Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Blue badge holders and others can now get a Disabled Person's Railcard In "Fare's Fair" [373355/31754/4] Posted by ChrisB at 21:35, 16th March 2026 |      |
From Money Saving Expert
If you've got a blue badge or disabled person's bus pass, you may now qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard as the eligibility criteria for the scheme has been expanded from today (Sunday 1 March). Below we explain what's changing and how to apply.
A Disabled Person's Railcard entitles the holder and an adult companion to one-third off most train fares across England, Scotland and Wales – we've more info on how it works below.
It currently costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. The Rail Delivery Group, the firm in charge of railcards, says it has no plans to increase prices as a result of it becoming available to more people.
If you're not eligible for this railcard, there may be another one you can get – for full details of the different types available, see our Cheap train tickets guide.
From 1 March: Blue badge holders and others now qualify
Until now, the Disabled Person's Railcard had only been available to those receiving certain benefits or with certain medical conditions (as set out below). It will remain available to those people.
From today (Sunday 1 March), however, eligibility has been expanded to cover a wider range of both visible and non-visible disabilities, meaning more people will be able to apply for one.
The criteria now includes those who:
Have a blue badge.
Have a disabled person's bus pass (England, Scotland and Wales).
Have a disabled person's Freedom Pass (London only).
Can't drive on medical grounds.
Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits.
Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
Are without speech.
The existing application process remains the same, but if you meet any of the new criteria, you'll also need to provide one of the following documents:
A copy of the front and back of your blue badge.
A disabled person's bus pass.
A disabled person's Freedom Pass.
A letter from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or a health professional confirming you're unable to drive on medical grounds.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefit.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
A document from a health professional confirming that you're without speech.
For full info on the expanded eligibility criteria, see the Disabled Person's Railcard website.
You can still get it if you receive certain benefits or have certain conditions
The previous qualifying criteria for a Disabled Person's Railcard isn't being removed – this means that you can still qualify if you:
Receive Personal Independence Payments or Adult Disability Payment.
Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component.
Have a visual impairment.
Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
Have epilepsy and receive drug treatment for it.
Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment.
Receive war pensioner's mobility supplement.
Receive war or service disablement pension for 80% or more disability.
Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme.
See the Disabled Person's Railcard website for full info on eligibility criteria.
Eligibility will be extended again from September 2026
Under further planned changes from September this year, you may also qualify if you have a disability or condition that requires professional health evidence and more detailed assessment to verify. This will include:
Some long-term or degenerative health conditions.
Neurodiversity that has a substantial impact on a person's ability to travel by train.
The Rail Delivery Group says it will share information on what evidence will be required closer to the time.
You can get a third off most fares with this railcard
The Disabled Person's Railcard's discount applies to advance tickets, anytime day tickets, anytime single tickets, anytime return tickets, and off-peak and super off-peak tickets (day, single and return). It covers both standard and first class for all these ticket types.
It can also be used to get one-third off a Transport for London (TfL) travelcard for zones 1-9 and Oyster pay-as-you-go travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line, London buses and more.
The discount also applies to buying tickets for Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express and Stansted Express. See full info on using your railcard.
The Rail Delivery Group says Disabled Person's Railcard holders save an average of £126 a year, or £4.70 a journey – to see how much you could save on a specific journey, use its calculator.
Visually impaired, blind or using a wheelchair? You don't need a railcard to get discounted train travel
If you're visually impaired or blind: you and and an adult companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class. You can also buy an adult season ticket that lets a companion travel with you at no extra cost.
You don't need to buy a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts, but you do need to provide evidence of impairment or blindness. This has to be either a CVI, BP1 or BD8 certificate, or documentation from a recognised institution, such as social services, your local authority or Blind Veterans UK.
If you're a wheelchair user and will be staying in your chair for the journey: you and a companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class, on adult and child fares. Again, you don't need a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts. But to take advantage of them, tickets must be purchased from a staffed train station ticket office.
For more details, see the alternative discounts section on the Disabled Person's Railcard site.
A Disabled Person's Railcard entitles the holder and an adult companion to one-third off most train fares across England, Scotland and Wales – we've more info on how it works below.
It currently costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. The Rail Delivery Group, the firm in charge of railcards, says it has no plans to increase prices as a result of it becoming available to more people.
If you're not eligible for this railcard, there may be another one you can get – for full details of the different types available, see our Cheap train tickets guide.
From 1 March: Blue badge holders and others now qualify
Until now, the Disabled Person's Railcard had only been available to those receiving certain benefits or with certain medical conditions (as set out below). It will remain available to those people.
From today (Sunday 1 March), however, eligibility has been expanded to cover a wider range of both visible and non-visible disabilities, meaning more people will be able to apply for one.
The criteria now includes those who:
Have a blue badge.
Have a disabled person's bus pass (England, Scotland and Wales).
Have a disabled person's Freedom Pass (London only).
Can't drive on medical grounds.
Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits.
Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
Are without speech.
The existing application process remains the same, but if you meet any of the new criteria, you'll also need to provide one of the following documents:
A copy of the front and back of your blue badge.
A disabled person's bus pass.
A disabled person's Freedom Pass.
A letter from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or a health professional confirming you're unable to drive on medical grounds.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefit.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
A document from a health professional confirming that you're without speech.
For full info on the expanded eligibility criteria, see the Disabled Person's Railcard website.
You can still get it if you receive certain benefits or have certain conditions
The previous qualifying criteria for a Disabled Person's Railcard isn't being removed – this means that you can still qualify if you:
Receive Personal Independence Payments or Adult Disability Payment.
Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component.
Have a visual impairment.
Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
Have epilepsy and receive drug treatment for it.
Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment.
Receive war pensioner's mobility supplement.
Receive war or service disablement pension for 80% or more disability.
Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme.
See the Disabled Person's Railcard website for full info on eligibility criteria.
Eligibility will be extended again from September 2026
Under further planned changes from September this year, you may also qualify if you have a disability or condition that requires professional health evidence and more detailed assessment to verify. This will include:
Some long-term or degenerative health conditions.
Neurodiversity that has a substantial impact on a person's ability to travel by train.
The Rail Delivery Group says it will share information on what evidence will be required closer to the time.
You can get a third off most fares with this railcard
The Disabled Person's Railcard's discount applies to advance tickets, anytime day tickets, anytime single tickets, anytime return tickets, and off-peak and super off-peak tickets (day, single and return). It covers both standard and first class for all these ticket types.
It can also be used to get one-third off a Transport for London (TfL) travelcard for zones 1-9 and Oyster pay-as-you-go travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line, London buses and more.
The discount also applies to buying tickets for Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express and Stansted Express. See full info on using your railcard.
The Rail Delivery Group says Disabled Person's Railcard holders save an average of £126 a year, or £4.70 a journey – to see how much you could save on a specific journey, use its calculator.
Visually impaired, blind or using a wheelchair? You don't need a railcard to get discounted train travel
If you're visually impaired or blind: you and and an adult companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class. You can also buy an adult season ticket that lets a companion travel with you at no extra cost.
You don't need to buy a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts, but you do need to provide evidence of impairment or blindness. This has to be either a CVI, BP1 or BD8 certificate, or documentation from a recognised institution, such as social services, your local authority or Blind Veterans UK.
If you're a wheelchair user and will be staying in your chair for the journey: you and a companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class, on adult and child fares. Again, you don't need a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts. But to take advantage of them, tickets must be purchased from a staffed train station ticket office.
For more details, see the alternative discounts section on the Disabled Person's Railcard site.
| Communications expert, ordered to pay £1.5k for foul-mouthed tirade @ staff In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373354/31753/51] Posted by ChrisB at 21:29, 16th March 2026 | |
From Daily Mail, via MSN
A leading communications expert has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 after she launched a foul-mouth tirade at railway staff.
Erika Waring, 65, was dropping her mother Margaret, 88, at the main entrance of Wilmslow Railway Station in Cheshire at 1.20pm on August 21, 2025, when staff told her she had driven into a restricted area and directed her to the car park.
Waring, who is Head of Travel and Events for the international healthcare communications company Havas Lynx, was taking her mother, who has severe mobility issues, to London on a West Coast train for a day of sightseeing.
The Convent school educated mother-of-one from Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester, repeatedly swore at station staff after they asked her to move on, calling one porter a 'f***ing b***h'.
Staff initially advised Waring to move her vehicle to a car park at the rear of the station. But she retorted with a barrage of foul-mouthed abuse.
The altercation even spread to the station platform as Waring and her mother waited for their train.
Police were called to the station which has received complaints online over a lack of free short stay parking close to the main entrance due to 'aggressive' cab drivers 'hogging the drop off area.'
It costs £3.30 for up to two hours to park a car outside the main entrance to the station - even in the four disabled bays.
Officers located Waring's vehicle, noted the registration and later called her in for interview under police caution.
During questioning, Waring said her mother had 'severe mobility issues' and she parked her car temporarily in the restricted area of the station to help the elderly lady climb the steps to the platform.
She criticised staff at the train station saying they were being 'vociferous' towards her.
At Crewe Magistrates' Court, Waring pleaded guilty to two charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
She was fined £738, ordered to pay both members of staff £150 in compensation each plus £380 in costs and a surcharge, with total costs amounting to £1,418.
A charge of common assault against a third employee, for which Waring had faced up to 12 week in jail under sentencing guideline, was withdrawn.
The prosecutor added: 'The defendant allegedly responded aggressively, with words to the effect of "F***, you f***ing t**t. You do not know what you are talking about" along with multiple repetitions of the word "F***".
'The defendant was of good character before this incident.'
In mitigation, Waring's lawyer Stuart Flood said: 'This was a very unfortunate and certainly embarrassing incident for a lady of hitherto good character.
'She was travelling down to London with her elderly mother who is 88 and who has severe mobility issues.
'Quite clearly, this lady has drawn up outside the station and dropped her mother off.
'She saw her mother walking gingerly towards the station entrance and this lady parked up temporarily and ran to help her mother to get to the steps to the platform where she and her mother were going to travel to London.
'Quite clearly the member of staff took exception to where this lady parked her car.
'All she was trying to do was get her elderly mother as quickly as she could into the station.
'She felt the way the staff were dealing with her was not appropriate and unfortunately she lost her cool and said words which she should not have done for which she totally apologises for.
'It was certainly out of character for this lady. Unfortunately, it continued when she was in the station.
'She had parked her car and gone into the station where words were said.
'By this time she was seated with her mother on the station platform, another member of staff approaches and is quite vociferous in his demands to move her car.
'But all she was doing was to make her mother comfortable on the platform.
'She felt she was quite vulnerable.
'Again words were said and she says: "I received words." She accepts she used some profanities that she is embarrassed about.'
Mr Flood added: 'She has worked both in the UK and America but the majority of time in America where she spent 40 years.
'She has always been in employment. She works for a communications firm as head of travel and events.
'She sends people all around the word as part of her job. She is a single lady. She returned to the UK to be near her mother.
'It is a very embarrassing situation and one that will not be repeated.
'I hope you will accept her sincere apologies to the staff members. It was in the heat of the moment.
'She was concerned for her elderly mother. She has travelled all over and used many public transports both in the UK and US and never had any problems hitherto.
'On this occasion, she felt members of staff had not treated her the way they should but she responded in a way she felt she should not have done.'
In sentencing Waring, JP Robert Alves told her: 'This was a very unpleasant incident that we would not have expected from someone with your standing in the community.
'It was a completely unacceptable display of behaviour and language that you used to those public service employees.'
Erika Waring, 65, was dropping her mother Margaret, 88, at the main entrance of Wilmslow Railway Station in Cheshire at 1.20pm on August 21, 2025, when staff told her she had driven into a restricted area and directed her to the car park.
Waring, who is Head of Travel and Events for the international healthcare communications company Havas Lynx, was taking her mother, who has severe mobility issues, to London on a West Coast train for a day of sightseeing.
The Convent school educated mother-of-one from Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester, repeatedly swore at station staff after they asked her to move on, calling one porter a 'f***ing b***h'.
Staff initially advised Waring to move her vehicle to a car park at the rear of the station. But she retorted with a barrage of foul-mouthed abuse.
The altercation even spread to the station platform as Waring and her mother waited for their train.
Police were called to the station which has received complaints online over a lack of free short stay parking close to the main entrance due to 'aggressive' cab drivers 'hogging the drop off area.'
It costs £3.30 for up to two hours to park a car outside the main entrance to the station - even in the four disabled bays.
Officers located Waring's vehicle, noted the registration and later called her in for interview under police caution.
During questioning, Waring said her mother had 'severe mobility issues' and she parked her car temporarily in the restricted area of the station to help the elderly lady climb the steps to the platform.
She criticised staff at the train station saying they were being 'vociferous' towards her.
At Crewe Magistrates' Court, Waring pleaded guilty to two charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
She was fined £738, ordered to pay both members of staff £150 in compensation each plus £380 in costs and a surcharge, with total costs amounting to £1,418.
A charge of common assault against a third employee, for which Waring had faced up to 12 week in jail under sentencing guideline, was withdrawn.
The prosecutor added: 'The defendant allegedly responded aggressively, with words to the effect of "F***, you f***ing t**t. You do not know what you are talking about" along with multiple repetitions of the word "F***".
'The defendant was of good character before this incident.'
In mitigation, Waring's lawyer Stuart Flood said: 'This was a very unfortunate and certainly embarrassing incident for a lady of hitherto good character.
'She was travelling down to London with her elderly mother who is 88 and who has severe mobility issues.
'Quite clearly, this lady has drawn up outside the station and dropped her mother off.
'She saw her mother walking gingerly towards the station entrance and this lady parked up temporarily and ran to help her mother to get to the steps to the platform where she and her mother were going to travel to London.
'Quite clearly the member of staff took exception to where this lady parked her car.
'All she was trying to do was get her elderly mother as quickly as she could into the station.
'She felt the way the staff were dealing with her was not appropriate and unfortunately she lost her cool and said words which she should not have done for which she totally apologises for.
'It was certainly out of character for this lady. Unfortunately, it continued when she was in the station.
'She had parked her car and gone into the station where words were said.
'By this time she was seated with her mother on the station platform, another member of staff approaches and is quite vociferous in his demands to move her car.
'But all she was doing was to make her mother comfortable on the platform.
'She felt she was quite vulnerable.
'Again words were said and she says: "I received words." She accepts she used some profanities that she is embarrassed about.'
Mr Flood added: 'She has worked both in the UK and America but the majority of time in America where she spent 40 years.
'She has always been in employment. She works for a communications firm as head of travel and events.
'She sends people all around the word as part of her job. She is a single lady. She returned to the UK to be near her mother.
'It is a very embarrassing situation and one that will not be repeated.
'I hope you will accept her sincere apologies to the staff members. It was in the heat of the moment.
'She was concerned for her elderly mother. She has travelled all over and used many public transports both in the UK and US and never had any problems hitherto.
'On this occasion, she felt members of staff had not treated her the way they should but she responded in a way she felt she should not have done.'
In sentencing Waring, JP Robert Alves told her: 'This was a very unpleasant incident that we would not have expected from someone with your standing in the community.
'It was a completely unacceptable display of behaviour and language that you used to those public service employees.'
| Re: Bizarre routing ........... In "South Western services" [373353/31750/42] Posted by grahame at 21:05, 16th March 2026 | |
For Taunton on 6th, Google suggested I take the 07:21 from Melksham and change at Swindon and Reading. Google does not quote fares or sell tickets ...
| Re: Bizarre routing ........... In "South Western services" [373352/31750/42] Posted by Oxonhutch at 19:53, 16th March 2026 | |
Sounds rather like my commute home from Paddington to Cholsey via Bristol Parkway. It was just after a work Christmas event!
| Re: Shipping services across the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [373351/30207/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:51, 16th March 2026 | |
There's been a lot of interest especially as people can avoid Bristol and the Severn bridges
I can understand people wanting to avoid Bristol - but the Severn bridges aren't all that bad.
| Re: Former Great Bourton village pub 'The Bell Inn' saved from house conversion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [373350/31745/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:40, 16th March 2026 | |
That's my local - about 30 yards from my front door.
Thank you for posting, ChrisB - I honestly had no idea that I was actually featuring your 'local' when I started this particular topic.
At a time of falling demand for drinking in pubs, we can't fight to save them all.
Agreed. In Nailsea, a town of some 20,000 residents, we still have several active pubs, located around the area. There is a Wetherspoons in the town centre, and traditional pubs distributed elsewhere in each compass direction.
The only pub we lost was the locally historic Friendship Inn, which was closed as being 'commercially unviable', and the whole site was redeveloped as (rather cramped) residential housing. Being brutally honest, their location, while 'on the High Street' was just on the wrong side of the High Street, lacked parking areas and was opposite another pub which is on the modern thoroughfare and has parking.
| Re: Shipping services across the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [373349/30207/28] Posted by anthony215 at 18:39, 16th March 2026 | |
There's been a lot of interest especially as people can avoid Bristol and the Severn bridges
| Re: Bizarre routing ........... In "South Western services" [373348/31750/42] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:11, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch | |
My own daughter has been known to travel by train from Cardiff Central to Nailsea & Backwell via Didcot Parkway.
It's a long story - don't ask!
| Re: Former Great Bourton village pub 'The Bell Inn' saved from house conversion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [373347/31745/31] Posted by broadgage at 18:01, 16th March 2026 | |
Use of a building as a public house: it's something that without safeguards in place, is vulnerable, and it's not only the 'Use it or lose it' that applies.
Mark
Mark
At a time of falling demand for drinking in pubs, we cant fight to save them all. Official protection, whether via the planning system or otherwise should be confined to;
Pubs of historical importance.
Pubs that are the only one within walking distance.
Possibly pubs that are one of only two in walking distance.
Pubs that double as a shop or other facility.
| Re: Birmingham's new railway stations on Camp Hill Line In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373346/30899/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:01, 16th March 2026 | |
A video news report, from the BBC:
Train testing under way on new Birmingham rail line
Final testing is being carried out at five new railway stations in the West Midlands before they open their ticket barriers to passengers.
Stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in the Black Country will open on Thursday 19 March.
And three Birmingham stations - at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road - will open on Tuesday 7 April as the Camp Hill Line is brought back to life.
It was closed in 1941 during World War Two, because of a shortage of coal, and never reopened.
On Monday, trains were travelling between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton via the three new Birmingham stations as work is completed at the locations.
Final testing is being carried out at five new railway stations in the West Midlands before they open their ticket barriers to passengers.
Stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in the Black Country will open on Thursday 19 March.
And three Birmingham stations - at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road - will open on Tuesday 7 April as the Camp Hill Line is brought back to life.
It was closed in 1941 during World War Two, because of a shortage of coal, and never reopened.
On Monday, trains were travelling between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton via the three new Birmingham stations as work is completed at the locations.
| National Car Parks (NCP) goes into administration In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373345/31752/5] Posted by grahame at 16:42, 16th March 2026 | |
From the BBC
National Car Parks (NCP) has gone into administration, putting 682 jobs at risk.
The car park operator said demand for parking had not recovered to pre-Covid levels, pointing to "shifts in commuting and customer driving patterns".
After consistently losing cash, it could no longer afford to pay its creditors and was unable to scrap "long-term, inflexible" leases on loss-making sites.
Its administrators, PwC, are looking to sell the business as the "best outcome" for those NCP owes money to. "All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal," PwC added.
"We will be engaging with landlords, employees, and other stakeholders as we explore all options," PwC said.
NCP is one of the biggest car park operators in the UK, running 340 car parks across the country, including in airports, hospitals and transport hubs.
The car park operator said demand for parking had not recovered to pre-Covid levels, pointing to "shifts in commuting and customer driving patterns".
After consistently losing cash, it could no longer afford to pay its creditors and was unable to scrap "long-term, inflexible" leases on loss-making sites.
Its administrators, PwC, are looking to sell the business as the "best outcome" for those NCP owes money to. "All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal," PwC added.
"We will be engaging with landlords, employees, and other stakeholders as we explore all options," PwC said.
NCP is one of the biggest car park operators in the UK, running 340 car parks across the country, including in airports, hospitals and transport hubs.
I have never had any great love for NCP or any car parking company - perhaps just the nature of the beast?
| Re: Paddle Steamer Waverley - merged posts In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [373344/19566/47] Posted by GBM at 11:11, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Booked a trip from Penzance to Falmouth (coach return).
Hopefully it will go ahead this year!
| Re: Helston Railway In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [373343/583/47] Posted by Andy at 11:04, 16th March 2026 Already liked by GBM, Mark A, Oxonhutch, Witham Bobby, trainbuff | |
Known locally as Lowertown Viaduct or the Cober Viaduct.
For info, there's about half a mile of clear trackbed to secure between Truthall and the viaduct and about half a mile of clear trackbed on the other side to the outskirts of Helston. If that works out, the total length of the line would come to about 2.5 miles.
| Re: Paddle Steamer Waverley - merged posts In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [373342/19566/47] Posted by Phantom at 10:55, 16th March 2026 | |
I have booked to go on the trip from WSM around the bay, steep and flat holm, then back to Clevedon
Never done this trip or been on the Waverley before
| Re: Community and Rail - how they work together In "Who's who on Western railways" [373341/23248/2] Posted by grahame at 10:08, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | |
A follow up on a long-stagnant thread. Things move an I found myself this morning thanking Horace on his retirement and also acknowledging and appreciating hard work done by others. They do just as much work, but much more behind the scenes, and are very much still active in various ways.
Community Rail has moved on; from gov.uk setting out the historic context
Community rail in the UK began as a grassroots movement in the late 20th century, emerging from local initiatives to save, promote, and enhance rural branch lines and stations facing closure or neglect. Formalised by the government's 2004 Community Rail Development Strategy, it shifted toward increasing usage, strengthening local ties, and promoting social inclusion.
The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership was formed around 2010, with a view to helping increasing usage. This on what at the time was a line with a service so thin that it was officially doubted whether usage COULD be increased.
Around a decade ago now (2016), a new strategy was set up based on four pillars
The four key pillars of the UK government’s Community Rail Development Strategy are designed to empower local communities and maximise the value of local railways. They focus on:
* Providing a voice for the community: Giving local people a say in rail services and development.
* Promoting sustainable, healthy, and accessible travel: Encouraging, greener, active travel choices.
* Bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion: Connecting people and supporting inclusion.
* Supporting social and economic development: Boosting local economies and social well-being.
These pillars are implemented through specific initiatives such as:
* Volunteering: Engaging local residents in station adoption and improvement.
* Education: Connecting with young people to encourage sustainable travel habits.
* Tourism: Promoting local rail travel and connecting people to destinations.
* Diversity: Ensuring community rail activities are accessible and welcoming to everyone.
These pillars are designed to create a more relevant, inclusive, and efficient rail network, adding roughly £18 in value for every £1 spent, according to the Community Rail Network.
* Providing a voice for the community: Giving local people a say in rail services and development.
* Promoting sustainable, healthy, and accessible travel: Encouraging, greener, active travel choices.
* Bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion: Connecting people and supporting inclusion.
* Supporting social and economic development: Boosting local economies and social well-being.
These pillars are implemented through specific initiatives such as:
* Volunteering: Engaging local residents in station adoption and improvement.
* Education: Connecting with young people to encourage sustainable travel habits.
* Tourism: Promoting local rail travel and connecting people to destinations.
* Diversity: Ensuring community rail activities are accessible and welcoming to everyone.
These pillars are designed to create a more relevant, inclusive, and efficient rail network, adding roughly £18 in value for every £1 spent, according to the Community Rail Network.
To a very great extent community rail had succeeded in increasing usage across most of CRPs by 2016, and so the "getting bums on seats" was no longer the headline it was - in fact it is no longer stated as a primary aim, with CRPs mandated to look much more at what they can do for the communities rather than what they can do for the railways.
Really that change came too early for the line through Melksham, which had only just stepped up from 2 to 7 trains each way per day on a trial basis. Our local primary need here is - still - to get bums on seats. We have done well, we have risen from 3,000 to 60,000 journeys a year - but comparing to even the least used other town stations around, we should be at 300,000 journeys per annum.
Today is *the* day when the Community Rail awards are made in Derby - a national gathering of all whom are great and good in the sector. There are lots of CRPs these days - TransWilts started as being the tiniest though it has spread its wings beyond just the five stations on "our" line to covering all of Wiltshire. There is some sense in that - with modern government requirements for a dozen policies in order to be accredited, single line partnerships are too small to be viable and the change is something of a necessity. It does mean that - like all CRPs - TransWilts has risen further and would be hard pressed to claim they are a grass roots movement. Congratulations to them for being short listed tonight in both the small project and in the photography competition.
Personally, I was one of the founding members and directors, and the Community Rail Officer. When the roles changed with the CRP from being a role with a primary task of getting people onto trains to the wider pillars, I was no longer the right person for the job and was replaced by someone more efficient; I stepped down as a director to give her space (it's always hard to follow someone in a role). I further resigned my membership in 2021 when that was seen as a conflict of interest with my role as a Town Councillor. Since my term as a councillor ended (I did not stand for re-election), I have rejoined as a member, and proud to be one. Good friends and useful allies - glad to see their representative at the MTUG meeting last week and to establish links with the new MTUG / Town Council liaison person, but the community grass root vehicles - and where energy goes - locally has to be MTUG where we had a whole room of community support last Thursday, and that even while we are in the quiet period before exciting projects this summer.
| Re: Former Great Bourton village pub 'The Bell Inn' saved from house conversion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [373340/31745/31] Posted by broadgage at 08:51, 16th March 2026 | |
I would support a cut in the government duty on draught beer and cider served in pubs.
Beer sold from large returnable re-useable containers is generally accepted as being greener than cans or bottles.
Any such reduction in duty would have to be carefully worded so as to avoid loopholes.
| Re: Bus services Calne/Marlborough In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373339/28861/5] Posted by grahame at 08:19, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
"Early Bus Replacement Service" says the original poster on Facebook - to which comment is made "Not a replacement. A service created in the absence of a railway line. And still running". Although the bus service (no. 42) may still be running, stations (2 of them) in Marlborough and Calne are now closed and all the tracks are gone. A metro frequency Calne to Chippenham, Corsham, Bath Spa and Bristol would make sense these days, mind you.
| Re: A day in London (14.3.2026) In "Introductions and chat" [373338/31746/1] Posted by John D at 08:02, 16th March 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A, GBM | |
A little known fact was the RT type was almost universal in London in late 1950s, there were a few other bus types, and single decks etc. If include the RT, RTW, RTL were 6956 of the type produced
Nowadays I understand the most common type is a Yutong electric bus in China. They have a huge production line factory (in eastern Zhengzhou) that can produce over 300 buses per day. The factory is 112 hectares (roughly 5 times the whole site, or 10 times size of factory buildings of the closed Cooper tyres site in Melksham)
| Re: Paddle Steamer Waverley - merged posts In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [373337/19566/47] Posted by grahame at 07:37, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Chris from Nailsea | |
Winter refit underway ... and this summer's timetables largely published and on sale.
https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk
and here's a "Loch Long" trip that's not plausible
| Re: Addressing Information - cost - connectivity - comfort - frequency - reliability In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [373336/31748/40] Posted by grahame at 06:28, 16th March 2026 | |
Can I recommend joining the weekly TfL email that outlines all their weekend engineering work? You would have known about the line being out between (I think) Tower Hill & Edgware Road.
Also the TfL Go app which would have planned you a working route from City Thameslink to Paddington.
Also the TfL Go app which would have planned you a working route from City Thameslink to Paddington.
Good recommendations ... for many. I was "going with the flow" by that part of the day - I often do and until I reached Holborn Viaduct [road], I didn't even have my Plan A. I could have walked to St Pauls or Chancery Lane tubes; decision taken on spur of the moment to join the train at City and change at Farringdon. I could also have taken the 46 bus from Barts to Paddington if I wanted a tour of north London.
| Re: Horace Prickett In "TransWilts line" [373335/31751/18] Posted by grahame at 05:37, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Western Pathfinder, Mark A, rogerw, GBM, Witham Bobby | |
Horace has been a loyal supporter of public transport as a whole over many, many years and I fondly remember him as the portfolio holder for public transport in Wiltshire - an ambassador who helped advocate the case for something in addition to the private car. How times have changed; Wiltshire is no longer regarded as the badman of public transport in the way it was two decades ago and much of that progress is due to a whole team of people - not only Horace waving the flag at "County" but others too who see the sense - in so many ways - of having public and mass transit available.
The article quotes shows Horace, Paddy and Sophie. Taking another view, I bring you pictures of the outcome of his work - 27.2.2026 and 14.3.2026 but regular mass transit scenes on journeys to, from and within Wiltshire
Thank you - Horace and the whole team; we look in our team pictures like old men - and we are for the most part. But the scenes on buses and trains show predominant people much younger, and on the trains and buses irrespective of gender, class or any other denominator.
Wishing Horace a long and happy second retirement - I spoke with him on the phone just the other day, and hope to see him in a couple of days at the WWRUG AGM this Wednesday.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [373334/28982/26] Posted by a-driver at 05:27, 16th March 2026 | |
There is intention to add another 175 in to passenger service from 16 March to run Plymouth - Penzance - Exeter St Davids - Penzance - Plymouth as there are now 6 serviceable sets that can run in passenger service. However 175006 broke down again today with a bogie fault and 5Z13 training run was cancelled as a result.
ETA, the diagram will be
2C00 05.33 Plymouth - Penzance
2E06 07.45 Penzance - Exeter St Davids
2C20 11.27 Exeter St Davids - Penzance
2P20 1515 Penzance - Plymouth
ETA, the diagram will be
2C00 05.33 Plymouth - Penzance
2E06 07.45 Penzance - Exeter St Davids
2C20 11.27 Exeter St Davids - Penzance
2P20 1515 Penzance - Plymouth
175002 on it this morning.
| Re: A day in London (14.3.2026) In "Introductions and chat" [373333/31746/1] Posted by grahame at 05:08, 16th March 2026 | |
Wasn't really a quiz but - yes - first picture is an STL, an RT and an RM alongside each other. My understanding is that this are the three generations of rear entrance London buses. I rode on the STL and a notice on board said it dated from 1935 (first brought in 1932) and ran until replaced by RTs in the 1950s. The RT bus was introduced in 1939 and ran to 1979. The RM was introduced in 1960 and ran in normal service until 2005.
Picture taken at the Clapton Pond terminal bus park - and that one (picture) may turn out to be a classic. The 7th picture shows the mythical "Clapton Pond" itself which I set out to find having photographed the buses!
The third picture is indeed Islington tunnel - a stone's throw from the Angel, with the toe-path, and Chapel Market, being favourite spots when at TCU (The Ciry University) from where I graduated 50 years ago.
| Re: European Rail Timetable - ongoing discussion and updates In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [373332/28562/49] Posted by grahame at 04:54, 16th March 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
[snip]
You can order the Spring 2026 printed edition here or the digital edition here
You can order the Spring 2026 printed edition here or the digital edition here
Ah - I wondered where it was!
This is still my printed "bible" ... and end of Feb works out OK for final planning of trips for next year.
Multiple threads running here - this is the "On the day" one celebrating the first Thomas Cook European timetable in March 1873.
The newest edition, under a new proprietor, has made some editorial changes, and these days the online planner app linked in with Interrail convey much similar and at times more details data, added to the local (country's) sources to fill in most of the rest. Still very much a "bible" though and in spite of the weight (even on thin paper) my copy will be travelling around Europe with me next month.
| Re: Bizarre routing ........... In "South Western services" [373331/31750/42] Posted by grahame at 04:45, 16th March 2026 | |
An excellent demonstration of how - within the main network - alternative routes are available at times of planned (or unplanned) disruption. You can travel to ... Inveness via Aberdeen, Margate via Ashford, Weymouth via Southampro, even Swansea via Llandrindod. Missing only Stranraer via Castle Douglas and Plymouth via Tavistock.
| Re: Helston Railway In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [373330/583/47] Posted by RailCornwall at 20:30, 15th March 2026 Already liked by Richard Fairhurst, Oxonhutch, trainbuff, GBM, Andy, Witham Bobby | |
Water-ma-Trout viaduct has been acquired by the Railway, negotiations continue with land owners either side of it to enable the project to relay track to the industrial estate from the current 'terminus' at Truthall to proceed over the coming years.
| Horace Prickett In "TransWilts line" [373329/31751/18] Posted by ChrisB at 20:13, 15th March 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch, Western Pathfinder, PrestburyRoad, rogerw, Witham Bobby | |
From the BBC
Man honoured for 'dedicated service' to rail travel
An 85-year-old man has been praised for his "dedicated service" to the rail network, even passing on his knowledge to generations of engineers.
Until recently, Horace Prickett from Yarnbrook in Wiltshire held the role of director at the community rail partnership, TransWilts.
Prickett entered the industry aged 15 on an apprenticeship as a locomotive fitter, turner and erector - learning how to build and repair railway engines from scratch.
"I saw the replacement of steam with diesel, as well as the introduction of diesel hydraulics, which at the time were only used in Germany and the UK," he said.
Prickett was stationed in the Westbury depot but also spent a year in Swindon, where he helped to build the last two steam locomotives.
When government cuts to the railways in the early 1960s meant that highly skilled engineers were suddenly faced with unemployment, Prickett set up the heavy engineering department at Trowbridge College.
"We had 12 weeks to get a technical college set up," he continued.
"Teaching was a new field but what we were teaching was what I had trained in, and I was doing what I had enjoyed on the railways.
"Ever since I had my own clockwork railway at the age of 11, I was interested in railways and transport."
Prickett also entered the world of politics, standing as both a parish and town councillor as well as a stint as Mayor of Westbury.
He was appointed as Wiltshire Council's portfolio holder for public transport, working closely alongside TransWilts until being promoted to director in 2017.
Sophie Martin, community partnership manager at TransWilts, described Prickett's legacy as "an amazing achievement across a lifetime".
"His unparalleled knowledge, dedicated service, and unwavering support for community rail and the communities it connects will be sorely missed," she said.
"Horace was instrumental in spearheading a number of community initiatives over the years in previous roles, and many we still continue today, including our days out to the beach where we take members of our community who may otherwise find it difficult to enjoy such a day out.
"Not only do these activities help people explore their own area by train, they're also helping to instil a lasting love of the railways in the next generation."
An 85-year-old man has been praised for his "dedicated service" to the rail network, even passing on his knowledge to generations of engineers.
Until recently, Horace Prickett from Yarnbrook in Wiltshire held the role of director at the community rail partnership, TransWilts.
Prickett entered the industry aged 15 on an apprenticeship as a locomotive fitter, turner and erector - learning how to build and repair railway engines from scratch.
"I saw the replacement of steam with diesel, as well as the introduction of diesel hydraulics, which at the time were only used in Germany and the UK," he said.
Prickett was stationed in the Westbury depot but also spent a year in Swindon, where he helped to build the last two steam locomotives.
When government cuts to the railways in the early 1960s meant that highly skilled engineers were suddenly faced with unemployment, Prickett set up the heavy engineering department at Trowbridge College.
"We had 12 weeks to get a technical college set up," he continued.
"Teaching was a new field but what we were teaching was what I had trained in, and I was doing what I had enjoyed on the railways.
"Ever since I had my own clockwork railway at the age of 11, I was interested in railways and transport."
Prickett also entered the world of politics, standing as both a parish and town councillor as well as a stint as Mayor of Westbury.
He was appointed as Wiltshire Council's portfolio holder for public transport, working closely alongside TransWilts until being promoted to director in 2017.
Sophie Martin, community partnership manager at TransWilts, described Prickett's legacy as "an amazing achievement across a lifetime".
"His unparalleled knowledge, dedicated service, and unwavering support for community rail and the communities it connects will be sorely missed," she said.
"Horace was instrumental in spearheading a number of community initiatives over the years in previous roles, and many we still continue today, including our days out to the beach where we take members of our community who may otherwise find it difficult to enjoy such a day out.
"Not only do these activities help people explore their own area by train, they're also helping to instil a lasting love of the railways in the next generation."
| Bizarre routing ........... In "South Western services" [373328/31750/42] Posted by Clan Line at 20:04, 15th March 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
My daughter travelled down from Kent to this neck of the woods today. She normally goes Kent - Waterloo East - Waterloo Main - Salisbury - Warminster. Today, she came via Paddington and Westbury.
When she explained why, I initially thought she had been at the cooking sherry ..........but having looked it up - today's routing from Waterloo to Salisbury was - train to Guildford, bus to Andover, then train to Salisbury. What a strange route !
| Parking at Westbury Station In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373327/31749/51] Posted by Clan Line at 19:49, 15th March 2026 | |
I went to Westbury Station today to collect my daughter off a train from Paddington. On arrival I found that all the parking spaces on the approach road to the station have been "taken over" by Network Rail, It appears that the only people who can park there have to be in a Network Rail liveried vehicle - £100 fine if not.
On enquiring at the ticket office (open for once on a Sunday !!) I was told it was still OK to park there, really
! or I could park for free in the main car park for 20 mins.I was under the impression that if you wish to restrict parking by threatening financial, or other sanctions, you have to place large notices, which can be clearly seen by those entering the area, clearly explaining what the parking restrictions are and how this might affect you. Go to any supermarket car park and see them - AND when entering the APCOA car park at Westbury Station !! There are no large signs on the approach road at Westbury, that I could see ! only the individual signs on the fence by each parking bay.
Any "legal eagles" out there who could offer any thoughts on this ? I strongly suspect that these signs have no legal standing as they are.
Plus, of course, what happens if the train you are meeting is 21 minutes late ? Does the ANPR system actually give you unadvertised leeway. I am aware of a large multi storey carpark where the ANPR system there actually gives you 30 mins - so if you are quick and don't need to buy much close to the car park you can park for 30 mins for free...............
| Re: A day in London (14.3.2026) In "Introductions and chat" [373326/31746/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:46, 15th March 2026 | |
2. Clearly a full English breakfast - but there are too many liquids right next to the keyboard there for my liking.
