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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371061/5138/51]
Posted by Mark A at 13:43, 14th January 2026
 
One Uy Hoang has captured, for Google Streetview, a glimpse of actual tangible HS2 phase 2a embankment - from the towpath of the Staffs and Worcs Canal.

Mark

https://tinyurl.com/3vje36vw

Free visitor parking could end in Bristol's residents-only zones
In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [371060/31451/21]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:23, 14th January 2026
 
From the BBC:

Free visitor parking could end in restricted zones

Image not available to guests
Bristol City Council could scrap free visitor permits in residents-only parking zones

Free parking for people visiting those living within residents' parking zones in Bristol could be scrapped.

People living in areas impacted by the schemes currently get between 50 and 70 free visitor passes a year and can purchase the same number as they get for free for £1.30 per permit.

Bristol City Council is proposing an end to the free allocation of visitor permits, saying it will reduce short car journeys, encourage people to use public transport, and prioritise parking for residents.

The council also hopes to make visitor permits available only in batches of 10 at a cost of between £20 and £25 per batch. A consultation on the proposals will end on Wednesday.


(BBC article continues)


Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371059/5138/51]
Posted by Red Squirrel at 12:40, 14th January 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
According to Rail
RAIL understands that the DfT still holds the land between Birmingham and Crewe with HS2’s compulsory purchase order powers for the now-cancelled Phase 2 expire on February 11. It’s thought discussions are under way to decide how to proceed.

Re: Mobiles on the London Underground - ongoing developments
In "Transport for London" [371058/30631/46]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:29, 14th January 2026
 
From the BBC:

High-speed mobile to be across Tube by end of year

Image not available to guests
Mobile phone coverage is expected to be across the entire network by the end of 2026

More stations and underground sections of the Tube network across London now have high-speed mobile coverage, Transport for London (TfL) has said, including the first sections of the Circle and District lines.

The entire Elizabeth line is covered, as are Euston Square, Cannon Street and Battersea Power Station.

King's Cross St Pancras, Gloucester Road, Warwick Avenue and Vauxhall are due to go live in the next few months.

TfL said it also expected the vast majority of the Northern and Metropolitan lines to have coverage in the tunnels by the end of summer 2026.

The coverage will also host the new Emergency Services Network, which, when fully operational, will be able to give first responders immediate access to data.

Work will continue throughout 2026, with installation work along sections outside central London, and where smaller tunnelled sections need to be treated individually.

About 400 engineers are regularly working on the project overnight.

It is part of the mayor's manifesto to improve digital connectivity in London to increase innovation, productivity and growth.

Image not available to guests
Engineers work overnight to install equipment

More information and coverage details are available at tfl.gov.uk/get-online.


Re: The Red Arrows, RAF display team - popular with members of the Coffee Shop forum
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371057/31444/31]
Posted by Phantom at 11:42, 14th January 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
After the awful reports about what was going on in and around the team a few years ago, this is a big step
No doubt as much about promoting a female to the lead role as making a clear statement previous problems are resolved

Re: Realtime trains
In "Across the West" [371056/31450/26]
Posted by grahame at 11:25, 14th January 2026
 
GWR not showing the stock number or formations today.  Cross Country still there. Is the stock situation so bad??

Could be localised ... for Melksham I'm seeing

165136 on the 06:30 to Southampton (called at 06:42)
166201 on the 07:21 to Worcester Forgate Street (called 08:15)
08:20 to Swindon - Cancelled
09:09 to Westbury - Cancelled
10:02 to Swindon - Cancelled
11:31 to Westbury - Cancelled
158767 planned for the 12:33 to Swindon


Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371055/5138/51]
Posted by Noggin at 10:37, 14th January 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
As the present platforms at Manchester Picc are already at high level (The Metrolink trams in the undercroft are at ground level), I would be interested to see how that would work.

The original HS2 plan has the new lines on the east side of the station.

Actually my guess is that they would put the platforms underneath Piccadilly and then follow the alignment of the proposed 1970's Picc-Vicc tunnels to get to Victoria and the Transpennine line, with an extra west-bound branch to enable Manchester to Glasgow HS.

In Antwerp they put platforms on two levels, a lower one for HS services and an upper level for regional services. If I were Andy Burnham I'd be looking at ways to do that and have a few intermediate stations to effectively build an S-Bahn.

A pair of tunnels for regional services would also have the benefit of reducing traffic on the Oxford Road corridor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picc-Vic_tunnel

Realtime trains
In "Across the West" [371054/31450/26]
Posted by REVUpminster at 10:34, 14th January 2026
 
GWR not showing the stock number or formations today.  Cross Country still there. Is the stock situation so bad??

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371053/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 10:22, 14th January 2026
 
Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to a broken down train at Melksham the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:00 14/01.
Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham will be cancelled.

Customer Advice
A freight train has broken down on the line between Westbury and Swindon; as a result we are unable to operate our service.

Oops

09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:28
11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:14/01/2026 09:30

"we are unable to operate our service".  With no suggestion about what customers - that first one (the 10:02 at Melksham) is the busiest northbound of the day - should do.    This is where a volunteer presence at the station would be so helpful ... but that is a subject for a fresh thread.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371052/31359/18]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:18, 14th January 2026
 
Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham

Due to a broken down train at Melksham the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:00 14/01.
Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham will be cancelled.

Customer Advice
A freight train has broken down on the line between Westbury and Swindon; as a result we are unable to operate our service.

Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371051/5138/51]
Posted by Sixty3Closure at 10:18, 14th January 2026
 
Without trying to delve into politics my first thought on reading about this is that it was a bit light on dates and actual commitment and will probably not get built.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371050/31359/18]
Posted by Andy E at 10:10, 14th January 2026
 
Looks like chaos on the Trans Wilts this morning. A failed freight near Kintbury on the Berks and Hants has meant that up West Country trains have been diverted over the Trans Wilts. Now though it looks as though infrastructure train 6M50 has failed somewhere south of Melksham blocking that line. 1A73 and 1J74 up passenger trains from the West Country have diverted from Westbury up to Bath/Bathampton Junction and reversed there to continue to London.

Re: Landslip west of Axminster - message from SWR
In "South Western services" [371049/31445/42]
Posted by bradshaw at 10:03, 14th January 2026
 
RTT shows that the line west of Crewkerne is closed for the weekend, with trains running Waterloo to Crewkerne. I presume that this is to what the email refers.
If the slip is west of Axminster I can only assume that terminating trains there would need at least one extra train and a long layover time.

Re: Northern Powerhouse Rail - plans for east to west high speed rail links delayed again
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371048/5138/51]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 08:39, 14th January 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
I remember seeing pictures of Mayfield and seem to remember it existing quite recently. any scope there?

The site is still there with platforms and buildings but disappointingly appears to have been earmarked for non-railway redevelopment.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371047/31359/18]
Posted by bobm at 08:36, 14th January 2026
 
A bit of both - but the end result is the same.

The 07:45 is normally formed from an incoming service from Bristol Parkway.   This morning that train started from Temple Meads and arrived at Westbury 14 minutes late at 07:43.   For some reason the decision was taken not to run the TransWilts service, even with a late start.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371046/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:54, 14th January 2026
 
And now ...

 
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

of if you prefer ...

This service is cancelled.
This service was cancelled due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI).

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371045/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:52, 14th January 2026
 
And now ...

 
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371044/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:42, 14th January 2026
 
Well an IET just passed through towards Chippenham (at 06:28), might be related...

Don't think 06:31 is likely Image not available to guests

The IET was 1K71 - the 05:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington that usually calls at Kennet Valley stations.  Got to Westbury on time (actually a couple of minutes early at 05:48, but say there until 06:14 and left headed back (16 minutes late) up whence it came, passing Bradford Junction ar 06:22 for the second time and headed, though untracked on my system, via Chippenham and Swindon - it has appeared on the trackers again at 07:28 - 21 minutes late - into Reading.

Oh for increased capacity, Bradford Junction to Thingley Junction.

Crane collapses onto train, Thailand.
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [371043/31449/52]
Posted by broadgage at 07:23, 14th January 2026
 
From BBC news https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c9qeq08g70yt

Contains images of the scene, which some may consider unacceptable, but quoted with fairly clean conscience, as already published on a reputable news site.
Early reports state "at least 22vlives lost" Later reports may give more, or more accurate details.

Edit to clarify quoting - Grahame

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371042/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:17, 14th January 2026
 
This could be why an unexpected IET was around and delayed the [06:29/06:31].    That won't account for the scheduled change to 06:31 today ...

Cancellations to services between Reading and Westbury
Due to a broken down train between Reading and Westbury all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Disruption is expected until 08:30 14/01.
Customer Advice
Due to a broken down train at Kintbury, all lines between Reading and Westbury is currently blocked.
-
Our local Newbury to Bedwyn service is also suspended until further notice.
-
Where possible, long distance services will divert.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371041/31359/18]
Posted by matth1j at 06:56, 14th January 2026
 
Actually the 06:46 is delayed, showing as 07:01. But that's probably going to be busier than usual, might wait for the 07:05 anyway.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371040/31359/18]
Posted by matth1j at 06:45, 14th January 2026
 
Departed Melksham at 06:43 - will miss the 06:46 Trowbridge-Bristol, but at least the 07:05 has 3 carriages Image not available to guests

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371039/31359/18]
Posted by matth1j at 06:33, 14th January 2026
 
Well an IET just passed through towards Chippenham (at 06:28), might be related...

Don't think 06:31 is likely Image not available to guests

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026
In "Across the West" [371038/31163/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:29, 14th January 2026
 
Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a points failure between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 07:30 14/01.

.......also broken down trains at various TV locations blocking lines. Good luck if you're travelling today.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371037/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 22:26, 13th January 2026
Already liked by matth1j
 
Just buying my ticket for tomorrow morning's Melksham-Bristol commute, and spotted that what is usually the 06:29 Melksham-Trowbridge is scheduled for 06:31 (it was 06:29 on Monday). Anyone know why?

There is a 2 minute "Pathing Allowance" at Thingley Junction - a "special" tomorrow; I looked at Wednesday next week and it's back to normal.  Nothing showing on Real Time Trains to need that allowance though.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [371036/31359/18]
Posted by matth1j at 22:14, 13th January 2026
 
Just buying my ticket for tomorrow morning's Melksham-Bristol commute, and spotted that what is usually the 06:29 Melksham-Trowbridge is scheduled for 06:31 (it was 06:29 on Monday). Anyone know why?

Re: Northern Powerhouse Rail - plans for east to west high speed rail links delayed again
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371035/5138/51]
Posted by grahame at 21:54, 13th January 2026
 
The original plan had HS2 going to high-level platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, so will be interesting to see what the proposal is for Manchester 

I remember seeing pictures of Mayfield and seem to remember it existing quite recently. any scope there?

Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced
In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371033/31448/20]
Posted by grahame at 21:43, 13th January 2026
 
Inspiration train - touring again ... at at Salisbury from 21st to 23rd February.   Book via:
https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/

Sporting an eye-catching livery, visitors young and old will go on a journey of discovery exploring the railway’s 200-year story of innovation, brought to life by interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities

Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371032/5138/51]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 21:41, 13th January 2026
 
As the present platforms at Manchester Picc are already at high level (The Metrolink trams in the undercroft are at ground level), I would be interested to see how that would work.

 
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