In my cupboard under the stairs I have a supply of candles, matches, two rechargeable torches, a power pack to charge a mobile phone and 24 bottles of Fullers beer.

 
I would urge examining the batteries, and replacing them if leaking, or date expired. Buy replacement batteries and store these in the packs, NOT in the torch.

 
TV news have now been allowed in to get close up pictures, and as you might expect that leading coach was really wrecked by its hurtling into the trees at 140 km/hr. That no-one was killed is almost a surprise. Investigation has, as you'd expect, been concentrating on that 5m length of rail found lying on the sleepers, and how it got on the track. It was near a level crossing on a small access road, which may be relevant.

But apparently that's the first fact to pin down - was it on the track? The driver reported seeing something, but not clearly, and he was badly shaken up just after - though again rather miraculously, with only a cracked rib. The obvious place to look is the recorded video from the camera looking forwards, but nothing is being said about that. So I'm wondering if this is another fairly-new French train with no forward-facing TV camera. The two units do appear to be three-car X76500 AGC, DMUs built from 2004 on.

 
The first round trip to Oxford (with the opening journey starting from Swindon due to engineering work) was also cancelled today. 

 
I did think of it in jest but the southwest could just have 175s (26) and 185s (29/51). Too tempting for the DfT. I would bet the first battery/electrics will end up in Reading and out of Maylebone to replace 165s and 166s just as the 769s were supposed to.

Gwr has 20 150s and 18 158s only 5 are 3 cars.

 
Cancelled today

16:24 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 17:25
18:02 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:20

 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0klpgrkyvro

 

Sorry about that - delgnam - should work now.

 
Somehow, somewhere the URL is getting mangled.

 
West Wilts Model Railway Circle - https://westwiltsmrc.club


At - Acre Short Ln, Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge BA14 6HD, UK, sadly not accessible from the 1:1 scale prototype, and I suspect pretty hard by bus too.

 
From a mature page at https://www.newport.gov.uk/heritage/en/Transporter-Bridge/Transporter-Bridge.aspx (you san tell it's mature because it uses the term "will" for January 2025)


On this day ...


Anyone have a status update now (September 2026)?

 
BR

From https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-CoachingSetsOkehamptonCarCarrier.html - whole article worth a read!

Start ...


... and end

 

Well, by the time the new battery trains are stated to be fully in service on Trans-Pennine (2034), they'll be 28 years old. They also are incompatible with any other type (so if there's still any 175s left), there will be 4 parts of the  GW fleet incapable of working with each other (the remaining 150s/158s, the 165/6s, the 175s and these). They have fewer seats than a 2-car 165. All they need is a few years of lower maintenance as they are gradually replaced, and perhaps a couple stored in the open to ensure they are just in the right condition to fill the gap left by the 175s.... 

 
Came again today as a reel - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1069452182137606 . Also reminded of the Newport (and other) Transporter Bridges - "On this day" reports the Newport Transporter Bridge opening 120 years ago today!

 

It is incredibly opaque trying to work out who owns (as opposed to operates, or maintains) IET trains. A very old table https://www.railengineer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Table-1-Hitachi-800-802-orders-V3-Avenir.pdf suggests ownership split between Eversholt, Angel Trains and Agility Trains.  WikiPedia (quotes below) - though it could be just loose words - suggests that Hitachi Rail will own new units to be delivered for open access enhancments in 2027; Hitachi Rail, as I understand it, are already a major player in Agility Trains.



First (group) did actually own a few of the HSTs - not sure which ones they were, whether they have been scrapped, sold, stored or are still owned and leased to Scotland, Nigeria or Mexico.

** image of that Rail Engineer table:

 

Perhaps best for GWR to have left the disruption map as was then?

 

There's no such thing as an 803xxx IET.  If you mean 8003xx then, no, I don't think they own any of them.

 

In some ways, "nationalisation" could just be considered to be a change to one element of the system.  Freight operation, rolling stock provision and leasing, station buffets and I suspect advertising will remain private.  Fare systems such as regulated fares and Network Rail don't really change as they are nationalised anyway, and I suspect that cleaning and security contractors aren't being nationalised. On GWR, the cleaning contract is with the OCS group and is reported to run until June 2027, for example.

 
This picture (credits Guillaume Saligot/AFP) shows, I think, the middle car of the leading unit. The rear car is hidden behind it, and the second unit is seen pushed off the track behind it. The leading car was torn off, presumably because its leading end was pushed off line and mat a lot of resistance, taking the shared Jocobs bogie with it.

 


LEDs can be retrofitted to almost any torch. LED bulbs are available in both prefocus (pr 13.5) and miniature screw in (e 10) standard types are suitable for one cell to six cells. Specials are available for up to 30 volts, for lights that use cordless tool batteries, and for lights on electric cycles or mobility scooters.
Most are cool white, but warm white can be found.

 

I have absolutely nothing against tourists - I married one ...

What I am pointing out is that a handful of attractions are overrun and many others which are also worthy of a visit get very few.  And we are usually delighted to see them.     The boot is potentially on the other foot at times, of course, when we visit places like Barcelona in our droves when (personally) I would much rather go to Nurau or Leon or Ribadero or Gurnika, and as a polite tourist I would often feel far more welcomed than in the masses.

 
Yesterday evening a TER from Rouen to Caen derailed at Cléon, just south of Rouen. Fortunately there were no deaths, but one of the many injuries was serious. This is from the BBC:

TV pictures show two units (3- or 4- car) derailed, with the leading coach on its side in the woods beside the track.

Later SNCF stated that they had recovered a length of rail from the scene, within a built-up area. They believe that this was the cause and was put there in an act of vandalism (or worse).

 

Problem solved GWR will get 3 car 185s, only 20/23 years old, to replace the 150s and 158s. And no nasty infrastucture costs for battery/electrics.

 

Could these batteries have the potential to be repurposed to  provide heating for underwear in exceptionally cold conditions (be it short or long?)

 

A configuration of that nature has the potential to get very messy indeed, and this suggests "nationalisation" (in its true sense) is already unravelling.

 
My social media feed has come to the view that I need to learn English and is giving me teaching examples in a whole lot of what I would describe as unusual and tense situations.  It makes me wonder if my life is rather too boring and mundane and whether I should solicit more excitement.

Which of the sample conversations would YOU find useful in [a new language]



https://www.facebook.com/reel/1695317711677128

A girl realizes she boarded the wrong train and urgently asks the driver to stop. The driver explains that trains cannot stop outside stations except in serious emergencies. Despite her pleading, he firmly insists she must wait until the next station. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/28117763127915670

The wife, angry and suspicious, demands to know who the other woman is. The husband, nervous and defensive, insists she is just an important client. Furious, the wife accuses him of cheating and demands the truth. Shocked and irritated, the husband denies it, saying they are discussing a business deal. Hurt and accusatory, the wife asks why he didn’t mention the meeting. Cold and dismissive, the husband replies he doesn’t have to explain every work meeting. Angry and convinced, the wife insists he is lying. Explosive and fed up, the husband shouts that she ruined everything and orders her to leave. This scene highlights mistrust, jealousy, and the clash between personal emotions and professional boundaries. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1066494169472405

Two girls notice something unusual near the water. Shocked, one thinks it might be a body, while the other, alarmed, warns her not to get closer. Uncertain, the first suggests it could be a mannequin or trash, but serious, the second insists they must call the police. Nervous, the first struggles to find her phone, while urgent, the second dials emergency services. Worried, the first wonders if they should check for breathing, but firm, the second tells her not to touch anything and wait for the police. This scene highlights fear, responsibility, and quick decision‑making in a tense situation.
 
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1050327304469016

A firm museum guard stops a young man from entering after visiting hours. Worried, the man explains he dropped his wallet inside, containing cash, credit cards, and ID. Serious, the guard insists entry after closing is forbidden. Pleading, the man begs for just a minute to recover his belongings. Considering the situation, the guard agrees to accompany him inside for a quick look. Relieved, the man thanks him, saying he just saved his life. This scene highlights rules, urgency, and compassion. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2602376973550988

A frustrated customer complains to the waiter after waiting more than thirty minutes for food. She points out that another table was served earlier, which makes her angry. The waiter apologizes and explains that the other dish required less preparation time, but the customer insists the service is unacceptable. Finally, she demands to see the manager, and the waiter respectfully agrees. This scene highlights frustration, apology, and escalation in customer service. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4302126330039663

A husband and wife are preparing for a trip. The husband asks if everything is packed, but the wife realizes the blue bag with swimsuits is missing. He admits he didn’t load it, and she calmly suggests they get it now. The dialogue shows curiosity, worry, frustration, and calmness. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4023647764609125

A man is accidentally sprayed with pepper spray by a woman who thought he was trying to steal her bag. The man explains he only wanted directions, and the woman apologizes, offering to help him wash his face. The dialogue shows pain, misunderstanding, regret, and relief.

 
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19HAabutjM/

 

Presumably they will be able to lease them out at very high rates to the new operator.   Train leasing where there is no alternative fleet is very lucrative.   Confirmed by some of the very expensive lease extensions that have happened in recent years.    

It's not a competitive market, it's take it (the high price) or go without, and without a decent pool of universal alternatives, pay up seems to be DfT default short term option.

 

First Group becomes a RoSCo ... supplying to the DfT's companies.  The old rule about not being both the operator and the owner of the stock (for the most part) goes away when the company is no longer the operator, and First Group open access operators could take a commercial decision to have a portfolio of rolling stock in excess of their needs and hire the rest out to the HMG operators.