Blue Anchor Bay level crossing would also require full time skilled manning.

 
The cost of the Devon and Cornwall railcard will increase to £13 from Sunday, 7th September 2025 and the accompanied child fare will increase from £1 to £2 (£4 for Ranger and Rover tickets) at the same time.

The Cotswold Line Railcard price will increase to £12.50 at the same time.

 
And now the boss of  Deutsche Bahn has been sacked

AFP / MSN

 
As a local the fairground has been going downhill for years and will shut for good in October.  Quite a lot.of angry people on Facebook groups saying the rides had problems for a while and making some allegations about the ride operator

 


I posted the same link a fortnight or so ago on another thread. The latest episode of green signals on YouTube had an interview with Chiltern railways md who said they are looking at BEMUs and discontinues  electrification to replace the 165 fleet to start. GWR also pushing for this to replace their DMU fleets except the 175s a d quite possibly replace the 387s too

 

Interesting question.  The ride is probably subject to VAT as it's not transit from one place to another. But it (or was) transporting Children around the track.   I wondered whether we should be talking about the demise of the Disney train and paddle steamer ....

 

Agree with you both - and note that my suggestion was to get something running quickly (stated) and without too many hundles and relatively cheap (not explicitly stated).  Light rail requirements would mean a slowish initial service - without trains bucketing about or anything like a high speed.

Enough of a service - so all day, every day, into Taunton - for it to tip the balance of being useful and a success rather than a service so thin it's of no use, and with enough capacity for people to use it; I suspect a 153 on its own would not have the capacity.   No great analsyis done, but a service every hour and a half (but that's not clock face) or every 2 hours, 2 train service crossing at Williton?   Immediate issues would be drivers and equipment on the 143s to be allowed onto the main line - even though the 143s were on the main line what (to me) feels quite recent.  Bay platform at Taunton being the opposite side of the main line is  - err - a nuisance, but it has few if anybody service trains than need it.

 
I've found this session held on the 16th July:
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/22785/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

Page 32 of 43 seems to have the relevant text (from the .pdf downloaded transcript on the page above).

 

Not my first choice ! I would prefer something better such as an HST, but remain of the view that any train is better than no train.
A four wheeled vehicle would be acceptable at low speeds, and no worse than a bus.

 
Way off topic, but have a Magnifica bean to cup machine for yonks.
More than happy!

 
Submitted the claim on Tuesday 12th Aug 2025 after arriving on the delayed service at 1658, acknowledged at 1733, no activity on 13th Aug. Today Claim confirmed as valid at 1207 and statement of refund sent at 1334. Complete DR process 44 hours, I'd say that's excellent and the best timing to date. 

 
I agree that the web site offers both definitions.  The number plate test is a rough and ready for immediate checks by people like police and test examiners.  The acuity test is the one that the DVLA uses to determine your fitness to drive.

 
Is that really a transport item?

 
As it was a report of proceedings in Committee in Parliament, it'll be somewhere on the Parliament/Hansard website

 

Newcastle to Chathill express, which one hopes will be extended to Berwick-upon-Tweed

 
Meanwhile, over at The Independent, it appears that DB are returning to the UK sometime in the future to help with Northern Powerhouse Rail, and bringing some of their nice ICE3s with them - I hope they don't get stuck in the tunnels or under the bridges - see - https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/what-you-need-to-know-about-northern-powerhouse-rail-plans/ar-AA1Kv6fn?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=b3a5c89b91654ea5b980523d90235016&ei=85

If that link doesn't work [Edit to help it - Grahame] , preview attached-

 
Large number of services cancelled today, almost everything after mid morning. no alternatives offered

 
The DfT is talking to GWR, South Western Railway and Chiltern about a combined order for new DMUs. Unfortunately, beyond this paywalled RAIL magazine link I can't find any other online sources https://www.railmagazine.com/news/dft-talking-with-three-operators-about-combined-order-to-replace-dmus

 
Fair comment about changing, but that applies to a bus, too. The problem with a bus around Wallingford is that it's quite a challenge to devise a route that does not result in quite a long journey for those on the "later" part of the route that will not actually deliver them that far away as the crow flies from the current terminus, as Wallingford has a series of satellite suburbs around the centre with little connectivity between them. It would be easier to encourage walking and fill in the gaps in the pedestrian routes across the town.

 
Spot on - no credit due whatsoever.

 
At Mosjøen Overnatting, Finnskoggata 20 (left) on 31st July.  At home (right) 14th August



Being a bit homesick and not having to use my final "Plan B" days at the end, I was away for a few days less than anticipated.  And that meant that the saving made on a number of hotel nights was available to spend on this machine which will last a long longer than the hollybob.

Have you seen something while away that's so good you bought one for home?

 
Could be done, but as you'd still have to change at Cholsey rather than settle down for the full journey, would it be any better than a frequent shuttle bus that picked up at various points in and around Wallingford rather than having to walk to a fixed station on the edge of town?  I do struggle with seeing the advantage of short branch lines as public transport rather than a heritage/leisure experience, except where high passenger numbers or road congestion are a factor.

 
With some experience of riding in 4-wheeled vehicles on the Minehead branch, and with some experience of riding in Pacers, I have to say that I would not enjoy a 25 mile, 75 minute boneshaker ride between Taunton and Minehead.  And I'm someone who would love to see a regular Taunton/Minehead service.  I don't think it's being unduly pessimistic to say Pacers wouldn't be the answer

 
From 63 years ago - the London to Exeter and Plymouth summary timetable



So much has changed - and perhaps it's the result of those changes that changed the catering requirements / provision. 

 
Petition set up by Andy Roden some days ago. He was involved with the campaign to save the sleeper service and the reopening of LSWR route to Plymouth.

https://www.change.org/p/unpause-phase-5-of-south-west-rail-resilience-programme?source_location=topics_page

 

They don't - they head for the table seats and hope no-one else joins them. 

Glib comment from me - tempted to add a longer analysis.

Personally, I will select a table if I can; laptop space and a much more comfortable work desk if the train is not too busy.  But yet I rarely have the need to work and complete work these days and I am set up to do things more or less anywhere a laptop can be opened, so others around me are not necessarily disturbing. I'm very interested in people and their journeys too, and a smile and a moving of the laptop just an inch or two - a friendly acknowledgement of people joining - can result in really interesting learning about people and passenger flows and reasons.

 
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/18dd26bfb3ccb5de
for some pics/graphs(/adverts)

 


Today's Telegraph

 
If they were allowed,  and were funded, these would make a possible fleet to run a shuttle service on the C&W between Cholsey and Wallingford to connect to Didcot to Paddington services to provide a realistic commuter route by rail into London and Reading.

 
Nearer to "home" its the same with table seats when boarding at a departure point(London Paddington),
why do solo travellers head for the table seats and expect no one else to join them?