Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Seven pictures - one for each day of the week In "The Lighter Side" [367310/30946/30] Posted by stuving at 23:25, 23rd October 2025 |      |
As well as lamenting the minor aggravations of life (and quizzes) yesterday, I was trying to give a hint and some encouragement to others to look for "Sunday". But I guess that you don't form a memory of a picture or its related facts unless you look closely at it. And maybe no-one else (except Mark A?) did that for those two pictures of Le Croisic station in July; they were not in an actual quiz either.
That picture was taken from up a rather comical (and rather conical) hump called le Mont-Esprit - a fancy name for some rubble left over from rebuilding the port (and originally derived from dumped ballast). Supposedly the view of it is the town's welcoming iconic image, though I suspect it's too well screened by trees for that now.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [367309/30953/26] Posted by stuving at 23:09, 23rd October 2025 | |
One aspect of forecasting that has changed a lot quite recently is how far ahead the models can predict major changes. If you looked for Benjamin when it was first mentioned, it was hard to see it, as it was just a group of little depressions milling about in the north Atlantic. Over the next couple of days these coalesced and deepened into a storm that set records for windspeed in some parts of France. I'm still impressed by that ability to project developments into the future so well that a detailed warning of a major storm can be issued.
| Re: Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367308/30963/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:49, 23rd October 2025 | |
As this particular discussion was apparently in danger of becoming 'personal', I've split these recent posts off into a new topic.
You are all very welcome to read it - I've merely separated it from grahame's original topic about railway v supermarket pricing, at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=30954.0 .
Chris from Nailsea.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [367307/30953/26] Posted by eightonedee at 22:47, 23rd October 2025 | |
My sympathy lies entirely with the Met Office. I’ve just come back from a few days away with 3 other friends of over 50 years standing, and we had the usual “accuracy of the weather forecast” discussion over our evening meal last night. As one of my friends, a senior nuclear engineer pointed out, weather forecasting involves one of the most difficult scientific disciplines, fluid dynamics. It annoys me that many journalists, who cannot get easily verified facts from recent history correct lazily devote pages and pages of text to ignorant waffle about the accuracy of weather forecasting.
It is inevitable that weather warnings, issued by scientists from at least four countries based on computer models developed over at least three decades, will not always be fully borne out by subsequent events. It is much better that they are issued than not, so that the many elements of our society that are directly affected by the weather (including transport operators, farmers, those responsible for structures that need to be prepared for adverse weather or responsible for the safe operation of works) can take the requisite precautions and make contingency plans, and keep those for whom they are responsible safe.
| Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367306/30963/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:19, 23rd October 2025 | |
Thanks, Timmer.
So would I.
| Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367305/30963/51] Posted by Timmer at 21:58, 23rd October 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
In the case of this young man and Chris struggling to get his pension, I’d have expected better from Waitrose in both situations.
| Trains delayed after suspected wartime bomb found at Bridgend - 23 October 2025 In "London to South Wales" [367304/30962/11] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:04, 23rd October 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Railway lines between Cardiff and Swansea have reopened after a suspected wartime bomb was found.
Police were called after the device was discovered in Cheapside, Bridgend, at about 13:10 BST.
Officers were called to the same location in July after two "unexploded ordnance devices" were found at a building site.
GWR said there may be some minor delays but things were "getting back to normal".
Tremains Road and Cheapside were closed and Aldi, Asda, Brackla House and the building site evacuated.
Great Western Railway [GWR] originally said all stations between Cardiff Central and Bridgend may be cancelled or delayed because of the "wartime bomb".
A spokesman said lines reopened at about 16:15, but disruption was expected until 17:30.
South Wales Police said: "We are advising the public to avoid Brackla Street from Castle Bingo down to Wilko as well as Plumb Centre, Papa Johns and the Honda dealership."
Police were called after the device was discovered in Cheapside, Bridgend, at about 13:10 BST.
Officers were called to the same location in July after two "unexploded ordnance devices" were found at a building site.
GWR said there may be some minor delays but things were "getting back to normal".
Tremains Road and Cheapside were closed and Aldi, Asda, Brackla House and the building site evacuated.
Great Western Railway [GWR] originally said all stations between Cardiff Central and Bridgend may be cancelled or delayed because of the "wartime bomb".
A spokesman said lines reopened at about 16:15, but disruption was expected until 17:30.
South Wales Police said: "We are advising the public to avoid Brackla Street from Castle Bingo down to Wilko as well as Plumb Centre, Papa Johns and the Honda dealership."
| Re: Reports of sexual offences on trains up by a third since 2015 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367303/30916/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:39, 23rd October 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
From the BBC
Assaults on rail network more than triple in 10 years
The number of reported passenger assaults on the rail network has more than tripled in the past 10 years, according to official figures.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 found there were 10,231 reported assaults, up 7% on the year before, the Office of Rail and Road's annual report into health and safety found.
Ten years ago, there were 3,211 reported assaults, including harassment and common assaults.
"The safety of passengers and colleagues is our top priority," said Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group, and British Transport Police in a joint statement.
The increase coincides with a drive by British Transport Police to encourage the public to report a wide range of potential concerns on the rail network.
In 2022, it launched its 'Speak Up, Interrupt' campaign to encourage anyone who witnesses inappropriate sexual behaviour "to report incidents or safely intervene where they can".
Across the mainline rail network, harassment and common assault made up more than three quarters of the total assaults, and both of these categories saw an increase.
This trend was mirrored on the London Underground, where reported assaults reached their highest level since the data series began in 2004, up to just over 4,600.
Of those reported incidents, harassment and common assault counted for more than 80% of the total.
Reports dipped in 2019/20 because of the pandemic.
In the financial year from April 2024 in the report to March 2025, passengers took 1.7 billion journeys on the mainline railway.
In that period, 14 members of the public died on the mainline network and the London Underground (not counting suicides and trespass-related incidents).
There were also two deaths of workers on the rail network - one after being assaulted at a station, and the other resulting from a fall.
The number of suicides across the rail network were also at their highest level since 2002.
Across the mainline network, there were 368 suicides or suspected suicide attempts, resulting in 293 fatalities.
In its joint statement, Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group and British Transport Police said they are "committed to reducing suicide risk through staff training programmes that have already enabled thousands of life-saving interventions".
They added they were also investing in technology like drones and remote monitoring tools.
Thursday's report found injuries to members of the public and workers have also been creeping back towards pre-pandemic highs.
Recording just over 11,472 injuries, this marked the fourth yearly increase in a row, but was still below level reported in 2019-20.
Of these injuries, the vast majority - almost 80% - were non-severe.
The ORR divides up the information it reports between the mainline rail network, non-mainline (which includes services through the Channel Tunnel, as well as trams and light rail), and the London Underground.
The number of reported passenger assaults on the rail network has more than tripled in the past 10 years, according to official figures.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 found there were 10,231 reported assaults, up 7% on the year before, the Office of Rail and Road's annual report into health and safety found.
Ten years ago, there were 3,211 reported assaults, including harassment and common assaults.
"The safety of passengers and colleagues is our top priority," said Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group, and British Transport Police in a joint statement.
The increase coincides with a drive by British Transport Police to encourage the public to report a wide range of potential concerns on the rail network.
In 2022, it launched its 'Speak Up, Interrupt' campaign to encourage anyone who witnesses inappropriate sexual behaviour "to report incidents or safely intervene where they can".
Across the mainline rail network, harassment and common assault made up more than three quarters of the total assaults, and both of these categories saw an increase.
This trend was mirrored on the London Underground, where reported assaults reached their highest level since the data series began in 2004, up to just over 4,600.
Of those reported incidents, harassment and common assault counted for more than 80% of the total.
Reports dipped in 2019/20 because of the pandemic.
In the financial year from April 2024 in the report to March 2025, passengers took 1.7 billion journeys on the mainline railway.
In that period, 14 members of the public died on the mainline network and the London Underground (not counting suicides and trespass-related incidents).
There were also two deaths of workers on the rail network - one after being assaulted at a station, and the other resulting from a fall.
The number of suicides across the rail network were also at their highest level since 2002.
Across the mainline network, there were 368 suicides or suspected suicide attempts, resulting in 293 fatalities.
In its joint statement, Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group and British Transport Police said they are "committed to reducing suicide risk through staff training programmes that have already enabled thousands of life-saving interventions".
They added they were also investing in technology like drones and remote monitoring tools.
Thursday's report found injuries to members of the public and workers have also been creeping back towards pre-pandemic highs.
Recording just over 11,472 injuries, this marked the fourth yearly increase in a row, but was still below level reported in 2019-20.
Of these injuries, the vast majority - almost 80% - were non-severe.
The ORR divides up the information it reports between the mainline rail network, non-mainline (which includes services through the Channel Tunnel, as well as trams and light rail), and the London Underground.
| Re: Home to Taunton - options and fares from local stations In "Fare's Fair" [367302/30958/4] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:31, 23rd October 2025 | |
Thanks for the warning.
Will Finn be joining us?
| Re: Ryanair - routes, schedules and incidents (merged posts) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367301/29076/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:29, 23rd October 2025 | |
That's what travel insurance is exactly for?
| Re: Ryanair - routes, schedules and incidents (merged posts) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367300/29076/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:26, 23rd October 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Grieving family's 'turmoil' over Ryanair policy
Sophie Taylor and her father, Peter Watkins, said they would not use the airline again
A family said they were shown a lack of empathy by Ryanair following a bereavement.
Sophie Taylor, from Chudleigh, Devon, purchased two tickets with the airline in October 2024 as part of a package holiday to Lanzarote for her mum Sharon Watkins' 60th birthday celebration.
Sadly, her mother died in August, two months before the holiday was due to take place. When Ms Taylor requested to change the name on her mother's ticket to her father's name, she was told she would have to pay a €115 (£100) name change fee.
Ryanair said it offered Ms Taylor the option to change the name on payment of the fee.
Ms Taylor bought the holiday through Love Holidays, and was due to fly from Bristol on 2 October with Jet2holidays and return a week later with Ryanair.
She said both Love Holidays and Jet2holidays were "absolutely amazing and waived the admin fees" for the name change, but Ryanair did not.
Love Holidays said in the event of a medical issue or bereavement, its policy is to waive its usual amendment fees. Jet2Holidays have been approached for comment.
She added she submitted an online complaint to Ryanair, which included photographs of the death certificate, but the airline responded with a "generic message" which said it was policy and the payment would be needed.
Ms Taylor said: "On top of losing the most important woman in my life, I didn't need to be told by a generic message that they wanted more money. My whole world came crashing down when I lost my mum, but to have that on top of everything else was just awful."
Her father Peter Watkins said his wife had suffered with neuroendocrine cancer for about 12 years before her death in August. "Lanzarote Puerto Del Carmen was a special place, somewhere we visited some 15 or 16 times, so the return for myself and Sophie was somewhat very mixed emotions", he said.
Mr Watkins travelled with his daughter to Lanzarote but decided not to cancel his wife's return seat to prevent it from being resold, instead booking a separate seat on the same flight for £52. He said: "You don't need that emotional turmoil, as you are already in emotional turmoil".
Ryanair said the package was sold by Love Holidays as a non-refundable promotional fare and recommended customers take out travel insurance. The airline added that as the original passenger had died, the family could apply for a full refund.
Sophie Taylor and her father, Peter Watkins, said they would not use the airline again
A family said they were shown a lack of empathy by Ryanair following a bereavement.
Sophie Taylor, from Chudleigh, Devon, purchased two tickets with the airline in October 2024 as part of a package holiday to Lanzarote for her mum Sharon Watkins' 60th birthday celebration.
Sadly, her mother died in August, two months before the holiday was due to take place. When Ms Taylor requested to change the name on her mother's ticket to her father's name, she was told she would have to pay a €115 (£100) name change fee.
Ryanair said it offered Ms Taylor the option to change the name on payment of the fee.
Ms Taylor bought the holiday through Love Holidays, and was due to fly from Bristol on 2 October with Jet2holidays and return a week later with Ryanair.
She said both Love Holidays and Jet2holidays were "absolutely amazing and waived the admin fees" for the name change, but Ryanair did not.
Love Holidays said in the event of a medical issue or bereavement, its policy is to waive its usual amendment fees. Jet2Holidays have been approached for comment.
She added she submitted an online complaint to Ryanair, which included photographs of the death certificate, but the airline responded with a "generic message" which said it was policy and the payment would be needed.
Ms Taylor said: "On top of losing the most important woman in my life, I didn't need to be told by a generic message that they wanted more money. My whole world came crashing down when I lost my mum, but to have that on top of everything else was just awful."
Her father Peter Watkins said his wife had suffered with neuroendocrine cancer for about 12 years before her death in August. "Lanzarote Puerto Del Carmen was a special place, somewhere we visited some 15 or 16 times, so the return for myself and Sophie was somewhat very mixed emotions", he said.
Mr Watkins travelled with his daughter to Lanzarote but decided not to cancel his wife's return seat to prevent it from being resold, instead booking a separate seat on the same flight for £52. He said: "You don't need that emotional turmoil, as you are already in emotional turmoil".
Ryanair said the package was sold by Love Holidays as a non-refundable promotional fare and recommended customers take out travel insurance. The airline added that as the original passenger had died, the family could apply for a full refund.
| Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367299/30963/51] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:08, 23rd October 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Bit of a PR own goal from Waitrose me thinks. I rather suspect an officious middle manager is going to be having an awkward conversation with someone somewhat more senior who has their finger on the corporate image outlook.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [367298/30959/9] Posted by ray951 at 20:04, 23rd October 2025 | |
Lets hope that's the line is opened quicker than EWR, first announced in 2011 still not open to passengers in 2025.
On the whole I think this is good news but they would struggle to run this service without completing Oxford Station. So I assume that means they are still planning to finish the station even though it has gone over budget.
| Re: TravelWatch SouthWest, 24th October 2025, Taunton - INVITE In "Diary - what's happening when?" [367297/30939/34] Posted by ChrisB at 19:38, 23rd October 2025 | |
Won't be making this unfortunately - recovering from a rather nasty bout of gastric flu....
| Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367296/30963/51] Posted by JayMac at 19:28, 23rd October 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Asda, according to the Beeb.
BBC News - Waitrose-rejected autistic volunteer receives job offer from Asda - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98n53dpzx6o
| Re: Home to Taunton - options and fares from local stations In "Fare's Fair" [367295/30958/4] Posted by JayMac at 19:20, 23rd October 2025 | |
My own itinerary is rather simpler: 09:06 from Nailsea & Backwell to Taunton, arriving at 09:55, for £12.05 return with my senior railcard. 
I may see you on that train. If I can get my butt in gear I'm planning on heading up to Yatton and having breakfast at the Strawberry Line Cafe before returning to Taunton on the same service as you Chris.
| Waitrose related posts - split off from another topic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367293/30963/51] Posted by ChrisB at 19:06, 23rd October 2025 | |
He's been offered a paid place at Aldi now
| Re: Home to Taunton - options and fares from local stations In "Fare's Fair" [367292/30958/4] Posted by ChrisB at 19:06, 23rd October 2025 | |
it's change at Bristol for Taunton and I see that GWR are flagging up that the Cross Country train it connects into is potentially disrupted by Industial Action.
Yup - that's the only service at would get me there before 11. I suspect I won't be making it
| Re: Track fault at Didcot Parkway disrupts trains - 23 October 2025 In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [367291/30961/9] Posted by grahame at 18:59, 23rd October 2025 | |
And the station in the picture is? Not Didcot. I think this has been identified before on the forum.
It probably has ... IET on its way from Cardiff to Exeter perchance?
| Re: Home to Taunton - options and fares from local stations In "Fare's Fair" [367290/30958/4] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:54, 23rd October 2025 | |
My own itinerary is rather simpler: 09:06 from Nailsea & Backwell to Taunton, arriving at 09:55, for £12.05 return with my senior railcard.
| Re: Home to Taunton - options and fares from local stations In "Fare's Fair" [367289/30958/4] Posted by JayMac at 18:53, 23rd October 2025 | |
Just remember the Off Peak Day Return from Bristol - Taunton isn't valid until 0844.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [367288/30959/9] Posted by ChrisB at 18:53, 23rd October 2025 | |
One is reliant on the other, so yes.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [367287/30959/9] Posted by CyclingSid at 18:52, 23rd October 2025 | |
But will they have finished the work at Oxford station in time?
| Re: Track fault at Didcot Parkway disrupts trains - 23 October 2025 In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [367286/30961/9] Posted by CyclingSid at 18:50, 23rd October 2025 | |
And the station in the picture is? Not Didcot. I think this has been identified before on the forum.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025 In "Across the West" [367285/30953/26] Posted by Timmer at 17:54, 23rd October 2025 | |
When did the weather suddenly become end of days events?
Who would have thought we get wind and rain in October - watching GMB you would think the world was coming to an end
This is the problem with the Met Office issuing yellow warnings for every bit of wind and rain. It’s absolute click bait fodder for the media to produce apocalyptic type weather stories, even the BBC are doing it now.Who would have thought we get wind and rain in October - watching GMB you would think the world was coming to an end
Problem with this is, the public may soon tire of these warnings and click bait stories then don’t take them seriously when there really is severe weather.
| Re: Stonehenge tunnel - speeding up travel from London to the South West In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367283/22806/5] Posted by PhilWakely at 17:21, 23rd October 2025 | |
(Certainly the service between Waterloo and Bristol hasn't improved...)
And, as for the Salisbury to Exeter service, the implementation of an hourly service was definitely an improvement, but that has since been wiped out by the latest so-called 'emergency' timetable!
| Re: West Somerset Railway - Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (merged posts) In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367282/2688/47] Posted by grahame at 15:38, 23rd October 2025 | |
How very different things could have been, if there'd been another ten grand or so floating around back in the 1970s. 
The WSR was rescued so it could be returned to its proper purpose. We're not very far away from the 50th anniversary of the line being acquired by Somerset County Council and leased to the West Somerset Railway Company Ltd (as it then was), back in November 1975, and restoration work starting in earnest.
The WSR was rescued so it could be returned to its proper purpose. We're not very far away from the 50th anniversary of the line being acquired by Somerset County Council and leased to the West Somerset Railway Company Ltd (as it then was), back in November 1975, and restoration work starting in earnest.
Our on this day records 5th February 1971 as the date of the foundation meeting of a heritage group. WikiPedia tells me the purchase by Somerset Council was in 1973 - so already 50 years ago - first heritage train 28th March 1976.
50 years and still waiting for a return to proper purpose in addition to the excellent heritage activities.
| Re: West Somerset Railway - Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (merged posts) In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367281/2688/47] Posted by Witham Bobby at 15:12, 23rd October 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Heritage railway helps dogs make vets appointment
An oil spill which closed a busy route has forced two dogs and their owner to find an alternative route to their vets appointment.
The A39 in Washford, Somerset, was closed on Tuesday after a van and lorry collided and emergency services worked to contain a fuel leak.
Instead of battling the busy, narrow, twisting back roads on the outskirts of Exmoor to visit the vets in Minehead, Christopher Wade decided to hop on the heritage steam railway to complete their journey from Watchet.
Mr Wade said golden retrievers Henry and Daisy "loved" their trip on the West Somerset Railway, and he felt "smug" to be able to avoid the road closures and make their appointment.
The West Somerset Railway is the longest operating heritage train line in the country, and runs between Minehead and Bishop's Lydeard.
Mr Wade said he has an annual pass for the line, due to his sister-in-law's passion for railways.
"It was late - because of the road closure, and the station was heaving."
He said the area is lucky to have the service - despite it only being a tourist attraction.
"We don't have motorways and when the roads get moored up, there's no easy way around just to get to Minehead you've got to go up and over Dunster - no thanks."
Mr Wade said while the dogs were only collecting their medicines, they also got a walk around the station at Minehead - and travelled home in style.
An oil spill which closed a busy route has forced two dogs and their owner to find an alternative route to their vets appointment.
The A39 in Washford, Somerset, was closed on Tuesday after a van and lorry collided and emergency services worked to contain a fuel leak.
Instead of battling the busy, narrow, twisting back roads on the outskirts of Exmoor to visit the vets in Minehead, Christopher Wade decided to hop on the heritage steam railway to complete their journey from Watchet.
Mr Wade said golden retrievers Henry and Daisy "loved" their trip on the West Somerset Railway, and he felt "smug" to be able to avoid the road closures and make their appointment.
The West Somerset Railway is the longest operating heritage train line in the country, and runs between Minehead and Bishop's Lydeard.
Mr Wade said he has an annual pass for the line, due to his sister-in-law's passion for railways.
"It was late - because of the road closure, and the station was heaving."
He said the area is lucky to have the service - despite it only being a tourist attraction.
"We don't have motorways and when the roads get moored up, there's no easy way around just to get to Minehead you've got to go up and over Dunster - no thanks."
Mr Wade said while the dogs were only collecting their medicines, they also got a walk around the station at Minehead - and travelled home in style.
How very different things could have been, if there'd been another ten grand or so floating around back in the 1970s.
The WSR was rescued so it could be returned to its proper purpose. We're not very far away from the 50th anniversary of the line being acquired by Somerset County Council and leased to the West Somerset Railway Company Ltd (as it then was), back in November 1975, and restoration work starting in earnest
