Better Connected: tap-and-go travel across trains, trams and buses announced in government's new transport strategy

Strategy sets the direction for a more joined-up transport network that works better for passengers, drivers and communities across England.

Tap-and-go travel across buses, trains, and trams will benefit more cities and towns across England after the government announced more local powers for contactless travel today (2 April 2026). 

Local leaders are being given the tools to replicate joined-up systems already in place in areas like Liverpool, London and Nottingham, where passengers travel seamlessly across the city on different transport while tapping their bank card as payment – without juggling multiple tickets or apps. 

Limpley Stoke bridge again.  Stopped the stock from Bristol reaching Westbury.

07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34

07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 has been cancelled.

This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge earlier today.

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.

This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge earlier today.

Was it all just one big April Fool's Joke?

What other really close stations are there?  Culrain to Invershin?

date?

Twenty years ago today, Wessex Trains, Thames Trains and Great Western were combined into a single franchise, run by First, that operated most of the passenger trains in the Thames Valley west from London, Wessex, the Cotswolds,and the South West, with incursions into South Wales.

April 1st anybody?

Some of the longest and heaviest trains operating on the UK network are stone trains.  With ever longer trains, two locomotives are now required and sidetracks long enough to hold the stone trains are now few and far between. In order to reduce the need for a long locomotive, Mendip Rail and investing in a new fleet of powered stone wagons. Not only will this allow the effective freight capacity of the train to increase, but it will also increase the number of powered wheels in contact with the track, reducing potential wheelspin.  Better acceleration of heavy trains will give an improved performance envelope, allowing for more train paths on mixed operation lines, and better recovery from unscheduled stops.

"We expect to see a 4% increase in maximum train capacity and a 3% end to end journey time improvement" says Alan Painter, operating director of Mendip Rail "and we can move to a common fleet across both the Foster Yeoman and Hanson ARC business units". "The rail freight industry has learned from the passenger train industry, where the majority of train are now comprised self-powered vehicles"

Initially, 110 wagons replacing the older and smaller JYA box wagons have been ordered from Astra Rail for delivery starting September 2028.  Header light locomotion short wheelbase units will be rebuilt from class 080SA units, re-geared to a top speed of 75 m.p.h. and should enter service in early 2029.

I can offer this and this, but no terriers - sorry.