Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [379835/31371/14] Posted by charles_uk at 14:08, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Earlier this morning:
1P10 0523 Hereford to London Paddington cancelled due to the emergency alarm having been called (VH)
And a number of short-forms around including the busy 0818 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington and 0952 London Paddington to Hereford services.
| Unexploded device in Falmouth Docks In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [379833/32524/25] Posted by old original at 13:42, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
It appears that although the branch line trains are still running normally there is no access by vehicles or on foot to Docks station
https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/26567688.unexploded-bomb-found-falmouth-docks-live-updates/
| Re: Information at the Station, Melksham. Planning for "shovels in the ground" In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [379832/32519/28] Posted by GBM at 13:23, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Hmm. The Limit of Liability is already putting me off before I ask anything else

| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [379830/593/9] Posted by Mark A at 12:44, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
**snip** and the headroom has been increased by six inches. **snip**
Thanks for the photos. 4.4 metres... is 5.2 metres the figure below which a bridge needs to have its height indicated on a roundel?
An engineering cutaway of the current bridge and associated works would be good to see. That surprise brick invert... in the end was it simply retained... and also, it being a sump, how is the drainage organised now - and where to?
Mark
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379828/10737/21] Posted by grahame at 12:27, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
There *was* a steam engine coming though. I hadn't known about that ahead of time, but got a clue from platform ends decorated with enthusiasts as we arrived. Apparently quite a famous loco, but I didn't stop around to see.
The Flying Scotsman

| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [379826/10737/21] Posted by Phantom at 12:04, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
There *was* a steam engine coming though. I hadn't known about that ahead of time, but got a clue from platform ends decorated with enthusiasts as we arrived. Apparently quite a famous loco, but I didn't stop around to see.
The Flying Scotsman
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [379825/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 11:35, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
PSPS?
Paddle Steamer Preservation Society - special outing from Southampton on Saturday
https://paddlesteamers.org
That's certainly a step up from a BBQ

(I'll get my coat!)
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [379824/18719/26] Posted by grahame at 11:30, 21st September 2026 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
PSPS?
Paddle Steamer Preservation Society - special outing from Southampton on Saturday
https://paddlesteamers.org
Let's just say "moderator team aware" of this thread.
I'm very glad to hear it.
(And incidentally, not all migrants are refugees- the msn article Chris B linked to describes him as the former, not the latter)
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [379822/18719/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:15, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
PSPS?
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [379821/31163/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:13, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Indeed, social media has a lot to blame....but how does one change that now? Far too late?
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [379820/31163/26] Posted by grahame at 11:09, 21st September 2026 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
.....seems to be an awful lot of these happening at the moment.......
What has happened?
-
A person has been struck by a train, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.
What has happened?
-
A person has been struck by a train, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.
I'm not sure if that's so much of an "infrastructure" problem as defined in the subject line but, yes, these remain far, far too common.
From the BBC this morning
Young people aren't snowflakes - mental distress is rising, says head of official review
Accusations that the young are a snowflake generation are wrong, the head of an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism has told the BBC.
Prof Peter Fonagy said in an exclusive interview that there had been a real rise in mental distress among children and young people, with anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders the most common.
He said it was "harder to be young" now given the economic and employment uncertainty young people face, coupled with the challenges presented by social media.
Accusations that the young are a snowflake generation are wrong, the head of an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism has told the BBC.
Prof Peter Fonagy said in an exclusive interview that there had been a real rise in mental distress among children and young people, with anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders the most common.
He said it was "harder to be young" now given the economic and employment uncertainty young people face, coupled with the challenges presented by social media.
I have no idea what the typical profile of people hit by trains is, nor recent stats for which are intended by the person hit, but I believe they remain the vast majority - perhaps they are dominant even more than in the past with other (accidental) categories being slashed. Every (intentional) one is a tragedy. A very great deal has been done on the railways and continues to be done to address it in "immediacy" but it strikes me that it's far better to address the issues before the become "person hit by train" - before the person gets anywhere near, or thinks about getting near the train.
Let's just say "moderator team aware" of this thread.
| Re: Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379818/32521/5] Posted by ChrisB at 10:50, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
He is - a Yemeni migrant....
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/yemeni-migrant-charged-over-telford-bus-jacking/ar-AA2cBsDE?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=48f5f9f94d774537cebc02d590ed9b07&ei=281
| Re: Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379816/32521/5] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:39, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Strange at it might seem, UK-born are far more likely to be rapists. Now let's keep right-wing politics OFF this board please?
Wow. Quite a reaction.
I wasn't aware that citing an official Home Office document constituted "right wing politics"?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqe3y34e9eo
I wasn't even aware that the aspiring bus driver was a refugee, hence my question based on another forum member's suggestion.
Some pictures from this morning. Considering it was the rush hour, the traffic wasn't particularly heavy.


I have seen some comment in the media that after all the work it doesn't look that different. Closer inspection reveals the footway under the bridge has been removed, a passenger walkway has been put through on the side nearest the station and the headroom has been increased by six inches.

From Google Streetview June 2022
As mentioned there is no direct benefit for rail passengers yet, but the re-opening of the bridge does allow more buses to serve the station. For those coming in from the west it means the end of a five minute to the station and an even longer trek to the city centre - including the S6 from Swindon.

| Re: Shropshire - man charged over stolen bus and driver attack, 18 Sep 2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379813/32521/5] Posted by ChrisB at 10:23, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Strange at it might seem, UK-born are far more likely to be rapists. Now let's keep right-wing politics OFF this board please?
| Re: Britain’s journey from high-speed rail pioneer to global laughing stock In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [379812/32522/49] Posted by grahame at 10:18, 21st September 2026 | ![]() |
Very interesting, thank you. I have saved a copy to look back at later behind my own firewall.
I never said it was good value and you’ll note my full post you quoted included the word ‘farce’.
But it has provided a new bridge for Platform 5, together with another one for a future extension of Platform 2. Those improvements will follow on on due course, but couldn’t happen without the works. So, no immediate improvement would be a better statement.
Apologies didn't mean to imply that you thought it was good value.
To me it just feels like another example of the railway industry over‑promising, under‑delivering, and charging a premium for the privilege. In this area alone we have the lack of electrification to Oxford, East West Rail delays, the Oxford station rebuild, a general shortage of rolling stock, and of course the current ongoing unreliability of the service.
I hope things do improve but at the moment I can't see how.
Somewhat depressing piece in the Telegraph ('gifted' link, valid for 14 days without subscription):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/f1df11957f2a3f91














