Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Rail freight increase targets - 40% by 2040 and 75% by 2050 In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379803/32474/40] Posted by IndustryInsider at 07:55, 21st September 2026 |      |
Chippenham<>Trowbridge would be on my list, but not top of it.
Ahead of it would be grade separation at Didcot East Junction together with access/exit arrangements at Didcot Yard. Also additional freight loops with higher entry and exit speeds between Reading and Newbury, and further improvements both sides of Oxford (which are paused/under development).
| Re: Is my life too mundane? Should I learn these conversations before my next trip? In "Introductions and chat" [379802/32487/1] Posted by rogerpatenall at 07:49, 21st September 2026 | |
John Heaton's excellent memoirs of being Area Manager at Exeter recalls an incident where a class 50 London bound express realised too late that it should call at Castle Cary. After storming through the station, brakes hard on, the driver did indeed reverse the train back into the platform.
| Re: Is my life too mundane? Should I learn these conversations before my next trip? In "Introductions and chat" [379800/32487/1] Posted by Marlburian at 07:39, 21st September 2026 | |
Some years I boarded a Didcot-bound train at Tilehurst that was meant to stop at intermediate stations. Only it didn't. After it had passed through Pangbourne an irate youth jumped up and started banging on the driver's door; I don't know what he expected the driver to do - reverse?
| Re: Is my life too mundane? Should I learn these conversations before my next trip? In "Introductions and chat" [379799/32487/1] Posted by grahame at 06:35, 21st September 2026 | |
Well - THAT didn't get much interest or votes!
Today's translation suggestion is man stuck in a lift conversing with someone outside about getting him out. Not an every day occurrence - I have only been stuck in a lift twice.
| Re: What links ... In "The Lighter Side" [379798/5226/30] Posted by grahame at 06:31, 21st September 2026 | |
From a search I have just done ... I have learned than "Iona" may be found within "exceptional". And Iona is, truly an exceptional place to visit. I visited Iona in - it must have been - the early 1970s - a day trip from Oban as a late teenager, taking my Grandmother on The King George V from Oban, sailing around Mull into the bay at Balamory, close to Staffa to see Fingal'a Cave and then to be landed by tender onto Iona where we had a brief couple of hours to see the Abbey and enjoy the gentleness / quietness / atmosphere of the island.
A much more recent visit, taking Waverley from Oban, was a lovely day out ... but we were frustrated from landing because the swell meant that they wouldn't risk the transfer into the tenders to get ashore. Ruefully I though back 30 or 40 years; there was a swell then too, but a more relaxed attitude. I remember saying to Gran (in the 80s at the time, but game for an outing) "don't worry - there will be a couple of burley sailors to help you down" and her repost afterwards of "the one on the left wasn't all that burley".
Post by Iain Quinn, photo by John McNulty, KGV in 1973 leaving Oban.
| Re: Railways Bill 2025: introducing and designing Great British Railways - general topic In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379797/31038/40] Posted by grahame at 05:24, 21st September 2026 Already liked by eightonedee | |
Simon Calder on X/Twitter
Oh happy days! Dynamic Pricing = the end of the Off-peak return then....
Great British Railways.
Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy:
A unified operator of track and train will deliver a better passenger experience.
Fares: pay-as-you-go around key cities; on longer journeys, dynamic pricing to manage demand.
And a new GBR ticket app
Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy:
A unified operator of track and train will deliver a better passenger experience.
Fares: pay-as-you-go around key cities; on longer journeys, dynamic pricing to manage demand.
And a new GBR ticket app
Oh happy days! Dynamic Pricing = the end of the Off-peak return then....
For the "lighter side" ... from Heritage Railways on Facebook
NOBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH THE 11:20 COSTS ANYMORE
| Re: Rail freight increase targets - 40% by 2040 and 75% by 2050 In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379796/32474/40] Posted by grahame at 04:53, 21st September 2026 | |
https://infrastory.substack.com/p/freight-and-passenger-rail-have-different
We all know that Europe and Asia are the home of modern passenger rail, while North America lags far behind. Canada’s mainline railways move about 36 passenger-kilometres per capita each year, while the European Union’s move 984. What many people might not know is that North America dominates in freight rail, while Europe largely lags far behind. The EU moves 833 annual rail freight tonne-kilometres per capita each year, while Canada moves 10,660. Canada alone moves more tonne-kilometres of freight by rail than the entire European Union combined. And that’s not just heavy natural resources in the West. It’s also vast amounts of intermodal and industrial goods. North American freight railways get thousands of trucks off the roads and that is something we should be genuinely proud of ...
| Re: Rail freight increase targets - 40% by 2040 and 75% by 2050 In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379795/32474/40] Posted by grahame at 04:31, 21st September 2026 | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw8r61n1z28jo
What is stopping more freight moving from road to rail?
The government has set a new target to increase the amount of freight going on trains by 40% by 2040.
The plans have been welcomed by councils and business leaders in the East of England, who say it will be good for the economy and the environment and tackle congestion on busy roads such as the A14 and A12.
They would have a big impact in Suffolk, which has the country's largest container port in Felixstowe and one of the largest rail freight terminals in the UK.
But ministers have been warned that the growth in rail freight will not happen unless there is significant investment in rail infrastructure.
The government has set a new target to increase the amount of freight going on trains by 40% by 2040.
The plans have been welcomed by councils and business leaders in the East of England, who say it will be good for the economy and the environment and tackle congestion on busy roads such as the A14 and A12.
They would have a big impact in Suffolk, which has the country's largest container port in Felixstowe and one of the largest rail freight terminals in the UK.
But ministers have been warned that the growth in rail freight will not happen unless there is significant investment in rail infrastructure.
Following sections / headlines from the article:
Why is rail freight important?
What do councils and businesses think?
Why are Ely and Haughley junctions significant?
What does the rail freight industry say?
What do hauliers think?
What does the government say?
Things have been done in the "GWR area" ... Reading works in no small part help freight, and the Acton flyunder helps separate freight from passenger trains rather than them having to cross on the level. To my mind, the bottleneck they need to address now / next in our part of the world in capacity between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
| Re: Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379794/32521/5] Posted by TaplowGreen at 22:38, 20th September 2026 | |
I'm posting this here, as I can't find any more relevant place to put it - stop sniggering, you at the back of the classroom. 
From the BBC:
That's an interesting way to start a case for claiming refugee status in the United Kingdom ...
From the BBC:
Man charged over stolen bus and driver attack
Armed police were deployed to Court Street, Telford on Friday - Image © Andy Smith/Telford Live
A man has been charged after a single decker bus was stolen and crashed into a row of parked cars in Shropshire.
Ali Balhad is set to appear in court over aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, thefts from a store and three counts of criminal damage.
The 33-year-old is also charged with assault, attempted grievous bodily harm and threats to kill over the incident.
Armed officers were deployed to the scene in Court Street, Telford, at around 18.35 BST on Friday.
West Mercia Police said the bus driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries after he was assaulted, and confirmed that no-one else was hurt.
Balhad, a Yemeni national believed to have been in the area for about a week, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
Armed police were deployed to Court Street, Telford on Friday - Image © Andy Smith/Telford Live
A man has been charged after a single decker bus was stolen and crashed into a row of parked cars in Shropshire.
Ali Balhad is set to appear in court over aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, thefts from a store and three counts of criminal damage.
The 33-year-old is also charged with assault, attempted grievous bodily harm and threats to kill over the incident.
Armed officers were deployed to the scene in Court Street, Telford, at around 18.35 BST on Friday.
West Mercia Police said the bus driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries after he was assaulted, and confirmed that no-one else was hurt.
Balhad, a Yemeni national believed to have been in the area for about a week, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
That's an interesting way to start a case for claiming refugee status in the United Kingdom ...
Is he a refugee?
If so perhaps as well as leaflets asking new arrivals not to rape women etc, one could be produced explaining that stealing buses is generally frowned upon too?
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379793/593/9] Posted by ray951 at 22:21, 20th September 2026 | |
A big improvement on what was there before.
That is being very generous given £237m has been spent (yes that is not a misprint £237m for a small road bridge) and there has not been a single improvement for rail passengers, which was surely the objective.
It makes HS2 look like a bargain
| Re: Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379792/32520/21] Posted by grahame at 21:51, 20th September 2026 | |
I am ... amazed ... at how deep the foundations look to be. Looks like it will be a substantial fence. The current one hasn't struck me as too bad, but it does protect a drop off the platform to where a running line used to be. No passive provision for that to be re-instated then ...
| Re: Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379791/32520/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:18, 20th September 2026 | |
My question was posed simply to seek clarification as to why such a (probably very expensive) installation of a new fence was being carried out at Trowbridge.
I'm sorry I even asked, now.
| Re: Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379790/32521/5] Posted by ChrisB at 21:09, 20th September 2026 | |
He attacked the bus driver with the driver's ticket machine taken off the door support before trying to drive the bus - the video of this is on social media
| Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379789/32521/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:03, 20th September 2026 | |
I'm posting this here, as I can't find any more relevant place to put it - stop sniggering, you at the back of the classroom.
From the BBC:
Man charged over stolen bus and driver attack
Armed police were deployed to Court Street, Telford on Friday - Image © Andy Smith/Telford Live
A man has been charged after a single decker bus was stolen and crashed into a row of parked cars in Shropshire.
Ali Balhad is set to appear in court over aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, thefts from a store and three counts of criminal damage.
The 33-year-old is also charged with assault, attempted grievous bodily harm and threats to kill over the incident.
Armed officers were deployed to the scene in Court Street, Telford, at around 18.35 BST on Friday.
West Mercia Police said the bus driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries after he was assaulted, and confirmed that no-one else was hurt.
Balhad, a Yemeni national believed to have been in the area for about a week, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
Armed police were deployed to Court Street, Telford on Friday - Image © Andy Smith/Telford Live
A man has been charged after a single decker bus was stolen and crashed into a row of parked cars in Shropshire.
Ali Balhad is set to appear in court over aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, thefts from a store and three counts of criminal damage.
The 33-year-old is also charged with assault, attempted grievous bodily harm and threats to kill over the incident.
Armed officers were deployed to the scene in Court Street, Telford, at around 18.35 BST on Friday.
West Mercia Police said the bus driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries after he was assaulted, and confirmed that no-one else was hurt.
Balhad, a Yemeni national believed to have been in the area for about a week, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
That's an interesting way to start a case for claiming refugee status in the United Kingdom ...
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379788/593/9] Posted by bobm at 20:53, 20th September 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Well that’s a cheery note to end the day on.
| Re: Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379787/32520/21] Posted by bobm at 20:52, 20th September 2026 | |
Yes. That went over my head too.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379786/10737/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:06, 20th September 2026 | |
As it happens, I did have a quick look earlier this week, in the limited time before my connecting train to NLS.
It all looks very impressive, efficient and appropriate.
Whether it is actually worth a rather eye-watering £23 million is another matter.
| Re: Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379785/32520/21] Posted by ChrisB at 19:57, 20th September 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
In the subject line?....
| Re: Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379784/32520/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:42, 20th September 2026 | |
... and the answer / explanation was ... ?
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379782/593/9] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:10, 20th September 2026 | |
... So hopefully rail disruption will be minimised. That will change when platform 5 is commissioned.
Possibly by 2040
.By which time, I probably won't be around to be infuriated by it.
| Trowbridge - they're putting in a new fence In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379781/32520/21] Posted by grahame at 19:07, 20th September 2026 | |
No sign about what's going on ... so asked at the ticket office yesterday
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [379780/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:56, 20th September 2026 | |
18:10 Castle Cary to Swindon due 19:34
18:10 Castle Cary to Swindon due 19:34 has been cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
18:10 Castle Cary to Swindon due 19:34 has been cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379779/593/9] Posted by Oxonhutch at 18:19, 20th September 2026 | |
Sweepstake on the (likely short) amount of time before the first bridge strike?
Luckily, there are as now, two sacrificial non-rail-carrying bridges ahead of the main event in both directions. So hopefully rail disruption will be minimised. That will change when platform 5 is commissioned.
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379778/593/9] Posted by ChrisB at 18:06, 20th September 2026 | |
Sweepstake on the (likely short) amount of time before the first bridge strike?
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [379776/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:29, 20th September 2026 | |
.....seems to be an awful lot of these happening at the moment.......this one is near Didcot from what I hear?
Cancellations to services between Swindon and Reading
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Swindon and Reading the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:00 20/09.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
A person has been struck by a train, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379775/10737/21] Posted by johnneyw at 16:24, 20th September 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Incidentally, the University building doesn't have security barriers - the cafe is open to the public and looks quite reasonable. There are all sorts of sorts of public meeting rooms too which readers involved in the various rail campaigns might find useful - a little more at https://engine-shed.co.uk/news/innovation-temple-quarter-campus-webinar/
I had look inside the new Uni Campus building last week. I asked at the reception desk which areas were in the public realm and one of the staff helpfully pointed out what was accessible on a map with recommendations.
It turns out that all floors of the really quite impressive atrium centred interior have public areas with cafe facilities on both ground and first floors. Access to the large outside balcony/terrace area is from upstairs but at the time that I was there the doors were locked despite it being a public area.
There's decent views of the station from the second floor cafe seating area and views over the junction with the feeder canal area in the public seating areas on all the floors.
Definitely worth a look if you're passing by.
| Re: Chiltern Railway Company -> Chiltern Rail, 20.9.2026 In "Chiltern Railways services" [379773/32476/44] Posted by grahame at 15:41, 20th September 2026 | |
What a wonderful exercise in self-parody!
It is .......... isn't it?
Dunno. By having a post that brings such questioning, it's certainly brought attention
The sign being held up is "stop" rather than "all clear", and the "safety" jacket looks rather like disruptive camoflage. And as a follow up on the post asks "Is this a hint of the future? GBR is represented by......a raccoon! (Clue, not a native animal)". I have looked at the account and it's got a "verified" badge on it.
