Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Temple Meads station approach road In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [369803/31280/21] Posted by Red Squirrel at 23:11, 19th December 2025 |      |
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369802/31028/51] Posted by stuving at 22:56, 19th December 2025 | |
What the RAIB say is that the system was fully operational and reporting sensor movement to the monitoring centre of the company that built and ran it. Network Rail had not signed it off as operational, meaning that alarm reports were not being sent on to their control centre. And no, I don't understand that either. Among the many things we don't know is whether the company would have picked up movement reports and forwarded them to NR - academic since there were no such reports.
The most likely system I can find mention of online (and which is used by NR in other places) has tilt sensors on poles, reporting to a local concentrator box, which sends reports on to the company HQ. If the poles are about 1m tall, that would fit with the highest movement threshold of 90 cm. However, reporting greater movements would depend on the ability to transmit while lying flat, at risk of being at least wet and muddy if not (as observed here) buried. I'd need more detail about the radios and antennas to say any more about why what looks like a serious omission took place.
A tilt sensor measures sideways offset from the base of the pole, which might itself move, so the relationship of that offset to the earth slippage is not at all straightforward. Initially, the sensor movement is a lot bigger than the movement of the ground at any depth. Note that the words do talk about monitoring the positions of the sensors, not of the ground, suggesting either tilt or distance from another transponder is being measured.
Battery lifetime requirements constrain how often reports can be sent, and I guess the concentrator/relay box has to be solar powered since any mobile phone (even GPRS, still used for this kind of thing) has to cover a longer distance and is much more power-hungry. The collective report sent on obviously could include an item for each sensor, and I'd expect that in every report - after all, it's only a bit or two each. But, again, how the operators would or should have reacted to two sensors going AWOL is unknown.
| Bristol Rail Campaign (FoSBR) AGM In "Diary - what's happening when?" [369801/31295/34] Posted by Red Squirrel at 22:54, 19th December 2025 | |
Bristol Rail Campaign (FoSBR) will be holding their AGM on Weds 11th March 2026
This year's AGM will be held at Watershed, 1 Canons Road Bristol BS1 5TX (https://www.watershed.co.uk/)
Doors open 19.00 for 19.30 start.
Speakers and further details will be announced in due course.
Non-members welcome.
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369799/31028/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:28, 19th December 2025 | |
I am also unsure if the sensors were set up to broadcast an 'All Right' signal on a regular basis that would be the foundation of a fail-safe system.
Yep, me too. AIUI, it was set up to transmit on movement - but a very slow creep wasn't enough to activate it, and the major movement happened so quick to bury transmitters before they could react. If they had been commissioned.
| Re: 19th Advent Quiz - Old Pictures - where are they? In "The Lighter Side" [369798/31292/30] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:22, 19th December 2025 | |
| Re: Cornish delays In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [369797/28556/25] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:15, 19th December 2025 | |
For those of us who don't have otters in our garden, have you a more general comparison?
I think he is referring to a fish's wallet.
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369796/31028/51] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:14, 19th December 2025 | |
To be fair, if it was commissioned, I am unsure if the system would have noticed the cessation of expected signal and raised an alarm. They discovered the hiding of the alarm signal as they uncovered the sensors during clean-up.
I am also unsure if the sensors were set up to broadcast an 'All Right' signal on a regular basis that would be the foundation of a fail-safe system.
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369795/31028/51] Posted by grahame at 19:49, 19th December 2025 | |
Because apparently it hadn't been commissioned & wasn't able to file reports....
....and then the land slid so as to cover the transmitters so they couldn't transmit if they had been commissioned....
So expect line closures to check every so often going forward until better technology can be developed
....and then the land slid so as to cover the transmitters so they couldn't transmit if they had been commissioned....
So expect line closures to check every so often going forward until better technology can be developed
Strikes me that they may not have been fail safe - a system which is constantly monitoring and sound the alarm if it doesn't respond to a ping. But amazing is the system doesn't work like that it - "schoolboy error" if it doesn't.
| Re: Cornish delays In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [369794/28556/25] Posted by grahame at 19:41, 19th December 2025 | |
It has been wetter than an otter's pocket here over the last week.
For those of us who don't have otters in our garden, have you a more general comparison?
| Re: Cornish delays In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [369792/28556/25] Posted by Kernow Otter at 19:29, 19th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | |
It has been wetter than an otter's pocket here over the last week.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [369791/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 19:19, 19th December 2025 | |
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06 will be terminated at Gloucester.
It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident.
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06 will be terminated at Gloucester.
It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident.
| Re: What is happening at Dilton Marsh? Key service reduction! In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [369790/31284/20] Posted by grahame at 18:31, 19th December 2025 | |
I will follow up here to let members know the answers.
Received this afternoon ... will follow up with further follow up(s). So far, so good
I did see some previous correspondents reference to the new timetable for Dilton Marsh. [redcated] may be a bit closer to it. I’ll have a look and get back to you by Monday.
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369788/31028/51] Posted by ChrisB at 17:49, 19th December 2025 | |
Because apparently it hadn't been commissioned & wasn't able to file reports....
....and then the land slid so as to cover the transmitters so they couldn't transmit if they had been commissioned....
So expect line closures to check every so often going forward until better technology can be developed
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369786/31028/51] Posted by Oxonhutch at 17:37, 19th December 2025 | |
| Re: Bus and train timetables for Melksham to May 2026 In "TransWilts line" [369785/31293/18] Posted by matth1j at 17:30, 19th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | |
Also, I think the 2nd picture does hint that Melksham has done well for Christmas lights. Personally I'm not particularly keen on that very artificial tree, but there is a natural one not far from it. And the lights down the high street look really nice/festive. Well done to all the volunteers that did most (all?) of the putting up.
| Re: Bus and train timetables for Melksham to May 2026 In "TransWilts line" [369783/31293/18] Posted by Mark A at 17:12, 19th December 2025 | |
Looking closely, love the cloud of midges above the right hand reindeer, very realistic and great attention to detail.
Mark
| Re: Derailment of Glasgow to London train near Shap in Cumbria - 3 November 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369781/31028/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:56, 19th December 2025 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Future Cumbria rail landslides 'may not be detected' says inquiry
Network Rail has been told to take urgent steps to mitigate future risks
Equipment to keep the rail network safe from landslides may not be able to properly detect the risk of future slope failures, an investigation has found.
A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) inquiry into the derailment of an Avanti West Coast train at Shap, in Cumbria, on 3 November found lineside monitoring equipment used by Network Rail may miss other potential incidents.
There have been a number of landslides in Cumbria near the rail network with one on Thursday which caused disruption.
Network Rail said it will continue to work closely with the RAIB as part of its investigation and it is new technology to monitor conditions.
RAIB has told the organisation, infrastructure managers and companies supplying or monitoring relevant equipment to take urgent steps to consider and mitigate risks.
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "We have one of the safest railways in the world and the safety of passengers and our colleagues remains our first priority. With extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent for all infrastructure managers, Network Rail is increasingly using new technology to monitor and report on the conditions of our embankments and cuttings, assessing areas for further development."
The Glasgow to London train derailment left four out of 87 people on board with minor injuries
The RAIB report said: "Lineside monitoring equipment used on Network Rail-managed infrastructure may not be able to detect the failure of slopes in some circumstances. As a result, this equipment may not provide data as expected to support safety decision-making, particularly during extreme weather conditions."
Network Rail said they fully support the RAIB's report and will work with their "supply chain to put the RAIB's safety advice into practice, strengthening the performance of sensor equipment where necessary."
"Over the next four years across the North West, Network Rail has already committed to investing £30m on earthworks and £68m on drainage to ensure our railway stays safely on the move during adverse weather," a Network Rail spokesperson added.
The Glasgow to London train derailment in November left four out of 87 people on board with minor injuries, North West Ambulance Service said.
Network Rail, which looks after the track, said the precise cause of the 11-carriage train's derailment was still being investigated but operations director Sam MacDougall said early indications suggested the train had hit a landslip.
Immediately after the derailment, passengers were taken to the nearby Shap Wells Hotel before being transferred to two coaches - one heading to London and the other to Scotland.
Network Rail has been told to take urgent steps to mitigate future risks
Equipment to keep the rail network safe from landslides may not be able to properly detect the risk of future slope failures, an investigation has found.
A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) inquiry into the derailment of an Avanti West Coast train at Shap, in Cumbria, on 3 November found lineside monitoring equipment used by Network Rail may miss other potential incidents.
There have been a number of landslides in Cumbria near the rail network with one on Thursday which caused disruption.
Network Rail said it will continue to work closely with the RAIB as part of its investigation and it is new technology to monitor conditions.
RAIB has told the organisation, infrastructure managers and companies supplying or monitoring relevant equipment to take urgent steps to consider and mitigate risks.
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "We have one of the safest railways in the world and the safety of passengers and our colleagues remains our first priority. With extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent for all infrastructure managers, Network Rail is increasingly using new technology to monitor and report on the conditions of our embankments and cuttings, assessing areas for further development."
The Glasgow to London train derailment left four out of 87 people on board with minor injuries
The RAIB report said: "Lineside monitoring equipment used on Network Rail-managed infrastructure may not be able to detect the failure of slopes in some circumstances. As a result, this equipment may not provide data as expected to support safety decision-making, particularly during extreme weather conditions."
Network Rail said they fully support the RAIB's report and will work with their "supply chain to put the RAIB's safety advice into practice, strengthening the performance of sensor equipment where necessary."
"Over the next four years across the North West, Network Rail has already committed to investing £30m on earthworks and £68m on drainage to ensure our railway stays safely on the move during adverse weather," a Network Rail spokesperson added.
The Glasgow to London train derailment in November left four out of 87 people on board with minor injuries, North West Ambulance Service said.
Network Rail, which looks after the track, said the precise cause of the 11-carriage train's derailment was still being investigated but operations director Sam MacDougall said early indications suggested the train had hit a landslip.
Immediately after the derailment, passengers were taken to the nearby Shap Wells Hotel before being transferred to two coaches - one heading to London and the other to Scotland.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [369780/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 16:28, 19th December 2025 | |
Friday December 19
1W01 09:52 London Paddington to Hereford (12:46) : departed +28 (late arrival of incoming stock), arrived Great Malvern +28 and cancelled thereafter.
13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:24 will be started from Great Malvern.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:19/12/2025 12:18
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:19/12/2025 12:18
| Re: Liverpool to Carmarthen - help needed............. In "Fare's Fair" [369778/31267/4] Posted by Clan Line at 15:52, 19th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
PART 2
I bought the tickets from GWR (mad panic to post them to him ........ONLY paper tickets available for this trip - but the tickets have a QR code printed on them ?) the more I look at this, the more I scratch my head. The itinerary I was presented with when I bought the tickets has 4 changes shown, not 2 that I got originally from GWR a few days back.
Examination of RTT shows that the (original) through train from Crewe to Swansea is running......
The new itinerary tells him to go from Liverpool to Crewe on an Aviva train - which goes on to Rugby. Ten minutes later he has to board another Aviva service to get to Stafford - this train starts at Manchester and also goes to Rugby. Even closer examination of RTT shows that BOTH of these trains stop at Stafford !
I have told him to get the through train to Swansea from Crewe...........luckily I kept a screen grab of the original itinerary to give him, in case anyone queries why he is on that through train.
I can, perhaps, understand the 4 change route - it is marginally quicker, but 3 of the 4 changes are not overly generous with the time - room to lose that benefit by a missed connection. ............but to tell you to get off a train which goes to where you need to go and then get onto a different train to the same place, that one escapes me completely
I was bored..........the 4 change route is 31 miles longer too.
| Bus and train timetables for Melksham to May 2026 In "TransWilts line" [369776/31293/18] Posted by grahame at 15:35, 19th December 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, matth1j, Timmer | |
Best part of 1000 timetables now out there with Melksham residents - https://grahamellis.uk/blog1815.html
Lots learned - very much a two way thing - listening to the public transport users - and those who don't use it - is the MTUG lifeblood.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [369775/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 15:04, 19th December 2025 | |
I suspect if a member of crew can operate a number of routes including the TransWilts and there are two services which need operating, the TransWilts will be the one to fall away.
Nothing to do with passenger numbers but for operational reasons. [snip]
Whether it is passenger numbers or operational constraints, the end result is the same for travellers but I suspect it is the latter that leads to cancellations when there is a crew shortage. More importantly we need to keep pressing for sufficient crew and in the short term the need to arrange and publicise alternative road replacement when services are cancelled.
Nothing to do with passenger numbers but for operational reasons. [snip]
Whether it is passenger numbers or operational constraints, the end result is the same for travellers but I suspect it is the latter that leads to cancellations when there is a crew shortage. More importantly we need to keep pressing for sufficient crew and in the short term the need to arrange and publicise alternative road replacement when services are cancelled.
Agreed, Bobm, and there are other specific operational reasons for that particular train to be in trouble - "Rumour Mill" stuff because it's not confirmed.
I have highlighted your alternatives statement. Totally agreed, and those services need to be reasonably close to the time that the train was due too - waiting for a bus or taxi which is so late (when it turns up) that it's only going to get to destination after the next train - and that's over a hour on the 17:35 from Swindon is a good way to turn passengers off. These days, when I talk to people about the service it's not so much "good to have" but much more "don't use it - it's unreliable".
But yet, while campaigning, I'm desparately trying not to rubbish the operator / service to the extend I p*ss them off, and with publcitty that's so bad it puts people off too. A fine balances. I remember past concerns at the campaigning style of SHRUG - https://www.passenger.chat/r4949.html and their Hogrider which veered far to much on the negative side for my liking.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [369774/29726/18] Posted by bobm at 14:31, 19th December 2025 | |
I suspect if a member of crew can operate a number of routes including the TransWilts and there are two services which need operating, the TransWilts will be the one to fall away.
Nothing to do with passenger numbers but for operational reasons. It is much easier to deal with a service which doesn't leave the sidings to make a return trip than cut, for example, a Cardiff-Portsmouth service. Depending when the cancellation is decided the train in question may already be on its way, but even if not you are still left with a train clogging up Westbury after terminating short. If you don't have the staff to shunt it out of the way, it is going to block a platform for a few hours until it can pick up the return working.
Whether it is passenger numbers or operational constraints, the end result is the same for travellers but I suspect it is the latter that leads to cancellations when there is a crew shortage. More importantly we need to keep pressing for sufficient crew and in the short term the need to arrange and publicise alternative road replacement when services are cancelled.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [369773/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 12:46, 19th December 2025 Already liked by GBM, Mark A | |
I very much doubt that the DfT (or even GWR when presenting to DfT) singles out any particular line of service, unless the MP(s) in question take the DfT to task) - so overall at drivers depot level, yours are likely the least used of services that Westbury drivers drive. So you catch the short straw to disadvantage the fewest customers at drivers depot level.
Thank you, Chris - so it is down to GWR. Who, however, deny the short straw stuff. I am of the somewhat-informed opinion that the imbalance of cancellations has other planning factors involved and - in school report terms - "could do better"
