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12/02/25 - TWSW Integrated Webinar
15/02/25 - Special Bletchey to Bicester
20/02/25 - Integrated Transport Strategy
06/03/25 - Go-op Crowd Funding closes

On this day
5th Feb (1971)

Foundation meeting, heritage railway to Minehead (link)

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February 05, 2025, 13:50:59

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1	All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: Strategic Investment Plan consultation - Western Gateway - 20.12.24 to 2.2.2025	on: January 17, 2025, 21:52:18
Quote from: grahame on January 17, 2025, 20:34:04 Dorset Metro ... mentioned in today's webinar and this from the Swanage News Quote Also a rail scheme called the Dorset Metro features high up in the list which would see extra train services from Wareham to Poole and Bournemouth, as well as an hourly shuttle service to Brockenhurst. Perhaps the most welcome mention for Swanage residents is a regular rail service between Swanage and Wareham which has been on the cards for years but has lacked the backing of long term government investment. It’s now in the document as one of the high priorities. An extra hourly service across the Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch area - giving a rise from 1 to 2 trains per hour at the lesser stations - would make sense. Brockenhust is actually just outside the BCP (and indeed Western Gateway) ares but makes sense as the eastern destination - for passenger flows, for connections, and operationally. With batteries on the trains, at the western end it is logical for them to start / end at Swanage. Any proposal to extend main line trains to Swanage on anything but an irregular basis will run into precisely the same issues as those discussed to Minehead. Although from a quick re-check I couldn't see Swanage mentioned as a priority in the document. Issues will be the Swanage Railway is fully occupied in the peak season with their own trains. Running earlier/later will involve staffing issues. Swanage is a 'Light ' railway subject to a 25mph restriction. Out of the peak season who would use these trains, especially (as with Minehead) there is a very good bus service used free (to senior passengers) or subsidised rate. As with everything it 'could' be done but a substantial cost both capital and on-going. For taxpayers. Edit: Fixed quotes - Red Squirrel

2	Sideshoots - associated subjects / Railway History and related topics / Re: Ghost Train: Broadstone Junction to Bath Green Park, S&DJR	on: December 29, 2024, 19:23:33
Thank you - an excellent You Tube video. So much of interest beyond the actual railway to see what has remained the same and the ever encroachment of 'civilisation'.

3	All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Trains delayed across Britain due to "nationwide fault" on communication system	on: December 06, 2024, 17:58:21
Quote from: bradshaw on December 06, 2024, 09:27:32 I am curious about the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) explanation for the cancellations on the early Weymouth service as being the result of communication problems. The ecs from Bristol for the Yeovil to Filton Abbey Wood service was cancelled between Bristol and Westbury, problem at the depot. It started late from Westbury running to Castle Cary to form the service to Filton. The first Westbury to Weymouth and return was cancelled - was this because the unit was taken for the Filton service? Then the first up from Weymouth was cancelled. Was this because the crew are booked come down on the early ecs and get a taxi to Weymouth? The cancelled services from Weymouth (0733 and 0930) have been reinstated from Bristol and Westbury respectively. Was the initial problem the communications one and led to the other cascade? The fault appeared to affect some areas and not others. SWT^▸ (South West Trains) were and GWR main line not. Hence Yeovil Pen Mill in Wessex was in the area affected and Castle Cary wasn't. I think!

4	Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Where was JayMac today, 4th December 2024?	on: December 04, 2024, 21:17:33
Glad JayMac & PhilWakely visited us today and that the rain kept off until after departure! Always hard work for the Volunteers but a satisfying job well done.

5	Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: End of the line quiz	on: July 28, 2024, 22:44:40
1. Salisbury

6	All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Problems with IET trains from April 2021	on: January 28, 2024, 23:55:42
According to this, Unite accepted the pay offer:- https://www.cityam.com/400-rmt-workers-at-hitachi-to-strike-on-saturday-until-1-february/ A Hitachi Rail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed at RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)’s decision to carry out industrial action. “We believe the combination of last year’s pay increase, and this year’s pay proposal, is fair and highly competitive in the current economic environment. As demonstrated by Unite members accepting the same offer this week and ending their planned industrial action.

7	Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Somerset Summary - rebuilding for the future	on: December 30, 2023, 20:21:27
If the Devon Metro was to terminate at and start from Axminster, there might well be a need for the bay platform to be re-instated to provide an interchange with the Waterloo-Exeter trains which pass there already. The smaller stations between Honiton & Pinhoe might be served only by Devon Metro trains, enabling the Waterloo to Exeter service to be speeded up and the crossing allowance at Pinhoe to be expanded. The main service might still call at Cranbrook but not Whimple or Feniton. There may well be other options to avoid spending more capital money though! Such as extending Devon Metro onto Chard Junction (using existing loop) or further. Too many trains and minimum infrastructure = delays and cancellations.

8	Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Somerset Summary - rebuilding for the future	on: December 29, 2023, 11:24:45
At present, the main Waterloo-Exeter services cross at Tisbury loop and Axminster and Pinhoe with only a few minutes allowed at each location. To create stops at Chard Junction would incur 3 or 4 minutes delay to each train making the above passing places impossible as timings are already (too) tight. I would also need to understand where the passenger demand comes from. Certainly people from Chard can easily drive to Axminster or Crewkerne - little difference to Chard Junction. The impact on other passengers through extended journey times needs to be considered. I could see an argument for Devon Metro trains to be extended to Yeovil Junction/Pen Mill and that a reopened Chard Junction might be part of that. However the substantial costs remain and need to be justified.

9	Journey by Journey / South Western services / Re: South Western Railways - reductions west of Salisbury	on: January 29, 2022, 00:13:08
Graham said:-I am not, I hope, a total profit of doom. There are modernisation options that are "left field" and could be operated - a 30 minute local service Exeter to Yeovil Pen Mill by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for example, with onward (London) service from Yeovil Junction with SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)? No-one mentioned this so far? I wonder if there are crayonistas in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) just as there are here (heck, I'm one today!) only they owe their income to their crayoning to the satisfaction of their bosses upstairs and at the treasury. There is a similar rumour locally, but that GWR service runs from Exeter to Reading via Yeovil Junction & Pen Mill. SWR start/terminate at Yeovil Junction. Also hear that from May, Salisbury to Waterloo services will divert after Basingstoke to terminate at Reading with only core Exeter trains running to Waterloo. Whether this applies to the services starting at Yeovil I do not know. Not sure which, but one of the new GWR Exeter to Axminster trains runs on as a route learner to the Yeovils and Castle Cary. I do wonder if the eventual intention is for Paddington to become the sole station for the West Country? I agree with Graham that questions should be asked now, rather than in a couple of years time!

10	Journey by Journey / South Western services / Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed	on: October 07, 2021, 21:20:17
Absolutely correct - signed.

11	Journey by Journey / South Western services / Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed	on: September 28, 2021, 23:40:56
Heard (rumour or fact?) that a number of units are to be stored to save money. If true, does that mean that the implied increase in the units (for leisure travel) on the core Waterloo-Exeter route will actually occur. Remember that the Honiton/Axminster shuttles are also possible reductions in 2022.

12	All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Bridge strike Plymouth 30 August	on: August 30, 2021, 23:54:38
Another example of how useful a diversionary route via Tavistock and Okehampton would be....Not all about the seawall!

13	Journey by Journey / London to Swindon and Bristol / Re: Why was Swindon's original Platform 4 demolished?	on: July 30, 2021, 23:32:11
Doing nothing is not an option! Most of us have sat in a polluting queue for an hour or so on so many occasions. How inefficient, frustrating and environmentally damaging. What are the alternatives? Even electric cars will run out of power and their drivers will continue to blow their tops if the situation continues. Lovely to think that public transport will sort the issues but unlikely in my lifetime! Another British example of inquiries, planning and considering followed by more inquiries and now....

14	Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Spot the line, compare the service (3 of 3)	on: April 19, 2021, 18:46:26
No 2 - Exeter St Davids/Central to London Waterloo? with Restaurant service.

15	Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South / Re: Okehampton	on: March 24, 2021, 15:12:57
As one of my colleagues commented, its interesting (and great) that concrete sleepers are being used and not steel. Perhaps shows that the possibility of extending to Meldon (for the quarry) or Tavistock (and Plymouth) are being considered. I understand steel is used where traffic is less heavy and slower. Good to see the relaying is being done to a high standard.

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