Will one of the benefits of GBR be that all applications for compensation when things have gone pear shaped will be to a single place and this complexity will be no longer?

In our most ambitious instalment yet, today we’re launching Five and the Dragon Quest - the latest chapter in our Famous Five: Adventures Start Here campaign at Great Western Railway (GWR).  The story draws on the myths and legends that have shaped the South West and Wales for generations, reimagined for a modern audience and rooted firmly in the places our railway connects every day.
 
The 60-second hero film, directed by Oscar and BAFTA-winning animator Peter Baynton, debuts on ITV this evening, and sits at the centre of a fully integrated approach across cinema, TV, VOD, radio, out-of-home and social. Each channel has a clear role – building awareness and distinctiveness while driving leisure demand across our network.
 
Nine years on, this creative platform continues to demonstrate that long-term creative investment delivers significant commercial return. It was recently recognised by the Advertising Planning Group (APG) for Long Term Thinking and shortlisted in the Sustained Success category at the Effie UK Awards.
 
This only happens because of the people behind it – colleagues across Great Western Railway, particularly Helen da Costa Chloë Ravat Amy Davies Dan Panes and our partners at adam&eveDDB, Mindshare UK and VCCP Roar.

From Thomas Lydon GWR

Key GWR App Changes (Feb 2026):

Log-in Required: A full password reset is necessary.

Ticket Loss Warning: Existing bookings made before the change may not appear in the new app; users are advised to have their booking references ready.

Reduced Booking Capability: Only one journey (single or return) can be booked per transaction initially.

PAYG Updates: Pay-as-you-go customers must confirm bank card details to continue usage.

Functionality: While some features are reduced, the app still supports mobile e-tickets and live, seat-location guidance.

It is recommended to check the app and web updates closely, as some functionality may be limited during the transition

From the Daily Record


One hopes that there will be exceptions for people joining at Achnashellach, Beasdale, Culrain, ... or ticket machine that will accept cash and cards installed at those stations.

ScotRail to charge ticket dodgers £10 minimum fare



ScotRail is to charge ticket dodgers a minimum £10 fare in a bid to crack down on people deliberately boarding a train without paying.

The charge will be more than the standard fare ticket on most shorter journeys.

It would see someone travelling from Bishopbriggs to Glasgow Queen Street paying £7 above the £3 pre-bought charge.

It will not apply where the cost of the ticket is already more than £10, but passengers will still have to buy before they board to qualify for any other discounted rail travel.

ScotRail estimates fare evasion costs the state-owned railway more than £11m each year.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail's customer operations director, said the move was aimed at "ensuring fairness for honest, fare-paying ScotRail passengers". He added: "Every pound lost through fraudulent travel is money that would have been reinvested into the railway, and we will take robust action to deal with those purposely avoiding payment. With more staff in place across the network, increased checks at stations, and the use of enhanced data analysis, we are reducing instances of ticket fraud year-on-year."

Exclusions to the £10 minimum fare charge will be:

- For customers who hold a national entitlement card

- If a ticket office in a station is closed

- If a station doesn't have a ticket office or ticket vending machine (TVM)

- If a customer has a registered disability that prevents them from using TVMs

Staff will have the discretion to issue the minimum fare depending on the customer's circumstances

Customers who can only pay with cash would obtain a "promise to pay" ticket from a TVM and then purchase a ticket from on-train staff.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "While around 95% of passengers already travel with a valid ticket, it is only right that ScotRail can take action against those who seek to avoid doing so."

ScotRail say "a period of education" for passengers will be launched from 1 April before the full scheme is rolled out in July.

ScotRail to crack down on fare dodgers by introducing £10 minimum fare

"The introduction of a minimum fare will target the small number of customers who don’t buy a ticket before they travel."

Been into Bristol from Bradford on Avon twice this week, at peak hours to connect to other services.

On all 4 trains, lots of people standing and the middle seats of the 3s in use.  All were services to/from Salisbury and formed of 3coach 16x turbo.

From my limited sample size appears these particular trains (0703 Salisbury-Bristol and 1701 Severn Beach - Salisbury) need to be lengthened to 4car, but as the 175 introduction in Devon and Cornwall seems to have stalled, where can they get stock from?

In a way I am glad that railway is getting busier, but not if DfT are still stuck in covid mindset and cannot enhance services, so get uncomfortable journey.

Four hurt after double-decker bus topples over



Four people have been taken to hospital after a double-decker bus veered off a road and rolled on to its side.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said officers were called just before 07:50 GMT to reports of a vehicle leaving the road at Marshcombe Shute, Brading, Isle of Wight.

The bus operator Southern Vectis confirmed there were three passengers as well as the driver on-board at the time and police said they sustained minor injuries. All four have been taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport.

Officers have closed the road up to the junction with the B3395 and have advised drivers to take alternative routes.

"The circumstances behind this incident are currently unclear, and we are working with police as they begin their investigation.

"Our focus, right now, is on the wellbeing of the driver and passengers on-board," Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager, said.

In an attempt to save on coal the Swiss Federal Railways fitted two small 0-6-0 steam shunters of class E 3/3 with a pantograph. Power was taken from overhead lines (15 kV, ​16 2⁄3 Hz), and fed to heating elements, via two transformers rated together at 480 kW. The modified E 3/3 8521 was brought into use on 13 January 1943; 8522 followed on 11 February 1943. They could run up to 20 minutes without power supply, like a fireless locomotive, once the boiler had been charged to full pressure.

All aboard! New simulator set to arrive at Swindon museum

A new High Speed Train (HST) simulator is on its way to the Swindon Borough Council-owned STEAM Museum in Swindon.

Published: Friday, 20th February 2026

The attraction, which will be part of a new display opening in the summer, has been gifted by Great Western Railway (GWR) after the retirement of the company’s HST fleet.

Arriving in a few weeks, the simulator looks unassuming from the outside but, on the inside, the high-tech marvel is capable of running a number of test routes designed to test drivers to the limit, being able to put them through their paces in all weathers and emergencies, as part of their training.

When it’s ready, the simulator will form part of the museum’s visitor experience with special extra-ticketed options available for those who want to experience what GWR drivers use to hone their skills. GWR offered the simulator to the STEAM Museum to form part of a re-imagined display at the end of the venue’s main galleries - set to be the museum’s largest update in 25 years.

The simulator was disassembled in its original home in Plymouth and getting the 8ft black cube into the museum itself will be no mean feat as it will involve temporarily removing the existing Buffet Car to enable it to be manoeuvred into place. Once safely in place the simulator will then be re-assembled by its original manufacturer.

Work will then get underway to create the new exhibition and get the simulator up and running before the summer holidays.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “The high-speed simulator will bring a whole new dimension to the visitor experience here at STEAM. It’s something for people to really get stuck in to and experience life on the railways first hand. The museum has already updated its entrance area and has some wonderful smaller exhibitions, and it’s great that we’re now creating something brand new and giving the venue its biggest update in 25 years. I’m really looking forward to the simulator being fully installed and operational – not least because I want to have a go! And of course it’s a great way to inspire the train drivers of tomorrow.”

Joe Graham, GWR Business Assurance and Property Director, said: “The HST made history when first introduced to the UK railway network, operating on the Great Western Main Line, so it is really fitting the heritage of this iconic train will be preserved in such a unique way. We are really pleased this driver simulator will have a lasting future where it can be enjoyed by thousands of visitors.”

While more information on the re-display itself is still to be revealed, the train simulator will undergo a number of operational tests in order to make it accessible to the public later this year.

Interesting is the proposed extension from Coryton to Radyr along the disused Cardiff Railway, including rebuilding the bridge over the River Taff. The original only ever carried one train in its life, and was demolished during WWII. If they design it right, they could reuse the original bridge footings which never saw much dynamic loading. 

The world’s first electric steam just 50 minutes from London

17:05 Didcot Parkway to Evesham due 18:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Well sort of.   The London to Exeter St David's train which brings the conductor was 30 minutes late.   Swindon train left 13 minutes late.

Possible better news. JourneyCheck is still showing the 13:50 Paddington to Great Malvern as cancelled but Realtime Trains is showing it as running and currently ready at platform 5.