Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Northumberland Line to open on Sun 15 December In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368217/29569/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:16, 15th November 2025 |      |
From the BBC:
Hopes popular railway line will be expanded to Newbiggin
More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made on the Northumberland Line since it reopened
Campaigners have welcomed plans to extend a popular railway line as part of local regeneration plans.
The Northumberland Line reopened last December and there are hopes further destinations can be added including Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) believe it could be achieved by building less than one mile (1.6km) of new track.
The town has not had a rail station since 1964, when it was closed under the Beeching cuts.
Northumberland County Council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth told a meeting that both the authority and the North East Combined Authority were "committed to trying to make it work".
The announcement follows the line's strong performance since reopening. More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made between Ashington and Newcastle in its first year - double the number originally forecast.
Dennis Fancett, chair of SENRUG, said the extension was the campaign's original vision for the line, which it first proposed two decades ago. "We've always campaigned for the line to go that far - it was part of the plan from the start."
The group said the extension, mostly on existing operational freight track line would be achievable and affordable, with only 0.8 miles of new track needed from just east of the A189 Spine Road overbridge.
SENRUG believes reopening the final stretch would bring major economic benefits, boost tourism, support local businesses and improve access to jobs and education.
It also said a station near Woodhorn Museum could be a park-and-ride hub for nearby villages such as Linton and Ellington, easing congestion.
Newbiggin's original railway station opened in 1872 and shut in 1964 when the nation's rail network was restructured.
Feasibility work on extending the line began earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Two of the lines stations - Bedlington and Northumberland Park - have not yet opened.
The county council said there were no costings at this stage, while feasibility work was ongoing.
More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made on the Northumberland Line since it reopened
Campaigners have welcomed plans to extend a popular railway line as part of local regeneration plans.
The Northumberland Line reopened last December and there are hopes further destinations can be added including Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) believe it could be achieved by building less than one mile (1.6km) of new track.
The town has not had a rail station since 1964, when it was closed under the Beeching cuts.
Northumberland County Council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth told a meeting that both the authority and the North East Combined Authority were "committed to trying to make it work".
The announcement follows the line's strong performance since reopening. More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made between Ashington and Newcastle in its first year - double the number originally forecast.
Dennis Fancett, chair of SENRUG, said the extension was the campaign's original vision for the line, which it first proposed two decades ago. "We've always campaigned for the line to go that far - it was part of the plan from the start."
The group said the extension, mostly on existing operational freight track line would be achievable and affordable, with only 0.8 miles of new track needed from just east of the A189 Spine Road overbridge.
SENRUG believes reopening the final stretch would bring major economic benefits, boost tourism, support local businesses and improve access to jobs and education.
It also said a station near Woodhorn Museum could be a park-and-ride hub for nearby villages such as Linton and Ellington, easing congestion.
Newbiggin's original railway station opened in 1872 and shut in 1964 when the nation's rail network was restructured.
Feasibility work on extending the line began earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Two of the lines stations - Bedlington and Northumberland Park - have not yet opened.
The county council said there were no costings at this stage, while feasibility work was ongoing.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368216/29726/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 22:17, 15th November 2025 | |
Sun, 16 November 10:38 Weymouth to Swindon due 12:57
16/11/25 10:38 Weymouth to Swindon due 12:57 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Sun, 16 November 13:32 Swindon to Weymouth due 15:45
16/11/25 13:32 Swindon to Weymouth due 15:45 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368215/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 21:07, 15th November 2025 Already liked by Oxonhutch | |
Different depot. Different traction. Different route.
Graham knows this.... 
Not that simple. yes, Chris, Bob has given the "official" answer ... but why is that so?
Bristol to Swindon services can be diverted via a reversal at Bradford South Junction and so surely drivers have that route knowledge, further there is a direct Bristol to London via Wesburty service ... and staff do overlap / work with the next depot.
And didn't I note that the Bristol -> Oxford ran - was it today or last week - 3 car. So the driver that time knew how to drive a 165, 166 or 158 which are exactly the units used on the Westbury to Swindon.
"Different depot. Different traction. Different route." is easy to say but those all overlap and have fuzzy edges, so it's a convenient reason to have. It's not as if there was a spare driver at St Blazey or Redhill. There is the wider question as to why there are such tight route knowledges and thin overlaps these days, so that if anything goes that bit wrong recovery, the system doesn't have the ability to switch and recover easily.
| Newquay to London Gatwick flight route will still run despite airline's collapse In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368214/11098/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:04, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
A vital flight route between Cornwall and London will return as planned, despite the company providing the aircraft suspending trading, Skybus has said.
The plane for the resumed route was originally going to be sourced from Blue Islands, but the Jersey-based company suspended trading on Friday.
The Newquay to London Gatwick route was suspended last month after the previous operator, regional airline Eastern Airways, announced it was on the brink of entering administration.
Jonathan Hinkles, Skybus managing director, said he was aware of the Blue Islands situation and reassured customers that plans for the service would go ahead as scheduled on 23 November. He added: "Clearly, the news means that we'll be using a different aircraft to deliver our services on the short-term basis in which we were going to be flying with Blue Islands. We're in the final stages of working through several available options to secure that capacity."
Skybus' leaders said they would provide "further updates as they are available".
The company currently runs services to the Isles of Scilly, with flights from Newquay, Land's End and Exeter, and is owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC) which also runs boat services to the islands. It will initially operate daily flights, aiming to increase to twice-daily services on weekdays from 14 February 2026.
The route to London is provided under a Passenger Service Obligation (PSO) contract which lasts four years. Central government and Cornwall Council subsidise the cost of running it all year round, despite it being less profitable during winter, as it is seen as a vital economic link.
The plane for the resumed route was originally going to be sourced from Blue Islands, but the Jersey-based company suspended trading on Friday.
The Newquay to London Gatwick route was suspended last month after the previous operator, regional airline Eastern Airways, announced it was on the brink of entering administration.
Jonathan Hinkles, Skybus managing director, said he was aware of the Blue Islands situation and reassured customers that plans for the service would go ahead as scheduled on 23 November. He added: "Clearly, the news means that we'll be using a different aircraft to deliver our services on the short-term basis in which we were going to be flying with Blue Islands. We're in the final stages of working through several available options to secure that capacity."
Skybus' leaders said they would provide "further updates as they are available".
The company currently runs services to the Isles of Scilly, with flights from Newquay, Land's End and Exeter, and is owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC) which also runs boat services to the islands. It will initially operate daily flights, aiming to increase to twice-daily services on weekdays from 14 February 2026.
The route to London is provided under a Passenger Service Obligation (PSO) contract which lasts four years. Central government and Cornwall Council subsidise the cost of running it all year round, despite it being less profitable during winter, as it is seen as a vital economic link.
| Re: Jersey: Aurigny and Loganair airlines step in to rescue Blue Islands passengers In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368213/31102/5] Posted by ChrisB at 20:40, 15th November 2025 | |
£50 between the islands & £80 Southampton - Jersey/Guernsey
| Jersey: Aurigny and Loganair airlines step in to rescue Blue Islands passengers In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368212/31102/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:36, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Blue Islands announced on Friday it had ceased trading
Airlines have stepped in to offer "rescue flights" for Blue Islands passengers after the company's collapse.
The Jersey-based operator, which employed about 100 staff, announced on Friday it had ceased trading and cancelled all bookings.
Carl Walker, chairman of the Jersey Consumer Council, said he understood more than 1,000 passengers had been displaced and advice for affected customers has been issued.
Aurigny and Loganair have said they are putting on extra flights to help Blue Islands customers.
Loganair said it was putting on flights from Jersey to Guernsey, Exeter, Bristol and Southampton along with Guernsey to Southampton from Sunday, while Aurigny has added flights for the Southampton to Guernsey and Guernsey to Jersey routes on Saturday and "initially until Wednesday".
Both airlines said special rescue fares were being put on the flights to assist passengers who needed to travel on any of the affected routes.
A Loganair statement said: "We understand this will be a worrying time for those hoping to travel to and from Jersey and in response we're starting operations from Sunday 16 November."
An Aurigny spokesperson said the airline was "deeply saddened" about Blue Islands ceasing trading and had taken "immediate action to assist Blue Islands customers across the Channel Islands".
Luke Farajallah, Loganair chief executive, said Blue Islands had played a "vital role in the UK's regional aviation market".
"This is another sad day for regional aviation, coming so soon after the news about Eastern Airways," he said.
Mr Farajallah said Loganair had acted immediately to introduce flights to and from Jersey and opened up the possibility of the airline being a long-term operator for the island. In a statement discussing the extra flights, he said: "This will then lead to establishing a new permanent operating base in Jersey."
....
A statement from Blue Islands said it had been told on Friday that Jersey's government would be unable to provide further support. A spokesperson said: "This has meant that we now need to suspend flying immediately whilst we consider the options available and how we can help our customers, staff and stakeholders."
Blue Islands borrowed £8.5m from the Government of Jersey to help it secure its services during the Covid-19 pandemic. A report in August revealed the outstanding capital balance in June was £7m.
Jersey's Minister for Treasury and Resources, Elaine Millar, said it was very sad news for the island, but there was "a limit" on how much money the government could subsidise an airline.
Ports of Jersey said it was saddened by the news: "Blue Islands has been a valued operator at Jersey Airport for many years. We recognise that this news will come as a disappointment to its passengers, employees, and the wider island community," a statement said.
Guernsey Ports managing director Ross Coppolo said he hoped rescue flights with airlines such as Aurigny and Loganair would help minimise disruption. "Our priority now is passengers who are affected over the coming days," he said.
Southampton Airport advised passengers to not travel to the airport and visit Blue Island's website for more information. "It is with regret we have been notified that Blue Islands has suspended trading, meaning all flights it operated to and from Southampton have been cancelled," the airport said.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368211/28355/22] Posted by ChrisB at 20:36, 15th November 2025 | |
Graham knows this....
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368210/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 20:03, 15th November 2025 | |
Ah yes - showing on the map
Train Cancellations
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50
Additional 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
This replacement coach will no longer run, as the train is now running.
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50
Additional 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
This replacement coach will no longer run, as the train is now running.
Of course, advertised under a Train Cancellation headline when it's not - it's a bus cancellation. ...
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368209/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 19:55, 15th November 2025 | |
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
The 16:23, 17:35 and 18:35 trains all ran in the end.
Thank you. But they had lost my business when I got up in the morning and looking at my day out, I was told had to leave London to come back at 14:00 or 20:00 (fingers crossed for that one) or trust in a bus or taxi.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368208/29726/18] Posted by brooklea at 19:46, 15th November 2025 | |
And the 19:44 train has just left Swindon bound for Westbury.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368207/29726/18] Posted by brooklea at 19:36, 15th November 2025 | |
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
The 16:23, 17:35 and 18:35 trains all ran in the end.
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [368206/31017/51] Posted by JayMac at 19:27, 15th November 2025 Already liked by bradshaw, johnneyw, ChrisB, PhilWakely, broadgage | |
Great news.
Samir deserves formal recognition for his bravery. Shoe in for a George Medal hopefully.
| Re: London's fare dodgers - ongoing issue and discussion here on the forum In "Transport for London" [368205/30940/46] Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:03, 15th November 2025 | |
More people push through than go over, so taller barriers won't help. It's easier to go through too as the barriers aren't allowed to be strong enough to deliberately trap you.
.....and to be honest, whether they push through or go over they are rarely challenged by TfL staff.
| Re: London's fare dodgers - ongoing issue and discussion here on the forum In "Transport for London" [368204/30940/46] Posted by plymothian at 19:00, 15th November 2025 Already liked by Ralph Ayres | |
More people push through than go over, so taller barriers won't help. It's easier to go through too as the barriers aren't allowed to be strong enough to deliberately trap you.
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [368203/31017/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:08, 15th November 2025 Already liked by johnneyw | |
Breaking news, from the BBC:
Train worker who saved passengers from stabbings leaves hospital
A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been discharged from hospital.
Samir Zitouni was a member of the catering crew on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on the evening of 1 November when an attacker struck as it passed through Cambridgeshire. The 48-year-old was one of 11 people treated for their injuries.
In a statement released by the British Transport Police (BTP), his family said: "We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the public, and very touched by all the kind words about Sam's brave actions on the night of the attack."
The BTP has already described his actions as "nothing short of heroic". Last week, the force said he remained "critically unwell" but stable at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Mr Zitouni has been credited with blocking the attack suspect from stabbing a girl, leaving him with a gash on his head and neck.
A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been discharged from hospital.
Samir Zitouni was a member of the catering crew on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on the evening of 1 November when an attacker struck as it passed through Cambridgeshire. The 48-year-old was one of 11 people treated for their injuries.
In a statement released by the British Transport Police (BTP), his family said: "We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the public, and very touched by all the kind words about Sam's brave actions on the night of the attack."
The BTP has already described his actions as "nothing short of heroic". Last week, the force said he remained "critically unwell" but stable at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Mr Zitouni has been credited with blocking the attack suspect from stabbing a girl, leaving him with a gash on his head and neck.
| Re: London's fare dodgers - ongoing issue and discussion here on the forum In "Transport for London" [368202/30940/46] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:59, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
An estimated 3.5% of fares were evaded in the year to March 2025
Taller ticket barriers, dedicated fare evasion teams in stations and the creation of a taskforce would reduce fare dodging on Transport for London (TfL) services, City Hall Conservatives have claimed.
The number of prosecutions for fare evasion on the Tube reached their highest level for six years in 2023-24, figures obtained by the BBC show.
Thomas Turrell, Conservative transport spokesman, said the mayor of London "continues to pay lip service to the problem in spite of the concern Londoners have when using the Tube".
TfL said its "data-driven strategy" to tackle fare evasion was "already making an impact, with the pan-TfL fare evasion rate dropping to 3.5% from 3.8% in 2023-24". TfL previously said it had spent nearly £14.2m cracking down on fare dodging across the Tube and £7.7m on the bus network in 2023-24, collecting £1.3m in penalty charges.
Penalty fares are set at £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days.
The Conservatives said TfL's target was to reduce fare evasion from 3.4% to 1.5% by 2030, however based on current trends, that "simply isn't going to happen", said Turrell.
"Every Londoner has watched someone push through the barriers or jump over them to avoid paying the fare, knowing full well that they will be picking up the cost of the offender's non-payment in the form of eye-watching fare rises," he said. "It's not good enough, and Londoners are fed up with watching this happen unchallenged."
But Elly Baker, chair of the Transport Committee on the London Assembly, said the Tories were "political grandstanding".
"A recent cross-party Transport Committee report focused on improving safety and confidence through better staffing. The Conservatives could have put some of their suggestions into this report, but chose not to. They have chosen political grandstanding rather than suggesting practical solutions."
In May, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick posted a video on social media of him approaching people who had not paid. At the time, the Conservative said he was "sick to death of people fare dodging" and felt he needed to "highlight the issue".
| Re: Wightlink: cross-Solent ferries between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368201/30915/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:33, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Ryde Pier Head ferry parking tariff to allow shorter stays
Ferry passengers park at Ryde Pier Head before ferry crossings to Portsmouth
Parking charges at an Isle of Wight transport hub are to be revised to allow motorists to pay for shorter stays.
Motorists parking at Ryde Pier Head, many taking passenger ferries to Portsmouth, currently have to pay £11.50 for periods ranging between two and 16 hours.
From December, new tarrifs for four, six and eight hours are set to be introduced.
Ferry operator Wightlink said the new bands would make it "easier and more flexible" for customers to park at the site.
Parking will remain free for the first 30 minutes. Instead of having to pay £11.50, regardless of duration, a four hour stay will now cost £5.50. Six hours will cost £7.50 and eight hours will cost £9.50. Two hour's parking will remain at £3.50 and a £13.50 charge will remain for up to 24 hours.
The ferry operator said: "Following customer feedback, we're making it easier and more flexible for customers to park at Ryde Pier Head. From 1 December, we're introducing additional time bands, giving passengers even more choice for shorter stays. We'll continue listening to Island residents to improve our services."
The car park is at the end of Victorian Pier which reopened in 2024 after a £10m refurbishment of the Ryde Interchange. Built in 1814, Ryde Pier is the UK's oldest and the second-longest seaside pier in the country at half a mile long.
Ferry passengers park at Ryde Pier Head before ferry crossings to Portsmouth
Parking charges at an Isle of Wight transport hub are to be revised to allow motorists to pay for shorter stays.
Motorists parking at Ryde Pier Head, many taking passenger ferries to Portsmouth, currently have to pay £11.50 for periods ranging between two and 16 hours.
From December, new tarrifs for four, six and eight hours are set to be introduced.
Ferry operator Wightlink said the new bands would make it "easier and more flexible" for customers to park at the site.
Parking will remain free for the first 30 minutes. Instead of having to pay £11.50, regardless of duration, a four hour stay will now cost £5.50. Six hours will cost £7.50 and eight hours will cost £9.50. Two hour's parking will remain at £3.50 and a £13.50 charge will remain for up to 24 hours.
The ferry operator said: "Following customer feedback, we're making it easier and more flexible for customers to park at Ryde Pier Head. From 1 December, we're introducing additional time bands, giving passengers even more choice for shorter stays. We'll continue listening to Island residents to improve our services."
The car park is at the end of Victorian Pier which reopened in 2024 after a £10m refurbishment of the Ryde Interchange. Built in 1814, Ryde Pier is the UK's oldest and the second-longest seaside pier in the country at half a mile long.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368200/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 16:59, 15th November 2025 | |
Different depot. Different traction. Different route.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368199/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 16:19, 15th November 2025 | |
Nine coaches on today's services in place of the usual five (or the three which did last Saturday's first round trip).
So they have enough staff to run those experimental services but not the standard contracted bread and butter stuff between Westury and Swindion - two round trips on there cancelled again today, "shortage of staff".
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368198/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 16:15, 15th November 2025 | |
Nine coaches on today's services in place of the usual five (or the three which did last Saturday's first round trip).
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368197/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 15:28, 15th November 2025 | |
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:50.
| Calls to fix massive puddle outside Euston station - Nov 2025 In "Transport for London" [368195/31101/46] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:07, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
The Royal National Institute for the Blind said it was concerned for disabled people in the area
Transport for London (TfL) bosses have been urged to resolve repeated episodes of flooding outside Euston Station.
Locally nicknamed the "Euston puddle", the large body of water forms following rainfall at the junction of Upper Woburn Place and Euston Road.
Commuters have been seen wading through deep water to access the station over the past year, while a charity warns the area could become a "no-go zone" for disabled people.
TfL said drainage work to resolve the problem was carried out last winter but the issue had since reoccurred. Water is to be cleared from the road in the short term while further investigations are carried out, it said.
The puddle causes problems for people on the pavement as well as those trying to cross the road
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Royal National Institute of Blind People urged the authorities to act "immediately" to fix the issue. The charity said it was concerned the puddle was affecting some people's ability to "walk safely and independently" in the area. Campaigns officer Clay Nash said the flood water blocks access to a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing that allows blind and partially-sighted people to safely cross the road.
One resident said elderly people and those with mobility issues were often being forced to dodge traffic, while many pedestrians were being sprayed with water by passing cars.
The pool of water - often spanning several metres - vanished for months after work was carried out on the roads but returned in July.
Camden Council's Adam Harrison called for a new plan to tackle the "notorious" puddle. "For years we have asked TfL to take action to stop the water collecting. It stops people from crossing safely at this busy corner next to Euston Station and risks them getting soaked."
The "Euston puddle" sometimes spans several metres
TfL, which manages Euston Road, apologised for the disruption and said they believed the issue had been resolved - but now that it had reoccurred they would "investigate the new drainage system working with Thames Water". It also said it would send maintenance teams to the location when heavy rain is forecast in an attempt to clear significant puddles.
| Sweden - Three killed after bus crashes into Stockholm bus stop - 14 Nov 2025 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [368194/31100/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:35, 15th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Three people have been killed and and another three injured after a bus crashed into a bus stop in central Stockholm, Swedish police say.
Circumstances surrounding Friday's crash at 15:23 (14:23 GMT) on the Valhallavägen street in the Swedish capital remain unclear.
The bus driver has been arrested and faces charges of causing death and bodily harm, police said in a statement. However, they added there was "currently no indication that the incident was intentional".
Officials are trying to establish the identities of the victims. It is not clear if there were passengers on board.
The incident occurred near the Royal Institute of Technology university.
Images from the scene show rescue crews appearing to help people trapped underneath the double-decker bus.
A witness who owns a shop on the street told SVT the bus hit a pole in front of the bus shelter. They said several people ran into the shop crying.
A woman told the local Expressen newspaper that the bus "mowed down an entire bus stop queue". She said people were screaming and trying to help the injured, while dead people lay on the ground. "There must have been more people under the bus," she said.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his thoughts were with the victims and their families. "People who might have been on their way home to family, friends, or a quiet evening at home. We do not yet know the cause, but right now my thoughts are primarily with those affected and their loved ones," he posted on X.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368193/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 11:19, 15th November 2025 | |
Saturday November 15
10:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 13:25 is being delayed at London Paddington.
This is due to this train being late from the depot.
Last Updated:15/11/2025 10:52
Departed +18.This is due to this train being late from the depot.
Last Updated:15/11/2025 10:52
13:15 - Add:
13:05 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 15:22 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:15/11/2025 12:57
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:15/11/2025 12:57
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368192/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 11:15, 15th November 2025 | |
Friday November 14
There were more cancellations in the evening, and a lot of late running, partly due to the defective track between Evesham and Moreton.
1P11 05:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington (07:24) : delayed from Slough, arrived +24
1P18 07:13 Great Malvern to London Paddington (09:42) : delayed Evesham - Moreton (+20), held Charlbury (+38), arrived Reading +33 and cancelled thereafter.
1P22 08:56 Great Malvern to London Paddington (11:27) : departed +12, arrived +15.
1P24 09:56 Great Malvern to London Paddington (12:23) : delayed Foregate St (+14), arrived +15.
1P26 10:59 Great Malvern to London Paddington (13:25) : delayed Foregate St (+10), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+19), arrived +29.
1P28 11:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington (14:23) : delayed Evesham - Moreton (+13), arrived +17.
1P30 13:16 Shrub Hill to London Paddington (15:22) : delayed Evesham - Moreton (+17), arrived +30.
1P04 13:18 Hereford to London Paddington (16:24) : scheduled to start from Great Malvern (weather), actually started from Shrub Hill (train), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+14), arrived Reading +19 and cancelled thereafter.
1P34 15:18 Foregate St to London Paddington (17:29) : started from Shrub Hill (+10), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+26), held Charlbury (+32), arrived +31.
1P05 15:18 Hereford to Paddington (18:29) : started from Great Malvern, delayed Evesham - Moreton (+12), arrived +15.
1P38 16:32 Great Malvern to London Paddington (19:29) : departed +51, delayed Foregate St (+69), held Norton (+77), NOT delayed Evesham - Moreton (+71), held Charlbury (+81), arrived +88.
1P39 17:26 Foregate St to London Paddington (19:52) : ran in front of 1P38.
1P40 18:02 Foregate Street to London Paddington (20:29) : departed +15, delayed Evesham - Moreton (+32), arrived +40.
2E16 18:51 Evesham to Oxford (19:50) : departed +11, delayed Evesham - Moreton (+30), arrived +25.
1P42 19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington (21:26) : held Norton (+12), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+23), arrived +26.
1P44 19:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington (22:24) : departed +16, delayed Foregate St (+27), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+34), saved 8 at Charlbury, arrived +31.
1P46 20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington (23:29) : departed +11, delayed Evesham - Moreton (+11), arrived Ocford +13 and cancelled thereafter.
1P06 22:00 Hereford to London Paddington (01:17) : started from Great Malvern (weather), delayed Evesham - Moreton (+15), held Charlbury (+31), arrived +34.
1W01 09:52 London Paddington to Hereford (12:46) : started from Reading, arrived Shrub Hill +17 and cancelled thereafter (train). Scheduled to terminate at Malvern.
1W02 11:52 London Paddington to Hereford (14:44) : Scheduled to terminate at Malvern (weather).
1W25 12:52 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (15:00) : delayed Reading (+14), arrived Shrub Hill +26 and cancelled thereafter.
1W27 13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern (16:15) : departed +19, Foregate St +24 but Newland East +49, arrived +50.
1W30 15:23 London Paddington to Foregate Street (17:47) : Norton +6 but delayed before Shrub Hill, arrived +23.
1W31 15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (18:26) : +17 at Moreton, saved 13 at Evesham, delayed before Shrub Hill (+16), arrived +25.
1W33 16:58 London Paddington to Great Malvern (19:25) : arrived +18.
1W03 17:34 London Paddington to Hereford (20:25) : scheduled to terminate at Great Malvern (weather), Norton +14 but delayed before Shrub Hill (+40), arrived +47.
1W34 17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (20:11) : departed +17, arrived Shrub Hill +24, Foregate St +47.
1W36 18:57 London Paddington to Great Malvern (21:18) : cancelled after Oxford (flooding).
1W05 19:53 London Paddington to Hereford (22:57) : scheduled to terminate at Great Malvern (weather), departed +12, arrived +26.
1W41 20:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (23:13) : cancelled throughout (flooding)
1W43 21:53 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill (00:01) : Oxford +14, arrived +17.
| Re: How to increase Melksham Station call frequency without new bridge and lift In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368191/31099/28] Posted by John D at 10:24, 15th November 2025 Already liked by Oxonhutch | |
Some interesting examples.
Personally I believe the best option is a loop away from the station itself. Given the length of some freight trains you would very quickly be outside the station limits if sited there. An ideal location would be near either end of the single line. This would have the added benefit of being able to get a train off the main line to prevent it blocking the path of other services while it waits for a slot through to the other end.
At the very least an intermediate signal between the junctions so trains, in the same direction, could be "flighted".
Of course the perfect solution would be double tracking throughout....
Personally I believe the best option is a loop away from the station itself. Given the length of some freight trains you would very quickly be outside the station limits if sited there. An ideal location would be near either end of the single line. This would have the added benefit of being able to get a train off the main line to prevent it blocking the path of other services while it waits for a slot through to the other end.
At the very least an intermediate signal between the junctions so trains, in the same direction, could be "flighted".
Of course the perfect solution would be double tracking throughout....
Yes the geography is such that the ideal (assuming double track throughout is not going to happen) is 2 loops, one near Lacock, the other near the former Holt junction station.
Reasoning is trackbed is easiest to do at these, remember it was originally broad gauge double track, so not a case of squeezing a track in. And don't want to add tracks where it has been slewed under centre of old arched bridges.
I think current policy is to build freight loops suitable for 775m long trains, so roughly half mile long loops. Can either built them as reversible loops with slow speed junctions, (waiting train uses them, other train passes at speed), or as short double track sections. The former needs more signals, the second is speed restrictive both directions unless long faster points are installed.
My gut feeling is having a loop at Melksham station and building a fully accessible two platform station might will cost more than two loops where space exists.
| Re: How to increase Melksham Station call frequency without new bridge and lift In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368190/31099/28] Posted by Oxonhutch at 09:55, 15th November 2025 | |
1 is Limerick Junction, post the 1967 alterations I think looking at the converging paintwork in the extreme right.
A complication here was that all trains had to reverse into their respective platforms.
| Re: How to increase Melksham Station call frequency without new bridge and lift In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368189/31099/28] Posted by bobm at 09:44, 15th November 2025 | |
Some interesting examples.
Personally I believe the best option is a loop away from the station itself. Given the length of some freight trains you would very quickly be outside the station limits if sited there. An ideal location would be near either end of the single line. This would have the added benefit of being able to get a train off the main line to prevent it blocking the path of other services while it waits for a slot through to the other end.
At the very least an intermediate signal between the junctions so trains, in the same direction, could be "flighted".
Of course the perfect solution would be double tracking throughout....
| How to increase Melksham Station call frequency without new bridge and lift In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368188/31099/28] Posted by grahame at 09:00, 15th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A, matth1j, Timmer | |
Bridges and lifts at stations are expensive to provide - but if we want to increase the number of trains calling at Melksham, a single line all the way from the outskirts of Chippenham to the outskirts of Trowbridge won't pass muster. Here are various ways from around Europe - including tbe British Isles - that multiple services can call at stations in each direction at more or less the same time. Some of these would have the powers that be throwing their hands up in horror. Others are not very passenger friendly. But there are some that are proven to work in a British environment.
Two tracks (i.e a passing loop) with a diamond crossing to bring each to a long platform
A narrow outer platform used by the train which is going to have least passengers joining
A long platform with a loop past one half. Train arrives into looped platform, second train arrives into other end then leaves around loop, first arrival then carries on
Ditto - but British example showing that this CAN be done in the UK. And there would be space at Melksham
Another example of an outer platform with a flat crossing - in this case the second platform is much wider
Where more passengers will cross the line, level crossing barriers can be provided and that's sometimes doe for a significnat number of passengers.
Single platform and bring in two trains end to end, have all the through passengers swap over, and then both trains go back whence they came. There is a British example on the Great Orme Tramway, and an example of passenger swap both ways at Mockava.
Have a platform on each track, but simply use a slope up to an existing bridge that carries a public road / right of way for passengers to cross over.
