2O19 0511 Gloucester to Salisbury

This service was cancelled between Salisbury and Southampton Central due to a problem with rail adhesion (MP).

08:23 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads due 10:28

08:23 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads due 10:28 will be started from Salisbury.
It will no longer call at Southampton Central and Romsey.
This is due to a late running train being in front of this one.

Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL) say a total of 161,950 passenger journeys were recorded over 123 operating days this year - the largest total since 1996.

The figure was revealed after the historic ship's final cruise of the year on Sunday, October 19.

And WEL have already revealed details of at least some of the work that will be carried out on the vessel over the coming months - as well as a start date for her 2026 cruising season.

After 61 years away from home, Railbus W79978 is going back into the platform at Cirencester!

This weekend (25th - 26th), as part of the Cirencester History Festival, W79978 has been invited as part of the “Old Station Experience”. Come and experience this extraordinary event to relive memories or to make new ones!

The event will be open from 10am until 4pm, the event is free but donations are appreciated! You can find more information through this link

'My autistic son deserved better from Waitrose'


Tom Boyd had stacked shelves as a volunteer at his local Waitrose for years

The mother of an autistic man who was told he had to stop stacking shelves at a Waitrose store where he had worked as a volunteer for years has said he "deserved better".

Frances Boyd said her son Tom, 28, began work experience at the Cheadle Hulme store in Greater Manchester in 2021, and continued to work unpaid, accompanied by a support worker, as it gave him "a sense of purpose and belonging".

However, she said when she asked if he could be offered "just a few paid hours" in July, the supermarket chain's head office told him he had to stop and could not return to the store.

A spokesman said Waitrose "worked hard to be an inclusive employer" and was investigating the matter "as a priority".

Ms Boyd said Tom, who has limited communication skills, started at the store as part of his skills development for the workplace on his further education course, and continued to volunteer on two mornings a week.

She said he was "so proud of his work", which involved putting stock out and tidying the shelves, and was praised for his work ethic by managers. "If I went in and saw him, he was smiling, and it gave him independence, a sense of purpose and belonging. He gave over 600 hours of his time purely because he wanted to belong, contribute, and make a difference. We feel deeply let down."

A Waitrose & Partners spokesman said it worked with a number of charities to provide work experience and was "well experienced in making reasonable adjustments to help people succeed at work".

"We are sorry to hear of Tom's story and whilst we cannot comment on individual cases, we are investigating as a priority," he said.

Ms Boyd said his placement was stopped when the firm's head office was asked about the possibility of paid work. She said she was told it was because he "couldn't perform the whole role".

"He deserved better," she added. "He deserved kindness, respect and the chance for all his hard work to mean something. No-one should be made to feel their contribution doesn't matter, especially someone who's given so much of themselves for so long."

Volunteers do not have the same rights as an employee or worker, according to the government, though there are expectations for those undertaking vocational training.

The guidance states that those who volunteer should usually get a volunteer agreement that sets out the level of supervision and support they will receive. It should also include advice on training and whether they were covered by the organisation's insurance, as well as information about expenses and health and safety issues. However, the agreements are not compulsory and do not form a contract.

Ms Boyd said she wanted to see legal protections like those afforded to employees by the Equality Act to extend to volunteers to ensure they have "rights and opportunities".

"They can be terminated at any time and that's not really the way we should be moving forward in society today," she added.

Just seen this X post with a video of a trespasser simply casually strolling along the DM between Hanwell and Southall causing major disruption in today's evening peak:

https://x.com/golfbyrail/status/1981030855012151598

From the BBC:

Now, here's a funny thing. I thought Thursday looked familiar, and started looking for that - but after a bit realised I was looking for the wrong thing. But just then I came upon it, half by chance. A bit like life, that.

Before going back to all those things that do need doing, I had a quick look at the remaining photos. And I recognised Sunday immediately. Not surprising, as it (or rather two similar views) was on here only a few months ago. And that's a bit like life too.

...........but three of them versus one woman is intimidating, whether they acted professionally or not.

I've got Wednesday, but I cheated, so I won't post. 

Still struggling with Sunday. 

Anyone heard from our friend recently?....Nearly 4 months gone now. Hope he's well.

Just seen this X post with a video of a trespasser simply casually strolling along the DM between Hanwell and Southall causing major disruption in today's evening peak:

https://x.com/golfbyrail/status/1981030855012151598

Council U-turn on fine for coffee poured in drain

A west London council has reversed its decision to fine a woman £150 for pouring the remnants of coffee down a gully.

Burcu Yesilyurt, who lives in Kew, said she thought she was acting responsibly when she poured out a small amount of coffee from her reusable cup down the drain rather than risk spilling it on the bus she was about to catch to work.

She was stopped by three enforcement officers at the bus stop near Richmond station and issued with the fixed penalty notice (FPN).

Richmond-Upon-Thames Council said it cancelled the fine as it was "likely" that Ms Yesilyurt's appeal of the FPN "would have been rescinded because it is a minor contravention which the recipient agreed not to repeat".

Before the council cancelled the fine, Ms Yesilyurt told BBC News: "I noticed my bus was approaching, so I just poured the leftover bit. It wasn't much, it was just a tiny little bit. As soon as I turned around, I noticed three men, enforcement officers, chasing me, and they stopped me immediately."

Ms Yesilyurt said she thought they were going to speak with her about an issue with the bus when she was stopped on 10 October, and had "no clue" pouring liquid into a road gully was "illegal". She said the encounter was "quite intimidating" and she was left feeling "shaky" as she went into work. "It was quite a shock," she said.

Ms Yesilyurt added she had asked the enforcement officers if there were any signs or information warning people of the law but received no response.

On Wednesday, an email sent from the council at 15:00 BST to Ms Yesilyurt, and seen by the BBC, said: "I can advise that on review the Fixed Penalty Notice has been cancelled. Please accept my apologies for any upset or inconvenience this has caused you."

(BBC article continues)

It is forecast to be into the mid 20s today in Ústí nad Labem.

Can we correct the abbreviation please? DM is *not* Dilton Marsh. that's DMH.