Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [369000/31211/30] Posted by TonyN at 12:57, 5th December 2025 |      |
2: Whitstable 11th October
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368999/28355/22] Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:56, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
The latest Oxford Clarion newsletter reports that GWR have applied to the ORR to introduce a full Oxford–Bristol service. Every two hours from May 2026, increasing to every hour from May 2027.
More details here:
https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-11/gwr-ltd-s22a-301st-sa-network-rail-representations.pdf
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368998/28355/22] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 12:47, 5th December 2025 Already liked by IndustryInsider | |
The latest Oxford Clarion newsletter reports that GWR have applied to the ORR to introduce a full Oxford–Bristol service. Every two hours from May 2026, increasing to every hour from May 2027.
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368997/31189/30] Posted by Mark A at 12:18, 5th December 2025 | |
Facebook thread here too:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=26159814703609183&set=pcb.25846044401669064
Mark
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368996/31211/30] Posted by stuving at 11:09, 5th December 2025 | |
5. Haguenau. July?
| Re: Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal - water shortage, March 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [368995/30071/51] Posted by Mark A at 11:08, 5th December 2025 | |
Funding sourced to secure the water supply for the Mon & Brec canal.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e46xz0191o
I need to eat worms on my previous understanding of this as the west side of the country's rainfall this year was... anomalous. It's very positive that support has been found for the canal but the underlying issue can only be mitigated to some extent by funding - underlying this is the spectre of drought, and drought is something that causes an itch in the frogs of the the hooves of the horses of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Mark
| Re: Passengers locked inside Hartlepool station In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [368994/31200/51] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:49, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
To be fair, it wasn't the train crew who caused the problem: that was due to a security guard from a third-party contractor who locked up without checking the last train had arrived.
I suspect Northern will be having some stern words with their third party contractor.
I suspect Northern will be having some stern words with their third party contractor.
Indeed, perhaps the DfT (who now 'own' Northern) should employ full time staff who are more likely to be aware of such things, rather than contractors?
Always good to be able to pluck a diamond from a turd! 
Yes, call me strange, but I'd much rather go looking for diamonds than turds.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368993/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 10:48, 5th December 2025 Already liked by IndustryInsider, Mark A | |
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
Both reinstated at 06:49.
Thank you - and noted ... we have been very concerned and noted trains cancelled and then re-instated in the past - indeed it happens most weeks. From a very small sample of such cancelled-then-reinstated trains I have caught, passenger numbers can be decimated, though I don't have enough data to correlate the length of time a service was cancelled for with the passenger drops. Good this came back so quickly - would be really useful if the green signal of a running train didn't get slammed back to a red one, with messages going out to tell people that it won't be running - rather with a "check back in two hours" message - sort of single yellow.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368992/29726/18] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:41, 5th December 2025 | |
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
Both reinstated at 06:49.
| Crosscountry and TfW Christmas restrictions 2025 In "Fare's Fair" [368991/31213/4] Posted by plymothian at 10:40, 5th December 2025 | |
Crosscountry will be lifting Off-peak restrictions between 22 December and 2 January inclusive. Super Off-peak restrictions are unchanged.
No restrictions on 1 January.
(No service 25 & 26 December)
TfW will be lifting Off-peak restrictions between 25 December and 1 January inclusive. Super Off-peak restrictions are unchanged.
No restrictons 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
| Oswestry Cambrian Railway building restoration wins national award In "Railway History and related topics" [368990/31212/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:20, 5th December 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Building work was carried out between July 2024 and May 2025
Work to restore Oswestry's Cambrian Railway building has been recognised with a national award.
The work on the building, headed by Shropshire Council, was done between July 2024 and May 2025. Improvements included fixing the building's exterior, removing asbestos tiles, painting and installing nest boxes for swifts in the eaves and bat roosting tiles along the roof.
The project won the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards on Wednesday. The works were funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Shropshire Council, with the work carried out by local building conservation specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd.
The building, which is Grade II listed, opened in 1866, and has multiple uses since it ceased operating as a railway station in 1966, Shropshire Council said. It served as the local railway station and the Cambrian Railway headquarters, key in connecting Oswestry and north Wales.
The authority took possession of the building in 2023 after years of neglect, and storm damage the year prior. Now, the building is let to local railway charity Cambrian Heritage Railways.
"This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs will ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations," said Roger Evans, cabinet member for finance.
"Shropshire Council took possession of this historic building, to help secure a viable long term use for it. We're committed to maintaining the heritage and integrity of this important site and we look forward to finding a suitable use for it so that it can continue to serve the community for many years to come."
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368989/31189/30] Posted by Ralph Ayres at 10:16, 5th December 2025 | |
Dang. I was hoping for full details and background re. the Sudbury & Harrow Road one, but I see the guy who put it on Facebook didn't even know where it was!
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368988/31190/5] Posted by LiskeardRich at 09:47, 5th December 2025 Already liked by GBM, Mark A | |
The standards of driving seem to have deteriorated a lot too. I’m driving around 100,000 miles a year I worked out, and I’m definitely thinking “what are you doing” a lot more!
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368987/31211/30] Posted by brooklea at 09:32, 5th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | |
6. Is a Victoria Line train, and the only one of those you are likely to have been on is parked at the LTM’s Acton Depot. On that basis, 20th September.
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368986/31211/30] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 09:00, 5th December 2025 | |
11. Pread st Paddington in the summer .
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368985/31189/30] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 08:55, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Wow. I've seen pictures of horses providing motive power on railways - trams and shunting wagons; and I've seen pictures of big dogs pulling child-sized dog carts on estate roads. But I never thought that I'd see dogs used as motive power on a railway.
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368984/31211/30] Posted by matth1j at 08:45, 5th December 2025 | |
9. A350 underpass near Melksham station, er... no idea, March?
12. looks like Trowbridge, but again, no idea when - February?
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368983/31211/30] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 08:42, 5th December 2025 | |
6. On the Piccadilly line (blue grab poles); maybe at a signal stop between stations (the doors are closed but the freestanding chap in the vestibule has not braced himself for stability); and underground (no daylight outside and there are clear reflections from the windows). Spring or autumn, from the wide range of clothing layers.
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368982/31190/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 08:38, 5th December 2025 | |
That's what de-icer trigger sprays are for.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368981/31198/30] Posted by ellendune at 08:25, 5th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
I have the advantage that I live on Route 9
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368980/31211/30] Posted by Timmer at 08:22, 5th December 2025 | |
7 Penleigh Park foot crossing over Westbury avoiding line. I’m going to say January.
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368979/31189/30] Posted by grahame at 08:14, 5th December 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Mark A | |
And to add another of the ilk of No. 4 ... print labelled with location and date this time - shared from here
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368978/31189/30] Posted by grahame at 08:08, 5th December 2025 | |
As promised (or threatened) here are my sources
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=25624144567183377&set=gm.2641251962902897&idorvanity=711170475911065 - Sudbury Road and Harrow
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177808113032034/posts/2013784489434378/ - Leek - this one not identified by members
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2919589211574696&set=gm.26196769553244142&idorvanity=1390742637606844 - Hunstanton
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1307583721403990&set=a.602528495242853 - Denton
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122163702326605836&set=gm.1930569121674440&idorvanity=440570830674284 - Crainlarich
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10241723147399923&set=pcb.2013570269455800 - Masbury
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730959503584733/?multi_permalinks=33823163800604220&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen - Melrose
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2610935075926555&set=gm.33830088169911783&idorvanity=1730959503584733 - St Lawrence, Ramsgate
https://www.facebook.com/groups/410016829130481/?multi_permalinks=3386880974777370&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen - Mission, British Columbia
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melksham-goods-yard-undated.jpg - Melksham
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368977/31211/30] Posted by bradshaw at 08:08, 5th December 2025 | |
1 Chetnole, month possibly May as the hawthorn is flowering
More specifically May 10
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=30256.msg361453#msg361453
| AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368976/31211/30] Posted by grahame at 07:53, 5th December 2025 | |
Here are a dozen pictures I've taken this year - one in each month of the year. Can you place them, and work out which month they were taken in?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368975/31190/5] Posted by CyclingSid at 07:49, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Having been out on the bike early this frosty morning, I am reminded that most SUV drivers can't reach the whole of their windscreen to scrape the ice off. Reply on commenting on this to a member of the ambulance service, you don't have to tell us about this, unfortunately.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368974/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 07:18, 5th December 2025 | |
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09
Facilities on the 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09.
Toilet facilities are reduced.
Additional Facilities Information
No accessible toilet available.
Facilities on the 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09.
Toilet facilities are reduced.
Additional Facilities Information
No accessible toilet available.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368973/29726/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:25, 5th December 2025 | |
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368972/31198/30] Posted by grahame at 23:35, 4th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
Here is the display in one of the bus stops ... and my source ... been to the boulevard a number other times already.
As regards the two companies ... I have seen it worse, but still concerned at things like 2 buses from Swindon to Marlborough 5 minutes apart then an hour to wait for the next one. Granted one went on to Tidworth and the other via Pewsey. Saw that same doubling up on the way back.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368971/31198/30] Posted by stuving at 23:09, 4th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
