Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [369501/31222/30] Posted by grahame at 15:06, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Erm, grahame: there are also 13, 14, 15 and 16 in your original post here. 
I know, because I got 16 right!

I know, because I got 16 right!

Oops - 13, 14, and 15 not yet correctly identified - 16 is indeed Newcastle Central
13.

14.

15.

| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [369500/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 15:02, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
14:05 Frome to Swindon due 14:58
14:05 Frome to Swindon due 14:58 was terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon.
This is due to a fault on this train.
14:05 Frome to Swindon due 14:58 was terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon.
This is due to a fault on this train.
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a fault on this train.
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [369499/29711/14] Posted by Trowres at 15:01, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Sunday Dec 14
The 1P50 11:57 Gt Malvern - Paddington has been terminated at Moreton-in-M, following "multiple engine issues".
According to RTT this was rostered as a 9 coach IET, 800314.
The following 1P54 (from Worcester) runnning 51 late. RTT shows this as stopping at Moreton for only 2 minutes. Pretty smart if it had to pick up all the passengers from the previous service.
I'm relying here on the online systems - any eyewitnesses?
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [369498/29650/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 14:42, 14th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
The penalties are covered in the charter companies contract with NR / ORR, there will be limitations to the penalty; the penalties work in both directions ie a TOC, FOC or NR causing delays to a charter as well as a charter fault. Charter operators will operate with 2 locomotives to cover for a loco failure which is more than can be said for TOCs
Yes, and there has to be limitations otherwise a small charter operator would instantly go under if it was the cause of a significant incident.
| Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [369497/31222/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:48, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Erm, grahame: there are also 13, 14, 15 and 16 in your original post here.

I know, because I got 16 right!

| Re: "Rails into Ghost Town" In "Railway History and related topics" [369496/31255/55] Posted by Mark A at 13:33, 14th December 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | ![]() |
Its structures (occasionally) repurposed in surprising and popular ways.
https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Cotswolds-Northamptonshire-Coton-Fm/The-Tunnel-at-Bridge-Lake-Farm-and-Fishery-1132709.html
Not, though the series of three bridges towards the top of the climb out of the Cherwell valley, structures allegedly nicknamed by loco crew as 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity'.
Surprised the staff featured in the film are so prepared to smile for the camera.
Mark
| Re: Disused rail viaduct over the Spey at Garmouth fails In "Railway History and related topics" [369495/31260/55] Posted by Mark A at 13:23, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
If you have Google Earth, you can use the menu 'View/Historical imagery' for the bridge site, allowing you to leaf through a striking set of aerial images from c.1985 to the present day, showing that from 2020 the river's main channel at the bridge switched to the west bank of the Spey for what appears to be the first time in the history of the structure. It may be that 2023's Storm Babet prompted some of this.
This might prove to be a reminder that some events that we like to think of occuring at rates that we'd think of as 'Geological' with respect to time spans can actually happen quickly - long periods of quiescence and then a short spell of rapid change.
Mark
| Re: Interrail Black Friday Sale - 25/11 to 17/12/2025 (for use in 2026) In "Fare's Fair" [369494/31140/4] Posted by grahame at 13:05, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
I'm just giving this topic a gentle 'bump' reminder: there are still three days to go.
CfN.
CfN.

Thanks, Chris ... and I have "bumped" it on my social media ... an excuse to post more pics too
This year, Lisa and I "Interrailed" around Europe - no car, no fly holiday and here are some of the pictures I took. A friend has reminded me that there's an Interrail sale on - 25% off tickets for next year. You don't have to choose dates and destinations - outside Great Britain you have 32 countries you can visit. An adventure I was delighted to have and, yes, we have our passes from the current sale already and we're thinking whether to go to Aalborg, Zwolle, or places alphabetically between them.
It is much easier than you might think - happy to answer questions from my experiences though I am not a travel agent!
It is much easier than you might think - happy to answer questions from my experiences though I am not a travel agent!
| Re: Disused rail viaduct over the Spey at Garmouth fails In "Railway History and related topics" [369493/31260/55] Posted by Mark A at 12:57, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
More photos here from Facebook.
Mark
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5847179865409002/permalink/24998004463233255/
| Re: Disused rail viaduct over the Spey at Garmouth fails In "Railway History and related topics" [369492/31260/55] Posted by Mark A at 12:55, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Ah. The piers are not masonry, each pier for the approach spans is a pair of concrete-filled iron cylinders sunk to... bedrock(?) and clad in masonry, and for the supports in question, both have failed. The water is esturine and the mode of failure will prove to be informative for other similar structures. But, especially given their concrete cores, perhaps not corrosion - looking at old OS mapping, the deep water channel of the river has shifted and now bears on and surrounds the failed piers so it may be that they've simply been washed out of the ground.
Mark
| Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [369491/31222/30] Posted by grahame at 12:43, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Here they all are ...
0 - Melksham, England
1 - Telgart, Slovakia
2 - Ludvika, Sweden
3 - St Malo, France
4 - Santorini, Greece
5 - Katakolon, Greece
6 - Venice Mestre, Italy
7 - Storlien, Sweden
8 - Melksham, England
9 - Tallinn, Estonia
10 - Faro, Portugal
11 - Felletin, France
12 - Leer, Germany
0 - Melksham, England
1 - Telgart, Slovakia
2 - Ludvika, Sweden
3 - St Malo, France
4 - Santorini, Greece
5 - Katakolon, Greece
6 - Venice Mestre, Italy
7 - Storlien, Sweden
8 - Melksham, England
9 - Tallinn, Estonia
10 - Faro, Portugal
11 - Felletin, France
12 - Leer, Germany
All?
All the ones in my quiz ... and I tend to plan for places where for the most part there is a train ...
| Re: Disused rail viaduct over the Spey at Garmouth fails In "Railway History and related topics" [369490/31260/55] Posted by Mark A at 12:28, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
More on the viaduct from the Forgotten Relics web site.
Mark
http://www.forgottenrelics.org/bridges/spey-viaduct/
| Disused rail viaduct over the Spey at Garmouth fails In "Railway History and related topics" [369489/31260/55] Posted by Mark A at 12:22, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Double checked another report to ensure the images weren't A.I. but unfortunately this is real. Looks to be that scour has felled one of the masonry piers supporting one of the smaller steel spans.
Mark
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6915286/river-spey-viaduct-collapse/
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [369488/29650/26] Posted by Electric train at 12:19, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to a fault on a train in front of this one between London Paddington and Reading all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or suspended between Reading and London Paddington. Some stations between Reading and London Paddington will not be served. Disruption is expected until 19:45 13/12.
Customer Advice
What has happened?
A train has had its doors accidentally open over the tracks.
Due to a fault on a train in front of this one between London Paddington and Reading all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or suspended between Reading and London Paddington. Some stations between Reading and London Paddington will not be served. Disruption is expected until 19:45 13/12.
Customer Advice
What has happened?
A train has had its doors accidentally open over the tracks.
Not sure which train was involved but a charter service from Bath Spa to Hull was delayed by 24 minutes near Stockley Junction.
If it was the charter service that was responsible I hope the business concerned is charged for the full cost of all the delays incurred.
The penalties are covered in the charter companies contract with NR / ORR, there will be limitations to the penalty; the penalties work in both directions ie a TOC, FOC or NR causing delays to a charter as well as a charter fault. Charter operators will operate with 2 locomotives to cover for a loco failure which is more than can be said for TOCs
| Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [369487/31222/30] Posted by stuving at 11:29, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Here they all are ...
0 - Melksham, England
1 - Telgart, Slovakia
2 - Ludvika, Sweden
3 - St Malo, France
4 - Santorini, Greece
5 - Katakolon, Greece
6 - Venice Mestre, Italy
7 - Storlien, Sweden
8 - Melksham, England
9 - Tallinn, Estonia
10 - Faro, Portugal
11 - Felletin, France
12 - Leer, Germany
0 - Melksham, England
1 - Telgart, Slovakia
2 - Ludvika, Sweden
3 - St Malo, France
4 - Santorini, Greece
5 - Katakolon, Greece
6 - Venice Mestre, Italy
7 - Storlien, Sweden
8 - Melksham, England
9 - Tallinn, Estonia
10 - Faro, Portugal
11 - Felletin, France
12 - Leer, Germany
All?
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [369486/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 11:29, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Sunday December 14
And after a good day on Saturday...
1W01 09:50 London Paddington to Hereford (12:57) is reported on RTT as being cancelled after Oxford "due to unknown cause (ZW)".
| Re: 14.12.2025 Where is this? Guest question In "The Lighter Side" [369485/31259/30] Posted by grahame at 11:09, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Pilning?
Indeed - I understand from Western Pathfinder that it's had a significant wash and brush up and a bit more too - some more of his pictures follow. Now - why - are we going to see an improvement in services to match the improvements at the station?





| Re: Interrail Black Friday Sale - 25/11 to 17/12/2025 (for use in 2026) In "Fare's Fair" [369484/31140/4] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:03, 14th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | ![]() |
I'm just giving this topic a gentle 'bump' reminder: there are still three days to go.
CfN.

| Re: 14.12.2025 Where is this? Guest question In "The Lighter Side" [369482/31259/30] Posted by Oxonhutch at 10:29, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Pilning?
| Re: Cornish delays In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [369480/28556/25] Posted by GBM at 10:12, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Delays to services between Truro and Penzance
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Redruth trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines. Disruption is expected until 12:00 14/12.
Train services between Truro and Penzance may be delayed.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
Several track circuits have failed in the Redruth area. Trains are being talked past signals in both directions, causing delays.
A track circuit is part of the signalling system. Track circuits tell the signalling system if a section of track has a train on it. If a track circuit stops working, trains need to stop at the local signal so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear. This can lead to delays, especially if several track circuits have stopped working.:
_
What are we doing about it?
We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running our normal timetable as soon as possible.
Network Rail are investigating the fault
Issued at 09h27
| 14.12.2025 Where is this? Guest question In "The Lighter Side" [369479/31259/30] Posted by grahame at 10:08, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
A station managed by GWR ... and an opening for a discussion. Not my picture - credit to be applied and more pictures added during the day

Looks like a Cuneo painting.
Mark
Mark
Where's the mouse?
He was in the cab shovelling coal like crazy !
| Re: Eddystone In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [369477/31258/47] Posted by bobm at 09:50, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Where's the mouse?
| Re: Marazion Flooding In "London to the West" [369476/31247/12] Posted by Mark A at 09:44, 14th December 2025 | ![]() |
Checking the tide times there, this did happen around the time of a high tide. That aside, I was wanting more on the recent practice of closing lines when the water beneath them reaches a certain height because of scour risk. Presumably this is certain bridges, as it's not water depth that may scour foundations, it's the rate of flow, and its common for structures to be immersed but not see any particular rate of flow in the water beneath them. (Not trivialising this, 'cos, Glanrhyd and a host of other examples including that poisonous little rivulet north of, is it Carr Bridge on the Highland Main Line?)
Oh, and {fx: raises a glass to the people who set that central pier in the Avon on the bridge next to Bath Spa station.}
Mark
Looks like a Cuneo painting.
Mark
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [369474/28982/26] Posted by old original at 08:16, 14th December 2025 Already liked by Timmer | ![]() |
Quite ironic that a HST had to stand-in for a unit that will probably have to cover the HST this week.....
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [369472/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 21:45, 13th December 2025 | ![]() |
The last HST is turning out to be 2P97 Newquay to Plymouth departing 14 late at 2136 standing in for a failed 150 since 1416hrs.
If it's a case there isn't one 175 in passenger operation on Sunday or Monday then Mark Hopwood has presided over a complete fiasco.
















