Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375098/28355/22] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:09, 13th May 2026 |      |
From the BBC:
Direct trains to run from Swindon to Oxford if line is made safer
The GWR service would mean passengers would no longer need to change at Didcot Parkway - Image © Aled Thomas
A direct daily rail service between Swindon and Oxford has been given the green light as long as some level crossings on the line are made safer.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved an application from Great Western Railway (GWR) to run a two-hourly service between Bristol, Swindon and Oxford on weekdays and Saturdays from 17 May. An ORR spokesman said the service has been approved provided Network Rail brings in "reasonably practicable level crossing safety measures" on the route.
A GWR spokesman, said it understands customers will be "disappointed" the service has not been "fully" reinstated but it will continue to work with Network Rail to "understand what more can be done".
Currently there are no direct services between Swindon and Oxford, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Passengers have to change at Didcot Parkway or Reading to travel between the two stations. A direct service would shave more than 10 minutes off the current fastest weekday journey time to under 30 minutes.
The ORR said after analysing the "impact on punctuality and reliability" as well as level crossing safety, it had approved the service "subject" to certain conditions. "Network Rail will undertake a performance review of the two-hourly service before deciding on a long-term view on GWR's proposal to run hourly services," it said.
A GWR spokesman said customers will be disappointed the ORR "has not been able to approve proposals to fully reinstate services - at this stage as hoped. We will continue working closely with Network Rail and industry partners to understand what more can be done to introduce additional services as quickly and safely as possible," he said.
The proposals came after a trial saw limited weekend services run between Swindon and Oxford in 2024.
Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said it was "outstanding news for Swindon".
"Shortening the time needed to get to Oxford will be massive for people who regularly travel and take pressure off the A420," he said. "This will help us attract even more jobs and growth to the town."
Conservative leader Gary Sumner, said it was "positive news" for the town. "I will be very interested to see the take-up of the service," he said. "Anything that adds to connectivity is to be welcomed, but as usual, it's having reasonably priced fares which are the key to the service being sustainable."
The GWR service would mean passengers would no longer need to change at Didcot Parkway - Image © Aled Thomas
A direct daily rail service between Swindon and Oxford has been given the green light as long as some level crossings on the line are made safer.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved an application from Great Western Railway (GWR) to run a two-hourly service between Bristol, Swindon and Oxford on weekdays and Saturdays from 17 May. An ORR spokesman said the service has been approved provided Network Rail brings in "reasonably practicable level crossing safety measures" on the route.
A GWR spokesman, said it understands customers will be "disappointed" the service has not been "fully" reinstated but it will continue to work with Network Rail to "understand what more can be done".
Currently there are no direct services between Swindon and Oxford, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Passengers have to change at Didcot Parkway or Reading to travel between the two stations. A direct service would shave more than 10 minutes off the current fastest weekday journey time to under 30 minutes.
The ORR said after analysing the "impact on punctuality and reliability" as well as level crossing safety, it had approved the service "subject" to certain conditions. "Network Rail will undertake a performance review of the two-hourly service before deciding on a long-term view on GWR's proposal to run hourly services," it said.
A GWR spokesman said customers will be disappointed the ORR "has not been able to approve proposals to fully reinstate services - at this stage as hoped. We will continue working closely with Network Rail and industry partners to understand what more can be done to introduce additional services as quickly and safely as possible," he said.
The proposals came after a trial saw limited weekend services run between Swindon and Oxford in 2024.
Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said it was "outstanding news for Swindon".
"Shortening the time needed to get to Oxford will be massive for people who regularly travel and take pressure off the A420," he said. "This will help us attract even more jobs and growth to the town."
Conservative leader Gary Sumner, said it was "positive news" for the town. "I will be very interested to see the take-up of the service," he said. "Anything that adds to connectivity is to be welcomed, but as usual, it's having reasonably priced fares which are the key to the service being sustainable."
| Re: Crossing from country to country In "The Lighter Side" [375097/32025/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:42, 13th May 2026 | |
That is very bad.
Personally, I have never been a fan of mushy peas: I ask for 'fresh garden peas' instead - which are obviously frozen ones, but still better.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375096/28355/22] Posted by anthony215 at 22:13, 13th May 2026 | |
Heard its been given the green light by the ORR
| Re: Crossing from country to country In "The Lighter Side" [375094/32025/30] Posted by JayMac at 22:07, 13th May 2026 | |
Is the fish dish on a ferry? Baltic Sea?
I hope it's better than the undercooked fish I had on Stena Estrid coming back from Ireland. Finn had a bit of it and later threw it up in the car. I have a bit of tummy trouble too. And the mushy peas were cold - served on paper which disintegrated under them. Peas and paper is NOT a taste sensation. Horrible meal.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [375093/10737/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:15, 13th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Construction of flagship University of Bristol campus complete
The building will open to students in September - Image © TQEC
The final phase of construction of a £500m new university campus has been completed ahead of it being opened to students in September.
The University of Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus has been built next to Temple Meads station and will house 4,600 students, 650 members of staff and a hub for start-ups.
The university bought the site from Bristol City Council in 2017 and the derelict Royal Mail sorting office on the site was demolished in 2019 to make way for the new building.
Furniture and equipment are due to be moved into the building in the next four months. The campus is part of the 135-hectare transformation of Bristol Temple Quarter, the UK's largest regeneration project.
The campus will be connected by an eastern entrance to Temple Meads via a new public space called University Square.
There will also be a new harbour walkway, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, connecting University Square to Temple Quay with new walking and cycling routes.
More than half of the workforce that constructed the building came from the local region.
Drone footage of the new building shows a six-storey atrium, a ground floor Exchange Hall that will be open to the public and internal gardens for students and staff. There is also a 300-seat lecture theatre in the round to to increase participation.
The university's deputy vice chancellor said the building was a "major milestone" - Image © TQEC
Professor Judith Squires, Bristol University's deputy vice chancellor, said: "Today marks a major milestone in our drive to create a vibrant new connected campus in the heart of the city. It's inspiring to see our new building come to life and I'm hugely grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point. I look forward to welcoming students, innovation and community partners and staff to join us in our new campus in September."
The atrium has a view of the city - Image © TQEC
Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin, said: "Today's completion is a big step towards unlocking the wider potential of Bristol Temple Quarter and thousands more new jobs and new homes for our region. The old Royal Mail building that stood on this site was once called the chipped tooth in the city's smile. In this new chapter, I'm happy to say that derelict site is now a distant memory as we look forward to opening Bristol Temple Meads' new eastern entrance, walkways along the harbour and the new campus in September."
The building will open to students in September - Image © TQEC
The final phase of construction of a £500m new university campus has been completed ahead of it being opened to students in September.
The University of Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus has been built next to Temple Meads station and will house 4,600 students, 650 members of staff and a hub for start-ups.
The university bought the site from Bristol City Council in 2017 and the derelict Royal Mail sorting office on the site was demolished in 2019 to make way for the new building.
Furniture and equipment are due to be moved into the building in the next four months. The campus is part of the 135-hectare transformation of Bristol Temple Quarter, the UK's largest regeneration project.
The campus will be connected by an eastern entrance to Temple Meads via a new public space called University Square.
There will also be a new harbour walkway, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, connecting University Square to Temple Quay with new walking and cycling routes.
More than half of the workforce that constructed the building came from the local region.
Drone footage of the new building shows a six-storey atrium, a ground floor Exchange Hall that will be open to the public and internal gardens for students and staff. There is also a 300-seat lecture theatre in the round to to increase participation.
The university's deputy vice chancellor said the building was a "major milestone" - Image © TQEC
Professor Judith Squires, Bristol University's deputy vice chancellor, said: "Today marks a major milestone in our drive to create a vibrant new connected campus in the heart of the city. It's inspiring to see our new building come to life and I'm hugely grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point. I look forward to welcoming students, innovation and community partners and staff to join us in our new campus in September."
The atrium has a view of the city - Image © TQEC
Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin, said: "Today's completion is a big step towards unlocking the wider potential of Bristol Temple Quarter and thousands more new jobs and new homes for our region. The old Royal Mail building that stood on this site was once called the chipped tooth in the city's smile. In this new chapter, I'm happy to say that derelict site is now a distant memory as we look forward to opening Bristol Temple Meads' new eastern entrance, walkways along the harbour and the new campus in September."
| Re: Kernow Connect - a new Okehampton to Bodmin line In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375092/32014/28] Posted by RailCornwall at 20:49, 13th May 2026 | |
Work Starts late 2028, opening 2034, based on the equally ludicrous in some people's minds Mid Cornwall Metro. I'd love to see the discussions for the despoiling of sections of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. I must admit the idea of a main railway skirting Bodmin to the north, north west and west has never crossed my mind before.
| Re: Bus roof torn off on impact under railway bridge incidents - merged topics In "Buses and other ways to travel" [375091/6748/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:25, 13th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Double decker's roof torn off by low bridge in Coventry
Network Rail were called after the collision on Wednesday morning
A double decker's roof was completely torn off when it was driven under low bridge.
The roof was left lying in the street following the collision in Woodshires Road, Coventry, on Wednesday morning. The road had to be closed for it to be cleared.
British Transport Police said it received a report the bus struck the bridge, which carries a railway line. The bus had been returning to a depot at the time and had no passengers on board.
The train line above had been checked and, as a safety precaution, trains were travelling slowly over the bridge, police said. One witness said he was having coffee when he heard the crash, adding had he spotted the bus approaching he would have tried to stop it.
A National Express Coventry spokesperson said one of their vehicles was involved. They said the bus was not in service, adding: "We are supporting the emergency services in their immediate response and will work closely with them to understand the exact circumstances that led to this incident."
Witnesses described hearing the roof of the bus make contact with the bridge
Network Rail were called after the collision on Wednesday morning
A double decker's roof was completely torn off when it was driven under low bridge.
The roof was left lying in the street following the collision in Woodshires Road, Coventry, on Wednesday morning. The road had to be closed for it to be cleared.
British Transport Police said it received a report the bus struck the bridge, which carries a railway line. The bus had been returning to a depot at the time and had no passengers on board.
The train line above had been checked and, as a safety precaution, trains were travelling slowly over the bridge, police said. One witness said he was having coffee when he heard the crash, adding had he spotted the bus approaching he would have tried to stop it.
A National Express Coventry spokesperson said one of their vehicles was involved. They said the bus was not in service, adding: "We are supporting the emergency services in their immediate response and will work closely with them to understand the exact circumstances that led to this incident."
Witnesses described hearing the roof of the bus make contact with the bridge
| Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets In "Fare's Fair" [375090/31906/4] Posted by eightonedee at 20:24, 13th May 2026 | |
Maybe I have struck lucky booking with SNCB (Belgian national railways), but my wife and I are off back to Aachen early in June, and they provided all the tickets for the return journey as three attachments to one email, covering Eurostar, SNCB and DB services to and from St Pancras. No more difficult than buying our tickets from Goring & Streatley to Perth and back last month!
It did occur to me that 40 years ago, we (collectively as forum members) would probably have gone into a local travel agent who would have done everything for us by phone, telex and post (possibly fax if they were forward-looking, but not to produce tickets on those "wet" faxes that faded almost as fast as they printed out!).
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375089/10308/28] Posted by eightonedee at 20:13, 13th May 2026 | |
Immediately, CfN's recent post on Winnersh Triangle came to mind-
Those were the days [referring to the mid-1980s]when a new railway station could be built for just £375,000
With the closure of the Hythe ferry, and all the congestion problems where the A35 crosses the Test at Eling and meets the M271 (never mind further on as traffic stacks back on the Avenue and A35 going into central Southampton), all the housing built in the last 60 years along Waterside from Fawley to Marchwood and Ed Miliband wittering on interminably about the Government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, I find this inexplicable. This must have a much better net impact than the re-opening of the Cowley branch, where there already seems to be 6 or 7 bus routes to Oxford city centre and no substantial river estuary impeding access to the local regional centre.
| Re: WECA becomes WEMCA in December 2024 and ongoing political issues (updated title) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [375088/25181/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:08, 13th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
North Somerset Council step closer to joining combined authority
Councillors have voted to become part of a joint authority, which will manage decisions on issues such as transport and housing.
North Somerset Council hopes to become part of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) by the end of the year, after voting through proposals on Tuesday. It will join the councils of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol city and South Gloucestershire and will work with the directly elected mayor.
The leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, said the decision was about "ensuring North Somerset's voice is heard clearly in regional discussions".
Councillors hope the membership will unlock more investment for the region and help it work on things like economic development and climate change.
Bell said it was an "important and carefully considered decision for councillors".
"By agreeing to progress with joining the West of England Combined Authority, we are taking a step towards gaining a stronger say over decisions that already affect our residents and businesses every day - particularly around transport, jobs, skills and economic growth," he added.
Labour's Helen Godwin, the mayor of Weca, said she was "pleased" with the outcome and they had "listened carefully" to the views expressed during a recent consultation. "It's clear that there is broad support for moving forward together as a complete region," she said. "With an even bigger voice on the national stage, we can continue making a difference that people can see and feel across the whole of the West of England," she added.
Godwin also highlighted work already taking place in Portishead to reopen the railway line there.
Weca, which manages regional planning, transport, housing and adult skills training, was formed by Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset councils in 2017. They, along with North Somerset, used to make up a single authority - the County of Avon, a controversial merger created in 1974. It was dissolved in 1996, creating four unitary authorities, three of which later decided to join together to create Weca.
North Somerset opted out, but a formal application to join was submitted last year. A public consultation on the plans was later opened, with more than half of those taking part saying they supported the idea.
Subject to approval by the secretary of state and legislation being passed, North Somerset could become a full member of Weca from late 2026 or early 2027.
Councillors have voted to become part of a joint authority, which will manage decisions on issues such as transport and housing.
North Somerset Council hopes to become part of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) by the end of the year, after voting through proposals on Tuesday. It will join the councils of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol city and South Gloucestershire and will work with the directly elected mayor.
The leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, said the decision was about "ensuring North Somerset's voice is heard clearly in regional discussions".
Councillors hope the membership will unlock more investment for the region and help it work on things like economic development and climate change.
Bell said it was an "important and carefully considered decision for councillors".
"By agreeing to progress with joining the West of England Combined Authority, we are taking a step towards gaining a stronger say over decisions that already affect our residents and businesses every day - particularly around transport, jobs, skills and economic growth," he added.
Labour's Helen Godwin, the mayor of Weca, said she was "pleased" with the outcome and they had "listened carefully" to the views expressed during a recent consultation. "It's clear that there is broad support for moving forward together as a complete region," she said. "With an even bigger voice on the national stage, we can continue making a difference that people can see and feel across the whole of the West of England," she added.
Godwin also highlighted work already taking place in Portishead to reopen the railway line there.
Weca, which manages regional planning, transport, housing and adult skills training, was formed by Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset councils in 2017. They, along with North Somerset, used to make up a single authority - the County of Avon, a controversial merger created in 1974. It was dissolved in 1996, creating four unitary authorities, three of which later decided to join together to create Weca.
North Somerset opted out, but a formal application to join was submitted last year. A public consultation on the plans was later opened, with more than half of those taking part saying they supported the idea.
Subject to approval by the secretary of state and legislation being passed, North Somerset could become a full member of Weca from late 2026 or early 2027.
| Combe Rail: working to amplify the railway culture: Barnstaple to Ilfracombe In "Railway History and related topics" [375087/32029/55] Posted by Mark A at 18:06, 13th May 2026 | |
These routes are better when there's more than a bit of railway heritage in the mix, so, good for them.
Mark
http://www.combe-rail.org.uk/
| Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets In "Fare's Fair" [375086/31906/4] Posted by Trowres at 17:09, 13th May 2026 | |
The European Commission has proposed that before the end of the decade passengers should be able to buy one ticket for one journey and be better protected when trains are late or cancelled.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/13/eu-proposal-cross-border-europe-train-bookings
“Europeans will be able with the click of a button to plan, compare and purchase multimodal journeys across borders while benefiting from stronger rail passenger rights, greater transparency and better protection every step of the way,” the EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, told reporters on Wednesday
How:
Under the plans, major railway companies, such as Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and Trenitalia, would be forced to sell competitors’ tickets on their website, and share data with booking platforms enabling an offer of single tickets for long cross-border journeys.
But:
[The plans] already face stiff opposition from train operators. The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) said: “Underneath the surface of this rosy vision, lies unprecedented and unjustified regulatory interventionism.”
It said the rail tickets market “largely meets” customer expectations...
It said the rail tickets market “largely meets” customer expectations...
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375085/10308/28] Posted by paul7575 at 13:23, 13th May 2026 | |
The BBC report probably comes from the original RYR proposal that wanted two or three new stations, (as even Marchwood would need a major rebuild), additional rolling stock and staff costs, and I think some minor changes at Southampton to make P5 signalled for passenger use. The latter looking a simple matter but anything to do with signalling seems to cost £millions.
| Trip Report: 07-11/05/2026 To Yorkshire For Our Grandson’s 2nd Birthday In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375084/32028/51] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 13:08, 13th May 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Mark A, GBM | |
07/05/26 - Exeter To Leeds
DIG 0943 (0957) > EXD 0955 (1009) : 2T12 EXM > PGN : 1 x 166/2 (3 Cars)
EXD 1015 (1047) > PAD 1229 (1310) : 1A78 PNZ > PAD : 2 x 802/0 (10 Cars)
TfL Underground Paddington > King's Cross St. Pancras (Circle Line)
KGX 1340 (OT) > LDS 1549 (OT) : 1D17 KGX > BDQ : 1 x 801/1 (5 Cars)
Tickets (All With Senior Railcard, 2 Pax, Price Per Person):
DIG > PAD Advance Single £42.95
TfL Underground Single £1.95
KGX > LDS Advance Single (1st Class) £58.40
Both 2T12 & 1A78 were affected by the fallout from the Southern England GSM-R failure. From reports elsewhere it seems Network Rail are running out-of-date / life expired communication systems lacking adequate fallback arrangements. And just to cap off the journey 1A78 was further delayed at RDG by a trespasser close to the eastern end of the station. Time for tasers to be made standard BTP issue?
Is it formal GWR policy to not bother with ticket/railcard checks on late running trains so as not to annoy their passengers even more?
We made our booked service at KGX with 5 minutes to spare - so we missed our usual LNER 1st Class Lounge visit (
) - only to discover minor chaos engendered by substitution of the scheduled 9-car Azuma by a 5-car unit; not much effect on 1st class but for Standard the TM had to make 3 PA requests for bags to be removed from seats. The lack of consideration exhibited by some of my fellow citizens never fails to annoy me.1D17 provided an on-time KGX departure & LDS arrival so 50% Delay Repay will only apply to the Exeter > London sector.
08/05/26 - Activities Around Leeds, Wakefield & Pontefract
LDS 0858 (OT) > GLH 0923 (OT) : 2F07 LDS > KNO : 1 x 150/2 (2 Cars)
WKF 2110 (2124) > LDS 2125 (2141) : 1D28 KGX > LDS : 1 x 801/2 (9 Cars)
Noted that at GLH the landing at the top of the KNO-bound platform stairs had been partially plated over and the surrounding area was very badly rusted; looked like an accident waiting to happen.
1D28 lost time progressively between New Southgate & Welwyn GC, never fully recovered and was further delayed between WKF & LDS following the 2A28 KNO > LDS stopper.
Of interest (maybe) is the availability of very good value same-day LNER Advance Singles, used to fill spare seats, on some of their services - our Railcard AS tickets cost £1.85, while the equivalent Northern fare is £3.30.
09/05/26 - A Day Out At The K&WVR, Dinner In Pontefract
LDS 1049 (OT) > KEI 1112 (OT) : 2H86 LDS > GSD : 1 x 158/7 (3 Cars)
KEI 1601 (OT) > LDS 1631 (1640) : 2H53 SKI > LDS : 1 x 333 (4 Cars)
LDS 1729 (1731) > PFM 1805 (1806) : 2A25 : 2 x 150/2 (4 Cars)
PFM 2120 (2133) > LDS 2155 (2204) : 2F72 : 1 x 158/7 (2 cars)
Ticket (2 Pax, Price Per Person):
West Yorkshire Daysaver Train Only £9.90
There are no railcard discounts on the above ‘Train Only’ ticket but the desk clerk at Leeds implied that there were discounts on the combined Train & Bus ticket. I didn’t check because we have crusties bus passes.
The weather wasn’t great but the K&WVR was very enjoyable. We went for the hop on/off as much as you like ticket (£24 pp). Keighley to Oxenhope on a Class 101 MetCam DMU and Oxenhope to Keighley via Haworth using a top & tail 78022 BR Standard Class 2MT + visiting RES liveried Class 47.
The late arrival of 2H53 at Leeds might well have been our mandatory Whitehall Junction delay. In the absence of an alternative explanation the late running of 2F72 was maybe caused by an issue with the crew of the outbound 2A31 LDS > KNO. This left Leeds 8 minutes down despite the traction for this service, 2L28 SHF > LDS, having got to LDS only a couple of minutes late.
10/05/26 - Grandsons 2nd Birthday Celebration
LDS 0913 (OT) > PFM 0944 (0941) : 2F01 LDS > KNO : 1 x 150/2 (2 Cars)
PFM 1917 (OT) > LDS 1956 (OT) : 2A22 KNO > LDS : 1 x 150/2 (2 Cars)
Ticket (With Senior Railcard, 2 Pax, Price Per Person):
Off Peak Day Return £4.65
The Sunday LDS<>KNO 1TPH service, alternately every 2 hours via Wakefield or Castleford, might seem poor but the pax numbers we observed indicate it matches demand.
11/05/26 - Leeds To Exeter
LDS 1040 (OT) > KGX 1254 (1258) : 1A16 LDS > KGX : 1 x 801/1 (5 Cars)
TfL Underground King's Cross St. Pancras > Paddington (Circle Line)
PAD 1436 (OT) > EXD 1659 (1701) : 1C85 PAD > PGN : 1 x 802/2 (5 Cars)
EXD 1715 (1716) > DIG 1728 (1732) : 2F26 PGN > EXM : 1 x 158/9 (3 Cars)
Tickets (All With Senior Railcard, 2 Pax, Price Per Person):
LDS > KGX Advance Single £19.00
KGX > PAD Off-Peak Single £1.95
PAD > DIG Advance Single £32.30
1A16 was extremely busy and, disappointingly, the TM again had to make PA requests for bags to be removed from seats. The service was initially slightly delayed on the approach to DON, waiting for the late 1J44 SCA > SHF to clear Marshgate Junction, ran a few minutes down all the way to Hitchin, and was then further delayed by what looks like general congestion from Stevenage onwards.
1C85 was also very busy. The service ran a few minutes late for most of the journey and, I discovered while composing this article, was cancelled short at NTA due to an unspecified traction issue. The TM was evidently a wannabe comedian whose PA announcements were peppered with attempted humour, particularly the oft repeated description of CLC as Castle Scary (which rapidly became pretty wearing). On the + side he did manage a full ticket & railcard check.
2F26 was held for a while at Exmouth Junction waiting for the 5 late 2T27 EXM > PGN to clear the single line.
It was noted that prior to initial departure the TM’s of both 1A16 & 1C85 made specific PA announcements asking all pax travelling on Advance tickets to check that they were on the correct service.
I submitted our DIG > PAD Delay Repay claim to GWR on Tuesday 12th May. I received email approval of the claim at 0630 on Wednesday 13th May. Pretty good work by GWR I think.
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375083/32002/40] Posted by Electric train at 13:05, 13th May 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, GBM | |
The benefits may not be seen as a "wow" impact day one or even week one, however a lookback a year on should reveal improvements in performance.
Why do you think performance will improve, GWR haven't managed it for months, and if got same equipment (but it will be bit older, and possibly more worn out, and same staff on the ground doing same as they do today. So what makes you think they can do better.
https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/publications/performance-report/gwr-performance-report-period-2613.pdf
Most recent period failed to run 2.59% of trains,
Of those that ran, only 65.56% were on time, and 2.39% were over 15 minutes late
350 were shortformed below DfT minimum (12.5 trains per day)
..... more likely to be, welcome to your nationalised railway where third of trains are late, some don't run, and reasonable chance will be less carriages than ideal.
The combining of GWR TOC and GW Route will improve performance and time keeping as I said lets take a look in a years time; however the challenge maybe the reliability of the class 800's and the aging diesel fleet
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375082/32002/40] Posted by Electric train at 13:00, 13th May 2026 Already liked by GBM | |
One thing you might ponder is this.
Currently the budgets for infrastructure (NR) and operations (TOCs, however owned) are both fixed by DfT but are quite separate. The transfers between them (access charges and delay "compensation") are known before these budgets are fixed. So when NR runs out of money (not infrequent) it does not impact the finances of the operations side.
The plan is to merge the infrastructure and operations branches into a single organisation, and for this to make any sense at all in management terms it must imply a common budget. So now, when a big infrastructure project overruns in time and money, where does the extra money needed get taken from?
Currently the budgets for infrastructure (NR) and operations (TOCs, however owned) are both fixed by DfT but are quite separate. The transfers between them (access charges and delay "compensation") are known before these budgets are fixed. So when NR runs out of money (not infrequent) it does not impact the finances of the operations side.
The plan is to merge the infrastructure and operations branches into a single organisation, and for this to make any sense at all in management terms it must imply a common budget. So now, when a big infrastructure project overruns in time and money, where does the extra money needed get taken from?
Railway Control Period 7 (aka CP7) 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2029 is the last one, a new system of Railway funding is being put in place this I have been informed will combine infrastructure and rolling stock renewals / enhancements into a single determination.
As the TOC's and NR Routes commence the merge into single business units the budget is in effect a single budget, there are ORR and DfT governance rules in place because GBR is still not a full legal entity; there already a number of TOC's and NR routes (the first in July 2025 was Southeastern Trains and NR Kent Route merged to form South Eastern Railway)
I know the senior railway management are very mindful not to crash head long (literally) into change. A workshop I attended before I retired focused very much about getting the management structural change done safely. Many of the now senior managers were young junior staff / manages at privatisation and witnessed the hastily changed structure of the railway management, they do not want to see the likes of Hatfield, Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Potters Barr as a result of their leadership decisions. Whether the Government / DfT can be kept away from applying pressure on the industry to change quickly for political reasons is yet to be seen
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375081/32002/40] Posted by John D at 12:37, 13th May 2026 Already liked by GBM, TaplowGreen | |
The benefits may not be seen as a "wow" impact day one or even week one, however a lookback a year on should reveal improvements in performance.
Why do you think performance will improve, GWR haven't managed it for months, and if got same equipment (but it will be bit older, and possibly more worn out, and same staff on the ground doing same as they do today. So what makes you think they can do better.
https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/publications/performance-report/gwr-performance-report-period-2613.pdf
Most recent period failed to run 2.59% of trains,
Of those that ran, only 65.56% were on time, and 2.39% were over 15 minutes late
350 were shortformed below DfT minimum (12.5 trains per day)
..... more likely to be, welcome to your nationalised railway where third of trains are late, some don't run, and reasonable chance will be less carriages than ideal.
| Transport in the Kings Speech, 13.5.2026 In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375080/32027/40] Posted by grahame at 12:25, 13th May 2026 | |
As reported by the BBC
Transport
A Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill will create a new watchdog to enforce passenger rights and consolidate the 14 existing operator websites
A draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill will introduce a national database of all licensed taxis and hire vehicles, in a bid to improve passenger safety
The financing model used to fund nuclear projects will be extended to new road projects in England through the Highways (Financing) Bill
The Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, a renamed version of an old HS2 bill, will detail a new proposed rail route from Manchester to Millington, via Manchester Airport
A Civil Aviation Bill will create new powers over take-off and landing slots at airports, in a bid to support airport expansion
A Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill will create a new watchdog to enforce passenger rights and consolidate the 14 existing operator websites
A draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill will introduce a national database of all licensed taxis and hire vehicles, in a bid to improve passenger safety
The financing model used to fund nuclear projects will be extended to new road projects in England through the Highways (Financing) Bill
The Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, a renamed version of an old HS2 bill, will detail a new proposed rail route from Manchester to Millington, via Manchester Airport
A Civil Aviation Bill will create new powers over take-off and landing slots at airports, in a bid to support airport expansion
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375079/10308/28] Posted by John D at 11:20, 13th May 2026 | |
£45M to upgrade this short branch line from freight-only to passenger use seems exorbitant. Were they planning on building the new station at Hythe out of kryptonite, or something?
Quite cheap I thought.
To plan and build a new fully accessible station and facilities around it, improve the signalling, replaced some of the old track and drainage, and probably deal with some existing foot crossings.
Not saying it should be that expensive, but that’s the way it is these days.
Building a single platform station that is basically on a flat site (not on embankment or cutting) accessed by a shortish shallow ramp, on a line that only sees infrequent trains (so few hours possession is almost free) really should not cost £45m.
Modular standard platform sections, single storey building, and about £40m to gold plate the scheme, fix a bit of drainage, and update some semaphore signals protecting crossings. (All the area around Totton junction was resignalled as part of massive Southampton area scheme about 1983)
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375078/32002/40] Posted by stuving at 11:06, 13th May 2026 | |
One thing you might ponder is this.
Currently the budgets for infrastructure (NR) and operations (TOCs, however owned) are both fixed by DfT but are quite separate. The transfers between them (access charges and delay "compensation") are known before these budgets are fixed. So when NR runs out of money (not infrequent) it does not impact the finances of the operations side.
The plan is to merge the infrastructure and operations branches into a single organisation, and for this to make any sense at all in management terms it must imply a common budget. So now, when a big infrastructure project overruns in time and money, where does the extra money needed get taken from?
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375077/10308/28] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:51, 13th May 2026 | |
£45M to upgrade this short branch line from freight-only to passenger use seems exorbitant. Were they planning on building the new station at Hythe out of kryptonite, or something?
Quite cheap I thought.
To plan and build a new fully accessible station and facilities around it, improve the signalling, replaced some of the old track and drainage, and probably deal with some existing foot crossings.
Not saying it should be that expensive, but that’s the way it is these days.
| Re: Crossing from country to country In "The Lighter Side" [375076/32025/30] Posted by stuving at 10:44, 13th May 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
The first one is Kiel Hbf - which it does kind of tell you.
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375075/10308/28] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:48, 13th May 2026 | |
£45M to upgrade this short branch line from freight-only to passenger use seems exorbitant. Were they planning on building the new station at Hythe out of kryptonite, or something?
| Re: Reopening former rail line between Hythe and Totton - ongoing discussion, merged topic In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375074/10308/28] Posted by johnneyw at 09:40, 13th May 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
From Rail Advent[/utl]
A decision is expected soon by the Office of Rail and Road for Alliance Rail’s proposed new service from Marchwood to Southampton and London Waterloo.
The decision is expected within the next two months.
Work has progressed to develop a timetable and make the Class 769 trains ready for use.
The decision is expected within the next two months.
Work has progressed to develop a timetable and make the Class 769 trains ready for use.
Looks like the ORR has sunk this one, for now at least.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c202n2zlz85o
| Re: Crossing from country to country In "The Lighter Side" [375073/32025/30] Posted by eightonedee at 09:08, 13th May 2026 | |
Disappointed to see that someone has vandalised the smart Schleswig-Holstein livery on that double decked train on the penultimate picture. Was that Hamburg HBF?
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [375072/25368/42] Posted by rogerw at 08:54, 13th May 2026 | |
Sub-leasing stock from other TOCs
| Mental health hub celebrates first year at Wolverhampton Railway Station In "Across the West" [375071/32026/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 08:10, 13th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Mental health hub celebrates year at station
Kirsten Rose from Rethink joined the mayor of Wolverhampton, Craig Collingswood, along with others to mark the first anniversary - Image © WMR
More than 2,000 people have used a mental health support service based at Wolverhampton Railway Station since it opened a year ago, officials said.
The Hub is run by West Midlands Railway (WMR) in partnership with Rethink Mental Illness and enables local organisations to host pop-ups and events in its space.
Kirsten Rose, from Rethink Mental Illness, said the service had given people guidance, mental health and wellbeing support, while social groups had benefited from using the facility.
The safe space was inspired by a similar hub in Hull, which brought about a 63% reduction in people arriving at nearby stations in crisis, WMR said last year when it was launched.
To mark the first year and Mental Health Awareness Week this week, a series of pop-up events were planned at the building, WMR said.
Thomas Harty, security and safeguarding manager at WMR, said: "Wolverhampton is one of our busiest stations in the West Midlands, making it the perfect location to offer support to passengers travelling through and to local residents too. We are so pleased that the Hub has become truly embedded in the local community, and that so many people have used it to access vital resources and support."
Rose said it had been great to establish partnerships not only with other services, but with train station staff, security officers and British Transport Police who have supported people in use the service.
Kirsten Rose from Rethink joined the mayor of Wolverhampton, Craig Collingswood, along with others to mark the first anniversary - Image © WMR
More than 2,000 people have used a mental health support service based at Wolverhampton Railway Station since it opened a year ago, officials said.
The Hub is run by West Midlands Railway (WMR) in partnership with Rethink Mental Illness and enables local organisations to host pop-ups and events in its space.
Kirsten Rose, from Rethink Mental Illness, said the service had given people guidance, mental health and wellbeing support, while social groups had benefited from using the facility.
The safe space was inspired by a similar hub in Hull, which brought about a 63% reduction in people arriving at nearby stations in crisis, WMR said last year when it was launched.
To mark the first year and Mental Health Awareness Week this week, a series of pop-up events were planned at the building, WMR said.
Thomas Harty, security and safeguarding manager at WMR, said: "Wolverhampton is one of our busiest stations in the West Midlands, making it the perfect location to offer support to passengers travelling through and to local residents too. We are so pleased that the Hub has become truly embedded in the local community, and that so many people have used it to access vital resources and support."
Rose said it had been great to establish partnerships not only with other services, but with train station staff, security officers and British Transport Police who have supported people in use the service.
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375070/32002/40] Posted by Electric train at 07:47, 13th May 2026 | |
A bit of a reality check ..........
Nothing will change overnight.
The NR Route and GWR TOC executive boards in consultation with DfT will have been working on the shape of the structure of the GW.
The benefits may not be seen as a "wow" impact day one or even week one, however a lookback a year on should reveal improvements in performance.
Future rolling stock, IET's are with the Route for at least a decade or 2, 387 will be in the TV for many years. Replacement for the Diesel fleets my guess early 2030's
The current legislation limits what can be done, ie the forming of GBR and the bringing into public ownership the franchised TOC's; it be interesting to see what is in todays Kings speech relating to the railways, could we see the reshaping of the NR Routes and former TOC areas? The handing over the London Metro services to TfL and similar the other Mayoral areas in England?
| Crossing from country to country In "The Lighter Side" [375069/32025/30] Posted by grahame at 07:28, 13th May 2026 | |
Three countries, six trains (five of them electric) from yesterday. Not in order (though the last picture - the fish supper - is)
