There is, however, a pub called The Full Moon on Stokes Croft in Bristol. 

From Best of Bristol:

 
Although I've not been there, there is the Devon Railway Centre at Blickleigh.

 
Vale of Berkeley Railway?  Okay it's not quite doing passenger rides yet but things are moving on.

 

I was more concerned with incoming trains as HM Government has wanted to perform immigration procedures on the continent to remove the possibility of arriving passengers who are denied entry claiming asylum.

 

Add Torrington (Tarka Valley Rly - Heritage)
Add Bideford (Rly Heritage Centre)
Add Christow (Rly Centre of Excellence)

 
Updating the map / database .... anything I should be adding or taking away?

Avon Valley   {Heritage ST 6691 7356}   3158|https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org
Blaenavon   {Heritage SO 2340 0940}   https://www.bhrailway.co.uk
Bluebell   {Heritage TQ 4046 2362}   14477|https://www.bluebell-railway.com
Bodmin   {Heritage SX 0725 6702}   21446|https://bodminrailway.co.uk
Brecon Moutain   {Heritage SO 0590 0970}   https://www.bmr.wales
Bristol Harbour   {Heritage ST 5840 7220}   9106|https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/train-rides/
Chinnor   {Heritage SP 7576 0096}   19911|https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
Cholsey - Wallingford   {Heritage SU 6072 8948}   2888|https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com
Dartmouth Steam   {Heritage SX 8818 5102}   https://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk
Dean Forest   {Heritage SO 6293 0421}   13751|https://deanforestrailway.co.uk
East Somerset   {Heritage ST 6709 4514}   2876|https://eastsomersetrailway.com
Gloucestershire - Warwickshire   {Heritage SP 0209 3254}   2350|https://www.gwsr.com
Gwili   {Heritage SN 4180 2370}   7363|https://gwili-railway.co.uk/#1
Haven Street   {Heritage SZ 5620 9040}   https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk
Helston   {Heritage SW 6475 3050}   583|https://www.helstonrailway.co.uk
Kidderminster - Bridgnorth   {Heritage SO 7162 9319}   6572|https://www.svr.co.uk
Lappa Valley   {Heritage SW 8068 5853}   https://www.lappavalley.co.uk
Launceston   {Heritage SX 3312 8444}   16163|http://launcestonsr.co.uk
Lynton - Barnstaple   {Heritage SS 6465 4316}   23591|701|https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk
Lynton - Lynmouth   {Heritage SS 7237 4940}   24149|14626|https://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk
Mid Hants   {Heritage SU 5883 3269}   https://www.watercressline.co.uk
Northamtonshire Iron   {Heritage }
Plym Valley   {Heritage SX 5250 5870}   11624|https://www.plymrail.co.uk
Seaton Tramway   {Heritage SY 2344 9189}   https://www.tram.co.uk
Somerset and Dorset   {Heritage ST 6750 5460}   7069|https://sdjr.co.uk
South Devon   {Heritage SX 7393 6611}   1031|https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk
Spa Valley   {Heritage TQ 5541 3527}https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk
Swanage   {Heritage SZ 0399 7986}   2353|https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
Swindon and Cricklade   {Heritage SU 1506 9056}   7862|https://swindon-cricklade-railway.org
Vale of Rheidol   {Heritage SN 7650 7560}   https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Volks Electric   {Heritage TQ 3140 0389}   23404|http://volkselectricrailway.co.uk
West Somerset   {Heritage SS 9685 4621}   2688|17237|https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk|http://www.wsr.org.uk|https://www.wsra.org.uk|https://www.mineheadraillinkgroup.org.uk

 
Revising and revising my list across the area ... good news here that some have come to fruition and been removed from the list.  I have left on the line projects underway - once trains start running (or stopping!) they are no longer campaigns for a new service - importantly, partnership working becomes even more important as passenger number are grown and fine tuning or services carried on.


Aberystwth - Carmarthen   {Campaign SN 5780 4790}   17562
Ashburton   {Campaign SX 7562 6989}   15323
Ashton Gate   {Campaign ST 5724 7141}   231
Aztec West   {Campaign ST 6060 8280}   14751
Bideford   {Campaign SS 4544 2647}   23280
Bradford North Curve {Campaign ST 8531 6010}   21090
Braunton   {Campaign SS 4879 3657}   5730
Bristol Underground   {Campaign ST 5859 7276}   19761
Bude   {Campaign SS 2084 0659}   17576
Camp Hill   {Campaign SP 0802 8419}   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-51928674
Cardiff Parkway   {Campaign ST 2442 8017}   22474
Chard Junction   {Campaign ST 3426 0474}   5294|https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/blow-new-station-hopes-because-2590365
Charfield   {Campaign ST 7245 9234}   20779
Churston    {Campaign SX 9012 5732}   4850
Cirencester   {Campaign SP 0220 0210}   14439
Clevedon   {Campaign ST 4088 7118}   22534
Coalpit Heath   {Campaign ST 6746 8097}   https://fosbr.org.uk/coalpit-heath-station/
Corsham   {Campaign ST 8727 7056}   226
Cowley   {Campaign SP 5551 0459}   23033
Crossrail2   {Campaign TQ 2796 7345}   16508
Croxley   {Campaign TQ 0800 9530}   http://www.croxleyraillink.com
Cullompton   {Campaign ST 0206 0711}   5272
Devizes Gateway   {Campaign SU 0429 5909}   19298
DNS   {Campaign SU 4790 3520}   12714
East-West   {Campaign SP 7371 2735}   1219
Edginswell   {Campaign SX 8891 6609}   21542
Fawley   {Campaign SU 4237 0797}   10308
Felindre   {Campaign SS 6798 9923}   21955
Fowey   {Campaign SX 1266 5232}   2681
Gravity Innovation   {Campaign ST 3283 4227}   https://thisisgravity.co.uk
Heathfield   {Campaign SX 8289 7587}   9931
Heathrow South   {Campaign TQ 0490 6560}   20681
Heathrow West   {Campaign TQ 0490 7560}   9171
Helston   {Campaign SW 6593 2745}   583|https://www.helstonrailway.co.uk
Henbury   {Campaign ST 5676 7973}   17915
Horfield   {Campaign ST 5988 7694}   13113
HS2   {Campaign SU 9296 9548}   5138
Kingsbridge   {Campaign SX 7349 4416}   23852
Langport   {Campaign ST 4204 2680}   15525
Long Ashton   {Campaign ST 5404 7027}   http://reopen.org.uk/long-ashton-station/
Long Marston   {Campaign SP 1550 4780}   11513
Ludgershall   {Campaign SU 2644 5093}   12952
Magor & Udny   {Campaign ST 4249 8708} 23291
Marlborough   {Campaign SU 1890 6919}   13882
Meldon   (Campaign SX 5680 9250}   2338
Mid-Cornwall   {Campaign SW 7566 5416}   24163
Minehead   {Campaign SS 9917 4367}   17237|https://www.mineheadraillinkgroup.org.uk
Newport   {Campaign SZ 4997 8919}   19961
Northern Line Extension   {Campaign TQ 2908 7743}   20692
North Filton station   {Campaign ST 6038 7996}   7178
Nursling   {Campaign SU 3776 1630}
Old Oak Common   {Campaign TQ 2131 8206}
Pill   {Campaign ST 5247 7593}   231
Portbury   {Campaign ST 4988 7525}   231
Portishead   {Campaign ST 4410 7520}   231
Porton   {Campaign SU 2147 3553}   15026
Radstock   {Campaign ST 6642 5416}   20967
Ross-on-Wye   {Campaign SO 5994 2409}   23538
Royal Wootton Bassett   {Campaign SU 0667 8251}   23020
Saltford    {Campaign ST 6832 6733}   9214
Sharpness   {Campaign SO 6690 0270}   16314
Shepton Mallet   {Campaign ST 6184 4354}   21125
Somerton   {Campaign ST 4872 2852}   15525
Southampton Ocean Terminal   {Campaign SU 4076 1166}   22430
St Anne’s Park   {Campaign ST 6246 7253}   24545
Staverton   {Campaign ST 8558 6072}   21090
Stonehouse Bristol Road    {Campaign SO 8059 0528}   22459
Tavistock   {Campaign SX 4814 7446}   804
Thornbury   {Campaign ST 6367 9019}   17049
Truro Cattle Market   {Campaign SW 8230 4500}   22481
Uphill   {Campaign ST 3186 5869}
Ventnor   {Campaign SZ 5630 7755}   19961
Wadebridge   {Campaign SW 9902 7233}   685
Wantage Grove   {Campaign SU 4090 9130}   18592
Waterside Line   {Campaign SU 3940 1130}   10308|https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-51852821
Wellington   {Campaign ST 1390 2070}   5272
Wichelstowe   {Campaign SU 1362 8346}   22473
Willenhall   {Campaign SO 9641 9825}   3642| http://www.westmidlandsrail.com/news/first-look-at-plans-for-two-new-black-country-railway-stations/
Wilton Parkway   {Campaign SU 0963 3119}   16215
Windsor Link   {Campaign SU 9700 7700}   5883
Witney   {Campaign SP 3563 0987}   23005   20963
Wroxall   {Campaign SZ 5507 7973}   22208

 
Alterations to services between Reading and Slough
Due to a points failure between Reading and Slough:
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:30 22/02.

As consistent as Wales.

 

Let's make it an overt one - I'd support it!

 

Thank you for this - that makes sense! I knew I wasn't dreaming

 

Metal springs obviously don't burn, from what I have read it seems to have been to do with funnel effect, basically a fire would grow in a draft along the void.  Filling with solid foam meant no void so was assumed safer.

Although what I looked at related to aircraft seats, what was subsequently realised was the foam has gaps, it doesn't totally fill the space (slots are left for usb and entertainment cables etc).  And of some trains there are power sockets.   So presumably whilst old risk of dropped cigarette has gone, there is a new risk of electrical fire.

Historically the idea of foam seem to be a bit of a disjointed policy that dates back to cigarettes being smoked, as the foam was often installed in vehicles fitted with cables that gave off toxic fumes from their insulation if there was a fire.  

It seems there is a realisation that fire rarely kills from burning, but toxic fumes incapacitate people and bodies get discovered unburnt, but dead from suffocation whilst unconscious.  There was a reference to a minor train fire in 1950s which although fire was put out some ladies had died in a compartment apparently smiling.  It was eventually discovered smouldering varnished panels had given off toxic cellulose fumes that had killed them.

 

A very interesting read - and thoughtful.  Something I have wondered about - "Who and how is the xxx promoted" where "xxx" is a thin or secondary service.   

Is the issues - buses or trains - a lack of ownership over something that's specified for social need by a public servant who doesn't have a primary business case motivation, added to which a very spread out market in which - if you like - anyone looking for more business finds that it's like panning for the very occasional gold nugget (a passenger) in a huge volume of base rock (people making other journeys)

I find myself musing that this may be where a network approach would help. Services that are designed to connect and reliably do so. Combined timetable information.  Fares that allow you to take the best route at the time you travel without the worst complexities of having to rebook and / or return by the same way you went out.  Combined tracking so that in the event of traffic delays / other disruption the alternatives are offered.

A favourite example - an evening out in Bristol from Melksham. 

Melksham Market Place - 18:05, 18:53 arrival at Temple Meads.  With a walk from my home to the bus stop in Melksham that's under an hour.  BUT - it's the daily x69 to Bradford-on-Avon, 5 minutes to change there which is a bit tight with the walk down station approach and the need to have a ticket before boarding (maybe buy ahead, but using BoA may be a late decision).  And my return journey may be via train with a change at Trowbridge, train with a change at Chippenham, or a train / bus combo with a change at Bath onto the 273 which is another of those supported services.

The extra passenger on the x69 may only be occasional from promotion of that service - but as part of the whole network setup, integrated, there will be many occasions it could be offered and quite a few actually used.    Back (last service 22:40 from BRI / chase at Bath onto the 23:20 bus, home midnight) combo makes for an excellent practical meeting in Bristol.

 

 


Copy in our member's archive / mirror at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/GMGN2696-Iss-1.pdf

 

Indeed - paid out £95, received back £62. Would still rather have had on time trains.

From the local news feed at Somerset Live


which leads me down a rabbit hole of discovery to https://inrix.com

 
By having an RSSB account.

A comfort score is Dimensional features + Pad & Back Rest thickness + Compression.  Maximum score 100

Dimensional features includes:
a) seat height (target 440 mm ±10 mm above the floor)
b) Seat depth (good practice value to be 435 mm ±10 mm)
c) Seat width and gap between armrests (highest attainable score  for 460mm - 503mm with or without armrests, but a without score is handicapped)
d) Backrest width (highest attainable score for >549mm)
e) Armrest height (highest attainable score for fully adjustable, second highest 230mm - 250mm if non adjustable)
f) Underside of headrest to seat [distance from the seat's sitting surface to the passenger's acromion] (highest attainable score for 660mm - 680mm)
g) Angle of seat (highest attainable score for -6° to -9°)
h) Angle between seat and back (highest attainable score for 100° - 105°)
i) Legroom (highest attainable score for >766mm) [legroom is measured from the back of the seat to the back of the seat in front]
j) Bay seating arrangement (higest attainable score for > 1531mm) [measured from back of seat to the back of the seat opposite]
k) Clearance under tablet (650 - 690mm)
l) Tablet depth (151 - 200mm)

With regards to the seat pad, some choice figures are:
"It is good practice for the minimum seat pad thickness to be 50 mm."
"The seat pad's target minimum compression is 40% of the overall seat pad thickness." at 500N
"The maximum allowable compression is 70% of the overall seat pad thickness." at 1000N
"The minimum target is 5% or less of deformation after 50,000 cycles."

 
Saturday February 22


Later:

 
Thinking about the subsidised secondary routes near me - both urban and rural...

There are a few dominant local operators - primarily First, but also some other major plays. Mix of commercial and subsidised routes, mostly moderately frequent, or at least regular through the day. Day/weekly tickets useful as they can be used on all routes as long as the same operator is used. People know these companies run several routes in teh area, and a look at the websites shows the routes available. A lot of flaws with the service provision, but  essentially there's a well-known service provision.

Then there are the 'fiddly little routes'. In some cases 1-2 hourly, in some cases a few each day. Several companies involved - fine for pass-holders, but not so useful for those on day tickets. In many cases, the route varies a bit with each journey. Some are designed to connect with 'main' routes, but others aren't.

In reality the 'urban circular' type routes are probably are only useful to pass-holders, because the able-bodied will walk to the nearest main road for more frequent services, but they would probably be more useful if they were set up better. There's one that goes past my house, but I couldn't tell you when it runs. There are no designated stops, and my road doesn't appear on the rudimentary maps. The only designated stop is one by a nearby pub, which is shown in the timetable and on maps/planners; even that one doesn't have a sign. Which is fine for rural and occasional routes (and indeed more the norm in deep rural areas) - probably cheaper than maintaining stops - but without even the odd waypoint added to maps/planners/timetables, only regular uses would know where to wait for it! The map doesn't even hint that it passes my house, and many locals wouldn't even have heard of the company if only really familiar with the big players! If someone living on my road were shopping and a bit tired and happened to be ready to leave town when the bus is due, they might pick it over a route to the nearest main route, but as there isn't integrated ticketing they wouldn't unless they were a pass-holder.

It strikes me that if several of these 'urban circular' type journeys were linked, maybe into a 'city circle' type service, they could run to a more regular timetable, rather than sporadically (often a few journeys in a row, then none for a bit, then the afternoon batch - perhaps partly because of shift/lunch patterns, and partly because of swapping between the routes). And if there were integrated ticketing - be it an area-wide franchising model or one company just running hte whole lot - they would be more useful to everyone.

It's great that a particular market segment is served by these buses, but when I've seen them they aren't full to the brim, and if someone put the time into reviewing them perhaps they could be that bit more commercially useful.

The rural 'fiddly extra' routes are generally better - more defined routes, run by the same operator as the main axes, and designed to connect therewith, and quite useful for tourism so there is some marketing, although it's inconsistent. There are however some oddities - one or two (not sure how much they've survioved post-Covid) that run on certain days only for shoppers etc, and one that I've seen advertised at stops - possibly run on a voluntary or 'community' basis of some sort. The only way I know about it is from seeing advertising sheets at stops in that area. The photos (not sure if token/clipart or actuially representative) show coaches - not sure if a coach co runs it, or if someone has basically hired the coach. It runs on certain days only, between main axes so that it's useful for popping to shops etc - and the advertising at the stops says it's for pass-holders only. I can understand why in a way - perhaps avoids some sort of additional admin hurdle - but it could be more commercially useful if they could carry fare-payers as well. Again, perhaps if this type of route were linked into some of the others it could run daily, carry all passenger types etc.

 
Anyone seen a copy of RSSB GMGN2696 ? - which presumably is a standard method for measuring "comfort". How does it do that?

 

Did you really think that? Or (as I once read somewhere) is it April 1st already ??

That Railway Gazette explains it:

So no need for spring steel to be more flammable, or have a greater combustion energy, than foam.

 

As seen at the rail innovation exhibition:

 
2M24 (see above) is running. 

 
I thought that the original reason for moving from springs to foam seating was the fire risk on seats with springs was a lot higher than the fire-retarded foam. These appear to be made with small pocket springs in these - what changed?

 

https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/spring-has-sprung-for-gwr-passengers/68315.article

 

HS1/St Pancras has a programme to increase passenger capacity. Last year Active Thinking led a study for them into how much of an increase was possible, and what "modern approaches and technological solutions" could be used. Railway Gazette reported:

Then earlier this year a PQQ came out for an implementation study based on that. That closed last week, so while the contract notice is still on line the document defining the study has now disappeared.

The only bit of the BBC report I can see that might be called news is

This agreement with Getlink is another bit of the same overall programme, and must have been agreed some time ago even if only signed now - and even then it's only an agreement to have an agreement.

 

On RTT, it has acquired "VCN" status, so you need to select the "CAN" option to view cancelled services. The reason given is ZW - unknown cause.

Also bearing a VCN status and ZW code on RTT is 2M34, the 20:14 Swindon-Westbury. There's nothing on Journeycheck about this service, and it is currently (at 19:22) shown on TIGER as "on time". Watch this space! 

Incidentally, the 18:37 Westbury-Swindon was delayed at Trowbridge for about 25 minutes (due to a "broken down train"). It lost a further 5 minutes due to missing its slot on the single line through Melksham.

 
There are plans to expand the check-in at St Pancras I believe. Featured in the news 6-9 months ago?

 
How do these plans fit in with the UK government requirement for entry checking before boarding?  or is there a secret plan to join Schengen?