Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Should finding your bus be easier? Better local information? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374408/31917/5] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 12:32, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
As long as you also ensure that you post a map of both stops locations so those who do not know the town well know how to reach the other stop?
I did pretty much this - drew a map of Charlbury's bus stop locations and the routes the buses take, which is notoriously complex. The Town Council got some printed up and stuck them on all the bus shelters around town.
https://www.charlbury.info/documents/buses_from_charlbury.pdf
| Where was PhilW - many moons ago! In "The Lighter Side" [374407/31926/30] Posted by PhilWakely at 11:57, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
I may have mentioned elsewhere that I am attempting to resurrect some old damaged B&W negatives using various bits of software. Here are a couple, which I am reasonably pleased with. The AI process may have made some small alterations, but the scene is essentially correct.
So, where was I when these two photos were taken. A bonus point for the 'when'


| Re: Your pint could come with a surprising health benefit ... In "The Lighter Side" [374406/31925/30] Posted by Witham Bobby at 11:42, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
7 pints per day will provide all the B6 needed. This is excellent news
| Re: Seatfrog Upgrades In "Fare's Fair" [374405/31920/4] Posted by Ralph Ayres at 11:32, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
Your official source of info is here https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/restrictions.html, detailed under each individual TOC.
| Your pint could come with a surprising health benefit ... In "The Lighter Side" [374404/31925/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:31, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
... as I say to my wife (our anniversary yesterday, but I forgot
)From the BBC:
Your pint could come with a surprising health benefit

Drinking the odd pint of beer can provide "substantial levels" of an essential brain-boosting vitamin in your diet, according to new research in a respected journal.
The vitamin B6 is good for the brain, blood and immune system and is found in a wide variety of foods.
A beer "serving" might meet around 15% of your daily B6 requirement, the authors say, and even alcohol-free lager could have the same effect.
Many of the raw ingredients used to make beer, including barley, wheat and brewer's yeast, contain vitamin B6 and the brewing process doesn't kill it all off, research suggests.
B6 is an essential nutrient that we get through food. Good sources of B6 are meat and fish, but it's also present in other foods, including porridge oats, potatoes and chickpeas. Many breakfast cereals have added B6 too.
Being truly deficient in B6 is rare, although sometimes levels can be a bit low, often alongside a lack of other B vitamins, such as B12, which can leave you feeling tired and nauseous.
(BBC article continues)

Drinking the odd pint of beer can provide "substantial levels" of an essential brain-boosting vitamin in your diet, according to new research in a respected journal.
The vitamin B6 is good for the brain, blood and immune system and is found in a wide variety of foods.
A beer "serving" might meet around 15% of your daily B6 requirement, the authors say, and even alcohol-free lager could have the same effect.
Many of the raw ingredients used to make beer, including barley, wheat and brewer's yeast, contain vitamin B6 and the brewing process doesn't kill it all off, research suggests.
B6 is an essential nutrient that we get through food. Good sources of B6 are meat and fish, but it's also present in other foods, including porridge oats, potatoes and chickpeas. Many breakfast cereals have added B6 too.
Being truly deficient in B6 is rare, although sometimes levels can be a bit low, often alongside a lack of other B vitamins, such as B12, which can leave you feeling tired and nauseous.
(BBC article continues)
| Lineside fire at Bristol In "London to South Wales" [374403/31924/11] Posted by Sixty3Closure at 11:11, 23rd April 2026 Already liked by matth1j, Witham Bobby | ![]() |
A fire near Bristol closed all the lines to Cardiff yesterday afternoon (22nd).
This reminded me why I stopped using the train and really don't miss commuting.
I understand things go wrong but it's still frustrating to see that the train companies and/or network rail are still not able to communicate to customers.
Sitting on a train at Reading there was a delay but the train then left with assurances from on board staff it was going to Cardiff. Off course it was terminated early at Bristol and checking the website it had variously been cancelled, delayed, left 3 mins late (not the 30 it did). It was also apparent there were no trains getting through. At Bristol everyone was told to go to Gloucester. While that might have looked good on paper I'm not sure having several intercities worth of people stuck at Gloucester waiting for an already crowded 2 carriage Transport for Wales train was a great idea. Several trains later I managed to find a standing spot on a rammed 3 carriage train. This was then terminated early at Newport with an announcement to pick up the waiting services at platform 2.These of course were all cancelled and then the one train that eventually arrived was too crowded to board. Distinct lack of staff at any of the stations as well apart from various GWR train crew also trying to get home who were having to face a lot of angry people.
Interestingly at Gloucester I ended up next to a Network Rail person who was unaware of any delays - worked at HQ but chatting to him he saw the problems in quite abstract terms and could see nothing wrong with sending people to x,y,z as the routes all aligned. Seemed surprised when I mentioned lack of information and sevre over crowding. Now not a very representative sample but my previous experience with Network Rail has shown great engineers but no customer focus.
And why do I have to create a separate account for delay/repay?
Anyway rant over.
| Re: Denmark: Two trains collide head-on, leaving five critically hurt, 23 April 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374402/31921/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:38, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
Thanks for posting, ChrisB: we started two topics simultaneously, so I've merged them here.

| Jools Townsend, Chief Executive, Community Rail Network In "Who's who on Western railways" [374401/31923/2] Posted by grahame at 10:38, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
Just received ...
Dear Community Rail Network member,
I am writing to let you all know that, with heavy heart, I will be leaving Community Rail Network at the end of June, after nine and a half years in post.
I am so proud of everything we have achieved together over the years, and the incredibly impactful and influential place that the community rail movement has landed in, thanks to the efforts and passion of everyone involved. I know that community rail, and Community Rail Network, has a brilliant future ahead.
However, the time is right for me to move on to pastures new and fresh challenges. I am moving on to become chief executive of the Institute for Social Value, taking an array of enriching experience that I’ve gained influencing a more socially minded and beneficial railway, and growing a national membership organisation. I do hope we will stay in touch and that there will be opportunities to work together again in the future.
continues
I am writing to let you all know that, with heavy heart, I will be leaving Community Rail Network at the end of June, after nine and a half years in post.
I am so proud of everything we have achieved together over the years, and the incredibly impactful and influential place that the community rail movement has landed in, thanks to the efforts and passion of everyone involved. I know that community rail, and Community Rail Network, has a brilliant future ahead.
However, the time is right for me to move on to pastures new and fresh challenges. I am moving on to become chief executive of the Institute for Social Value, taking an array of enriching experience that I’ve gained influencing a more socially minded and beneficial railway, and growing a national membership organisation. I do hope we will stay in touch and that there will be opportunities to work together again in the future.
continues
Searching back on the forum, I'm amazed to find so few references to Jools - only half a dozen public threads. An odd time, on her departure, for me to start a thread, but never mind ...
The time that Jools came on board was the time the organisation moved from ACoRP to CRN, and from its original objectives to the four pillars. As an organisation that was set up in the 90s to get bums on seats on lines that were struggling, it had been so successful that it had worked itself out of the need for that role - look at Barnstaple or Exmouth then, and today.
| Denmark: Two trains collide head-on, leaving five critically hurt, 23 April 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374400/31921/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:35, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
From the BBC:
Two trains collide head-on in Denmark, leaving five critically hurt

The trains collided head-on between the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup about 40km (25 miles) north-west of the capital
Two trains have collided head-on on a level crossing north west of Copenhagen, leaving five people critically hurt and 12 others with minor injuries, medical officials say.
The trains were travelling early on Thursday on a line linking the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup in the North Zealand area of north-east Denmark, with a total of 38 people on board, according to police.
Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department was unable to say what led to the crash but told Danish TV that all the injured had been taken to hospital by air or by ambulance.
Local mayor Trine Egetved said she was deeply shaken by the accident.
Public broadcaster DR showed images of two yellow and grey trains, both with visible damage to the front, facing each other in a wooded area.
Officials said the trains collided at 06:29 local time (05:29 BST) on Thursday and fire and rescue teams were alerted immediately.
Egetved, who is mayor of the Gribskov municipality, said those with critical injuries had been flown to the National Hospital in Copenhagen.
"The local track is used by many Gribskov residents, workers and students," she wrote on Facebook.

Denmark's Accident Investigation Board arrived at the scene during the morning and Inspector Morten Pedersen of North Zealand police said they would be working together to find out what had happened.
Pedersen told reporters it was far too early to know the cause of the crash.
Rail accidents are rare in Denmark and one expert suggested one of the train drivers had ended up on the wrong line by over-riding a stop signal as the train left a local station. The Gribskov line is not thought to have been updated with an automated safety system.
Trine Egetved told public broadcaster DR that it was shocking that two trains could collide head-on "and we must ensure it never happens again".

The trains collided head-on between the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup about 40km (25 miles) north-west of the capital
Two trains have collided head-on on a level crossing north west of Copenhagen, leaving five people critically hurt and 12 others with minor injuries, medical officials say.
The trains were travelling early on Thursday on a line linking the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup in the North Zealand area of north-east Denmark, with a total of 38 people on board, according to police.
Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department was unable to say what led to the crash but told Danish TV that all the injured had been taken to hospital by air or by ambulance.
Local mayor Trine Egetved said she was deeply shaken by the accident.
Public broadcaster DR showed images of two yellow and grey trains, both with visible damage to the front, facing each other in a wooded area.
Officials said the trains collided at 06:29 local time (05:29 BST) on Thursday and fire and rescue teams were alerted immediately.
Egetved, who is mayor of the Gribskov municipality, said those with critical injuries had been flown to the National Hospital in Copenhagen.
"The local track is used by many Gribskov residents, workers and students," she wrote on Facebook.

Denmark's Accident Investigation Board arrived at the scene during the morning and Inspector Morten Pedersen of North Zealand police said they would be working together to find out what had happened.
Pedersen told reporters it was far too early to know the cause of the crash.
Rail accidents are rare in Denmark and one expert suggested one of the train drivers had ended up on the wrong line by over-riding a stop signal as the train left a local station. The Gribskov line is not thought to have been updated with an automated safety system.
Trine Egetved told public broadcaster DR that it was shocking that two trains could collide head-on "and we must ensure it never happens again".
| Denmark: Two trains collide head-on, leaving five critically hurt, 23 April 2026 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374399/31921/52] Posted by ChrisB at 10:30, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
From Sky News via MSN
The crash happened around 40km (25 miles) north of the capital Copenhagen.
At least 12 other people have minor injuries, according to the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department.
The crash prompted a massive emergency response for what police described as a major incident.
Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed together, with both remaining upright on the tracks.
The two local trains collided on a train line linking the towns of Hillerod and Kagerup, police said.
"It is two local trains that have collided head-on," a spokesperson for the emergency rescue services told Reuters.
"There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped," the spokesperson added. "Large resources have been dispatched to the scene."
The injured have been transported away from the scene in ambulances and helicopters, the fire department said.
| Re: Seatfrog Upgrades In "Fare's Fair" [374398/31920/4] Posted by Phantom at 09:30, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
Whenever I upgrade to First Class, the carriage is always full of GWR staff giving the wink to the train Manager

| Re: Appealing against Delay Repay payment In "Fare's Fair" [374397/31915/4] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:41, 23rd April 2026 Already liked by grahame | ![]() |
I’d second that.
I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service. I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.
I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service. I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.
Classic evidence of a rail fare system so complex ... that it can't really cope
Classic evidence of why it suits the railway to keep it that way.
| Re: Appealing against Delay Repay payment In "Fare's Fair" [374396/31915/4] Posted by grahame at 08:22, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
I’d second that.
I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service. I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.
I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service. I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.
Classic evidence of a rail fare system so complex ... that it can't really cope
| Re: Appealing against Delay Repay payment In "Fare's Fair" [374395/31915/4] Posted by bobm at 04:43, 23rd April 2026 | ![]() |
I’d second that.
I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service. I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.
| Re: Seatfrog Upgrades In "Fare's Fair" [374394/31920/4] Posted by trainbuff at 22:53, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
I believe that you can. Certainly on GWR and XC. As long as you have a bvalid priv ticket. Best to check though if using different TOC's
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [374393/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 22:50, 22nd April 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | ![]() |
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to the train departing late to maintain customer connections.
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to the train departing late to maintain customer connections.
Left Swindon 14 minutes late - holding this train for connections is usually the right move
| Seatfrog Upgrades In "Fare's Fair" [374392/31920/4] Posted by GWR 158 at 22:17, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
Hi everyone!
I have been pondering this question, as a staff travel facilities holder would I be allowed to purchase 1st class upgrades for weekday travel using seatfrog? The reason I ask being some websites say yes some say no.
Any input is greatly appreciated!
| Indeed, 'the lighter side': Ideal conditions to see peak of Lyrid meteor shower In "The Lighter Side" [374391/31919/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:11, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
From the BBC:
Ideal conditions to see peak of Lyrid meteor shower in UK

With lots of clear skies over the coming nights there is a good chance of seeing the Lyrid meteor shower.
While it has been ongoing since the 16 April, the peak is expected on Wednesday night.
Expect to see around 10 to 15 meteors an hour with surges of activity that could bring up to 100 an hour.
The Lyrid meteor shower is an annual event as a result of the Earth passing through dust left behind Comet Thatcher.

With lots of clear skies over the coming nights there is a good chance of seeing the Lyrid meteor shower.
While it has been ongoing since the 16 April, the peak is expected on Wednesday night.
Expect to see around 10 to 15 meteors an hour with surges of activity that could bring up to 100 an hour.
The Lyrid meteor shower is an annual event as a result of the Earth passing through dust left behind Comet Thatcher.
| Doncaster-Sheffield trains hit by 213 hours of cable theft delays In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [374390/31918/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:03, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
From the BBC:
Cable theft costs passengers 213 hours in delays

Trains between Doncaster and Sheffield have been hit by 50 incidents of cable theft in the past five years
Cable thefts on railway lines between Doncaster and Sheffield have delayed passengers by more than 213 hours in the past year, figures show.
Passengers on services between the two South Yorkshire cities, which also passes through Rotherham, often see services cancelled or severely delayed as a result of the thefts.
Network Rail is publicly funded, meaning each theft is an additional cost to the taxpayer to repair.
The company said thefts had rise in line with an increase in copper prices, and that it was "working closely" with British Transport Police to catch and prosecute offenders.
According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, there had been 50 incidents of railway cable theft between Doncaster and Sheffield in the last five years, including 16 in 2025/26 alone.
The total delay in the 12 months to February 2026, linked directly to cable thefts, reached 12,809 minutes – or roughly 213.5 hours, the Local Democracy Service reports.
A Network Rail spokesperson said in 2025 alone, crime incidents on the North and East route cost the company over £1.3 million.
It said it was employing a range of strategies to catch offenders, including the use of drones and security cameras, and by forensically marking assets.

Trains between Doncaster and Sheffield have been hit by 50 incidents of cable theft in the past five years
Cable thefts on railway lines between Doncaster and Sheffield have delayed passengers by more than 213 hours in the past year, figures show.
Passengers on services between the two South Yorkshire cities, which also passes through Rotherham, often see services cancelled or severely delayed as a result of the thefts.
Network Rail is publicly funded, meaning each theft is an additional cost to the taxpayer to repair.
The company said thefts had rise in line with an increase in copper prices, and that it was "working closely" with British Transport Police to catch and prosecute offenders.
According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, there had been 50 incidents of railway cable theft between Doncaster and Sheffield in the last five years, including 16 in 2025/26 alone.
The total delay in the 12 months to February 2026, linked directly to cable thefts, reached 12,809 minutes – or roughly 213.5 hours, the Local Democracy Service reports.
A Network Rail spokesperson said in 2025 alone, crime incidents on the North and East route cost the company over £1.3 million.
It said it was employing a range of strategies to catch offenders, including the use of drones and security cameras, and by forensically marking assets.
| Re: Should finding your bus be easier? Better local information? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374389/31917/5] Posted by grahame at 21:06, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
As long as you also ensure that you post a map of both stops locations ...
You are so right. My suggestion was half-formed ... not as fully developed as it might have been,
There are other issues - the bus stop outside the surgery doesn't even have a timetable or list of services calling there. and the one around the corner has a good showing of each other routes and a combined departure list, but so high that I (at 6 foot) had to read it the lady at four-foot-nothing and he spaniel. There is much about bus stops and their information that has improved over the last years, but there is still a vast amount to do.
| Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets In "Fare's Fair" [374388/31906/4] Posted by eightonedee at 21:04, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
I'm with Bob B on this one. There's plenty of booking sites on the web, and if you Google "Train tickets from Paris to Madrid" or something similar several come up. There's no excuse for not being able to compare deals on popular routes, and even if there are two or more "tickets" required, my experience is that you can buy all stages through the same outlet in one transaction. I've also never heard of any archaeologists finding remains of a laptop with unsuccessful ticket searches on its hard drive when excavating Neolithic sites!
My wife and I are going back to Aachen in June, and this year (as last) SNCB "won" with the best deal from St Pancras and I have been able to buy and download tickets for all stages at the same time.
The Greenpeace report also quoted in the same Guardian article is also a somewhat poor piece of work. It blames the sometimes (but far from invariable) price premium for cross-border train fares over air fares on unfair advantages given to cut-price airlines. It fails to mention that the big drawback of rail travel, namely that it takes far longer to cover the distance. Much as I enjoy train travel and watching the countryside passing and changing as a journey proceeds (especially now I am retired), if you are working and trying to use valuable holiday allowance time to go away, or someone travelling on work that wants to get home in good time to see his family before bedtime, you will choose the plane unless the time to get to and from the airport(s) and check-in time eats up the time savings, even if it costs more.
The Greenpeace report also contains some interesting statements and recommendations. It repeats the statement about buying different tickets for different stages of the journey being a barrier, claims that Norway has "a relatively dense rail network", and suggests that more high-speed rail networks are needed (must have forgotten their call for HS2 to be abandoned in 2021..) including one from Madrid to Rome. Get out your atlases, folks and see if you an work out what the problem is for that last one. I don't suppose that their members in the Maritime Alps, Livorno, Spezia or Pisa will be happy with the idea, but fortunately for them I don't think anyone looking at the economic case would be either.
| Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets In "Fare's Fair" [374387/31906/4] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:31, 22nd April 2026 Already liked by rogerw | ![]() |
Weston super Mare generally closes on a Sunday - it's in rural Somerset.

| Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets In "Fare's Fair" [374386/31906/4] Posted by eXPassenger at 19:16, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
I am chary of Google after I asked it (search not maps) for bus times to Weston SM on 14 April and was told there were no buses as it was a Sunday.
| Re: Should finding your bus be easier? Better local information? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374385/31917/5] Posted by bobm at 18:48, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
Today the Swindon Advertiser has reported on issues with Stagecoach services not being updated at affected stops following service changes, apparently not for the first time.
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/26042569.anger-swindon-bus-users-left-stranded-stagecoach-mess/
Angry bus passengers were "left stranded and made late for work or college" after Stagecoach failed to put up new bus timetables in some areas of Swindon.
Some had important journeys delayed or interrupted due to the bus schedule issue.
Stagecoach delayed putting the new timetables for revised number 7 services on stops around town, including Flint Hill in Toothill.
Cllr Sean Wilson, representing Lydiard and Freshbrook, said on Monday: "Once again Stagecoach have let down their passengers by not posting their new schedules on bus stops and shelters around Swindon.
“The same issue happened two years ago which reveals a lack of planning.
“People have been left stranded and made late for work or college as a result."
Some had important journeys delayed or interrupted due to the bus schedule issue.
Stagecoach delayed putting the new timetables for revised number 7 services on stops around town, including Flint Hill in Toothill.
Cllr Sean Wilson, representing Lydiard and Freshbrook, said on Monday: "Once again Stagecoach have let down their passengers by not posting their new schedules on bus stops and shelters around Swindon.
“The same issue happened two years ago which reveals a lack of planning.
“People have been left stranded and made late for work or college as a result."
Article continues in link
| Re: Should finding your bus be easier? Better local information? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374384/31917/5] Posted by ChrisB at 18:18, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
As long as you also ensure that you post a map of both stops locations so those who do not know the town well know how to reach the other stop?
| Re: IET wi-fi upgrades - pilot scheme on West of England trains In "Across the West" [374383/31108/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:16, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
Thanks, matth1j: I've now merged all the previous posts into this definitive topic.

| Should finding your bus be easier? Better local information? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374382/31917/5] Posted by grahame at 17:59, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
There's nothing like catching the bus to see how it works. And I did that today on a local journey from the Town Centre to The Spa Medical Centre. Now I know a bit about our bus services ... but using in anger?
I finished what I was doing, Melksham Market Place, at about 2 O'Clock. The choice of services is:
* From the King's Arms: Routes 15, 272 and 273. Also some x34 and 271 journeys
* From Bud's Bar, 14, all 271s, and 273
None of which is turn-up-and-go frequency. The bus stop timetable at the Kings Arms does give departure times from that stop, ans also directs you to Bud's Bar, but without information as to whether there will be a bus for you when you get there. I did have time to walk up to Bud's, see that I had just missed the 271 and there wasn't a 14 - which I happen to know goes all around the houses - for three quarters of an hour.
OK - I am being critical, but I should also be constructive. For a handful of journeys that are busy flows and complex - Melksham Town Centre to Spa Medical, and to Bowerhill, The Foresters to Bath, and Spa Medical to the Town Centre, a listing at each of the departure stop of all the departures from the stops around. Here's a snippet example:

| Re: Appealing against Delay Repay payment In "Fare's Fair" [374381/31915/4] Posted by grahame at 17:48, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
My understanding and personal experience is that it is worth appealing in complex cases. Automated systems may get most of the easy cases right, but those few more challenging ones something get initially decided to the detriment of the claimant. I suspect (but have no confirmation) that GWR have customer and claim data.
Very much like so many other things on the UK railway, things are so complex and systems too basic to cope. Try freedom tickets in ticket gates, this delay-repay example, or on-platform indicators that are obviosuly wrong.
| Re: IET wi-fi upgrades - pilot scheme on West of England trains In "Across the West" [374380/31108/26] Posted by matth1j at 15:56, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=31108 ?
| Re: IET wi-fi upgrades - pilot scheme on West of England trains In "Across the West" [374379/31108/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:50, 22nd April 2026 | ![]() |
From the BBC:
Train wi-fi upgrades will 'transform' businesses

The government said £12m of its £57m investment in rail wi-fi nationally would be on services in the west and south west of England and Wales
Having reliable and high-speed wi-fi on trains could be "transformative" for businesses, an expert on rural branch lines in Cornwall says.
A UK-first pilot scheme for faster internet connections on trains, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars, was launched on Great Western Railway (GWR) services in the South West in November 2025.
The government said it would invest £57m in rail wi-fi nationally as part of its scheme Project Reach, with £12m of that being spent in the west and south west of England and Wales.
Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said businesses currently faced a "time penalty" due to "patchy" internet connections on trains. "Getting anywhere up-country takes a long time and, while you can do some work with the existing internet system, it relies on mobile phone data, and that can be very patchy in plenty of areas of Cornwall and beyond where there's not a signal," Bowes-Roden said.

Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said having fast and reliable wi-fi on trains would be a "game changer" for Cornwall
"Having high-speed reliable broadband on the trains effectively eliminates almost all of that time penalty for businesses because you can do all of the things you can do in an office." He said for him personally, having fast connectivity on the train would be a "game changer".
The government said Project Reach was a multi-year scheme, with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and be fully rolled out by 2028. It said: "The project's innovative commercial model brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure and is expected to save taxpayers around £300m while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses, supporting the UK's digital ambitions."
Bowes-Roden said instead of the government viewing it as an investment in rail network, it would be a "clearer case" if its focus was on businesses. "It hits so many of the government's objectives in terms of regional growth, regional inequality and boosting businesses," he said. "For a relatively small investment from government, the returns look like they'll be absolutely fantastic."
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said it continued to work with transport bosses and GWR to assess the success of the pilot scheme and how wi-fi could be improved on the network. "We understand connectivity on trains can be patchy, which is why we're working to harness cutting-edge satellite technology to ensure passengers can enjoy fast, reliable internet on our mainline trains," they added. "Great British Railways will deliver a railway fit for the 21st Century, with more comfortable and convenient trains for passengers."

The government said £12m of its £57m investment in rail wi-fi nationally would be on services in the west and south west of England and Wales
Having reliable and high-speed wi-fi on trains could be "transformative" for businesses, an expert on rural branch lines in Cornwall says.
A UK-first pilot scheme for faster internet connections on trains, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars, was launched on Great Western Railway (GWR) services in the South West in November 2025.
The government said it would invest £57m in rail wi-fi nationally as part of its scheme Project Reach, with £12m of that being spent in the west and south west of England and Wales.
Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said businesses currently faced a "time penalty" due to "patchy" internet connections on trains. "Getting anywhere up-country takes a long time and, while you can do some work with the existing internet system, it relies on mobile phone data, and that can be very patchy in plenty of areas of Cornwall and beyond where there's not a signal," Bowes-Roden said.

Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said having fast and reliable wi-fi on trains would be a "game changer" for Cornwall
"Having high-speed reliable broadband on the trains effectively eliminates almost all of that time penalty for businesses because you can do all of the things you can do in an office." He said for him personally, having fast connectivity on the train would be a "game changer".
The government said Project Reach was a multi-year scheme, with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and be fully rolled out by 2028. It said: "The project's innovative commercial model brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure and is expected to save taxpayers around £300m while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses, supporting the UK's digital ambitions."
Bowes-Roden said instead of the government viewing it as an investment in rail network, it would be a "clearer case" if its focus was on businesses. "It hits so many of the government's objectives in terms of regional growth, regional inequality and boosting businesses," he said. "For a relatively small investment from government, the returns look like they'll be absolutely fantastic."
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said it continued to work with transport bosses and GWR to assess the success of the pilot scheme and how wi-fi could be improved on the network. "We understand connectivity on trains can be patchy, which is why we're working to harness cutting-edge satellite technology to ensure passengers can enjoy fast, reliable internet on our mainline trains," they added. "Great British Railways will deliver a railway fit for the 21st Century, with more comfortable and convenient trains for passengers."














