Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: [OTD] 25th September 1977 - Launch of Skytrain In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380055/32537/5] Posted by GBM at 12:08, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
Oh yes, Skytrain.
We were booked with them (via travel company Cosmos) for a two week tour of the far West (Coast of America) for our honeymoon.
Laker Airways went bust around a month before we were due to fly.
Subsequently booked both ways with Delta Airlines.
The film "On Golden Pond" was shown on the screen both ways (in the days when the film was projected on the front cabin wall).
| Re: Why are buses getting slower? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380054/32544/5] Posted by Mark A at 11:46, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
The conclusion of the article touches on successful new bus routes that provide for changing travel needs, but what the answer is for people who will not consider a bus or are totally unfamiliar with the concept I don't know. Staying with friends in the suburbs I was shocked to find that despite living there for twenty years they didn't know where the nearest bus stop was to home, or where the buses ran to - and I recalled at one point that the school run had imposed on them a daily journey that was more than a little insane and could only realistically be done using a car - but that had been their choice. If people do experience the buses at morning or evening school run times, depending on the route, they'll more than likely get the message that fare evasion is endemic, something that lowers the sense of personal security.
| Re: Cornish mainline and branch line delays - ongoing discussion In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [380053/28556/25] Posted by REVUpminster at 11:33, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
Two hour service on Newquay. Saturday as well; when it should be busy. 175011+175114 supposed to be out but have not appeared.
| Re: Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380051/32543/30] Posted by Clan Line at 11:29, 26th September 2026 Already liked by GBM | ![]() |
Excuses, excuses. I can't speak for the whole country but in this neck of the woods the prolonged hot and dry summer has already produced significant premature leaf drop which will reduce the effect of the main event when it happens.
"More leaves than normal falling at the same time"
"More trees than usual needing repair at the same time"
"Wrong type of leaves"
| Re: First Bus pulling out of Cornwall, 14.2.2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380049/31133/5] Posted by GBM at 11:13, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
So how many RMT members are there already at Go Cornwall if many/most belong to Unite? Will they have much effect?
Can't answer that, perhaps Richard would be more in the know.I'm totally guessing that most of the First drivers were in the union.
Again, I believe the GoCornwall only wanted full time drivers - they didn't take on the part time/casual ones.
Again, that's only what I believe.
Possibly up to 100 full time RMT drivers went across.
No idea as to how many Unite members there were.
Several of my fellow drivers also left when First did.
| Re: First Bus pulling out of Cornwall, 14.2.2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380047/31133/5] Posted by ChrisB at 10:58, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
So how many RMT members are there already at Go Cornwall if many/most belong to Unite? Will they have much effect?
| Re: Cornish mainline and branch line delays - ongoing discussion In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [380046/28556/25] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:55, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
Several branches seem to be taking a hammering again today - crew shortages, "more trains than usual in need of repair" etc
| Re: First Bus pulling out of Cornwall, 14.2.2026 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380045/31133/5] Posted by GBM at 10:33, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
...
BUS union RMT has won a ballot for strike action over trade union recognition at Go Cornwall.
RMT members voted for strike action and action short of as Go Cornwall continue to refuse to recognise their union.
...
Source: RMTBUS union RMT has won a ballot for strike action over trade union recognition at Go Cornwall.
RMT members voted for strike action and action short of as Go Cornwall continue to refuse to recognise their union.
...
Can anyone explain what's going on here? Presumably Go Ahead recognise RMT elsewhere, so why not in Cornwall?
I believe Unite were/are representing GoCornwall members up to now.
(I can find this Unite piece, albeit from two years ago https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/june/cornwall-facing-bus-chaos-as-drivers-ballot-for-strike-over-pay)
RMT represented First bus members.
There were a few RMT representatives who went well above and beyond to support their members, but also a few who were only in it for themselves - and were - allegedly, working with management for their own benefits. Personal opinion only with being a member in different depots over 14 years.
Seems like a union battle as to who represents the membership.
| Re: [OTD] 25th September 1977 - Launch of Skytrain In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380043/32537/5] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 10:00, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
One return trip on the Laker Skytrain DC-10 in late 1982 LGW > LAX. A work trip involving the testing of some new oil industry subsurface measurement equipment using the Wilmington Oilfield (Long Beach) artificial island boreholes.
My abiding memory of the (outbound) flight was the very unpleasant odour of atmospheric pollution in the cabin approaching Los Angeles.
| Why are buses getting slower? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [380041/32544/5] Posted by Red Squirrel at 08:49, 26th September 2026 Already liked by Fourbee, Mark A | ![]() |
Quite a long article here, detailing how cycle lanes, road works, traffic and many other factors are slowing down buses in London and elsewhere:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/23/london-buses-in-terminal-decline-why-public-transport-in-global-cities-is-slowing-to-a-crawl-visualised
| Re: The opportunity that GBR offers In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [380040/32493/40] Posted by Electric train at 08:21, 26th September 2026 Already liked by GBM | ![]() |
From Andrew Stephens on LinkedIn - 3,000 words precised down to about 100 in my review
I think he is right in his identification of the opportunity. The question is ... will the opportunity be taken?
A few days ago I wrote an article about Great British Railways that was, if I am being generous to myself, sceptical.
[snip]
The infrastructure will still need maintaining. Trains will still need servicing. Drivers will still drive them, signalling will still need operating, stations will still require people, electricity will still need buying and, unless somebody in Whitehall has been keeping a particularly exciting technical breakthrough quiet, rails, bridges, tunnels, embankments and overhead lines will continue to deteriorate when exposed to weather, weight and time.
[snip]
Perhaps the real opportunity is not in who owns the railway at all. Perhaps it is in finally removing some of the extraordinary amount of friction involved in running it.
[snip]
The infrastructure will still need maintaining. Trains will still need servicing. Drivers will still drive them, signalling will still need operating, stations will still require people, electricity will still need buying and, unless somebody in Whitehall has been keeping a particularly exciting technical breakthrough quiet, rails, bridges, tunnels, embankments and overhead lines will continue to deteriorate when exposed to weather, weight and time.
[snip]
Perhaps the real opportunity is not in who owns the railway at all. Perhaps it is in finally removing some of the extraordinary amount of friction involved in running it.
I think he is right in his identification of the opportunity. The question is ... will the opportunity be taken?
"Friction" is an extremely apt word. I wish I'd thought of describing it that way
Are you sure it's not a typo? In the context of the way the railways are owned/run perhaps "fiction" was intended?
During the railway privatisation process in the 1990's the word "tension" was used a lot. The DfT / Treasury /Government / John Major belief was that British Rail could not get to the (eutopia) subsidy free position that politically John Major's Conservative government wanted because it lacked commercial / competitive "tension".
By breaking BR up into 100 business this would create market forces tension which in turn would generate completion thereby driving costs down and improving efficiency and because of the competition between TOCs this would lead new train operators entering the UK rail market hence more train services all competition with each other ................ (what could possibly go wrong!)
The same model was used for maintenance and renewals multiple companies all bidding for the work, cost being driven down and efficiencies and performance improved by competitive tender process, Railtrack would be according to the Government at time be in the Fotsi 100 companies.
The contracts did have wonderful clause that included "collaborative working" "required to work collaboratively with" etc
All of the above was the essence of the internal propaganda being feed to the staff within BR at the time.
What actually happened within UK rail the tension changed to friction because the eutopia of a friendly collaborative environment was ultimately trumped the companies share holder dividend and the salaries of the Chairmen and CEO's etc. So yes the railways has been running for many years with a lot of friction.
It will be interesting to see if the performance of GWR / NR GW Route improves in the months after GWR is taken into public ownership when the commercial / contractual friction has been removed
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380039/32456/31] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:18, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
I’ll ask my usual question.
If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?
If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?
And even a nuclear attack is worth surviving if too close. A basic shelter reduces the radiation dose received to about one thousandth of that in the open.
...........and when you emerge, blinking into the horror of the aftermath, what then?
| Re: Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380038/32543/30] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:14, 26th September 2026 Already liked by GBM | ![]() |
Excuses, excuses. I can't speak for the whole country but in this neck of the woods the prolonged hot and dry summer has already produced significant premature leaf drop which will reduce the effect of the main event when it happens.
"More leaves than normal falling at the same time"
"More trees than usual needing repair at the same time"
| Re: Bus lanes to be scrapped (in Rotherham) In "The Lighter Side" [380037/32542/30] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:59, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
Given the current state of the UK's education system I was surprised that the 'University of Central Mexborough' was a spoof. It could have been on a par with Gower Street Polytechnic.

| Re: Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380036/32543/30] Posted by grahame at 07:56, 26th September 2026 Already liked by GBM | ![]() |
Excuses, excuses. I can't speak for the whole country but in this neck of the woods the prolonged hot and dry summer has already produced significant premature leaf drop which will reduce the effect of the main event when it happens.
"More leaves than normal falling at the same time"
| Re: Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380035/32543/30] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:35, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
Excuses, excuses. I can't speak for the whole country but in this neck of the woods the prolonged hot and dry summer has already produced significant premature leaf drop which will reduce the effect of the main event when it happens.
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380034/32456/31] Posted by broadgage at 05:20, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
I’ll ask my usual question.
If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?
If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?
A bunker is not only against a nuclear attack. Also useful in case of extreme weather, conventional air raids, or civil disorder.
And even a nuclear attack is worth surviving if too close. A basic shelter reduces the radiation dose received to about one thousandth of that in the open.
| Re: Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380033/32543/30] Posted by bobm at 04:31, 26th September 2026 Already liked by grahame | ![]() |
| Special timetables - dry trackbed and leaf season In "The Lighter Side" [380032/32543/30] Posted by grahame at 03:55, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
We have the South Western Main line slowed because the clay of the trackbed is drying out, but I haven't heard about leaf fall season timetables yet this year. Have I been sleeping?

[url=https://www.facebook.com/dognamedstella/]Dog named Stella[/url] has 1 million followers!
Do you know if taxi drivers have to pay a fee to use Melksham station's forecourt?
I think 'forecourt' over-sells it 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/daWCKW6BJWBULCfB6
That's an old image. The white lines were recently refreshed (after we asked and were told no
- funny how things happen sometimes. Noticing TaplowGreen's comment about the picture of balloons near pylons in another thread)The paintwork on the road that looked like this ... has I think gone.

The disabled parking space is still there. A luggage locker has appeared though I have yet to see anyone using it. Swivel round on the Google view and you'll see the old cafe notices (view is July 2024) which could really do with an update. Station area "work in progress" in need of some TLC.
| Re: Checking on your train running just before you set off In "Introductions and chat" [380030/32503/1] Posted by grahame at 03:18, 26th September 2026 | ![]() |
so I'm not in the right frame of mind to write good code!
Jeez you still write code? I haven't done that for months, not since I got my Claude Code license. And Claude reviews it as well. What could possibly go wrong? 
Seriously, have you tried it? I'm (mostly) using Opus 5.5 in VSCode, and we have a very good working relationship. It really is amazing what it can do, and how little time it takes to do it.
Seriously
... no, and it's on my "must look at that" list.The majority of coding I do is tweaking / adjusting and it's not been something that's pushed me over the edge to try - just yet. And that from me who made a living / business of being ahead of the curve with innovative coding languages.
Episode 3 is available on YouTube, at https://youtu.be/j_C7ml7ZCIg?is=1xaa_R0j_nbcEVA3














