Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Crackdown on traditional carriages threatens ‘Hogwarts Express’ trains In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [374050/28578/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:47, 10th April 2026 |      |
From the BBC:
Tourism worries after delay to new Harry Potter train season
The Jacobite steam train and the Glenfinnan Viaduct appeared in the Harry Potter films
The operators of a train famous for its role as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films have warned of a delay to the start of its new season.
West Coast Railways' (WRC) Jacobite steam train operates on the iconic West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig. It has sought a safety exemption to use old-style Mark 1 carriages that are popular with its customers, but the application needs to be reviewed by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Business group West Highland Chamber said the rail journey was a "vital economic engine" for the area and added it had already received reports of some visitors cancelling accommodation due to "uncertainty" around the new season.
WRC said it had not sold tickets or set a start date for the new season. In the past the service usually started running in March or April.
WCR supplied film-maker Warner Bros with the locomotive and carriages for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film series. The West Highland Line's historic Glenfinnan Viaduct also featured.
The rail journey has been described as one of the world's most scenic, and is popular with railway enthusiasts as well as film fans.
WCR was in a long-running dispute with the ORR about having to install central locking on its Mark 1 carriages to prevent passengers from opening doors when the train is moving.
Boss James Shuttleworth told BBC Scotland News the system would be installed, but this would take time and it had applied for an exemption to use the carriages meantime. He said exemptions had been successfully secured in the past, with stewards manually locking doors.
Shuttleworth said for a few seasons it had used more modern Mark 2 carriages, which have central locking. But he said a decision had been made not use them this season because of their reduced capacity, and that they also require a diesel locomotive at the back to provide power to an air conditioning system.
He said using Mark 2s had resulted in lost income, and customer feedback showed a preference for the Mark 1 carriages.
Shuttleworth said details on the start of the new season would be released as soon as they were available.
The ORR said no agreement had been reached on an exemption and the application was being reviewed.
West Highland Chamber said it recognised that the Jacobite steam train had played an important part in the local hospitality and retail sectors for many years.
A spokesperson said: "The Jacobite steam service is more than just a rail journey; it is a vital economic engine for the West Highlands. While we are encouraged by the news that West Coast Railways is working toward a 2026 start date with their traditional Mark 1 rolling stock, we cannot ignore the impact that uncertainty has already had on our business community.
"We have already seen reports of cancellations across local accommodation providers due to the initial lack of clarity. Therefore, while a delayed start is not the ideal scenario, it is a far better outcome than a total suspension of service, and we welcome the progress being made on safety upgrades."
The spokesperson added that the chamber hoped to work collaboratively with WCR during this and future seasons.
The Jacobite steam train and the Glenfinnan Viaduct appeared in the Harry Potter films
The operators of a train famous for its role as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films have warned of a delay to the start of its new season.
West Coast Railways' (WRC) Jacobite steam train operates on the iconic West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig. It has sought a safety exemption to use old-style Mark 1 carriages that are popular with its customers, but the application needs to be reviewed by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Business group West Highland Chamber said the rail journey was a "vital economic engine" for the area and added it had already received reports of some visitors cancelling accommodation due to "uncertainty" around the new season.
WRC said it had not sold tickets or set a start date for the new season. In the past the service usually started running in March or April.
WCR supplied film-maker Warner Bros with the locomotive and carriages for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film series. The West Highland Line's historic Glenfinnan Viaduct also featured.
The rail journey has been described as one of the world's most scenic, and is popular with railway enthusiasts as well as film fans.
WCR was in a long-running dispute with the ORR about having to install central locking on its Mark 1 carriages to prevent passengers from opening doors when the train is moving.
Boss James Shuttleworth told BBC Scotland News the system would be installed, but this would take time and it had applied for an exemption to use the carriages meantime. He said exemptions had been successfully secured in the past, with stewards manually locking doors.
Shuttleworth said for a few seasons it had used more modern Mark 2 carriages, which have central locking. But he said a decision had been made not use them this season because of their reduced capacity, and that they also require a diesel locomotive at the back to provide power to an air conditioning system.
He said using Mark 2s had resulted in lost income, and customer feedback showed a preference for the Mark 1 carriages.
Shuttleworth said details on the start of the new season would be released as soon as they were available.
The ORR said no agreement had been reached on an exemption and the application was being reviewed.
West Highland Chamber said it recognised that the Jacobite steam train had played an important part in the local hospitality and retail sectors for many years.
A spokesperson said: "The Jacobite steam service is more than just a rail journey; it is a vital economic engine for the West Highlands. While we are encouraged by the news that West Coast Railways is working toward a 2026 start date with their traditional Mark 1 rolling stock, we cannot ignore the impact that uncertainty has already had on our business community.
"We have already seen reports of cancellations across local accommodation providers due to the initial lack of clarity. Therefore, while a delayed start is not the ideal scenario, it is a far better outcome than a total suspension of service, and we welcome the progress being made on safety upgrades."
The spokesperson added that the chamber hoped to work collaboratively with WCR during this and future seasons.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [374049/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 12:25, 10th April 2026 | |
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train earlier today.
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train earlier today.
| Re: Scottish Borders Railway - rebuilt Waverley Route link to Edinburgh In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374048/5604/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:57, 10th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
From the BBC:
Borders Railway extension business case due by late 2027
The Borders Railway opened in September 2015
An outline business case for extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle should be delivered by late next year.
Funding for a feasibility study into taking the line past its current Tweedbank terminus was confirmed more than a year ago and campaigners have voiced frustration at the amount of time the process is taking.
A report to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) said it was hoped that consultants could be appointed by early next month.
It said the business case process would take about 18 months to complete although it said it would be working with everyone involved to see if timescales could be reduced.
The Borders Railway between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank was officially opened in September 2015.
There have been repeated calls since then to extend it on to Carlisle.
Both the Scottish and UK governments agreed to share the cost of a £10m feasibility study in 2021 as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Turner and Townsend were appointed as senior project manager in March last year.
Consultancy work to support the strategic outline business case (SOBC) is currently out to tender with appointments expected next month.
That work has been estimated to cost about £1m to complete in order to deliver an "extremely robust" case.
A report will be brought back to the council to confirm the appointment of consultants and a dedicated web page is under development on the council website to provide regular updates on progress.
The Borders Railway opened in September 2015
An outline business case for extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle should be delivered by late next year.
Funding for a feasibility study into taking the line past its current Tweedbank terminus was confirmed more than a year ago and campaigners have voiced frustration at the amount of time the process is taking.
A report to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) said it was hoped that consultants could be appointed by early next month.
It said the business case process would take about 18 months to complete although it said it would be working with everyone involved to see if timescales could be reduced.
The Borders Railway between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank was officially opened in September 2015.
There have been repeated calls since then to extend it on to Carlisle.
Both the Scottish and UK governments agreed to share the cost of a £10m feasibility study in 2021 as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Turner and Townsend were appointed as senior project manager in March last year.
Consultancy work to support the strategic outline business case (SOBC) is currently out to tender with appointments expected next month.
That work has been estimated to cost about £1m to complete in order to deliver an "extremely robust" case.
A report will be brought back to the council to confirm the appointment of consultants and a dedicated web page is under development on the council website to provide regular updates on progress.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374047/27102/25] Posted by Mark A at 11:52, 10th April 2026 | |
The 11:08 from Newquay to Paddington may be more robust in that the incoming working spends some time at Newquay having come down from Bristol (setting out just before 6am, so from the fares perspective it's a peak time service and, checking for May 20th, the advance ticket quota allocated is all on the pricey side of the scales. Oh and no connection from east of Bristol as it's before start of service in that direction.)
Mark
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374046/27102/25] Posted by Mark A at 11:40, 10th April 2026 Already liked by GBM | |
Part of this is going to be about reliability - a missing train in the sort-of-hourly-if-not-clockface timetable would leave a two hour gap in service. Also, the two through trains to London and the one through train from London: hopefully a pattern doesn't develop of them running late, being turned round at Plymouth and not actually making it to Newquay.
Mark
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [374045/31371/14] Posted by Witham Bobby at 11:04, 10th April 2026 | |
08:18 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
This is due to a fault on this train.
9-car unit 802105 arrived a little late as 1G01, 0632 Swindon to Worcester Shrub Hill, and would have formed this service. But instead of heading to Paddington, it went to Stoke Gifford empty cars. "Problem with the brakes" according to RTT
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374044/27102/25] Posted by Witham Bobby at 10:46, 10th April 2026 | |
8 becomes 17 in May as the enhanced Newquay service begins.
Departures from Newquay for Par are currently at 07:19, 09:24, 11:24, 13:24, 15:24, 17:24, 19:24 and 21:12.
From the timetable change they become: 07:19, 08:22, 09:20, 10:28, 11:30, 12:17, 13:25, 14:27, 15:36, 16:18, 17:27, 18:22, 19:20, 20:28 and 21:12. In addition there's two summer trains on weekdays to London at 11:08 and 14:52...correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they only run (or not run as the case often was) at weekends last year?
Departures from Newquay for Par are currently at 07:19, 09:24, 11:24, 13:24, 15:24, 17:24, 19:24 and 21:12.
From the timetable change they become: 07:19, 08:22, 09:20, 10:28, 11:30, 12:17, 13:25, 14:27, 15:36, 16:18, 17:27, 18:22, 19:20, 20:28 and 21:12. In addition there's two summer trains on weekdays to London at 11:08 and 14:52...correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they only run (or not run as the case often was) at weekends last year?
Good to see, but it seems mighty ambitious
I'm remembering the days of only four or five trains on the branch per day. For most of the year for most of the journey, they'd be mostly carrying empty seats
I'm glad things have improved since then
| Re: Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF) 2026/27 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [374042/31430/34] Posted by grahame at 10:22, 10th April 2026 | |
Wellllll ... our bid for "Information at the Station" in Melksham was written and submitted within the timescale given, and we wait to hear the outcome. My understanding is that applicants would be notified late March / early April 2026 of the outcome, and here we are in mid April 2026.
The fund is for new projects to be completed by 31st March (2027), and they must not be committed until the funding has been granted. With some (sorry) frustration, we await the outcome. My understanding is that there are once again far more (good) applications for funding than can be granted, so it's not just been a question of submitting a good, well thought out and justified project but rather of submitting a project that the judging panel evaluates as being better than others.
So we sit, somewhat, in limbo. We have continued negotiations with the potential landlord to ensure we have the building available. We have submitted local match funding requests and started other funding source paths. We have as volunteers continued research both into how it will work, and the issues that need to be addressed both operationally and for the business to work for the intended customers. Yesterday evening, we held an informal discussion around the dining table here - MTUG officers and Melksham Without reps ... taking stock of where we are. We have an idea of critical paths, GANTT chart, resource calls and when resources are needed, cash flows, etc. which are far forward from what we had at the start of January, and we have officially informed the CCIF team of a couple of elements which have addressed and mitigated to the extend of elimination what we admitted were our major risks in January.
We have NOT yet got together serious manning lists for the "Information at the Station" though. There is too much risk of building up enthusiasm just for it to seep away in the intervening months. And we have not committed past a "point of no return" as by doing so we would be taking an unnecessary risk, and contravening the terms of the application process that tell us we must wait. As well as the GWR decision being awaited, we await a match funding decision from Melksham Town Council who postponed all grant applications in the town from March to June.
The CCIF application process naturally brings uncertainty between submission and outcome time, and we have been proceeding in a way with identified probably and possible income sources with optimism factors applied in such a way that we can probably "go" even with drop outs. With the two biggest fund providers taking longer than they suggested, it may well be that an autumn rather than a summer launch is appropriate, but that's no great problem and in fact has some advantages.
What IS proven - time and time again - is in talking with people at and around Melksham - often at the station itself - is the real need for public transport information and a friendly face to help people navigated that information - in Melksham.
| Re: Railway bridges struck by road vehicles - merged topic, ongoing discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374041/8910/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:20, 10th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Lorry tips on side after striking Newport, Essex railway bridge
Emergency services attended the scene of the crash in Newport, Essex
A lorry was left leaning on its side after it struck a low bridge that carries the railway line to London.
Cambridge Road in Newport, Essex, was closed overnight, after the incident was reported shortly after 00:00 BST.
Images released by the fire service showed the lorry partially propped up by the side pillar of the bridge after it tried to drive under. The bridge has a height restriction of 4.3m (14ft, 3in).
Railway services have been running as normal during the morning commute.
Engineers were called to assess the bridge, but trains were operating normally through the area on Friday morning
Emergency services attended the scene of the crash in Newport, Essex
A lorry was left leaning on its side after it struck a low bridge that carries the railway line to London.
Cambridge Road in Newport, Essex, was closed overnight, after the incident was reported shortly after 00:00 BST.
Images released by the fire service showed the lorry partially propped up by the side pillar of the bridge after it tried to drive under. The bridge has a height restriction of 4.3m (14ft, 3in).
Railway services have been running as normal during the morning commute.
Engineers were called to assess the bridge, but trains were operating normally through the area on Friday morning
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [374040/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 09:26, 10th April 2026 | |
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 is being delayed between Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 is being delayed between Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
9 minutes late from Salisbury, up to 12 minutes late along the way with a longer stop than normal at Swindon. Pathing, perhaps?
| Re: Taunton station - services, facilities, improvements, events and incidents In "London to the West" [374039/15526/12] Posted by Phantom at 09:25, 10th April 2026 | |
The BBC have now amended their article, with an explanation:
I was wondering about that claim, It will take 7 minutes to get to the cricket ground
A previous version of this article said the new pathway would reduce the time it takes to walk from the station to Taunton town centre from around 25 minutes to around six or seven minutes, which is overstating the reduction in time.
I was wondering about that claim, It will take 7 minutes to get to the cricket ground
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [374038/31371/14] Posted by charles_uk at 08:38, 10th April 2026 | |
08:18 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: Tourism number down? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374037/31858/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:32, 9th April 2026 | |
I have no personal recent experience of Oxford Street to enable me to offer my own suggestions, but Sir Sadiq Khan's scheme may resolve that apparent issue. From The Standard:
Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets go-ahead from Sadiq Khan with traffic ban this summer
Buses, taxis and cyclists will be banned from western section of Oxford Street from summer 2026
The part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been formally approved by Sir Sadiq Khan – with traffic due to be banned from this summer.
The London mayor authorised the changes on Thursday morning, paving the way for Transport for London to make the nation’s most famous high street traffic-free between Selfridges and Ikea.
Sir Sadiq decided not to make any changes to the draft plans that went out to public consultation last November, despite hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.
The mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme – which will include a ban on cyclists – will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists.
(The Standard article continues)
Buses, taxis and cyclists will be banned from western section of Oxford Street from summer 2026
The part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been formally approved by Sir Sadiq Khan – with traffic due to be banned from this summer.
The London mayor authorised the changes on Thursday morning, paving the way for Transport for London to make the nation’s most famous high street traffic-free between Selfridges and Ikea.
Sir Sadiq decided not to make any changes to the draft plans that went out to public consultation last November, despite hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.
The mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme – which will include a ban on cyclists – will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists.
(The Standard article continues)
| Tourism number down? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374036/31858/31] Posted by grahame at 22:00, 9th April 2026 | |
Listening to friends at lunch today, they were telling of a recent visit to London and how quiet Oxford Street was - not the usual hustle and bustle [of tourists]. Is this something others have noticed? I could guess / speculate as to what / how / why but before I do, is this a pattern others have seen too?
| Driverless vehicles: Consortium wins grant to design self-driving bus In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374035/31857/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:11, 9th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
NI group wins grant to develop self-driving buses
The grant is part of a government scheme for self-driving feasibility studies
Ballymena-based Wrightbus and Queen's University are part of a consortium which has won government funding to help develop self-driving buses.
It is part of a government scheme which has awarded grants of up to £250,000 to self-driving feasibility studies.
Other projects include studies into autonomous freight vehicles and driverless shuttle operations across NHS sites.
Limited self-driving bus experiments have already been carried out in several cities around the UK.
That included the Harlander, a self-driving minibus which operated on a short route in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
The Wrightbus feasibility study is not aimed at getting a fully self-driving vehicle on the road immediately.
Instead it will take a "phased, evidence-driven approach to test what works" and use that to make it safer and easier to introduce self-driving passenger services in the future.
Dr Andy Harris, head of research and data analytics at Wrightbus, said it was about developing a "credible, commercial business case for the future of autonomous public transport".
A number of companies are aiming to have self-driving taxis on UK roads by the end of this year.
Waymo, a US firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London by September.
The firm, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, already has vehicles mapping the city's streets with a safety driver at the wheel.
The grant is part of a government scheme for self-driving feasibility studies
Ballymena-based Wrightbus and Queen's University are part of a consortium which has won government funding to help develop self-driving buses.
It is part of a government scheme which has awarded grants of up to £250,000 to self-driving feasibility studies.
Other projects include studies into autonomous freight vehicles and driverless shuttle operations across NHS sites.
Limited self-driving bus experiments have already been carried out in several cities around the UK.
That included the Harlander, a self-driving minibus which operated on a short route in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
The Wrightbus feasibility study is not aimed at getting a fully self-driving vehicle on the road immediately.
Instead it will take a "phased, evidence-driven approach to test what works" and use that to make it safer and easier to introduce self-driving passenger services in the future.
Dr Andy Harris, head of research and data analytics at Wrightbus, said it was about developing a "credible, commercial business case for the future of autonomous public transport".
A number of companies are aiming to have self-driving taxis on UK roads by the end of this year.
Waymo, a US firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London by September.
The firm, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, already has vehicles mapping the city's streets with a safety driver at the wheel.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374034/27102/25] Posted by Mark A at 19:03, 9th April 2026 | |
Also, on the weekday 11:08 up to Paddington from Newquay: "Pullman dining from Plymouth".
Mark
| Re: Spur and sidings east of Swindon? In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [374033/31839/10] Posted by bobm at 18:51, 9th April 2026 | |
In the last few days the spur has been taken out of use due to an infrastructure fault. Likely to be closed for a few months.
| Re: Taunton station - services, facilities, improvements, events and incidents In "London to the West" [374032/15526/12] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:25, 9th April 2026 | |
The BBC have now amended their article, with an explanation:
A previous version of this article said the new pathway would reduce the time it takes to walk from the station to Taunton town centre from around 25 minutes to around six or seven minutes, which is overstating the reduction in time.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [374031/31163/26] Posted by a-driver at 18:10, 9th April 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
......and it continues into today......
Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.
Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.
Now pushed out to 1100
"The problem affects 2 of the four lines between London Paddington and Reading, so we are having to reduce the train service through the area to avoid congestion. Local stopping services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury. Most longer distance intercity services will continue to run between London Paddington and Reading, but may be subject to delay.
We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running our normal timetable as soon as possible".
-
Confirmed as cable theft.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374030/27102/25] Posted by bobm at 17:39, 9th April 2026 | |
The weekday ones are new.
Last year there was one train to and from London Paddington on a Saturday with a through train from Exeter St Davids and a service to Bristol Temple Meads.
On Sundays there was one through service from London and two return trips - one formed from the stock of a service from Plymouth.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374029/27102/25] Posted by IndustryInsider at 17:09, 9th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
8 becomes 17 in May as the enhanced Newquay service begins.
Departures from Newquay for Par are currently at 07:19, 09:24, 11:24, 13:24, 15:24, 17:24, 19:24 and 21:12.
From the timetable change they become: 07:19, 08:22, 09:20, 10:28, 11:30, 12:17, 13:25, 14:27, 15:36, 16:18, 17:27, 18:22, 19:20, 20:28 and 21:12. In addition there's two summer trains on weekdays to London at 11:08 and 14:52...correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they only run (or not run as the case often was) at weekends last year?
| Re: Cross-Solent ferries, between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374028/27000/5] Posted by grahame at 15:43, 9th April 2026 | |
From County Press
The historic Hythe Ferry, owned by Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel, is set to be liquidated.
The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company has announced it is being placed into voluntary liquidation.
The company made the decision after an 18-month search for a solution to revive the service.
The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company has announced it is being placed into voluntary liquidation.
The company made the decision after an 18-month search for a solution to revive the service.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [374026/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:05, 9th April 2026 | |
......and it continues into today......
Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.
Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.
Now pushed out to 1100
"The problem affects 2 of the four lines between London Paddington and Reading, so we are having to reduce the train service through the area to avoid congestion. Local stopping services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury. Most longer distance intercity services will continue to run between London Paddington and Reading, but may be subject to delay.
We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running our normal timetable as soon as possible".
-
| Re: A personal update - a.k.a. why I have not checked the TVM at Melksham In "Introductions and chat" [374025/31810/1] Posted by bradshaw at 08:55, 9th April 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A | |
It was reopened in 1981 as a diversionary route when there was engineering work on the Weymouth line. Subsequently, it has seen increased use for container trains from Southampton Docks.
As such I would hope that it could form a second electrified route to the docks and, at the same time to Salisbury. Ideally at 750vDC as this would need less civils work.
I believe that the new Integrated Rail Plan for Wessex should develop a future rail plan which is costed and reviewed regularly.
| Llandrindod - Heart or Wales line, and the signal box. In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [374024/31855/23] Posted by grahame at 07:47, 9th April 2026 | |
The Heart or Wales line never was "Great Western" - it was a limb of the London and North Western Railway built into Great Western territory to tap the potential of South Wales, much of it double tracked and built to main line standards. How it survived the "Beeching Axe" by passing through six marginal constituncies has become a piece of folklaw, and over the years it was thinned down to the thinnest minimum passenger railway.
There have been some small steps back from that perlilous survival over the years - the loop and second platorm at Knighton has been restored (and was in use when Lisa and I passed through in February for us to pass a track maintenanance train), and the loop at Llandrindon was moved from outside the station to the station itself and trains routinely pass there (indeed they swap crews and pause a while to do so).
The signal box, moved (I think) when the loop was moved, is subject to a dispute between the Town Council and Network Rail over ownership and maintenance
From 2020:
https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18516278.signal-box-battle-llandrindod-council/
Recent ... but my social media feed (irritatingly) moved on before I grabbed the URL or a quotation, the community use has closed and the buidling fallen into disrepair with no-one looking after it ...
| Re: Extreme Day Trips In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374023/30054/5] Posted by grahame at 07:20, 9th April 2026 | |
Really nothing new - there were a large group of us that did this all over Europe 40 years ago when Thompson's ran day trips - Berlin the day before the night the wall fell anyone? I have a lump of wall somewhere.
There is - rarely - anything new, Chris
... I would in past times have said "good for them - good for their education", but these days I temper that slightly with an environmental concern / veneer. Taking a light hearted and pleasurable (for them - I dislike airports) event, I have much more serious throughs as to all the fossil fuel burned by all these planes flying around. One side of me celebrates the reconsideration of so much air travel that's being bought on by the war in the Gulf and there's a lot positive in my mind for a refactoring of fossil fuel flight to a lesser level. And don't get me thinking about the environmental, economic and especially human cost of the war itself. | Re: A personal update - a.k.a. why I have not checked the TVM at Melksham In "Introductions and chat" [374022/31810/1] Posted by grahame at 07:04, 9th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I ... think ... I'm happy to have brought you a puzzle that mystified and intrigued for a while. The Laverstock Curve has intrigued me, illogically for many years and I have had an eye open for an opportunity to travel along it. It was the (I think) my final stretch of line in national network passenger service in Wiltshire.
The curve has a strange history. Opened early with the arrival of the railway from London, it was closed and after many years as a siding from one end lifted completely, only to be restored in quite recent times. As well as occasional diverted Cross Country services, some steam specials use it, and it's on one of the freight routes used from Southampton Docks to the Midlands and north. To my knowledge, neither SWR nor GWR use the Laverstock Curve, nor do I know or any plausible campaigns calling for a regular passenger service.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [374021/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:35, 9th April 2026 | |
......and it continues into today......
Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.
