Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: 25th October 2025 - Railbus returns to Cirencester In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367434/30957/47] Posted by Mark A at 10:37, 27th October 2025 |      |
Short Bluesky thread from Ed Fielden - includes more photos of the event including building interiors and one that's very engaging 'cos it includes a smol railbus in the foreground.
Mark
https://bsky.app/profile/coriniumtv.bsky.social/post/3m44qne5ckc27
| Re: Clifton Suspension Bridge - toll road bridge in Bristol In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367433/1888/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:27, 27th October 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Clifton bridge to close for essential maintenance
A landmark suspension bridge is to temporarily shut for upgrades.
Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol will close to vehicles from 09:00 until 15:00 GMT on 29 October.
The upgrades include the installation of new monitoring system, which protects the structure from being overloaded, maintenance of the toll barriers and painting works.
Trish Johnson, bridge master at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust (CSBT), said the work was "vital" in keeping "the bridge well maintained and operating for many years to come".
The bridge will remain open for pedestrians, with cyclists asked to dismount and walk.
A diversion route has been planned, using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way and A369 Rownham Hill.
CSBT said traffic following the signed route will be exempt from clean air zone charges.
Ms Johnson said the work was being "funded entirely by bridge tolls" and thanked users for "supporting the preservation of this famous landmark".
The trust apologised for any inconvenience caused by the closure.
A landmark suspension bridge is to temporarily shut for upgrades.
Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol will close to vehicles from 09:00 until 15:00 GMT on 29 October.
The upgrades include the installation of new monitoring system, which protects the structure from being overloaded, maintenance of the toll barriers and painting works.
Trish Johnson, bridge master at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust (CSBT), said the work was "vital" in keeping "the bridge well maintained and operating for many years to come".
The bridge will remain open for pedestrians, with cyclists asked to dismount and walk.
A diversion route has been planned, using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way and A369 Rownham Hill.
CSBT said traffic following the signed route will be exempt from clean air zone charges.
Ms Johnson said the work was being "funded entirely by bridge tolls" and thanked users for "supporting the preservation of this famous landmark".
The trust apologised for any inconvenience caused by the closure.
| Re: 25th October 2025 - Railbus returns to Cirencester In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367432/30957/47] Posted by Mark A at 10:24, 27th October 2025 | |
Alas, we shouldn't blame the romans, the biggie in Cirencester is the ring road, it's something that elsewhere has near strangled the structure of the host town.
Thinking of future-proofing and given that Cirencester's gaining a large housing development on the Kemble side of town, developers are very used to reorganising elements of a large build at a late stage in the planning.
So... call it a tram and drop this in: https://cirentrain.org.uk/. Tweak its route so that it leaves the historic alignment a mile closer to the terminus in order to take it through the middle of that development. This results in a 5 mile line with Kemble Station at one end, Cirencester at the other, and a school, University and housing along the way, so, lots to like.
Mark
| Re: TravelWatch SouthWest, 24th October 2025, Taunton - INVITE In "Diary - what's happening when?" [367431/30939/34] Posted by Red Squirrel at 10:03, 27th October 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
Waay off topic, but not worth starting a new topic.
"My bad" has rapidly crept into our usage (as do many other words and expressions).
Is this a lesser form of sorry perhaps.
Our children use it frequently.
We still use "sorry".
Too pedantic?
"My bad" has rapidly crept into our usage (as do many other words and expressions).
Is this a lesser form of sorry perhaps.
Our children use it frequently.
We still use "sorry".
Too pedantic?
Language experts fall into two main camps: Prescribers, and Describers.
Prescribers focus on correct usage, traditional meanings and etymology, and try to resist changes which they feel dilute these.
Describers focus on what people actually say, and what they mean by it. This often changes from one generation to the next.
One thing is certain: The describers always win. Trying to resist linguistic change is like trying to hold back the tide.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [367429/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 08:23, 27th October 2025 | |
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
| Plan a special timetable for engineering - then it changes on the day In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [367427/30979/20] Posted by grahame at 07:29, 27th October 2025 | |
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bath Spa due 17:44
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bath Spa due 17:44 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Bradford-On-Avon and Bath Spa.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 4.
Last Updated:27/10/2025 04:58
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bath Spa due 17:44 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Bradford-On-Avon and Bath Spa.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 4.
Last Updated:27/10/2025 04:58
Prediction of a fault 10 hours ahead? And in the absence of 153 single carriage trains, this strikes me as a change to a completely different train!
With Bath Spa to Bristol closed, there'a already a modified service running from Portsmouth just to Bath Spa ... or not running whole way ... or now some re-instated. "staff shortage". I suspect that some Bristol crew who normally drive (trains) to Westbury aren't doing so and resources are stretched beyond what's available. 16:23 Westbury to Swindon cancelled, of course
| Re: Who will be running special trains on Network Rail lines in 2026? In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367426/30972/47] Posted by grahame at 07:19, 27th October 2025 | |
And
https://saphostrains.com/
| Re: Tube user hit with £558 court penalty for rollerskating into Whitechapel Station In "Transport for London" [367425/30978/46] Posted by grahame at 07:02, 27th October 2025 | |
He was pulled up by station staff who said he had breached Underground rules forbidding all wheeled vehicles within stations and onboard trains.
TfL proceeded to prosecute Cejas in September for being in breach of Byelaw 15, which states that all passengers must enter the network on foot
TfL proceeded to prosecute Cejas in September for being in breach of Byelaw 15, which states that all passengers must enter the network on foot
Doesn't that mean that wheelchair users are forbidden??
| Tube user hit with £558 court penalty for rollerskating into Whitechapel Station In "Transport for London" [367424/30978/46] Posted by infoman at 05:25, 27th October 2025 | |
A man has been fined more than £500 for entering a tube staton on rollerskates.
John Cejas rolled into Whitechapel Station in Tower Hamlets, east London and skated through the barriers at around 12.30pm on July 11 this year.
He was pulled up by station staff who said he had breached Underground rules forbidding all wheeled vehicles within stations and onboard trains.
TfL proceeded to prosecute Cejas in September for being in breach of Byelaw 15, which states that all passengers must enter the network on foot
Sophie Taylorson, a TfL official, told a magistrates court she observed Cejas arrive at the station with roller skates on his feet.
She said Cejas, of Manor Park in east London, handed over his details when asked.
Cejas, 27, did not enter a plea, and was handed a fine of £220 on top of £250 in costs, as well as an £88 victim surcharge, coming to £558 in total
| Re: What is the difference between an island bus stop and a floating bus stop? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367423/30973/5] Posted by rogerpatenall at 03:55, 27th October 2025 Already liked by Worcester_Passenger | |
. . . "as you board the bus, cyclists give way to you to cross their lane, and as you get of the bus, they'll give way to you" . . .
Maybe in Melksham, but in London they will shout at you and keep going.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [367422/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 01:48, 27th October 2025 | |
Mon, 27 October 07:03 Salisbury to Swindon due 08:34
27/10/25 07:03 Salisbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury, Warminster and Dilton Marsh.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
27/10/25 07:03 Salisbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury, Warminster and Dilton Marsh.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Mon, 27 October 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
27/10/25 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
27/10/25 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
| Re: Tarka Line 26/10/25 - CSL2 Black In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [367421/30974/24] Posted by bobm at 21:48, 26th October 2025 | |
According to DevonLive - between the ads - the car was slightly proud of the stop line and was clipped by the train.
| Re: Tarka Line 26/10/25 - CSL2 Black In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [367420/30974/24] Posted by ChrisB at 21:10, 26th October 2025 | |
Half term, a week without school work, so drivers have taken holiday themselves maybe?
| Re: Tarka Line 26/10/25 - CSL2 Black In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [367419/30974/24] Posted by AMLAG at 19:11, 26th October 2025 | |
Line north of Crediton eventually (after about SEVEN hours of closure) reopened with the
1714 Exeter Ctl to Barnstaple and 1832 return.
Seems quite extraordinary that no road replacement could be provided ( except for some taxis) despite still some surviving private rural coach operators in Devon, who in years past would helpfully soon scramble coaches and drivers, especially on a Sunday with no school etc work.
No doubt intending rail passengers on the north end of the line (Eggesford northwards) instead railheaded to Tiverton Parkway and south of Eggesford railheaded to Crediton, Exeter and even Okehampton.
| Re: The longest league journey - Truro to Gateshead In "Cross Country services" [367418/30976/43] Posted by grahame at 18:33, 26th October 2025 | |
Truro seem to play in Newquay, and Gateshead in Whitley Bay according to the map. Bit of northern bias?
| Re: Thoughts, tangents, personal big data. May I bore you for my enjoyment? In "Introductions and chat" [367417/30964/1] Posted by bradshaw at 18:18, 26th October 2025 | |
I was teaching at a school in Dorchester back along. They introduced BBC-Bs and comouting to the curriculum.
I was somewhat surprised when returning for a new term to see that I was timetabled to teach programming. The more so since I had absolutely no experience in that area. What followed was me learning the work myself and teaching it next day!
In the end I found getting them to make very simple ‘games’ was a good way of learning the coding needed and one they could engage in.
At home my route was by way of the Amstrad 8256 PCW which I upgraded to an 8512 by adding memory. Word processing was Locoscript!
| Re: The longest league journey - Truro to Gateshead In "Cross Country services" [367416/30976/43] Posted by JayMac at 17:33, 26th October 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Chris from Nailsea | |
The S*n had the story too. Although they didn't know where Truro is.
| Re: 25th October 2025 - Railbus returns to Cirencester In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367415/30957/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:11, 26th October 2025 Already liked by Mark A, GBM | |
Those Romans just didn't get the concept of 'future-proofing' their infrastructure designs, did they?
| Re: Thoughts, tangents, personal big data. May I bore you for my enjoyment? In "Introductions and chat" [367414/30964/1] Posted by JayMac at 17:10, 26th October 2025 | |
My first introductions to computing were (at home) a Commodore VIC 20, then a ZX Spectrum. At school we had Acorn Electrons and a few BBC B Microcomputers.
| Re: 25th October 2025 - Railbus returns to Cirencester In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367413/30957/47] Posted by Mark A at 16:51, 26th October 2025 | |
An issue with Google's estimate of Kemble being a nine minute drive from the centre of Cirencester might be that it's an unreliable nine minutes, given the capacity of the A429/A433 't' junction which might make it a bit of a 'mare to provide a bus service over and above what there already is.
Cirencester has an active travel plan from 2022 (100+ pages, link below). That possibly struggles, given that the town has that wishbone-shaped dual carriageway ring road that without spending £££££££ makes it a bit of a struggle to overcome the severence imposed by those roads as built.
And then the town's odd mixture of popularity as a destination, the historic fabric and layout imposed by everyone from the romans via the Bathursts, to the dominance of road as a mode of travel, the several large car parks that the town centre hosts, the urban industrial estate/vehicle-served retail - and also that development has trashed the town's two rail corridors and also the canal. It would be interesting to know what the dutch would do with Cirencester.
Mark
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/o2vbvw4b/cirencester-lcwip-v20-final-plus-exsum.pdf
| Re: HST to Fort William at Bath Spa 24/10/25 In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [367412/30969/47] Posted by PhilWakely at 16:03, 26th October 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A, Timmer, Western Pathfinder | |
Seen here in the West Highlands during its inaugural visit back in October 2021....
| News from the High Street, Nailsea, North Somerset - October 2025 In "Across the West" [367411/30977/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:00, 26th October 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
As hardware stores go, John Brown's is a truly excellent example: I've been a frequent customer there for some forty years.
From the BBC:
Town's oldest shop owner celebrates 100th birthday
John Brown has run the shop since 1957
The owner of a town's oldest shop is celebrating his 100th birthday.
John Brown, owner of John Brown Hardware, built and then opened his shop in Nailsea, North Somerset, in September 1957 with his father.
Mr Brown regularly worked in the shop until the age of 98, and still oversees the business. He said he still felt like a "youngster at heart" and was "proud and honoured" to reach the milestone of 100 years.
The centenarian said the shop was his "little baby" and he opened it as he was "interested in people".
"If I could help people I did, and if they couldn't pay upfront, I said 'come back next week'," he added.
Mr Brown's shop sells a variety of hardware items, bathroom fixtures, ironmongery, homeware and decorative items.
(BBC article continues)
John Brown has run the shop since 1957
The owner of a town's oldest shop is celebrating his 100th birthday.
John Brown, owner of John Brown Hardware, built and then opened his shop in Nailsea, North Somerset, in September 1957 with his father.
Mr Brown regularly worked in the shop until the age of 98, and still oversees the business. He said he still felt like a "youngster at heart" and was "proud and honoured" to reach the milestone of 100 years.
The centenarian said the shop was his "little baby" and he opened it as he was "interested in people".
"If I could help people I did, and if they couldn't pay upfront, I said 'come back next week'," he added.
Mr Brown's shop sells a variety of hardware items, bathroom fixtures, ironmongery, homeware and decorative items.
(BBC article continues)
| The longest league journey - Truro to Gateshead In "Cross Country services" [367410/30976/43] Posted by grahame at 14:26, 26th October 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
From The BBC
When Truro City kicked off at Gateshead in the National League on Saturday, they did so backed by 185 fans who had taken the longest journey in English league football history.
Promoted from the regional divisions to national level for the first time this summer, never before has a team travelled as far as Truro had on the hunt for three points.
Promoted from the regional divisions to national level for the first time this summer, never before has a team travelled as far as Truro had on the hunt for three points.
| Re: Beaulieu Park railway station in Essex opens to passengers - 26 October 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367409/30975/51] Posted by grahame at 13:20, 26th October 2025 | |
Oh - another of those "sounds like it's near' jobs - Beaulieu Park is nowhere near Beaulieu Road rather like Barry Links is nowhere near Barry Island, Docks (and town) and come to think of it - err -Liverpool Street v Liverpool Lime Street.
https://www.passenger.chat/BEU.html
I digress - wish it well, noting that the publicity makes positive light of the abstraction of traffic from Chelmesford's station - a quote worthwhile in helping the Devizes Gateway case to abstract traffic from the next two stations east, both of which have monumental parking problems and create rat-run flows on unsuitable roads.
| Beaulieu Park railway station in Essex opens to passengers - 26 October 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367408/30975/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:05, 26th October 2025 | |
From the BBC:
The first train pulled into Beaulieu Park on Sunday morning
A county's newest railway station has opened to passengers as train services get under way.
The first scheduled departure from Beaulieu Park in north Chelmsford was the 07:20 GMT to London.
The station, which features three platforms and 705 parking spaces, is the first to open on the Great Eastern Main Line in 100 years.
Essex County Council deputy leader Louise McKinlay said the £175m project had been "a long time in the making".
Construction began in March 2023 and finished slightly ahead of schedule, having been expected to conclude at the end of 2025.
Passengers at Beaulieu Park can get to London in 40 minutes and also board services to Norwich. It is hoped the facility will ease pressure on Chelmsford's main station, which sees an average of 6.5 million passenger movements each year.
The new station is part of a wider regeneration of the Beaulieu Park estate, with new road infrastructure and up to 14,000 homes.
Conservative councillor McKinlay said: "The new station will transform travel in this part of Chelmsford, across Essex and into London. It will have a positive impact for years to come, future-proofing the county's transport infrastructure and making a real difference to the daily lives of residents and commuters."
She thanked everyone involved in the project and said it was "fantastic to see all this hard work come to fruition".
| Re: TravelWatch SouthWest, 24th October 2025, Taunton - INVITE In "Diary - what's happening when?" [367407/30939/34] Posted by TaplowGreen at 12:32, 26th October 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
| Tarka Line 26/10/25 - CSL2 Black In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [367406/30974/24] Posted by plymothian at 12:18, 26th October 2025 | |
Tarka line is currently closed due to a collison between 2B73 and a car at Umberleigh level crossing.
No RRB as no availability within 50 miles of Barnstaple or Exeter
| Re: What is the difference between an island bus stop and a floating bus stop? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [367405/30973/5] Posted by bobm at 11:23, 26th October 2025 | |
At some stops on the D1 in Bath, the on board announcements do advise alighting passengers to watch out for cyclists.
Many years ago I was stuck by a cyclist as I got off a bus on the way to school. I think my mother was more annoyed about the paperwork she had to fill in to get my NHS glasses replaced.
