Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Track Replacement - Early Dec 2025 - GWML TRU-PNZ and SER-SIV closed for a wk. In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [368288/31111/25] Posted by RailCornwall at 20:14, 17th November 2025 |      |
Does anyone know where this track replacement is taking place and it's extent over the closure period?
| Explosion on rail track Poland In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [368287/31110/52] Posted by broadgage at 20:10, 17th November 2025 | |
| Re: Badgers at Hayle In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [368286/31109/25] Posted by a-driver at 20:08, 17th November 2025 | |
Badger set was first found in December 2024. Natural England were consulted but no work could be undertaken until it could be confirmed that the badgers were not a breeding pair. They're just awaiting a licence now and the badgers will soon be evicted and works to rectify the damage will be completed by the end of the year.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368285/29711/14] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:07, 17th November 2025 | |
They were champing at the bit.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368284/29711/14] Posted by Class 50 at 20:00, 17th November 2025 | |
Burning not biting
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368283/29711/14] Posted by Class 50 at 19:59, 17th November 2025 | |
Sunday was a terrible day for service, the 1850 was cancelled due to a smell of biting at the Paddington End , when it
Was about to depart, however there were 2 hour gaps in the afternoon, and I was wondering based on Monday , if Agility Trains are again failing to get enough trains out .
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368282/5272/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:13, 17th November 2025 | |
I agree: it's all just gone off the rails.
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368281/5272/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 19:08, 17th November 2025 | |
Why is it that whenever commenting on railway plans, people can't resist using metaphors like "wheels in motion", "full steam ahead", "hits the buffers", "runs out of steam", "back on track" etc?
I'm all for giving that sort of stuff the red light.
Quite so. These tired cliches should be shunted into a siding.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368280/29711/14] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:34, 17th November 2025 | |
Fair enough: any vehicle, whether train, car or grocery delivery van, should not continue on route with a broken windscreen.
| Re: Driving licences and tests - ongoing discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [368279/19893/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:26, 17th November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Learners lose £164k as driving school shuts down
Documents show NxtGen Driving Academy, which was based in Stowmarket but taught students across the region, owes hundreds of thousands of pounds
Hundreds of learner drivers have been left more than £164,000 out of pocket after a driving school closed down and are "unlikely" to get their money back, an insolvency firm has said.
NxtGen Driving Academy, part of NG Driving Group Ltd, taught students across the East of England but ceased trading on 3 November. Documents seen by the BBC show that, before the firm was shut down, 399 customers had paid the company for driving lessons that will not be fulfilled.
A spokesperson for NxtGen already apologised for "any inconvenience and loss" customers might experience but said it "had no choice" but to close. NxtGen appointed the liquidator, AMS Business Recovery Limited, which expects the company to formally be put into liquidation on Thursday.
In a letter sent to creditors, which has also been seen by the BBC, the liquidator warned that students would likely be left out of pocket. "Any funds recovered from the company's assets will be distributed in accordance with UK insolvency law," the firm said. "Based on present information, unsecured creditors, such as customers who have paid deposits for lessons, are unlikely to receive a distribution."
(Personal stories appear here, which I have chosen not to quote in detail, but they are included in the BBC article)
NxtGen Driving Academy described itself as "one of the fastest growing driving schools in East Anglia". Instructors were based in Suffolk, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Sussex, North Wales and Cheshire.
Some of the instructors were employed directly by the company, while others ran their own franchises. In addition to learners, HMRC is also owed in the region of £180,000, suppliers and service providers more than £45,000, and the firm's 19 employees more than £33,000, according to the company's statement of affairs.
One of the firm's employees, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC she had turned down a new job at a different employer weeks before NxtGen shut down. "I felt betrayed because I was loyal to that company and I think the way this has been handled is absolutely disgusting," she said. "We've got families but eight weeks before Christmas they have done a toilet on us from a great height, so it is devastating."
Documents show NxtGen Driving Academy, which was based in Stowmarket but taught students across the region, owes hundreds of thousands of pounds
Hundreds of learner drivers have been left more than £164,000 out of pocket after a driving school closed down and are "unlikely" to get their money back, an insolvency firm has said.
NxtGen Driving Academy, part of NG Driving Group Ltd, taught students across the East of England but ceased trading on 3 November. Documents seen by the BBC show that, before the firm was shut down, 399 customers had paid the company for driving lessons that will not be fulfilled.
A spokesperson for NxtGen already apologised for "any inconvenience and loss" customers might experience but said it "had no choice" but to close. NxtGen appointed the liquidator, AMS Business Recovery Limited, which expects the company to formally be put into liquidation on Thursday.
In a letter sent to creditors, which has also been seen by the BBC, the liquidator warned that students would likely be left out of pocket. "Any funds recovered from the company's assets will be distributed in accordance with UK insolvency law," the firm said. "Based on present information, unsecured creditors, such as customers who have paid deposits for lessons, are unlikely to receive a distribution."
(Personal stories appear here, which I have chosen not to quote in detail, but they are included in the BBC article)
NxtGen Driving Academy described itself as "one of the fastest growing driving schools in East Anglia". Instructors were based in Suffolk, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Sussex, North Wales and Cheshire.
Some of the instructors were employed directly by the company, while others ran their own franchises. In addition to learners, HMRC is also owed in the region of £180,000, suppliers and service providers more than £45,000, and the firm's 19 employees more than £33,000, according to the company's statement of affairs.
One of the firm's employees, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC she had turned down a new job at a different employer weeks before NxtGen shut down. "I felt betrayed because I was loyal to that company and I think the way this has been handled is absolutely disgusting," she said. "We've got families but eight weeks before Christmas they have done a toilet on us from a great height, so it is devastating."
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368278/5272/28] Posted by TonyK at 17:38, 17th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Why is it that whenever commenting on railway plans, people can't resist using metaphors like "wheels in motion", "full steam ahead", "hits the buffers", "runs out of steam", "back on track" etc?
I'm all for giving that sort of stuff the red light.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368277/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 17:32, 17th November 2025 | |
16:58 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:25 has been cancelled.
This is due to a broken windscreen on the train.
Last Updated:17/11/2025 17:10
19:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken windscreen on the train.
Last Updated:17/11/2025 17:10
This is due to a broken windscreen on the train.
Last Updated:17/11/2025 17:10
19:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken windscreen on the train.
Last Updated:17/11/2025 17:10
| Re: Exeter to Barnstaple "commute from hell" In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [368276/31055/24] Posted by TonyK at 17:30, 17th November 2025 | |
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 02:00 17/11.
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 02:00 17/11.
Now until next Monday
It looks like Wednesday now. 150234 and 150239 are still at Barnstaple, where they arrive at 1629 on Wednesday 12 November.
| Re: Badgers at Hayle In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [368275/31109/25] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:12, 17th November 2025 Already liked by johnneyw | |
We have been informed that a collapsing badger set has been identified under the railway in the Hayle area.
I have searched Google for a set of images of collapsing badgers, but I can't find any.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [368274/30953/26] Posted by ChrisB at 16:42, 17th November 2025 | |
A decent cold snap & the diesel fuel will wax up....
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [368272/30953/26] Posted by TonyK at 16:25, 17th November 2025 | |
Last Wednesday's 1629 service to Axminster still hasn't left Barnstaple. It looks like bridge inspections won't happen until tomorrow at the earliest.
| Re: Badgers at Hayle In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [368271/31109/25] Posted by plymothian at 16:10, 17th November 2025 | |
There has been an emergency speed limit over this sett for ages, so potentially excess ground water has made it worse.
| Re: Northumberland Line - reopened December 2024, further developments possible In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368270/29569/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 14:05, 17th November 2025 Already liked by IndustryInsider | |
All these things are true.
The biggest physical stumbling block might be access to Grace Darling School, which looks to cross the old formation on the level. Solving this could be pricey.
The starting point should probably be a well-integrated bus from Ashington. This would not be a perfect measure of demand - there can be little doubt that more people would use a through train if there was one - but it would provide some evidence, and a useful link to boot. The same test could be applied to Yatton - Clevedon, Kemble - Cirencester[, Lydeway - Devizes] and dozens of similar temptingly short missing links.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [368268/30953/26] Posted by Rob S at 12:17, 17th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
At the 2215-2300 window, remarkably quiet, as was the train
| Re: pilot scheme to improve wi-fi on W of E trains In "London to the West" [368267/31108/12] Posted by ChrisB at 12:06, 17th November 2025 | |
GWR’s Intercity Express Train, which was developed by Peninsula Transport in partnership with Motion Applied, Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail, and Hitachi, made its debut alongside a Formula 1 car today (17 November 2025) at London Paddington Station.
Pennisular Transport had input into the design of the IET?.....that's a new claim?
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [368266/30953/26] Posted by Mark A at 12:03, 17th November 2025 | |
Useful to know from someone travelling, how this evolved, thanks - how busy was Paddington / your train by the way?
Mark
| Re: pilot scheme to improve wi-fi on W of E trains In "London to the West" [368265/31108/12] Posted by Mark A at 12:00, 17th November 2025 | |
A couple of years ago, wasn't the DfT, looking for a saving, querying why trains need wifi provision at all?
Mark
| Re: pilot scheme to improve wi-fi on W of E trains In "London to the West" [368264/31108/12] Posted by stuving at 11:57, 17th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
And where did the BBC get it from? Probably this, from Railway News:
Peninsula Transport Debuts Superfast Wi-Fi Pilot at Paddington
Author: Joey Stoate Published: 17 Nov 2025
The UK has debuted its very-first train to utilise pilot ‘next generation’ Wi-Fi technology.
GWR’s Intercity Express Train, which was developed by Peninsula Transport in partnership with Motion Applied, Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail, and Hitachi, made its debut alongside a Formula 1 car today (17 November 2025) at London Paddington Station.
Using a new, hybrid system that aggregates signals from both ground-based cellular masts and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites; the pilot hopes to provide superfast, reliable speeds without the need to invest in trackside infrastructure, enabling the rollout of the technology across the UK’s rail network.
The introduction of the train comes following an announcement made by the Department for Transport (DfT) in June that pledged to eliminate mobile signal blackspots in tunnels along a number of rail routes across the country – including the 4-kilometre-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol.
As part of the deal, mobile network operators have also pledged to invest in a slew of new 4G/5G infrastructure at both Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington Station. The DfT has since secured an additional 41 million GBP as part of the 2025 Spending Review to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains, which aims to improve the availability and connection speeds for Wi-Fi by 2030.
Author: Joey Stoate Published: 17 Nov 2025
The UK has debuted its very-first train to utilise pilot ‘next generation’ Wi-Fi technology.
GWR’s Intercity Express Train, which was developed by Peninsula Transport in partnership with Motion Applied, Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail, and Hitachi, made its debut alongside a Formula 1 car today (17 November 2025) at London Paddington Station.
Using a new, hybrid system that aggregates signals from both ground-based cellular masts and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites; the pilot hopes to provide superfast, reliable speeds without the need to invest in trackside infrastructure, enabling the rollout of the technology across the UK’s rail network.
The introduction of the train comes following an announcement made by the Department for Transport (DfT) in June that pledged to eliminate mobile signal blackspots in tunnels along a number of rail routes across the country – including the 4-kilometre-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol.
As part of the deal, mobile network operators have also pledged to invest in a slew of new 4G/5G infrastructure at both Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington Station. The DfT has since secured an additional 41 million GBP as part of the 2025 Spending Review to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains, which aims to improve the availability and connection speeds for Wi-Fi by 2030.
Both say that this £41M was allocated in the Spending Review, which it wasn't. It's part of the New Industrial Strategy of a couple of weeks later. No doubt in the Treasury's towering hierarchy of numbers it's part of something in the Spending Review, but not obviously.
Like most things these days it may well be clever, but its cleverness is so oversold it's hard to tell. Looked at one way it's a step on from Icomera's system of combining all the mobile phone signals a train can get hold of to make a reasonably continuous backhaul for WiFi. This time they add in other radiocomms services to reduce the number of total blackouts along the route.
From another direction these guys worked in F1 for teams with a lot to spend on radiocomms kit that's small, light, sets up quickly to work anywhere in the world, etc. That has given them a product that has advantages in a train.
What no-one's letting on is whose LEO satellites they will use! Maybe they have tried to be independent and hope to sign up to whatever they can at the time (though we all know most of the satellite's are Elon's).
| Re: Badgers at Hayle In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [368263/31109/25] Posted by GBM at 11:41, 17th November 2025 | |
Cancellations to services between Plymouth and Penzance
Following a safety inspection of the track earlier today at Hayle some lines have now reopened. Disruption is expected until 13:00 17/11.
Train services between Plymouth and Penzance are returning to normal but some services have been cancelled, delayed or revised.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [368262/30953/26] Posted by Rob S at 11:30, 17th November 2025 Already liked by Mark A, PrestburyRoad, Witham Bobby | |
My experience on Friday was:
At about 2100 during the second interval of the thing I was in London to see, I checked the Railboard app to see what the trains were like as I was aware the BPW-SWI route had issues on my outward journey....the app said everything for PAD-SWI was cancelled for the rest of the night....after the show I headed to Tottenham Court Road for the Elizabeth Line and rechecked the app and it said the 2202 was running but delayed while everything else still cancelled. I got to Paddington 5 minutes after the 2202 eventually left (2211) but again, everything else still cancelled...then the 2228 changed from cancelled to 'On Time' (I had overheard the would be train manager telling a member of the public it would be running shortly before it appeared on the screens) and although it did go through the 2 mins late, 4 mins late, Delayed thing it did eventually leave at about 2300 on a planned route to Bristol TM via SWI,CPM,WSB,BTH.
| Re: Problems with IET trains from April 2021 In "Across the West" [368261/24934/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:02, 17th November 2025 | |
..........and this'll be cosy too, especially as it's Friday.
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth due 22:10
Facilities on the 18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth due 22:10.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. There are no reservations on this service.
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth due 22:10
Facilities on the 18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth due 22:10.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. There are no reservations on this service.
Correctly formed in the end...as usually seems to happen when there is so much notice given of an alteration to WoE services.
| Re: pilot scheme to improve wi-fi on W of E trains In "London to the West" [368260/31108/12] Posted by ChrisB at 10:42, 17th November 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
This is 'nicked' word for word from the BBC website
It is correct to give the URL of the webpage, infoman
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjwkdez71ro
| Re: Northumberland Line - reopened December 2024, further developments possible In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368259/29569/28] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:41, 17th November 2025 | |
Can't see how this would in fact be feasible. Several factors against:
* The size of Newbiggin.
* Its reasonably close proximity to the new station at Ashington (3 miles by road).
* The cost of getting consent to build new sections of line - even if less than a mile.
* The cost of construction of new line, and associated track/signalling alterations
* The cost of modifying the new station at Ashington from the new single bay platform to two new platforms on the through lines.
* The cost of providing another train that would be needed to operate the service.
Good to see Blyth Bebside has now opened though. Just Bedlington and Northumberland Park to go.
