Seven years ago!


and a picture from the publicity video at the time. Came up "on this day"



[snip]

Some airlines are offering combined air-rail tickets which that allow passengers to explore Europe on one booking.

An increasing number of airlines are now letting travellers add a train ticket to their booking, to save them the hassle of trying to work out travel plans. Air-rail tickets allow travellers to arrive at an airport and head straight to a train for their connection. In addition, when booked all together, airlines protect the passenger in case a flight delay means they miss their train.

I would argue that there is a much greater need for longer trains on lines like the Kyle line. My reasoning is that on what are essentially 'tourist lines' the demand to have a window seat will be much greater than on a commuter line. It can be frustrating to travel up to somewhere scenic, and find you can't get near a window to get the best view possible.

Many services run long trains to stations with platforms that are not long enough for all doors to open, so I don't see why longer platforms per se are necessary before longer trains are introduced.

Tube union threatens strike unless e-bikes are banned from London Underground after platform blaze

The fire at Rayners Lane station sent toxic fumes billowing across the station and caused temporary disruption to the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines

Small rise in crime at Melksham Station

New data has revealed the number of crimes reported at train stations across the UK, showing a small increase in the already low figures reported at Melksham Station.

Melksham Station, which has services to Westbury and Swindon, has seen a slight rise in its already low crime figures. There were four crime reports to the British Transport Police (BTP) between 2024-2025 compared to one crime reported in the 2023-2024 period. This means the rate of all crime incidents per 100,000 passengers has increased from 3.3 to 13.18, although authorities say it is important to view this rise in a wider context.

The BTP emphasised that “every offence is one too many” in relation to the new statistics.

A BTP spokesperson said, “The chance of becoming a victim of crime on the railway remains extremely low, and reports of high harm crime such as robbery and violence remain low at 2.2 incidents per million passenger journeys. It is important to not sensationalise these statistics and view them within their context. For example, at Westbury station, which has around 270,000 passengers per year, there were 23 reported incidents last year.”

Crimes reported at Melksham Station, where the BTP say there are 30,000 passengers a year, in the 2024-2025 period included one bicycle theft and three criminal damage and arson incidents.

Commuters say their last shreds of ‘joy’ were taken away after London Underground station book exchanges suddenly closed.

Tube stations across London were dotted with community bookswaps, where people can drop off and pick up something to read for free.

However, the Tube station bookswaps now face the end of the road after London Fire Brigade told them to close due to safety concerns the ‘combustible material’ poses.

Book lover Ryan Seller, from Clapham, was left confused when he found the shelves stripped empty with a note saying all book exchanges have been ‘forced to close’ with ‘immediate effect.’

The rescue was carried out by a 4 coach Castle set! Wonder what they will use once the Castle class is retired?

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
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.

Watching on OTT the rescue loco was 1Z99 which took the sleeper back to Plymouth, then on to Laira.
I'm wondering what the rescue loco would have been? In the past they have used 2 back-to-back HST power cars.

Last night's down sleeper has failed at Menheniot and is awaiting rescue.

BPW lost Newport Hereford Malvern Wells in May 2022, all ECS moves from Stoke Gifford going via Charfield.

No idea whether it is DaFT or GWR behind it, or possibly both?

Other losses of route knowledge including BTM HSS saying goodbye to Lydney and Kemble. It has been predicted, the tunnel will shut after a London service has left Newport and when the BTM driver is asked to go the scenic way it will be a "Sorry but no. I could have last week but railway politics trumps common sense".

Gosh...............any steam locos down there - the famous Strategic Steam Reserve !

So.....aren't the early trains that start at HFD driven by drivers from BPW? If not, how do they get from Hitachi to their starting point? At least one starts at Hitachi....

And 'who' is doing the forcing? GWR? DfT?