Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| "Powerstock Station - All Change" by Diana P. Read. In "Railway History and related topics" [374176/31880/55] Posted by Mark A at 19:25, 14th April 2026 |      |
I'm wondering if others have met with this readable book. With a struggle, the author and her husband bought the station building at Powerstock from British Rail in 1968 and proceeded to do it up, start a family, and live there as the line's existence as a railway was brought to a close. The book isn't directly focussed on the railway, it's more that the railway runs through it and to a lesser extent the afterlife of the building's original purpose - eventually they ran it as a b&b. One rail-related gem of a quote, hopefully not fanciful, comes from before the days of the b&b, and a visitor, name of Chase, from New Zealand:
"At Paddington, he asked for a ticket to Powerstock, but was told the line was closed. It wasn't (it had three years to go) and Chace insisted. Very unwillingly, the booking clerk wrote out a ticket for him and told him, loudly and clearly, as if to an idiot, that he travelled at his own risk. Having just come right round the globe, Chace found this highly diverting, as did the crew on the train that brought him here."
If you're moved to read it, and are in Librarieswest's area, they have a copy available for loan.
Mark
| Re: Time to Moove on ? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374175/31879/31] Posted by Oxonhutch at 18:02, 14th April 2026 | |
I assume this permit will also cover methane emissions
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [374174/231/28] Posted by eXPassenger at 17:55, 14th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Wondering how much of the expense is for work to the in-use frieght line vs the cost of work to the out-of-use section & new station at Portishead.
It would be useful to have a single-page schedule from the perpetrators to the effect: 'This is what we need to do and here are the dates when we'll be undertaking those tasks'.
Mark
It would be useful to have a single-page schedule from the perpetrators to the effect: 'This is what we need to do and here are the dates when we'll be undertaking those tasks'.
Mark
I would like to add 2 columns to your schedule showing, for each high level task, the budgeted cost at approval and the currently estimated outturn cost.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [374173/231/28] Posted by Mark A at 17:45, 14th April 2026 | |
Wondering how much of the expense is for work to the in-use frieght line vs the cost of work to the out-of-use section & new station at Portishead.
It would be useful to have a single-page schedule from the perpetrators to the effect: 'This is what we need to do and here are the dates when we'll be undertaking those tasks'.
Mark
| Time to Moove on ? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374172/31879/31] Posted by Clan Line at 16:41, 14th April 2026 | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedeenw4j5eo
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [374171/231/28] Posted by ray951 at 15:50, 14th April 2026 | |
So costs have increased by 33% in 14 months, although it still undercuts the £234m price tag for just replacing Oxford’s Botley Road bridge.
With costs like these, it’s hard not to question whether large infrastructure schemes, rail especially, remain value for money.
I’m curious where the money ends up, though perhaps that’s best treated as a rhetorical question.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [374170/231/28] Posted by grahame at 15:21, 14th April 2026 | |
From Somerset Live
Cost of reopening Portishead railway balloons to almost £200m
Government ministers have had to approve an additional £14.69m for the project to reopen the railway between Bristol and Portishead. The scheme is already well underway, with vegetation cleared along the three mile route and work beginning on the construction compounds for the new stations in Pill and Portishead.
The cost of the scheme has increased by almost £50m since January 2025. The scheme had been set to cost £152.01m but inflation and rising costs saw this increase to £182.21m as of July 2025. Now, following the tender process and negotiations to appoint the contractors to deliver the track infrastructure, civil engineering, and signals and controls, the price tag has risen again to £196.9m.
Continues
The cost of the scheme has increased by almost £50m since January 2025. The scheme had been set to cost £152.01m but inflation and rising costs saw this increase to £182.21m as of July 2025. Now, following the tender process and negotiations to appoint the contractors to deliver the track infrastructure, civil engineering, and signals and controls, the price tag has risen again to £196.9m.
Continues
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374169/31876/31] Posted by Witham Bobby at 13:21, 14th April 2026 | |
I wouldn't want to sit anywheere with Bill Clinton looking over my shoulder
Ah............obviously a MAGA supporter !!!
Not in all it's manifestations I'm not
I have a strong belief that those who desire power to control other people's lives and prosperity are often the ones who shouldn't get within a hundred miles of it. I have a great distrust of all politicos, even those who are distant from the conventional model as Mr Trump. I've met and had dealings with enough of them to know the uneasiness is well founded
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374168/31876/31] Posted by Mark A at 11:52, 14th April 2026 | |
Ah, Montpelier. Appreciated as an image to walk around in while waiting for the next train. This was it in 2018.
Mark
| Re: New rural greenway plans In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [374167/31878/50] Posted by Trowres at 11:43, 14th April 2026 | |
While re-using disused railways is a useful starting point, it doesn't come near to dealing with the lack of safe non-car travel opportunities for getting into "town" from nearby villages and out of town to access countryside.
We can look to The Netherlands for inspiration and good practice.
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374166/31876/31] Posted by grahame at 10:46, 14th April 2026 | |
As you specifically selected, I believe that no.7 may be the exception in this set. I had my doubts about including that one in this thread. "Art" is in the eye of the beholder ...
Here are some further examples of, perhaps, art from that town
| New rural greenway plans In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [374165/31878/50] Posted by CyclingSid at 10:46, 14th April 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Laura Laker, the author of ‘Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network’, has done some research on the difficulties of making rural greenways
https://road.cc/news/resistant-landowners-blocking-117-miles-of-traffic-free-cycle-routes
highlights some of the authorities and land owners causing problems. Leaving people marooned on "car only" traffic areas. As she points out not exactly ideal in the current situation with global fuel prices.
She has produced a toolkit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zvjSNPZLcdPYbVBN8Wxu2yzdXTpuAsE77XcoV1nblgk/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0
to empower locals who want to something in their own area. In some ways an update to the original document, which I think Graham has stored somewhere on the system.
| Re: Screen Cleaning on high speed trains In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374164/31875/51] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:36, 14th April 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Have you seen the buckets of water and brushes near the stop boards at stations like Westbury and Reading? Are they still there? A low-tech solution to what looks like an industry-wide issue.
They are at many stations as a back up to the train's own screenwash and wipers and overnight cleaning on the depot. Useful for when a large number of insects are around - for example Mayfly nights where I have seen trains with insects coating the front of the train several centimetres thick - a test for any wiper system!
Complications with electrification mean the long wooden brushes can't be used at places like Reading, but shorter alternatives (and a multi-page instruction on how to use them safely!) are in place at places with OHLE.
Also the open containers with screenwash in were getting bad press as a health hazard (no, it's not drinking water Mr. Dog!) so they tend to be in more secure containers these days.
Both of those things mean that they aren't used anywhere near as much as they used to be.
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374163/31876/31] Posted by Clan Line at 09:49, 14th April 2026 | |
I wouldn't want to sit anywheere with Bill Clinton looking over my shoulder
Ah............obviously a MAGA supporter !!!
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [374162/31163/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 08:56, 14th April 2026 | |
Wasn't there to be a concerted effort from NR and contractors to fix the many long-term infrastructure issues on the Paddington the Reading main line? What happened to that? Failures seem to me to be as frequent as they ever were
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374161/31876/31] Posted by Witham Bobby at 08:50, 14th April 2026 | |
I wouldn't want to sit anywheere with Bill Clinton looking over my shoulder
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374160/31876/31] Posted by grahame at 08:19, 14th April 2026 | |
Street Art or Grafitti or Criminal Damage? My view is that to be Street Art the daubing has to have a degree of artistic merit and, for example, I reckon Picture 7 is completely lacking in this.
Also the paint should only have been applied with the express permission of the property owner.
And where do you draw the line concerning images which some people would regard as offensive?
Also the paint should only have been applied with the express permission of the property owner.
And where do you draw the line concerning images which some people would regard as offensive?
I would agree with you that permission needs to be sought and gained first which I believe to be the case in almost all of these examples.
As you specifically selected, I believe that no.7 may be the exception in this set. I had my doubts about including that one in this thread. "Art" is in the eye of the beholder, and I would be inclined to suggest - as a first suggestion - that the property owner be the best placed to initially make that call.
| Re: Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374159/31876/31] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:07, 14th April 2026 | |
Street Art or Grafitti or Criminal Damage? My view is that to be Street Art the daubing has to have a degree of artistic merit and, for example, I reckon Picture 7 is completely lacking in this.
Also the paint should only have been applied with the express permission of the property owner.
And where do you draw the line concerning images which some people would regard as offensive?
| Re: Swindon to Trowbridge - the bus alternative In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374157/31877/5] Posted by ellendune at 07:34, 14th April 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
Swindon Bus have also taken over the No 9 route from Stagecoach so it was not discontinued.
| Re: Swindon to Trowbridge - the bus alternative In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374156/31877/5] Posted by bobm at 07:18, 14th April 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
This article, which first appeared in the Swindon Advertiser, is inaccurate.
The route does not include the old bus station site.
As it comes into Swindon it drops off on one side of Fleming Way before continuing to the railway station forecourt. It then comes back to Fleming Way to start the next trip to Devizes/Trowbridge from the usual stop. There was enough slack in the timetable to allow for that.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [374155/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:46, 14th April 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury
Due to a points failure between Reading and Newbury the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 08:00 14/04.
| Swindon to Trowbridge - the bus alternative In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374154/31877/5] Posted by grahame at 06:44, 14th April 2026 | |
From the Gazette and Herald
Service 9, between Swindon and Wroughton will be withdrawn completely due to low passenger numbers. Customers can continue to travel between Swindon town centre and Wroughton using Service 49, which runs every 30 minutes.
Service 49, between Swindon, Wroughton, Devizes and Trowbridge will see a route alternation to serve the former bus station, improving access to the railway station, as the current stop on Fleming Way is too far for passengers.
There will also be general retiming and journey adjustments to better meet passenger demand, and additional evening journeys to replace funded service 9 journeys.
The route has also been revised to better connect with Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, with a new morning journey added to complement the existing afternoon service.
Service 49, between Swindon, Wroughton, Devizes and Trowbridge will see a route alternation to serve the former bus station, improving access to the railway station, as the current stop on Fleming Way is too far for passengers.
There will also be general retiming and journey adjustments to better meet passenger demand, and additional evening journeys to replace funded service 9 journeys.
The route has also been revised to better connect with Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, with a new morning journey added to complement the existing afternoon service.
The 49 runs every 30 minutes from Swindon via Wroughton and Avebury to Devizes, with alternate connecting services using the same route number, vehicle and through fare on to Trowbridge, where they terminate in the town rather than carrying on to the station (a five to ten minute walk).
Journey time Swindon to Trowbridge is 2 hours (a few minutes longer in the peak). Last bus to Trowbridge leaves Swindon at 17:25, last bus to Devizes at 21:11.
| Re: Sweden reopens to the Finnish border In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374153/6050/52] Posted by grahame at 05:47, 14th April 2026 | |
From Railway Gazette
SWEDEN: Passenger services have been reinstated on the 159 km route between Boden and Haparanda on the border with Finland.
Regular passenger services on the line had ended in 1992, but have now restarted with Vy Tåg’s Norrtåg subsidiary initially operating two return trains a day from Luleå to Haparanda and a single pair of trains between Umeå and Haparanda, using two-car Bombardier Regina X52 EMUs.
The only stop between Haparanda and Boden is at Kalix, where a new station has been built, while the old station at Haparanda has been refurbished.
Regular passenger services on the line had ended in 1992, but have now restarted with Vy Tåg’s Norrtåg subsidiary initially operating two return trains a day from Luleå to Haparanda and a single pair of trains between Umeå and Haparanda, using two-car Bombardier Regina X52 EMUs.
The only stop between Haparanda and Boden is at Kalix, where a new station has been built, while the old station at Haparanda has been refurbished.
I visited this line Interrail in 2024 ... the single daily train to Tornio station in Finland, walk to Haparanda, and train onward. Will be good to see oil opened through.
From yle in Finland
Starting this summer, railway afficionados will be able to make a record-long train journey within the EU.
And for those seeking the old-time romance of the rails, the key to the new route is a evocatively restored station in Haparanda, Sweden, dating back to 1919.
When a long-awaited rail link opens between northern Finland and Sweden, it will be possible to travel some 5,000km by train from Portugal's Algarve to Kolari in Lapland – Finland's northernmost station.
And for those seeking the old-time romance of the rails, the key to the new route is a evocatively restored station in Haparanda, Sweden, dating back to 1919.
When a long-awaited rail link opens between northern Finland and Sweden, it will be possible to travel some 5,000km by train from Portugal's Algarve to Kolari in Lapland – Finland's northernmost station.
| Street Art - South West England and some further afield In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374152/31876/31] Posted by grahame at 05:13, 14th April 2026 | |
I don't remember a great deal of street art in my youth - but these days it's quite common - I suspect because of the none-fade properties of modern materials in bright sunlight
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| Screen Cleaning on high speed trains In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374151/31875/51] Posted by grahame at 04:26, 14th April 2026 | |
Have you seen the buckets of water and brushes near the stop boards at stations like Westbury and Reading? Are they still there? A low-tech solution to what looks like an industry-wide issue.
From Rail Advent
Alstom, in conjunction with its cleaning contractor, OCS, has developed a solution to clean the windscreens of Avanti West Coast’s Pendolino fleet by hand at its Traincare Centre in Polmadie, Glasgow.
Previously, because of overhead live wires in the depot, windscreen cleaning had to be carried out at track level. However, a spotless clean could not be achieved due to insufficient water pressure reaching the brush at that distance.
The solution makes use of mobile staging, which, by isolating the overhead electricity supply, allows cleaners to get closer access to the Pendolino windscreens, especially the edges of windscreens that automated train washes cannot completely clean.
Previously, because of overhead live wires in the depot, windscreen cleaning had to be carried out at track level. However, a spotless clean could not be achieved due to insufficient water pressure reaching the brush at that distance.
The solution makes use of mobile staging, which, by isolating the overhead electricity supply, allows cleaners to get closer access to the Pendolino windscreens, especially the edges of windscreens that automated train washes cannot completely clean.
| Re: East-West Rail: Central Section Bedford - Cambridge In "Chiltern Railways services" [374150/22846/44] Posted by grahame at 04:12, 14th April 2026 | |
From New Civil Engineer
East West Rail (EWR) has released details of its promised final route-wide consultation despite new rules brought in by the Planning and Infrastructure Act making the engagement not statutory.
The new railway linking Oxford and Cambridge confirmed earlier this year it would still carry out the full public consultation for the remaining sections of the line despite the Planning and Infrastructure Bill removing the legal requirement to do so.
article continues
The new railway linking Oxford and Cambridge confirmed earlier this year it would still carry out the full public consultation for the remaining sections of the line despite the Planning and Infrastructure Bill removing the legal requirement to do so.
article continues
| Royal Scotsman and Belmond Britannic Explorer In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [374149/30661/47] Posted by grahame at 04:05, 14th April 2026 | |
Another (THE other?) super-luxury train - the Royal Scotsman - reported to be into its 2026 season
From the Greenock Telegraph
The Royal Scotsman brought its passengers to the Clyde coast on Sunday as part of a three-night scenic tour for rail tourists taking in all the beauty of the west coast.
The train which takes passengers on a once in a lifetime 'Western Scenic Wonders' tour has a luxury onboard spa and dining with tickets costing up to almost £20,000 for the full tour.
The Royal Scotsman is scheduled to be a regular visitor to Wemyss Bay over the coming months, bringing her passengers to the coast for a trip across the water to Bute and a visit to the stunning Gothic mansion of Mount Stuart.
The train is one of several rail experiences offered by luxury tour company Belmond across the UK and Europe.
The train which takes passengers on a once in a lifetime 'Western Scenic Wonders' tour has a luxury onboard spa and dining with tickets costing up to almost £20,000 for the full tour.
The Royal Scotsman is scheduled to be a regular visitor to Wemyss Bay over the coming months, bringing her passengers to the coast for a trip across the water to Bute and a visit to the stunning Gothic mansion of Mount Stuart.
The train is one of several rail experiences offered by luxury tour company Belmond across the UK and Europe.
| Truro Cathedral Choir sings on after Isles of Scilly ferry delays In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374147/31873/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:51, 13th April 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
From the BBC:
Cathedral choir sings on after Scilly ferry delays
Some of the Truro Cathedral Choir on the island of Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly
A Cornish choir extended its tour of the Isles of Scilly after the passenger ferry that connects the islands with the British mainland suffered an engine fault.
The singers and support staff of Truro Cathedral Choir found out they were stranded for the weekend on Friday and added some extra engagements to their itinerary over the weekend.
The choir was able to return on Monday once the Scillonian III ferry resumed sailing after repairs to its engines had been completed.
James Anderson-Besant, director of music at Truro Cathedral, thanked islanders for their hospitality, adding: "It's been a much longer trip than we planned for. It's been surreal and complicated but wonderful."
The trip to Scilly after a busy Easter period had been delayed initially when rough weather delayed the choir's arrival last week from Tuesday to Wednesday. But the news on Friday the Scillonian III had developed an engine problem and would not sail again between St Mary's and Penzance until Monday left the group of about 20 young people aged between eight and 13, six school staff and 12 adult singers with a weekend to fill.
Anderson-Besant said: "The kindness and generosity of people on the islands has been amazing. People have really gone out of their way to help us. It's been brilliant."
One bonus of the delay was it allowed the choir to join islanders at Sunday services on St Mary's.
Anderson-Besant said: "It was absolutely amazing. We weren't planning that at all, so we didn't have any music with us for that. The chaplain to the isles Elizabeth Burke very kindly printed off lots of copies of things for us and we did some extra singing. It was just totally lovely to join the community here."
Their Sunday best: the Truro Cathedral Choir outside St Mary's Church on St Mary's
Anderson-Besant said the unplanned change to the half-term holidays had not caused issues back on the mainland. He said: "All the parents and the families we've been in touch with have actually been really excited about what we've been up to and very grateful to the team of staff who've looked after everyone so well."
Truro Cathedral Choir has an unbroken tradition dating back to the 1880s. It currently has 12 adult professional singers, as well as 34 boy and girl choristers.
Some of the Truro Cathedral Choir on the island of Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly
A Cornish choir extended its tour of the Isles of Scilly after the passenger ferry that connects the islands with the British mainland suffered an engine fault.
The singers and support staff of Truro Cathedral Choir found out they were stranded for the weekend on Friday and added some extra engagements to their itinerary over the weekend.
The choir was able to return on Monday once the Scillonian III ferry resumed sailing after repairs to its engines had been completed.
James Anderson-Besant, director of music at Truro Cathedral, thanked islanders for their hospitality, adding: "It's been a much longer trip than we planned for. It's been surreal and complicated but wonderful."
The trip to Scilly after a busy Easter period had been delayed initially when rough weather delayed the choir's arrival last week from Tuesday to Wednesday. But the news on Friday the Scillonian III had developed an engine problem and would not sail again between St Mary's and Penzance until Monday left the group of about 20 young people aged between eight and 13, six school staff and 12 adult singers with a weekend to fill.
Anderson-Besant said: "The kindness and generosity of people on the islands has been amazing. People have really gone out of their way to help us. It's been brilliant."
One bonus of the delay was it allowed the choir to join islanders at Sunday services on St Mary's.
Anderson-Besant said: "It was absolutely amazing. We weren't planning that at all, so we didn't have any music with us for that. The chaplain to the isles Elizabeth Burke very kindly printed off lots of copies of things for us and we did some extra singing. It was just totally lovely to join the community here."
Their Sunday best: the Truro Cathedral Choir outside St Mary's Church on St Mary's
Anderson-Besant said the unplanned change to the half-term holidays had not caused issues back on the mainland. He said: "All the parents and the families we've been in touch with have actually been really excited about what we've been up to and very grateful to the team of staff who've looked after everyone so well."
Truro Cathedral Choir has an unbroken tradition dating back to the 1880s. It currently has 12 adult professional singers, as well as 34 boy and girl choristers.
