Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through West Wiltshire In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359535/30025/51] Posted by Mark A at 09:16, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Here is an interesting 1990 photo of the Batheastern & Swainswick bypass (looking towards Bath). Those parts got built, by the link to A36 in left foreground was dropped due to local opposition
https://bathintime.co.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/20931/posterid/20931.html
https://bathintime.co.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/20931/posterid/20931.html
At the inquiry the potential of the new road to generate noise pollution was recognised, with various mitigations. Concerning the A36/46 link component, this was identified as a problem, as vehicles would come to a stand for its junction and then need to accelerate again for some distance, and uphill for good measure. Short of putting the whole thing underground, there wasn't a way to mitigate this, and also there was the issue that it then dumped the problem on the er, suboptimal A36 route through the Limpley Stoke Valley.
Another aspect of this road is the 50mph speed restriction throughout, but particularly on the flat bit past Batheaston. People who aren't keen on speed restrictions tend to rail against this thinking its for safety reasons, but again, it's an environmental restriction - vehicles are far noisier at 70mph than they are at 50mph.
Mark
Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025 In "London to Kennet Valley" [359534/30033/8] Posted by grahame at 09:05, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
** Made me think of that foot crossing on the Westbury avoiding line too. Another that's found itself amid housing. And probably many other examples...
The Westbury avoider now has lights that warn you if a train is coming making a comparison with Pewsey (which I've seen only from the recent article photos and comments) and that crossing should be much safER. Whether it is "totaly safe" ... I leave open. I am aware of other deaths on crossings within memory at Bedwyn and between Westbury and Trowbridge
Re: When will all stations be "fully accessible"? In "Across the West" [359533/22629/26] Posted by grahame at 08:59, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Catching up (rather belatedly, for which I apologise) with this topic here:
I, too, doubt that they will ever be 'fully accessible'.
I, too, doubt that they will ever be 'fully accessible'.
An opportunity to add a few words so, thanks, Chris - thought I am getting older and forget what I posted years ago.
The other way - and we should be careful - of making "all stations accessible" is to close those which have low passenger numbers and are difficult to do. Or if it's very hard to make the platform in one direction accessible, close of all access to it and have people "bounce back" at the next station along. I'm not saying it would be done at Nailsea and Backwell, but it's already done at Pilning. And if you keep one direction open it's not going to involve a pesky and expensive closure procedure.
Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025 In "London to Kennet Valley" [359532/30033/8] Posted by Mark A at 08:53, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Openstreetmap's useful for this. For one under railway ownership, it's a very singular footbridge.
It's also an instance of a formerly rural location that now has a lot of housing, with, perhaps, little thought to the burden on walking routes**. Looking on old OS mapping, the footbridge has been there from the off, but no ordnance survey mapping marks the descending spur to the road, despite that an old GSV image suggests that it's a built component of the set-up there.
Mark
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.344990/-1.762909
** Made me think of that foot crossing on the Westbury avoiding line too. Another that's found itself amid housing. And probably many other examples...
Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [359531/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 08:50, 17th March 2025 Already liked by matth1j | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Just back from a week in Lanzarote, and was pleasantly surprised to find my 0721 Melksham-Chippenham train on time this morning. But it didn't last - the Paddington service that precedes it into Chippenham was running a bit late, so mine was delayed and I just missed the (unofficial) connection with the 0734 Chippenham-Bristol service. Then the next 0809 was cancelled (train fault). And now the 0832 is showing as 'running late' by 11 mins.
Good to be back
Good to be back

Welcome home ... what more can I say?
Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [359530/29726/18] Posted by matth1j at 08:30, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Just back from a week in Lanzarote, and was pleasantly surprised to find my 0721 Melksham-Chippenham train on time this morning. But it didn't last - the Paddington service that precedes it into Chippenham was running a bit late, so mine was delayed and I just missed the (unofficial) connection with the 0734 Chippenham-Bristol service. Then the next 0809 was cancelled (train fault). And now the 0832 is showing as 'running late' by 11 mins.
Good to be back

Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [359529/30032/40] Posted by Electric train at 06:41, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Looking at the governments recent decision to abolish NHS England deemed a quango; is the new Briitish Railways just another quango overseen by the Department of Transport.
Oh - the same irony that rail franchising is declared dead and the TOCs will be nationalised, whereas flavour of the month in bus operation is a network designed by the public sector, with routes or areas operated by franchises?
No.
The first phase of GBR is to bring all the National Rail franchise under on body, GBR. Phase 2 will be the reshaping of the operators, it could see all the London 'metro' services handed to TfL; consolidating Southern, SWT and SE outer services into one operator, the interesting one will be the proposals for a Hampshire IoW unitary authority which looks like transport is part of that proposal, there are likely to be others, Buckinghamshire??. Cities like Manchester, Birmingham all local services handed to the metro mayors to run.
The Labour Government move with NHS England seems more about devolving power to Health Care Trusts than micro management by the men from the Ministry the same is for GBR ................ However the men from the Ministry tend to be control freaks, hopefully the Government will be able to prise control out of the dyeing hands of the Civil Servants
Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [359528/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 06:24, 17th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Monday March 17
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23
Facilities on the 05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9.
Last Updated:17/03/2025 06:12
Facilities on the 05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9.
Last Updated:17/03/2025 06:12
Re: When will all stations be "fully accessible"? In "Across the West" [359527/22629/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:40, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Catching up (rather belatedly, for which I apologise) with this topic here:
I, too, doubt that they will ever be 'fully accessible'.
Using Nailsea & Backwell station as my local example: here we have a rather steep slope up to platform 2, but that has to be accessed from some distance along the road, Station Close.
There is no disabled access slope up to (or down from) platform 1. There simply isn't anywhere to build it, on the embankment below our elevated station.
The solution would be to build a new set of lifts - but that was last costed at around £1million, so that isn't ever going to happen, purely for the 'cost benefit ratio' numbers.
Chris from Nailsea.

Re: Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through West Wiltshire In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359526/30025/51] Posted by Clan Line at 21:26, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Here is an interesting 1990 photo of the Batheastern & Swainswick bypass (looking towards Bath). Those parts got built, by the link to A36 in left foreground was dropped due to local opposition
https://bathintime.co.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/20931/posterid/20931.html
https://bathintime.co.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/20931/posterid/20931.html
35 years ago - and all they have managed to do since then is close the Cleveland Bridge to anything over 18 tonnes.
But it wasn't (overturned)
The question from the OP was why was the penalty reduced to zero, rather than the penalty cancelled/overturned.
The question from the OP was why was the penalty reduced to zero, rather than the penalty cancelled/overturned.

I would suspect it was zeroed rather than removed to avoid setting a legal precedent. It means that someone coming over with an undocumented passenger in the well of (but not inside) a flatbed pickup can't point at the Fenton case and say "but you said on appeal they had not done wrong".
Re: Staff Fatality at Tyseley Depot 15/12/2019 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359524/22585/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:06, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
With my sincere apologies for missing this at the time:
Here is the Rail Accident Investigation Branch report on that sad incident.
Summary
At around 20:00 hrs on Saturday 14 December 2019, a train driver became trapped between two trains in the yard at Tyseley maintenance depot, Birmingham. The driver received fatal injuries as a result.
The driver became trapped because he was passing between two closely-spaced trains when one of the trains was moved towards the other as part of a coupling operation. The driver had not used a safe route when he was walking within the yard, and almost certainly did not expect that the trains would move as he passed between them. Another driver, who was attempting to couple the trains, was unaware that anyone else was close to them. He did not sound a warning prior to coupling because local instructions did not require this.
RAIB’s investigation identified that the depot operator, West Midlands Trains, had not adequately considered the risks faced by drivers on depots. The investigation also found that Tyseley depot is operating at or beyond its capacity at night and that West Midlands Trains’ management assurance processes had not promoted safe working practices.
Recommendations
RAIB has made two recommendations as a result of the investigation, both addressed to West Midlands Trains. The first recommendation is that West Midlands Trains ensures that effective assessments are carried out of the risks to those walking and working in depots, yards and sidings and that suitable measures are in place to control these risks. The second recommendation is that West Midlands Trains reviews its safety assurance processes to ensure that unsafe working practices within the company can be effectively identified and their causes addressed.
The investigation has also identified six learning points for the railway industry:
* the first two learning points warn duty holders and railway staff of the dangers of being in close proximity to railway vehicles
* the third learning point reminds duty holders that authorised walking routes must be made known to staff
* the fourth learning point reminds duty holders of the importance of assessing the capacity of depots relative to the operational demands placed on them to ensure that they can be operated safely
* the fifth learning point is that results from brake tests and other safety critical examinations are routinely checked and understood by competent staff
* the sixth learning point covers the importance of screening staff members involved in accidents for the presence of drugs or alcohol in accordance with the relevant procedures.
Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents said:
The death of any member of railway staff on duty is a tragedy. As we publish RAIB’s investigation report into the accident which took place at Tyseley depot in December last year, my thoughts are very much with the family of the train driver who died as a result.
This sad accident highlights how dangerous depots and sidings can be. When I started on the railway in 1982 one of the first things that was drummed into me was to take care around vehicles, and to only go under or between vehicles when you were quite sure they were not going to move. That is as true now as it was then. No matter how bad the weather, don’t be tempted to make a quick dash through a small gap. It could prove fatal.
In a depot like Tyseley, trains are maintained and serviced in readiness for their next duty. Train drivers are required as part of their normal work to take trains into depots for these activities to take place. They will also carry out the final preparation of trains and take them out of depots afterwards. We found that the department within the train operating company responsible for managing traincrew and the department responsible for the servicing and maintenance of trains were not working well together. This meant the company as a whole did not understand or sufficiently manage the risks posed to drivers who were working or walking in depots. The company was also not taking effective action to deal with unsafe actions in depots. Good safety management requires both an understanding of risk and spotting when things are not being done properly, and then doing something about it.
Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359523/30005/5] Posted by ChrisB at 20:55, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
But it wasn't (overturned)
The question from the OP was why was the penalty reduced to zero, rather than the penalty cancelled/overturned.

Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359522/30005/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:44, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I repeat:
No: he was found clinging to the outside of their vehicle. The article makes that clear.
That is why the 'civil penalty notice' was overturned.
Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359521/30005/5] Posted by stuving at 20:31, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Not fully understanding how fines and convictions work in this case.... I guess there is a distinction between 'reducing the fine to £0' and dropping the case altogether?
This was a civil penalty notice under the Carriers' Liability Regulations 2002 (as amended). The offence was defined in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The explanation, with leaflets etc, is here.
Most of the words are about goods vehicles, of course. This looks like the relevant offence for this case:
32 Penalty for carrying clandestine entrants.
(1)A person is a clandestine entrant if—
(a)he arrives in the United Kingdom concealed in a vehicle, ship or aircraft,
(aa)he arrives in the United Kingdom concealed in a rail freight wagon,
(b)he passes, or attempts to pass, through immigration control concealed in a vehicle, or
(c)he arrives in the United Kingdom on a ship or aircraft, having embarked—
(i)concealed in a vehicle; and
(ii)at a time when the ship or aircraft was outside the United Kingdom,
and claims, or indicates that he intends to seek, asylum in the United Kingdom or evades, or attempts to evade, immigration control.
(1)A person is a clandestine entrant if—
(a)he arrives in the United Kingdom concealed in a vehicle, ship or aircraft,
(aa)he arrives in the United Kingdom concealed in a rail freight wagon,
(b)he passes, or attempts to pass, through immigration control concealed in a vehicle, or
(c)he arrives in the United Kingdom on a ship or aircraft, having embarked—
(i)concealed in a vehicle; and
(ii)at a time when the ship or aircraft was outside the United Kingdom,
and claims, or indicates that he intends to seek, asylum in the United Kingdom or evades, or attempts to evade, immigration control.
The law and regulations define the maximum penalty; the Secretary of State decides the amount in each case - there are guidelines about how much.
And in case you were wondering:
10.—(1) A notice may be served on a person under regulation 9(3) by:
(a)delivering it to that person;
(b)leaving it at his proper address;
(c)sending it to his proper address by first class post in a prepaid registered envelope or by the recorded delivery service;
(d)facsimile, sent to his usual or last known business facsimile number;
(e)electronic mail, sent to his usual or last known business electronic mail address.
(a)delivering it to that person;
(b)leaving it at his proper address;
(c)sending it to his proper address by first class post in a prepaid registered envelope or by the recorded delivery service;
(d)facsimile, sent to his usual or last known business facsimile number;
(e)electronic mail, sent to his usual or last known business electronic mail address.
Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359520/30005/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:22, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Railway staff, lineside, with mains water hydrant hoses: problem solved.

Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359519/30005/5] Posted by grahame at 20:14, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Had me thinking of this

Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025 In "London to Kennet Valley" [359518/30033/8] Posted by grahame at 19:57, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
To help me get my head around this, I looked up that part of Pewsey on a map. It is to the east of the village, which is to the south, with a small cluster of houses located north of the railway only accessible via Hollybush Lane and that foot crossing.
The foot crossing is at the other end of that scattering of houses, hence no picture even in Danny Kruger's video showing the relationship.

Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025 In "London to Kennet Valley" [359517/30033/8] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:21, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Thank you for posting this very sad topic, hoover50.
I've simply expanded the heading, in the interest of clarity, for ease of future reference.
CfN.

Re: Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through West Wiltshire In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359516/30025/51] Posted by John D at 19:09, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Here is an interesting 1990 photo of the Batheastern & Swainswick bypass (looking towards Bath). Those parts got built, by the link to A36 in left foreground was dropped due to local opposition
https://bathintime.co.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/20931/posterid/20931.html
Re: Tracks of a different kind. Where was bignosemac late June 2021 In "The Lighter Side" [359515/25184/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:45, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
An update on Alton Towers, from the BBC:
Burst pipe disrupts debut of new Alton Towers ride

Alton Towers' new ride Toxicator had to shut on its opening day when a pipe burst and brown liquid leaked out.
Park staff were inundated by frustrated riders, who took to social media about the problem at the Staffordshire park, on Saturday. The theme park said rides were suspended for about two hours after the pipe burst, which bosses said was "unrelated to the new ride".
"Due to an unexpected burst pipe near the ride, Toxicator briefly paused operation whilst our teams swiftly dealt with the issue," a spokesperson said. "The ride and surrounding area are now fully reopen and welcoming guests."

Alton Towers' new ride Toxicator had to shut on its opening day when a pipe burst and brown liquid leaked out.
Park staff were inundated by frustrated riders, who took to social media about the problem at the Staffordshire park, on Saturday. The theme park said rides were suspended for about two hours after the pipe burst, which bosses said was "unrelated to the new ride".
"Due to an unexpected burst pipe near the ride, Toxicator briefly paused operation whilst our teams swiftly dealt with the issue," a spokesperson said. "The ride and surrounding area are now fully reopen and welcoming guests."
Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359514/30005/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:55, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
No: he was found clinging to the outside of their vehicle. The article makes that clear.
Re: Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they should not In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359513/30005/5] Posted by ChrisB at 17:31, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
They aren't innocent are they? A stowaway was found hiding in their vehicle, as admitted by the owner.
Re: Extra trains for the six Nations, 15.3.2025 In "London to South Wales" [359512/30024/11] Posted by eXPassenger at 17:29, 16th March 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, TaplowGreen | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
... and Wales were well and truly stuffed.
Oops - I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that out loud.
Chris from England.
Oops - I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that out loud.

Chris from England.

I did feel that try no 10, after 80 minutes, was a little greedy.
Not fully understanding how fines and convictions work in this case.... I guess there is a distinction between 'reducing the fine to £0' and dropping the case altogether?
Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [359510/30032/40] Posted by ChrisB at 16:02, 16th March 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Maybe so, so tell me - what is the value of external contracts entered into by NHS England? And why they aren't seen as privatisation (even by 'the back door')?
Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [359509/30032/40] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:49, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Depends on your definition of NHS England body
I'd suggest it depends rather more on your understanding of what constitutes privatisation.
Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [359508/30032/40] Posted by ChrisB at 15:26, 16th March 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Depends on your definition of NHS England body
Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [359507/30032/40] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:25, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
My reading of the debate is that Labour are re-nationalising the railways, and re-nationalising ... erm, the National Health Service.


When was the NHS privatised?
Re: RMT balloting for Industrial action on GWR In "Across the West" [359506/29960/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:22, 16th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
So who is doing the bullying?



We can now expect the RMT to get even more militant under Dempsey’s watch. And it might be a long watch as he’s still quite a young man.
........with some pretty unsavoury associates to call on if people get out of line too! (I believe the gentleman in the picture with Bruvver Dempsey is dead, however I'm sure Vlad has plenty more where he came from to assist!)