Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury In "Cross Country services" [374583/31951/43] Posted by ChrisB at 11:23, 29th April 2026 |      |
And the 'perfect' commuter train that reaches Oxford at 08:39 from Leamington would be a particularly useful service from Banbury, but it will sail through at 08:20!
Hmmmm......Very few offices/workplaces can be reached from the station in 20mins....pushing it. It can take 5mins to get off the platform & out of the station to Park End Street. Most would stick with the arrival at 0815 as they do now.
Those that start after 0900 or are on flexi-time might avail themselves however.
| Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and the Rev W Awdry - ongoing discussion In "The Lighter Side" [374582/16895/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:23, 29th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
'Thomas the Tank Engine was written for me'
Christopher Awdry was two years old when his father wrote Thomas the Tank Engine
The boy who inspired his father to write Thomas the Tank Engine eight decades ago has recalled his earliest memories of the books being written.
Christopher Awdry, who is now 85 and lives in Poole, Dorset, was two and grappling with a bout of measles when Rev Wilbert Awdry made up the first tale of the long-running series.
He was of course too young to remember the characters' inceptions. "My first memory of The Railway series? I suppose it was when I was in prep school," he tells BBC Radio Solent.
"Father sent me a copy of his first book when it was published and the other kids were all going around and saying 'Awdry's family writes stories'. I was a 10-day wonder and after about 10 days it all calmed down."
That first book was published in 1945. Thomas himself turned up in the second book a year later, and over the following decades another 40 books appeared.
Christopher started writing them in the 1980s, the same decade the beloved TV series, narrated by Ringo Starr, aired for the first time.
In 2025, 3.6 million Thomas toys were sold worldwide, or about one every minute in the UK.
"I think father hit the absolute right note because he made the characters of the engines into children," Christopher says, talking about Thomas's enduring popularity. "They do silly things like kids do, and they get reproved or punished by the Fat Controller."
Last year, events were held for the 80th anniversary of the publication of the first book, including the unveiling of a blue plaque at the family's former home in Gloucestershire, but health issues prevented Christopher from attending.
So in June, he is participating in an onstage event at the Hammersmith Apollo with famous train aficionado Pete Waterman.
"The stories got to me," the record producer says. "There's this little tank engine that can get up a hill. If he can do it I can do it. It must have been the late '40s or early '50s when my dad read me this Thomas the Tank Engine book, and it's stuck with me all my life. Those books had a moral because it was the reverend that was writing them, and he was teaching his children moral stories."
Apart from a very occasional public appearance - he drew a crowd of hundreds to a Swanage Model Railway Gala in April - Christopher has been retired for 15 years.
Is there a chance then that appearing in front of an audience of thousands in London might ruin his anonymity? "Like father I'm quite pleased that people don't stop me in the street," he says. "They don't do that thank goodness, but who knows? Maybe my face will get a bit more familiar after June, I don't know, I hope not!"
Christopher Awdry was two years old when his father wrote Thomas the Tank Engine
The boy who inspired his father to write Thomas the Tank Engine eight decades ago has recalled his earliest memories of the books being written.
Christopher Awdry, who is now 85 and lives in Poole, Dorset, was two and grappling with a bout of measles when Rev Wilbert Awdry made up the first tale of the long-running series.
He was of course too young to remember the characters' inceptions. "My first memory of The Railway series? I suppose it was when I was in prep school," he tells BBC Radio Solent.
"Father sent me a copy of his first book when it was published and the other kids were all going around and saying 'Awdry's family writes stories'. I was a 10-day wonder and after about 10 days it all calmed down."
That first book was published in 1945. Thomas himself turned up in the second book a year later, and over the following decades another 40 books appeared.
Christopher started writing them in the 1980s, the same decade the beloved TV series, narrated by Ringo Starr, aired for the first time.
In 2025, 3.6 million Thomas toys were sold worldwide, or about one every minute in the UK.
"I think father hit the absolute right note because he made the characters of the engines into children," Christopher says, talking about Thomas's enduring popularity. "They do silly things like kids do, and they get reproved or punished by the Fat Controller."
Last year, events were held for the 80th anniversary of the publication of the first book, including the unveiling of a blue plaque at the family's former home in Gloucestershire, but health issues prevented Christopher from attending.
So in June, he is participating in an onstage event at the Hammersmith Apollo with famous train aficionado Pete Waterman.
"The stories got to me," the record producer says. "There's this little tank engine that can get up a hill. If he can do it I can do it. It must have been the late '40s or early '50s when my dad read me this Thomas the Tank Engine book, and it's stuck with me all my life. Those books had a moral because it was the reverend that was writing them, and he was teaching his children moral stories."
Apart from a very occasional public appearance - he drew a crowd of hundreds to a Swanage Model Railway Gala in April - Christopher has been retired for 15 years.
Is there a chance then that appearing in front of an audience of thousands in London might ruin his anonymity? "Like father I'm quite pleased that people don't stop me in the street," he says. "They don't do that thank goodness, but who knows? Maybe my face will get a bit more familiar after June, I don't know, I hope not!"
| Re: Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury In "Cross Country services" [374581/31951/43] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:17, 29th April 2026 | |
I think the passenger flow between Banbury and Oxford deserves the two fast trains per hour that it had from Operation Princess in 2002 through to Covid.
I wouldn't mind quite so much if the ommission of Banbury meant faster journey times, but in all but one example they take just as long, if not longer, to get between Oxford<>Leamington Spa, with healthy allowances in the Banbury area. And the 'perfect' commuter train that reaches Oxford at 08:39 from Leamington would be a particularly useful service from Banbury, but it will sail through at 08:20!
Heading north, there are 'new' trains from RDG/OXF at:
09:44/10:12 to York
12:44/13:11 to Newcastle
18:45/19:11 to Newcastle
For Banbury passengers, there is the minor gain of one of those stopping at Banbury, at 13:32, to Newcastle.
That does however mean that from Reading to Oxford, heading north, it's back to a half hour service all day except for four gaps. The old last northbound train at 21:46 from Reading has also not been reinstated.
| Re: Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury In "Cross Country services" [374580/31951/43] Posted by ChrisB at 11:12, 29th April 2026 Already liked by IndustryInsider | |
Oh dear - these are NOT new services, but reinstatement of some more Reading - North East services that were cut during the pandemic, and are slowly being reinstated.
They used to stop at Banbury.
My guess is that they see themselves as long distance services & don't like carting short-distance commuters taking up seats needed by their longer distance customers.
BUT many in Banbury want to travel to the north-east & obviously prefer doing so without having to change at Birmingham New Street. So now, to catch these additional trains, a change at Leamington Spa is needed off Chiltern trains used as connectors.
I support the request for the stopping pattern to be returned to what we had originally, but the MP has tried scoring cheap points by writing to XC. Instead, having a chat with his mates in the DfT & getting them to issue XC with an instruction to stop would actually work far better & quicker.
| Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury In "Cross Country services" [374579/31951/43] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:40, 29th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury
New services between Oxford and Leamington will not stop at Banbury
An MP has written to a train company asking them to reconsider plans for new train services that will skip the town he represents.
Train operator CrossCountry announced a new timetable from 17 May, which includes new services running directly between Oxford and Leamington Spa - without stopping at Banbury.
The town's MP, Sean Woodcock, has questioned the decision, saying that overcrowding issues were "already a source of frustration" for commuters, and that having services skip the station could "only make things worse".
CrossCountry defended its new timetable, saying that its customers would "see no change" in the number of services from Banbury. It said the trains concerned were four extra long-distance services that would "provide more seats for people travelling long distances."
The rail company's service delivery director, Nick Westcott, said that having services skip Banbury would encourage "people travelling locally to use other trains. He added that Chiltern Railways was currently planning a "significant increase" to services between Banbury and Birmingham.
But Woodcock said the new trains were "plugging the gap" left by train services cut during the Covid-19 pandemic, which once contributed to a half-hourly fast service between Banbury and Oxford. The decision to skip Banbury means there will still be an hour's gap in services between the two Oxfordshire stations at certain times of the day.
"Passengers in Banbury will not see the same improvements in frequency and connectivity as those at other stations along the route," the MP said, in a letter to Cross Country's managing director Shiona Rolfe. "I would urge you to reconsider this approach and explore options to ensure that Banbury can share in the benefits of the revised timetable."
In response, the operator said that it "will continue to monitor passenger demand" at Banbury, and "welcome feedback on the changes".
A £16m pound scheme to improve access to Banbury Station was completed last year.
New services between Oxford and Leamington will not stop at Banbury
An MP has written to a train company asking them to reconsider plans for new train services that will skip the town he represents.
Train operator CrossCountry announced a new timetable from 17 May, which includes new services running directly between Oxford and Leamington Spa - without stopping at Banbury.
The town's MP, Sean Woodcock, has questioned the decision, saying that overcrowding issues were "already a source of frustration" for commuters, and that having services skip the station could "only make things worse".
CrossCountry defended its new timetable, saying that its customers would "see no change" in the number of services from Banbury. It said the trains concerned were four extra long-distance services that would "provide more seats for people travelling long distances."
The rail company's service delivery director, Nick Westcott, said that having services skip Banbury would encourage "people travelling locally to use other trains. He added that Chiltern Railways was currently planning a "significant increase" to services between Banbury and Birmingham.
But Woodcock said the new trains were "plugging the gap" left by train services cut during the Covid-19 pandemic, which once contributed to a half-hourly fast service between Banbury and Oxford. The decision to skip Banbury means there will still be an hour's gap in services between the two Oxfordshire stations at certain times of the day.
"Passengers in Banbury will not see the same improvements in frequency and connectivity as those at other stations along the route," the MP said, in a letter to Cross Country's managing director Shiona Rolfe. "I would urge you to reconsider this approach and explore options to ensure that Banbury can share in the benefits of the revised timetable."
In response, the operator said that it "will continue to monitor passenger demand" at Banbury, and "welcome feedback on the changes".
A £16m pound scheme to improve access to Banbury Station was completed last year.
| Re: Bath Spa to Bradford and back In "Introductions and chat" [374578/31934/1] Posted by GBM at 10:34, 29th April 2026 | |
It would be good if ToC's would read, note, and take action about passenger experiences on their trains.
Rather than the ToC taking surveys to prove a) Travellers don't want catering b) Travellers are more than happy with what is currently, often shambolically, provided.
| Re: Swarm of 10,000 bees settles on bike outside Metro Station at Louvre in Paris In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374577/31950/52] Posted by Witham Bobby at 10:09, 29th April 2026 | |
The very definition of un cul chaud
| Re: GWR website limited to one journey (single or return) per transaction In "Fare's Fair" [374576/31948/4] Posted by ray951 at 08:16, 29th April 2026 | |
I have also noticed that you have to re-enter a username/password each time you use it. The login screen is not mobile friendly and probably doesn't meet accessibility guidelines.
GWR also appear to have removed the option to pay via Google Pay/Wallet.
| Re: GWR website limited to one journey (single or return) per transaction In "Fare's Fair" [374575/31948/4] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:56, 29th April 2026 | |
I usually buy my rail tickets from my local station but if I am making a longer journey with multiple split tickets and/or advance tickets, I use the GWR website.
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction. To book multiple journeys, you must complete them as separate purchases as the "add another journey" feature is no longer available.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction. To book multiple journeys, you must complete them as separate purchases as the "add another journey" feature is no longer available.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
I discovered last weekend that the SWR website has been subjected to the same 'improvement'.
| Re: Gritting lorries, their names and their drivers In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374574/31129/51] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:47, 29th April 2026 | |
Gritty McGritface seems to have slipped through the net.
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374573/31938/55] Posted by rogerpatenall at 06:49, 29th April 2026 | |
Reading the above I realise that being in your eighties has the compensation of being able to remember with nostalgia many of the above. A further one that springs to mind is the climb from Liverpool (Riverside/Docks?) up through various tunnels to Edge Hill (having arrived in 1961 on the Empress of Canada). The trip out to Canada involved a through journey from Evercreech Junction to Liverpool Lime Street. Also several trips on the Normandy Express from Waterloo to Southampton Terminus whilst at university at Caen.
| Swarm of 10,000 bees settles on bike outside Metro Station at Louvre in Paris In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374572/31950/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:02, 28th April 2026 | |
Well, you wouldn't want them up your ... ahem.
From the BBC:
Swarm of 10,000 bees settles on bike outside Louvre in Paris
The bees settled under the saddle of the bicycle - Image © @ma_pauvre_lucette
A swarm of at least 10,000 bees has been removed from under the saddle of a bicycle parked outside a metro station in front of the Louvre museum in Paris.
The swarm settled on the bike shortly after it was locked to the railings of the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre metro on Saturday afternoon.
Paris transport officials then closed the metro entrance while a local Parisian beekeeper was called in to collect the insects.
"It was certainly in an unusual place, right next to the entrance to a metro," said Volkan Tanaci, who reached the scene by bike.
"It was a real cluster of bees, and probably there was a queen bee right in the middle," the urban beekeeper told France Info.
The bike's owner posted the whole scene on the @ma_pauvre_lucette Instagram account, saying that "granddad's old bicycle" had barely been parked for half an hour when the swarm arrived.
(BBC article continues)
The bees settled under the saddle of the bicycle - Image © @ma_pauvre_lucette
A swarm of at least 10,000 bees has been removed from under the saddle of a bicycle parked outside a metro station in front of the Louvre museum in Paris.
The swarm settled on the bike shortly after it was locked to the railings of the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre metro on Saturday afternoon.
Paris transport officials then closed the metro entrance while a local Parisian beekeeper was called in to collect the insects.
"It was certainly in an unusual place, right next to the entrance to a metro," said Volkan Tanaci, who reached the scene by bike.
"It was a real cluster of bees, and probably there was a queen bee right in the middle," the urban beekeeper told France Info.
The bike's owner posted the whole scene on the @ma_pauvre_lucette Instagram account, saying that "granddad's old bicycle" had barely been parked for half an hour when the swarm arrived.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374571/31938/55] Posted by TonyN at 21:50, 28th April 2026 | |
The old Midland route into Bristol via Mangotsfield 1962 Worcester to Weston
Hull to Hedon on the Withernsea branch
Goose Hill Junction to Normanton
Bradford Exchange
| Re: Gritting lorries, their names and their drivers In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374570/31129/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:36, 28th April 2026 | |
Somerset Council is to spend £2.3m on 14 replacement gritters over the next four years.
From the BBC:
Gritters costing £2.3m announced amid sunny weather
Somerset Council will spend up to £2.3m on new gritters - Image © Somerset Council
Many minds in Somerset might be on the sunshine and beach - but the council has announced up to £2.3m will be spent 14 new gritter lorries.
Somerset Council currently has a fleet of 23 gritters, which are used primarily in winter to spread salt and grit on roads to melt snow and ice. Two new gritters entered service last winter, which were named Basil Salty and Gritney Spears by local schools South Somerset Partnership School and Bucklers Mead Academy in Yeovil.
Ten of the existing vehicles are reaching the end of their active service life, with much of the fleet suffering "significant deterioration" and costing the council increasing amounts of ongoing maintenance.
Jeremy Fry, the council's infrastructure and transport officer for highways operations, explained in his written report: "These assets suffer significant deterioration due to excessive abrasive corrosion resulting from the salting operations. The oldest gritters in our fleet are now experiencing significant maintenance and repair attention, and next year these will be subjected to higher maintenance rates. Furthermore, the risk to service delivery due to ageing of the fleet is a significant concern due to time off road for repairs and maintenance."
The council currently spends around £200,000 on servicing and maintaining its fleet of winter service vehicles, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Up to £2.3m has been committed to purchasing the new vehicles over the next four years as part of the council's capital programme.
The council has entered a contract with Romaquip to buy the vehicles, which includes an option to buy an additional five vehicles in the third year of the agreement, though this will require additional funding.
Mr Fry said it was not possible to simply hire in vehicles on an annual basis, stating this would put additional pressure on the council's revenue budget. It would cost the council more than £218,000 to hire out seven vehicles over the coming winter to cover for getting vehicles which are unusable or undergoing maintenance.
The council has not indicated how soon the new vehicles will enter service.
Somerset Council will spend up to £2.3m on new gritters - Image © Somerset Council
Many minds in Somerset might be on the sunshine and beach - but the council has announced up to £2.3m will be spent 14 new gritter lorries.
Somerset Council currently has a fleet of 23 gritters, which are used primarily in winter to spread salt and grit on roads to melt snow and ice. Two new gritters entered service last winter, which were named Basil Salty and Gritney Spears by local schools South Somerset Partnership School and Bucklers Mead Academy in Yeovil.
Ten of the existing vehicles are reaching the end of their active service life, with much of the fleet suffering "significant deterioration" and costing the council increasing amounts of ongoing maintenance.
Jeremy Fry, the council's infrastructure and transport officer for highways operations, explained in his written report: "These assets suffer significant deterioration due to excessive abrasive corrosion resulting from the salting operations. The oldest gritters in our fleet are now experiencing significant maintenance and repair attention, and next year these will be subjected to higher maintenance rates. Furthermore, the risk to service delivery due to ageing of the fleet is a significant concern due to time off road for repairs and maintenance."
The council currently spends around £200,000 on servicing and maintaining its fleet of winter service vehicles, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Up to £2.3m has been committed to purchasing the new vehicles over the next four years as part of the council's capital programme.
The council has entered a contract with Romaquip to buy the vehicles, which includes an option to buy an additional five vehicles in the third year of the agreement, though this will require additional funding.
Mr Fry said it was not possible to simply hire in vehicles on an annual basis, stating this would put additional pressure on the council's revenue budget. It would cost the council more than £218,000 to hire out seven vehicles over the coming winter to cover for getting vehicles which are unusable or undergoing maintenance.
The council has not indicated how soon the new vehicles will enter service.
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374569/31938/55] Posted by 1st fan at 20:35, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Come to think of it, that last bit of the GWR line from Birmingham into Paddington at Old Oak Common as well. HSTs from Bath to London were sent to Oxford and then that way to Paddington. The train crawled the last few miles. That's now gone, hasn't it?
Also now I think about it, I was on the curve round from Old Oak Common to North Pole Junction that the old Brighton Cross-countries used to take. Short but sweet.Oh, and does the original connection between HS1 and the Southern third-rail network (when Waterloo was international) count?
I also did what became the parliamentary service between Wandsworth Road and Kensington Olympia. I believe that went over track that is not in regular passenger use anymore, hence the parliamentary service.
| Re: Cardiff -Portsmouth Engineering work 2026 In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [374568/31446/20] Posted by Mark A at 20:25, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
The state of play with that Sydney Gardens footbridge this afternoon, now encapsulated in its wrap. Not sure why Network Rail says it's the last survivor on the GWML, I'd expect it to have been a bespoke bridge for the location.
I can clearly remember, at about the age of three or four, being taken to that bridge to get suitably filthy watching a procession of large and soot-besmirched locos roll beneath: quite a lot of their exhaust would envelop the bridge and some would make its way between the timbers of the deck. On the negative side, cinders in the eye really hurt and could be stubborn to remove.
Mark
| Re: GWR website limited to one journey (single or return) per transaction In "Fare's Fair" [374567/31948/4] Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:14, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Surrey 455 | |
I usually buy my rail tickets from my local station but if I am making a longer journey with multiple split tickets and/or advance tickets, I use the GWR website.
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction. To book multiple journeys, you must complete them as separate purchases as the "add another journey" feature is no longer available.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction. To book multiple journeys, you must complete them as separate purchases as the "add another journey" feature is no longer available.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
Other (far more user friendly) ticket purchase websites are available.
| Re: Castle Cary station - services, incidents, facilities, car parking and awards (merged topic) In "Heart of Wessex" [374566/618/19] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:38, 28th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Somerset Council to launch new bus service to Castle Cary station
The new 667X bus service will run throughout the week, including Sundays
A council has set a date for when a new bus service to a train station will start running.
Somerset Council will launch the 667X bus service, linking Glastonbury and Street with Castle Cary railway station, in June 2026.
It is due to run throughout the week, including Sundays, alongside the 667 service, which already runs from Street to Castle Cary station.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport and waste services, said: "Hopefully it will prove popular, as it gives people the choice to leave their car at home and save money."
The 667X will connect specifically with trains to and from London, Exeter, Plymouth, Paignton, Salisbury, Weymouth and Gloucester, the council has said.
Wilkins said: "We are delighted to be able to provide this trial service linking Glastonbury and Street to train services at Castle Cary. The aim is to ensure the route is sustainable in the long term and well used, so we need people to make the most of it. We have taken care to tailor the timings so the buses link up with the trains."
The council is also planning to offer a service from Somerton and Langport to link with trains at peak times.
During off-peak hours, passengers will be able to book the Somerton Slinky to connect with the 667X at Keinton Mandeville for travel to and from Castle Cary station.
The new 667X bus service will run throughout the week, including Sundays
A council has set a date for when a new bus service to a train station will start running.
Somerset Council will launch the 667X bus service, linking Glastonbury and Street with Castle Cary railway station, in June 2026.
It is due to run throughout the week, including Sundays, alongside the 667 service, which already runs from Street to Castle Cary station.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport and waste services, said: "Hopefully it will prove popular, as it gives people the choice to leave their car at home and save money."
The 667X will connect specifically with trains to and from London, Exeter, Plymouth, Paignton, Salisbury, Weymouth and Gloucester, the council has said.
Wilkins said: "We are delighted to be able to provide this trial service linking Glastonbury and Street to train services at Castle Cary. The aim is to ensure the route is sustainable in the long term and well used, so we need people to make the most of it. We have taken care to tailor the timings so the buses link up with the trains."
The council is also planning to offer a service from Somerton and Langport to link with trains at peak times.
During off-peak hours, passengers will be able to book the Somerton Slinky to connect with the 667X at Keinton Mandeville for travel to and from Castle Cary station.
| Re: Calls for 'neglected' Barrow-in-Furness railway station buildings to be saved In "Railway History and related topics" [374564/31949/55] Posted by Mark A at 18:12, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Western Pathfinder | |
Provocatively, the ancient 6" OS mapping records yet another site for the first station in Barrow. Also, it's well worth dropping by the map to see the extent to which the area has changed. Barrow, then, was tiny.
Mark
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.8&lat=54.10800&lon=-3.22058&layers=257&b=GoogleSat&o=100
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374563/31938/55] Posted by grahame at 17:55, 28th April 2026 | |
And, like many members, Blackfriars-Holborn Viaduct.
Unusually among the "no longer available", Blackfriars to Holborn Viaduct was replaced by an alternative when it closed with few (if any) train journey opportunities lost. I often looked at the derelict tracks down to the widened lines, after through freights has cease, and thought "what a waste ..."
| Re: GWR website limited to one journey (single or return) per transaction In "Fare's Fair" [374562/31948/4] Posted by grahame at 17:25, 28th April 2026 | |
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
I don't think I would apply the word "update" because that suggests an improvement ...
What an unfortunate co-incidence that buying longer journeys in sections - a perfectly valid practise - has been made so much harder.
| Calls for 'neglected' Barrow-in-Furness railway station buildings to be saved In "Railway History and related topics" [374561/31949/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:16, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I'm posting this topic here, because it is purely railway-related history.
From the BBC:
Calls for 'neglected' railway station to be saved
The Victorian Society said the Strand station and club was a "focal point" for Barrow for more than a century - Image © Thomas Ollivier
A "neglected" Victorian former railway station and railwaymen's club should be reclaimed before it is lost, a group has claimed.
The Grade II-listed Strand Railway Station was Barrow-in-Furness's first railway station in 1863, evolving into a railwaymen's club in the early 1900s and serving as a social space until 2008.
The Victorian Society, which campaigns to preserve heritage, added it to a list of endangered buildings and said it stood "vacant and deteriorating" despite being a "focal point" for Barrow for more than a century.
Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Pub Heritage Group said its "prolonged closure is a tragedy for the town and its heritage, and must serve its community once again".
The Victorian Society said the Strand "stood at the centre of the transformation" of Barrow when it became a "major industrial and maritime centre, driven by the extraction of iron ore and the development of rail and dock infrastructure".
By 1856, 464,823 tonnes of iron ore were raised in Furness, of which 445,013 tonnes were transported via the Furness Railway and shipped from Barrow, the society said. Barrow's central station and a new through-route was opened in 1882, with the Strand being relegated to secondary uses. In the early 1900s, the building became a reading and library room for railway employees, with parts of the site being used as a drill hall.
The Victorian Society said the Strand Railway Station was "vacant and deteriorating" - Image © Thomas Ollivier
"It provided educational and social facilities and remained a focal point for the community for over a century," the Victorian Society said.
Its northern conservation adviser Thomas Ollivier explained: "For a long while the club was teetotal, reflecting the rise of temperance in working communities as part of non-conformist religious beliefs. Sadly, time was called at the club in the summer of 2008 after a 101-year history."
The society said the building was owned by an "absentee landlord and was in visible decline", calling for it to "be brought back into active use through sensitive restoration. You don't get early train stations remaining to the current day as they usually get replaced, so this is a rarity," it added.
The society said the site was in "visible decline" - Image © Thomas Ollivier
The director of the Victorian Society, James Hughes, said its "history of adaptation shows exactly the kind of sustainable reuse we should be championing today".
"What is needed now is a clear commitment to securing its future before further deterioration takes hold," he added.
Chair of CAMRA's pub heritage group Paul Ainsworth said the club played a "significant role in the town's evolution" and added it was "sad to see the club has been out of use since 2008. Its prolonged closure is a tragedy for the town and its heritage, and must serve its community once again. Our heritage pubs and clubs are an essential part of our social history, and must be recognised and protected for their incredible contribution to local communities and the wider beer and pub sector."
In August, the site was included in Westmorland and Furness Council's Marina Village development plans. Furness CAMRA pubs officer, Ann Summers-Glass, said the group "hoped the project would be successful and that any repurposing of the building included a community asset such as a pub or club". But the authority said, while the station was on the edge of the Marina Village boundary, it did not own the building and the site was not part of the plans.
The Victorian Society said the Strand station and club was a "focal point" for Barrow for more than a century - Image © Thomas Ollivier
A "neglected" Victorian former railway station and railwaymen's club should be reclaimed before it is lost, a group has claimed.
The Grade II-listed Strand Railway Station was Barrow-in-Furness's first railway station in 1863, evolving into a railwaymen's club in the early 1900s and serving as a social space until 2008.
The Victorian Society, which campaigns to preserve heritage, added it to a list of endangered buildings and said it stood "vacant and deteriorating" despite being a "focal point" for Barrow for more than a century.
Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Pub Heritage Group said its "prolonged closure is a tragedy for the town and its heritage, and must serve its community once again".
The Victorian Society said the Strand "stood at the centre of the transformation" of Barrow when it became a "major industrial and maritime centre, driven by the extraction of iron ore and the development of rail and dock infrastructure".
By 1856, 464,823 tonnes of iron ore were raised in Furness, of which 445,013 tonnes were transported via the Furness Railway and shipped from Barrow, the society said. Barrow's central station and a new through-route was opened in 1882, with the Strand being relegated to secondary uses. In the early 1900s, the building became a reading and library room for railway employees, with parts of the site being used as a drill hall.
The Victorian Society said the Strand Railway Station was "vacant and deteriorating" - Image © Thomas Ollivier
"It provided educational and social facilities and remained a focal point for the community for over a century," the Victorian Society said.
Its northern conservation adviser Thomas Ollivier explained: "For a long while the club was teetotal, reflecting the rise of temperance in working communities as part of non-conformist religious beliefs. Sadly, time was called at the club in the summer of 2008 after a 101-year history."
The society said the building was owned by an "absentee landlord and was in visible decline", calling for it to "be brought back into active use through sensitive restoration. You don't get early train stations remaining to the current day as they usually get replaced, so this is a rarity," it added.
The society said the site was in "visible decline" - Image © Thomas Ollivier
The director of the Victorian Society, James Hughes, said its "history of adaptation shows exactly the kind of sustainable reuse we should be championing today".
"What is needed now is a clear commitment to securing its future before further deterioration takes hold," he added.
Chair of CAMRA's pub heritage group Paul Ainsworth said the club played a "significant role in the town's evolution" and added it was "sad to see the club has been out of use since 2008. Its prolonged closure is a tragedy for the town and its heritage, and must serve its community once again. Our heritage pubs and clubs are an essential part of our social history, and must be recognised and protected for their incredible contribution to local communities and the wider beer and pub sector."
In August, the site was included in Westmorland and Furness Council's Marina Village development plans. Furness CAMRA pubs officer, Ann Summers-Glass, said the group "hoped the project would be successful and that any repurposing of the building included a community asset such as a pub or club". But the authority said, while the station was on the edge of the Marina Village boundary, it did not own the building and the site was not part of the plans.
| GWR website limited to one journey (single or return) per transaction In "Fare's Fair" [374560/31948/4] Posted by hoover50 at 17:04, 28th April 2026 | |
I usually buy my rail tickets from my local station but if I am making a longer journey with multiple split tickets and/or advance tickets, I use the GWR website.
However, it seems that following the GWR website update earlier this year, you are now limited to purchasing only one journey (single or return) per transaction. To book multiple journeys, you must complete them as separate purchases as the "add another journey" feature is no longer available.
This is a real nuisance, especially when trying to book a long journey using split tickets!
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374559/31938/55] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 14:23, 28th April 2026 | |
I have happy memories of branch lines at the far ends of journeys from London for family holidays in the late 1950s-early 1960s.
- Waterloo direct to Woolacombe and Mortehoe (made famous by Flanders & Swann), and separately on the same holiday the big climb from Ilfracombe to Woolacombe and Mortehoe.
- Sidmouth to Exmouth changing at Tipton St Johns (I didn't suffer motion sickness on a train whereas a bus was more risky).
- Waterloo to Swanage.
- Ryde to Shanklin.
And, like many members, Blackfriars-Holborn Viaduct.
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [374558/25368/42] Posted by Mark A at 14:19, 28th April 2026 | |
I used to catch the 2015 Pembroke Dock to london Waterloo service a few times and it was busy even though it arrived into Waterloo at 0415. Certainly a good idea for a open acess service.
Anecdote not data: it was yonks ago, but if it was an outbound one of these that passed through Bath Spa one late evening, I recall the sight of seats being around 70% occupied. Also, it's another era, but that Leeds overnight service using a long train of ancient compartment stock was very full indeed from Kings Cross and that was at the time when there may have been a sleeper too.
Mark
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374557/31938/55] Posted by bradshaw at 13:37, 28th April 2026 | |
One that springs to mind was in 1965, travelling from Renfrew Airport on the late plane(£5 single!) for a weekend in Crewkerne.
Came to land at Heathrow in thick fog, approaching the runway the engines of the Vanguard fired up at full blast as the landing was aborted, 30 minutes later we landed at Manchester and were taken to Central Station where they had laid on a special train hauled by a Peak for my only journey over the Midland Main Line.
Another was my first railtour, again in 1965. This was run by the St Andrews University Railway Society and used J39s to haul the train over the Fife coast lines, ending at Dundee West on its last day before closure.
Then there were the A4s doing the Glasgow Aberdeens via the old road no longer in use.
| Re: Lines I travelled on but are no longer available (GB Version) In "Railway History and related topics" [374556/31938/55] Posted by PhilWakely at 13:22, 28th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Back in 1971, I stayed with a spotter friend in Lincoln. My trips to and from Derby landed me at Lincoln St Marks.
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [374555/25368/42] Posted by anthony215 at 12:32, 28th April 2026 | |
April 2026, and the through service Bradford** and Trowbridge to Waterloo gets a mention as it's a renewed aspiration. [Edit: the strapline beneath the photo isn't particularly useful]
Mark
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/26048069.boost-plans-build-three-wiltshire-railway-stations/
** That's Bradford-on-Avon, not Bradford, Yorkshire of course. Next, someone will propose the introduction of a train service between Waterloo and Manchester, which would be silly.***
*** Not silly, as that service, the butt of jokes from newspaper hacks, provided a whole shopping-basket-full of interregional travel opportunities that grew railway business and in the case of Bristol to Hereford, loaded embarrassingly well.
Mark
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/26048069.boost-plans-build-three-wiltshire-railway-stations/
** That's Bradford-on-Avon, not Bradford, Yorkshire of course. Next, someone will propose the introduction of a train service between Waterloo and Manchester, which would be silly.***
*** Not silly, as that service, the butt of jokes from newspaper hacks, provided a whole shopping-basket-full of interregional travel opportunities that grew railway business and in the case of Bristol to Hereford, loaded embarrassingly well.
It was well used especially as it offered a cheaper alternative to crosscountry via new street.
The south wales to Waterloo service were also very well used. I used to catch the 2015 Pembroke Dock to london Waterloo service a few times and it was busy even though it arrived into Waterloo at 0415. Certainly a good idea for a open acess service.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [374554/231/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 12:04, 28th April 2026 Already liked by IndustryInsider, rogerw, Chris from Nailsea, trainbuff, chuffed | |
For those who aren't signed up to their newsletter, Network Rail recently sent out the following email:
Dear neighbour,
Rebuilding the Portishead to Bristol railway
I’m getting in touch to let you know about our latest stage of work to rebuild the
Portishead to Bristol railway.
As you may be aware, main construction has begun and we’re about to begin our next
stage of work along the disused line. We need to remove the old railway and prepare the
area for new track to be installed.
This will take place from Tuesday 5 May until August 2026. We’ll be working Monday to
Friday between 7.30am and 5.30pm.
The nature of our work means some additional noise and traffic is unavoidable. We’re
aware we’re working close to you and will try to minimise this as much as possible. We’re
sorry for any inconvenience.
I hope this information is helpful but if you have any questions, there are
several ways to contact us: call our dedicated 24-hour helpline on 03457 11
41 41, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus or scan this QR code with your
phone for more information about living by the railway.
More information about the project can be found at networkrail.co.uk/portisheadline.
Kind Regards,
Niall Spencer
Senior sponsor, Network Rail
Rebuilding the Portishead to Bristol railway
I’m getting in touch to let you know about our latest stage of work to rebuild the
Portishead to Bristol railway.
As you may be aware, main construction has begun and we’re about to begin our next
stage of work along the disused line. We need to remove the old railway and prepare the
area for new track to be installed.
This will take place from Tuesday 5 May until August 2026. We’ll be working Monday to
Friday between 7.30am and 5.30pm.
The nature of our work means some additional noise and traffic is unavoidable. We’re
aware we’re working close to you and will try to minimise this as much as possible. We’re
sorry for any inconvenience.
I hope this information is helpful but if you have any questions, there are
several ways to contact us: call our dedicated 24-hour helpline on 03457 11
41 41, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus or scan this QR code with your
phone for more information about living by the railway.
More information about the project can be found at networkrail.co.uk/portisheadline.
Kind Regards,
Niall Spencer
Senior sponsor, Network Rail
There is a map attached which shows the work area to be the stretch of line from Portishead Station site to Sheepway, where there is a track access compound which will be in use until Spring 2028.
The work is described as:
Disused line: We’ll be removing old
sections of track and tree stumps to create
space for the new railway line. We’ll put up
fencing, remove old track equipment and
reprofile culverts and ditches.
May 2026 to August 2026
Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
sections of track and tree stumps to create
space for the new railway line. We’ll put up
fencing, remove old track equipment and
reprofile culverts and ditches.
May 2026 to August 2026
Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
