I attended the Portishead Railway Group (PRG) AGM last evening.

It was confirmed that the current plan is to run trains from Portishead through to Henbury, and that Pill and Portishead will be able to accommodate 5-car trains.

Plans for a new rail service in Wiltshire and Somerset could derail, unless crucial funding can be found in the coming weeks.

Go-op Co-operative have plans to "compete with Great Western Railway" and offer more stops at stations such as Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Westbury, Swindon and Frome through use of diesel rolling stock.

The company needs to raise £3.6m by May 2026 to make their plans a reality - but have been unable to reach their target.

Go-op operations director Alex Lawrie said there is "one last chance to make this happen in this decade" and added the opportunity "is available for only a matter of weeks" before support from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is withdrawn.

When plans for the new service were approved last year, the ORR said the decision created the"opportunity to bring the first co-cooperatively owned train service and the first regional open access service in the UK".

But since then, Lawrie claims investors "large and small" say "factors outside Go-op's control are making it impossible for them to commit to the investment that is required."

Lawrie added: "People have a right to know why this such a struggle.

"Regardless of the outcome of this particular contract, Go-op will continue to work towards public transport that is accountable to its users; and will explore more innovative approaches to mobilising investment in the Taunton-Swindon corridor."

I attended the Portishead Railway Group (PRG) AGM last evening.

PRG is 'recalibrating' as its purpose, which had been to get the railway rebuilt, changes to looking at how it is delivered and then how it is run. The mood was not quite an outright celebration (I think everyone had seen too many false dawns for that!) It was more a case of rolling up sleeves for what comes next.

Does this increase the legroom ? 

Frustrating this morning. The Gloucester-Southampton service that I catch at Melksham 06:29 to Trowbridge 06:38 left Melksham on time, but then had to wait before joining the line down from Bath outside Trowbridge due to the delayed Portsmouth Harbour service - not unusual. However after it got going again it crawled along, eventually arriving at Trowbridge just in time to wave goodbye to the 06:46 Bristol service I was supposed to be connecting with departing the other platform.

Not a disaster - the next Bristol service was 07:05. But RealtimeTrains shows the Portsmouth Harbour service left Trowbridge at 06:42, while my Southampton one departed at 06:47. That 5 minute gap seems longer than it needed to be - is it the minimum allowed between consecutive trains?

Also, at one point the National Rail app was giving estimated times at Trowbridge for both the Southampton and Portsmouth trains as 06:42. Obviously it's using a simple algorithm to calculate those times - a potential use for AI? Earlier it had also been showing the Southampton service as being in front of the delayed Portsmouth one, whereas I knew from experience we would have to wait - again, something AI would be able to work out.

This change was made and notified in October....people go around not reading....

I agree with you, ChrisB.

That's why I posted this update - just to try to raise this issue among those affected who are still apparently so unaware.

In other news 175002 visited Newquay yesterday.

Interesting stats, maybe the first question could have been "do you go out after dark"?

As we all like to get out about in the plenty of day light hours of the Summer months.

What is the UK's new travel system and how are dual nationals affected?

A new travel system for visitors to the UK comes into force from Wednesday for citizens of dozens of countries like the US and Australia.

The government says electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will improve the immigration system.

However, it has created problems for dual nationals, who have been scrambling to get a UK passport to follow the new rules.

An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK.

From 25 February, most people who have been able to travel to the UK visa-free until now will need an ETA.

The new rules apply to people from 85 different countries.

Once approved, your ETA will allow you to stay in the UK for up to six months. It will be valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and allows multiple journeys to the UK.

The visit can be for things like tourism, business or short-term study.

It can also be for people who cross the border and travel through the UK as part of a journey, although people transiting through UK airports and who don't need to go through border security will not need an ETA.

Longer trips and visits for work or longer study will require a visa.

People who usually need a visa to travel to the UK will still need a visa to travel to the UK. They will not need to apply for an ETA as well.

British or Irish citizens will not need an ETA or a visa to visit the UK or to travel through it. There are a few other exceptions, external, such as those with settled status or children travelling from France on a school trip.

The scheme was launched in October 2023 but the government says it was "not strictly enforced to give visitors ample time to adjust to the new requirement".

However, in November, the government said, external ETAs would be mandatory from 25 February.

The government says ETAs will streamline the immigration system, speed it up and make it more secure.

Getting an ETA costs £16, but the government has said it plans to increase the fee to £20 in the future.

To apply, the government recommends downloading the app from Google Play, external or the Apple App Store, external.

You will need to provide contact and passport details, a provide suitable photo, and answer a set of questions.

You must travel using the same passport you used when you applied for the ETA.

The government says most people will get an automatic answer in minutes when using the ETA app, but it recommends people apply at least three working days before travelling.

If a person's ETA application is rejected, the government says they will be told the reason and can apply again.

However, if a person's ETA application is refused, they cannot appeal and instead need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.

One in four councils to miss food waste collection deadline

Almost a quarter of English councils will miss an official deadline to introduce weekly food waste collections to all homes, a BBC investigation has found.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said "every household in England" would get weekly food waste collections from next month under new legislation, but at least 71 councils told the BBC they would not meet that deadline.

Councils blamed the delay on demand for new specialist vehicles, as well as issues with funding despite more than £340m in grants from Defra.

Environment minister Mary Creagh said councils had also had a "significant uplift in this year's budget" to help "make this policy a success".

"Do it slowly, do it right but let's get on with it," she said. "We have been stagnating at these very low recycling rates for far too long."

Roughly half of councils were not collecting food waste weekly before the creation of the Simpler Recycling legislation, while some have had the collections in place for more than a decade.

It meant not all councils needed to make changes to meet the new rules, but the BBC approached each local authority responsible for waste collection to find out what was happening in their area.

At least 56 of those that will miss the deadline are aiming to launch their service for all households by the end of 2026. Nine could not give an approximate start date.

A further 31 councils have secured agreements allowing for a later start date for their weekly food collections, so will not be viewed as missing the deadline.

When those councils are factored in, more than a third of councils will still not be collecting food waste from all homes by March.

(BBC article continues)

Rather than diver Tom Daley, I'd suggest swimmer Sharron Davies MBE for a Plymouth station naming (we attended the same schools, in Plymstock). 

Olympian to stand trial over speeding ticket


Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is set to go on trial at Bath Magistrates' Court on 11 August

Former Olympic swimmer Baroness Sharron Davies is set to go on trial over a motorway speeding ticket.

Baroness Davies was captured by a speed camera travelling at 65mph (104km/h) on the M4 when the speed limit had been temporarily reduced to 50mph (80km/h), court papers say.

The alleged offence happened near junction 19 in South Gloucestershire just after 23:30 BST on 15 October 2025.

Baroness Davies, who lives in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, has contested the ticket claiming the signs were "poor" and "easy to miss". She is due to stand trial at Bath Magistrates' Court on 11 August.

(BBC article continues)

Portishead to Bristol railway: public invited to find out more with work set to start

Major work to restore the railway between Portishead and Bristol begins this spring, and the public are invited to find out more at two drop-in sessions.

Everyone is welcome to attend the events anytime between 3.30pm and 7.30pm, where members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions:
- Thursday 26 March, Somerset Hall, Portishead
- Tuesday 31 March, Community Centre, Pill

Invitations will be posted to residents near the railway in Portishead and Pill.

The restoration of the Portishead Line, which was closed in 1964, is funded by the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council. It will be delivered by Network Rail with trains operated by GWR.

With new stations at Portishead and Pill, the line will connect more than 50,000 people back to the railway and provide a greener and quicker alternative route to Bristol. It's set to unlock £43 million of growth for the local economy every year by connecting communities to jobs, skills and leisure across the region. Eight million car journeys could be removed from the roads by 2044 with an additional two million seats per year added to the rail network.

The restored railway will provide an hourly direct train from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes. The route runs along one of the most scenic stretches of railway in the country, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and through the Avon Gorge. The Portishead Line is planned to connect directly onto the Henbury Line via Bristol Temple Meads, connecting to two more new stations being built: North Filton, serving Brabazon and the arena, and Henbury.

Main construction is scheduled to begin in April when work compounds will be set up near Harbour Road in Portishead, Monmouth Road in Pill and off the A369 Portbury Hundred near Sheepway.

Preparatory work began last autumn to remove trees to create the space for site compounds, car parks, the two new stations at Portishead and Pill, and the railway line itself. Utility diversions are currently underway in Portishead, with some temporary traffic lights in use.

Extensive ecology work has taken place to ensure species living near the railway are protected, such as toads, reptiles, badgers and bats. Rare whitebeam trees have also been planted in the Avon Gorge.

Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, said: “Residents of Portishead and Pill have been asking for a reopened rail line for many years, so I’m delighted that we’re soon to start work and can now invite residents to find out more about the line and the opportunities it’s set to offer their communities. The reopened Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads line will provide connections into the national rail network which will enable significant investment into the area, helping local communities to thrive. This is a project that stands to be transformative for the region, so it’s full steam ahead with our partners at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Department for Transport, Network Rail and Great Western Railway.” 

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “The return of the railway between Bristol and Portishead has been long promised. With all of us working together in this new chapter for the West, we’re finally going to deliver it – cutting travel times in half for local people, helping unlock sites for new homes, and boosting the country’s fastest growing regional economy. Our new Transport Vision has rail at its heart, including new stations at Pill and Portishead, with wider ambitions for more frequent services and low-emission trains as part of a transport network you can trust. Trains on the Portishead Line will directly travel onto the Henbury Line at Temple Meads, helping connect communities across the West to the new Aviva Arena at Brabazon, Bristol, and North Somerset.”

Lord Hendy, Rail Minister, said: “Reopening the Portishead to Bristol line has been talked about for decades, and thanks to Government investment we’re finally getting it done. Previously cut off passengers will have a rail service for the first time in over 60 years opening up new opportunities and supporting jobs, economic growth, and communities in Portishead, Pill and the surrounding area.”

Marcus Jones, Network Rail Western Route Director, said: “After years of hard work by so many people, we’re almost ready to begin bringing the railway back to life. The railway will transform travel in the region and we're looking forward to welcoming everyone to come and learn about our plans.”

Joe Graham, GWR’s business assurance and property director, said: “We’re delighted that work is set to start this spring on restoring the rail link for trains to run between Portishead and Bristol. These aren’t just new train services – they’re vital economic lifelines reconnecting communities and businesses across the region. This project validates our belief that reliable rail services are essential for local and national growth. We’ve worked closely with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council and Network Rail to reach this stage and look forward to operating train services for Pill and Portishead."

Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset, said: "I'm incredibly excited about the work Network Rail, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council and I have done to organise these events for residents in Pill and Portishead. We'll be sharing details of the new railway and the progress we're making to deliver them. My special thanks to Mayor Helen Godwin and Councillor Mike Bell for their support in getting this project off the ground.”

We asked GWR quite early on whether it was possible to terminate local services at Bristol Parkway, and got a firm 'no'. I seem to remember the factors were junction capacity, platform capacity, and the undesirability of establishing a service pattern which would have to be unpicked when Brabazon and Henbury open.

SWR have issued a tender to fit USB C sockets at every seat on their class 158 and 159 trains

  Emergency engineering work to stabilise an embankment near Axminster took place over the weekend of 17/18 January, with all Exeter-bound services terminating at Crewkerne and bus substitutions onwards to Exeter. We know that the work was essential but have to question the decision not to run shuttle services between Honiton and Exeter. Once again communication from SWR was poor – with timetables only available 24 hours in advance and (we think) a very weak excuse given for the inability to run a shuttle between Honiton and Exeter – it was simply not possible to change train crew rosters!
We had a meeting with SWR’s timetable planners on 20 February and now understand more about the difficulties of train service operation west of Yeovil. The lack of crew signing-on facilities at Exeter, together with the difficulty in gaining access to GWR’s fuelling/train servicing there, severely restricts the ability to operate little more than a basic service at present – and when the line is closed further east, support for the Axminster – Exeter section is difficult. GWR have no spare stock (or servicing facilities) to support SWR when the line is closed further east. That needs to change – and makes the plans for Devon Metro (item 6 in our Vision above) even more critical.

]

So at one end of the scale, that leaves 4 people who HAVE shelled prawns on a train and at teh other end 33 out of 36 of you have helped others at the station or on a train - and I a so proud of our members for doing that.

Spring-like warmth to peak on Wednesday with 18C forecast

Spring is just around the corner, but for some of us it feels like it has started already.

Tuesday was the warmest day of the year so far but the temperature on Wednesday could be even higher.

A change to mild south-westerly winds from the Atlantic has given temperatures a boost.

While the number of flood warnings has fallen, the rain has not gone away, however.

The recent milder air has been a welcome change from the earlier cold and very wet weather.

The switch came over the weekend with each home nation recording their highest temperature of the year so far.


Maximum temperatures on Wednesday compared with the average

(BBC weather article continues)