London is one step closer to getting a direct high-speed train to some of Germany’s most iconic cities.

Eurostar and German national rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB) are exploring options to run non-stop services between the UK and Europe’s largest economy, the Department of Transport has confirmed.

Set to start in the early 2030s, the routes would use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet, set to be the first double-decker rolling stock operated in the UK and the Channel Tunnel.

If plans go ahead, millions of passengers could reach Cologne in four hours and Frankfurt in less than five hours from the UK capital.

But nothing has been said about a direct service to Berlin, despite Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, praising the idea earlier this year.

Comedian Dom Joly has ripped into train operator GWR saying it'd be easier to travel from New York than it is to commute by train from his home in Cheltenham.

[snip]

In his funny video, the award-winning television comedian, broadcaster and travel-writer, said: "It is very early in morning but I am doing my new thing, not going by train from Cheltenham to London which costs me more than it'd cost me to get to New York and takes an insane amount of time and crazy waiting time at Gloucester train station for no reason whatsoever.

There has been a development on the Station announcements at Pershore.

Instead of WOP it now says Newcourt 

**snip**
Through trains between Cheltenham and London are further reduced from the existing 3 at 10.47, 15.00 and 17.00 to just a single working at 10.47, the other two workings terminating at Swindon.
**snip**

There has been a development on the Station announcements at Pershore.

Instead of WOP it now says Newcourt 

A major development at Pershore this week another 12 car park spaces have been marked out in the area in font of the Carlton-Smith works west of the station entrance.

Met Office issues weather warning for rain, 8-9 December

Areas of England and Wales have been warned of potential flooding and travel disruption caused by heavy rain.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for south west England and south Wales earlier, which will be in place from 18:00 GMT on Monday to 18:00 on Tuesday.

The forecaster said an area of low pressure approaching the UK from the south west would bring heavy rain as well as strong winds, which could last until early Wednesday.

"At present, the exact track, depth, and timings of this low are uncertain, which makes it harder to determine where will be most impacted by strong winds and/or heavy rain," said Steven Keates, the Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist.

"This system has the potential to cause disruption, and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued over the weekend as details become clearer," he added.

Outbreaks of rain will become persistent and heavy, the Met Office said, with up to 40mm (1.6in) of rainfall in some areas and 60-80mm of rain over Dartmoor and high ground in south Wales, which could amount to more than half the average monthly rainfall in December.

Spray and flooding on the roads could cause difficult driving conditions, the forecaster said, with a chance of cancellations to train and bus services.

There is a small chance of some communities being cut off by flooded roads, as well as of homes and businesses being damaged by rising water.

The Met Office warning also highlights the possibility of fast flowing water causing danger to life, with some areas also facing the potential of power cuts.



The weather warning covers much of the south-west of England and south Wales.

(BBC article continues)

That's the connecting theme, isn't it?  

Blandford Forum

Scholar Green

Severe weather forces closure of storm-hit port terminal

One of Britain's busiest ports has closed one of its terminals following a "berthing incident" caused by severe weather conditions.

The incident took place on Friday at Terminal 5 of Holyhead Port on Anglesey, Stena Line Port announced, who said the terminal will remain temporarily closed to ensure safety. It added that the port "continues to facilitate the full sailing schedule for ferry operators".

Holyhead faced months of disruption after Storm Darragh hit Wales in December 2024, having only fully reopened in July after seven months of partial closure. Two berths at Holyhead were damaged hours before the height of a rare red weather wind warning that battered Wales last December.

The port was closed for five weeks, including over the Christmas period, as engineers fixed one of the damaged berths - Holyhead partially reopened in January and services resumed to a revised timetable. The other berth took seven months to repair and reopened in July, but the economic impact of the closures was estimated at £500m in lost trade.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, described the announcement as "worrying" one year on from the previous disturbance, which had implications for the local community. "The priority now must be to understand what exactly has happened and what the implications might be," he said in a statement.

More than 1.5m people pass through Holyhead every year making it the most popular sea route between the UK mainland and the Republic of Ireland.

Stena Line said current weather conditions prevent a full assessment but that services would continue according to "the full sailing schedule".

Cockermouth

Residents have long complained of unreliable lifts in the Greenwich foot tunnel

Plans to undertake a "full tunnel regeneration" of the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels are in the pipeline, a south-east London council has said.

Greenwich Council's acting cabinet member for transport confirmed a plan to replace the often faulty lifts in the Greenwich tunnel had been agreed with Tower Hamlets Council.

The council jointly owns the Greenwich tunnel with Tower Hamlets and the Woolwich tunnel with Newham.

However, Greenwich Council has the responsibility for operating and managing both of the pedestrian river crossings.

The local authority has come under fire for its management of the tunnels, as frequent users have consistently complained about the lifts being out of action for extended periods of time.

Greenwich Council has previously said that bespoke parts to fix the lifts were hard to get hold of, which has led to delays in getting them operational again.

At a meeting this week, councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan confirmed that the authority would be leading the way in fully refurbishing the Greenwich foot tunnel and its lifts alongside its council partner north of the Thames. He said: "The week before last I had an incredibly productive meeting with Tower Hamlets, the cabinet member for transport and some of their senior officers, and I was very glad that they agreed we could proceed to the detailed design phase for full tunnel regeneration."


Plans for the Woolwich foot tunnel upgrades need to be agreed between Greenwich and Newham councils

O'Byrne Mulligan said the agreed master plan included replacing both the lifts with dual-shaft systems which would increase "reliability and serviceability". The plan also includes work to improve the lighting and heritage aspects of the century-old crossing, as well as encouraging wider usage of the tunnel. He said he was "incredibly glad" that Tower Hamlets had agreed the plan, and revealed he had requested a meeting with Newham Council to implement a similar strategy with the Woolwich foot tunnel.

O'Byrne Mulligan also confirmed the council had been working with the mayor's office to deliver "a co-ordinated approach for step-free travel that is reliable and fully accessible under the river for both Greenwich and Woolwich".

Campaigners from the residents' group Lifts Now said they remained unconvinced, noting that the Woolwich tunnel's north lift was still out of use and the south lift continued to be unreliable. The group said more than 1,800 people had signed its petition and that it would keep pressing for the crossings to be managed by Transport for London.

11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:51

11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:51 was diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge and will be diverted between Romsey and Fareham.

It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon and Southampton Central but will call additionally at Chippenham, Melksham and Eastleigh.

It has been previously delayed, will be further delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 13 minutes late.

This is due to a tree blocking the railway earlier today.

09:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 12:51

09:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 12:51 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.

It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon.

It is being delayed between Bath Spa and Trowbridge and is now expected to be 12 minutes late.

This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:51

10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:51 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.

It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon.

It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late.

This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:51

11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:51 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.

It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon but will call additionally at Chippenham and Melksham.

It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late.

This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

12:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 15:51

12:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 15:51 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.

It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon but will call additionally at Chippenham.

It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late.

This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:51

10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:51 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

Cancellations to services between Bath Spa and Westbury

Due to a tree blocking the railway at Avoncliff the line towards Westbury is blocked. Disruption is expected until 14:00 06/12.
Train services between Bath Spa and Westbury may be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Freshford, Avoncliff and Bradford-On-Avon will not be served.

Customer Advice
Due to a tree blocking the railway line near Avoncliff, our train service is suspended whilst our teams make it safe to run.

Cancellations to services between Bath Spa and Westbury
Due to a tree blocking the railway at Avoncliff the line towards Westbury is blocked. Disruption is expected until 14:00 06/12.
Train services between Bath Spa and Westbury may be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Freshford, Avoncliff and Bradford-On-Avon will not be served.
Customer Advice
Due to a tree blocking the railway line near Avoncliff, our train service is suspended whilst our teams make it safe to run.

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01 will be cancelled.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway.