Thanks for the photos. 4.4 metres... is 5.2 metres the figure below which a bridge needs to have its height indicated on a roundel?

An engineering cutaway of the current bridge and associated works would be good to see. That surprise brick invert... in the end was it simply retained... and also, it being a sump, how is the drainage organised now - and where to?

Mark

 

 

 

The Flying Scotsman

 

That's certainly a step up from a BBQ 

(I'll get my coat!)

 

Paddle Steamer Preservation Society - special outing from Southampton on Saturday
https://paddlesteamers.org

 

I'm very glad to hear it.

(And incidentally, not all migrants are refugees- the msn article Chris B linked to describes him as the former, not the latter)

 
PSPS?

 
Indeed, social media has a lot to blame....but how does one change that now? Far too late?

 

I'm not sure if that's so much of an "infrastructure" problem as defined in the subject line but, yes, these remain far, far too common.

From the BBC this morning


I have no idea what the typical profile of people hit by trains is, nor recent stats for which are intended by the person hit, but I believe they remain the vast majority - perhaps they are dominant even more than in the past with other (accidental) categories being slashed.  Every (intentional) one is a tragedy.  A very great deal has been done on the railways and continues to be done to address it in "immediacy" but it strikes me that it's far better to address the issues before the become "person hit by train" - before the person gets anywhere near, or thinks about getting near the train.

 
Let's just say "moderator team aware" of this thread.   

 
He is - a Yemeni migrant....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/yemeni-migrant-charged-over-telford-bus-jacking/ar-AA2cBsDE?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=48f5f9f94d774537cebc02d590ed9b07&ei=281

 

Wow. Quite a reaction.

I wasn't aware that citing an official Home Office document constituted "right wing politics"?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqe3y34e9eo

I wasn't even aware that the aspiring bus driver was a refugee, hence my question based on another forum member's suggestion.

 
Some pictures from this morning.   Considering it was the rush hour, the traffic wasn't particularly heavy.





I have seen some comment in the media that after all the work it doesn't look that different.   Closer inspection reveals the footway under the bridge has been removed, a passenger walkway has been put through on the side nearest the station and the headroom has been increased by six inches.


From Google Streetview June 2022

As mentioned there is no direct benefit for rail passengers yet, but the re-opening of the bridge does allow more buses to serve the station.  For those coming in from the west it means the end of a five minute to the station and an even longer trek to the city centre - including the S6 from Swindon.

 
Strange at it might seem, UK-born are far more likely to be rapists. Now let's keep right-wing politics OFF this board please?

 
Very interesting, thank you. I have saved a copy to look back at later behind my own firewall.

 

Apologies didn't mean to imply that you thought it was good value.

To me it just feels like another example of the railway industry over‑promising, under‑delivering, and charging a premium for the privilege. In this area alone we have the lack of electrification to Oxford, East West Rail delays, the Oxford station rebuild, a general shortage of rolling stock, and of course the current ongoing unreliability of the service.

I hope things do improve but at the moment I can't see how.

 
Somewhat depressing piece in the Telegraph ('gifted' link, valid for 14 days without subscription):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/f1df11957f2a3f91

 
In the 1980s I was on a train from Crewe to Liverpool which failed to stop at an intermediate station.  The driver reversed back to the station.

 

I never said it was good value and you’ll note my full post you quoted included the word ‘farce’.

But it has provided a new bridge for Platform 5, together with another one for a future extension of Platform 2.  Those improvements will follow on on due course, but couldn’t happen without the works.  So, no immediate improvement would be a better statement.

 
Chippenham<>Trowbridge would be on my list, but not top of it.

Ahead of it would be grade separation at Didcot East Junction together with access/exit arrangements at Didcot Yard. Also additional freight loops with higher entry and exit speeds between Reading and Newbury, and further improvements both sides of Oxford (which are paused/under development).

 
John Heaton's excellent memoirs of being Area Manager at Exeter recalls an incident where a class 50 London bound express realised too late that it should call at Castle Cary. After storming through the station, brakes hard on, the driver did indeed reverse the train back into the platform.