Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts In "Across the West" [362668/29177/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:36, 26th June 2025 |      |
Looks like good BBQ weather on Sunday.
| Re: Global Centre of Rail Excellence In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [362667/28013/23] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:36, 26th June 2025 | |
From ITV.com
Global Centre of Rail Excellence: £400m rail testing facility 'delayed for five years'
A state of the art rail testing facility near Ystradgynlais is at least five years behind schedule, it has been revealed.
On Friday, Powys County Council councillors received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn washery site into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE).
The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area.
Article continues
A state of the art rail testing facility near Ystradgynlais is at least five years behind schedule, it has been revealed.
On Friday, Powys County Council councillors received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn washery site into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE).
The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area.
Article continues
The irony siren is earsplitting!!!
| Inspector rules in favour of heritage railway (Ffestiniog / Beddgelert) In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [362666/30404/47] Posted by grahame at 06:20, 26th June 2025 | |
From Place North West
An appeal by the Ffestiniog Railway Company against the Snowdonia National Park Authority’s refusal of a new station building for Beddgelert has been allowed, with the authority also required to pay costs.
In a decision handed down on 21 May by RH Duggan, a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers, it was decreed that the railway organisation may proceed with the development on a concrete slab already put in place when the project was initially put forward in the 2000s.
Costs were also awarded, with the inspector recording that in its refusal the planning committee had not applied the local development plan 2016-2031, and that “the application was decided on the grounds of unsupported local opinion and opposition to any station building,” causing the appellant unnecessary costs.
The applicant is now invited to submit to the national park authority details of its costs, with a view to reaching agreement on the amount to be paid.
Consent was given in 2006 by the authority for a facility including ticket office, waiting room, toilets and café, with the slab developed at the existing Beddgelert station, a stop on the Welsh Highland Railway.
Even at that point the issue was contentious, with conditions attached on trading – conditions that were defeated in an earlier appeal. Since that time, the station has operated with small shelters on platforms, portaloos and temporary cafe provision in place, as financial priorities elsewhere saw the Beddgelert project put on hold.
A refreshed application was submitted in 2023, looking to deliver a slightly smaller version of the approved 2006 plan.
This went to the parks authority’s planning and access committee in May 2023 with a recommendation to approve, but was refused, leading the heritage group to seek recourse through Planning & Environment Decisions Wales.
In a decision handed down on 21 May by RH Duggan, a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers, it was decreed that the railway organisation may proceed with the development on a concrete slab already put in place when the project was initially put forward in the 2000s.
Costs were also awarded, with the inspector recording that in its refusal the planning committee had not applied the local development plan 2016-2031, and that “the application was decided on the grounds of unsupported local opinion and opposition to any station building,” causing the appellant unnecessary costs.
The applicant is now invited to submit to the national park authority details of its costs, with a view to reaching agreement on the amount to be paid.
Consent was given in 2006 by the authority for a facility including ticket office, waiting room, toilets and café, with the slab developed at the existing Beddgelert station, a stop on the Welsh Highland Railway.
Even at that point the issue was contentious, with conditions attached on trading – conditions that were defeated in an earlier appeal. Since that time, the station has operated with small shelters on platforms, portaloos and temporary cafe provision in place, as financial priorities elsewhere saw the Beddgelert project put on hold.
A refreshed application was submitted in 2023, looking to deliver a slightly smaller version of the approved 2006 plan.
This went to the parks authority’s planning and access committee in May 2023 with a recommendation to approve, but was refused, leading the heritage group to seek recourse through Planning & Environment Decisions Wales.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362665/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 04:24, 26th June 2025 | |
Another space for someone else then who does want to attend - there's plenty out there wanting to network
?? - I suspect you are reading or I am quoting somewhat out of context.
My contacts (and there are several in Wiltshire and Somerset who were there) did find the day very useful and gave no indication of the whole being a waste of their time. Indeed they said the networking was most useful.
The criticism was more a disappointment at GWR's failure to adequately address the issues of service reliability. I wasn't there so I have no view - but reliability does need to be urgently addressed on the ground, and in writing "urgently" and "on the ground" you have a conundrum for the conference organisers. Nothing urgent that's effective on the ground has been done for years, and what good would a longer section at the conference giving explanations (excuses?) and making (over?)optimistic promise actually do?
| Re: Connections, engineering works, delays and substitution - Slovak style In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362664/30396/52] Posted by grahame at 04:07, 26th June 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
I'm on an experience-gathering mission. ...
A follow up because these are important things for passengers. It seems that the making of connections even at times of some disruption, and schedules that are gentle enough to get back on track, are the norm and not the exception.
Regular readers will have seen my Visit to Makov article which happened to be made the day of my (!) failed connection to the GWR conference ... but this is about getting there.
The junction with the main line is at Cadac from where the train leaves up the branch every hour. Clockface. And the platform (if you can honour it with that description) is off to one side, across the yard, very much a reminder of Liskeard. We set off around 10 minutes late - the 4 carriage train already had a comfortable load of people on board, more joined during the delay, and we were finally dispatched by a red-hatted staff member waving a baton at us. Connection maintained.
Our pacer bucked and bucketed up the valley, calling and wayside stops and crossing roads and paths with limited and varying protecion, and a few horn toots. People hearabouts seem to know that they should not get in the way of the trains, and the mentality of everyone needing protection against Darwin Award tendencies is absent.
We pulled into Turzokva - on the way to Makov - 7 or 8 minutes late. Turzokva looks to be quite a substantial town, and the service beyond there does not merit 4 carriages - so we piled out of the 4 car, some of us into a 2 car that was on the same track just ahead of us and others headed for their town business / homes. And our 2 car set off perhaps 3 or 4 minutes late but with the connection maintained. Again, a pacer and a series of stations now up to the top of the valley - I think I saw a sign that said "588 metres" but I could have been wrong, or that could have been the distance to some attraction I missed.
We headed back down, starting on time. The upper valley 2 car set and the lower valley 4 car set both have 20 to 25 minute "runs" so timetables recover the odd delay of a few minutes here and there, and the arrangement with the train change at the intermediate station allows an hourly service all the way, without the need for point changes, passing loops operating, or excess capacity carrying too much fresh air in the upper valley.
The lower valley train arrived late into Turzokva on its upward run (but I noted that the upper valley train was held once again) and we set off back down a few minutes late. Arriving perhaps 8 minutes late into Cadca, the connecting train to Zilina and beyond was already waiting, connection maintained. Rather than rush up the platform to the subway, we all used the barrow crossing to get to that posh electric train taking us into the city, under the accepting eyes of the dispatch staff ... and so we set off, delay reduced and passengers happy.
On the approach to Zilina, part of the rebuild is a viaduct and there's just a single operational track over that at the moment. We had a couple of minutes to wait while a train came the other way, so were perhaps 10 down into Zilina - not that it seemed to matter to anyone. Passengers for Vrutky and beyond were accommodated for sure - it was the same train (!) and I can't tell you about long distance stuff to Kosice and Bratislava except to say that a 5 to 10 minute late departure for those is often flagged up, and I suspect connection are held.
| Re: Global Centre of Rail Excellence In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [362663/28013/23] Posted by infoman at 03:38, 26th June 2025 | |
Sad News,
a delay of five years?
wondering what railway technology will have been developed in that time
| Re: Global Centre of Rail Excellence In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [362662/28013/23] Posted by grahame at 03:19, 26th June 2025 | |
From ITV.com
Global Centre of Rail Excellence: £400m rail testing facility 'delayed for five years'
A state of the art rail testing facility near Ystradgynlais is at least five years behind schedule, it has been revealed.
On Friday, Powys County Council councillors received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn washery site into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE).
The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area.
Article continues
A state of the art rail testing facility near Ystradgynlais is at least five years behind schedule, it has been revealed.
On Friday, Powys County Council councillors received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn washery site into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE).
The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area.
Article continues
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts In "Across the West" [362661/29177/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 00:33, 26th June 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Temperatures above 30C expected as a second June heatwave looms
The second heatwave of 2025 is set to send temperatures soaring back over the 30C mark this weekend.
The hot weather will last into the first part of next week with the heat becoming increasingly intense with the possibility of recording the highest temperature of the year so far.
The hottest day of 2025 to date was recorded on 21 June at Charlwood, Surrey with temperatures reaching 33.2C (91.8F).
Heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, with a greater chance of seeing extreme heat.
There are lots of summer events that will be affected by the heat. It's likely to be the hottest start to Wimbledon, surpassing the record of 29.3C (measured at Kew) from 2001. Temperatures will get close to the Glastonbury record of 31.2C (measured at Rodney Stoke) recorded in 2017.
Rain and showers are forecast for Thursday with a fresh feel to the weather.
Humidity increases on Friday as a warm airmass associated with the recent extreme heatwave in the USA makes its way across the Atlantic. Rain and showers will affect the north-west of the UK, but with more sunshine in eastern England, temperatures will head into the high 20C's.
It becomes much hotter over the weekend as a ridge of high pressure over Europe influences our weather. On Saturday temperatures will more widely cross 'heatwave thresholds' reaching 27-30C in south-east England, East Anglia, the Midlands and Central Southern England.
By Sunday the heat reaches parts of east Wales and north England. The highest temperatures will be in East Anglia and southeast England reaching 32C in the hotspots.
The heat will get even more intense on Monday, which is likely to be the peak of the heatwave. In East Anglia and south-east England temperatures are likely to reach 33-34C, challenging or surpassing the highest temperature of 2025.
This is extreme heat and isn't far away from the June record which stands at 35.6C (96F), recorded at Southampton during the infamous summer of 1976.
There's more uncertainty in the forecast for Tuesday onwards. Many computer models suggest cooler and fresher air arrives from the west, but it's not inconceivable that the hot weather clings on for another day or so in the east.
No heatwave is expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland with temperatures more generally staying into the low 20Cs. There will be some warm spells of sunshine around, but also the prospect of some areas of rain - for example rain could be heavy on Monday.
Heatwaves can cause problems for our infrastructure, such as trains running at reduced speeds due to the risk of train tracks expanding and buckling in the heat.
We also see more heat-related health problems which can lead to an increase in excess deaths in those with underlying health conditions. Heat-health alerts are issued to warn health providers of the risk of a heat causing adverse impacts to the health and wellbeing of the population.
The second heatwave of 2025 is set to send temperatures soaring back over the 30C mark this weekend.
The hot weather will last into the first part of next week with the heat becoming increasingly intense with the possibility of recording the highest temperature of the year so far.
The hottest day of 2025 to date was recorded on 21 June at Charlwood, Surrey with temperatures reaching 33.2C (91.8F).
Heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, with a greater chance of seeing extreme heat.
There are lots of summer events that will be affected by the heat. It's likely to be the hottest start to Wimbledon, surpassing the record of 29.3C (measured at Kew) from 2001. Temperatures will get close to the Glastonbury record of 31.2C (measured at Rodney Stoke) recorded in 2017.
Rain and showers are forecast for Thursday with a fresh feel to the weather.
Humidity increases on Friday as a warm airmass associated with the recent extreme heatwave in the USA makes its way across the Atlantic. Rain and showers will affect the north-west of the UK, but with more sunshine in eastern England, temperatures will head into the high 20C's.
It becomes much hotter over the weekend as a ridge of high pressure over Europe influences our weather. On Saturday temperatures will more widely cross 'heatwave thresholds' reaching 27-30C in south-east England, East Anglia, the Midlands and Central Southern England.
By Sunday the heat reaches parts of east Wales and north England. The highest temperatures will be in East Anglia and southeast England reaching 32C in the hotspots.
The heat will get even more intense on Monday, which is likely to be the peak of the heatwave. In East Anglia and south-east England temperatures are likely to reach 33-34C, challenging or surpassing the highest temperature of 2025.
This is extreme heat and isn't far away from the June record which stands at 35.6C (96F), recorded at Southampton during the infamous summer of 1976.
There's more uncertainty in the forecast for Tuesday onwards. Many computer models suggest cooler and fresher air arrives from the west, but it's not inconceivable that the hot weather clings on for another day or so in the east.
No heatwave is expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland with temperatures more generally staying into the low 20Cs. There will be some warm spells of sunshine around, but also the prospect of some areas of rain - for example rain could be heavy on Monday.
Heatwaves can cause problems for our infrastructure, such as trains running at reduced speeds due to the risk of train tracks expanding and buckling in the heat.
We also see more heat-related health problems which can lead to an increase in excess deaths in those with underlying health conditions. Heat-health alerts are issued to warn health providers of the risk of a heat causing adverse impacts to the health and wellbeing of the population.
My highlighting. CfN.
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362660/30390/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:05, 25th June 2025 | |
| Re: Eurostar wide spread disruption Wednesday 25 June 2025 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362659/30402/52] Posted by TaplowGreen at 21:44, 25th June 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Glad to see that "water was being handed out to passengers on delayed trains"........at least they didn't have to rely on a Deliveroo driver with a deadly aim! (Or should that be Delivereau?)
| Re: Uber brings forward trialling driverless taxis in UK - June 2025 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362658/30343/5] Posted by broadgage at 21:00, 25th June 2025 | |
I doubt that the general public are ready for this yet.
Child killed by human operated cab=="what a terrible accident" Legal action against human drivers is normally muted, even if life has been lost. I suspect that judges, magistrates, and jurors tend to sympathise with the driver "There, but for the grace of god, went I."
Children and adults killed on the roads are accepted as part of modern life. Any attempt to reduce the death toll is branded as a new "war on drivers"
Child killed by automatic cab== "my child was murdered by the large corporation who built and/or operated the vehicle." ban these automatic child killers now.
Even if automated cabs are demonstrated to be safer than human operated vehicles, the objections would remain.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [362657/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 20:57, 25th June 2025 | |
Wednesday June 25
19:53 London Paddington to Hereford due 22:57 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:25/06/2025 17:39
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:25/06/2025 17:39
Stock running ECS to Hereford.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362656/29726/18] Posted by bobm at 20:47, 25th June 2025 | |
The last round trip has now, just, been reinstated.
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362655/30390/30] Posted by grahame at 20:17, 25th June 2025 | |
When I was in hospital, one of the nurses stated that I looked "cute" this I found shocking, I haver been called cute in my life.
Those who have met me in person, will confirm that "cute" is not a term that comes to mind.
Fat, stout, full sized, tall, old, past it, top heavy; might come to mind but not "cute"
Those who have met me in person, will confirm that "cute" is not a term that comes to mind.
Fat, stout, full sized, tall, old, past it, top heavy; might come to mind but not "cute"
"Cuddly" might work
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362654/30390/30] Posted by broadgage at 20:10, 25th June 2025 | |
When I was in hospital, one of the nurses stated that I looked "cute" this I found shocking, I haver been called cute in my life.
Those who have met me in person, will confirm that "cute" is not a term that comes to mind.
Fat, stout, full sized, tall, old, past it, top heavy; might come to mind but not "cute"
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362653/30390/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:42, 25th June 2025 | |
Yes.
Our daughter does make herself look very pretty - that's fair enough.
There's no way you could make me look pretty (even with AI) in a photo.
CfN.
| Re: Eurostar wide spread disruption Wednesday 25 June 2025 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362651/30402/52] Posted by grahame at 19:31, 25th June 2025 | |
Elizabeth Romijn, a yoga teacher from the Netherlands, told PA news agency at St Pancras that the situation was "very chaotic" and people were having to sit on the ground because there were not enough chairs. The 75-year-old was planning to travel home to Brussels after visiting friends in Surrey.
And there you have it - the Eurostar system works fine when there are no incidents, but as soon as they get an incident there isn't enough extra in the system to cope with it and it becomes more unpleasant than it need to.
I suspect we could draw a parallel with GWR here who have enough drivers and train managers provide they are all fit, well and make themselves available and there and no extra calls on resources such as needed to work around engineering. Problem is that such days are few and far between.
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362650/30390/30] Posted by grahame at 19:22, 25th June 2025 | |
But isn't there a difference between a person in the normal course of their duty who happens to be easy on the eye, and a young lady who's taking measures to look pretty ... I ask in jest in the lighter side, but I have one close female friend who's "reverse engineered" - gone out of her way NOT to be pleasing on the eye in order to discourage unwanted attention.
| Re: Eurostar wide spread disruption Wednesday 25 June 2025 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362649/30402/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:22, 25th June 2025 | |
And here, in much more useful detail than the original post, is the news item from the BBC:
Eurostar passengers face severe delays after cable theft
Eurostar passengers are facing a second day of severe delays after two people died on the railway track in France and then cables were stolen.
The high-speed rail operators says repairs are complete and the railway line is open again, but delays will last until the end of the day.
Eurostar said passengers should postpone their journey, after the disruption saw services cancelled and delayed in both directions on lines connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Eurostar said there was already knock-on disruption on Wednesday after two people died in separate incidents on the LGV Nord line on Tuesday, but services were further impacted after cable was stolen on the same line.
The theft near Lille, which French media said was of around 600 metres of copper cables, caused trains to be rerouted, leading to extended journey times. Further cancellations are not expected on Wednesday now that the railway line is repaired.
Eurostar said that so far, five trains between London and Paris have been cancelled. It added that impacted passengers can change their travel plans for free or request a full refund.
"We're very sorry for the impact this is having on our customers," Eurostar said in a statement. "Our teams are working closely with the French authorities and infrastructure teams to manage the situation and restore services safely."
The operator earlier said one track had reopened, allowing some trains to run in both directions until full repairs were completed. Water is being handed out to passengers onboard delayed trains, and stations are also very busy. Hundreds of people are queuing at London's St Pancras International railway station trying to access the service centre to rebook onto other trains.
Elizabeth Romijn, a yoga teacher from the Netherlands, told PA news agency at St Pancras that the situation was "very chaotic" and people were having to sit on the ground because there were not enough chairs. The 75-year-old was planning to travel home to Brussels after visiting friends in Surrey. "My plan is to just wait. Maybe I should go and be more proactive and go to ask one of the staff but nobody seems to know anything," she said, adding that "it's quite horrible long queues."
The railway line in France was closed for much of the afternoon and evening on Tuesday after the two fatalities between Lille and Paris. Services were cancelled on routes to and from Paris while trains between London, Brussels and Amsterdam ran with delays. Eurostar said disruption continued into Wednesday as trains and crew were displaced.
Eurostar passengers are facing a second day of severe delays after two people died on the railway track in France and then cables were stolen.
The high-speed rail operators says repairs are complete and the railway line is open again, but delays will last until the end of the day.
Eurostar said passengers should postpone their journey, after the disruption saw services cancelled and delayed in both directions on lines connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Eurostar said there was already knock-on disruption on Wednesday after two people died in separate incidents on the LGV Nord line on Tuesday, but services were further impacted after cable was stolen on the same line.
The theft near Lille, which French media said was of around 600 metres of copper cables, caused trains to be rerouted, leading to extended journey times. Further cancellations are not expected on Wednesday now that the railway line is repaired.
Eurostar said that so far, five trains between London and Paris have been cancelled. It added that impacted passengers can change their travel plans for free or request a full refund.
"We're very sorry for the impact this is having on our customers," Eurostar said in a statement. "Our teams are working closely with the French authorities and infrastructure teams to manage the situation and restore services safely."
The operator earlier said one track had reopened, allowing some trains to run in both directions until full repairs were completed. Water is being handed out to passengers onboard delayed trains, and stations are also very busy. Hundreds of people are queuing at London's St Pancras International railway station trying to access the service centre to rebook onto other trains.
Elizabeth Romijn, a yoga teacher from the Netherlands, told PA news agency at St Pancras that the situation was "very chaotic" and people were having to sit on the ground because there were not enough chairs. The 75-year-old was planning to travel home to Brussels after visiting friends in Surrey. "My plan is to just wait. Maybe I should go and be more proactive and go to ask one of the staff but nobody seems to know anything," she said, adding that "it's quite horrible long queues."
The railway line in France was closed for much of the afternoon and evening on Tuesday after the two fatalities between Lille and Paris. Services were cancelled on routes to and from Paris while trains between London, Brussels and Amsterdam ran with delays. Eurostar said disruption continued into Wednesday as trains and crew were displaced.
Simple. You just have to make another effort to post a link and quote your source.
Chris from Nailsea.
| Swans versus Avocet In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362648/30403/49] Posted by johnneyw at 18:58, 25th June 2025 | |
The swans are real but the Avocet is the Avocet Line between Exeter and Exmouth......and it looked like the swans had won for a while. A number of them had wandered onto the track at Topsham this morning causing some disruption.
It looks like things have now returned to normal.
Here's the link to Devon Live who scooped the drama!
Devon trains were stopped after swans wandered onto tracks - Devon Live https://share.google/ac4xEGFuo5YyzhSmM
| Re: Modern Day Problems In "The Lighter Side" [362647/30390/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:13, 25th June 2025 | |
Also yesterday - a young lady who was quite pretty (am I allowed to say that?) ...
No.
You told me off for suggesting that the train manager on one of my recent journeys to Melksham was 'pretty'. She had done a full ticket check onboard, including her return down the aisle to my seat, just to check that she'd got it right (my ticket from Nailsea & Backwell had involved two changes, at Bath Spa and Trowbridge).
I maintain that she was very pretty.
CfN.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362646/29726/18] Posted by bobm at 16:50, 25th June 2025 Already liked by matth1j | |
It was reinstated at 15:35. However now the 21:16 from Westbury and the 22:31 from Swindon have both been cancelled.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362645/29726/18] Posted by matth1j at 16:26, 25th June 2025 | |
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains/departures/chippenham/melksham/
| Re: Go-Op Cooperative - proposals for additional rail services In "TransWilts line" [362644/11010/18] Posted by ChrisB at 15:20, 25th June 2025 | |
They also need a revised track access agreement from Network rail for the 769s.
How's the crowdfunder getting on?
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362643/29726/18] Posted by ChrisB at 15:18, 25th June 2025 | |
Another space for someone else then who does want to attend - there's plenty out there wanting to network
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362642/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 15:14, 25th June 2025 Already liked by Phil | |
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
One of my contacts at the Community Rail conference yesterday reports
... as previous years there wasn’t enough on the basics of running a railway: performance, capacity, navigation (in all senses), timetables and fares. It was clear from the Q&A that those were the topics people wanted addressed. The material about advertising and community is well known to us, and I could’ve done without the greenwash ...
| Re: Eurostar wide spread disruption Wednesday 25 June 2025 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362641/30402/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:04, 25th June 2025 | |
Thank you for providing us with that link to the source news story, matth1j.
| Re: A bear may go where a dog may not? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362640/28097/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:58, 25th June 2025 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Rogue bears' honey supply replenished by donations
A pair of bears who escaped and raided their keepers' food store in Devon are in the honey once more thanks to generous community donations.
European brown bears Mish and Lucy sparked a "code red" on Tuesday, in an escape that conservation charity Wildwood Trust said was caused by an unlocked gate. The dynamic duo consumed "a week's worth of honey", the trust said, as well as jam and other supplies - prompting a "sugar rush" and leaving a depleted larder in their wake.
Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, near Exeter, said: "I think everyone's picked up on the fact bears really do love honey - we've had donations including a 15kg (33lb) tub."
Mr Habben added: "We've also had donations to purchase more honey. It's just been been really lovely support from the local community. I couldn't have more gratitude for how people have responded to this and rallied around and offered support and also come in to see Mish and Lucy. People have picked up the cheeky element of bears, I think, and that they're a lovely, peaceful animal."
Mr Habben said they had also been inundated by visitors since the incident captured imaginations across the country and beyond.
It was at about 15:00 BST on Monday that the young bears "breached" the enclosure and made their way to a staff area. As the duo "feasted and played around", a park evacuation and lockdown took place, while staff trained in firearms and the police were deployed to the site. After about 55 minutes, Lucy made her way back to the enclosure, while Mish was lured back with a bell and some food.
Mr Habben said the sugar from the honey hit the bears shortly afterwards. "They gorged on honey and then they somehow needed to burn all of the energy off that that honey had created. They charged around for a good few hours, climbing up the trees, which was really fun to see, and jumping in the pond."
He said they then "crashed out" in a deep sleep "for hours" - just as an influx of visitors arrived to see the now-famous bears. "I think it was all of the running around from the sugar rush coupled with all of that sensory enrichment from being somewhere they shouldn't. They are like toddlers."
Mr Habben said a safety review was now under way to ensure the unlocked gate "never happens again". "We've been transparent that a mistake was made but at the end of it is a really positive ending and the engagement has been great."
A pair of bears who escaped and raided their keepers' food store in Devon are in the honey once more thanks to generous community donations.
European brown bears Mish and Lucy sparked a "code red" on Tuesday, in an escape that conservation charity Wildwood Trust said was caused by an unlocked gate. The dynamic duo consumed "a week's worth of honey", the trust said, as well as jam and other supplies - prompting a "sugar rush" and leaving a depleted larder in their wake.
Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, near Exeter, said: "I think everyone's picked up on the fact bears really do love honey - we've had donations including a 15kg (33lb) tub."
Mr Habben added: "We've also had donations to purchase more honey. It's just been been really lovely support from the local community. I couldn't have more gratitude for how people have responded to this and rallied around and offered support and also come in to see Mish and Lucy. People have picked up the cheeky element of bears, I think, and that they're a lovely, peaceful animal."
Mr Habben said they had also been inundated by visitors since the incident captured imaginations across the country and beyond.
It was at about 15:00 BST on Monday that the young bears "breached" the enclosure and made their way to a staff area. As the duo "feasted and played around", a park evacuation and lockdown took place, while staff trained in firearms and the police were deployed to the site. After about 55 minutes, Lucy made her way back to the enclosure, while Mish was lured back with a bell and some food.
Mr Habben said the sugar from the honey hit the bears shortly afterwards. "They gorged on honey and then they somehow needed to burn all of the energy off that that honey had created. They charged around for a good few hours, climbing up the trees, which was really fun to see, and jumping in the pond."
He said they then "crashed out" in a deep sleep "for hours" - just as an influx of visitors arrived to see the now-famous bears. "I think it was all of the running around from the sugar rush coupled with all of that sensory enrichment from being somewhere they shouldn't. They are like toddlers."
Mr Habben said a safety review was now under way to ensure the unlocked gate "never happens again". "We've been transparent that a mistake was made but at the end of it is a really positive ending and the engagement has been great."
| Re: Weymouth SWR services 23/6/25 In "South Western services" [362639/30394/42] Posted by eightonedee at 14:51, 25th June 2025 | |
Intrigued (and somewhat horrified) by MarkA's post, I went to National Rail's website to check what other prices might be available. This is what I found-
I could book a train leaving Bath at 8-22 tomorrow, direct taking 2hrs 12mins, returning at either 17-28 with 2 changes and 2hrs 8mins or no changes and 2hrs 24mins for just £23-40.
If I took a train 22 minutes later from Bath (ie 8-44), taking 3hrs 31mins with 2 changes, but having a choice of approximately hourly services for the return (including he same two alternatives at 17-28, and one with one change taking 3hrs 16 minutes) for £139-50!
That almost six times more expensive! How an earth can this be justified?
I drafted this before seeing WSW Frome's intervening post. Yes, the 139-50 fare is via Reading. I might be quite fond of my birthplace, but I'm not sure I'd recommend a special detour taking over an hour to see its station if I wanted to go from Bath to Weymouth at an additional cost of £115-20!
