Plans to transform UK's busiest station approved


An application for the station was filed in 2023, but new plans were unveiled in November after thousands of objections

Controversial plans to redevelop London Liverpool Street railway station have been approved.

Network Rail said its proposals to transform the Grade II-listed site were given the go-ahead by the planning committee of the City of London on Tuesday. The £1.2bn project involves building a mixed-use 97-metre (318ft) tower block over the concourse of what is the UK's busiest railway station. Network Rail insisted its plans respected the station's "unique heritage".

However, actor Griff Rhys Jones, who is president of the Victorian Society and the Liverpool Street Station Campaign (Lissca), claimed it was a "sad day for the City of London". He said: "A disfiguring billion-pound office block on top of a major heritage asset is not essential to the City's development plans. It is doubtful whether it will easily provide the profit to 'improve' the concourse, and can only realise a small amount of extra space for the passenger. Its focus is retail opportunities, which the commuter doesn't need. It will destroy an existing conservation area. It demolishes listed buildings. It is harmful to the surrounding historic fabric."


Network Rail revamped its plans in April following objections

Rhys Jones accused the City of London of having "bowed to developer ambitions" and setting a "bad precedent" for London.

Lissca said it had "the backing of thousands of supporters" and would "now await the decisions of the mayor of London and, if necessary, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government".

Network Rail said its plans included improvements such an increasing overall concourse capacity by 76%, providing better passenger flow and step-free access from street level to all platforms, including London Underground lines. It said there would also be more lifts and escalators.

Ellie Burrows, managing director for Network Rail's Eastern region, said: "This decision represents a key step towards the transformation of Britain's busiest station and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Liverpool Street. Our plans focus on improving the everyday experience for passengers whilst respecting the station's unique heritage. With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million, this approval ensures the station will be future-proofed for decades to come."

Food and drink rules on ScotRail and Avanti West Coast trains

Some railway companies ask travellers to avoid bringing certain items along with them

Some initial thoughts:

• No apparent power source.  Will they be maglev?
• 2 car trains will be cosy.
• How does he propose crossing those 2 large expanses of sea?

Williamson explained the rail corridor could also function as a "ring main" for energy, distributing power generated by onshore and offshore wind, alongside small modular nuclear reactors positioned at key hubs.

... This would necessitate either tunnels or bridges, drawing upon earlier proposals by architects and engineers to establish permanent connections between Great Britain and Ireland.

Services would be point-to-point, travelling directly between cities without intermediate stops, whilst other trains would pass through stations as passengers board and disembark.

Excellent news, grahame.

Of note, that Melksham News article is dated two days in the future - so we have something of a scoop here. 

Brewery's stable block to reopen after 2024 fire


A fire in May 2024 tore through the brewery's stable block

An independent brewery has announced its historic Victorian stable block will officially reopen on Valentines Day following a "catastrophic" fire nearly two years ago.

The blaze broke out at 177-year-old Hook Norton Brewery, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, on 20 May 2024. Nobody was hurt and the Shire horses used by the business for deliveries were also unharmed because they were out in the fields when the flames ignited, "oblivious to all the activity", said the brewery.

Head Coachman Nicholas Carter said: "These stables aren't just buildings, they're the heart of our working heritage."


The brewery's Shire horses will be on site to greet visitors at the open day

The brewery, which has been crafting ales, lagers and stouts since 1849 and still uses a horse-drawn dray for deliveries, has planned a special celebration to mark the return of its iconic Shire horses to their original home.

On 14 February, visitors will get a "rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of Britain's most distinctive brewing traditions", the brewery said.

Shire horses Balmoral, Brigadier and Cromwell will be on hand to greet beer fans alongside the draymen who look after them.

Pints will also be served at the horsebox bar, with all proceeds on the day going to the Fire Fighters Charity.

"These stables aren't just buildings," said Carter. "They're the heart of our working heritage, safeguarding this unique tradition and the role of the working Shire horse, both here at 'Hooky' and in the wider community for years to come. The newly restored stable yard is the perfect starting point for the team as we head into another busy year of pub deliveries and public appearances. The new facilities will allow us to deliver a first-class level of care to our hard-working Shire horses and also allow the public to get up close and personal with them."

Reopening of disused Oswestry - Gobowen rail line 'not backed up' with funds


Currently, to get to Oswestry on public transport, people need to get a bus from Gobowen

Plans to reconnect Oswestry to the main rail line have been put on hold, as funding from the cancelled HS2 project has 'not been possible'.

In an email to North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan, Rails Minister Lord Hendy said the proposal 'had not been backed up' with necessary funds.

It would have reconnected the county's third largest town to the main line for the first time in sixty years.

The Department for Transport said it was a scheme that was announced by the previous government, but was unfunded.

The North Shropshire town has been without a station since the Beeching cuts in 1966, which saw more than half of the United Kingdom's train stations and 30% of its rail lines closed. Work had been done in recent years to try to reopen it - with it most recently being run as a tourist attraction.

Speaking in September 2024, the parliamentary under-secretary for the Department for Transport, Lillian Greenwood offered her support to the scheme, citing it would enable "jobs, opportunities and growth" to the region.

Local MP Helen Morgan said she refuses for it to be the "end of the line" for the project. "This would be transformational for Oswestry," the Liberal Democrat MP said. "It would have made it a destination as it's better to connect onto the main line via a train, because you don't have to deal with all of the delays and disruption that bus routes come with. We need to look at alternative forms of funding as the business rate was really strong."

(BBC article continues)

Formal closure notices have been posted for Bordesley station.  Apart from when Birmingham City are at home, the station is served by only one train per week and is in the way of the proposed Bordesley Chords.  It will lose its extra stopping services when Birmingham City move to their new ground.

Cardiff Airport's 'unlawful' handout defended at tribunal


Cardiff Airport has been owned by the Welsh government since 2013

Lawyers have defended a £205.2m Welsh government subsidy for Cardiff Airport during a competition appeal tribunal.

George Peretz KC said the "ambitious" funding was legal and would deliver "much wider benefits to the Welsh economy".

Bristol Airport has asked the competition appeal tribunal to quash the subsidy, arguing that it was "unlawful" and risked distorting the market.

The tribunal's decision is expected to be reserved until a later date.

Peretz said the subsidy did not amount to a rescue deal, saying the funding "goes way beyond the survival, or not, of Cardiff Airport", adding that the government was proposing "something much more ambitious, and to deliver much wider benefits to the Welsh economy". He rejected claims that government ministers had not properly considered whether Cardiff Airport should be classified as an "ailing or insolvent enterprise" before awarding the subsidy.

Referring to Bristol Airport's claim that the subsidy equated to the taxpayer contributing £71.50 per passenger, Peretz said: "Those calculations don't work." He claimed that Bristol had failed to account for additional spending by passengers travelling through Cardiff Airport.

Around half of the £205.2m subsidy is allocated for route development, which Bristol Airport argued could be used to unfairly entice airlines to Cardiff and distort the competition between the two airports. But the Welsh government's barrister said it was common practice for airports to provide up-front payments to airlines. "If airports want to attract airlines, this is the game they have to get in to", he said, adding that all airports had to be "prepared to offer these front-loaded incentives" and did so on a commercial basis.

Plans for a 10-year subsidy for Cardiff Airport worth £205.2m were formally announced by the Welsh government in April 2025.

Ministers have already allocated £20m to be spent during the current financial year, with the full amount phased over 10 years. The government said new maintenance facilities, hangers and cargo capacity would be supported by the deal.

The tribunal has heard that around half the total subsidy would be allocated towards route development. The Welsh government said these routes would concentrate on global hubs and destinations that could support economy growth.

Bristol Airport filed an appeal with the competition appeal tribunal in July 2025 after the full details of the subsidy were published.

On Monday the barrister for Bristol Airport, Ewan West KC, said the government's plans for Cardiff Airport should be quashed. "We say the subsidy should be declared unlawful," Mr West said, adding that Bristol was "not seeking to drive Cardiff from the market" but any competition "must be fair and lawful".

During the hearing Bristol Airport argued that the subsidy amounted to the taxpayer paying £71.50 per passenger, and that the Welsh government had failed to properly consider whether Cardiff Airport was an "ailing or insolvent enterprise" under subsidy law.

The tribunal, chaired by Ben Tidswell, has sat for two days in Cardiff and is expected to reserve its judgement until a later date.

Road markings painted in Basingstoke potholes days before repairs


A team from Hampshire County Council painted markings on the road just days before it was repaired by the same council

A council has been accused of wasting money after painting road markings over potholes just days before they were repaired.

Hampshire County Council painted the 'School Keep Clear' markings on the damaged carriageway of Sullivan Road, near Chalk Ridge Primary School, in Basingstoke. Days later, another team from the council fixed the road - obliterating the work of the first group.

The council said repainting faded school markings is important for safety, but accepted the job should have been paused until after the repairs.

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrea Bowes, from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said she was "gobsmacked" by the blunder. "It's such a ludicrous waste of money, almost to the point of being farcical," she said. "I was horrified to the point of laughter. It's a case where, if you don't laugh, you're going to cry."

Bowes said better communication within the council could have prevented the error. She continued: "This is different departments within the same council and they're obviously just not talking to each other. It doesn't take much - an email or a memo just saying 'we're going to be doing this on this day, is there anything we need to know?'."


The council accepted that the re-lining should have taken place after the road was repaired

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: "Recent weather conditions have caused road defects to appear more rapidly across the county, and in some cases, issues develop after works are scheduled but before they take place. Our highways team work hard to carefully coordinate and deliver hundreds of repairs every day, and we recognise that, ideally, the re-lining should have been paused to allow the repair to be completed first. However, re-painting fading road markings is important to reduce risks outside schools, so the crew proceeded as planned."

The council said it was now preparing to repaint the school markings on the road.

Man charged following train station knife attack


The incident happened at Egham Railway Station on Friday

A man has been charged after three men suffered knife injuries and another man was assaulted following a fight at Egham railway station in Surrey on Friday, police say.

British Transport Police officers were called at about 21:00 GMT on Friday to reports of a number of people with stab injuries and found four people injured.

Two men were stabbed and one was slashed in the face with a knife, police said. They were all treated in to hospital for none-life-threatening or life-changing injuries, police said.

George Turner, 21, of Harvey Road, Whitton, has been charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

A 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were also arrested on Monday and have been released on bail.

A 33-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of GBH has also been released on bail.

Turner is due to appear at Staines Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Track and structural renewals work will impact train services between Bath Spa and Chippenham or Westbury.

Additional engineering work will also impact trains between Swindon and Westbury on Sunday 26 April until 1130.

Replacement transport is planned between:

Bath Spa and Chippenham, or Swindon
Bath Spa, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge and Westbury, or Frome
Bath Spa, Freshford, Avoncliff and Bradford-on-Avon
Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury (until 1130 Sunday)
Trains will run hourly between London Paddington and Bath Spa via Bristol Temple Meads, with some trains running between London Paddington and Chippenham on Saturday only.

As a result, train services operating between London and South Wales will also be reduced.

GWR will operate trains between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa instead of Portsmouth Harbour, or between Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads instead of Frome or Weymouth.

Separate train services will be operating between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth.

Trains also run on Saturday between Westbury and Swindon plus on Sunday after 1130, along with some additional train services between Chippenham and Swindon.

Thanks, ChrisB — this isn't aimed at you personally, and I appreciate you’re not speaking for RMT, Chiltern, GWR, etc. So the words you used may not be those used by those organisations.

That said, the phrase “the RMT require” is an interesting one and really ought to be challenged. Require on what authority? Since when do unions set operational requirements, and where are the management in this? Are the RMT funding these “requirements”, or are they simply being accepted? What about the passengers (nee customers) and taxpayers who pay for all this, do they get a say?

I thing the term "the RMT require"  is acceptable from online Cambridge Dictionary "to need something or make something necessary" the RMT "need the second safety critical person" based on the mandate they have from their members.

I get the desire to avoid industrial action, but management can’t keep deferring this indefinitely.  The unions must know this argument was settled decades ago. They should call the RMT's bluff and schedule some trains, of course that is wasy for me to say.

Talking of train protection - when were detonators last used to protect trains, or are they still?

Better possession protection

In 1841 Edward Alfred Cowper, a founder member of the IMechE, devised a warning signal for trains on foggy days. This had a detonating compound packed into a small circular container and was fastened to the rails by lead clips. By 1844 such fog signals were in widespread use and their use was enshrined into the Rule Books of the day. Over 180 years later, this is still the case.

Although the widespread introduction of the Automatic Warning Systems in the 1950s and 1960s removed the need for fog signals, millions of detonators are still in use. At the very least, six detonators are required to protect the 100,000 engineering possessions taken each year and each driving cab must carry 10 detonators to protect the line in the event of a train accident.

Detonators have been used to protect engineering work for over 100 years as specified in the 1950 British Rail Rule Book which required three detonators to be placed 10 yards apart for this purpose. The theory is that detonators will stop irregular moves of engineering trains out of possessions, and of service trains into possessions, as well as providing a warning to track workers of such unauthorised train moves.

I have quite a collection of old pictures, timetables, etc ... the whole "Severn before the first road bridge" story is fascinating. But as you say "complete aside" and time for another thread on a quieter day.

They're not - and that's the problem.

The RMT require Chiltern to employ a second safety-critical trained person on each train in passenger service., effectively doubling the staff costs for each train. The DfT refuse to pay.

Description
Engineering work is taking place between Chippenham and Bath Spa / Freshford, closing most lines.
Saturday to Monday:
An hourly train service will operate between:
London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads via Bristol Parkway (not calling)
London Paddington and Chippenham via Swindon
Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour will operate between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa (with most calling additionally at Keynsham and Oldfield Park) then between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour.
Replacement buses will operate between:
Chippenham and Bath Spa
Bath Spa and Westbury
Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon