Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: London Transport Museum Depot - Acton Town In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [371673/30761/47] Posted by bobm at 17:46, 27th January 2026 |      |
What's wrong with that? He's kept his feet off the seats and he's not smoking.
He'd have looked rather more rugged wearing a Fedora, though. [Image from here is not available to guests]
These days I'd struggle to get my feet on the seats, let alone off again.
| Re: London Transport Museum Depot - Acton Town In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [371672/30761/47] Posted by grahame at 17:41, 27th January 2026 | |
https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/depot-open-days
Depot Open Days - Transport Depot, Acton, 2026
9th - 12th April
3rd - 5th July
18th - 20th September
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371670/31355/51] Posted by grahame at 17:35, 27th January 2026 | |
The following lines remain closed due to flooding, and with further inclement weather expected, we do anticipate continuing disruption:
Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple & Okehampton- multiple sites flooded, with disruption currently expected to last until the end of Friday 30th Jan - advice to customers is do not travel, we are not able to run replacement transport currently, there is ticket acceptance on local buses
Par to Newquay - multiple sites flooded, with disruption expected to last for several days
Taunton to Castle Cary - limited road replacement running
Taunton to Exeter St Davids - limited road replacement running
The line between Liskeard and Looe also remains closed until we are able to investigate the line safely.
Full details on the above (which is updated regularly) can be found at www.gwr.com/check. Images of the disruption are also available on Network Rail's X account.
At Dawlish, there will be a 12 hour overnight closure of the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot from 1900 on Wednesday 28 January until 0700 on Thursday 29 January.
Following the severe weather from Storm Ingrid, a large sink hole - measuring 8m x 3.5m - has appeared near the railway line. Network Rail teams will repair the ground overnight tomorrow using heavy machinery, which needs resolving as soon as possible.
A limited train service will continue to run between London and Exeter St Davids and between Penzance and Newton Abbot. Buses will be in operation between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, and Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway. The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not run in either direction between Paddington and Penzance on Wednesday evening, resuming on the evening of Thursday 29 January.
Customers are advised to travel earlier on Wednesday 28 January or later on Thursday 29 January where their tickets will still be valid. Online journey planners are being updated and you can read more at our media release just issued here, and an update from GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood here.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would be grateful for any support you could provide in cascading this to your networks. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops and as ever if you have any questions please do not hesitate to let us know.
Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple & Okehampton- multiple sites flooded, with disruption currently expected to last until the end of Friday 30th Jan - advice to customers is do not travel, we are not able to run replacement transport currently, there is ticket acceptance on local buses
Par to Newquay - multiple sites flooded, with disruption expected to last for several days
Taunton to Castle Cary - limited road replacement running
Taunton to Exeter St Davids - limited road replacement running
The line between Liskeard and Looe also remains closed until we are able to investigate the line safely.
Full details on the above (which is updated regularly) can be found at www.gwr.com/check. Images of the disruption are also available on Network Rail's X account.
At Dawlish, there will be a 12 hour overnight closure of the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot from 1900 on Wednesday 28 January until 0700 on Thursday 29 January.
Following the severe weather from Storm Ingrid, a large sink hole - measuring 8m x 3.5m - has appeared near the railway line. Network Rail teams will repair the ground overnight tomorrow using heavy machinery, which needs resolving as soon as possible.
A limited train service will continue to run between London and Exeter St Davids and between Penzance and Newton Abbot. Buses will be in operation between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, and Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway. The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not run in either direction between Paddington and Penzance on Wednesday evening, resuming on the evening of Thursday 29 January.
Customers are advised to travel earlier on Wednesday 28 January or later on Thursday 29 January where their tickets will still be valid. Online journey planners are being updated and you can read more at our media release just issued here, and an update from GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood here.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would be grateful for any support you could provide in cascading this to your networks. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops and as ever if you have any questions please do not hesitate to let us know.
| Re: Number of police forces in England and Wales to be cut in major shake-up In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371669/31503/31] Posted by ChrisB at 17:01, 27th January 2026 | |
One (larger, admittedly - but still smaller than 43 of them!) back office allows further funding of actual officers on the ground.
As for local accountability - name me an effective PCC that communicates properly with their electorate throughout their term and not just at election time (more money saved by their abolishment too).
| Re: We have photos out of place - now prose too! In "The Lighter Side" [371666/31527/30] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 16:04, 27th January 2026 | |
I expect (tongue-in-cheek) there will be a steam-powered road vehicle to the GSWR station at Toddington, where the punters will transfer to the expected steam-hauled train to Cheltenham Racecourse station - and be pleased to avoid all the road chaos of Race Week.
Or (tongue-out-of-cheek) a nice modern coach from Evesham to Toddington.
| Re: We have photos out of place - now prose too! In "The Lighter Side" [371665/31527/30] Posted by johnneyw at 15:42, 27th January 2026 | |
Curious. The blurb on the link mentions transferring at Evesham to a steam train to the racecourse and also mentions it will be on the GWSR (who own Cheltenham Racecourse Station). The trouble is, the GWSR don't have any connection to the national network at either the Racecourse or Broadway end, or anywhere in between, so I'm proper confused!
| Re: Mark Hopwood interview to appear on Green Signals You Tube channel, 27 January In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [371664/31498/49] Posted by ChrisB at 15:07, 27th January 2026 | |
I assume you mean TfW, not TfL?
I did though get the impression he was being somewhat guarded over what will happen next, even allowing for the considerable uncertainty that there clearly is. It is clear that he has concerns that some of what he sees as First Group/GWR's achievements may be at risk.
The DfT/Treasury are still trying to save money/cut budgets. Further service reductions I'm sure are on the cards.
| Re: Mark Hopwood interview to appear on Green Signals You Tube channel, 27 January In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [371663/31498/49] Posted by eightonedee at 14:56, 27th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Having just sat through the broadcast/video, I'd recommend it to forum members.
There's a defence of IETs and explanation of what seems to be wrong with the bi-mode units, an acknowledgement that the seats are a problem that's "being looked at", an explanation of the problems with the 175s (they had been run down by TfL to the end of the service maintenance cycle, suffered from storage and rely on technology that is now over 20 years old, giving recommissioning problems) as well as a clear indication that actually there is still not much clarity as to how GBR will work.
He also seems to have accepted that battery power rather than extending electrification looks like being the way forward, offering assurance that the technology has come a long way in recent years.
I did though get the impression he was being somewhat guarded over what will happen next, even allowing for the considerable uncertainty that there clearly is. It is clear that he has concerns that some of what he sees as First Group/GWR's achievements may be at risk.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371662/31355/51] Posted by GBM at 14:50, 27th January 2026 | |
Rain weather warning out for Cornwall and Devon for this Thursday [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371661/31429/5] Posted by Mark A at 14:41, 27th January 2026 | |
Rosyth-Dunkerque proposal.
Mark
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/27/scotland-france-ferry-dunkirk-regeneration-plan
| Re: Stanfords - map shop(s) In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371658/31524/31] Posted by JayMac at 13:42, 27th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A, GBM | |
... and that's reminded me of another memory of that area of Bristol. A little off topic...
My Grandma oft told the story of me as a toddler screaming blue murder in the Co-op department store a little further down from Wine St in Fairfax House (demolished and replaced by The Galleries shopping centre).. The reason I was upset? My Grandma and uncle trying to get me into the paternoster lift that was in the store.
The grown up me, with my interest in weird and wonderful engineering, would love to have been able to ride that paternoster lift.
| Re: Number of police forces in England and Wales to be cut in major shake-up In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371656/31503/31] Posted by Witham Bobby at 13:23, 27th January 2026 | |
"In order to increase effectiveness, efficiency and accountability we are centralising the police and making the service even more remote from people and from democratic control"
The Peelian idea that the police are simply good citizens who take an oath and wear a uniform seems to be very much dead-and-buried, along with policing by consent
Big Government's distrust of it's citizens being able to arrange things for themselves locally in a way that suits them best continues
| Re: Stanfords - map shop(s) In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371653/31524/31] Posted by Red Squirrel at 10:54, 27th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A, JayMac | |
Hazy memory...
Was there once an Ordnance Survey shop on Wine St in Bristol?
EDIT: Some online research has informed me that this was a HM Stationery Office bookshop. My hazy memory was of me perusing OS Maps in there back in the early 1990s.
Was there once an Ordnance Survey shop on Wine St in Bristol?
EDIT: Some online research has informed me that this was a HM Stationery Office bookshop. My hazy memory was of me perusing OS Maps in there back in the early 1990s.
Gosh yes, thanks for stirring up that memory. An Aladdin's Cave for us non-neurotypical types who like to keep their collection of Highway Code editions up-to-date, or who just enjoy the smell of newly-printed government literature.
Wine St was once Bristol's premier shopping street. It was badly damaged by wartime bombing and then swept away by a coalition of national chain stores and government policy, which decided that a fairly undamaged area of mediaeval, Georgian and Victorian buildings around Broadmead, Milk St, Rosemary St and Merchant St should be flattened and the shopping centre relocated there. Later, the demolished ancient buildings of Wine St, Castle St and Mary-le-Port St were bulldozed into the basements to create Castle Park.
Andrew Foyle, in his Pevsner Architectural Guide to Bristol, described Wine Street as 'perhaps the saddest post-Blitz transformation'.
Broadmead has been described as having all the charm of an out-of-town shopping centre without the parking. Soon much of it will be flattened, this time for housing. So it goes.
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371650/22771/12] Posted by Mark A at 09:14, 27th January 2026 Already liked by GBM | |
Dawlish station at high tide 24th January:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhceusV2Eqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhceusV2Eqw
Ew. Poor station lifts. Thanks for posting that.
Mark
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371649/31355/51] Posted by John D at 08:59, 27th January 2026 | |
An interesting morning ...
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Cancellations to services between Castle Cary and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton
Cancellations to services between Salisbury and Romsey
Cancellations to services between Par and Newquay
Alterations to services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Castle Cary and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton
Cancellations to services between Salisbury and Romsey
Cancellations to services between Par and Newquay
Alterations to services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton
Can add a few more line closures to your list
Eastleigh - Fareham
near Sway (Brockenhurst - Bournemouth)
near Yetminster (Weymouth- Yeovil)
Exeter - Honiton
Ryde Pier Head - Ryde St Johns
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371648/31355/51] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:57, 27th January 2026 | |
An interesting morning ...
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Cancellations to services between Castle Cary and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton
Cancellations to services between Salisbury and Romsey
Cancellations to services between Par and Newquay
Alterations to services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Castle Cary and Taunton
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton
Cancellations to services between Salisbury and Romsey
Cancellations to services between Par and Newquay
Alterations to services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot
Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton
And another one....
Alterations to services between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill the line is closed.
| Re: Stanfords - map shop(s) In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371646/31524/31] Posted by grahame at 08:31, 27th January 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, JayMac | |
EDIT: Some online research has informed me that this was a HM Stationery Office bookshop. My hazy memory was of me perusing OS Maps in there back in the early 1990s.
I used to love going to the HMSO on High Holborn in London to purchase copies of rail accident reports, of which I have quite a collection. They were a fascinating story and taught me a lot which remains with me to this day. Fact far more interesting than fiction, and facts and evidence without a marketing gloss or bias. In the information overload we have today, there is a great deal of other reading material available for analysis but these reports were something of a more educational trigger than trainspotting, though I can still tell you about difference in 4EPB units.
| Re: Melksham Station - "InfoStation" / loos / snack bar / info point opportunity? In "TransWilts line" [371645/31510/18] Posted by grahame at 08:14, 27th January 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Many thanks for the responses so far ... which (for guests who cannot yet see the running results) are very much in favour. That's something of a relief, as the poll is something of a sanity check. Part of the intent of asking around (and I have been doing so a lot locally too) has been to ensure that this project is fully in line with the vast majority of people, and the other part is to wheedle out objections and concerns so they can be thoroughly assessed at an early stage so that they can be addressed and mitigated.
