BREAKING: Doris Whitcombe, 81, from Chislehurst didn’t expect to remove her shoes in public before 10am and neither did anyone else!

 Visitors to the newly opened Bramblewick & Lower Puddlecombe Heritage Railway were left confused, shoeless and slightly damp this weekend after management introduced full airport style security screening for anyone boarding or leaving the platform.

The unexpected measures appeared without warning on Saturday morning, complete with plastic trays, metal detectors, handheld scanners and several very serious looking volunteers wearing high visibility vests and expressions normally reserved for international departures.

Passengers hoping to enjoy a gentle ride behind the railway’s pride and joy, a gleaming LMS Black 5 steam locomotive, instead found themselves queuing politely while being instructed to remove belts, shoes, watches, loose change, sandwiches and in one case a suspiciously large fruit cake.

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2 from Westbury.

Better to require a set number of hours learning, No? Else you might have one lesson every 3 months?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K49768/2026-01-09/detailed

175s coming from Wolverton today, hopefully. A 150  from Wolverton to Exeter was cancelled yesterday.

But will the trains be in serviceable condition. Of the four previous refurbished units; only 175001 has been used in passenger service.

The drag from Ely to Penzance is now scheduled for next week. Is it to do the work that Wolverton should be doing?

1945hrs Train did not run today

See the attached linear map

Bridge replacement works will affect train services between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement road transport is planned between:

Oxford and Didcot Parkway – direct and stopping services
Didcot Parkway/Oxford and Banbury – direct only
GWR will still operate trains between Oxford and Worcester, Great Malvern or Hereford via Evesham, plus train services between Oxford and Banbury (except on Sundays).

GWR will also operate trains at Didcot Parkway between London Paddington and South Wales, the West of England or the Cotswolds, including some Hereford services.

Chiltern Railways will still operate trains between Oxford and London Marylebone via Oxford Parkway, plus trains between Banbury and London Marylebone via Kings Sutton.

CrossCountry will operate trains between Didcot Parkway and Bournemouth via Reading, plus between Banbury and Manchester Piccadilly via Birmingham New Street.

Important to note

Trains at Oxford station will only be using Platform 1 or 2; all rail replacement services will be operating from the long-stay car park on Becket Street.

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

I don't think this has been posted in any Coffee Shop post before (CfN will no doubt confirm or oherwise), but here's a link to something that has come up on my newsfeed -

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25757868.oxford-didcot-parkway-train-line-close-10-days/

I cannot see how this matches the "10 days" headline, and some of the text looks like an exercise in confusing slapdash English - "Direct trains between Didcot Parkway or Oxford and Banbury will also be replaced with buses, but stopping services on the line will continue to operate." anyone?

Prep starts to replace bridge for East West Rail

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Network Rail said a new bridge was needed because the current structure is now at the end of its life

A road will be closed for a week to allow for preparation work on a railway bridge which will later be rebuilt for East West Rail.

Saxon Street (B4034) in Bletchley will close from 07:00 GMT on 12 January until late afternoon on 18 January.

During this period, rail engineers will carry out ground investigation surveys and vegetation clearance needed ahead of major work to replace the bridge.

Edmund Waddelove, senior sponsor for Network Rail, said it was "vital work.. needed to keep it (the bridge) safe and reliable for many years to come."

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Network Rail said the new bridge would be able to accommodate two tracks and freight trains

Surveys on the 1970s-built bridge are needed to help engineers finalise designs for a replacement structure.

The new bridge is needed because the current one is now at the end of its life, said a spokesperson for Network Rail.

In addition, the current bridge is single track and the new bridge will be wide enough to accommodate two tracks as well as freight trains.

During the road closure, a clearly signposted diversion will be in place.

Access for pedestrians and cyclists will also remain open throughout the project's duration.

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Saxon Street will be closed during the work between Watling Street and Princes Way in Bletchley

Waddelove thanked road users and business owners in advance for their patience while the survey work would be carried out.

He added: "The bridge provides an important rail connection for future passenger and freight services running on the new East West Rail route."

Network Rail and its East West Rail Alliance partners have written to locals about the road closure and are working closely with Milton Keynes City Council.

During the closure new road markings and lines will be painted on Saxon Street.

Once completed, East West Rail will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.