Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367808/31038/40] Posted by grahame at 17:11, 5th November 2025 |      |
I have merged two topics here, as they all relate to the same piece of proposed legislation.
So go on - merge Graham's here too....
I'm going to defer to CfN on this ... busy sorting out server load issues
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367807/31038/40] Posted by ChrisB at 16:41, 5th November 2025 | |
I have merged two topics here, as they all relate to the same piece of proposed legislation.
So go on - merge Graham's here too....
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367806/31038/40] Posted by ChrisB at 16:40, 5th November 2025 | |
There are 9 sections under that one link
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railways-bill
Graham has started one thread on one of the sections - Passenger Watchdog - and this was to be the start of a second before setting up all the others so that discussion was concentrated on the Government's sectioning.
Rather than concentrating all discussion into two or even one (if you merge Graham's here too) - I think it better to follow the Government's sections?
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367805/31038/40] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:38, 5th November 2025 | |
I have merged two topics here, as they all relate to the same piece of proposed legislation.
CfN.
| Re: New Passenger Watchdog In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367804/31040/40] Posted by ChrisB at 16:30, 5th November 2025 | |
I guess they could increase the compensation from that operator each time they fail to improve?
| Re: Lawrence Hill rail station to become step free with new lift In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [367803/30929/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:03, 5th November 2025 | |
No. There is so much easy pedestrian access to the station - for example, from the supermarket car park - that it would be completely impractical.
| Re: Paddington to Bristol <-> service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [367802/18525/10] Posted by matth1j at 15:47, 5th November 2025 | |
Just noticed that National Rail is reporting the 15:30 Bristol - Paddington as 'delayed by animals on the railway', expected departure 15:43.
| Re: New Passenger Watchdog In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367801/31040/40] Posted by grahame at 15:44, 5th November 2025 | |
And they have some case examples
Case 1: overcrowded and delayed trains
Imagine you’re a passenger on a local commuter rail line, run by GBR, and your trains are often overcrowded, delayed, or cancelled. The issue has persisted for several weeks with no sign of improvement.
[snip]
In addition, if changes are not happening quickly enough or if issues are happening across multiple operators, the watchdog can put public pressure on operators by publicly naming and shaming poorly performing operators to make them more accountable for their performance.
Imagine you’re a passenger on a local commuter rail line, run by GBR, and your trains are often overcrowded, delayed, or cancelled. The issue has persisted for several weeks with no sign of improvement.
[snip]
In addition, if changes are not happening quickly enough or if issues are happening across multiple operators, the watchdog can put public pressure on operators by publicly naming and shaming poorly performing operators to make them more accountable for their performance.
I'm not impressed ... we have a disasterous cancellation record here on my local line and the issue has persisted for many months - not just weeks. We have asked for improvements and publicly named and shamed the operator - it's First Group trading as Great Western, but they seem to have no shame and continue the poor performance ... nothing will change??
| Re: New Passenger Watchdog In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367800/31040/40] Posted by grahame at 15:39, 5th November 2025 | |
And they have some case examples
Case 1: overcrowded and delayed trains
Imagine you’re a passenger on a local commuter rail line, run by GBR, and your trains are often overcrowded, delayed, or cancelled. The issue has persisted for several weeks with no sign of improvement.
What you can do:
If direct complaints to GBR do not improve things, you can make a complaint about individual cases of delays, cancellations and overcrowding to the watchdog via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman. Persistent and repeated issues such as this one will be picked up for further investigation.
What the passenger watchdog can then do:
The watchdog will draw on its user data surveys and operational performance data to investigate the issue.
It can request further information from GBR to a clear deadline to understand the underlying reasons for the repeated service issues.
It can then require GBR to formally set out the steps it plans to take to correct the issue.
If GBR is not meeting minimum standards, the watchdog can refer the matter to the regulator for possible enforcement.
Likewise, if GBR does not cooperate with the investigation, the watchdog can refer the case to the regulator for further investigation and enforcement action, if needed.
In addition, if changes are not happening quickly enough or if issues are happening across multiple operators, the watchdog can put public pressure on operators by publicly naming and shaming poorly performing operators to make them more accountable for their performance.
Case 2: assistance failure
Imagine you have booked assistance at a rail station a week before your planned trip, but when you arrived, there were no staff available to help you board the train. Due to this, your journey is delayed, and you miss a vital appointment. This is not the first time assistance at the station has not been provided in a timely manner. You contact GBR but do not receive a satisfactory resolution to the complaint.
What you can do:
Escalate your individual complaint to the watchdog via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman.
If the issue is recurring, the watchdog will investigate it as a wider systemic issue.
What the passenger watchdog can do:
It can review and investigate the individual case and offer a solution which could include compensation to you via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman. Decisions are binding on rail service providers.
Rather than just focusing on the individual case, the watchdog will have an overview of all complaints and can detect trends. In this case, if the watchdog observes similar repeated assistance issues in an area, it can investigate the causes – including asking GBR to provide further information.
It can work with GBR to find ways to address the issue, and, if necessary, require it to formally set out actions on how it plans to address it. It can also look to prevent future problems by sharing best practice across the network.
The watchdog can also confirm whether the operator is complying with their accessible travel policy (ATP) – which each operator is required to have – and review the ATP guidance it sets for operators to follow if necessary. It could decide that a new minimum standard is needed, or that current minimum standards in operator licences need strengthening and recommend this to the Secretary of State for Transport and the ORR for action.
Cases of consistent non-compliance, which do not lead to improvement despite engagement can be referred to the regulator for further investigation and potential enforcement action.
Case 3: fine for travelling without a valid ticket
Imagine you buy an advance ticket for a train departing at 15:12 to Manchester Piccadilly. Around 5 minutes before the scheduled departure, a train heading to Manchester Piccadilly pulls into the platform and you board the train. When a ticket inspector comes, you are issued a fine for £100 plus the fare for travelling without a valid ticket.
You contact the appeals body listed on the notice to appeal the fine and explain you believed you had boarded the correct train as it was going to the same station from the same platform. You made an honest mistake.
What you can do:
In the first instance, you can appeal the fine. If your appeal is unsuccessful, you can contact GBR and/or the watchdog.
What the passenger watchdog can do:
In individual cases of honest mistakes, the watchdog can step in to support you and help to resolve the issue with an operator.
It can investigate an individual case once it is made aware and engage with the operator to find a fair resolution.
While it cannot force any changes, it can rely on its industry knowledge and influence to achieve better outcomes. For example, upon investigating, it may discover that there was a mitigating circumstance, such as a disruption, or the station information was unclear. This means it could achieve better outcomes, such as waiving or refunding fines.
As a statutory advisor to the government and GBR, the watchdog will also be able to ensure issues like these are considered upstream when policies are being developed and advocate for clearer policies and the better handling of situations of honest mistakes. It will use complaints data and customer research to shine a light on the impact confusing policies and procedures have on passengers and encourage action, making the problem less likely to happen in the first place.
Imagine you’re a passenger on a local commuter rail line, run by GBR, and your trains are often overcrowded, delayed, or cancelled. The issue has persisted for several weeks with no sign of improvement.
What you can do:
If direct complaints to GBR do not improve things, you can make a complaint about individual cases of delays, cancellations and overcrowding to the watchdog via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman. Persistent and repeated issues such as this one will be picked up for further investigation.
What the passenger watchdog can then do:
The watchdog will draw on its user data surveys and operational performance data to investigate the issue.
It can request further information from GBR to a clear deadline to understand the underlying reasons for the repeated service issues.
It can then require GBR to formally set out the steps it plans to take to correct the issue.
If GBR is not meeting minimum standards, the watchdog can refer the matter to the regulator for possible enforcement.
Likewise, if GBR does not cooperate with the investigation, the watchdog can refer the case to the regulator for further investigation and enforcement action, if needed.
In addition, if changes are not happening quickly enough or if issues are happening across multiple operators, the watchdog can put public pressure on operators by publicly naming and shaming poorly performing operators to make them more accountable for their performance.
Case 2: assistance failure
Imagine you have booked assistance at a rail station a week before your planned trip, but when you arrived, there were no staff available to help you board the train. Due to this, your journey is delayed, and you miss a vital appointment. This is not the first time assistance at the station has not been provided in a timely manner. You contact GBR but do not receive a satisfactory resolution to the complaint.
What you can do:
Escalate your individual complaint to the watchdog via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman.
If the issue is recurring, the watchdog will investigate it as a wider systemic issue.
What the passenger watchdog can do:
It can review and investigate the individual case and offer a solution which could include compensation to you via the dispute resolution service it provides through the Rail Ombudsman. Decisions are binding on rail service providers.
Rather than just focusing on the individual case, the watchdog will have an overview of all complaints and can detect trends. In this case, if the watchdog observes similar repeated assistance issues in an area, it can investigate the causes – including asking GBR to provide further information.
It can work with GBR to find ways to address the issue, and, if necessary, require it to formally set out actions on how it plans to address it. It can also look to prevent future problems by sharing best practice across the network.
The watchdog can also confirm whether the operator is complying with their accessible travel policy (ATP) – which each operator is required to have – and review the ATP guidance it sets for operators to follow if necessary. It could decide that a new minimum standard is needed, or that current minimum standards in operator licences need strengthening and recommend this to the Secretary of State for Transport and the ORR for action.
Cases of consistent non-compliance, which do not lead to improvement despite engagement can be referred to the regulator for further investigation and potential enforcement action.
Case 3: fine for travelling without a valid ticket
Imagine you buy an advance ticket for a train departing at 15:12 to Manchester Piccadilly. Around 5 minutes before the scheduled departure, a train heading to Manchester Piccadilly pulls into the platform and you board the train. When a ticket inspector comes, you are issued a fine for £100 plus the fare for travelling without a valid ticket.
You contact the appeals body listed on the notice to appeal the fine and explain you believed you had boarded the correct train as it was going to the same station from the same platform. You made an honest mistake.
What you can do:
In the first instance, you can appeal the fine. If your appeal is unsuccessful, you can contact GBR and/or the watchdog.
What the passenger watchdog can do:
In individual cases of honest mistakes, the watchdog can step in to support you and help to resolve the issue with an operator.
It can investigate an individual case once it is made aware and engage with the operator to find a fair resolution.
While it cannot force any changes, it can rely on its industry knowledge and influence to achieve better outcomes. For example, upon investigating, it may discover that there was a mitigating circumstance, such as a disruption, or the station information was unclear. This means it could achieve better outcomes, such as waiving or refunding fines.
As a statutory advisor to the government and GBR, the watchdog will also be able to ensure issues like these are considered upstream when policies are being developed and advocate for clearer policies and the better handling of situations of honest mistakes. It will use complaints data and customer research to shine a light on the impact confusing policies and procedures have on passengers and encourage action, making the problem less likely to happen in the first place.
| New Passenger Watchdog In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367799/31040/40] Posted by grahame at 15:36, 5th November 2025 | |
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railways-bill/railways-bill-the-passenger-watchdog
It is worth quoting far more than I usual here ... and open for comments ;-)
Policy paper
Railways Bill: the passenger watchdog
Published 5 November 2025
The Railways Bill will give passengers a powerful new voice in the railway, with a passenger watchdog responsible for setting tough standards, taking action to drive improvements where these are not met, investigating repeated issues with passenger experience and ensuring there is a clear route for passengers to resolve disputes.
It will advocate for all passengers’ interests, offer advice and independently monitor passenger experience, holding operators to account and reporting on its findings publicly and transparently. This means passengers will have an independent voice fighting their corner, placing them back at the heart of our railways once again.
And Great British Railways (GBR) will be required to work closely with the watchdog – including involving them in planning passenger services, When the watchdog raises issues on behalf of passengers, GBR will listen and take action.
How will the watchdog be created?
The passenger watchdog will be grown out of the existing passenger body, Transport Focus, which will be given new, significantly stronger powers to become a more effective passenger champion. Doing it this way will enable a quick, seamless set-up and ensure the watchdog has the right capabilities and a passenger-focused culture from day one. The new watchdog will continue Transport Focus’ existing roles as a watchdog for buses, trams, coaches and England’s motorways and major A-roads.
What will the watchdog do?
The Railways Bill sets out several functions for the watchdog:
Advocacy and advice
The watchdog will ensure passengers’ needs and interests are prioritised by advocating to government and GBR. The government and GBR will have to consult the watchdog when developing their policies, strategies and priorities for the railway – including when GBR is developing its business plan and passenger offer – and GBR must listen to and should act on the watchdog’s advice. Other rail bodies, for example, the sector regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), or regional operators like Scotrail can also approach the watchdog for advice, which it will be required to provide.
Research and investigations
The watchdog will be able to demand information from train operators (including GBR, devolved and open access operators) to a set deadline – and if they fail to provide the information, the watchdog will refer operators to the regulator (ORR). This will ensure it gets the necessary information to investigate issues that matter most to passengers.
It will also become a central hub for authoritative research on the passenger experience. Findings from research and investigations will be published – shining a light on areas for improvement across the railways, as well as best practice.
Alternative dispute resolution
The watchdog will provide an independent dispute resolution service for unresolved passenger complaints, so that passengers have support if they are unable to resolve issues they experience directly with GBR and other operators.
To ensure this service has the right expertise and independence, it will continue to be provided by the Rail Ombudsman and run separately to the watchdog’s other functions. However, it will be integrated with the watchdog through it having oversight of the service. The watchdog will ensure it is fit for purpose and use the intelligence from complaints made through it to identify thematic issues and areas for improvement. The watchdog will follow up on these issues using its other powers.
Accessibility
The bill places an explicit duty on the watchdog to consider the interests and needs of disabled passengers. The watchdog will use its research and investigation powers to monitor how services are delivered to disabled passengers and to understand their experience of the network. It can use its research and investigation powers, and its real-time complaints data to identify specific pain points or best practice and use this to engage with GBR and other operators to push forward improvements. The watchdog’s role in setting minimum standards can also help drive improvements. For more information on accessibility in the Railways Bill, see the accompanying accessibility factsheet.
Setting and monitoring minimum standards
The watchdog will have the power to set standards in key areas that affect passenger experience. The standards must be agreed by ministers and the ORR to ensure they are viable – meaning, for example, that they don’t come with prohibitive costs – and operators, including GBR, will have to comply with them.
The standards will cover things like:
how travel information should be provided to passengers so that they can plan their journey, including when there is disruption
how to handle complaints
how delay compensation should be offered
requiring operators to make services accessible to disabled passengers and those that need assistance; and ensuring passenger assistance is consistently offered, whether pre-booked or requested at the station
The watchdog will monitor how operators meet the standards and will be able to demand improvement plans where they are not doing so. If this does not lead to improvement or in cases of persistent and/or serious non-compliance, it can refer operators to the regulator for enforcement action.
Multi-modal functions
Since the watchdog is being established from Transport Focus, it will continue to carry out its current multi-modal functions (covering bus, coach, tram and users of motorways and major A roads). However, the new powers and duties the Railways Bill will place on it will only apply to rail services. The long-term vision is to expand the watchdog’s full functions to other modes of public transport (such as buses and trams) so it can truly become a ‘one-stop shop’ for all passengers.
Geographical coverage
The passenger watchdog will monitor all rail services in Great Britain except for the services operating within the London railway area, and Eurostar services. These services are currently covered by London TravelWatch (LTW) which will continue its role. To ensure LTW is aligned with the passenger watchdog, it will also be given strengthened investigatory and information gathering powers.
Transport Focus and LTW currently work closely together already, and we expect this cooperation to continue.
What benefits will the passenger see?
The watchdog will speak with authority, work with government and operators to prioritise passengers, and ensure persistent issues are investigated, raised with operators and government, and addressed.
By carrying out the functions above, the watchdog will be uniquely empowered to understand where GBR and other passenger rail operators are falling short in providing the service passengers rightly expect, and ensure remedial action is taken.
Railways Bill: the passenger watchdog
Published 5 November 2025
The Railways Bill will give passengers a powerful new voice in the railway, with a passenger watchdog responsible for setting tough standards, taking action to drive improvements where these are not met, investigating repeated issues with passenger experience and ensuring there is a clear route for passengers to resolve disputes.
It will advocate for all passengers’ interests, offer advice and independently monitor passenger experience, holding operators to account and reporting on its findings publicly and transparently. This means passengers will have an independent voice fighting their corner, placing them back at the heart of our railways once again.
And Great British Railways (GBR) will be required to work closely with the watchdog – including involving them in planning passenger services, When the watchdog raises issues on behalf of passengers, GBR will listen and take action.
How will the watchdog be created?
The passenger watchdog will be grown out of the existing passenger body, Transport Focus, which will be given new, significantly stronger powers to become a more effective passenger champion. Doing it this way will enable a quick, seamless set-up and ensure the watchdog has the right capabilities and a passenger-focused culture from day one. The new watchdog will continue Transport Focus’ existing roles as a watchdog for buses, trams, coaches and England’s motorways and major A-roads.
What will the watchdog do?
The Railways Bill sets out several functions for the watchdog:
Advocacy and advice
The watchdog will ensure passengers’ needs and interests are prioritised by advocating to government and GBR. The government and GBR will have to consult the watchdog when developing their policies, strategies and priorities for the railway – including when GBR is developing its business plan and passenger offer – and GBR must listen to and should act on the watchdog’s advice. Other rail bodies, for example, the sector regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), or regional operators like Scotrail can also approach the watchdog for advice, which it will be required to provide.
Research and investigations
The watchdog will be able to demand information from train operators (including GBR, devolved and open access operators) to a set deadline – and if they fail to provide the information, the watchdog will refer operators to the regulator (ORR). This will ensure it gets the necessary information to investigate issues that matter most to passengers.
It will also become a central hub for authoritative research on the passenger experience. Findings from research and investigations will be published – shining a light on areas for improvement across the railways, as well as best practice.
Alternative dispute resolution
The watchdog will provide an independent dispute resolution service for unresolved passenger complaints, so that passengers have support if they are unable to resolve issues they experience directly with GBR and other operators.
To ensure this service has the right expertise and independence, it will continue to be provided by the Rail Ombudsman and run separately to the watchdog’s other functions. However, it will be integrated with the watchdog through it having oversight of the service. The watchdog will ensure it is fit for purpose and use the intelligence from complaints made through it to identify thematic issues and areas for improvement. The watchdog will follow up on these issues using its other powers.
Accessibility
The bill places an explicit duty on the watchdog to consider the interests and needs of disabled passengers. The watchdog will use its research and investigation powers to monitor how services are delivered to disabled passengers and to understand their experience of the network. It can use its research and investigation powers, and its real-time complaints data to identify specific pain points or best practice and use this to engage with GBR and other operators to push forward improvements. The watchdog’s role in setting minimum standards can also help drive improvements. For more information on accessibility in the Railways Bill, see the accompanying accessibility factsheet.
Setting and monitoring minimum standards
The watchdog will have the power to set standards in key areas that affect passenger experience. The standards must be agreed by ministers and the ORR to ensure they are viable – meaning, for example, that they don’t come with prohibitive costs – and operators, including GBR, will have to comply with them.
The standards will cover things like:
how travel information should be provided to passengers so that they can plan their journey, including when there is disruption
how to handle complaints
how delay compensation should be offered
requiring operators to make services accessible to disabled passengers and those that need assistance; and ensuring passenger assistance is consistently offered, whether pre-booked or requested at the station
The watchdog will monitor how operators meet the standards and will be able to demand improvement plans where they are not doing so. If this does not lead to improvement or in cases of persistent and/or serious non-compliance, it can refer operators to the regulator for enforcement action.
Multi-modal functions
Since the watchdog is being established from Transport Focus, it will continue to carry out its current multi-modal functions (covering bus, coach, tram and users of motorways and major A roads). However, the new powers and duties the Railways Bill will place on it will only apply to rail services. The long-term vision is to expand the watchdog’s full functions to other modes of public transport (such as buses and trams) so it can truly become a ‘one-stop shop’ for all passengers.
Geographical coverage
The passenger watchdog will monitor all rail services in Great Britain except for the services operating within the London railway area, and Eurostar services. These services are currently covered by London TravelWatch (LTW) which will continue its role. To ensure LTW is aligned with the passenger watchdog, it will also be given strengthened investigatory and information gathering powers.
Transport Focus and LTW currently work closely together already, and we expect this cooperation to continue.
What benefits will the passenger see?
The watchdog will speak with authority, work with government and operators to prioritise passengers, and ensure persistent issues are investigated, raised with operators and government, and addressed.
By carrying out the functions above, the watchdog will be uniquely empowered to understand where GBR and other passenger rail operators are falling short in providing the service passengers rightly expect, and ensure remedial action is taken.
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367798/31038/40] Posted by ChrisB at 14:58, 5th November 2025 | |
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railways-bill/railways-bill-introducing-and-designing-great-british-railways
| Re: Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367797/31038/40] Posted by ChrisB at 14:55, 5th November 2025 | |
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railways-bill
| Re: Update - post here on this board looking forward to GBR too In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367796/31036/40] Posted by ChrisB at 14:51, 5th November 2025 | |
Ok - First to find it on Gov.uk - I understand that the Railway Bill has been laid in Parliament today.....
| Re: Steam trains to return at Severn Beach In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367795/29794/47] Posted by matth1j at 14:24, 5th November 2025 | |
https://www.facebook.com/severnbeachminiaturerailway/posts/sad-news-it-is-with-a-sad-and-broken-heart-that-i-must-announce-that-the-severn-/122188973462583818/
| Re: Steam trains to return at Severn Beach In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367794/29794/47] Posted by johnneyw at 14:05, 5th November 2025 | |
I stumbled upon the Severn Beach Miniature Railway Facebook page today. Quite a few recent posts, one of which went into some detail about the latest developments including their wait for planning permission, designing stations, rolling stock and an appeal for loan of excavation/fence posting equipment. Seems that the Severn Beach steam dream is still alive.
Well that was bad timing. The Facebook page now has the sad announcement that they are giving up on the venture, firmly placing the blame with the obstructive actions of the authorities. A little bit of potential joy has been wilfully, it feels, sucked out of Severn Beach.
| Re: [otd] 4th November 2000 - Final printed Great Britain Bus Timetable In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367793/31030/5] Posted by chuffed at 13:05, 5th November 2025 | |
Front cover 3 is the one I remembered .....not quite how I described it .... but the back cover is a classic...
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [367792/28982/26] Posted by John D at 12:35, 5th November 2025 | |
Sounds like a 2car 175 is on route from Wolverton to Laira (second unit to be delivered having passed through Wolverton works). Reports elsewhere it is set 175001
Expected to pass Westbury on avoiding line around 14:18
| Re: [otd] 4th November 2000 - Final printed Great Britain Bus Timetable In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367791/31030/5] Posted by Mark A at 12:08, 5th November 2025 | |
| Re: [otd] 4th November 2000 - Final printed Great Britain Bus Timetable In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367790/31030/5] Posted by Mark A at 12:05, 5th November 2025 | |
Extraordinary. Amazed that these haven't emerged onto ye socialle media.
Mark
| Railways Bill: introducing and designing Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367788/31038/40] Posted by stuving at 11:46, 5th November 2025 | |
So, here it is at last. In about an hour's time Heidi Alexander is due to introduce the Railways Bill to Parliament. This is only a formal step, and may not even involve much of a statement (ass no time is allowed for it).
Presentation of Bills
No debate (Standing Order No. 57)
Railways
Secretary Heidi Alexander
Bill to make provision about railways and railway services; and for connected purposes.
No debate (Standing Order No. 57)
Railways
Secretary Heidi Alexander
Bill to make provision about railways and railway services; and for connected purposes.
There was a long statement put out by DfT today - too long to summarise, but you may find interesting bits in it to quote. The key sentence is the last one here:
Declining public trust and pride in today’s railway are symptoms of a system which has lost sight of the very people and customers it is meant to serve. A railway that, for 3 decades, has been focused on contracts and codes rather than the needs of its customers and taxpayers.
Britain deserves a railway fit for its future. One that restores a lost sense of pride and rebuilds the trust of each and every one of its passengers, with a relentless focus on their needs and the growth of their communities. As Transport Secretary, delivering this change is one of my top priorities. This vision is already becoming a reality as we bring more operators back into public ownership. But the outdated model of franchising and structural fragmentation still inhibits how the railway is run.
To fix this, we will introduce a new Railways Bill to fundamentally reform the sector and establish Great British Railways (GBR) as its directing mind.
Britain deserves a railway fit for its future. One that restores a lost sense of pride and rebuilds the trust of each and every one of its passengers, with a relentless focus on their needs and the growth of their communities. As Transport Secretary, delivering this change is one of my top priorities. This vision is already becoming a reality as we bring more operators back into public ownership. But the outdated model of franchising and structural fragmentation still inhibits how the railway is run.
To fix this, we will introduce a new Railways Bill to fundamentally reform the sector and establish Great British Railways (GBR) as its directing mind.
| Re: [otd] 4th November 2000 - Final printed Great Britain Bus Timetable In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367787/31030/5] Posted by grahame at 11:06, 5th November 2025 Already liked by rogerw, Witham Bobby, Mark A, PrestburyRoad | |
I had one from Southern Vectis ( late 80s?) which had a most amusing front and back cover.
I came to GBTT late - but here are the front covers of the later ones
Guess I need to go back and look at the back covers too.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [367786/18719/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:09, 5th November 2025 Already liked by GBM, rogerw, Witham Bobby | |
Don't worry, Nige and his mob will have it all sorted soon!
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367784/31028/51] Posted by Mark A at 09:41, 5th November 2025 | |
Derailments and collisions are rare, I wish the IEP class 80x trains had couplers with similar properties to those on the Pendolinos.
Mark
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367782/31028/51] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:25, 5th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
The Scotsman has a picture of the actual slip, and some new text .... I'll quote the start of it but the main text is behind their paywall and only visible if you pay or can read HTML source.
Sensors installed to detect movement in the hillside above the site of the Glasgow-London train derailment in Cumbria appear to have failed to avert the incident, an industry source has told The Scotsman. The first carriage of the 11-coach Avanti West Coast service came off the tracks at 6.10am on Monday when it hit an “object” following a suspect landslip, Network Rail has said. Four of the 87 passengers and crew suffered minor injuries in the incident on the west coast main line near Shap. Network Rail has installed tilt meters or “inclinometers” to detect soil and rock movement since 2022, starting in Scotland. That followed a ScotRail train crashing into a bridge parapet after it hit landslide debris at Carmont, near Stonehaven, in 2020, in which three people died. Network Rail said the sensors sent alerts to control rooms when there was more than a five degree tilt. The industry source said: “The area is very prone to earthworks issues, and getting worse with climate change. “Much of the railway in the fells is built on the side of the hills, so the drainage off the fields is often across the railway. “The area was already staked out with movement detectors, which, for whatever reason, do not appear to have prevented the derailment by stopping train movement in time.” The source also said the Pendolino train had “stayed upright and within the railway alignment, which it is designed to do. The train couplers effectively hold the front vehicle upright and in line. “Luckily nothing was coming the other way and the train hit no obstructions, unlike at Carmont.” However, another industry source said ...
It was really fortunate that there was no train passing on the down road. The consequences of that do not bear thinking about
Edited to correct the name of the Down Main Line
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [367781/18719/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:17, 5th November 2025 | |
So give it a few years and apparently nationalisation and GBR will have a strategy to fix the problem, in the meantime presumably no improvement,
I am going somewhat offtopic here, but I did notice in Rachel Reeves' pre budget speech yesterday that she softened us up to expect tax rises in three weeks time ... and in doing so stated here priority in [continued] investing in three areas, one of which was transport. As I say off topic, but I want to record in public my noting of that committement (if it was that strong)
If, as I would suspect, there are rises in tax rates (which almost always seem to reduce the tax take, but that's another argument) in the coming budget, that doesn't say much for The Chancellor of the Exchequer's commitments. She committed to no increases in rates for income tax, employee NI and VAT, and said after the last budget that there would be no more big tax rises.
Now it turns out there's a £91 bn hole that's been dug (according to former ONS wizard Jamie Jenkins)
Don't hold your breath waiting for any meaningful increase in spending on public transport
| Update - post here on this board looking forward to GBR too In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [367779/31036/40] Posted by grahame at 08:53, 5th November 2025 | |
Board title and subtitle changed - added in the next 2 years as well as 5, 10 and 20
Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years
Planning for GBR, Net zero, and much more - a time of great opportunity and great risk
Planning for GBR, Net zero, and much more - a time of great opportunity and great risk
Also been specific about GBR and Net zero - though there is so much else too as we gaze in our crystal balls and perhaps start seeing some clarity in the pictures they paint.
