Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376319/31355/51] Posted by Mark A at 21:25, 22nd June 2026 |      |
Puzzled by today's weather as the possibility of that downpour seems to have been missed by the forecasts. The satellite imagery of it shows that once it reached Bristol(ish) the cloud top expanded into a roughly circular patch covering a lot of south east England. It's the sort of event of which organisations much prefer to have advanced warning, perhaps the paid-for forecasts provided to and paid for by the likes of the railway included it.
Mark
| Re: Cancellations to services between Bournemouth & Southampton Central - ongoing incidents In "South Western services" [376318/30445/42] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:22, 22nd June 2026 | |
Done that for you.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376317/31355/51] Posted by MVR S&T at 21:14, 22nd June 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
High temperatures play havoc with mechanical signalling, such as the point rods expanding, making points and FPLs fail, also signal pull wires, there is adjusters on the long pull signals, but only so much. rails expand over points and causes track circuit failures. And of course staff in various offices, they may have a coal fire...
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [376316/31359/18] Posted by bobm at 21:10, 22nd June 2026 | |
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
Both these ran in the end albeit with a delay of 25 minutes on the 18:37.
They, like most of the TransWilts services today, were operated by 158748 which was running with the windows open after the air cooling/conditioning failed. I suspect it was not alone.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376315/31355/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:08, 22nd June 2026 | |
Thank you!
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376314/31355/51] Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:59, 22nd June 2026 | |
| Re: Cancellations to services between Bournemouth & Southampton Central - ongoing incidents In "South Western services" [376313/30445/42] Posted by MVR S&T at 20:57, 22nd June 2026 | |
Just rename to 'from 11/07/xx' perhaps, as there may be more to come!
| Re: Cancellations to services between Bournemouth & Southampton Central - ongoing incidents In "South Western services" [376312/30445/42] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:51, 22nd June 2026 | |
Can a mod re name or move this please.
I can certainly do both - but to what, and to where?
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376311/31355/51] Posted by broadgage at 20:48, 22nd June 2026 | |
Heritage Rail GWSR have cancelled all services this week owing to the heatwave.
West Somerset Railway the same. All services cancelled 23rd-25th inclusive.
https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/record-forecasted-temperatures-see-west-somerset-railway-halt-trains-for-three-days-919570
Surely they could run diesel services, if steam is considered too much of a fire risk .
| Re: Cancellations to services between Bournemouth & Southampton Central - ongoing incidents In "South Western services" [376310/30445/42] Posted by MVR S&T at 20:29, 22nd June 2026 | |
Can a mod re name or move this please.
Due to a signalling problem between Ashurst New Forest and Brockenhurst trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Bournemouth.
What's Going On:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
What We're Doing About It:
Engineers are currently investigating remotely and will attend if required.
Brockenhurst signalling problems have been on and for a week now, also a common occurrence over the past year or two. Any one know if it is just age of cables etc?
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376309/31355/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:19, 22nd June 2026 | |
They're all going to sweat it out.
Sorry, I'm running out of appalling puns now.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376308/31355/51] Posted by JayMac at 20:12, 22nd June 2026 | |
Heritage Rail GWSR have cancelled all services this week owing to the heatwave.
West Somerset Railway the same. All services cancelled 23rd-25th inclusive.
https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/record-forecasted-temperatures-see-west-somerset-railway-halt-trains-for-three-days-919570
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [376307/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 20:06, 22nd June 2026 | |
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 was terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury.
This is due to a fault on this train.
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 was terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: How would YOU solve CrossCountry ? In "Across the West" [376306/32138/26] Posted by LiskeardRich at 19:42, 22nd June 2026 | |
You can't get a Cross Country train from Plymouth to Essex and East Anglia. You are expected to change in London (Crossrail has made that easier); so for Plymouth trains, why go further than Birmingham which could be the hub for the north. Maybe on a Saturday there is a justification for Penzance-Scotland but I doubt it.
National Express coaches have gone down this route. From the Plymouth and Cornwall we used to have through coaches to the north. Now we have services to Birmingham with various connections to different locutions in the north.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376305/32078/26] Posted by bradshaw at 19:23, 22nd June 2026 | |
Here in West Dorset the rain does its usual thing, avoiding the area between Lyme, Beaminster and Eggardon Hill.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376304/31355/51] Posted by broadgage at 19:14, 22nd June 2026 | |
It's somewhat ironic that people are now investing in air conditioning, given it has a significant impact on climate change via its high energy demands, leading to "weather events" such as we are seeing now!
Agree entirely. It is however relatively easy to replace the energy used by air conditioning, with more solar power. Either locally by means of panels mounted on/near the structure being cooled, or remotely by means of panels connected to the grid elsewhere.There is at least an approximate coincidence between peak solar energy production, and peak air condition demand.
For new buildings air conditioning demand may be reduced by better design.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376303/32078/26] Posted by Mark A at 19:13, 22nd June 2026 | |
Photo from Bluesky of a close call east of Bath. Waiting to find out if that faint trace of something more in the foreground is the lightning path-not-taken, an artefact, or a hair on the negative.
Mark
https://bsky.app/profile/antinbath.bsky.social/post/3movg3sa74c22
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376302/32078/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:30, 22nd June 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376301/32078/26] Posted by Mark A at 18:27, 22nd June 2026 | |
Yup, continuous high stuff until a couple of minutes ago, and if it likes it can go back up to the top of the clouds.
Mark
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376300/32078/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:21, 22nd June 2026 | |
Yes, we, too, had very little lightning - just almost continuous thunder.
The thunderstorm has now passed on - but the noise of thunder has now been replaced by that of the police helicopter hovering overhead.
CfN.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [376299/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:13, 22nd June 2026 | |
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376298/32078/26] Posted by Mark A at 18:09, 22nd June 2026 | |
Arrived in Bath sending a big push ahead of it from the downdraught beneath it, and continuous rumbling from high overhead. Now very dark, chucking it down, poor visibility, thrashing the trees, but suspiciously little lighting - on the incoming edge of that for the moment.
Mark
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376297/32078/26] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 18:02, 22nd June 2026 | |
I don’t think I’m going to have to water my veg patch this evening,water butts are filling up nicely.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376296/32078/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:39, 22nd June 2026 | |
Now some serious thunder and some very serious rain here in Nailsea.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [376295/31163/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:37, 22nd June 2026 | |
Fair point.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376294/32078/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:35, 22nd June 2026 | |
Yes, we now have some thunder and serious rain here in Nailsea as I type.
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376293/32078/26] Posted by Mark A at 17:26, 22nd June 2026 | |
It's upped the strike rate to ~450 per minute and the associated area of heavy rain has somewhat grown. I'm off to check a couple of drains for obstructions.
Mark
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376292/32151/51] Posted by ChrisB at 17:26, 22nd June 2026 | |
I noted that EMT published a phone number (0333 212 5934) for those customers & families directly involved in the accident. Staffed by trained colleagues, able to help with queries and collection of personal possessions left on the trains, and also refer anyone needing further assistance to the Red Cross.
Open Mon-Fri 0700 - 2000
Sat 0800 - 2000
Sun 1000 - 2000
https://x.com/eastmidrailway/status/2068727166276087888?s=46&t=xkfWmHOnbkxHSxxmzGCejw
| Re: Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing In "Across the West" [376291/32078/26] Posted by Mark A at 17:22, 22nd June 2026 | |
Seems to be about the size of half a county and producing ~150 strikes per minute and I think yr kitten will be hearing rumbles now as it's landed one near Yatton.
Mark
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [376290/32151/51] Posted by ChrisB at 17:16, 22nd June 2026 | |
Wonder what happens with the Bedford - Bletchley service in these circumstances.
A post on 'the' other forum states two additional loco & coaches sets running from tomorrow (Tues) until the line reopens between Bedford & Bletchley to assist those needing to travel towards London. One set from West Coast and the other from GBRf. Both running non-stop & both top & tailed with locos.
Also, on the night of the accident, Bedford Council went & ticketed cars that had overstayed their ticket....you'd think someone would have been intelligent enough to realise that the owners were likely stuck away & unable to return to their cars in time. But oh no.....
