Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: [otd] 24th May 2002 - opening of Falkirk Wheel In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [375577/32062/47] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 00:45, 28th May 2026 |      |
has anyone here ridden it?
Yes - on its opening day!
I posted this to the Coffee Shop in 2015...
Way back on the day that the Falkirk Wheel was opened, I went up to report on it for Canal Boat magazine (my employer at the time) and planned to catch the train back to Charlbury that same day. This was in the days that CrossCountry ran loco-hauled trains and 60+ minute delays were not uncommon.
We left Waverley, got to Haymarket... and waited. And waited. There was, apparently, a fault with the train. Eventually we set off again, over an hour late.
Mobile internet wasn't a thing then, but as chance would have it, a bunch of bashers had got onto the train somewhere like Stafford or Crewe and sat down opposite me... and they had a copy of the GBRTT. I looked up the last trains of the night from Birmingham, and found that there was a late Chiltern train which would take me as far as Banbury. But, of course, from Moor Street - not New Street.
I forget how quickly I ran between the stations, but I think it was something like three minutes (I was much younger then!). The Chiltern guard had already closed the doors ready to go... but his back cab door was still open, and he let me on through that. I've rarely been so grateful to a member of rail staff. (I then phoned a friend from Charlbury who agreed to come and pick me up from Banbury!)
We left Waverley, got to Haymarket... and waited. And waited. There was, apparently, a fault with the train. Eventually we set off again, over an hour late.
Mobile internet wasn't a thing then, but as chance would have it, a bunch of bashers had got onto the train somewhere like Stafford or Crewe and sat down opposite me... and they had a copy of the GBRTT. I looked up the last trains of the night from Birmingham, and found that there was a late Chiltern train which would take me as far as Banbury. But, of course, from Moor Street - not New Street.
I forget how quickly I ran between the stations, but I think it was something like three minutes (I was much younger then!). The Chiltern guard had already closed the doors ready to go... but his back cab door was still open, and he let me on through that. I've rarely been so grateful to a member of rail staff. (I then phoned a friend from Charlbury who agreed to come and pick me up from Banbury!)
| Re: long term future for overhead wires? In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375576/31031/28] Posted by Noggin at 23:19, 27th May 2026 | |
Not sure if there are any plans for overhead Electrification in the West region.
Maybe
Stapleton road bank
Chippenham to Bristol
Cardiff to Swansea(possible on to LLanelli and Carmarthen
Although over head wires never look pleasant,especially in pretty view areas
Three places in this neck of the woods I would never like to see overhead wires is St Ives Newquay and Falmouth
with the Severn Beach line and Portishead lines.
Just wondering if the scheme on the Greenford branch could be introduced with underneath charging points at the the terminating station on the five routes mentioned.
Maybe
Stapleton road bank
Chippenham to Bristol
Cardiff to Swansea(possible on to LLanelli and Carmarthen
Although over head wires never look pleasant,especially in pretty view areas
Three places in this neck of the woods I would never like to see overhead wires is St Ives Newquay and Falmouth
with the Severn Beach line and Portishead lines.
Just wondering if the scheme on the Greenford branch could be introduced with underneath charging points at the the terminating station on the five routes mentioned.
In short, I suspect the only new wiring you'll see on GWR routes this decade is:
a) Any South Wales main line reliefs which weren't done originally, as part of the upgrade to 100mph running as part of the union connectivity works
b) Cardiff to Swansea - if the Welsh Assembly pay for it
c) Filton Jcn/Brabazon to Bristol Temple Meads - if WECA/Welsh Assembly/ YTL (Bristol Arena developers) fund it
I can't see anything happening at Oxford until the station rebuild is complete - in any case, the only real advantage would be that 387's could free up 80x.
Anything else really depends on having hybrid stock which can make use of it for charging. No chance the DfT will let GWR do that and even if GBR announce the start of procurement as they take over at the end of the year, there's little to no chance they'd be in service this decade.
Mark Hopwood suggested that Filton to Bathampton electrification would enable battery-electric units to be able to do the Portsmouths and Weymouths, but there's little incentive to do it otherwise - the 80x are fine on diesel.
On that basis I can't see any branchline electrification this decade or next unless someone in GBR reckons it would save money reasonably quickly. .
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [375575/31359/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:15, 27th May 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon
Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on the line.
Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to a shortage of trains this evening, we have unfortunately had to suspend our Westbury to Swindon service, meaning Melksham station will not be served.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [375574/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 20:14, 27th May 2026 | |
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [375573/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:13, 27th May 2026 | |
Alterations to services between Reading and London Paddington
Due to a speed restriction because of high track temperatures between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be running non stop between Reading and London Paddington. Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough will not be served.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375572/28355/22] Posted by JohnM at 17:52, 27th May 2026 | |
Hopefully catch 18:45 from Swindon, Melksham 19:09. Although the speed we're going at the moment I'm not sure whether that's likely either...
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375571/28355/22] Posted by JohnM at 17:48, 27th May 2026 | |
Ha if only - broken down freight train between Bristol and Bath. So 17:29 first stop is Swindon - that's the only option really I think, and come back from there. Just departed Bristol.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375570/28355/22] Posted by TaplowGreen at 17:46, 27th May 2026 | |
Confirmed along with its return running......
17:12 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 18:29
17:12 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 18:29 has been cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time
19:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:16
19:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375569/28355/22] Posted by JohnM at 17:38, 27th May 2026 | |
Catching 17:12 from Bristol for first time today - well I was, but it's been cancelled (showing 'on time' at 17:12). Now on the 17:29 Paddington, was originally hoping to continue to Chippenham to still connect with the 18:00 Melksham service (just), but it's now 17:35 and we're not moving - 'delayed'.
So looks like plan C - get off at Bath, assuming we ever get there, and catch 18:15 Melksham bus, after walking/running up to the Hilton to catch it.
| Re: Bridge hit - again "Freshford" = Limpley Stoke? In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [375568/32077/20] Posted by chipbury at 17:28, 27th May 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A | |
Being a resident of the Limpley Stoke area I was reading the most recent parish council meeting minutes and saw this:
Unitary Councillor for Winsley and Westwood Report- Mr Nigel White (NW)
NW is still in discussion with Network Rail, Wiltshire Highways and
National Highways regarding the railway bridge problems. Signage on
the A36 needs to be bigger as vegetation is covering the very small
HGV warning sign.
Hopefully if enough people raise the issue with Network Rail they may act.
| Re: Campaign for Tavistock reopening In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [375567/804/28] Posted by Andy at 17:23, 27th May 2026 | |
Sorry - post deleted
| Re: More 4 car 158s for Portsmouth services In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [375566/27229/20] Posted by bobm at 17:13, 27th May 2026 Already liked by MVR S&T, Mark A | |
It is hard to get accurate figures for many stations on the route. Looking back to Graham's post a few months back, Warminster is also served by trains to Gloucester. Those services also call at Bradford-on-Avon alongside those to and from Weymouth.
Based on ticket sales the Cardiff/Portsmouth line as a whole is attracting around 57 to 61,000 passengers a month. Since the turn of the year it has failed to reach pre-Covid levels. Easy to speculate on reasons while sitting at a keyboard but are people put off by the prospect of standing? We saw that in the days of the class 153s on the TransWilts.
| Re: The People's Emergency - film, free, 27.5.2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [375565/32079/34] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:06, 27th May 2026 Already liked by broadgage, grahame | |
For some strange and inexplicable reason, I do indeed happen to be in Melksham this evening.
I'll be at the film viewing, dispensing some excellently produced public transport related timetable brochures to anyone else who is there, as well as watching the film.
Melksham Assembly Hall is just behind the Town Hall, on Market Place.
Chris from Melksham.
| Re: The People's Emergency - film, free, 27.5.2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [375564/32079/34] Posted by broadgage at 17:04, 27th May 2026 | |
sounds a worthwhile cause. Do they propose any sensible solutions to the many problems we face.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375563/28355/22] Posted by ChrisB at 16:46, 27th May 2026 | |
Agreed - but would *still* be well below the previous highest customer number on other routes....
| Re: More 4 car 158s for Portsmouth services In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [375561/27229/20] Posted by John D at 16:32, 27th May 2026 | |
Although shortened to just Bristol Parkway to Fareham due to engineering work at both Severn tunnel and Portsmouth area, seem to be struggling to find sufficient units.
1F06 started with 165137, had to be swapped to a 158
1F09 just a 2 coach 158 (158747)
2F12 Bristol-Warminster cancelled due to unit being swapped
1F15 and 1F22 just a single 2 coach 158 (158766)
Roll on getting decent number of 175s in service, so some extra stock can be moved to Bristol area
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375560/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 16:31, 27th May 2026 | |
Agreed although my somewhat unspoken point was that if the service is reliable people will use it. There were less than 20 cancellations in April (with eight on one day). This was preceded by a reasonable February and March where barring a car on the line and several attempts to demolish the bridge at Limpley Stoke, the reliability was markedly better than pre-Christmas.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375558/28355/22] Posted by ChrisB at 16:15, 27th May 2026 | |
That is still *way* down on total customers mentioned by Graham on other routes - and the operators WILL take number of customers affected into account when cancelling/altering services. Of course those services carrying the fewest customers will suffer the biggest brunt of cancellations
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375557/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 16:12, 27th May 2026 | |
"We're short of a driver from Bristol to Oxford and that's a High Vis service"
"OK - let's take George off the Bristol to Salisbury - he can drive an IET and knows the road"
"But who will drive the Salisbury train"
"We can take Gillian off the Westbury to Swindon shuttle for that"
"So who will drive the TransWilts train"
"Oh - we'll cancel that ... it's no longer a high vis service with ministerial interest"
"OK - let's take George off the Bristol to Salisbury - he can drive an IET and knows the road"
"But who will drive the Salisbury train"
"We can take Gillian off the Westbury to Swindon shuttle for that"
"So who will drive the TransWilts train"
"Oh - we'll cancel that ... it's no longer a high vis service with ministerial interest"
Dangerous to read too much into one month's figures - but in April TransWilts passenger numbers were up on April last year and April 2019. I think that is the first time it has got above pre-pandemic levels.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [375556/31371/14] Posted by Witham Bobby at 15:43, 27th May 2026 | |
And now:
16:58 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:25 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:27/05/2026 14:14
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:27/05/2026 14:14
19:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:27/05/2026 14:14
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:27/05/2026 14:14
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [375555/31359/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:43, 27th May 2026 | |
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375554/28355/22] Posted by IndustryInsider at 15:37, 27th May 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
Oh - I agree with you ... I was imagining the cascading that might go on ...
Believe me, they're neither that devious...nor that clever!
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375553/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 15:24, 27th May 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Mark A | |
It also carries at least half of the number of customers of te other routes mentioned. 
With 26% cancellations and nothing else for a number of hours, are we surprised that passenger numbers are so low - though they are typically way, way above the target numbers when the service was introduced
. Not looking for the lowest common denominator. Looking for an operation that runs well over 95% of the services it promises in the timetable rather than 74%
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375552/28355/22] Posted by ChrisB at 15:10, 27th May 2026 | |
It also carries at least half of the number of customers of te other routes mentioned.
| Re: [otd] 24th May 2002 - opening of Falkirk Wheel In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [375549/32062/47] Posted by rogerw at 14:10, 27th May 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch | |
... Knowing that the Falkirk Wheel has attracted a number of our members to take a look (has anyone here ridden it?) and it's talked about on our member's area - yes - I'm posting. My own picture (probably one of my worst pictures of any time) is via https://www.wellho.info/share/falkirk.html
I have taken a full revolution of said structure not long after it opened visiting family in that part of the world. We used the touring narrowboat, with half a turn up; through the tunnel and return finishing with a half a turn back down. A wonderful piece of engineering.
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [375548/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 13:44, 27th May 2026 | |
In terms of comparisons with the TransWilts I don't think there is any interface with either the trains or the staff that work each route, so the only impact they might have on each other is the shared tracks between Thingly Junction and Swindon...and obviously more trains running over a route increases the chances of knock-on delays.
Oh - I agree with you ... I was imagining the cascading that might go on ...
"We're short of a driver from Bristol to Oxford and that's a High Vis service"
"OK - let's take George off the Bristol to Salisbury - he can drive an IET and knows the road"
"But who will drive the Salisbury train"
"We can take Gillian off the Westbury to Swindon shuttle for that"
"So who will drive the TransWilts train"
"Oh - we'll cancel that ... it's no longer a high vis service with ministerial interest"
"OK - let's take George off the Bristol to Salisbury - he can drive an IET and knows the road"
"But who will drive the Salisbury train"
"We can take Gillian off the Westbury to Swindon shuttle for that"
"So who will drive the TransWilts train"
"Oh - we'll cancel that ... it's no longer a high vis service with ministerial interest"
