technical drawings for the station

A screenshot of the technical drawing showing the planned car park layout at Blyth Bebside station, with the location of the disabled parking spaces highlighted in a red circle.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Sep 27

Skerne Bridge on the Stockton & Darlington Railway 27th September 1825 vs 27th September 2025

A painting of the Skerne Bridge from the inaugural journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. A large crowd can be seen watching the Locomotion No. 1 from a field, whilst dressed in Edwardian clothing.

A photo of the Skerne Bridge taken today in the same location. A large crowd can be seen watching the Locomotion No. 1 replica from a car park whilst dressed in modern clothing.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Sep 15

Just (finally) finished reading How The Railways Will Fix The Future by @garethdennis.uk whilst aboard a very crowded 2 car 168 all the way from Birmingham to London! The book itself is absolutely tremendous so I’d highly recommend it; do make sure to get yourself a copy if you haven’t already!

A picture of the book ‘How The Railways Will Fix The Future’ being held up in front of a 2 car Class 168 in a dimly lit London Marylebone station.

Michael C@mikewillsee· Sep 15

Absolute pleasure to see @george-station-cat.bsky.social in person for the first time today, and on his birthday no less! Happy birthday George! 😸