Just looking at the map, Graham, and it does seem very strange the the FOSW is apparently not valid Romsey - Eastleigh via Chandlers Ford or on the Lymington branch.  Both look very deliberate exclusions from the map.

In practical terms, I can't imagine there would be any problem actually travelling on either line with a FOSW rover.  I have done this but a long time ago now.

Well that was predictably quick.  Woolston-Hamble-Bursledon....along Southampton Water.   It didn't disappoint and with several stations along the way you can trim your walk according to time/energy level.  Some decent watering holes too.... particularly impressed by The Jolly Sailor, a few minutes from Bursledon Station and tucked away right by the estuary.

My answer to the question I have quoted in bold is "I think so" for purely selfish reasons!

In my days of travelling daily on GWR I used to frequent the coffee shop probably daily. Then I moved to the Milton Keynes area where I jumped ship (or should that be TOC?) to Virgin as it was then and now  I am in a job that doesn't need me to travel at all and gives me more leasure time.

So after a break away from model railways I'm back and I'll be honest I came back to here because I knew you guys would know the answer to this question!

"What are the bits of hardware that sit between the rails and look like blocks of metal with champhers at each end" called? If I was going anywhere where I could get you a photo I would

I'm trying to find some of these in OO gauge so I can hide some reed switches.

Many thanks in advance!

Dave

Should the Coffee Shop cover model railways?

Well - it seems natural to allow / have some coverage of what's a subject of interest to a good proportion of our members, and a linked subject in many ways, but not to flood the main boards.    So this "Sideshoots" board is now a general place for things which are "pure interest" if you like to put it that way - things you probably can't see because they're gone or in people's private homes, but never the less of interest to members from time to time.

Rail disruption now set to last more than a week



Disruption on some rail services in south Wales will now last over a week and continue until Monday morning as repair work on a railway bridge continues.

Many journeys were suspended or cancelled due to work on the bridge outside Cardiff Central station between Sunday and Tuesday.

Transport for Wales (TfW) and Network Rail, which owns and operates most of the rail infrastructure in the UK, said mainline services in and out of Cardiff had largely returned to normal by Tuesday evening.

But work on the bridge will continue this week and bus replacements or diverted lines would remain in place until 28 April for services from Cardiff to Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent.

The bridge connects Cardiff Central to Queen Street, running over the lines linking Cardiff Central to Newport and beyond.

An inspection at the weekend revealed some structural problems and services were immediately suspended due to safety concerns.

Trains will only run between Ebbw Vale and Newport for the remainder of this week, with either bus replacements or diverted train journeys between Newport and Cardiff, the statement said.

Bus replacements are also in place for the Caerphilly and Coryton lines, TfW and Network Rail said.

Additional train services will be added as phases of the work are completed this week, the companies added.

It follows three days of disruption caused by the work to the bridge, which affected a number of routes run by Great Western Railway, TfW and CrossCountry.

Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd Delyth Jewell said the ongoing issues with rail infrastructure were "a symptom of Wales' history of being short-changed when it comes to rail funding".

Conservative transport spokesman Peter Fox said commuters had "every right to feel frustrated, especially after a 6% rise in ticket prices this year".

Wales' Transport Minister Ken Skates said TfW was "working closely with Network Rail and Amey Infrastructure Wales to resolve this urgent mater as soon as is safely possible".

Woolston station

Drivers have paid more than £2.5m in fines over a 15-month period for travelling through a controversial bus gate.

About 60,128 fines were handed to motorists for driving through the Cumberland Road bus gate in Bristol between 1 January 2024 and 3 April 2025. This equates to an average of 131 fines per day.

Signage states only buses, taxis and bicycles are allowed to pass through it.

Bristol City Council said bus gates are installed across the city to help cut air pollution "and increase the number of bus travel options for residents".

According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC, the Cumberland Road bus gate fines generated about £2.529m. That is more than four times higher than the city's second-highest grossing bus gate, which is High Street, at the junction of Baldwin Street. This gate made more than £477,000 in fines.

The FOI also revealed there were 128 attempts at appealing the fines during the same period, however it is not clear how many of them were successfully overturned.

In February, a Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudicator raised concerns about the signage approaching the bus gate while determining an appeal. The council has repeatedly defended the signage, arguing it is compliant with the latest guidance and legislation.

Councillor Ed Plowden, transport committee chair on Bristol City Council, said: "It is the responsibility of all drivers to plan their journey appropriately and avoid bus gates. Drivers can find details of bus gates in Bristol on the council's website. We continue to offer leniency, at our discretion, for those drivers who receive multiple fines in the time between their first incorrect use of the bus gate and getting notice of the fine in the post."

The total revenue made from fines across all of the city's bus gates was £4.7m.

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Following damage to the overhead electric wires at London Paddington all lines are now open.

Disruption is expected until 19:00 22/04.
Train services between London Paddington and Reading may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised

8.  St Budeaux Ferry Road

17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham due 18:23 will no longer call at Hanborough, Combe, Finstock, Charlbury, Ascott-Under-Wychwood, Shipton and Kingham.
It will be delayed at Oxford.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
Last Updated:22/04/2025 16:55

16:58 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:25 will call additionally at Combe, Finstock, Ascott-Under-Wychwood and Shipton.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.
Last Updated:22/04/2025 16:55

Following damage to the overhead electric wires at London Paddington all lines are now open. Disruption is expected until 19:00 22/04.
Train services between London Paddington and Reading may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised.

A train has had an issue with the pantograph just outside London Paddington. The pantograph is the mechanism on the train roof which draws power from the Overhead lines. The train driver has checked the train and it has safely moved forward to London Paddington.

All train movements had been stopped at London Paddington however Network Rail advise that it is safe to start running trains and therefore services are resuming. Due to the queue of trains between Reading and London Paddington which built up whilst the lines were blocked outside Paddington earlier, there is also considerable delay on Great Western Mainline routes into Reading.
Last Updated:22/04/2025 17:46

17:34 London Paddington to Hereford due 20:25 will be started from Reading.
This is due to damage to the overhead electric wires.
Last Updated:22/04/2025 17:44

I note that it was the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and not the Wilthshire and Bath one. Covering for each other?

On this day - 22nd April. A lot has happened in the world, ...  but little of it is rail in the South West related. 

There's a lot of people's energy goes into the UK's heritage railways and some of it must be the sublimated energy from current rail staff that for one reason or another the national rail network cannot utilise ...