T15 HERITAGE WEEKEND (Sat 28th Feb / Sun 01 March)

SATURDAY

Buses operating upto every 15 minutes between Trafalgar Square & Tower Hill from 10:00 to 20:00hrs with standard fares & day tickets being charged - to include guest buses RTL453, RMC1513, RM1933 & evening guest appearance of MagicBus London RM2681.

SUNDAY

Charity day with buses operating upto every 10 minutes between Westminster Stn / Parliament Square & Tower Hill with over 15 buses already scheduled. First buses 09:25 from Parliament Sq & 10:00 from Tower Hill, with last buses around 17:00.

Donations being collected by the Worshipful Company of Carmen.

Double decker hits London theatre in two-bus crash


The first bus hit the front of Southwark Playhouse Borough

Six people have been hospitalised after two buses collided and one hit a theatre in south London, the Met Police has confirmed.

Emergency services were called to Newington Causeway at 08:06 GMT on Wednesday after the crash, during which a bus that was not in service smashed into the window frontage of Southwark Playhouse Borough.

The London Ambulance Service confirmed that it had treated a number of people at the scene, six of whom were taken to hospital.

By 11:30, one of the double decker buses had been moved from the scene of the crash. No arrests have been made.


A second bus was seen smashed into the back of the first

Police said none of the injuries were deemed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

Lorna Murphy, Transport for London's (TfL) director of buses, said her thoughts were with those injured in the crash. "We care deeply about the safety of everyone who uses or works on our transport network," she said.

"Safety is our top priority and we are working with the police and the operator, Go Ahead London, to establish what happened. This must have been a distressing incident for everyone involved and we have support available for anyone affected."

The crash involved a route 35 bus that collided into a route 333 that was not in service, TfL confirmed.

The road is partially open to traffic and police are directing vehicles in alternating traffic flows.

The London Fire Brigade was also in attendance.

Major work to restore historic pier set to begin


Birnbeck Pier has been left in disrepair since it closed to the public in 1994

Long-awaited restoration work on a historic pier is to begin later.

A 100-tonne crane is being transported to Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare in the first major step of a £20m programme of repairs.

The Grade II structure has been closed for more than 30 years due to safety concerns, and has since been battered by storms, partially collapsed into the sea and has become too unsafe for the former resident RNLI lifeboat crews to use.

A spokesperson for Mackley - the contractor bringing the crane to the pier - said they would work closely with North Somerset Council to secure the "iconic landmark".

Birnbeck, known locally as 'The Old Pier', is the only pier in the UK to link to an island - a small, rocky piece of land known as Birnbeck Island.

Work has already started on the land-side of the pier to renovate the buildings, while 1888 boat house, the clock tower pavilion and landside cliff face - all of which are on the island - were also stabilised in 2024.

The restoration plans date back to 2006, but have been repeatedly shelved over the years due to changes in ownership and financial concerns.

North Somerset Council - which bought the pier in 2023 - almost scrapped the restoration project in September 2025 after the RNLI backed out of the plans. However, the National Lottery Heritage Fund stepped in shortly after to fill the £5.5m gap.

Andy Bosman, project manager at Mackley described the pier as a "nationally significant historic structure," adding that contractors would be taking a "phased and considered approach" to the restoration.

North Somerset councillor Mark Canniford, who is responsible for the project, said the upcoming work was "exciting". He also thanked the public for their patience and added that the pier works were expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Buses replacing trains during Plymouth bridge work


Network Rail said work was needed to strengthen the 50m-long bridge to make sure it remained safe

Rail passengers have been warned of disruption to services while work is carried out to repair part of a railway line in Plymouth.

Network Rail said work had been under way at the River Plym section since last September, with it scheduled to continue until August, and the main work on 180m (590ft) of track now taking place between 21 Feb and 8 March.

It said buses would replace trains between Totnes and Plymouth on 21 and 22 February, and Monday 2 March until Sunday 8 March. From 23 February to 1 March, buses would replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth, it added.

Network Rail said work was needed to strengthen the 50m-long (164ft-long) bridge to make sure it remained safe, with track being be replaced over it and either side of the bridge, plus the bridge also being repainted. It said trains were now faster, heavier and more frequent, and, if no work was done, it increased the risk of a fault developing in the near future.

It said 134 steel rail bearers would be installed between existing bridge crossbeams, and new rail bearers made of FFU, a synthetic wood which lasts longer than traditional timber, would also be laid along the length of the bridge.

Network Rail added it would need access to the bridge from the river to complete the project and would be installing a temporary dam. Only half the river would be dammed at a time to ensure river flow was not interrupted and fish were not disturbed, project leaders said. Consent had been given by the Marine Management Organisation and Environment Agency for the work, they added.


A temporary dam would be in place to give Network Rail access to the bridge from the river

Network Rail said it would be working on other parts of the railway while trains were not running. It said it would resurface the Plymouth-bound platform at Totnes station, complete track and drainage maintenance, carry out vegetation management, replace rail near Newton Abbot, replace a track crossing near Ivybridge and complete surveys as part of preliminary work to upgrade the signalling system in the area.

With what stock, I wonder?

Bus driver dies in crash involving school children

The driver of a bus involved in a crash in Belleeks in County Armagh on Tuesday has died, police have said.

The bus was carrying 40 pupils from St Paul's High School in Bessbrook but none of them were seriously injured, the principal confirmed.

It happened in the Tullyah Road in the area, which is in between Newtownhamilton and Camlough, just after 15:30 GMT.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Quinn Coaches said it was "deeply saddened" that its "dear colleague sadly passed away" in the crash. "Our first thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed," Quinn coaches said.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed that two appliances from Newry fire station and one appliance from central fire station attended.

Firefighters rescued the driver from the vehicle but said he died at the scene.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was being treated at this stage as a "sudden death".

(BBC article continues)

* Melksham has some good public transport, but it's not always easy to find out what's where.

* The railway station and many bus stops are unmanned, and not exactly friendly places

* Melksham has a wonderful community of people who love to help, to socialise, and to welcome people to the town.

Let's put all three together ... "Information at the Station" is the Melksham Transport User Group's (MTUG) project to open the building just across from the station for information, a loo, friendly voices of volunteers, warmth, a bit of help and perhaps a cup of coffee.

[continues]

New train stations part of £14bn UK government rail funding promise



Plans to "transform" Wales's railways will be boosted by £14bn of UK government investment, the prime minister has said.

Sir Keir Starmer, who is visiting south Wales on Wednesday, said the commitment to rail infrastructure improvements was "investment for the long term" and put "Wales on the front foot".

Transport for Wales's (TFW) improvements plan is in addition to building stations at Magor and Undy, Llanwern, Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Cardiff Parkway and Deeside industrial park, which have already been proposed.

A Welsh government source told the BBC it was "the biggest day in devolution", but opponents accused the Labour UK government of "reheating" old announcements.

The UK government has not said when the money will be made available or over what period. It had already announced £445m for rail projects in Wales at last June's spending review, and has now explained that money will go towards building each of the seven stations.


These are where the new stations in south Wales will be located and where work will begin later this year

Initial work on five of the south east stations will begin later this year, with construction on two of them beginning in 2029. While no timescales have been announced, it is expected that Magor and Undy will be the first station to be completed.

The UK government claims Cardiff Parkway in east Cardiff - whose private developers had plans for the station approved in January 2025 after years of delays - could serve 800,000 passengers every year and support around 6,000 jobs. Cardiff Central Station is also being upgraded with work due to begin this spring.


A station will also be built at Deeside

Announcing the funding commitment, Sir Keir said: "For too long, Wales has been let down by a UK government unwilling to do the hard yards and build the future they deserve. This government is turning the page on historic dither and delay with seven new stations, thousands of jobs, and a generational commitment to build a rail network fit for Wales' future."

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "We are now in an unprecedented position to deliver the next chapter of transformation for rail services in Wales."

The plans are included in TFW's latest vision document, which sets out dozens of projects to boost the rail network in Wales. It includes "Cardiff crossrail" extensions to Newport Road, direct services between Cardiff and Liverpool, a station at St Clears, services between west Wales and Bristol, and more trains to Pembroke Dock.

(BBC article continues)

TfL advert banned for harmful racial stereotype


TfL confirmed the shortened advert would no longer be used

A Transport for London (TfL) advert has been banned for reinforcing negative stereotypes about black males, the UK's advertising regulator has ruled.

TfL's Act Like a Friend campaign encouraged passengers to safely intervene if they witnessed sexual harassment or a hate crime on the transport network. Its Facebook advert showed a black teenage boy who verbally harassed a white girl on a bus, while another white teenage boy sat close beside her and boxed her in.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the clip "featured a harmful stereotype, was irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence". TfL confirmed that the Facebook advert would no longer be used in its campaign.

The ASA was alerted to the advert after a viewer complained that it was irresponsible, harmful and offensive for perpetuating negative racial stereotypes about black teenage boys.

TfL told the ASA that both teenagers in the clip intimidated the victim and behaved offensively.

The ASA said the advert depicted a black boy verbally harassing a white girl, and although another white boy appeared in the clip, "the ad did not show him as jointly intimidating the victim" and "the only aggressor in the ad was the black teenage boy".

The advert was one of three short social media videos taken from a two minute film. The other versions showed a white male committing a hate crime against a black woman, and a white male committing a hate crime against another white male.

TfL claimed that an average Facebook user would have typically been shown a mixture of the three adverts approximately three times, and estimated that the chance someone was only shown the cut down at the centre of the complaint was about 2%. However the ASA maintained that viewers may have only seen the advert in isolation.

The ASA said it "understood there was a negative racial stereotype" associated with black males and threatening behaviour and "assessed whether the ad reinforced that stereotype." It concluded that, when viewed alone, the advert "had the effect of perpetuating a negative racial stereotype" and was therefore "irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence". The ASA ruled the advert could not appear again in the form complained about and told TfL to avoid repeating harmful stereotypes in future campaigns.

A TfL spokesperson said: "Our aim is to ensure that our advertising reflects London's diverse population and does not perpetuate any stereotypes, just as we ensure that our services are as fair, accessible and inclusive as possible. We're sorry that this social media advert – a shortened version of the full two-minute advert that includes a diverse range of ethnicities – falls below our usual high standards when viewed in isolation."

The social media adverts ran a week after the full film was shown in cinemas and on ITVX. Posters were also displayed across the transport network.

Been there and done that - most frustrating.

Interesting coz one of the reasons for turning down additional services on that stretch between Swindon & Didcot West was lack of pathing. They've already to find room for the West Wales - Paddington open access

Believe it or not... after 25 years, it's finished! Now including Scotland.

https://www.systemed.net/atlas/

Our writer visits five long-unused stops near Birmingham which are now gearing up for a grand reprieve

On a visit to Birmingham and the Black Country last weekend, there was one word I heard more than any other: excitement.

It may have been grey, drizzly and cold, but there was a warmth and buzz about the place that I hadn’t expected.

And the cause? The imminent reopening of not one, not two – but five train stations, three in the south of the city and two in the Black Country along the stretch of track heading north east to Wolverhampton.
:

...  That has happened to me in the past - despite standing back and pointing towards bus number two - indicating that I want that one!

The real trick comes when two buses on different routes approach a stop and the second one is intent on overtaking the first...

an update from our public broadcaster

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80jyx2xljno

Its good news for those in the South Wales and surrounding areas,

but I keep hearing the younger generation is moving out of Wales

faster than any where else in the U.K.

 

The plans are included in TFW's latest vision document, external, which sets out dozens of projects to boost the rail network in Wales.

It includes "Cardiff crossrail" extensions to Newport Road, direct services between Cardiff and Liverpool, a station at St Clears, services between west Wales and Bristol, and more trains to Pembroke Dock.

Over the years, I have been coached (so to speak ) in the correct way to hail a bus ...

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Snow and rain warnings as cold snap continues

Forecasters have issued warnings for snow and heavy rain in parts of the UK.

A widespread, sharp frost is expected by Wednesday dawn, with a yellow Met Office snow warning issued for most of Wales and parts of western and central England. A yellow warning for rain covers southern parts of England, stretching from Kent to Cornwall.

The Met Office says there could be some flooding and disruption to travel.

It comes as north-westerly winds have led to a sharp drop in temperatures across the country in recent days, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a cold weather alert covering most of England until 18:00 GMT on Friday.

Tories call for rethink of Parliament revamp

The Conservatives are calling for a proposed renovation of the Houses of Parliament to be paused and "refocused" over concerns about costs potentially running into the tens of billions.

MPs have been presented with proposals to refurbish the ailing Palace of Westminster, including a plan that could cost almost £40bn and take 61 years to complete.

The project team has warned delaying the restoration of the historic building, which costs £1.5m a week to maintain, would lead to "an expensive managed decline of the Palace". But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Parliament's restoration was "out of control" and had "turned into a basket case white elephant project".

Badenoch said her party would oppose the current proposals if they are voted on by MPs and peers. Badenoch's party said the scale, scope and governance of the plans raised "serious concerns about value for money". The Conservatives said cost estimates had "risen dramatically over time, with completion potentially stretching across multiple decades".

Warning of a "mission creep", the Conservatives said what began as "a safety-led programme risks expanding into a wholesale transformation of the parliamentary estate, including extensive additional works beyond core structural remediation". The party has launched a public petition calling for a "fundamental rethink" of the current plans. The Conservatives said the project should be refocused on "essential safety and structural works" and called for "stronger external oversight and transparent reporting to Parliament".

"Parliament's restoration project is out of control, and the public should be as angry about it as I am," Badenoch said. "This was meant to be essential works to keep a cherished, historic building safe and functioning. It has turned into a basket case white elephant project." She said taxpayers were "being asked to bankroll billions more to turn the Palace of Westminster into a Net-Zero Dubai hotel", referring to plans to improve the building's energy efficiency.

A UK Parliament spokesperson said the costed proposals have been put forward "to secure the future of the historic Palace of Westminster". The spokesperson added: "The plans focus on priorities such as the replacement and upgrade of systems including power, water, and the 1950s heating, critical improvements to fire safety, the controlled management of asbestos, and repairing damaged stonework.  The restoration proposals are expected to be scrutinised, considered and debated by all members of both houses to decide a way forward."


Sewage pumping equipment in the bowels of Parliament dates back to Victorian times

Two options for renovating Parliament were recommended earlier this month by a committee of MPs, peers and external members known as the R&R Client Board. MPs and peers will make the final decision on what to do, in votes that are yet to be scheduled.

The more expensive option involves moving only the House of Lords out of the building while works that could take 61 years and cost £39bn are carried out. The other proposed option was moving MPs and peers out of the Palace of Westminster for up to 24 years from 2032, under a refurbishment plan that could cost as much as £15.6bn.

The board says a "final decision" on what to do will need to be made by mid-2030. In the meantime, it has proposed initial works capped at £3bn over a seven-year period. The costed options were signed off by the board in December. Minutes of their meetings show Conservative MP Jesse Norman, a member of the board and shadow leader of the House of Commons, objected to the proposals.

Plans to renovate Parliament have been in train for well over a decade. The parliamentary estate - which includes the House of Commons and the Lords - is crumbling and there are concerns about the risk of a catastrophic incident, such as a fire. A parliamentary committee report from a decade ago warned that the Palace of Westminster "faces an impending crisis which we cannot responsibly ignore". No action was taken for years but with falling masonry, lingering asbestos, regular fires and exploding toilets, everyone agrees the work needs to be done. However, there is no consensus on the way forward.

The Labour government - which has a large majority in the House of Commons - has not yet indicated its position on the latest proposals. A government spokesperson said the work "must be done in a way that maximises value for money for the taxpayer". The spokesperson said the government would consider the report's findings and schedule a debate in both houses of Parliament in "due course".

Liberal Democrats said their MPs would be free to vote how they want on the proposals. Lib Dem MP Marie Goldman said: "Lib Dems of course don't want to see a UNESCO World Heritage site like Parliament crumble into the Thames - and will always support value for taxpayers' hard-earned money."

But the Green Party of England and Wales said it favoured the option to move both MPs and peers out of the building while work is done - known as a "full decant". Green MP Ellie Chowns said: "It is clear the Palace of Westminster is not fit for purpose in its current condition, and action must be taken sooner rather than later. The Green Party's view on restoration works is clear: the priority must be to get the repairs done as quickly, safely, and cost-effectively as possible, with proper regard for the public purse and fair consideration of the working conditions of everyone who keeps Parliament running."

Reform UK has not stated its position on the R&R programme.