Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370855/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 18:12, 10th January 2026 |      |
Speed restriction at Little Strettion as the train was brushed by vegetation, now up to line speed again and doing that yomping past vehicles on the A49 thing. Calling additionally at a couple of stations as the preceeding service was cancelled. At Craven Arms, fog.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370853/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 17:59, 10th January 2026 | |
Onto the 17:44 Manchester Piccadilly to Swansea at Shrewsbury. No chef and first class is quiet but the catering crew are on to things quickly. Snow on the ground outside again. The A49 looks quiet.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370850/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 16:44, 10th January 2026 | |
Snow swept into heaps on the platforms at Newtown, they've had a drop.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370849/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 16:41, 10th January 2026 | |
After fog at Machynlleth and snow cover on the last of the climb, now touching 70mph on the Cambrian main line north of Moat Lane through a frozen landscape.
Mark
| Re: West Coast Main Line (WCML) upgrade work: Oct 2025 - Jan 2026 (merged topics) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370847/30947/51] Posted by paul7575 at 15:08, 10th January 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Mark A | |
Impressed that it only took 21 secs Image not available to guests to move the new bridge:
https://youtu.be/SrhKe1H6DTA?si=H7cTgrFNWNjtcs3i
Video of the replacement span carried by 4 sets of self propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) - speeded up. OHLE gantries preinstalled, I think the ballast was preloaded as well, but not visible from the camera angle.
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370846/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 14:57, 10th January 2026 | |
Sun shining in the west over the sea, snow on the high ground inland, about to cross the bridge. No photos as the train windows are plastered. The ticketing irregularity as yet unresolved, something about which I am intensely relaxed. Onward.
Mark
| Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370844/31419/1] Posted by Mark A at 14:22, 10th January 2026 | |
No trains yesterday, just departed Penrhyndeudraeth, train manager doing chapter and verse on the expired ticket, he's taken it away to make enquiries by phone to Bath Spa ticket office and to TfW retail...
Mark
| Re: West Coast Main Line (WCML) upgrade work: Oct 2025 - Jan 2026 (merged topics) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370843/30947/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:08, 10th January 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Drivers warned over second M6 closure diversions
Image not available to guests
The demolition of Clifton Bridge in Cumbria was completed last weekend
Drivers have been warned to stick to diversion routes as a section of the M6 closes for a second weekend.
The motorway will be closed until 05:00 GMT on Monday between junctions 39 at Shap and 40 near Penrith part of West Coast Main Line works, which have also seen disruption to train services.
A new bridge will be installed across the M6 after the old Clifton Bridge was demolished last weekend.
National Highways said some drivers avoided the official diversion routes during that time which led to fixed penalty notices being issued.
It urged motorists to use the signed main diversion routes which involve:
- Northbound drivers leaving the M6 at junction 39 to join the A6 and rejoining the M6 at junction 40 via Kemplay roundabout
- Southbound HGVs leaving the M6 at junction 40 and being diverted on to the A1(M) at Scotch Corner via the eastbound A66
- Other southbound drivers leaving at junction 40 diverted along the eastbound A66 to Brough and joining the southbound A685 to rejoin the M6 at junction 38 at Tebay via Kirkby Stephen
A new 4,200-tonne steel and concrete structure will be moved into place during the 57-hour motorway closure.
Image not available to guests
The demolition of Clifton Bridge in Cumbria was completed last weekend
Drivers have been warned to stick to diversion routes as a section of the M6 closes for a second weekend.
The motorway will be closed until 05:00 GMT on Monday between junctions 39 at Shap and 40 near Penrith part of West Coast Main Line works, which have also seen disruption to train services.
A new bridge will be installed across the M6 after the old Clifton Bridge was demolished last weekend.
National Highways said some drivers avoided the official diversion routes during that time which led to fixed penalty notices being issued.
It urged motorists to use the signed main diversion routes which involve:
- Northbound drivers leaving the M6 at junction 39 to join the A6 and rejoining the M6 at junction 40 via Kemplay roundabout
- Southbound HGVs leaving the M6 at junction 40 and being diverted on to the A1(M) at Scotch Corner via the eastbound A66
- Other southbound drivers leaving at junction 40 diverted along the eastbound A66 to Brough and joining the southbound A685 to rejoin the M6 at junction 38 at Tebay via Kirkby Stephen
A new 4,200-tonne steel and concrete structure will be moved into place during the 57-hour motorway closure.
| Re: Travelling Post Office and Royal Mail trains - merged topics In "Railway History and related topics" [370842/24488/55] Posted by grahame at 10:59, 10th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Very good update yesterday from Courier Checker
On this day 22 years ago, the last Travelling Post Office made its final journey.
The night of 9/10 January 2004 marked the end of sorting mail on moving trains – a service that had run for 166 years.
The night of 9/10 January 2004 marked the end of sorting mail on moving trains – a service that had run for 166 years.
Travelling Post Offices - with sorting on the way - ran from 1838 to 2004, and then (carrying mail but not sorting on the move) the last dedicated mail train ran in 2024.
Letters posted have changed out of all recognition. Twenty Five years ago, we at Well House Consultants produced a printed brochure that we mailed out twice a year to around 1000 customers and prospective customers, we invoiced by post, paid bills by cheque in the post and received payments from customers in the same way. A trip into Melksham to pay in cheques at our local bank branch was a regular undertaking.
The local branches of all of the big banks have closed, and although concerned we ourselves have not really missed them. There is still a Nationwide and a Coventy in town, and a Post Office too. And the Post Office still has that tradition of people queueing out of the door with less than half the five tills staffed. People for the most part are posting parcels; my own visits are very occasional - before Christmas to mail out a handful of hard copies of the Melksham Timetable to operators based away from the town, and last week to email a legal document for which I needed proof of posting and with no online alternative being available.
| Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370841/31405/25] Posted by a-driver at 10:18, 10th January 2026 Already liked by Pb_devon, Mark A | |
If your travelling to Cornwall from London today the latest you can depart is at 1303. Sleeper's cancelled and all other services will terminate at Plymouth.
The preceding 12:05 to Penzance appears to be soldiering on. It left Truro over two hours late just after 18:30 but looks not to have moved past Penwithers Junction on the way to Redruth since 18:42.
The 13:03 relies on a connection at Plymouth to reach Cornwall and that is just ahead of the 12:05 but again seems not to be moving, having overtaken it at Truro.
To complete the story, the 12:05 finally reached Penzance at 21:01 - nearly four hours late. The connection off the 13:03 arrived half an hour earlier - delayed by an hour and 45 minutes.
The 12:05 did sit at Saltash for close to 90 minutes waiting on an ambulance for an ill passenger - that didn't help with the storm incoming.
Some GWR staff got stranded and were forced to sleep the night in the depot. Early in the morning there was a belief the storm would be worse then expected so GWR did, some would say for a change, a top job in keeping everyone safe,
| Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370840/31405/25] Posted by Pb_devon at 08:46, 10th January 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch, Western Pathfinder, Mark A | |
The Cornwall duty NR MOM, the well known Craig Munday, has described his shift for the night on the CRS daily news here https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc
It’s currently (0845 10/1/25) at the top but later readers may have to scroll down to the 10 Jan section.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370839/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 08:40, 10th January 2026 Already liked by Timmer | |
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:05
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:05
Here is that same train 4 weeks ago - 14th December. At that date, it was running to both Chippenham and Swindon. For today, it had been cut back to Chippenham because of planned engineering, and then less than an hour before it was due, it was cancelled.
Image © 2026 by Graham Ellis is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. I am taking this opportunity to post / remind readers of the copyright on my photographs shared / used on the Coffee Shop - it's been a recent subject of discussion (here) and it's worthy of occasional reminder.
| BRTA, Westbury Forum, 9th May 2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [370838/31418/34] Posted by grahame at 08:17, 10th January 2026 | |
Sharing from my email
Dear All,
I am a member of the British Regional Transport Association(BRTA), which is a small unincorporated voluntary association which subject to resources, seeks to advance towards better public transport across the United Kingdom. Indeed, we are very keen to see a rolling programme of local line reopenings, rebuilds and select new builds of conventional railways for passenger and freight. We also campaign for an environmentally friendly, integrated, comprehensive, inclusive and affordable transport system including buses, cycling and pedestrian facilities.
I am now writing to say that the BRTA will be holding another Westbury Forum on Saturday, 9 May at the Railway Inn, Station Road, Westbury BA13 4HW https://www.railwayinn-westbury.co.uk/index (Phone 01373-228109) and I am wondering whether any of you would like to attend that meeting. Please do let me know whether or not you would be attending.
Website: https://brtarail.com/southwest/
Yours faithfully,
Simon Barber - Administrator
British Regional Transport Association
I am a member of the British Regional Transport Association(BRTA), which is a small unincorporated voluntary association which subject to resources, seeks to advance towards better public transport across the United Kingdom. Indeed, we are very keen to see a rolling programme of local line reopenings, rebuilds and select new builds of conventional railways for passenger and freight. We also campaign for an environmentally friendly, integrated, comprehensive, inclusive and affordable transport system including buses, cycling and pedestrian facilities.
I am now writing to say that the BRTA will be holding another Westbury Forum on Saturday, 9 May at the Railway Inn, Station Road, Westbury BA13 4HW https://www.railwayinn-westbury.co.uk/index (Phone 01373-228109) and I am wondering whether any of you would like to attend that meeting. Please do let me know whether or not you would be attending.
Website: https://brtarail.com/southwest/
Yours faithfully,
Simon Barber - Administrator
British Regional Transport Association
I attended a previous BRTA meeting at the same venue. I'll let Simon know that whilst I would like to attend, I will be meeting my cousins visiting the Netherlands from their home in the USA that day and have to turn down invite. I found the previous meeting very useful in helping to bring some "left field" ideas to the table there, giving me an opportunity to give them a thought and consider whether there was a logic in some of them. It was also an opportunity to network with a handful of others and to fill in those visiting on various current ideas with which we were all more familiar.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370837/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 07:49, 10th January 2026 | |
08:44 Chippenham to Westbury due 09:19
08:44 Chippenham to Westbury due 09:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:20
08:44 Chippenham to Westbury due 09:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:20
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:05
07:45 Westbury to Chippenham due 08:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:10/01/2026 07:05
| Re: WECA becomes WEMCA, sometime between December 2024 and January 2026 (updated title) In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [370835/25181/21] Posted by stuving at 21:49, 9th January 2026 | |
The launch of the WEMCA branding was in December 2024, which I missed. That date agrees with what Wikipedia says. I don't think you need to feel any shame if you missed it completely!
| Re: MetroWest services begin In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [370834/25753/21] Posted by TonyK at 21:06, 9th January 2026 Already liked by eXPassenger | |
Mark Weston is of course the Councillor for Henbury & Brentry - I suspect that a fair chunk of his constituents work in Avonmouth and would benefit from an extension of the line to Severn Beach / Avonmouth, particularly if a new station was built near the Amazon depot.
Some years ago, I was working in the now closed Jobcentre in Stapleton Road. I wasn't doing work coaching stuff, but was aware of developments. A logistics centre in Severn Beach, before Amazon, needed night shift staff. I realised that very few people seemed to know that Severn Beach was accessible by train. One manager, who in fairness lived elsewhere, asked how people would get to Temple Meads, and was shocked when I pointed out the station a couple of hundred metres away. Despite this, I saw a number of young men without their own transport jump at the chance, showing that rumours of nobody wanting a job were unfounded, none of whom were put off by the train times not fitting the shift pattern. Alas, having to arrive at work almost an hour before the shift starts, then spend over an hour in a shelter on the the platform hoping the first train home wasn't cancelled can knock the enthusiasm out of the keenest young worker. Many did not last the second week. I suggested asking the company to be more flexible with timings, but despite their desperation for staff, they couldn't/wouldn't change. Which is sad.
Mark Weston is probably in a far better position to talk to employers on Severnside and in Avonmouth about things like this, and may be able to boost any business case for the loop with answers to the right questions. Poor transport links are often cited as a hurdle to employment and expansion, so why not take the opportunity to do some real in-depth research into not what would be achieved as things stand, but what could be achieved by linking housing and employment centres well away from the traditional central area.
| Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370831/31405/25] Posted by TonyK at 20:44, 9th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Pb_devon, PrestburyRoad | |
We had no snow in Devon. I was woken by wind last night, and it sounded bad outside as well.
To make up for it, I watched this programme on BBC4, which has a long section from way back when with lots of footage of Devon railways during the 1962-63 winter. Worth a watch.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01q9d86/winterwatch-1963-the-big-freeze
| Re: Person hit by train, Taunton 24/10/2025 - Harry Basham, age 17, walking to work In "London to the West" [370830/30967/12] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:23, 9th January 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Mum of boy killed at Taunton rail crossing calls for change
Image not available to guests
Leanne Golding said her son Harry Basham used the crossing regularly to get to work
The mother of a boy killed on a pedestrian railway crossing is calling for urgent safety improvements to "stop others going through" the same.
Harry Basham, 17, was struck by a train in Taunton, Somerset just before 07:00 GMT on 24 October as he walked to work.
His mum Leanne Golding wants to see changes before her son's inquest takes place in May, saying "lighting needs to be in place, a traffic light system and gates that lock".
Network Rail has described what happened as a "tragic accident" and said it will "engage with local authorities, stakeholders and the community on the future of the crossing".
Image not available to guests
Harry Basham's family wants to see safety improvements at the foot crossing in Taunton
Golding said her son would have walked across the foot crossing "hundreds of times" to get to and from work. "It would have been pitch black that morning, nothing is lit up. The gates don't lock, you don't know when the train's coming. We're not here to blame anyone, we just don't want it to happen to anyone else," she added.
Network Rail said train drivers were instructed to sound their horn at some crossings and it urged people to be alert. Trackside signs, known as whistle boards, instruct train drivers to warn pedestrians they are approaching, but Golding said the family were not sure at what time in the morning drivers start sounding their horns.
Image not available to guests
Tributes to Harry Basham have been left near the foot crossing
A petition calling for safety improvements at the crossing has been set up on Change.org by family friend Vicky Butland. "I just hugely believe it would have prevented this tragedy if these safety measures were in place. I am doing this in Harry's name. It's a huge loss of life and we will forever remember him," she added.
The family's campaign is being supported by the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington Gideon Amos. "Ideally I would like to see an alternative crossing, an underpass or a footbridge. I am meeting with Network Rail next week so that we can discuss what the options are," Amos added.
In a statement, Network Rail said: "Our thoughts are with Harry's family and friends and the local community following the tragic accident at the 5/13 railway crossing. Network Rail will of course co-operate with the inquest and any relevant investigations as is appropriate," it added.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it sent a team of inspectors to the scene at the time of the incident. A spokesperson added: "RAIB has submitted a report summarising the evidence gathered during our preliminary examination to His Majesty's Coroner. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident," they added.
Image not available to guests
Leanne Golding said her son Harry Basham used the crossing regularly to get to work
The mother of a boy killed on a pedestrian railway crossing is calling for urgent safety improvements to "stop others going through" the same.
Harry Basham, 17, was struck by a train in Taunton, Somerset just before 07:00 GMT on 24 October as he walked to work.
His mum Leanne Golding wants to see changes before her son's inquest takes place in May, saying "lighting needs to be in place, a traffic light system and gates that lock".
Network Rail has described what happened as a "tragic accident" and said it will "engage with local authorities, stakeholders and the community on the future of the crossing".
Image not available to guests
Harry Basham's family wants to see safety improvements at the foot crossing in Taunton
Golding said her son would have walked across the foot crossing "hundreds of times" to get to and from work. "It would have been pitch black that morning, nothing is lit up. The gates don't lock, you don't know when the train's coming. We're not here to blame anyone, we just don't want it to happen to anyone else," she added.
Network Rail said train drivers were instructed to sound their horn at some crossings and it urged people to be alert. Trackside signs, known as whistle boards, instruct train drivers to warn pedestrians they are approaching, but Golding said the family were not sure at what time in the morning drivers start sounding their horns.
Image not available to guests
Tributes to Harry Basham have been left near the foot crossing
A petition calling for safety improvements at the crossing has been set up on Change.org by family friend Vicky Butland. "I just hugely believe it would have prevented this tragedy if these safety measures were in place. I am doing this in Harry's name. It's a huge loss of life and we will forever remember him," she added.
The family's campaign is being supported by the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington Gideon Amos. "Ideally I would like to see an alternative crossing, an underpass or a footbridge. I am meeting with Network Rail next week so that we can discuss what the options are," Amos added.
In a statement, Network Rail said: "Our thoughts are with Harry's family and friends and the local community following the tragic accident at the 5/13 railway crossing. Network Rail will of course co-operate with the inquest and any relevant investigations as is appropriate," it added.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it sent a team of inspectors to the scene at the time of the incident. A spokesperson added: "RAIB has submitted a report summarising the evidence gathered during our preliminary examination to His Majesty's Coroner. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident," they added.
| Re: WECA becomes WEMCA, sometime between December 2024 and January 2026 (updated title) In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [370829/25181/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:50, 9th January 2026 | |
However, their use of the WEMCA name throughout, even before it was made public, makes it impossible to know whether December was the public launch of the name or a relaunch!
Thanks, stuving. It wasn't just me, wasting my valuable time trying to work out what happened, then. I'll expand the heading of this topic accordingly. Image not available to guests
| Re: WECA becomes WEMCA, sometime between December 2024 and January 2026 (updated title) In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [370828/25181/21] Posted by stuving at 18:05, 9th January 2026 | |
There was a rather silly FoI exchange on this. The response says:
The legal name of the Authority is set out in the West of England Combined
Authority Order 2017 as “the West of England Combined Authority”.
The legal name has not been changed. There is therefore no correspondence
to HM Government requesting the change of the name of the authority.
Authority Order 2017 as “the West of England Combined Authority”.
The legal name has not been changed. There is therefore no correspondence
to HM Government requesting the change of the name of the authority.
WEMCA is a branding. There is a bit more information about them being upset that they have so little public recognition (a common problem!). So there was a relaunch of the new branding in December with new logos. However, their use of the WEMCA name throughout, even before it was made public, makes it impossible to know whether December was the public launch of the name or a relaunch!
