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."

Sarah Forrester, 55, died in her home in Swindon on Friday

A woman who died inside her home has been named by police after a 13-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of her murder was released on bail.

The woman who died in Swindon on Friday was 55-year-old Sarah Forrester, Wiltshire Police have confirmed. They said she had not been breathing when officers arrived at her house in Baydon Close, Moredon, at about 19:00 GMT after being called to a disorder. She died at the scene.

The 13-year-old girl was later arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody for questioning. She has since been bailed while enquiries continue.

Ms Forrester worked as a counsellor at The Kelly Foundation, a Swindon charity which supports individuals with severe anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

The foundation was set up in memory of Kelly Jobanputra, a BBC Radio 6 Music producer and former BBC Radio Wiltshire presenter who took her own life in 2019.

In a statement, The Kelly Foundation said it was "heartbroken at the sudden loss of our lovely Sarah".

"She was completely committed to the charity and devoted to her two young children," the statement continued. "Sarah was pivotal in the work that we do here at The Kelly Foundation and her loss is a hugely traumatic event, not just for us and her colleagues but more especially for her children and family. Sarah was an incredible person, kind, thoughtful, considerate, caring and funny and she embodied everything that we hope our charity is and can be. She enjoyed her role with us and we all loved working with her, she will be truly, truly missed."

From the Swindon Advertiser:

During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The bus will be fitted with a medical area, benches, charging points and solar panels

An appeal to raise £70,000 for a Safe Bus - a mobile welfare and first aid hub - has been launched in Nottingham.

It's In Nottingham, the city's business promotion group, wants to convert a donated vehicle into a fully equipped space where trained welfare officers, volunteers, and medical staff can offer first aid, support, and a safe place to rest.

It would operate in the city centre during weekends and major events, giving practical help for those who are injured, lost, or vulnerable, organisers said. As well as benefiting those enjoying a night out, it could also ease pressure on local emergency services and hospitals.

It's In Nottingham said that while the city's night time economy of bars, clubs, and restaurants brought many benefits, it created challenges for police and welfare teams.

A seven-day pilot project with St John Ambulance last Christmas supported 102 people, with 73 managed on location without needing hospital treatment. The estimated £30,000 – £50,000 in savings to the NHS could translate into £1.6 –£2.7m annually if a similar facility was made permanent, it said.

Nottingham City Transport has already donated the bus but the initiative also has the backing of Nottingham City Council, trentbarton, Nottingham Street Pastors and both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The team is now asking for public and business support through a crowdfunding campaign for the refit, which includes an on-board medical area with sink, bed, and running water. It would also include solar panels and accessibility improvements, along with heating, lighting, and welfare seating.

Rich Lane, head of operations and business crime at It's In Nottingham, said: "It's quite a simple idea. It's just a normal bus. All the seats are removed. We've got a medical provision that will be in the back but then some nice long benches down the interior of the bus where you can charge your mobile phone or you can sit and just have a few moments to contemplate your thoughts.

"And it's just a safe space where we've got medical provision that's there. We've got street pastors that will be working. We'll have welfare units from universities that will be on board and assisting. Ultimately it's just somewhere that you can go and sit."

Simon Calder, writing on the fares changes and some possible consequences in the Independent. Also, his article makes some play on Didcot - Swindon being the most expensive main line leg in the UK, not sure if that's the cost with respect to time on the train perhaps.

a boggling £2.20 per minute, making it the most expensive main line train trip in Britain

Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, said: ‘We are pleased that after 14 years of the Tories pricing people off our railways, this Labour government is helping people to commute to work and travel for pleasure.”

from what is, in effect, a decision to make long-suffering taxpayers pay even more to keep the trains running – even though many of them never go near a train.

The unusual method of trans-paw-tation is named after Laura Mohan's dog Billy

You wait for one bus and then 15 dogs come along at once - if Billy's Bus drives past. According to founder Laura Mohan, the dog bus – which takes pets on day adventures in the community - is the first of its kind in the UK.

Ms Mohan had the idea when she was struggling to find care for her own pup, Billy. "We found with dog walkers one hour wasn't enough. And full-day care was too much for him," she says. "We took inspiration from an American lady called Canine Convoy and then we went to town with the idea. Everyone loves seeing dogs on a bus."

Ms Mohan, who runs the coach as part of her dog walking business, and driver Ray Welderend travel around parts of Bradford and Leeds picking up paw-sengers. The four-legged fare payers are then secured and can pay special visits before getting to walkies later on.

"We're half dog service, half community based. We do as much as we can in the community," says Ms Mohan. "We do drive-bys to old people's homes, nursing homes, schools and nurseries, everyone can come on board, say hi to the dogs, and then we just ask for a donation to a local dog charity that we're associated with called Aireworth Kennels."


The dogs are secured as they are transported

Ms Mohan says after setting up the business five weeks ago, demand had been brisk. "I thought we'd probably get 20 enrolments in a week or two, but we woke up the second day and we had 68. Now we've got just over 340 dogs enrolled so it's a second bus time," she explains.

The dogs, who spend three to four hours with Ms Mohan and the team, can even be followed on a live stream from the bus. "It's a bit like running a children's nursery – the key is lots of engagement and lots of love and that keeps everybody in a good mood," she says.

Millions of homes in the UK welcomed new pets during the coronavirus pandemic as people sought companionship. The RSPCA previously said that some dogs have had behaviour problems - particularly after being left alone for the first time when their owners returned to work.

Catherine Taylor is a support worker at Outside the Box, a community café in Ilkley that supports adults and young people with learning disabilities. She says the young people loved having the dogs to visit.

"We work with adults with learning challenges who need diversity. So we help them to complete a shift in the café, and then we run workshops. It's such a treat to have the dogs. It's tactile, it's caring. They've been so excited preparing for them, preparing all their drinks, putting signs out to make sure they have space for the bus."

Georgie Grove sends her dog Coco on the bus. "I'm working all the time. I've got a new baby and I want him to go on as many walks as possible, that's what you always want when you get a dog. So this is just perfect," she says.

Issey Giltrow says the service allows her dog Alfie to play with other dogs and get socialised. "I work from home and he's become very needy with me. We saw it when we were walking through Ilkley and we thought this would be perfect for him – get him out with other dogs," she says.

Driver Ray Welderend describes being behind the wheel of the canine coach as the perfect job. "When I saw this advertised I thought, 'I've got nothing better to do with my time' and if I'm out and about playing with dogs, and helping out with dogs, it's win-win for me," he smiles.

Before driving dogs, he was more used to transporting goods up and down the motorway in his role as an HGV driver. "This is a dream job compared to lorry driving," he says.

Visitors could take the M3 bus service (pictured) into the North York Moors after travelling on the M1 Moorsbus from Hull

A bus service between Hull and the North York Moors could be operated again next year after it proved to be popular during this summer, Hull City Council has said.

The M1 Moorsbus service operated between Hull, Pickering and the moors every Sunday and bank holiday Monday from May to September this year.

A total of 2,249 passengers boarded the M1 in 2025, with 1,317 of these originating from Hull and the East Riding, according to Hull City Council figures.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, Hull City Council's portfolio holder for transport, said: "There is a customer demand for this service and we will be looking at what can be done to deliver this again next year."

The M1 service departed from Hull Paragon Interchange, picking up from Cottingham, Beverley Bus Station, Driffield and Malton Railway Station before arriving in Pickering. Passengers could then change for the M3 service, from Pickering to the North York Moors.

The council said over 3,800 people rode both the M1 service and the M3 service during this year's summer season.

The M1 service was brought back this year with funding from Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, through their respective bus service improvement plans, with cash allocated from the Department for Transport.

Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "I'm very pleased the Moorsbus was a big hit once again with passengers from our areas, enabling them to experience the beauty spots of North Yorkshire."

I'm a bit confused at to what counts as a regulated fare. Anytime return fares are to rise by, is it 4.7% - and if someone needs to travel urgently those fares can be their only option.

A multi-storey car park could be built off Station Lane while Stagecoach looks to scale down its use of Paignton bus station

A town could lose its bus station but gain a new supermarket and multi-storey car park under a plan for its future.

Torbay Council's cabinet has signed off on a document outlining a "vision" for regeneration for Paignton, which will now go out for discussion with residents and developers.

"It is about promoting Paignton to the outside world," said deputy leader, councillor Chris Lewis. "It is about sharing the fact that we are serious about the regeneration of the town. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Paignton won't be changed in a day, but there are exciting regeneration projects under way."

The plan suggests a multi-storey car park could be built off Station Lane, while Stagecoach looks to scale down its use of Paignton bus station, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Its new electric buses will be based in Torquay, but Paignton's routes will stay the same.

"If Stagecoach wants to move to a smaller site it's an opportunity for us to see if we can put a supermarket there with flats above it," said Lewis. Talks are also under way to improve derelict buildings in Station Square. "They have been derelict for far too long," he said. "These are exciting times for Paignton," he added.

Stagecoach confirmed that its buses would no longer be based overnight at Paignton Bus Station, with some transferring to its nearby Torquay site.

Peter Knight, managing director at Stagecoach South West, said: "This change forms part of our wider plans to develop a more sustainable, fully electric bus network for Torbay, with the Torquay depot set to become Stagecoach South West's main electric vehicle operating base from early 2026." He said there would be "no impact on local bus services, and all Paignton routes will continue to run as normal".

"Stagecoach remains committed to delivering reliable, low-emission transport for local communities and will continue working closely with Torbay Council as its regeneration plans progress," he added.

Councillor Nick Bye said the current seafront project, including new sea defences, would "transform" Paignton. "Paignton is the future," he said. "So much is going on that we can be proud of. A successful vision will be what drives its regeneration."

But, councillor Darren Cowell said: "If this is a vision, whose vision is it? The feedback I have had is that the community seems to have been forgotten. And so far delivery seems to be demolition."

Councillor Swithin Long added: "We've had lots of exciting projects mentioned, but all we've had so far is car parks being turned into car parks."

News today that the go-ahead has been given for reopening the Oxford -  Cowley line by 2030.
Funding of £120m has been made available to reopen the line to passengers with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgql954g07do

Cowley Branch line to reopen after 60 years in £120m project


The rail line, which has been closed to the public for 60 years, will include a new station in Littlemore

An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.

The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, but new stations will be opened in Cowley and Littlemore in south-east 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".

Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was "finally going to become a reality". She said it would make a "massive difference to local residents, slashing travel times and reducing congestion".

The county's five Liberal Democrat MPs Freddie van Mierlo, Layla Moran, Charlie Maynard, Olly Glover, and Calum Miller said the "major" announcement reflected "years of campaigning, local partnership and rigorous business-case work".

The government said reopening the line would help create up to 10,000 new jobs. It will connect Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to central Oxford in under 10 minutes in a twice-hourly passenger service.

Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said it would "stitch together" science parks, hospitals and new cultural spaces "so that ideas, researchers and local residents" could move more easily around Oxford and out to London Marylebone.

Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said: "The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford. It will give access to more amenities and jobs, help to cut congestion, meet our climate targets, and unlock new homes and jobs."

Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: "We're delighted that the government has seen the obvious benefits that this project will deliver and the value for money it represents."

Rob Brighouse, chair of Oxford Strategic Rail Promoters' Group, called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity and represents great news for those who do, and will, live and work on the route, as well as helping to ease rail capacity constraints through Oxford".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had "massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor".

The government said the investments would also build on its commitment to deliver East West Rail, "which will strengthen links between Oxford and Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and beyond".

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which conducts research into biology, agriculture, climate change, AI and robotics in Oxford, said it could eventually employ up to 7,000 staff, and that the Cowley Branch Line would be "crucial". EIT said it would "participate with other local stakeholders to provide supplementary funding" of £35m, and design and construct the station at Littlemore.

Sarah Haywood, managing director of Advanced Oxford, which represents science and tech businesses in the region, said it was an "exciting and important boost to the Oxford region". She said it would help to realise the "full potential" of East-West Rail "cementing the region as a world-class science super-cluster".

Yong Shen, director of the Oxford Science Park, called it a "significant, tangible step towards more sustainable transport options" to the city.

Oxford City Council said work would be carried out to identify the additional infrastructure needed to connect the stations to their local communities. This could include new bridges, pedestrian and cycle routes, and better links to the bus network, it said.

10:00 Great Malvern to Oxford due 11:30 will be terminated at Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:09

11:50 Oxford to Great Malvern due 13:18 will be started from Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:09

14:00 Great Malvern to Oxford due 15:30 will be terminated at Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:27

15:50 Oxford to Great Malvern due 17:18 will be started from Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:27

13:50 Oxford to Hereford due 16:04 is being delayed between Oxford and Hanborough and is now expected to be 16 minutes late.
This is due to a late running train being in front of this one.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 14:08

I thought that an IET with only one engine was able to ascend inclines, though slowly.
After all, the electric version has only one engine, and can allegedly "limp home" on diesel power.

I thought that an IET with only one engine was able to ascend inclines, though slowly.
After all, the electric version has only one engine, and can allegedly "limp home" on diesel power.

Is this a case of the cost up against the environmental issues?

I don't know the cost,but if a single decker costs ten pound an hour to run

and if

a double decker costs twenty pounds an hour to run.
The bus company would be saving money and I presume a single decker use's less fuel and benefiting the environment,
not to mention that a single decker would be easier to negotiate the roads and streets of Cornwall.
Strange that I have not heard anything from the Independence for Cornwall brigade