Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371992/231/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:18, 3rd February 2026 |      |
Thanks for that, chuffed.
Just to confirm: is their AGM open to non-members to attend?
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371991/231/28] Posted by chuffed at 14:09, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
From the Portishead Railway Action Group
2nd February 2026
Dear Member,
We’re pleased to confirm our 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th February 2026. Doors will open at the Folk Hall, Portishead from 7.00pm with the meeting starting at 7.30pm.
With lots of activity currently happening along the Pill & Portishead line, we’re pleased to announce that the new MetroWest Project Manager, Natalie Gale-Sides, will be our guest speaker and will update us with the latest news and the construction schedule. The agenda will be as follows:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence received
3. Minutes of the 2024 AGM approved by the committee in 2025 and sent to members 1/10/25.
4. Approval of Accounts for the year ended 31/10/2025
5. Appointment of Independent Examiner
6. Chairman’s Report.
7. Communications Report, including Facebook, Twitter and Website.
8. Membership Secretary’s report.
9. Appointment of committee.
10. Amendments to Constitution
11. Break
12. Update on progress – Natalie Gale-Sides, MetroWest Project Manager
13. Any other business.
Following on from last year’s AGM, here’s a note of which committee members now are responsible for each area of PRG activity, in addition to the existing long term committee roles of Chairman, Membership, Treasurer etc. :
MetroWest & North Somerset Council - Liaison & Monitoring: Colin & Brian
Portishead Town Council - Liaison & work on facilities: Brian & Peter
Pill & Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council - Liaison & work on facilities: Rob & Bob
Government & DfT - Liaison & Monitoring: Gareth & Rob
Network Rail - Liaison & Monitoring: Alan & TBC
Work on Station design, facilities and enhancements: Alan & Adam Stead, plus Rob & Bob (for Pill)
Work to ensure Portishead local bus service implemented at the right time to support the station & train service: Brian & Wendy
Work to prepare for a Community Rail Partnership: Wendy & Paul
Communications & Social Media: Gareth & Peter
Thanks for your support. We hope to see you at the AGM.
Regards,
Peter
Peter Maliphant
Membership Secretary
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371990/14923/31] Posted by Clan Line at 13:34, 3rd February 2026 | |
Bob_Blakey's post regarding "vertical rulers" to indicate flood water depth reminds me of a similar attempt at Warminster station some years back.
A depth ruler was attached to the wall as you came out from the underbridge to the main car park..............BUT...the "zero" mark was at least 12" above the lowest point of the road under the bridge. Doh !! (Wish I had taken a photo of it in place !)
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| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371989/31565/29] Posted by Witham Bobby at 13:07, 3rd February 2026 | |
Unread Posts is always my starting point
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371988/31565/29] Posted by johnneyw at 12:28, 3rd February 2026 | |
I just go to the Coffee Shop Index page out of habit really.
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [371987/593/9] Posted by ray951 at 11:55, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby, TonyN | |
According to the Oxford Clarion https://oxfordclarion.uk/the-clarion-3-february-2026/ The new bridge will not be lifted in place until Thursday not Tuesday as I stated above. There are also some good pictures in that link.
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371985/22771/12] Posted by Mark A at 11:01, 3rd February 2026 | |
That installation needed to have been designed by a nautical architect.
Me: not experienced as a nautical architect, but aware that, say, farm animals, in poor weather, do not by choice stand facing the prevailing wind: wishing I'd had more input into the design than just the opportunity given (and taken) to comment on the planning application.
Mark
Me: not experienced as a nautical architect, but aware that, say, farm animals, in poor weather, do not by choice stand facing the prevailing wind: wishing I'd had more input into the design than just the opportunity given (and taken) to comment on the planning application.
Mark
Today: https://stationlifts.org.uk/DWL
Historical availability data for Dawlish's lifts: not exactly upbeat either.
https://stationlifts.org.uk/DWL/history
Mark
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [371984/593/9] Posted by ray951 at 10:52, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I walked through Oxford Station this morning, quite literally, walking from Seacourt Park and Ride to the end of Hythe Bridge Street. Everything was very well signposted, with plenty of staff on hand to direct people, but it was extremely busy and felt a bit like walking through a building site—made worse by the rain.
Crossing the temporary bridges over the tracks was a rather strange experience. As for the works themselves, it’s difficult to see much at the moment, but it does appear that the original bridge has been removed and the new one is not yet in place. I understand the new bridge is due to be installed on day three, which I assume is today.
| Re: Can you find the 40 British railway station names hidden in our puzzle? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371983/31556/51] Posted by Witham Bobby at 10:33, 3rd February 2026 | |
Is the star straddling the river a reference to Starcross?
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371982/31565/29] Posted by ChrisB at 09:38, 3rd February 2026 | |
Subscribe to each thread of interest & providing you then read the new posts, you will get an email alert each time the thread is added to. No need to keep looking as the emails have a link to the unread posts
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371981/14923/31] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:41, 3rd February 2026 | |
.....is there still a "water lane" near Ide or Alphington, close to Exeter.....
Yes - it runs generally south-eastwards from near Exe Bridges to Gabriel's Wharf on the west bank of the Exeter Ship Canal close to the new(ish) Marsh Barton railway station. However on the collection of old Exeter maps there is no evidence that I can see which indicates the route was ever associated with a watercourse of the type described.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371980/31565/29] Posted by bradshaw at 22:04, 2nd February 2026 | |
Also start with unread posts
| Re: Class 897 trains on the way for LNER In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371979/31564/51] Posted by anthony215 at 22:01, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by trainbuff | |
Good news, though let's hope the ride quality is better than the CAF Mk 5a's Chiltern are re-introducing!
I think GWR could really do with more capacity in its high speed fleet now. A similar order of 10 7-car units, based on either the Hitachi Class 807 (but a Tri-Mode version), or 7-car versions of these Tri-mode Class 897s, would be extremely useful to help cater for growth on both the North and South Cotswold services, and doubtless other routes, where 9-car will be overkill, but 5-cars isn't enough. 7-car services also fit nicely into the platform length profiles at most stations on those routes.
Try boarding the 10:29, 11:32, 15:31 (and others) at Oxford towards London and there's a good chance you'll be standing all the way. Incredible given not too long ago those trains were in the hands of 3-car Turbos!
I think GWR could really do with more capacity in its high speed fleet now. A similar order of 10 7-car units, based on either the Hitachi Class 807 (but a Tri-Mode version), or 7-car versions of these Tri-mode Class 897s, would be extremely useful to help cater for growth on both the North and South Cotswold services, and doubtless other routes, where 9-car will be overkill, but 5-cars isn't enough. 7-car services also fit nicely into the platform length profiles at most stations on those routes.
Try boarding the 10:29, 11:32, 15:31 (and others) at Oxford towards London and there's a good chance you'll be standing all the way. Incredible given not too long ago those trains were in the hands of 3-car Turbos!
Not just GWR id say these 897s maybe a good choice for crosscountry to replace 220/221's
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371978/31565/29] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:57, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
I, too, go straight to 'show unread posts since last visit'. I can then start reading them with the oldest first, or I can select any of them to read first, if they look particularly significant to me.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371976/31565/29] Posted by grahame at 21:32, 2nd February 2026 | |
Really useful thread - thank you.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371975/31565/29] Posted by Timmer at 21:24, 2nd February 2026 | |
‘Show unread posts since last visit’ and that is my bookmark for the forum using Safari.
| Re: Melksham Station - "InfoStation" / loos / snack bar / info point opportunity? In "TransWilts line" [371974/31510/18] Posted by grahame at 21:17, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, rogerw, johnneyw | |
Submission made - the prospectus is at https://www.mtug.org.uk/mtug_ccif_2026.pdf and I will be sharing it out to wider channels over the next couple of days. We are aware of both strengths and weakness in the bid, and that CCIF usually gets heavily oversubscribed, but this has been good work to do putting the scheme together and not just a CCIF bid.
| Re: Looe Branch Line - timetables, cancellations, engineering work, closures and incidents In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [371971/569/25] Posted by grahame at 20:37, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 03/02/26.
It does NOT tell us what is expected on 4th February, of course!
| Re: What is happening at Dilton Marsh? Key service reduction! In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371970/31284/20] Posted by grahame at 20:35, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Timmer, Chris from Nailsea, eightonedee, Andy E, Witham Bobby | |
Loads of follow ups on the White Horse News article
Makes me laugh the train passes the station so why can't it stop .If the signal is at caution then what's the problem because it's highly possible the train will stop just down from halt .Public transport is a joke
A single from Dilton Marsh to Westbury must be the most expensive in terms of time and distance on the entire system. I wonder how many are sold?
What about People TRYING TO GET TO WORK IN Dilton Marsh from Trowbridge or Warminster ??
Part of that is based on usage. One way of monitoring usage is by checking ticket sales. If fewer tickets are sold to and from Dilton, it appears that not many people are using it. If a ticket isn’t bought online prior to boarding and a guard doesn’t sell a ticket, it appears that not many people are using the station.
Train withdrawn for NO real reason. As not as though it takes a long time to stop to let people on/off a train!!
Wife went to catch train this afternoon, cancelled even though nothing on the app saying so. It’s a joke that we have a station on our doorstep yet we can’t use the train as much as we want because of such poor service
If a train stops at a request stop ,why can't it stop at any other times?[Image from here is not available to guests]
I also promised a further update - see "https://grahamellis.uk/blog1859.html " where I have written a status update on my blog. Looking at the smaller stations in Wiltshire and why the services are relatively poor and uncared for:
Smaller Station issues - Melksham and Dilton Marsh
There are two railway stations in Wiltshire where the limited facilities and infrequent services give lie to the fact that they serve substantial catchments. Those stations are Melksham, where the population of the urban area it serves is 25,000, and Dilton Marsh where the population it serves in 9,000. Both stations have residential expansion planned locally; Wiltshire is one of the fastest growing authority areas in the UK, and sustainable and efficient transport is at the hub of that.
Those stations:
Dilton Marsh: 10119 journeys in 2001/02 rising to 21580 journeys in 2024/25 (2.4 journeys per resident)
Melksham: 3266 journeys in 2001/02 to 60932 journeys in 2024/25 (2.4)
By comparison:
Warminster: 247665 journeys in 2001/02 to 355958 journeys in 2025/25 (14.2)
Bradford-on-Avon: journeys 211968 in 2001/02 to 532220 journeys in 2024/25 (53.2)
Trowbridge: 404998 journeys in 2001/01 to 904342 journeys in 2024/25 (24.4)
[snip]
How much traffic is being lost by the poor services at Dilton Marsh and Melksham? Let's take the Warminster figure of 14.2 journeys per resident per annum. We would predict 127800 ticket sales for Dilton Marsh - a rise of 106000, or 592% of current journeys. And we would predict 355000 ticket sales for Melksham, or 583% of current journeys.
Outrageous predictions like these have me questioning my own sanity. However, discussions with retired specialist civil servants I have worked with over the years, my sanity is confirmed. These are the sort of numbers they would expect after a lead in time of 3 to 5 years of a reliable, friendly, appropriate, usable service. Which leads us to ask two quetions - "why has it not been done" and "what is the negative economic effect of the poorly served areas caused by the lack of decent trains".
There are two railway stations in Wiltshire where the limited facilities and infrequent services give lie to the fact that they serve substantial catchments. Those stations are Melksham, where the population of the urban area it serves is 25,000, and Dilton Marsh where the population it serves in 9,000. Both stations have residential expansion planned locally; Wiltshire is one of the fastest growing authority areas in the UK, and sustainable and efficient transport is at the hub of that.
Those stations:
Dilton Marsh: 10119 journeys in 2001/02 rising to 21580 journeys in 2024/25 (2.4 journeys per resident)
Melksham: 3266 journeys in 2001/02 to 60932 journeys in 2024/25 (2.4)
By comparison:
Warminster: 247665 journeys in 2001/02 to 355958 journeys in 2025/25 (14.2)
Bradford-on-Avon: journeys 211968 in 2001/02 to 532220 journeys in 2024/25 (53.2)
Trowbridge: 404998 journeys in 2001/01 to 904342 journeys in 2024/25 (24.4)
[snip]
How much traffic is being lost by the poor services at Dilton Marsh and Melksham? Let's take the Warminster figure of 14.2 journeys per resident per annum. We would predict 127800 ticket sales for Dilton Marsh - a rise of 106000, or 592% of current journeys. And we would predict 355000 ticket sales for Melksham, or 583% of current journeys.
Outrageous predictions like these have me questioning my own sanity. However, discussions with retired specialist civil servants I have worked with over the years, my sanity is confirmed. These are the sort of numbers they would expect after a lead in time of 3 to 5 years of a reliable, friendly, appropriate, usable service. Which leads us to ask two quetions - "why has it not been done" and "what is the negative economic effect of the poorly served areas caused by the lack of decent trains".
| Re: Looe Branch Line - timetables, cancellations, engineering work, closures and incidents In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [371969/569/25] Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:32, 2nd February 2026 | |
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 28/01/26.
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 28/01/26.
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 01/02/26.
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 02/02/26.
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 03/02/26.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371968/31565/29] Posted by Surrey 455 at 20:22, 2nd February 2026 | |
I have bookmarked "Show unread posts since last visit." But Edge normally gives me an error message about HTTPS, I then click to continue and am told there are no unread posts.
| Re: Cotswold villages - residents' concerns over tourist numbers In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371966/30727/31] Posted by johnneyw at 18:03, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Richard Fairhurst, Western Pathfinder | |
Coates? He could fund restoration of Sapperton Tunnel - its portal is right there. (The canal one, not the railway one!)
He might be pleased that the Tunnel House Inn, right by Coates Portal is due to reopen in spring after being closed for a few years.
| Re: A trip on GWR's Battery Electric Train - 17/12/2024 In "Thames Valley Branches" [371965/29641/13] Posted by ChrisB at 17:38, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Timmer | |
Track dip of the day from a photo of that first class 230 trip.....
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