There can be "up to a dozen incidents" of trespassing each day on train lines in Sussex and Kent, Network Rail has said.

Paul Langley, head of security, crime and resilience for the southern region, said the railway environment was "inherently dangerous" and trespassing exacerbated this. He was speaking from Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre incident control room, where staff demonstrated how the team ensured the smooth running of one of the busiest lines in the UK. He said: "Our message is, stay off the tracks. You're putting not only yourself at risk, but also those people who have to respond to it."


Network Rail invited the BBC to tour the Three Bridges control room to see how staff ensured the smooth running of the rail line

Mr Langley made clear the "huge impact" such incidents had on staff, including those responding on the ground and "the people who are managing this on a daily basis in control". He said: "These can end in really tragic incidents that we see, unfortunately, quite regularly on the railway."  With trespassing being one of the "key drivers" for delays, he was also keen to highlight the significant "human impact" that had.

He said: "We're not a million miles from Gatwick Airport. People that are travelling there can miss flights."  Hospital appointments can also be missed, he added, while trespassing can also create "childcare issues", and result in missed meetings. "This impacts thousands of people, almost on a daily basis," he said.



The security head said that, while there can be up to a dozen trespassing incidents per day, numbers do fluctuate.

When it comes to spotting trespassers, drones are a key tool.

Insp Paul Donovan from British Transport Police said drones offer "fantastic situational awareness" which allow the force to help reduce disruption on the railway. He said: "We can turn up and deploy the drone, it's a lot quicker, it's a lot more effective for getting the railway back to normality. Most importantly, it's a safety thing as well, because it helps us minimise risk ... The important thing for us is to get the railway moving as soon as possible when it's safe to do so."

Clifton bridge to close for essential maintenance

A landmark suspension bridge is to temporarily shut for upgrades.

Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol will close to vehicles from 09:00 until 15:00 GMT on 29 October.

The upgrades include the installation of new monitoring system, which protects the structure from being overloaded, maintenance of the toll barriers and painting works.

Trish Johnson, bridge master at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust (CSBT), said the work was "vital" in keeping "the bridge well maintained and operating for many years to come".

The bridge will remain open for pedestrians, with cyclists asked to dismount and walk.

A diversion route has been planned, using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way and A369 Rownham Hill.

CSBT said traffic following the signed route will be exempt from clean air zone charges.

Ms Johnson said the work was being "funded entirely by bridge tolls" and thanked users for "supporting the preservation of this famous landmark".

The trust apologised for any inconvenience caused by the closure.

Waay off topic, but not worth starting a new topic.

"My bad" has rapidly crept into our usage (as do many other words and expressions).
Is this a lesser form of sorry perhaps.

Our children use it frequently.
We still use "sorry".

Too pedantic? 

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bath Spa due 17:44

15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bath Spa due 17:44 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Bradford-On-Avon and Bath Spa.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 4.

Last Updated:27/10/2025 04:58

He was pulled up by station staff who said he had breached Underground rules forbidding all wheeled vehicles within stations and onboard trains.
TfL proceeded to prosecute Cejas in September for being in breach of Byelaw 15, which states that all passengers must enter the network on foot

Mon, 27 October 07:03 Salisbury to Swindon due 08:34

27/10/25 07:03 Salisbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury, Warminster and Dilton Marsh.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Mon, 27 October 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06

27/10/25 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Town's oldest shop owner celebrates 100th birthday


John Brown has run the shop since 1957

The owner of a town's oldest shop is celebrating his 100th birthday.

John Brown, owner of John Brown Hardware, built and then opened his shop in Nailsea, North Somerset, in September 1957 with his father.

Mr Brown regularly worked in the shop until the age of 98, and still oversees the business. He said he still felt like a "youngster at heart" and was "proud and honoured" to reach the milestone of 100 years.

The centenarian said the shop was his "little baby" and he opened it as he was "interested in people".

"If I could help people I did, and if they couldn't pay upfront, I said 'come back next week'," he added.

Mr Brown's shop sells a variety of hardware items, bathroom fixtures, ironmongery, homeware and decorative items.

(BBC article continues)