Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Great Central Asian Railway Journeys In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [375057/32022/49] Posted by ChrisB at 21:01, 12th May 2026 |      |
On Iplayer & BBC2 1830 this week, started yesterday May 11
Michael Portillo embarks on a thrilling new railway adventure following the Silk Road through the most populous country of Central Asia, Uzbekistan.
At the meeting point of east and west, this region has been home to some of the world’s greatest empires: ruled by the Mongols, the ferocious conqueror Tamerlane, imperial Russia and the Soviet Union.
Michael begins in the capital, Tashkent, where he takes in its vast, vibrant market and samples popular Uzbek delicacies. He travels on the lavishly decorated Soviet-era metro, which was hidden from the outside world until 2018, when a ban on photographing it was lifted. Michael hears how an earthquake resulted in Tashkent becoming the capital of Soviet modernist architecture, and he makes his TikTok debut with a globally famous Uzbek social media star
At the meeting point of east and west, this region has been home to some of the world’s greatest empires: ruled by the Mongols, the ferocious conqueror Tamerlane, imperial Russia and the Soviet Union.
Michael begins in the capital, Tashkent, where he takes in its vast, vibrant market and samples popular Uzbek delicacies. He travels on the lavishly decorated Soviet-era metro, which was hidden from the outside world until 2018, when a ban on photographing it was lifted. Michael hears how an earthquake resulted in Tashkent becoming the capital of Soviet modernist architecture, and he makes his TikTok debut with a globally famous Uzbek social media star
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375056/32002/40] Posted by ChrisB at 20:54, 12th May 2026 | |
From the BBC
What GWR nationalisation means for passengers
Following the announcement that rail operator Great Western Railway (GWR) is to be brought under public ownership in December, train passengers may be wondering if the move will make any difference to things like ticket fares, jobs and timetables.
The Swindon-based operator, which is owned by FirstGroup, has run services and linked London to the south-west of England and Wales since 1996.
Several rail firms around the country are already publicly owned, including Great Anglia and South Western Railway. Welsh services were nationalised in 2021 and Scotland took trains into public ownership the following year.
The government plans to nationalise nearly all rail services in England by 2027.
When will GWR be nationalised?
The government confirmed that GWR will be nationalised on 13 December.
A spokesperson for the rail operator said they welcomed the clarity provided by the announcement and would continue to work closely with the Department for Transport (DfT).
Helen Godwin, mayor for the West of England Combined Authority, also welcomed the news.
"We deserve four trains an hour at stations across our growing regional rail network," she said.
"We will continue working with partners to deliver the infrastructure needed to make that ambition a reality."
What is nationalisation?
Nationalisation means bringing something under the control and ownership of the state or government.
The UK's rail system was fully nationalised shortly after World War Two, with the government owning all the networks and trains.
However, the industry was privatised in the 1990s and companies took over the operation of trains.
The rail infrastructure is managed by publicly-owned Network Rail while passenger train services are run by individual operators which are both privately and publicly owned.
The nationalisation process forms part of the Rail Public Ownership Bill which was the first major piece of legislation passed by the Labour government when it came into power in 2024.
The bill allows ministers to take operators back into public control as their contracts expire. Most of the freight operators will remain in private hands.
South Western Railway was the first company to be nationalised as its franchise ended in May 2025.
What is Great British Railways?
Eventually, all the train operators are likely to become part of a new organisation called Great British Railways (GBR).
The planned state-owned company will operate most of the country's rail infrastructure and the majority of passenger rail services as well as devolved and open-access operators.
For now, the train companies we are all familiar with will remain in stations around the country.
Will train fares go down?
No - but they will not go up this year.
Last year, the government announced a freeze on fares in England until March 2027.
The cap applies to regulated fares and includes season tickets and off-peak returns.
The government estimated that the move would save commuters on more expensive routes more than £300.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously said the focus of renationalising the country's rail network would be on improving services and infrastructure, rather than lowering ticket prices.
Will ticket buying methods change?
Unlike GWR, Transport for Wales (TfW), Cross Country and South Wales Metro network offers the option of pay as you go to passengers travelling between stations in South Wales. This facility is available in the West of England.
The payment method means passengers do not need tickets and they pay the best-value fare as prices are capped at a daily and weekly level to provide the best value.
Passengers travelling through the Severn Tunnel do not benefit from the scheme.
It is not yet known if the companies that are yet to be nationalised in England will offer the payment method.
What will happen to GWR staff?
In 2024, the government said it expected existing contractual terms and conditions for staff working at privately-owned operators like GWR to remain in place as ownership transfers , externalinto the public domain.
Transport union RMT welcomed the establishment of GBR as a "once in a generation opportunity" but said it would seek discussions with the government to ensure the working conditions of the entire railway workforce were "protected and improved" with the new operator.
Is rail nationalisation good or bad?
The government said that ending payments to private sector operators would save £150m a year.
According to statistics, the government spent £21.6bn on railways in 2024-25, external, which was a 6.5% decrease compared to the previous year.
Although the government expects to save money through the nationalisation process, there is a risk for them if something goes wrong on the railways as there will be nobody else to blame.
It also hopes to establish an independent watchdog - the Passenger Standards Authority - to "champion improvement in service against a range of measures".
Following the announcement that rail operator Great Western Railway (GWR) is to be brought under public ownership in December, train passengers may be wondering if the move will make any difference to things like ticket fares, jobs and timetables.
The Swindon-based operator, which is owned by FirstGroup, has run services and linked London to the south-west of England and Wales since 1996.
Several rail firms around the country are already publicly owned, including Great Anglia and South Western Railway. Welsh services were nationalised in 2021 and Scotland took trains into public ownership the following year.
The government plans to nationalise nearly all rail services in England by 2027.
When will GWR be nationalised?
The government confirmed that GWR will be nationalised on 13 December.
A spokesperson for the rail operator said they welcomed the clarity provided by the announcement and would continue to work closely with the Department for Transport (DfT).
Helen Godwin, mayor for the West of England Combined Authority, also welcomed the news.
"We deserve four trains an hour at stations across our growing regional rail network," she said.
"We will continue working with partners to deliver the infrastructure needed to make that ambition a reality."
What is nationalisation?
Nationalisation means bringing something under the control and ownership of the state or government.
The UK's rail system was fully nationalised shortly after World War Two, with the government owning all the networks and trains.
However, the industry was privatised in the 1990s and companies took over the operation of trains.
The rail infrastructure is managed by publicly-owned Network Rail while passenger train services are run by individual operators which are both privately and publicly owned.
The nationalisation process forms part of the Rail Public Ownership Bill which was the first major piece of legislation passed by the Labour government when it came into power in 2024.
The bill allows ministers to take operators back into public control as their contracts expire. Most of the freight operators will remain in private hands.
South Western Railway was the first company to be nationalised as its franchise ended in May 2025.
What is Great British Railways?
Eventually, all the train operators are likely to become part of a new organisation called Great British Railways (GBR).
The planned state-owned company will operate most of the country's rail infrastructure and the majority of passenger rail services as well as devolved and open-access operators.
For now, the train companies we are all familiar with will remain in stations around the country.
Will train fares go down?
No - but they will not go up this year.
Last year, the government announced a freeze on fares in England until March 2027.
The cap applies to regulated fares and includes season tickets and off-peak returns.
The government estimated that the move would save commuters on more expensive routes more than £300.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously said the focus of renationalising the country's rail network would be on improving services and infrastructure, rather than lowering ticket prices.
Will ticket buying methods change?
Unlike GWR, Transport for Wales (TfW), Cross Country and South Wales Metro network offers the option of pay as you go to passengers travelling between stations in South Wales. This facility is available in the West of England.
The payment method means passengers do not need tickets and they pay the best-value fare as prices are capped at a daily and weekly level to provide the best value.
Passengers travelling through the Severn Tunnel do not benefit from the scheme.
It is not yet known if the companies that are yet to be nationalised in England will offer the payment method.
What will happen to GWR staff?
In 2024, the government said it expected existing contractual terms and conditions for staff working at privately-owned operators like GWR to remain in place as ownership transfers , externalinto the public domain.
Transport union RMT welcomed the establishment of GBR as a "once in a generation opportunity" but said it would seek discussions with the government to ensure the working conditions of the entire railway workforce were "protected and improved" with the new operator.
Is rail nationalisation good or bad?
The government said that ending payments to private sector operators would save £150m a year.
According to statistics, the government spent £21.6bn on railways in 2024-25, external, which was a 6.5% decrease compared to the previous year.
Although the government expects to save money through the nationalisation process, there is a risk for them if something goes wrong on the railways as there will be nobody else to blame.
It also hopes to establish an independent watchdog - the Passenger Standards Authority - to "champion improvement in service against a range of measures".
| Tony Ridley, London Underground chief RIP In "Transport for London" [375055/32021/46] Posted by ChrisB at 20:47, 12th May 2026 | |
From Telegraph Obituaries
Tony Ridley, London Underground chief who was forced to resign after the 1987 King’s Cross fire
Tony Ridley, who has died aged 92, created the Tyne & Wear Metro and Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway, and initiated the planning to cope with the near-tripling of passengers on the London Underground since the early 1980s.
But he was forced to resign as chief executive of LU in the wake of the King’s Cross fire of November 19 1987, which killed 31 people, being blamed for the absence of a fire safety culture within the organisation.
The Tube’s safety record was relatively good despite ageing infrastructure and arcane working practices; until the fire, which began beneath an escalator, there had – apart from the 1975 Moorgate disaster, the cause of which has never been identified – been just four passenger fatalities in 43 years. But a rigid commitment to safety on the track had not been matched elsewhere.
After hearing evidence for 91 days, in November 1988 Desmond Fennell QC concluded that a lighted match dropped on to the escalator in breach of a ban on smoking had started the fire, which flared up because of a previously unknown “trench effect”.
Fennell’s report accused management of complacency: station staff received little or no fire training, and were under instructions only to dial 999 once a blaze was out of control. Fennell blamed Ridley and Sir Keith Bright, chairman of London Regional Transport, for the culture that had allowed the disaster to happen.
The Transport Secretary, Paul Channon, handed them copies of the report and invited them to consider their positions. Bright resigned on the spot; Ridley had to be persuaded by his staff.
His resignation was an unfortunate end to a progression of jobs in which he had demonstrated a flair for identifying demand for public transport and devising projects to meet it. Even at LU, he had not only begun catching up on a 50-year backlog of maintenance and renewals, but had helped launch the Docklands Light Railway.
Tony Melville Ridley was born in Sunderland on November 10 1933, the son of John Ridley, a mining engineer, and his wife Olive. From Durham School he took a BSc at Kings’ College, Newcastle, then postgraduate degrees at Northwestern University (Illinois), and Berkeley. A spell at Stanford followed, then after five years at the Nuclear Power Group he joined the University of California in 1962.
Three years later, the Greater London Council recruited Ridley as its highways and transportation research officer. Sir Bill Fiske, the GLC’s Labour leader, said he had “reversed the brain drain”.
In 1969 Ridley became chief executive of the newly formed Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Councillors expected him to concentrate on merging three loss-making municipal bus undertakings, but he saw a bigger opportunity.Newcastle possessed a commuter rail network, including a circular route to the coast, but usage had declined to the point where British Rail had replaced electric trains with diesels. Ridley proposed converting it to light rail, with bus interchanges.
Civic leaders rallied behind the scheme, and through Ridley’s Whitehall contacts secured £50 million to design and build the Metro. His enthusiasm enabled Tyneside to leapfrog other conurbations, like Manchester, with metro plans of their own.
Ridley’s successor recalled: “BR decided to pull out all the stops with a scheme of its own and presented it to the Transport Minister John Peyton one Monday morning – only to discover he had awarded us the grant the previous Friday.” Metro opened in 1980; it now has 60 stations, carries more than 100,000 passengers a day and is still expanding.
In 1974 Ridley was headhunted to take charge of Hong Kong’s MTR, on which work was about to begin. He planned for its operational and commercial success, and the first train ran in 1979. MTR became one of the world’s busiest and most profitable metros, with lucrative property developments at its stations.
Ridley left Hong Kong in March 1980 to become joint managing director of the civil engineers Halcrow. Four months later he was appointed Managing Director (Railways) at London Transport.
At Hong Kong MTR, Ridley said, “I was managing director of 3,000 people and a brand new company where every decision was a precedent. At LT the general view was: ‘Any bloody fool can build a new railway in Hong Kong, but running one 100 years old is a real man’s job.’ ”
Tony Ridley, who has died aged 92, created the Tyne & Wear Metro and Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway, and initiated the planning to cope with the near-tripling of passengers on the London Underground since the early 1980s.
But he was forced to resign as chief executive of LU in the wake of the King’s Cross fire of November 19 1987, which killed 31 people, being blamed for the absence of a fire safety culture within the organisation.
The Tube’s safety record was relatively good despite ageing infrastructure and arcane working practices; until the fire, which began beneath an escalator, there had – apart from the 1975 Moorgate disaster, the cause of which has never been identified – been just four passenger fatalities in 43 years. But a rigid commitment to safety on the track had not been matched elsewhere.
After hearing evidence for 91 days, in November 1988 Desmond Fennell QC concluded that a lighted match dropped on to the escalator in breach of a ban on smoking had started the fire, which flared up because of a previously unknown “trench effect”.
Fennell’s report accused management of complacency: station staff received little or no fire training, and were under instructions only to dial 999 once a blaze was out of control. Fennell blamed Ridley and Sir Keith Bright, chairman of London Regional Transport, for the culture that had allowed the disaster to happen.
The Transport Secretary, Paul Channon, handed them copies of the report and invited them to consider their positions. Bright resigned on the spot; Ridley had to be persuaded by his staff.
His resignation was an unfortunate end to a progression of jobs in which he had demonstrated a flair for identifying demand for public transport and devising projects to meet it. Even at LU, he had not only begun catching up on a 50-year backlog of maintenance and renewals, but had helped launch the Docklands Light Railway.
Tony Melville Ridley was born in Sunderland on November 10 1933, the son of John Ridley, a mining engineer, and his wife Olive. From Durham School he took a BSc at Kings’ College, Newcastle, then postgraduate degrees at Northwestern University (Illinois), and Berkeley. A spell at Stanford followed, then after five years at the Nuclear Power Group he joined the University of California in 1962.
Three years later, the Greater London Council recruited Ridley as its highways and transportation research officer. Sir Bill Fiske, the GLC’s Labour leader, said he had “reversed the brain drain”.
In 1969 Ridley became chief executive of the newly formed Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Councillors expected him to concentrate on merging three loss-making municipal bus undertakings, but he saw a bigger opportunity.Newcastle possessed a commuter rail network, including a circular route to the coast, but usage had declined to the point where British Rail had replaced electric trains with diesels. Ridley proposed converting it to light rail, with bus interchanges.
Civic leaders rallied behind the scheme, and through Ridley’s Whitehall contacts secured £50 million to design and build the Metro. His enthusiasm enabled Tyneside to leapfrog other conurbations, like Manchester, with metro plans of their own.
Ridley’s successor recalled: “BR decided to pull out all the stops with a scheme of its own and presented it to the Transport Minister John Peyton one Monday morning – only to discover he had awarded us the grant the previous Friday.” Metro opened in 1980; it now has 60 stations, carries more than 100,000 passengers a day and is still expanding.
In 1974 Ridley was headhunted to take charge of Hong Kong’s MTR, on which work was about to begin. He planned for its operational and commercial success, and the first train ran in 1979. MTR became one of the world’s busiest and most profitable metros, with lucrative property developments at its stations.
Ridley left Hong Kong in March 1980 to become joint managing director of the civil engineers Halcrow. Four months later he was appointed Managing Director (Railways) at London Transport.
At Hong Kong MTR, Ridley said, “I was managing director of 3,000 people and a brand new company where every decision was a precedent. At LT the general view was: ‘Any bloody fool can build a new railway in Hong Kong, but running one 100 years old is a real man’s job.’ ”
| Delayed Great British Railways’ first station to open at Cambridge South in June In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375054/32020/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:42, 12th May 2026 | |
From The Grauniad
Station will be first to be given full GBR branding and will directly link city’s Biomedical Campus to London, Brighton and Stansted airport
The delayed Cambridge South station will finally open in late June – and become the first station to be given full Great British Railways branding, the government has announced.
The station sits beside the city’s Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest medical research centre, and will connect it with direct trains to London, Brighton and Stansted airport, as well as up to nine trains an hour to the centre of Cambridge itself.
Services will begin calling at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June, the Department for Transport said, with 1.8 million passengers expected annually.
The DfT said the adjacent Biomedical Campus was forecast to contribute £18.2bn to the UK economy by 2050, with employees likely to double to 40,000, boosted in part by the new transport links.
The station, the city’s third, was supposed to open in 2025 but was delayed, partly due to the collapse of a contractor responsible for fitting out the electrics.
The rail minister, Peter Hendy, said Cambridge South, which was built with £250m of government investment and a small private sector contribution, would “open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the Biomedical Campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country”.
He added: “As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver.”
Jeremy Westlake, chief executive for Network Rail, said the station would “significantly improve travel and connectivity for campus staff, visitors, and the wider community for many years to come”.
He added: “Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work that is being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility.”
The station’s permanent signage will be in GBR brand colours – a design drawn up by a small group of ministers and advisers within the DfT to save money, with uncertain results. The station will also be displaying the more professionally acclaimed new Railway Clock.It will also eventually serve the East West Rail line which is being built across to Oxford, although the delayed start of initial services between Milton Keynes and Oxford and uncertainty about the exact route are likely to mean direct trains between the two university cities will not start in 2030 as hoped.
Meanwhile, HS2 Ltd has announced contracts to develop the high-speed railway’s control centre and rolling stock depot in Birmingham.
It said the new hub at Washwood Heath, to be built under an £856m contract won by a joint venture of Taylor Woodrow and Aureos Rail, would support more than 1,000 jobs.
The contract award was assessed by an independent review panel, as the government and HS2 attempt to ensure efficient delivery and costs on the project, whose overall budget is being reassessed.
Hendy said it was another milestone in getting HS2 back on track, and that the railway would “create thousands of jobs across the West Midlands – from the construction teams transforming this former industrial site, to the skilled workforce who will operate this state-of-the-art facility for decades to come.”
The delayed Cambridge South station will finally open in late June – and become the first station to be given full Great British Railways branding, the government has announced.
The station sits beside the city’s Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest medical research centre, and will connect it with direct trains to London, Brighton and Stansted airport, as well as up to nine trains an hour to the centre of Cambridge itself.
Services will begin calling at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June, the Department for Transport said, with 1.8 million passengers expected annually.
The DfT said the adjacent Biomedical Campus was forecast to contribute £18.2bn to the UK economy by 2050, with employees likely to double to 40,000, boosted in part by the new transport links.
The station, the city’s third, was supposed to open in 2025 but was delayed, partly due to the collapse of a contractor responsible for fitting out the electrics.
The rail minister, Peter Hendy, said Cambridge South, which was built with £250m of government investment and a small private sector contribution, would “open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the Biomedical Campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country”.
He added: “As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver.”
Jeremy Westlake, chief executive for Network Rail, said the station would “significantly improve travel and connectivity for campus staff, visitors, and the wider community for many years to come”.
He added: “Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work that is being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility.”
The station’s permanent signage will be in GBR brand colours – a design drawn up by a small group of ministers and advisers within the DfT to save money, with uncertain results. The station will also be displaying the more professionally acclaimed new Railway Clock.It will also eventually serve the East West Rail line which is being built across to Oxford, although the delayed start of initial services between Milton Keynes and Oxford and uncertainty about the exact route are likely to mean direct trains between the two university cities will not start in 2030 as hoped.
Meanwhile, HS2 Ltd has announced contracts to develop the high-speed railway’s control centre and rolling stock depot in Birmingham.
It said the new hub at Washwood Heath, to be built under an £856m contract won by a joint venture of Taylor Woodrow and Aureos Rail, would support more than 1,000 jobs.
The contract award was assessed by an independent review panel, as the government and HS2 attempt to ensure efficient delivery and costs on the project, whose overall budget is being reassessed.
Hendy said it was another milestone in getting HS2 back on track, and that the railway would “create thousands of jobs across the West Midlands – from the construction teams transforming this former industrial site, to the skilled workforce who will operate this state-of-the-art facility for decades to come.”
| Re: Finn and JayMac's travels. Day 9 where were we? In "The Lighter Side" [375053/32019/30] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:40, 12th May 2026 | |
Indeed, a 0" one !!
| Re: Paddle Steamer Waverley - merged posts In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [375052/19566/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:39, 12th May 2026 | |
From West Coast Today:
Waverley surprises Oban with early arrival - 12 May 2026
Waverley tied up at Oban's North Pier having arrived earlier on Tuesday morning. Image supplied
Paddle Steamer Waverley steamed into Oban Bay to berth at North Pier just after 9:30am on Tuesday morning, almost 11 hours earlier than planned but without any passengers. With only her crew aboard Waverley sailed overnight from Glasgow to Oban having cancelled her planned cruise due to forecast strong winds off the Mull of Kintyre.
General Manager, Paul Semple, explained, “Unfortunately the shipping forecast for Tuesday afternoon predicted strong winds and rough sea conditions which we decided would not be suitable for passengers to experience. With Waverley offering pleasure trips, we are conscious that sailing her through storm conditions is not what our passengers have come to expect and therefore on this occasion we decided to make a run for it and take Waverley north with just her crew to ensure she can carry on with her full Inner Hebrides sailings from Wednesday 13th May. We never like cancelling a cruise but there will be occasions when the weather isn’t suitable and this is necessary.”
Waverley will operate from Oban on 13th May and then across four days from Saturday 16th May until Tuesday 19th May. This year sees her visit Iona for the first time in over a decade with passengers being able to enjoy a couple of hours ashore. Tuesday’s sailing from Oban to Salen, Tobermory and Round Eigg offers Seniors the opportunity to being a friend for Free.
(Article continues)
Waverley tied up at Oban's North Pier having arrived earlier on Tuesday morning. Image supplied
Paddle Steamer Waverley steamed into Oban Bay to berth at North Pier just after 9:30am on Tuesday morning, almost 11 hours earlier than planned but without any passengers. With only her crew aboard Waverley sailed overnight from Glasgow to Oban having cancelled her planned cruise due to forecast strong winds off the Mull of Kintyre.
General Manager, Paul Semple, explained, “Unfortunately the shipping forecast for Tuesday afternoon predicted strong winds and rough sea conditions which we decided would not be suitable for passengers to experience. With Waverley offering pleasure trips, we are conscious that sailing her through storm conditions is not what our passengers have come to expect and therefore on this occasion we decided to make a run for it and take Waverley north with just her crew to ensure she can carry on with her full Inner Hebrides sailings from Wednesday 13th May. We never like cancelling a cruise but there will be occasions when the weather isn’t suitable and this is necessary.”
Waverley will operate from Oban on 13th May and then across four days from Saturday 16th May until Tuesday 19th May. This year sees her visit Iona for the first time in over a decade with passengers being able to enjoy a couple of hours ashore. Tuesday’s sailing from Oban to Salen, Tobermory and Round Eigg offers Seniors the opportunity to being a friend for Free.
(Article continues)
| Re: Finn and JayMac's travels. Day 9 where were we? In "The Lighter Side" [375051/32019/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:20, 12th May 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch | |
That looks like a remarkably narrow gauge railway to me.
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375050/32002/40] Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:10, 12th May 2026 | |
A culture of Customer service like this.........?
| Finn and JayMac's travels. Day 9 where were we? In "The Lighter Side" [375049/32019/30] Posted by JayMac at 20:10, 12th May 2026 | |
Our final day on the island of Ireland. And one last train ride. Where was I today?
| Re: Manvers Street, Bath, disrupted for reconstruction works for 6 months from May. In "Buses and other ways to travel" [375048/31887/5] Posted by Mark A at 19:20, 12th May 2026 | |
Two weeks out and First Bristol Bath now have this on their web site.
Mark
Manvers Street and Bridge Street in Bath city centre will be closed from Tuesday 26th May for three weeks. After this, Bridge Street will re-open, but Manvers Street will remain closed until November 2026 for major works to rebuild the road above historic vaults. Services 2, 3, 4, 6/6a/7, 13, 20, D1/D1x, U1, U1N and U3 will be affected.
Due to the long term nature of this closure, we are treating it as a service change rather than ad-hoc diversions. Timetables, app tracking and online Journey Planning data will be updated to reflect the changes.
Revised timetables will be available on our website timetables page soon.
%%FAQ_LIST%%May2026ManversStreet%%
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375047/28355/22] Posted by IndustryInsider at 19:17, 12th May 2026 | |
…so the longer the start is delayed, the better in terms of the problems with that.
I’m hearing the start might not be delayed now!
| Re: Lorry gets stuck in Somerset road it was sent to repair - May 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [375046/32017/30] Posted by JayMac at 19:15, 12th May 2026 | |
Can't park there mate.
| Re: A379 at Slapton Sands in south Devon - sea related incidents In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [375045/31569/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:12, 12th May 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
£19.8m for sea defence reinforcement plan approved
Nearly £20m has been earmarked to help reinforce storm-damaged sea defences.
The Environment Agency (EA) approved funding for rock armour between Torcross and Slapton in Devon after parts of the A379 were washed away in February.
The project, set to cost £19.8m, will install the armour consisting of large rocks in front of sea defences between the access steps at the south end of the beach and the slipway at the northern end.
The EA said the project marked a critical and important first step to help reduce the risk to houses and businesses, adding it was "committed to delivering this project as quickly as possible".
"We are working at pace with our contractors on design, materials and securing the necessary consents," a spokesperson said. "We will be holding a joint public event with Devon County Council and South Hams District Council before the summer to provide a further update on progress."
South Devon MP Caroline Voaden said the funding was "really great news" as it would offer increased protection in front of the sea wall. The Liberal Democrat added the amount of rock being installed would mean most of the area of beach in front of the buildings where the work will take place is set to disappear.
"It will change it and it won't be as pretty as having the beach there in front of the properties," she said. "But in terms of protecting the properties, it's absolutely vital and I think the view of the village and my priority has been protecting those houses and businesses along the front. There's a very long beach a bit further up, so people will just have to walk a little bit further up."
Nearly £20m has been earmarked to help reinforce storm-damaged sea defences.
The Environment Agency (EA) approved funding for rock armour between Torcross and Slapton in Devon after parts of the A379 were washed away in February.
The project, set to cost £19.8m, will install the armour consisting of large rocks in front of sea defences between the access steps at the south end of the beach and the slipway at the northern end.
The EA said the project marked a critical and important first step to help reduce the risk to houses and businesses, adding it was "committed to delivering this project as quickly as possible".
"We are working at pace with our contractors on design, materials and securing the necessary consents," a spokesperson said. "We will be holding a joint public event with Devon County Council and South Hams District Council before the summer to provide a further update on progress."
South Devon MP Caroline Voaden said the funding was "really great news" as it would offer increased protection in front of the sea wall. The Liberal Democrat added the amount of rock being installed would mean most of the area of beach in front of the buildings where the work will take place is set to disappear.
"It will change it and it won't be as pretty as having the beach there in front of the properties," she said. "But in terms of protecting the properties, it's absolutely vital and I think the view of the village and my priority has been protecting those houses and businesses along the front. There's a very long beach a bit further up, so people will just have to walk a little bit further up."
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [375044/25368/42] Posted by Surrey 455 at 18:59, 12th May 2026 | |
On Saturday I was at Bosham station when a train went down the other track (towards Chichester). I "belatedly" noticed it was in GWR livery with a Southern logo in the side. Gone before I could fully take it in.
I've seen a few of these 387s on the Brighton mainline and on one occasion three 387s coupled up, all with different liveries but all with Southern logos
| Re: Kernow Connect - a new Okehampton to Bodmin line In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375043/32014/28] Posted by eXPassenger at 18:12, 12th May 2026 Already liked by alexross42, Chris from Nailsea, Oxonhutch | |
I am pleased to report that all porcine aviators are fed, watered and ready for action.
| Re: Vauxhall Bridge introduces vehicle weight limit from 1 July 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375042/32016/51] Posted by ChrisB at 17:47, 12th May 2026 | |
It says there's exemptions for buses....
| West Wiltshire Rail User Group meeting, Trowbridge, 20 May 2026 In "TransWilts line" [375041/32018/18] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:41, 12th May 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
...
South Western Railway was nationalised a year ago ... and on 20th May, Andrew Ardley of SWR will be talking to the West Wiltshire Rail User Group in Trowbridge. Easily reachable at the Bethesda Church Hall - 100 yards from Trowbridge Station, and timed for people arriving from and returning to other stations including Melksham and Chippenham. SWR still have a few services to Warminster and Westbury, though they have "rationalised" away their services at Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon leaving those stations without any through trains from London. It will be very interesting to hear what Andrew - a good friend over may years - has to tell us, including an update on what they are doing on their core line in the south of the county.
In amongst the "don't know" elements is the passenger voice and I worry if and how that will get due weight into the future. We have good friends at Transport Focus which, however, has lacked authority. Marketing words suggest a positive future for them, but from what I have seen the toothlessness may still remain. We will see; as an advocate of public transport I really hope for a mainstream strong and informed passenger voice / advocate.
No conclusions here - an explanation, a look ahead into a rather foggy crystal ball, and an encouragement to come along on 20th May. Join me on the 18:10 train from Melksham; return on the 21:22 from Trowbridge.
South Western Railway was nationalised a year ago ... and on 20th May, Andrew Ardley of SWR will be talking to the West Wiltshire Rail User Group in Trowbridge. Easily reachable at the Bethesda Church Hall - 100 yards from Trowbridge Station, and timed for people arriving from and returning to other stations including Melksham and Chippenham. SWR still have a few services to Warminster and Westbury, though they have "rationalised" away their services at Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon leaving those stations without any through trains from London. It will be very interesting to hear what Andrew - a good friend over may years - has to tell us, including an update on what they are doing on their core line in the south of the county.
In amongst the "don't know" elements is the passenger voice and I worry if and how that will get due weight into the future. We have good friends at Transport Focus which, however, has lacked authority. Marketing words suggest a positive future for them, but from what I have seen the toothlessness may still remain. We will see; as an advocate of public transport I really hope for a mainstream strong and informed passenger voice / advocate.
No conclusions here - an explanation, a look ahead into a rather foggy crystal ball, and an encouragement to come along on 20th May. Join me on the 18:10 train from Melksham; return on the 21:22 from Trowbridge.
I've added it to the Coffee Shop forum's calendar.
| Re: Vauxhall Bridge introduces vehicle weight limit from 1 July 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375040/32016/51] Posted by John D at 17:33, 12th May 2026 | |
18t limit is going to cause problems for the new electric double deck buses that are built to 19t or 19.5t limit.
cue a series of bus diversions.....
| Lorry gets stuck in Somerset road it was sent to repair - May 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [375039/32017/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:21, 12th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Lorry gets stuck in road it was sent to repair
Contractors are working on Butleigh Moor Drove near Walton in Somerset - Image © Rik Keith-Hill
A lorry has been recovered after getting stuck on a road it was sent to repair.
Somerset Council has confirmed contractors are working on Butleigh Moor Drove near Walton.
The local authority said the road was constructed on peat and had experienced "significant movement and rutting". It added: "Issues of this nature can occasionally arise when carrying out works in these conditions." The vehicle was removed on Monday.
Somerset Council said the site would be assessed to determine the best way to complete the repairs.
Contractors are working on Butleigh Moor Drove near Walton in Somerset - Image © Rik Keith-Hill
A lorry has been recovered after getting stuck on a road it was sent to repair.
Somerset Council has confirmed contractors are working on Butleigh Moor Drove near Walton.
The local authority said the road was constructed on peat and had experienced "significant movement and rutting". It added: "Issues of this nature can occasionally arise when carrying out works in these conditions." The vehicle was removed on Monday.
Somerset Council said the site would be assessed to determine the best way to complete the repairs.
| Re: Vauxhall Bridge introduces vehicle weight limit from 1 July 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375038/32016/51] Posted by ChrisB at 17:20, 12th May 2026 | |
Yet again, something else - Most Thames London bridges that needs £millions chucked at them....ideally. Where is it all going to come from, or is the UK bust?
| Re: [otd] 12 May 1986 - Opening of Winnersh Triangle Station In "North Downs Line" [375037/27470/16] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:12, 12th May 2026 Already liked by eightonedee | |
Those were the days when a new railway station could be built for just £375,000.
| Vauxhall Bridge introduces vehicle weight limit from 1 July 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [375036/32016/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:02, 12th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Weight limit introduced on Vauxhall Bridge
The new restriction has been described as "safety critical" by Transport for London - Image © Getty Images
A new weight restriction will be introduced on Vauxhall Bridge from 1 July after a recent assessment found signs of deterioration, according to Transport for London.
The 18‑tonne limit has been described as "safety critical" by TfL and will remain in place while the transport authority develops plans to address structural concerns and sets out a long‑term strategy for the bridge.
Emergency vehicles and buses will be exempt from the restriction, with no changes to routes.
Carl Eddleston, TfL's director of streets and network operations, said: "While the bridge remains safe, limiting heavier vehicles helps us protect and keep it open while we develop the long‑term improvements it needs."
A diversion route will be put in place for vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes travelling both northbound and southbound.
TfL said the bridge did not currently pose a risk to users and that the measures were being introduced to prevent further damage.
Vauxhall Bridge carries about 39,500 vehicles each day, of which around 200 – roughly 0.5% of traffic – weigh more than 18 tonnes and are typically heavy goods vehicles. The bridge has already been subject to restrictions since 2023 for vehicles exceeding 44 tonnes gross weight or 11.5 tonnes per axle.
Eddleston added: "Safety is our top priority, and we know how important Vauxhall Bridge is for people travelling across London. This is why we're taking this precautionary step to introduce a weight restriction to the bridge. We are sorry for any disruption caused by the restriction, and we'll continue to monitor the area closely, ensuring we keep people updated as this work progresses."
A wider problem
Vauxhall Bridge is not the only crossing facing concerns about its structural condition, amid wider issues affecting London's bridges.
These restrictions come three months after the closure of Albert Bridge in west London, which was shut to motor vehicles in February when a crack was found in a cast-iron component. The cost of the repairs will be around £8.5m and it is expected to remain closed for up to a year.
Albert Bridge is expected to be closed to traffic for about a year - Image © Getty
The 138-year-old Hammersmith Bridge, in south-west London, also closed to motor vehicles when cracks appeared in its pedestals in 2019.
Broadmead Road Bridge, a main route in Redbridge, is another structure which has been shut to traffic, since July 2023.
Last year, the Department for Transport announced a £1bn investment in local highways enhancement projects, along with a new structures fund to help councils repair and renew bridges, flyovers and tunnels.
The new restriction has been described as "safety critical" by Transport for London - Image © Getty Images
A new weight restriction will be introduced on Vauxhall Bridge from 1 July after a recent assessment found signs of deterioration, according to Transport for London.
The 18‑tonne limit has been described as "safety critical" by TfL and will remain in place while the transport authority develops plans to address structural concerns and sets out a long‑term strategy for the bridge.
Emergency vehicles and buses will be exempt from the restriction, with no changes to routes.
Carl Eddleston, TfL's director of streets and network operations, said: "While the bridge remains safe, limiting heavier vehicles helps us protect and keep it open while we develop the long‑term improvements it needs."
A diversion route will be put in place for vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes travelling both northbound and southbound.
TfL said the bridge did not currently pose a risk to users and that the measures were being introduced to prevent further damage.
Vauxhall Bridge carries about 39,500 vehicles each day, of which around 200 – roughly 0.5% of traffic – weigh more than 18 tonnes and are typically heavy goods vehicles. The bridge has already been subject to restrictions since 2023 for vehicles exceeding 44 tonnes gross weight or 11.5 tonnes per axle.
Eddleston added: "Safety is our top priority, and we know how important Vauxhall Bridge is for people travelling across London. This is why we're taking this precautionary step to introduce a weight restriction to the bridge. We are sorry for any disruption caused by the restriction, and we'll continue to monitor the area closely, ensuring we keep people updated as this work progresses."
A wider problem
Vauxhall Bridge is not the only crossing facing concerns about its structural condition, amid wider issues affecting London's bridges.
These restrictions come three months after the closure of Albert Bridge in west London, which was shut to motor vehicles in February when a crack was found in a cast-iron component. The cost of the repairs will be around £8.5m and it is expected to remain closed for up to a year.
Albert Bridge is expected to be closed to traffic for about a year - Image © Getty
The 138-year-old Hammersmith Bridge, in south-west London, also closed to motor vehicles when cracks appeared in its pedestals in 2019.
Broadmead Road Bridge, a main route in Redbridge, is another structure which has been shut to traffic, since July 2023.
Last year, the Department for Transport announced a £1bn investment in local highways enhancement projects, along with a new structures fund to help councils repair and renew bridges, flyovers and tunnels.
| Re: Kernow Connect - a new Okehampton to Bodmin line In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375035/32014/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:36, 12th May 2026 Already liked by alexross42 | |
With thanks for posting this news almost simultaneously, alexross42 and old original, I've merged your posts here, for clarity and continuity.
CfN.
| Well here's a new one..... In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375034/32014/28] Posted by old original at 16:13, 12th May 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
new electrified railway from Okehampton to Bodmin via Launceston.........
Won't be holding my breath...
https://www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/cornwall-rail-connection-plans-gain-momentum-with-kernow-connect-scheme-906262
| Kernow Connect - a new Okehampton to Bodmin line In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375033/32014/28] Posted by alexross42 at 16:02, 12th May 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
I haven't seen this mentioned on the forum and only first learned of it today - more details here - https://www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/cornwall-rail-connection-plans-gain-momentum-with-kernow-connect-scheme-906262
Interesting. It raises many questions!
A useful infographic on the project is attached
| Re: Strathspey Railway: Aviemore - Boat of Garten - Broomhill In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [375032/19172/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:59, 12th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
'The Traitors railway' buys North Yorkshire Moors locomotive
The locomotive is nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" - Image © Andrew Jeffery
A heritage railway used as a location for The Traitors has bought a new locomotive.
Aviemore-based Strathspey Railway has appeared in three series of the reality TV show, which is filmed at Ardross Castle near Alness.
The volunteer-run company has purchased a steam loco nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" from North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR).
Officially known as British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No 76079, it requires a full overhaul before being put to use on Strathspey's 10-mile (16km) route between Aviemore and Broomhill, via Boat of Garten.
The locomotive was built at Horwich Works, near Bolton, in 1957. It had hauled services between Grosmont and Whitby on the Esk Valley Line.
NYMR chief executive Laura Strangeway said the Highland railway was a "fitting new home" for No 76079.
Strathspey Railway director Gordon Kirk added: "She is a locomotive with real character and main line pedigree, and we look forward to undertaking the work needed to return her to steam for the enjoyment of visitors to the Highlands for many years to come."
Last year, a mystery American donor gave £1m to Strathspey Railway. The company said the "exceptionally generous" gift would help cover costs for operating and refurbishing its locomotives.
As well as featuring in The Traitors, the railway appeared on screen in the BBC drama Monarch of the Glen and ITV's Doctor Findlay.
The locomotive is nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" - Image © Andrew Jeffery
A heritage railway used as a location for The Traitors has bought a new locomotive.
Aviemore-based Strathspey Railway has appeared in three series of the reality TV show, which is filmed at Ardross Castle near Alness.
The volunteer-run company has purchased a steam loco nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" from North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR).
Officially known as British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No 76079, it requires a full overhaul before being put to use on Strathspey's 10-mile (16km) route between Aviemore and Broomhill, via Boat of Garten.
The locomotive was built at Horwich Works, near Bolton, in 1957. It had hauled services between Grosmont and Whitby on the Esk Valley Line.
NYMR chief executive Laura Strangeway said the Highland railway was a "fitting new home" for No 76079.
Strathspey Railway director Gordon Kirk added: "She is a locomotive with real character and main line pedigree, and we look forward to undertaking the work needed to return her to steam for the enjoyment of visitors to the Highlands for many years to come."
Last year, a mystery American donor gave £1m to Strathspey Railway. The company said the "exceptionally generous" gift would help cover costs for operating and refurbishing its locomotives.
As well as featuring in The Traitors, the railway appeared on screen in the BBC drama Monarch of the Glen and ITV's Doctor Findlay.
| MOVED: Hi from Tulyar5 In "Introductions and chat" [375031/32013/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:41, 12th May 2026 | |
This topic has been moved to Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19172.0
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375030/32002/40] Posted by Witham Bobby at 14:20, 12th May 2026 Already liked by rogerw | |
Some thoughts on what might be desirable outcomes:
Rolling stock that is compatible with other rolling stock in terms of couplings and inter-operability
Enough rolling stock to provide services that don't become crammed with passengers
An amount of spare capacity so that "more trains needing repairs than normal" does not result in cancellations
Traincrews that can work different types of rolling stock/multiple units/locos rather than having limited and specialised capabilities
Trains running on different routes that provide proper connections at stations where they meet
Improved attention to important basics like lineside vegetation and waterways/drains clearance
Reduction in cash spent on consultants to tell railway managers stuff they should already know
Enough spare traction at strategic locations so that failed trains are not stranded for hours on end waiting rescue
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375029/32002/40] Posted by broadgage at 12:52, 12th May 2026 | |
Less legroom.
Fewer tables.
Shorter trains.
No buffets.
| Re: So what do we expect of a nationalised GWR? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [375028/32002/40] Posted by PhilWakely at 11:58, 12th May 2026 | |
2 A trustworthy fare system so we can just swipe in and out and know the cost +
3 Advance fare quotas at lower fares reduced or even eliminated -
3 Advance fare quotas at lower fares reduced or even eliminated -
The cost of a ticket from A to B, whether walk-up ticket or a discounted Advance ticket, to be the same, whether bought direct from GBR or from a third-party retailer (in other words, third-party retailers should not be allowed to undercut the 'official' price; and all proceeds to be put back into the railways.
