Replacement bridge requires piling to 35 metres depth.

Mark

The BBC found the bus stop waiting area was smaller than guidance

Buses will not be stopping at Shrewsbury train station's floating bus stop due to safety concerns, Arriva Midlands has said.

The stop outside the station has come under fire, after the BBC found it did not meet Department for Transport (DfT) guidance. The waiting area for bus passengers is narrower than the minimum size.

Shropshire Council previously told the BBC that it felt "let down" by the contractors that built the stop, and the designs said it was the minimum size required.

The authority has been contacted for comment. Floating bus stops have a cycle lane between the stop and the pavement.

In a statement, Arriva said it had carried out a safety review of the floating bus stop, and based on its findings, its services would no longer call at the stop. "We have informed the local authority and our customers," it said. "Our priority is always the safety of our passengers, colleagues and other road users and we'll continue working with partners to identify a safe and workable solution."

It is not yet clear where customers will have to get off to get to the station.

The contractor, WSP, previously said the island ended up smaller than planned because workers found unexpected underground utilities that forced a change in the design.

The BBC measured the buffer area between the road and cycle lane at about 1.1m (3.6ft) wide. However, government guidance suggests it should be between 1.5m and 2m, meaning it is nearly 40cm (15.7in) short of the minimum width.

Disability campaigners and wheelchair users criticised the project, claiming the island is dangerously small and not-fit-for-purpose.

The chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority has previously said lives and safety were at risk, because of the traffic issues caused by the gyratory. Fire engines also used the new cycle lane to get away from traffic jams in the area.

A cross-party review of the works is taking place.

The gyratory project, which began in June 2024, has cost about £3.8m. It has been almost entirely funded by a Levelling Up grant awarded to Shropshire Council by the previous Conservative government in 2023.

...
3.  In North Somerset, we were previously required to keep quite separate receptacles for 'plastics' and 'cans'.  Now, we have been provided with big red bags, into which all plastic and metal cans should be chucked together.
...

North Somerset Council's recycling bags are 'falling apart at the seams'


Some red recycling bags handed out by North Somerset council are "falling apart"

A council has admitted that by trying to improve its recycling bags, they had "made it worse" after people reported them falling apart.

North Somerset Council was now in contact with its supplier after some of the bags began "falling apart at the seams."

Council cabinet member for planning and environment Annemieke Waite told a full council meeting on 11 November that the red bags ordered for the trial of the scheme last November were fine and had remained in "perfect condition". But after handing them out to residents, she said they found there was "a distinct problem with them".

"Some of the red bags are fading and failing," she said. "They are literally falling apart at the seams. We are not happy at all."

The council has now sent a team around to check what percentage of the bags are falling apart, as part of the council's agreement with its supplier.


Holes are appearing in some of the bags

"This is a very reputable firm. There are only two firms in the UK that do the bags that we are using and they are being used by so many different councils," Ms Waite said. "We know that we are not the only council that has a problem."

Chair of the council Clare Hunt added: "I know by trying to improve something we seem to have made things a little bit worse."

The red bags for plastic and metal recycling were introduced to 6,000 households in some areas in November 2024 on a trial basis. From the end of March this year they were rolled out to all households across North Somerset.

The bags were introduced to make recycling easier to sort with more space, which also helps improve the value of the recycling North Somerset collects, which is sold to offset the cost of waste collections.

Naturally there is concern about FIRST buses withdrawing all services from Cornwall by the end of February next year. My advice would be not to worry as I am confident that other providers will step in and plug the gaps.

Although the time frame to replace services is very tight Cornwall has some very experienced bus operators - as I found out when, as the Cabinet Member for Transport I was responsible for the most recent bus contract which saw GoCornwall bus deliver numerous routes across the county and also invest in a new fleet of Euro 6 buses, the greenest diesels currently available.
 
We did look at electric buses but the length of most routes and very hilly nature of Cornwall meant that they were not suitable. That said going forward electrification of the Park & Ride in Truro will be a distinct possibility in the future, should funding become available.

History of Winterstoke Road bridge
Winterstoke Road bridge was originally built between 1941 and 1943 by the War Office (now Ministry of Defence). It was built to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare.

Access provided by the bridge was critical in supporting the war effort as the factory produced the Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.

The bridge was built by William Cowlin & Sons, with nearby railway sidings built by George Pollard & Co of Taunton using steel produced by Lysaght.

In the early 1950s the Ministry of Defence opened the bridge to the public, renaming the route Winterstoke Road.

In the intervening years Winterstoke Road has served as an important transport route in Weston-super-Mare.

Meanwhile, the aircraft industry continued in the local area for many years including sites for aircraft maintenance and Westland Helicopters on the site of the former RAF Weston-super-Mare.

In 2018, the age and condition of the bridge meant that a 7.5T weight restriction was put in place.

Now that the bridge is over 80 years old, it must be replaced if this important transport route in Weston-super-Mare is to remain open.

The Aylestone Old Mill Canal Bridge, over the Grand Union Canal, will be closed to pedestrians and traffic

A historic bridge in Leicester will be shut for four weeks to allow the road surface to be repaired.

The Aylestone Old Mill Canal Bridge, over the Grand Union Canal, will be closed to pedestrians and traffic from Wednesday while maintenance work is carried out.

Aylestone Meadows car park will be closed to allow the work to be done, and alternative parking will be available at the nearby Canal Street car park.

Leicester City Council said that diversions would be in place during the works and the canal and towpath beneath the bridge would remain open.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: "This historic bridge is a well-known feature over this stretch of the canal. Wear and tear mean that the condition of the bridge's road surface is such that repair work is now required, and the bridge will close for a few weeks while that is carried out."

The work will cost about £37,000 and is being funded through the city's highways capital maintenance budget.

Keeping the memory alive of five rail workers killed by train


The new memorial features a train image and original track from the Derry Road Line

A memorial to five men killed by a train in Omagh, County Tyrone, has been upgraded ahead of the 75th anniversary of their deaths.

The railway workers died after being struck by a passenger train as they carried out routine maintenance work on the Derry Road line.

John Cassidy, John Cleary, John McCrory, Dan McCrory and Charles (Charlie) Flanagan were permanent way men, responsible for maintaining the track.

A remembrance service will be held later on Monday at the newly improved memorial garden, funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

"It's just lovely to keep their memory alive," Mr Flanagan's granddaughter told BBC News NI.

Heavy fog had descended over Omagh that morning and the noise of the Enniskillen train idling in the station meant that the men weren't aware of the oncoming train bound for Belfast.

Two died instantly, two more succumbed to their injuries later that day and Mr Flanagan died the following morning.

Their deaths left 19 children without fathers.


(BBC article continues)

....the other factor to aid the case will the be decarbonising fright 

The second one is lot less than average because about third of the mast bases are already installed, and some masts already up.

Also there are closures planned (and budgeted for) in Oxford area where gantries spanning all the tracks could be installed (even if the detail of what needs to be bolted to them is not yet finalised).  Much cheaper to come along overnight with a road railer attaching brackets and wires than do extra full closure/blockade

He wants to addres the ridiculous amounts of rain/climate change then, not the railway....

08:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 09:47
and all trains until mid afternoon

08:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 09:47 has been cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

Re-reading this again-


..two questions occur to me-

1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and

2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?

The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".

Anyone find the RAIB report on this? I can't seem to locate it.

Overspeed across points I Understand from professional twitter/X

First Skybus Cornwall to Gatwick flight takes off



The first flight between Cornwall and London operated by airline Skybus has taken place on Sunday.

The airline agreed a short-term deal to run the service between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick following the collapse of Easter Airways last month.

The daily year-round route is subsidised by the Government and Cornwall Council due to its economic importance, and is covered by a Public Service Obligation (PSO).

Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said he was "delighted" to find a replacement operator so quickly and "even more so to see a Cornish company stepping in".

Skybus currently runs services to the Isles of Scilly, with flights from Newquay, Land's End and Exeter, and is owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC) which also runs boat services to the islands.

Frost said: "It has been a difficult time, with disruption for many people who use the service and had already booked flights, so I am pleased this announcement will help end the uncertainty around this vital connection to the capital."

Councillor Tim Dwelly, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and investment, added: "Our priority was to get the service back up and running as quickly as possible to minimise disruption for passengers. Restoring this route helps maintain the confidence of business and tourism sectors, and it's welcome that a Cornish company has the capability to step in and deliver during this interim period."

The 12 passengers booked on the first Gatwick Skybus flight had room to spare on the 180 seat Boeing 737 which took off from Newquay at about 15:40 GMT.

Skybus said it would transition to a 78 seater turboprop Q400 aircraft early next month, and services would increase to twice daily from mid-February.

Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Skybus, said: "We are thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick. It is not just about making travel easier for passengers; it's about creating opportunities – for businesses, for tourism, and for the local communities we serve."

Cornwall Council owns the airport site and oversees the process of finding a new operator for the PSO route. The council said last month the tendering process to find an operator for the next four years was underway.

There's your answer, in the article
- basing it on pence per minute.

More than 1,110 minutes of train delays and temporary closures of the A470 have been caused by the crashes

A bridge that has been hit 12 times by drivers over nearly two years in "avoidable" incidents has cost taxpayers £50,000 in repairs, Network Rail has said.

The Abergavenny Road railway bridge, in Caersws, Powys, has been struck a dozen times since January 2024 - seven times in 2025 alone.

Network Rail said over-height vehicles crashed into the bridge over the Cambrian railway line despite numerous warning signs, causing more than 1,110 minutes of train delays and the A470 to temporarily close. The rail operator said it planned to install new signs in the coming months and urged drivers to know the height and width of their vehicles before starting their journey.


Network Rail says drivers are crashing into the bridge despite numerous warning signs

Rebecca Watling, head of performance at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said "incidents like this are entirely avoidable".

"When a vehicle hits a bridge, it creates a serious safety risk and causes major disruption to the railway, with trains stopped for essential inspections and repairs - meaning people miss important appointments or connections," she said. "These incidents also carry a significant cost to the public purse - money that could be far better spent on upgrading and maintaining our rail network." She urged drivers to "check the height and width of their vehicles".

Deb Justice, Cambrian Railway Partnership's community rail development officer, said: "This affects not only local journeys on our trains but rail travel across the whole of Wales and Borders."

She also urged drivers to "take a moment" to check the size of their vehicles before setting out. "It's a small action, but one that can make a huge difference to the safety and reliability of travel for both rail passengers and road users."