Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Egypt - At least seven killed, over 100 injured, in train collision - 8 Nov 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [381741/32702/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:49, 8th November 2026 |      |
An update, from the BBC, which includes reference to previous incidents, reminding us that Egypt has a rather sad history, in terms of railway safety:
At least seven people have died in a train crash near the Egyptian city of Giza, with more than 100 injured.
The country's railway authority said two trains travelling south from Giza and Cairo collided, causing several carriages to derail and fall down an embankment.
Images from the scene showed people looking inside overturned carriages for injured passengers as a massive emergency response was launched.
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said he had ordered state authorities to "investigate the circumstances of the accident, and hold accountable anyone found to have been negligent".
The public prosecutor's office warned the death toll could rise.
The government said hospitals in the area had been put "on heightened alert" as they dealt with a massive influx of patients. Egypt's health minister Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said people were being treated for broken bones and head injuries.
The driver of one of the trains was among those who died in the crash, the ministry confirmed.
The first train involved in the crash was travelling from Giza to Fayoum, south of Cairo, when it crashed into the rear of another service heading south from Cairo to Aswan, which was stationary on the tracks. Images from the scene showed some carriages had overturned, with the body of at least one appearing to have split in two.
Trains between Giza and the Upper Egypt region were suspended as cranes were dispatched to remove the wrecked trains.
The collision occurred in the area between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in Al-Ayyat, close to where Egypt's deadliest train tragedy occurred in February 2002, when a fire engulfed a passenger train travelling from Cairo to Luxor.
The train continued for around nine kilometres (5.6 miles) before coming to a halt. In that incident, more than 370 people were officially reported killed, although some estimates put the toll considerably higher.
Two further crashes in the area in 2009 killed dozens more.
There were calls in Egypt on Sunday for the transport minister to resign over the latest deadly rail disaster.
The country's railway authority said two trains travelling south from Giza and Cairo collided, causing several carriages to derail and fall down an embankment.
Images from the scene showed people looking inside overturned carriages for injured passengers as a massive emergency response was launched.
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said he had ordered state authorities to "investigate the circumstances of the accident, and hold accountable anyone found to have been negligent".
The public prosecutor's office warned the death toll could rise.
The government said hospitals in the area had been put "on heightened alert" as they dealt with a massive influx of patients. Egypt's health minister Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said people were being treated for broken bones and head injuries.
The driver of one of the trains was among those who died in the crash, the ministry confirmed.
The first train involved in the crash was travelling from Giza to Fayoum, south of Cairo, when it crashed into the rear of another service heading south from Cairo to Aswan, which was stationary on the tracks. Images from the scene showed some carriages had overturned, with the body of at least one appearing to have split in two.
Trains between Giza and the Upper Egypt region were suspended as cranes were dispatched to remove the wrecked trains.
The collision occurred in the area between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations in Al-Ayyat, close to where Egypt's deadliest train tragedy occurred in February 2002, when a fire engulfed a passenger train travelling from Cairo to Luxor.
The train continued for around nine kilometres (5.6 miles) before coming to a halt. In that incident, more than 370 people were officially reported killed, although some estimates put the toll considerably higher.
Two further crashes in the area in 2009 killed dozens more.
There were calls in Egypt on Sunday for the transport minister to resign over the latest deadly rail disaster.
| Re: Egypt - At least seven killed, over 100 injured, in train collision - 8 Nov 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [381740/32702/52] Posted by grahame at 18:11, 8th November 2026 | |
Train travelling south collided with another train - Reuters
published at 15:26
The state railway authority says a train travelling from Giza to Fayoum - approximately 100km (62 miles) south of Cairo - collided with the back of another train, the Reuters news agency reports.
The authority also says that the second train was travelling between Cairo and Aswan, in southern Egypt, the agency adds.
Local news agency al-Masry al-Youm notes that the collision happened between the Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations.
published at 15:26
The state railway authority says a train travelling from Giza to Fayoum - approximately 100km (62 miles) south of Cairo - collided with the back of another train, the Reuters news agency reports.
The authority also says that the second train was travelling between Cairo and Aswan, in southern Egypt, the agency adds.
Local news agency al-Masry al-Youm notes that the collision happened between the Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations.
and
More now from the Public Prosecution Office statement.
The office says that after an inspection of the scene, and speaking to eyewitnesses, they have determined that the front of the train travelling from Giza to Fayoum crashed into the back of the Cairo-Aswan rail service.
It adds that the train in front (Cairo-Aswan service) had stopped on the tracks. Both trains were heading in the same direction, the statement says.
The office says that after an inspection of the scene, and speaking to eyewitnesses, they have determined that the front of the train travelling from Giza to Fayoum crashed into the back of the Cairo-Aswan rail service.
It adds that the train in front (Cairo-Aswan service) had stopped on the tracks. Both trains were heading in the same direction, the statement says.
It reads to me that the local train from Giza to Faroum crashed into the the long distance train from Cairo to Aswan which was stationary at the time. No indication as to the probable cause or other factors as yet.
| Egypt - At least seven killed, over 100 injured, in train collision - 8 Nov 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [381739/32702/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:52, 8th November 2026 | |
From the BBC:
At least seven killed and more than 100 injured in Egypt train collision, health ministry says
Summary
At least seven people have died and dozens are injured after a train collision in al-Ayyat in Egypt's Giza governorate, the local health ministry says
A train driver is among those killed, the ministry adds - it's not yet clear what caused the collision
More than 70 ambulances have been deployed to the scene, officials say, with at least 112 people thought to have sustained injuries
Three hospitals are being used to treat the wounded, the health ministry says in its statement
Images show derailed train carriages with large crowds of people nearby, and Egyptian Red Crescent workers at the scene
This crash site has a long history of rail disasters, writes our reporter, including the country's deadliest when hundreds of people died in 2002 after a passenger train was engulfed in flames
Summary
At least seven people have died and dozens are injured after a train collision in al-Ayyat in Egypt's Giza governorate, the local health ministry says
A train driver is among those killed, the ministry adds - it's not yet clear what caused the collision
More than 70 ambulances have been deployed to the scene, officials say, with at least 112 people thought to have sustained injuries
Three hospitals are being used to treat the wounded, the health ministry says in its statement
Images show derailed train carriages with large crowds of people nearby, and Egyptian Red Crescent workers at the scene
This crash site has a long history of rail disasters, writes our reporter, including the country's deadliest when hundreds of people died in 2002 after a passenger train was engulfed in flames
| Re: The Coffee Shop servers are not teapots! In "The Lighter Side" [381738/32694/30] Posted by grahame at 14:43, 8th November 2026 | |
A stat I've just come across
and, yes, transport related. What is the stat about?
28340 cups of coffee
27739 cups of tea
27739 cups of tea
and, yes, transport related. What is the stat about?
Catering at a TravelWatch SouthWest meeting in Taunton?
CfN.
CfN.
Nope - hot drinks sold on Waverley in 2026. Other stats - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1470812314934036 (a Facebook reel).
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Westbury" [381737/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 14:33, 8th November 2026 | |
14:14 Westbury to Swindon due 14:57
15:44 Swindon to Westbury due 16:25
16:52 Westbury to Swindon due 17:34
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
15:44 Swindon to Westbury due 16:25
16:52 Westbury to Swindon due 17:34
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Further Information
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, message us on X @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, message us on X @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381736/32696/30] Posted by grahame at 13:00, 8th November 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Mark A, eightonedee | |
All now identified correctly ... in journey order
4. Gare du Grau-du-Roi, Gard, Occitanie, France -
5. Gare de Nimes - Bob_Blakey
7. InOui buffet car - stuving
1. Paris, Gare de Lyon - stuving
3. Paris, Gare du Nord - Chris from Nailsea
8. London, St Pancras - stuving
6. London, Paddington - PrestburyRoad
9. Chippenham - Chris from Nailsea
2. Melksham - JohnM
Grau-du-Roi has just 2 arrivals (and three departures!) per day - and I chose 9 minutes rather than 8 hours there. Never the less, there were 4 or 5 bus bays outside, and several buses called, dropping off and picking up in our short turn around. As at so many stations, there were clear signs of past, much more substantial infracturure onto which model(ised) facilities had been overlaid.
In Nimes, the four platforms (A, B, C and E) seemed to struggle with both the number of trains, and the number of passengers waiting on A and C on quite a narrow platform for both the regional trains that passed or terminated ahead of the slightly delayed Paris express. We were also reminded of the difference between the provision of a lift, and the provision of a working lift.
The InOui service to Paris had a buffet car just 2 up from us, with a good selection. No need to wait for and hope that a trolley with limited selection would come through. When a single traveller on an unreserved train making frequent stops, the trolley has to be my preference. Otherwise, buffet is so much more friendly to this customer.
We chose to take a taxi to cross Paris. Time was limited, and Lisa's mobility is not Metro Station Friendly; with plenty of time, finding, getting tickets for and travelling on the 91 bus would have been the choice. As it was, taxi turned out perfect once we found the rank at Gare de Lyon, which was not well signposted from the platform we arrived on.
Paris Gare du Nord was ... a zoo. We arrived at the allotted time and took around 40 minutes to get to the departure area, and because of Lisa's aid we were fast tracked too. The security scanners seemed to be the biggest hold up and there were some elements that appeared not to be working well - a hallway jammed with people and stuff getting stuck in the machines. We were in the rear of the train, but they would not let us use the escalator and insisted we go to the forward access and then double back along the platform.
At St Pancras, again directed around to the lift off International. Long walkies and mutliple lifts down to the Hammersmith and City line, and a train came in for Hammersmith just as we got onto the platform. Just managed to fold "Henry" before the doors shut, and big "Thank you" to the young lady who gave up her seat for Lisa (and her neighbour who offered hers to me). It may surprise readers, but England and France are so much more helpful within the travelling passenger community than is the case in Portugal and Spain. Again, sample size too small to be significant.
Paddington - easy enough; sushi / Chinese on the lawn and once again staff (till staff, barrier staff and train manager) going out of their way to offer help. Likewise help at Chippenham. Melksham unstaffed, of course!
We ended the day having covered 6 kms around transfers and station, and with the walk / ride home from Melksham Station. Unlike at Grau-du-Roi, buses at Melksham do not connect with the trains either in location of time dimensions; a ride from the station would have been welcome but wasn't easily available (sure, we could have used taxi, Uber or friend) and as usual there was someone off the train waiting for a lift and looking isolated.
Good day - 09:30 from Nimes, 19:40 at our front door.
| Soil moisture deficit: Two Tunnels Bath In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [381735/32701/47] Posted by Mark A at 12:38, 8th November 2026 | |
The Somerset and Dorset's Park Bank, now the Two Tunnels route: this unwelcome split in the tarmac. The curve might be a bit of a telltale. For some reason - the surface went down on the downhill edge of the embankment and it might be that the split reflects the position of the trackbed itself - though photos taken from the time it was laid are a bit ambiguous - it's difficult to tell the position of anything as in the course of the work, vehicles used in construction had been driven over the route there with more impact than, say, the occasional road vehicle that ventured that way after the line closed. Was it Adrian Vaughan who records that he located the position of a hallade monument by searching for it using the sump of the car he was in?
| Re: Landline switchover could cut people off in emergency, minister warned In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [381734/32670/31] Posted by bradshaw at 11:56, 8th November 2026 | |
Our current broadband contract with Vodafone rerouted the home phone via the router. Thus when the power goes off, as it did the other day, we are reliant on a mobile signal which means going outside!
Luckily, the iPhones will link to satellites for emergency calls if there is no other mobile ignal
The power fault we had the other day was the failure of the supply to our house alone at 8pm. National Grid had a fix in place within two hours by piggy-backing on our neighbour’s supply. They later returned link it permanently to our other neighbour’s supply. Completing the join without switching off the power to them!
| Re: An introduction for Melksham newcomers to bus and train services In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Westbury" [381733/32532/18] Posted by grahame at 11:44, 8th November 2026 | |
From my Blog
From Sao Bento station in Porto, late October 2026. "We are not allowed to give train information" onto which someone has graffited "why?". The notice is not unique - you'll see similar on other stalls in Sao Bento.
The reason, I'm pretty sure, is that the outlet / stall which promotes visits to the Douro Valley would be overrun with enquiries. It - SHOUTS - the need for passenger information at the station - and that's a need the world over. Melksham included.
Continues
The reason, I'm pretty sure, is that the outlet / stall which promotes visits to the Douro Valley would be overrun with enquiries. It - SHOUTS - the need for passenger information at the station - and that's a need the world over. Melksham included.
Continues
Some of the things at Sao Bento - some more visions for Melksham than others!
| Re: More RMT strikes on the Tube starting 26 November In "Transport for London" [381732/32699/46] Posted by GBM at 11:40, 8th November 2026 | |
A strike designed to stop people having the choice of a shorter working week and more time off is a strange choice to make.
Beware greeks bearing gifts!An employer offering a shorter working week - brilliant. Yes, I'll take it.
Hang on. It has to save the employer money, so what's the catch?
I believe staff can chose the 4 or 5 day working week - so those who want a four day week can have it.
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381731/32696/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:20, 8th November 2026 | |
Thanks, stuving.
4. Gare du Grau-du-Roi, Gard, Occitanie, France.
Noting grahame's confirmation that he and Lisa were 'on the InOui' and knowing that they were travelling from the south of France towards Paris, I did a bit of my 'digging' on the internet.
The Gare du Grau-du-Roi is the southern terminus of the Saint-Césaire to Le Grau-du-Roi railway line.
CfN.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [381730/31163/26] Posted by ChrisB at 09:52, 8th November 2026 | |
On Remembrance Sunday too....when a lot of people have need to travel early. NR ought to have this in mind when planning works
| Re: West of England Line - Soil Moisture Deficit Update - 10 October 2025 In "South Western services" [381729/30889/42] Posted by Mark A at 09:33, 8th November 2026 | |
Is this just reinventing a previous generation of sleeper train? All those handbasins and i believe other appliances too, draining straight on to the track. (There are two issues with that, one being the obvious one and the other being more subtle in that the, er, treatment would have been distributed on the basis of passenger need rather than the trackbed thirstiness...)
(Apologies to anyone in the industry reading this and whose memories have been stirred by this observation...)
| Re: More RMT strikes on the Tube starting 26 November In "Transport for London" [381728/32699/46] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:18, 8th November 2026 | |
A strike designed to stop people having the choice of a shorter working week and more time off is a strange choice to make.
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381727/32696/30] Posted by stuving at 08:54, 8th November 2026 | |
... 3 might easily be the last one guessed!
Thanks, stuving
But are you suggesting that my previous identification of 3 as Paris, Gare du Nord was wrong?
CfN.
Not at all - I meant 5 (very similar late at night) which Bob_Blakey has now done.
| Re: West of England Line - Soil Moisture Deficit Update - 10 October 2025 In "South Western services" [381726/30889/42] Posted by grahame at 08:49, 8th November 2026 | |
How about this for a seriously off-the-wall, and possibly completely batsh*t, idea?
You've all heard of the RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Trains), so I would suggest the running of RLMT (Railway Line Moisturisation Trains) which, with a configuration change, could use the RHTT stock to spray rainwater into the 'four foot', and subsequently the underlying soil, during the increasingly common heatwave periods.
I'll get my coat.
You've all heard of the RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Trains), so I would suggest the running of RLMT (Railway Line Moisturisation Trains) which, with a configuration change, could use the RHTT stock to spray rainwater into the 'four foot', and subsequently the underlying soil, during the increasingly common heatwave periods.
I'll get my coat.
Nice one - but I suspect you'll have a problem of several orders of magnitude if you tried that ... at the least you would need to redouble the line to get all the extra water trains through.
Recent article in Somerset Live highlighting once again the issues of the Mule
| Re: More RMT strikes on the Tube starting 26 November In "Transport for London" [381725/32699/46] Posted by grahame at 08:41, 8th November 2026 Already liked by GBM, Mark A | |
I used to be - note past tense - rather anti-union. But these days, sadly, I see a significant case for them in standing up for the rights of the people doing the job on the ground. From local personality clashes and inadequate managers who bring needless distress to good workers through to the much more systemic approaches taken by some employers to save money / reduce costs / increase profits at the expense of those doing the hard work at the coal face. On the other hand though, I sometimes get the feeling that organised worker groups are putting the interests of their members, and perhaps their political interests, as an absolute priority above just about everything else.
In some of the more extreme cases, no-one comes out smelling of roses - in fact they can all give the appearance of being little (or big) sh*ts - without consideration of the greater good and - in rail example terms - without due consideration for the passenger, and for the wider benefits brought by having a consistent, reliably operational public transport system.
Rather sadly, I can offer no practical solution as to how to solve these issues ... I would love to see east/west rail open for daily traffic. I would love to see the tube running on what will be some of the very busiest days around Christmas. I would love to see catering and proper reliable train services of appropriate length running. But getting more in the wage packet of staff, and more in the pockets of shareholders (which is more becoming the taxpayer) seem to be a priorities with teeth, where the passenger voice - the customers for whom the services run - seems muted and toothless.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [381724/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:28, 8th November 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Oxford and Reading via Didcot Parkway
Due to engineering works not being finished on time at Didcot Parkway all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 11:30 08/11.
Train services between Oxford and Reading via Didcot Parkway may be cancelled or delayed.
Customer Advice
What has happened?
-
During overnight maintenance works, engineers have encountered an issue that is expected to take longer to resolve. As a result, GWR cannot currently run between Oxford, Didcot Parkway and Reading. The line is expected to remain closed until at least 11:00.
-
What are we doing about it?
-
Network Rail are attending, but the fault is not expected to be fixed until after 10:00.
| Re: West of England Line - Soil Moisture Deficit Update - 10 October 2025 In "South Western services" [381723/30889/42] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:22, 8th November 2026 | |
How about this for a seriously off-the-wall, and possibly completely batsh*t, idea?
You've all heard of the RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Trains), so I would suggest the running of RLMT (Railway Line Moisturisation Trains) which, with a configuration change, could use the RHTT stock to spray rainwater into the 'four foot', and subsequently the underlying soil, during the increasingly common heatwave periods.
I'll get my coat.
| Re: More RMT strikes on the Tube starting 26 November In "Transport for London" [381722/32699/46] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:55, 8th November 2026 | |
Not for the first time the RMT take the view that they should be the primary arbiters of how the London Underground, and also the National Rail network - see East-West rail info, should be run.
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381721/32696/30] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:44, 8th November 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
5. Gare de Nimes
| Re: Landline switchover could cut people off in emergency, minister warned In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [381719/32670/31] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:41, 8th November 2026 | |
Would the provision of satellite phones to seriously isolated communities solve this perceived problem? Satellite telephony can be configured to bypass the use of ground based infrastructure.
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381718/32696/30] Posted by grahame at 07:33, 8th November 2026 | |
1. Paris, Gare de Lyon - stuving
2. Melksham - JohnM
3. Paris, Gare du Nord - Chris from Nailsea
6. London, Paddington - PrestburyRoad
7. InOui buffet car - stuving
8. London, St Pancras - stuving
9. Chippenham - Chris from Nailsea
Which leaves
4.
5.
No. 4 HAS been identified in personal message to me and no. 5 remains unidentified at all; both are phyically distant from home.
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [381717/32456/31] Posted by broadgage at 04:36, 8th November 2026 | |
Official concern seems to be considering LONG TERM power outages, not just food shortages.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5ynnj05z8no
Friends in Stonehaven, Scotland had a two week power outage, and several shorter ones. They were very glad of a diesel generator.
Here is the official report into the prolonged power failure in Lancaster, to which reference is made in the above article.
https://raeng.org.uk/media/xrrigg0m/raeng-living-without-electricity.pdf
Since the publication of that report things have got worse ! The local radio station, with very dated technology was the main source of information. Reporters were sent out in cars to the affected areas, and sent reports by phone to the studio.
Standard copper phone lines (that worked in a power cut) are now extinct or about to be. Replaced by fibre optic which requires electricity.
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381716/32696/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 01:06, 8th November 2026 | |
... 3 might easily be the last one guessed!
Thanks, stuving
But are you suggesting that my previous identification of 3 as Paris, Gare du Nord was wrong?
CfN.
| Re: Landline switchover could cut people off in emergency, minister warned In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [381715/32670/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 00:30, 8th November 2026 | |
From the BBC:
What happens if all the lights go out? This is the plan for a 'Black Sky' event
It was a Saturday night in early December when Roger Kemp realised something was very wrong.
"I was halfway through a Scandi crime drama when everything went off," the professor at Lancaster University told the BBC. "Streetlights were off. The sodium glow that we can see over the horizon from Morecambe was off."
The next day he went for a walk. "[It was] almost like a zombie movie," he said. "People trying to find phone reception, wondering where things were, and there was a huge queue at the one working telephone box."
At 22:45 on 5 December 2015, the River Lune - which flows directly through Lancaster - had flooded, and the electricity supply to 61,500 people in the city went.
Households lost light and heat, some water supplies also began to fail because they relied on electric pumps. The railway station closed. So too petrol stations and shops. Most cash machines didn't work. Traffic lights failed.
The two communication systems that survived were copper wire landline telephones and FM radio. The local commercial radio station The Bay had an emergency generator and one landline and a reporter was sent outside the affected area to ring in with information.
Three months later, Kemp, a professor of engineering with a specialism in safety and electrical systems, gathered people together to look at everything that had gone wrong.
"It is perhaps ironic that, in a society with huge commitment to digital infrastructure, the most reliable source of news was a commercial station using technology that would have been familiar to the engineers on the 1960s Radio Caroline pirate radio ship," the subsequent report concluded.
For Kemp and others in the field of civil contingency, Lancaster was a warning. When a town loses power for several days, our connected world falls apart. This kind of disruption has been given a name: a Black Sky event.
At a recent summit on UK resilience, the conversation focused on the need for the UK to be able to withstand a Black Sky event for a minimum of 72 hours.
"We are nine meals from anarchy" is a phrase often heard in the civil contingency world. A brutal reminder of the fear that three days without food would be enough to turn a crisis into chaos. If a Black Sky event takes out electricity, water, shops and communications, there is a good reason the government wants us to have our own supplies.
The much talked about "Be Ready" campaign is designed to help ready us for all sorts of possible crises, but the government says there is no specific threat to the grid. Regardless, a Black Sky event is definitely at the backs of people's minds.
In a major emergency, we are being told to hunker down and turn on an FM radio, as thousands did in Lancaster. This is why the BBC has its own Black Sky plan.
(BBC article continues)
It was a Saturday night in early December when Roger Kemp realised something was very wrong.
"I was halfway through a Scandi crime drama when everything went off," the professor at Lancaster University told the BBC. "Streetlights were off. The sodium glow that we can see over the horizon from Morecambe was off."
The next day he went for a walk. "[It was] almost like a zombie movie," he said. "People trying to find phone reception, wondering where things were, and there was a huge queue at the one working telephone box."
At 22:45 on 5 December 2015, the River Lune - which flows directly through Lancaster - had flooded, and the electricity supply to 61,500 people in the city went.
Households lost light and heat, some water supplies also began to fail because they relied on electric pumps. The railway station closed. So too petrol stations and shops. Most cash machines didn't work. Traffic lights failed.
The two communication systems that survived were copper wire landline telephones and FM radio. The local commercial radio station The Bay had an emergency generator and one landline and a reporter was sent outside the affected area to ring in with information.
Three months later, Kemp, a professor of engineering with a specialism in safety and electrical systems, gathered people together to look at everything that had gone wrong.
"It is perhaps ironic that, in a society with huge commitment to digital infrastructure, the most reliable source of news was a commercial station using technology that would have been familiar to the engineers on the 1960s Radio Caroline pirate radio ship," the subsequent report concluded.
For Kemp and others in the field of civil contingency, Lancaster was a warning. When a town loses power for several days, our connected world falls apart. This kind of disruption has been given a name: a Black Sky event.
At a recent summit on UK resilience, the conversation focused on the need for the UK to be able to withstand a Black Sky event for a minimum of 72 hours.
"We are nine meals from anarchy" is a phrase often heard in the civil contingency world. A brutal reminder of the fear that three days without food would be enough to turn a crisis into chaos. If a Black Sky event takes out electricity, water, shops and communications, there is a good reason the government wants us to have our own supplies.
The much talked about "Be Ready" campaign is designed to help ready us for all sorts of possible crises, but the government says there is no specific threat to the grid. Regardless, a Black Sky event is definitely at the backs of people's minds.
In a major emergency, we are being told to hunker down and turn on an FM radio, as thousands did in Lancaster. This is why the BBC has its own Black Sky plan.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Homeward bound - but where did I take these pictures? In "The Lighter Side" [381714/32696/30] Posted by stuving at 00:21, 8th November 2026 | |
I reckon I know the location of 4. However, to give Coffee Shop member stuving the opportunity to answer (and I have yet to see him at loss for the answer, to anything! ), I shall hold back from posting here for the time being. I just don't want grahame's theory to be proved right.
CfN.
No, on you go Chris, it's what the quiz is about. I shall just say that 8. is the Eurostar's other end, at St Pancras International. And since I now know 5 as well, 3 might easily be the last one guessed! ), I shall hold back from posting here for the time being. I just don't want grahame's theory to be proved right.CfN.
