Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [377049/31163/26] Posted by ChrisB at 15:24, 14th July 2026 |      |
Track temperatures can be double that
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [377048/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:09, 14th July 2026 | |
Hmmmmmm. London/Thames Valley mostly peaking at 28/29 degrees today.......does thst really constitute "severe" weather for mid July?
Alterations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to severe weather between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 20:00 14/07.
| Re: Buying tickets via the GWR web site: issue with railcards In "Fare's Fair" [377047/32232/4] Posted by plymothian at 14:14, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
There are separate fields that appear in the railcard selection that you have to alter to how many people it applies to eg when you select Senior Railcard, there's another drop down box to select how many people this railcard applies to; when you select Friends and Family, a 3rd option appears to separate out the adults from the children.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [377046/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 13:41, 14th July 2026 | |
Thursday might bbe 'interesting', as might next Monday....along with Sunday pm
Should that be bbq rather than bbe?
| Re: Bridge hit - again "Freshford" = Limpley Stoke? In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [377045/32077/20] Posted by John D at 13:00, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I had also reported to Network Rail, their vegetation overhanging the road, obscuring the warning signs, however if and when they choose to do anything remains to be seen.
| Re: Memories of schooldays, and what inspired us - split topic In "Introductions and chat" [377044/32234/1] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 12:55, 14th July 2026 | |
I have happy memories of the geography O level field trips from my school in London SE12. One was to Shoreham in the beautiful countryside of the Darent Valley to study the geography of the North Downs. The other was a complete contrast, to the industrial estate at Erith to see the diverse structures of modern industry. In both cases we travelled by train using the dense network of Southern Region lines. In retrospect I regard both of the trips as formative - I continue to enjoy both countryside and industrial archaeology.
| Re: Bridge hit - again "Freshford" = Limpley Stoke? In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [377043/32077/20] Posted by Mark A at 12:42, 14th July 2026 | |
Really grateful for this. When I suggested that perhaps it was more profitable to deal with constant bridge strikes than to run a railway it was only partly tongue-in-cheek - it was LNER who at one point said the quiet bit out loud, observing at I think a shareholders meeting that their profitability had deteriorated because, infrastructure maintenance related, given that the causes of various disruptive incidents, the train operating company were not receiving as much compensation from Network Rail.
The announcement perhaps showed that both organisations were in danger of losing sight of where the passenger was in all this.
Mark
| Re: Memories of schooldays, and what inspired us - split topic In "Introductions and chat" [377042/32234/1] Posted by Mark A at 12:33, 14th July 2026 | |
'Failed' in that you hadn't yet the strength or gained the technique to move the lever?
Mark
| Re: Bridge hit - again "Freshford" = Limpley Stoke? In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [377041/32077/20] Posted by grahame at 12:29, 14th July 2026 Already liked by JohnM | |
After - yet another - hit yesterday, I have pressed a few buttons
The bridge on the B3108 at Limpley Stoke, where the railway crosses over the road, has been hit by vehicles a number of time this year. You can find reports on it via https://www.passenger.chat/search.html?search=Limpley - a rail passenger forum which records and discusses issues affecting train travel. In the last couple of months - 27th May 2026; 4th June 2026; 19th June 2026; 24th June 2026; 13th July 2026 and some of those stories reference multiple hits.
Bridge hits mean that the railway has to be closed while safety checks are made, and that means than trains cannot serve Bradford-on-Avon or Avoncliff. A limited service is maintained between Trowbridge and Bath Spa, diverted via Chippenham, but due to the limited capacity of that route means that the local service on that line is withdrawn, throwing passenger onto the diverted trains at different times to the timetabled ones, and serving different places. The impact is serious at all stations in the Melksham and Devizes constituecy, and indeed it's felt far further afield as it's the main line from South Wales (and Bristol) to Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth that is blocked.
Question ...
Bridge hits mean that the railway has to be closed while safety checks are made, and that means than trains cannot serve Bradford-on-Avon or Avoncliff. A limited service is maintained between Trowbridge and Bath Spa, diverted via Chippenham, but due to the limited capacity of that route means that the local service on that line is withdrawn, throwing passenger onto the diverted trains at different times to the timetabled ones, and serving different places. The impact is serious at all stations in the Melksham and Devizes constituecy, and indeed it's felt far further afield as it's the main line from South Wales (and Bristol) to Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth that is blocked.
Question ...
I am - hopeful, bearing in mind the response I have got, that this series of bridge hits has not gone un-noticed ... and that I am now on the radar to hear back and be able to report to WWRUG, MTUG and the Coffee Shop. It may be moving from "let's clear up the mess when it happens" to "how can we reduce the number of times this happens"
| Re: Buying tickets via the GWR web site: issue with railcards In "Fare's Fair" [377040/32232/4] Posted by Mark A at 12:00, 14th July 2026 | |
Thanks, both. Checking GWR's advance fares, whether it's the quotas or the demand, the advance purchase offer for morning peak travel with a rail card bottoms out at £85 one way** so isn't good at the moment.
Also, given a pair of medical considerations, inflexible travel constraints pose a risk.
An option is to railhead it to Didcot Parkway and an off peak day return at £25:10 (but another option, given the hassle of getting to and from the station here and in the continued absence of the just-after-nine-am train through to Waterloo is to simply do something else.)
Mark
To be fair there are some instances of AP fares from Bath Spa to Paddington at £16.60 at a month's horizon (and on the 05:35...)
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [377039/18719/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:45, 14th July 2026 | |
Thursday might bbe 'interesting', as might next Monday....along with Sunday pm
| Re: Nationalised operation maybe - but who OWNS the trains? In "Across the West" [377038/32220/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:44, 14th July 2026 | |
KI think that's what they are planning to happen already
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377037/32151/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:23, 14th July 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Train crash driver died from traumatic injuries
A train driver died from traumatic injuries to the brain and chest in the Bedfordshire train crash, an inquest has heard.
Shaun Burton, 60, died when his train ploughed into the back of another service at Elstow, near Bedford, on 19 June. It left 162 people injured, including 102 who required hospital treatment.
An inquest into the death of the driver opened in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and has been adjourned until a later date which has not been fixed yet.
Senior Coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, Emma Whitting, told the hearing the inquest would be adjourned pending reports from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and British Transport Police.
Burton lived in Cambridgeshire and previously been a parish and district councillor, representing The Stukeleys ward on Huntingdonshire District Council.
During the hearing, which lasted five minutes, the coroner's officer read a statement which said a consultant pathologist identified the cause of death to be traumatic injuries to the brain stem and chest, pending further investigations.
Burton was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:49 BST on 19 June. He was formally identified by the Fingerprint Identification Bureau on 25 June, the coroner's report said.
More than 100 people needed hospital treatment - Image © Justin Rivett
An interim report by the RAIB (RAIB) said that Burton's East Midlands Railway train proceeded past a red signal moments before the collision.
His train had been heading towards London St Pancras, after leaving Corby, Northamptonshire, at 16:40 BST. The other train had been travelling in the same direction and was running ahead of the Corby service, having originated in Nottingham at 15:50.
The Nottingham service had come to a stop "unexpectedly" because of a fault with its Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment, investigators found.
Data seen by investigators showed Burton's train's brakes were activated for about nine seconds before the collision, when the train was travelling at about 76mph. Its speed had reduced to 49mph when the impact happened.
A train driver died from traumatic injuries to the brain and chest in the Bedfordshire train crash, an inquest has heard.
Shaun Burton, 60, died when his train ploughed into the back of another service at Elstow, near Bedford, on 19 June. It left 162 people injured, including 102 who required hospital treatment.
An inquest into the death of the driver opened in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and has been adjourned until a later date which has not been fixed yet.
Senior Coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, Emma Whitting, told the hearing the inquest would be adjourned pending reports from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and British Transport Police.
Burton lived in Cambridgeshire and previously been a parish and district councillor, representing The Stukeleys ward on Huntingdonshire District Council.
During the hearing, which lasted five minutes, the coroner's officer read a statement which said a consultant pathologist identified the cause of death to be traumatic injuries to the brain stem and chest, pending further investigations.
Burton was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:49 BST on 19 June. He was formally identified by the Fingerprint Identification Bureau on 25 June, the coroner's report said.
More than 100 people needed hospital treatment - Image © Justin Rivett
An interim report by the RAIB (RAIB) said that Burton's East Midlands Railway train proceeded past a red signal moments before the collision.
His train had been heading towards London St Pancras, after leaving Corby, Northamptonshire, at 16:40 BST. The other train had been travelling in the same direction and was running ahead of the Corby service, having originated in Nottingham at 15:50.
The Nottingham service had come to a stop "unexpectedly" because of a fault with its Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment, investigators found.
Data seen by investigators showed Burton's train's brakes were activated for about nine seconds before the collision, when the train was travelling at about 76mph. Its speed had reduced to 49mph when the impact happened.
| Re: Server slow ... In "News, Help and Assistance" [377036/30293/29] Posted by grahame at 10:58, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, GBM | |
This is - and will continue to be - an ongoing thread of pressures put on our servers by rogue (accidental or intentional) clients. The old "Save the Train" website at http://www.savethetrain.org.uk usually gets around 4,000 accesses per day. Since 04:30 this morning, we have had 200,000 - 197,000 from a single location, up to 1,500 per second and that has had a noticeable effect on other sites on the machine, including the Coffee Shop.
I have added the "attacking" IP address to the forbidden list ... will not stop it asking, but it will be told to go away (and perhaps in a language it understands) with much less call on resource per request
| Re: Memories of schooldays, and what inspired us - split topic In "Introductions and chat" [377035/32234/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:54, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I have taken something of a liberty here in splitting the above post off to start a new topic - simply to justify my adding my own schooldays reminiscences.
My inspiration then was not in the classroom but out in the open air. On Friday afternoons at Brislington School (Bristol), the sixth form were timetabled 'Liberal Studies' - when we could choose whichever we liked. My choice, with several others, was on the theme of industrial archeology, led by Martin 'Kipper' Lee. He had a PSV license (which he carried with pride) and thus access to the school minibus for the afternoon.
He took us out to Crofton Pumping House on the Kennet & Avon Canal and the railway signal box at Ashton Gate (now long gone), for example. As the teacher in charge of a group of genuinely interested students, he was given favourable treatment and access at such sites. That is why I was given the opportunity to work a traditional signal lever in the box at Ashton Gate, on the line which was still used for goods traffic. I failed miserably, to the mirth of my fellow students and much eye rolling from the signalman and the train driver, who was waiting outside.
Those were happy days. CfN.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377033/31359/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:43, 14th July 2026 | |
Now, that 'b' road wasn't a through route for around ten days - closed for works to a gas main on Winsley Hill. That would have been a good opportunity to improve the signage and sightlines to the bridge - was this done? On the first day it reopened, it was struck again... It can't be that there's more income to be made from the constant risk and disruption of bridge strikes here than there is from simply operating the railway can it?
Mark
Mark
Actually it was open by Saturday afternoon (my sat nav said it was closed, but all the closed signs had been removed, and D1 bus was running normally)
However during the closure, a lot more vegetation has sagged from Network rail land towards the road, making any signage harder to see, but there is now a height restriction warning sign on blue background about 150m before the bridge, which I think is new (although the overhanging vegetation partly hides it as driving towards it)
I have just asked for advice from a friend with a foot in multiple camps as to the best / most effective way of bringing the very real issues this is causing rail passengers across the whole area to attention to get appropriate attention.
If it's growing on Network Rail land, it's their responsibility to address it - had a similar issue a year or two back with overgrown vegetation near Taplow station making it virtually impossible to use the pavement, and people were having to walk in the road - to their credit, once they were made aware of it they cut it back quite quickly - I would suggest you drop them a line with all the details, location etc - it tends to be very reactive rather than proactive.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=25289.0
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377032/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 10:34, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Now, that 'b' road wasn't a through route for around ten days - closed for works to a gas main on Winsley Hill. That would have been a good opportunity to improve the signage and sightlines to the bridge - was this done? On the first day it reopened, it was struck again... It can't be that there's more income to be made from the constant risk and disruption of bridge strikes here than there is from simply operating the railway can it?
Mark
Mark
Actually it was open by Saturday afternoon (my sat nav said it was closed, but all the closed signs had been removed, and D1 bus was running normally)
However during the closure, a lot more vegetation has sagged from Network rail land towards the road, making any signage harder to see, but there is now a height restriction warning sign on blue background about 150m before the bridge, which I think is new (although the overhanging vegetation partly hides it as driving towards it)
I have just asked for advice from a friend with a foot in multiple camps as to the best / most effective way of bringing the very real issues this is causing rail passengers across the whole area to attention to get appropriate attention.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377031/231/28] Posted by Phantom at 10:34, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Red Squirrel | |
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377030/31359/18] Posted by John D at 10:29, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Now, that 'b' road wasn't a through route for around ten days - closed for works to a gas main on Winsley Hill. That would have been a good opportunity to improve the signage and sightlines to the bridge - was this done? On the first day it reopened, it was struck again... It can't be that there's more income to be made from the constant risk and disruption of bridge strikes here than there is from simply operating the railway can it?
Mark
Mark
Actually it was open by Saturday afternoon (my sat nav said it was closed, but all the closed signs had been removed, and D1 bus was running normally)
However during the closure, a lot more vegetation has sagged from Network rail land towards the road, making any signage harder to see, but there is now a height restriction warning sign on blue background about 150m before the bridge, which I think is new (although the overhanging vegetation partly hides it as driving towards it)
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377029/31359/18] Posted by Mark A at 09:31, 14th July 2026 | |
Now, that 'b' road wasn't a through route for around ten days - closed for works to a gas main on Winsley Hill. That would have been a good opportunity to improve the signage and sightlines to the bridge - was this done? On the first day it reopened, it was struck again... It can't be that there's more income to be made from the constant risk and disruption of bridge strikes here than there is from simply operating the railway can it?
Mark
| Memories of schooldays, and what inspired us - split topic In "Introductions and chat" [377028/32234/1] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:23, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
***snip***
** Perhaps it's the case that where it was beneath the road, its structure has been removed: it must be not straightforward to bury a steel structure and expect it to remain load-bearing... though there's then the puzzle of the downstream parapet railings, in plain view alongside the current road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nJJRAsomaMvHy7e69
** Perhaps it's the case that where it was beneath the road, its structure has been removed: it must be not straightforward to bury a steel structure and expect it to remain load-bearing... though there's then the puzzle of the downstream parapet railings, in plain view alongside the current road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nJJRAsomaMvHy7e69
More background and legal stuff:
https://lymm.uk/warburton-toll-bridge-Acts-overview
Mark
Fascinating. Thank you. The Manchester Ship Canal was one of the great engineering projects o the Victorian era that we studied for O-Level history. Miss Wheelton in Room 4 at Evesham High School in 1970 seems now to be of a piece with the era that we studied!
| Re: Andy Burnham elected to parliament, with a strong transport reputation In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [377027/32149/40] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:02, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, TaplowGreen | |
Wait seven decades for a coronation, then two come along in three years
| Re: Nationalised operation maybe - but who OWNS the trains? In "Across the West" [377026/32220/26] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:06, 14th July 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A, Chris from Nailsea | |
Exactly who owns the trains currently is a somewhat complicated subject but what I do think is that as part of the ongoing nationalisation of our railway, and the naissance of GBR, ownership of the rolling stock should have progressively transferred to within the industry.
However I do not advocate for one moment binning the existing ROSCO's because, aside from anything else, the country can't afford it. Just change the procurement model so all new trains are ordered by, and become the property of, GBR. And let the involvement of the ROSCO's run down as and when existing rolling stock reaches it's BBE date.
And if the people who know about this stuff conclude that farming out of the maintenance to either the train manufacturer or another private firm is the best option then do so but please, please, please make sure that the agreement is put together by people who actually understand contract management. Obviously if maintenance can be done cost effectively by existing depot teams then stick with them.
| Re: 'Hogwash' - an interesting phrase ... In "The Lighter Side" [377025/32233/30] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:34, 14th July 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
FYI
Hogwash means nonsense, foolish talk, or ridiculous ideas.
Its origin traces back to the mid-15th century as a literal compound of "hog" and "wash". It originally referred to the slops, kitchen scraps, and refuse given to pigs.
Over time, the term evolved significantly:
1600s: The term was extended to mean cheap, poor-quality liquor (because it was barely better than pig slop).
Late 1700s: It was used to describe bad writing or manuscripts.
1800s: It gained its modern figurative meaning of ridiculous or worthless talk, famously appearing in the writings of Mark Twain.
(I assume the above has at least a semblance of accuracy about it).
| Re: Current service - fit for purpose? - an example In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377022/32231/18] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:33, 13th July 2026 | |
Purely as an aside, in my personal experience, the visitor parking at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and at Weston General in Weston super Mare is excellent.
| 'Hogwash' - an interesting phrase ... In "The Lighter Side" [377021/32233/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:09, 13th July 2026 | |
For context, Coffee Shop member Industry Insider has used the phrase, and he and I have exchanged messages about it. Sometimes, people give their view, apparently authoritatively, but without any foundation in fact.
I experienced an example of that this very evening, when my own daughter bemoaned that it was a pity Bristol couldn't have a tram system like Manchester (of which she has become a great fan) 'because of all the hills in Bristol'.
I coughed and spluttered over the jigsaw puzzle I was working on and engaged her in a lively debate, explaining how Bristol used to have an excellent tram system - including Park Street - which was only stopped when the Luftwaffe took out the electricity generating station on Counterslip in 1941.
She acknowledged that I was right. So much for 'hogwash'.
CfN.
| Re: Andy Burnham elected to parliament, with a strong transport reputation In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [377020/32149/40] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:32, 13th July 2026 | |
It's become a formality: Andy Burnham is Prime Minister in all but name, and within a week.
From the BBC:
Andy Burnham has effectively been confirmed as the new Labour leader with 349 of the party's MPs having now nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
After a second day of nominations, the MP for Makerfield received the support of a further 27 Labour MPs - putting him on track to become prime minister on 20 July, with it now mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him.
He still requires the backing of three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, at least two of which must be trade unions, although this is expected to be a formality.
(BBC article continues)
After a second day of nominations, the MP for Makerfield received the support of a further 27 Labour MPs - putting him on track to become prime minister on 20 July, with it now mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him.
He still requires the backing of three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, at least two of which must be trade unions, although this is expected to be a formality.
(BBC article continues)
