THE COUNTRY’S quietest railway station may see a much more regular visitor, Metrolink services.

For the line that runs through Denton could be used to link the Tameside to Stockport and Manchester Airport.

Transport for Greater Manchester has now devised a further purpose for it – for tram-trains, technology that would see them run on both tram and train tracks.

If signed off, they would run beyond Stockport town centre, along the Denton rail line, connecting the area firmly into the wider Metrolink network.

Also wondering if my assumption is right, in that there is only one crossover on the main line between Truro and St Erth?
Very poor in view of the Marazion flooding incident(s).

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09 will be terminated at Salisbury.
It will no longer call at Romsey and Southampton Central.
It has been delayed at Westbury and is now 35 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

175 units to enter passenger service ... Monday 15th December to Friday  19th December
2C26 1340 Plymouth Penzance
2P21 1552 Penzance Plymouth will be a pair of 2 car 175 units.

The other 2 Castle Class HST diagrams will be covered by other DMU's.
One of former the Castle Class HST diagrams will be covered by using the DMU of Looe branch which is shut due to a week long engineering block

Dirty diesel trains are still running through Bath, polluting our heritage city.  As we look to improve our railways, we must include ways to make them cleaner and greener.  We need a bold, ambitious electrification plan to deliver this

The new IET trains have modern diesel engines, and most of the HST's are now phased out, so not sure what the issue is with diesels polluting Bath

You can taste the Portsmouth to Cardiff diesels as they go past

Electric, Hydrogen powered and Solar powered trains are options for Great British Railways....

Bring back steam locomotives then !

So you also suggest electrifying the branch lines with routes going through Bath or closing them because that isn't economically viable?

Doh, Bath residents did all they could to stop the wires going through their beloved city.

Maybe you could also help with the increased pollution in the surrounding towns and villages that Bath caused with its “clean zone” - any ideas there? In reality, the problem has just been pushed out of bath and onto everyone else.
The UK already emits less than many developed countries. Until we have grid generation to support more electrification, we have to accept a small amount of pollution as the price to pay for public transport.
Currently the tax burden on the payer is higher than ever, and people are at breaking point - more tax won’t help and removing some trains won’t help either.
I think you need to reconsider this statement and avenue because it sounds utterly tone deaf and out of touch with the public.

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 will be started from Plymouth.
It will no longer call at Penzance, St Erth, Camborne, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Par, Bodmin Parkway and Liskeard.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

Additional Information
Owing to a signalling fault we are unable to operate this evenings Sleeper service between Penzance and London Paddington.

We have arranged for this service to be operated by one of our regular Intercity Express Trains, starting from Truro, which will offer a Standard and First Class seating service only. There will be no accommodation facilities.

I have booked ... for Saturday 13th December

Nah - Swiss Cottage, more like.

05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:24 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2025 04:12

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:00 12/12.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Following a safety inspection of the track today in the London area some lines are currently closed.
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What are we doing about it?
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We are working with Network Rail to be able to return running the normal timetable as soon as safely possible.
We have stopped running trains in the area until safety staff on at the scene to investigate.
The safety of customers is our top priority and we will restore the service as soon as it is safe to do so.
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What are my options?
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We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
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Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the live departure boards or speak to a member of station staff.
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Option 2: Chiltern Railways are conveying passengers between Oxford and London Marylebone in both directions until further notice.
Elizabeth line are conveying passengers between Reading and London Paddington in both directions until further notice.
South Western Railway are conveying passengers between Reading and London Waterloo in both directions until further notice.
South Western Railway are conveying passengers between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central in both directions until further notice.
London Underground are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
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Option 3: Replacement transport provided by us such as a buses, coaches or taxis, have not been requested at this time. We will continue to monitor the need for this as the situation develops and provide updates here.
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Option 4: If you can, you might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
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Let us help you:
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As a result we will have to reduce the number of train movements through the area. This will mean that local train services between London Paddington and Newbury will only operate between Reading and Newbury, in both directions. Customers travelling to / from Newbury, Thatcham & Theale from / to London Paddington will need (in most cases) to change trains at Reading.

In addition, local train services which would normally operate between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway, and return, will only operate between Reading and Didcot Parkway. Customers travelling to / from Didcot Parkway / Cholsey / Goring & Streatley / Pangbourne / Tilehurst from / to London Paddington (and intermediate stations between London Paddington and Reading) will need to change trains at Reading. Didcot Parkway will continue to have main line services running to / from London Paddington.

Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough stations will see a considerable reduction in the frequency of train services and GWR ticket holders should utilise Elizabeth Line services instead where no GWR services are available. Note that at London Paddington the Elizabeth Line services operate to and from platforms A & B which are accessed through the entrances alongside platform 1 of the main terminus.
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If you're already travelling when disruption happens, we'll get you where you need to go. If you miss the last train of the day due to cancellation or because another train was delayed, we wont leave you stranded.
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If you require help, further information or would like to provide feedback, to help us improve in the future:
Speak to staff at the station or on the train. Use the Customer Help Point on the platform.
Message us on X @GWRHelp, Facebook Messenger @gwruk, Instagram @gwruk or WhatsApp 07890 608043. Our team is available daily between 06:00 and 23:00 Monday to Friday and 07:00 to 23:00 Saturday and Sunday.
Call our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125, who are available between 06:00 and 23:00, or National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950, who are available 24 hours a day.
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Delay Repay:
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If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can apply for Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
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Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Last Updated:12/12/2025 05:29

2. Angel

Stuffed Victorian dog returns to Slough train station home


Station Jim has been a feature of Slough station since the 19th Century

An iconic stuffed dog has been lovingly restored and returned to the train station platform which has been his home for more than a century.

Station Jim was born in 1894 and arrived at Slough as a three-month-old mongrel puppy, where he would collect donations for Great Western Railway (GWR) widows and orphans. Following his death in 1896, the beloved Victorian mascot was preserved, along with his collection box, and he was put on display at platform 5 in Slough Railway Station.

The taxidermy pooch was recently removed for some much-needed TLC but has now returned in all his glory. The restoration was a team effort by GWR, Museums Partnership Reading, Arts Council England and the Aldama Foundation, which helps conservation projects.

Conservator Simon Moore said he gave Station Jim a "considerable makeover" after he spotted damage to areas including his fur, eyes and claws. "It feels really good [to have restored Jim] because not many stations have a feature like this which is really charming and a nice story with it as well," he added.

Anna Jones, programme manager for Museums Partnership Reading, said Jim is "a bit of a railway legend". She said he was placed in a new cabinet after having dust removed, and his fur, nose and claws treated. "He will hopefully be preserved and be on the platform for at least another 100 years," she said.


(Left to right) Joe Graham, from GWR, Anna Jones, from Museums Partnership Reading, and Tim Knox, from the Aldama Foundation, unveiled Station Jim

and we have lots of warning about

But I don't remember seeing this previously (before Monday); is it a new service?