Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Can you find the 40 British railway station names hidden in our puzzle? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [372003/31556/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:05, 3rd February 2026 |      |
Hmm. [Image from here is not available to guests]
Compared with some of the more obscure ones, Barrow in Furnace was a doddle. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: Looe Branch Line - timetables, cancellations, engineering work, closures and incidents In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [372002/569/25] Posted by grahame at 16:43, 3rd February 2026 | |
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 03/02/26.
It does NOT tell us what is expected on 4th February, of course!
We're now told
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 09/02/26.
Due to flooding between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 09/02/26.
| A379 at Slapton In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372001/31569/5] Posted by Mark A at 16:32, 3rd February 2026 | |
The road at Slapton is on a shingle beach backed by a freshwater lake. Or rather, that's what it *was* on, the sea has removed a substantial length of the road. The A379 carries the bus route from Dartmouth to Kingsbridge.
Mark
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2026-02-03/its-like-a-bombs-gone-off-shock-as-part-of-a-coast-road-is-washed-away
| Re: Can you find the 40 British railway station names hidden in our puzzle? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [372000/31556/51] Posted by Hafren at 15:34, 3rd February 2026 | |
A Scot under Witch wood anyone? [Image from here is not available to guests] [Image from here is not available to guests]
I was trying to work out why the Scot was below Coventry!
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371998/31565/29] Posted by GBM at 15:02, 3rd February 2026 | |
Subscribe to each thread of interest & providing you then read the new posts, you will get an email alert each time the thread is added to. No need to keep looking as the emails have a link to the unread posts
err. Nope.No email alerts here.
Chrome desktop and gmail for forum.
Also set to the home/landing page, and click through from there as required.
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371997/14923/31] Posted by Witham Bobby at 15:01, 3rd February 2026 | |
Hal;f a mile or so away from the wonderfully named Black Monkey Bridge. None of us had any clue about where the name came from
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371996/31565/29] Posted by Hafren at 14:57, 3rd February 2026 | |
My browser on Windoze 'knows' if I start typing 'fir' in the address bar that I want the 'show unread' posts page...
But if I'm on my phone I just end up on the firstgreatwestern.info landing page (I think), and from there tap through to the forum. Initially it thinks I'm a guest, but if I click through to a recently liked subject, it suddenly remembers me!
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371995/14923/31] Posted by Trowres at 14:47, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371992/231/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:18, 3rd February 2026 | |
Thanks for that, chuffed.
Just to confirm: is their AGM open to non-members to attend?
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371991/231/28] Posted by chuffed at 14:09, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
From the Portishead Railway Action Group
2nd February 2026
Dear Member,
We’re pleased to confirm our 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th February 2026. Doors will open at the Folk Hall, Portishead from 7.00pm with the meeting starting at 7.30pm.
With lots of activity currently happening along the Pill & Portishead line, we’re pleased to announce that the new MetroWest Project Manager, Natalie Gale-Sides, will be our guest speaker and will update us with the latest news and the construction schedule. The agenda will be as follows:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence received
3. Minutes of the 2024 AGM approved by the committee in 2025 and sent to members 1/10/25.
4. Approval of Accounts for the year ended 31/10/2025
5. Appointment of Independent Examiner
6. Chairman’s Report.
7. Communications Report, including Facebook, Twitter and Website.
8. Membership Secretary’s report.
9. Appointment of committee.
10. Amendments to Constitution
11. Break
12. Update on progress – Natalie Gale-Sides, MetroWest Project Manager
13. Any other business.
Following on from last year’s AGM, here’s a note of which committee members now are responsible for each area of PRG activity, in addition to the existing long term committee roles of Chairman, Membership, Treasurer etc. :
MetroWest & North Somerset Council - Liaison & Monitoring: Colin & Brian
Portishead Town Council - Liaison & work on facilities: Brian & Peter
Pill & Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council - Liaison & work on facilities: Rob & Bob
Government & DfT - Liaison & Monitoring: Gareth & Rob
Network Rail - Liaison & Monitoring: Alan & TBC
Work on Station design, facilities and enhancements: Alan & Adam Stead, plus Rob & Bob (for Pill)
Work to ensure Portishead local bus service implemented at the right time to support the station & train service: Brian & Wendy
Work to prepare for a Community Rail Partnership: Wendy & Paul
Communications & Social Media: Gareth & Peter
Thanks for your support. We hope to see you at the AGM.
Regards,
Peter
Peter Maliphant
Membership Secretary
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371990/14923/31] Posted by Clan Line at 13:34, 3rd February 2026 | |
Bob_Blakey's post regarding "vertical rulers" to indicate flood water depth reminds me of a similar attempt at Warminster station some years back.
A depth ruler was attached to the wall as you came out from the underbridge to the main car park..............BUT...the "zero" mark was at least 12" above the lowest point of the road under the bridge. Doh !! (Wish I had taken a photo of it in place !)
[Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371989/31565/29] Posted by Witham Bobby at 13:07, 3rd February 2026 | |
Unread Posts is always my starting point
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371988/31565/29] Posted by johnneyw at 12:28, 3rd February 2026 | |
I just go to the Coffee Shop Index page out of habit really.
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [371987/593/9] Posted by ray951 at 11:55, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby, TonyN | |
According to the Oxford Clarion https://oxfordclarion.uk/the-clarion-3-february-2026/ The new bridge will not be lifted in place until Thursday not Tuesday as I stated above. There are also some good pictures in that link.
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371985/22771/12] Posted by Mark A at 11:01, 3rd February 2026 | |
That installation needed to have been designed by a nautical architect.
Me: not experienced as a nautical architect, but aware that, say, farm animals, in poor weather, do not by choice stand facing the prevailing wind: wishing I'd had more input into the design than just the opportunity given (and taken) to comment on the planning application.
Mark
Me: not experienced as a nautical architect, but aware that, say, farm animals, in poor weather, do not by choice stand facing the prevailing wind: wishing I'd had more input into the design than just the opportunity given (and taken) to comment on the planning application.
Mark
Today: https://stationlifts.org.uk/DWL
Historical availability data for Dawlish's lifts: not exactly upbeat either.
https://stationlifts.org.uk/DWL/history
Mark
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [371984/593/9] Posted by ray951 at 10:52, 3rd February 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I walked through Oxford Station this morning, quite literally, walking from Seacourt Park and Ride to the end of Hythe Bridge Street. Everything was very well signposted, with plenty of staff on hand to direct people, but it was extremely busy and felt a bit like walking through a building site—made worse by the rain.
Crossing the temporary bridges over the tracks was a rather strange experience. As for the works themselves, it’s difficult to see much at the moment, but it does appear that the original bridge has been removed and the new one is not yet in place. I understand the new bridge is due to be installed on day three, which I assume is today.
| Re: Can you find the 40 British railway station names hidden in our puzzle? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371983/31556/51] Posted by Witham Bobby at 10:33, 3rd February 2026 | |
Is the star straddling the river a reference to Starcross?
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371982/31565/29] Posted by ChrisB at 09:38, 3rd February 2026 | |
Subscribe to each thread of interest & providing you then read the new posts, you will get an email alert each time the thread is added to. No need to keep looking as the emails have a link to the unread posts
| Re: Driving road vehicles into floodwater - merged topics and posts, ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371981/14923/31] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:41, 3rd February 2026 | |
.....is there still a "water lane" near Ide or Alphington, close to Exeter.....
Yes - it runs generally south-eastwards from near Exe Bridges to Gabriel's Wharf on the west bank of the Exeter Ship Canal close to the new(ish) Marsh Barton railway station. However on the collection of old Exeter maps there is no evidence that I can see which indicates the route was ever associated with a watercourse of the type described.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371980/31565/29] Posted by bradshaw at 22:04, 2nd February 2026 | |
Also start with unread posts
| Re: Class 897 trains on the way for LNER In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371979/31564/51] Posted by anthony215 at 22:01, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by trainbuff | |
Good news, though let's hope the ride quality is better than the CAF Mk 5a's Chiltern are re-introducing!
I think GWR could really do with more capacity in its high speed fleet now. A similar order of 10 7-car units, based on either the Hitachi Class 807 (but a Tri-Mode version), or 7-car versions of these Tri-mode Class 897s, would be extremely useful to help cater for growth on both the North and South Cotswold services, and doubtless other routes, where 9-car will be overkill, but 5-cars isn't enough. 7-car services also fit nicely into the platform length profiles at most stations on those routes.
Try boarding the 10:29, 11:32, 15:31 (and others) at Oxford towards London and there's a good chance you'll be standing all the way. Incredible given not too long ago those trains were in the hands of 3-car Turbos!
I think GWR could really do with more capacity in its high speed fleet now. A similar order of 10 7-car units, based on either the Hitachi Class 807 (but a Tri-Mode version), or 7-car versions of these Tri-mode Class 897s, would be extremely useful to help cater for growth on both the North and South Cotswold services, and doubtless other routes, where 9-car will be overkill, but 5-cars isn't enough. 7-car services also fit nicely into the platform length profiles at most stations on those routes.
Try boarding the 10:29, 11:32, 15:31 (and others) at Oxford towards London and there's a good chance you'll be standing all the way. Incredible given not too long ago those trains were in the hands of 3-car Turbos!
Not just GWR id say these 897s maybe a good choice for crosscountry to replace 220/221's
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371978/31565/29] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:57, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
I, too, go straight to 'show unread posts since last visit'. I can then start reading them with the oldest first, or I can select any of them to read first, if they look particularly significant to me.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371976/31565/29] Posted by grahame at 21:32, 2nd February 2026 | |
Really useful thread - thank you.
| Re: Using the Coffeeshop forums: a question In "News, Help and Assistance" [371975/31565/29] Posted by Timmer at 21:24, 2nd February 2026 | |
‘Show unread posts since last visit’ and that is my bookmark for the forum using Safari.
| Re: Melksham Station - "InfoStation" / loos / snack bar / info point opportunity? In "TransWilts line" [371974/31510/18] Posted by grahame at 21:17, 2nd February 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, rogerw, johnneyw | |
Submission made - the prospectus is at https://www.mtug.org.uk/mtug_ccif_2026.pdf and I will be sharing it out to wider channels over the next couple of days. We are aware of both strengths and weakness in the bid, and that CCIF usually gets heavily oversubscribed, but this has been good work to do putting the scheme together and not just a CCIF bid.
