Railway enthusiasts split over plan to restore train services in rural areas

Some are hopeful upgraded tracks will preserve steam engine rides, but others fear they will morph into commuter services

Plans to reintroduce train services to rural English towns using heritage lines have split railway enthusiasts, with some hopeful that restored tracks will preserve steam engine rides and others fearful they will be overrun by commuters. ....

Yellow weather warnings issued as thunderstorms and flooding forecast

Yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office as heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to break out over parts of the UK later this week.

The warnings span Wednesday and Thursday and include parts of east Wales, the Midlands, northern England, East Anglia and southern England - including London.

It is likely to be the one of the most widespread outbreaks of heavy rain across southern and central parts of the UK this summer.

While good news for regions plagued by drought, significant accumulations could lead to flash flooding where the ground is too dry and hard to absorb the downpours. Lightning, large hail and gusty winds are also possible.

The storms, which will drift out of France and move northwards, will be sparked as warm and humid air sets in from the south.

Initially, a few showers are likely to reach Cornwall and the West Country during Tuesday evening, but heavier downpours bringing thunder and lightning are likely to hit later in the night.

The first band of heavy showers may reach the southeast coast of England around midnight, and then cross Greater London before moving northwards into the home counties and East Anglia.



The first yellow weather warning is set to come into force at 03:00 BST on Wednesday and last until 22:00 BST.

Though not all locations in the warning area will experience thunderstorms, flooding is possible in those that do, with 20-30mm of rain possible in less than an hour.  The hardest hit locations could see up to 40-50mm in two to three hours.

Flash flooding is possible in areas where the ground is dry and very hard, making it difficult for rainfall to be absorbed. The most intense downpours could also bring large hail with gusty winds.

During the morning on Wednesday, the storms may spread further north into the Midlands and the Peak District but the forecast becomes less certain in terms of location and intensity.

The storms and downpours which will have brought flash flooding and hail are forecast to continue into Thursday.

A second weather warning for thunderstorms will come into force at 06:00 BST and last until 22:00 BST.  Some may become slow moving across the Midlands, Wales and Northern England leading to more flash flooding.



Many areas could see 20-30mm of rain in just three hours, with up to 50mm possible in some places.  According to the Met Office, there is also a small chance of considerably higher totals, particularly over east-facing higher ground, where more than 75mm could fall within 12 hours.  Lightning may be frequent and hail of around 1-2cm could fall.

(BBC article continues)

Last time the "Flying Scotsman" came through Melksham

I wonder how many/what % of that number in 1966 were UK born, compared to today's figure.

I think the demographics are as of much interest as the headline numbers,  to help understand how society has changed.

Enjoy the views of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire from Didcot Parkway this October on board the Legendary Journeys with Flying Scotsman.

Experience restored vintage coaches travelling at main line speeds behind the world famous Flying Scotsman locomotive on a tour of over 130 miles around Oxfordshire and Wiltshire from Didcot. Pass through the market town of Chippenham before arriving at Newbury Racecourse Station, where there will be a pause to stretch your legs and see the magnificent locomotive. The route will take in views of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal before returning to Didcot via Swindon.

There is a morning journey departing at 11.00 and an afternoon trip at departing at 15.25.

Each booking is helping to keep this national icon of steam heritage operating.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2026

Flying Scotsman is steaming through the North Wessex Downs National Landcape this October, with mainline railtours departing from Didcot Parkway, a town which has become synonymous with railway preservation, to Newbury Racecourse Station.

Embark upon a 133 mile return journey through Oxfordshire and Wiltshire hauled by the legendary Flying Scotsman locomotive. We'll travel via the outskirts of Reading, a town rich in railway history from the opening of the Great Western line to London in 1840 right through to the modern Elizabeth Line which opened in 2022,

We'll then arrive at Newbury Racecourse Station, a town famous for it's adjacent racecourse. The train will stop here for 30 minutes allowing a leg stretch and to view the famous locomotive.

Finally, we'll embark on the main leg of our journey. Our route will take us through the lovely landscape of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, running alongside the pretty Kennet & Avon Canal for some distance and the nearby Westbury white horse.  We'll pass through Chippenham and Swindon, another town steeped in railway history through its railway works which once employed 14,000 people before heading back to Didcot Parkway.

Each booking is helping to keep this national icon of steam heritage operating.

Approximate Itinerary

Departs Didcot at approx 11:00, arriving at Newbury Racecourse approx 11:45. Departing Newbury Racecourse at 12:15, arriving back at Didcot approx 15:05
Departs Didcot at approx 15:25, arriving at Newbury Racecourse approx 16:30. Departing Newbury Racecourse at 16:40, arriving back at Didcot approx 19:20
Tour distance: approximately 133 miles return.

What service pattern is there that could call there?

HOTNAT¹ allows travellers to take the next available high-speed service leaving from the same transit station as originally planned, when a delay on or cancellation of the inbound Railteam member’s high-speed service prevents them from making their originally-planned connection.

This service is free of charge and is subject to the following conditions. The missed connection must be between two high-speed trains of the Railteam alliance. HOTNAT is available in Railteam hubs and larger connecting stations. HOTNAT only applies at the transit station where the passenger originally planned to change trains and in case of train delays and train cancellations. The approval of HOTNAT is subject to the available capacity on board each train. Seats are not guaranteed. If eligible, please report to the service staff at the international ticket/service counter for delay confirmation and HOTNAT authorization.

¹ Available in Paris at Paris Nord, Paris Est, Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris Montparnasse stations. They are counted as a single station for this service.

For connecting between Eurostar and DB FV in Germany, HOTNAT is only available at Cologne main station.

At least it's only at one airport - Gatwick - and other other airports don't see criminal behaviour in connection with parking services.

And if seen on a permanent basis all the time on a diagram leads to an unemployed one!

At least it's only at one airport - Gatwick - and other other airports don't see criminal behaviour in connection with parking services.

An empty bus makes an extremely happy driver!

I think the demographics are as of much interest as the headline numbers,  to help understand how society has changed.

For the record, I was born in Devon, of native UK parents (through several generations, on both sides) in 1959.



CfN.