History of Winterstoke Road bridge
Winterstoke Road bridge was originally built between 1941 and 1943 by the War Office (now Ministry of Defence). It was built to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare.

Access provided by the bridge was critical in supporting the war effort as the factory produced the Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.

The bridge was built by William Cowlin & Sons, with nearby railway sidings built by George Pollard & Co of Taunton using steel produced by Lysaght.

In the early 1950s the Ministry of Defence opened the bridge to the public, renaming the route Winterstoke Road.

In the intervening years Winterstoke Road has served as an important transport route in Weston-super-Mare.

Meanwhile, the aircraft industry continued in the local area for many years including sites for aircraft maintenance and Westland Helicopters on the site of the former RAF Weston-super-Mare.

In 2018, the age and condition of the bridge meant that a 7.5T weight restriction was put in place.

Now that the bridge is over 80 years old, it must be replaced if this important transport route in Weston-super-Mare is to remain open.

The Aylestone Old Mill Canal Bridge, over the Grand Union Canal, will be closed to pedestrians and traffic

A historic bridge in Leicester will be shut for four weeks to allow the road surface to be repaired.

The Aylestone Old Mill Canal Bridge, over the Grand Union Canal, will be closed to pedestrians and traffic from Wednesday while maintenance work is carried out.

Aylestone Meadows car park will be closed to allow the work to be done, and alternative parking will be available at the nearby Canal Street car park.

Leicester City Council said that diversions would be in place during the works and the canal and towpath beneath the bridge would remain open.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: "This historic bridge is a well-known feature over this stretch of the canal. Wear and tear mean that the condition of the bridge's road surface is such that repair work is now required, and the bridge will close for a few weeks while that is carried out."

The work will cost about £37,000 and is being funded through the city's highways capital maintenance budget.

Keeping the memory alive of five rail workers killed by train


The new memorial features a train image and original track from the Derry Road Line

A memorial to five men killed by a train in Omagh, County Tyrone, has been upgraded ahead of the 75th anniversary of their deaths.

The railway workers died after being struck by a passenger train as they carried out routine maintenance work on the Derry Road line.

John Cassidy, John Cleary, John McCrory, Dan McCrory and Charles (Charlie) Flanagan were permanent way men, responsible for maintaining the track.

A remembrance service will be held later on Monday at the newly improved memorial garden, funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

"It's just lovely to keep their memory alive," Mr Flanagan's granddaughter told BBC News NI.

Heavy fog had descended over Omagh that morning and the noise of the Enniskillen train idling in the station meant that the men weren't aware of the oncoming train bound for Belfast.

Two died instantly, two more succumbed to their injuries later that day and Mr Flanagan died the following morning.

Their deaths left 19 children without fathers.


(BBC article continues)

....the other factor to aid the case will the be decarbonising fright 

The second one is lot less than average because about third of the mast bases are already installed, and some masts already up.

Also there are closures planned (and budgeted for) in Oxford area where gantries spanning all the tracks could be installed (even if the detail of what needs to be bolted to them is not yet finalised).  Much cheaper to come along overnight with a road railer attaching brackets and wires than do extra full closure/blockade

He wants to addres the ridiculous amounts of rain/climate change then, not the railway....

08:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 09:47
and all trains until mid afternoon

08:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 09:47 has been cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

Re-reading this again-


..two questions occur to me-

1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and

2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?

The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".

Anyone find the RAIB report on this? I can't seem to locate it.

Overspeed across points I Understand from professional twitter/X

First Skybus Cornwall to Gatwick flight takes off



The first flight between Cornwall and London operated by airline Skybus has taken place on Sunday.

The airline agreed a short-term deal to run the service between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick following the collapse of Easter Airways last month.

The daily year-round route is subsidised by the Government and Cornwall Council due to its economic importance, and is covered by a Public Service Obligation (PSO).

Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said he was "delighted" to find a replacement operator so quickly and "even more so to see a Cornish company stepping in".

Skybus currently runs services to the Isles of Scilly, with flights from Newquay, Land's End and Exeter, and is owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (ISSC) which also runs boat services to the islands.

Frost said: "It has been a difficult time, with disruption for many people who use the service and had already booked flights, so I am pleased this announcement will help end the uncertainty around this vital connection to the capital."

Councillor Tim Dwelly, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and investment, added: "Our priority was to get the service back up and running as quickly as possible to minimise disruption for passengers. Restoring this route helps maintain the confidence of business and tourism sectors, and it's welcome that a Cornish company has the capability to step in and deliver during this interim period."

The 12 passengers booked on the first Gatwick Skybus flight had room to spare on the 180 seat Boeing 737 which took off from Newquay at about 15:40 GMT.

Skybus said it would transition to a 78 seater turboprop Q400 aircraft early next month, and services would increase to twice daily from mid-February.

Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Skybus, said: "We are thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick. It is not just about making travel easier for passengers; it's about creating opportunities – for businesses, for tourism, and for the local communities we serve."

Cornwall Council owns the airport site and oversees the process of finding a new operator for the PSO route. The council said last month the tendering process to find an operator for the next four years was underway.

There's your answer, in the article
- basing it on pence per minute.

More than 1,110 minutes of train delays and temporary closures of the A470 have been caused by the crashes

A bridge that has been hit 12 times by drivers over nearly two years in "avoidable" incidents has cost taxpayers £50,000 in repairs, Network Rail has said.

The Abergavenny Road railway bridge, in Caersws, Powys, has been struck a dozen times since January 2024 - seven times in 2025 alone.

Network Rail said over-height vehicles crashed into the bridge over the Cambrian railway line despite numerous warning signs, causing more than 1,110 minutes of train delays and the A470 to temporarily close. The rail operator said it planned to install new signs in the coming months and urged drivers to know the height and width of their vehicles before starting their journey.


Network Rail says drivers are crashing into the bridge despite numerous warning signs

Rebecca Watling, head of performance at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said "incidents like this are entirely avoidable".

"When a vehicle hits a bridge, it creates a serious safety risk and causes major disruption to the railway, with trains stopped for essential inspections and repairs - meaning people miss important appointments or connections," she said. "These incidents also carry a significant cost to the public purse - money that could be far better spent on upgrading and maintaining our rail network." She urged drivers to "check the height and width of their vehicles".

Deb Justice, Cambrian Railway Partnership's community rail development officer, said: "This affects not only local journeys on our trains but rail travel across the whole of Wales and Borders."

She also urged drivers to "take a moment" to check the size of their vehicles before setting out. "It's a small action, but one that can make a huge difference to the safety and reliability of travel for both rail passengers and road users."

Sarah Forrester, 55, died in her home in Swindon on Friday

A woman who died inside her home has been named by police after a 13-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of her murder was released on bail.

The woman who died in Swindon on Friday was 55-year-old Sarah Forrester, Wiltshire Police have confirmed. They said she had not been breathing when officers arrived at her house in Baydon Close, Moredon, at about 19:00 GMT after being called to a disorder. She died at the scene.

The 13-year-old girl was later arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody for questioning. She has since been bailed while enquiries continue.

Ms Forrester worked as a counsellor at The Kelly Foundation, a Swindon charity which supports individuals with severe anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

The foundation was set up in memory of Kelly Jobanputra, a BBC Radio 6 Music producer and former BBC Radio Wiltshire presenter who took her own life in 2019.

In a statement, The Kelly Foundation said it was "heartbroken at the sudden loss of our lovely Sarah".

"She was completely committed to the charity and devoted to her two young children," the statement continued. "Sarah was pivotal in the work that we do here at The Kelly Foundation and her loss is a hugely traumatic event, not just for us and her colleagues but more especially for her children and family. Sarah was an incredible person, kind, thoughtful, considerate, caring and funny and she embodied everything that we hope our charity is and can be. She enjoyed her role with us and we all loved working with her, she will be truly, truly missed."

From the Swindon Advertiser:

During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The bus will be fitted with a medical area, benches, charging points and solar panels

An appeal to raise £70,000 for a Safe Bus - a mobile welfare and first aid hub - has been launched in Nottingham.

It's In Nottingham, the city's business promotion group, wants to convert a donated vehicle into a fully equipped space where trained welfare officers, volunteers, and medical staff can offer first aid, support, and a safe place to rest.

It would operate in the city centre during weekends and major events, giving practical help for those who are injured, lost, or vulnerable, organisers said. As well as benefiting those enjoying a night out, it could also ease pressure on local emergency services and hospitals.

It's In Nottingham said that while the city's night time economy of bars, clubs, and restaurants brought many benefits, it created challenges for police and welfare teams.

A seven-day pilot project with St John Ambulance last Christmas supported 102 people, with 73 managed on location without needing hospital treatment. The estimated £30,000 – £50,000 in savings to the NHS could translate into £1.6 –£2.7m annually if a similar facility was made permanent, it said.

Nottingham City Transport has already donated the bus but the initiative also has the backing of Nottingham City Council, trentbarton, Nottingham Street Pastors and both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The team is now asking for public and business support through a crowdfunding campaign for the refit, which includes an on-board medical area with sink, bed, and running water. It would also include solar panels and accessibility improvements, along with heating, lighting, and welfare seating.

Rich Lane, head of operations and business crime at It's In Nottingham, said: "It's quite a simple idea. It's just a normal bus. All the seats are removed. We've got a medical provision that will be in the back but then some nice long benches down the interior of the bus where you can charge your mobile phone or you can sit and just have a few moments to contemplate your thoughts.

"And it's just a safe space where we've got medical provision that's there. We've got street pastors that will be working. We'll have welfare units from universities that will be on board and assisting. Ultimately it's just somewhere that you can go and sit."

Simon Calder, writing on the fares changes and some possible consequences in the Independent. Also, his article makes some play on Didcot - Swindon being the most expensive main line leg in the UK, not sure if that's the cost with respect to time on the train perhaps.

a boggling £2.20 per minute, making it the most expensive main line train trip in Britain

Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, said: ‘We are pleased that after 14 years of the Tories pricing people off our railways, this Labour government is helping people to commute to work and travel for pleasure.”

from what is, in effect, a decision to make long-suffering taxpayers pay even more to keep the trains running – even though many of them never go near a train.