Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380339/32572/51] Posted by grahame at 21:42, 1st October 2026 |      |
Cannon Street has a loop???
Originally built as a terminus where all trains called on their way into London via London Bridge then after reversal went on to Charing Cross. The chord from Borough Market Junction was added later - certainly as far as passenger trains were concerned
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380338/10737/21] Posted by JohnM at 21:16, 1st October 2026 | |
The new station entrance. A big board shows 'Next fastest trains' to destinations, and their departure times, but doesn't that need to have some way to factor in the walking times from the east entrance to the platform and then to the train
There has never been a board that has an asterix next to the platform name advising how long the walk is to that platform.
I would imagine you walk at a different speed to me, and different again to many of the new passengers using the station, so who's speed would be used?
There has never been a board that has an asterix next to the platform name advising how long the walk is to that platform.
I would imagine you walk at a different speed to me, and different again to many of the new passengers using the station, so who's speed would be used?
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380337/32572/51] Posted by ChrisB at 21:09, 1st October 2026 | |
Cannon Street has a loop???
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380336/32151/51] Posted by ChrisB at 21:08, 1st October 2026 | |
One that won't reveal why the deceased driver increased his speed passing a red light & only braked on seeing the back of the stopped train in front.
| Re: Project Churchward - future regional fleet for the West, new rolling stock to replace DMUs In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [380335/27482/40] Posted by anthony215 at 20:52, 1st October 2026 | |
I remember that plus wires to Weston-super-Mare would allow other routes around Bristol to go to BEMU's
Could install a overhead charging bar like at Caerphillys bay platform at the likes of Portishead and Severn Beach etc . Hopefully GWR if they can get new units fit them.to use 3td rail too eg upwey to Weymouth etc
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380334/32572/51] Posted by Ralph Ayres at 20:35, 1st October 2026 | |
Avoiding loops at Cromer and Bourne End at least, while being operationally simpler, would have needed a less-centrally placed station or some trains missing that station. Then again, not closing the line onward from Bourne End to High Wycombe would have avoided the need for a reversal and nowadays it might even be viewed as more useful than the Marlow stub.
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380333/32572/51] Posted by broadgage at 19:37, 1st October 2026 | |
Penge tunnel avoiding line, now known as the Catford loop line. Said to have been built for HM Queen Victoria, who disliked passing through Penge tunnel on the Royal Train.
| Re: Weston-super-Mare - Birnbeck Pier restoration: ongoing developments and discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380332/16547/31] Posted by broadgage at 19:30, 1st October 2026 | |
Will the life boat house on the island be used, as before?
So doing has advantage of quick and easy launching at any state of the tide.
What are the present arrangements for the RNLI.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380331/28982/26] Posted by GBM at 19:16, 1st October 2026 | |
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380330/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 18:28, 1st October 2026 | |
Update 1 October 2026
Ely :2: 175008 (half), 175104
Wolverton : 7 : 175005 by road. 175102/105/106/107/108/109/110. 175008 (half)
Laira : 16: 175002/007/009, 175114 ex Ely; 175001/003/006/011, 175101/103/110/111/112/113/115/116 ex Wolverton
Exeter : 1 : 175004 ex Wolverton
Long Rock : 1 : 175010 ex Ely
175004 did have a trip to Newton Abbot and back 30 September 2026
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380329/28982/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 17:14, 1st October 2026 | |
C'm on TG. Lots of pics of broken down trains in the new livery wouldn't be good for the "fixing Britain's broken railway " propaganda campaign...
Yep, very true!
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380328/28982/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 17:09, 1st October 2026 | |
What on Earth was the point of that? Surely GBR livery would have made more sense with only a few weeks of GWR to go?
You’ll have to ask the DfT.
The GWR livery will be in place for many years to come so it will better match the vast majority of the current fleet.
Mind you, I expect an IET will be dolled up in the GBR livery for the launch in December.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380327/28982/26] Posted by eightonedee at 16:51, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, IndustryInsider, TaplowGreen, Mark A | |
C'm on TG. Lots of pics of broken down trains in the new livery wouldn't be good for the "fixing Britain's broken railway " propaganda campaign...
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380326/10737/21] Posted by johnneyw at 16:44, 1st October 2026 | |
So as per my comment yesterday - Has the Airport bus stop been moved since July and if so where is it now?
According to the Network Rail website:
"The Airport Flyer can be found on the station forecourt. To reach the station forecourt; exit through the ticket barriers, turn left and exit through the main doors".
That could be interpreted quite widely.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380325/28982/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:39, 1st October 2026 | |
Let's see if it actually runs, there have been many paths from Wolverton that were in, but then cancelled (sometimes twice).
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
On its way. Sets 110 and 103 in GWR livery as a 6-car.
What on Earth was the point of that? Surely GBR livery would have made more sense with only a few weeks of GWR to go?
More public money wasted.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [380324/31371/14] Posted by bleeder4 at 16:28, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Engineering work this coming Sunday, so all Cotswold line services are starting and finishing at Worcestershire Parkway. There are replacement buses running to Worcester/Malvern, as well as CrossCountry replacement buses to Birmingham and Cheltenham. So it may be a rather chaotic day at Worcestershire Parkway on Sunday!
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [380322/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 15:44, 1st October 2026 | |
Back to the old days
15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13
Facilities on the 15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.
Facilities on the 15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380321/28982/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 15:39, 1st October 2026 Already liked by GBM, Mark A | |
Saw them go through Dawlish and they are quick trains when given the chance.
That'll be thanks to the go-faster green vinyl job, then
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380320/32456/31] Posted by WSW Frome at 15:27, 1st October 2026 | |
The B1 bombers from Fairford pass noisily over Frome (at quite low altitude) several times a day. I have read somewhere that they are generally headed SW on exercise over the ocean. However, even when operational in the Middle East the route was way out in the Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and Central Mediterranean. Thereafter who knows? No doubt this route is supported by air tankers.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380319/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 15:19, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Saw them go through Dawlish and they are quick trains when given the chance.
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380318/32572/51] Posted by Electric train at 15:10, 1st October 2026 | |
GW&GCJR) Northolt Junction in northwest London with Ashendon Junction stations all had platformed loops
Crewe avoiding lines, officially known as the Basford Hall and Independent Lines,
On the Great Western Main Line (GWML) running between Langley and West Drayton the Up Relief Loop
More recently built are the Acton dive-under built by Crossrail, Bermondsey dive-under built by Thamelink, The Hitchin Flyover
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380317/10737/21] Posted by WSW Frome at 15:07, 1st October 2026 | |
So as per my comment yesterday - Has the Airport bus stop been moved since July and if so where is it now?
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380315/28982/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 14:33, 1st October 2026 | |
Going well so far. 77 early Tivvy Jcn
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380314/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 13:51, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Richard Fairhurst, REVUpminster, GBM | |
Let's see if it actually runs, there have been many paths from Wolverton that were in, but then cancelled (sometimes twice).
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
On its way. Sets 110 and 103 in GWR livery as a 6-car.
Melksham 1312hrs
| Re: Passenger Assist to Stapleton Road In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380313/32569/21] Posted by Phantom at 13:37, 1st October 2026 | |
Ok, question from an out-of-county resident....
Do the trains generally calling at Stapleton Road carry a guard/train manager?
I know the station is unstaffed. Was wondering whether I can get there in my wheelchair. It does seem as though residents park on pavements there, looking at Google Maps, certainly coming off the trains from Bristol side (Pl. 1?)
Heading for Downend....is it safe around the station into the evening in winter?
Thanks all
Do the trains generally calling at Stapleton Road carry a guard/train manager?
I know the station is unstaffed. Was wondering whether I can get there in my wheelchair. It does seem as though residents park on pavements there, looking at Google Maps, certainly coming off the trains from Bristol side (Pl. 1?)
Heading for Downend....is it safe around the station into the evening in winter?
Thanks all
Apologies, I am not sure how to share pictures on this site, but there was a "New footbridge installed in 2019 which provides step free access throughout the station"
However, only platform 2 has step-free access from the footbridge so people who can't use the steps to platform 1 have a long journey down onto Stapleton Road and then around Belmont Street to reach it.
There is no car park or taxi rank, and the nearest bus stop is 120 metres (130 yd) away on the A432 Stapleton Road
National Rail state the following
Step Free Category B2 station - step free access can be achieved to both platforms, however it is via a large station ramp. Access from platform to train is very steep, if you require assistance, please contact GWR Passenger Assist on 0800 197 1329.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/stapleton-road/
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380312/10737/21] Posted by Mark A at 13:36, 1st October 2026 | |
Well Temple Meads Station T1 is 100% marked as a stop for the 8 in the timetables. At the following stop, they do pause before restarting the route, but skipping the stop at Temple Meads Station itself, even if there's no one needing to alight, certainly shows attitude.
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380311/32151/51] Posted by Electric train at 13:33, 1st October 2026 | |
RAIB Interim Report published
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6abd271555bc01d752a7f17f/IR012026_261001_Elstow.pdf
| Re: Weston-super-Mare - Birnbeck Pier restoration: ongoing developments and discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380310/16547/31] Posted by Phantom at 13:29, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
I am impressed not only by the rate of progress being made, but also by the fact that restoration is taking place at all.
I rather cynically expected a very slow committee to consider the matter, followed by a total collapse, followed by a report that "restoration is no longer viable"
Well done by all involved.
I rather cynically expected a very slow committee to consider the matter, followed by a total collapse, followed by a report that "restoration is no longer viable"
Well done by all involved.
As a lifelong Weston resident, I share your views above
I honestly thought it was never going to be repaired, there have been so many false dawns over many years
But to see the footage of the new flooring being a quarter of the way through was something I never expected.
A local councillor (Mike Bell) mentioned he got emotional walking on it again, I can completely understand how he would have felt.
I spoke to him on the Waverley cruise from Weston earlier this year and he was very passionate about the pier
They just need to find someone to look after the main part of Birnbeck Island, though I have previously seen footage of repairs on the buildings already
I can remember walking out there in the late 1980s with my (now sadly departed) grandparents, so will be looking forward to how this all progresses
