Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371106/31429/5] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 12:46, 15th January 2026 |      |
: Chris from Nailsea
This is a true story. On one of our family holidays, courtesy of a friend who owned a narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal, we moored somewhere and at about 9:30am went to stroll into the village for fresh bread and milk. There on the towpath in front of us, next to his narrowboat, was the most inebriated Swede I have ever seen - trying to drive his boat's anchor into the towpath. Image not available to guests
There is (or was) a narrowboat hire fleet called Viking Afloat. On more than one occasion we saw their distinctive yellow craft being crewed by holidaymakers of clearly Scandinavian origin. I have no difficulty at all believing your account...
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371105/31456/5] Posted by grahame at 12:28, 15th January 2026 | |
Hmmm. To be effective, someone will need to be watching every stream in real time.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
I'm ... wondering if "AI" style intelligence could / would / should act as a filter, so that a small number of human operatives at central locations could be flagged up on situations that could turn into potential breaches - perhaps going live on the operative's main window with the lead-in that caused the particular taxi/bus/train carriage to be flagged up available for replay in a subsidiary window.
| Re: Coffeeshop Map 4-12-25 In "The Lighter Side" [371104/31199/30] Posted by Mark A at 11:40, 15th January 2026 | |
Wondering if the structures in question received a regular inspection from divers or whether the recent inspection was a one-off and discoveries were made.
Mark
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371103/31456/5] Posted by ChrisB at 10:59, 15th January 2026 | |
Hmmm. To be effective, someone will need to be watching every stream in real time.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [371102/31455/40] Posted by Mark A at 10:53, 15th January 2026 | |
I'm hoping it doesn't impact NR's effective 24/7 helpline.
Anecdote not data: being spooked by something, after new year, I had cause to ring that number close to 11pm on a Sunday night and it was answered, by a person, within a few seconds. No interminable sequence of hold music interspersed with an upbeat voice repeating 'Your call is *very* important to us' which is what I heard when at NR's request I also rang the organisation immediately responsible for the structure in question.
Mark
| Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371101/31456/5] Posted by grahame at 10:42, 15th January 2026 | |
from the BBC
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood has told MPs she is open to including mandatory CCTV in new national guidelines for taxis.
The government's review of taxi licensing in England follows Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs, which identified taxis being used by offenders across the country and recommended tougher rules.
At the moment, taxi drivers can buy a private hire vehicle licence from one council but work as far away as they like, taking advantage of lower standards, cheaper licences, and a lack of enforcement.
This allows them to get around tough rules aimed at protecting children, such as Rotherham's gold standard licensing scheme, which includes CCTV in cabs.
Speaking to the Commons Transport Committee, Greenwood said she did not want to "demonise the trade" but MPs could not be "complacent" about the urgent need to strengthen the law.
The government's review of taxi licensing in England follows Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs, which identified taxis being used by offenders across the country and recommended tougher rules.
At the moment, taxi drivers can buy a private hire vehicle licence from one council but work as far away as they like, taking advantage of lower standards, cheaper licences, and a lack of enforcement.
This allows them to get around tough rules aimed at protecting children, such as Rotherham's gold standard licensing scheme, which includes CCTV in cabs.
Speaking to the Commons Transport Committee, Greenwood said she did not want to "demonise the trade" but MPs could not be "complacent" about the urgent need to strengthen the law.
I have widened the subject line to include other modes of transport, and other more vulnerable groups in addition to children. Thoughts??
| Re: Coffeeshop Map 4-12-25 In "The Lighter Side" [371100/31199/30] Posted by grahame at 10:34, 15th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
It's appeared again. As a symbol, there's something cruel and totalitarian about it.
Mark
Mark
Yeah ... short term cancellations between Liskeard and Looe ... nothing has run there yet this year, and indeed nothing was expected today of for at least another week. However, no-one actually entered the medium term cancellations into JourneyCheck feeds, so it's come up as a train planning type "oopsie" this morning.
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [371099/31455/40] Posted by ChrisB at 09:45, 15th January 2026 | |
Might be rationalisation of back office?
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [371098/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 09:40, 15th January 2026 | |
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K60141/2026-01-16/detailed
Late start. Let's hope they are in condition for passenger service. Got the weekend to fix them. Yesterday 175001 ran a training run but was replaced by a 150 for the 1340 Plymouth- Penzance and back. Not one of the other three refurbished units at Laira has run in passenger service AFAIK.
It certainly feels like a slow (re)start of the class. And January and February being the slow time of year, a 2 coach 150 on train from Penzance or 2 St Ives will have adequate capacity whereas come Easter, if the weather in nice, 2x158 or an IET or an HST would have been needed.
| Re: Coffeeshop Map 4-12-25 In "The Lighter Side" [371097/31199/30] Posted by Mark A at 09:40, 15th January 2026 | |
It's appeared again. As a symbol, there's something cruel and totalitarian about it.
Mark
| Re: High Speed 2 (HS2), now Northern Powerhouse Railway (NPR) - Government proposals, alternative ro In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371096/5138/51] Posted by Mark A at 09:37, 15th January 2026 | |
Thanks times two - for the my-bad location catch and also the intermodal reveal.
Mark
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [371095/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 09:34, 15th January 2026 | |
175003, one of the refurbished, is planned to operate the 1340 Plymouth Penzance today.
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [371094/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 08:59, 15th January 2026 | |
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K60141/2026-01-16/detailed
Late start. Let's hope they are in condition for passenger service. Got the weekend to fix them. Yesterday 175001 ran a training run but was replaced by a 150 for the 1340 Plymouth- Penzance and back. Not one of the other three refurbished units at Laira has run in passenger service AFAIK.
It certainly feels like a slow (re)start of the class. And January and February being the slow time of year, a 2 coach 150 on train from Penzance or 2 St Ives will have adequate capacity whereas come Easter, if the weather in nice, 2x158 or an IET or an HST would have been needed.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371093/31448/20] Posted by grahame at 08:43, 15th January 2026 | |
Bit strange this announcement. Places have been available to book on the official website since before Christmas. Also the Swanage and Mid Hants heritage lines.
Possibly "strange" because I have only just picked it up ... as a results of a message that alerted me towards dates later in the year and planning for 2026.
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [371092/31455/40] Posted by grahame at 08:35, 15th January 2026 | |
Thousands of rail workers are to be made redundant as part of Labour's plan to nationalise the railways.
Network Rail is making cuts to its workforce as it faces a budget shortfall potentially as high as £1.8bn, insiders said.
An estimated 2,000 employees out of the organisation's total headcount of 41,000 could be laid off in the coming months.
Network Rail is making cuts to its workforce as it faces a budget shortfall potentially as high as £1.8bn, insiders said.
An estimated 2,000 employees out of the organisation's total headcount of 41,000 could be laid off in the coming months.
The Q$64,000 for me is "what will/would happen to their work" is it happens.
Would someone else take it over from within the remaining 39,000?
Would the work remain undone and a backlog be generated?
Is there work that is no longer needed being done by these people?
Would things like speed standards be reduced so that less maintenance is needed?
Would AI and other automation take over?
Would the network be reduced / part passed to local operators to take on maintenance staff?
Would the work they do still be done but by private contractors?
Does the goverment's plan actually consider these issues?
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [371091/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 07:28, 15th January 2026 | |
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K60141/2026-01-16/detailed
Late start. Let's hope they are in condition for passenger service. Got the weekend to fix them. Yesterday 175001 ran a training run but was replaced by a 150 for the 1340 Plymouth- Penzance and back. Not one of the other three refurbished units at Laira has run in passenger service AFAIK.
| Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [371090/31455/40] Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:23, 15th January 2026 | |
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/thousands-of-rail-workers-to-lose-jobs-under-labour-s-nationalisation-plans/ar-AA1Uc5JX?ocid=socialshare
I wonder what the Unions will have to say?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [371089/31359/18] Posted by matth1j at 06:34, 15th January 2026 | |
Just buying my ticket for tomorrow morning's Melksham-Bristol commute, and spotted that what is usually the 06:29 Melksham-Trowbridge is scheduled for 06:31 (it was 06:29 on Monday). Anyone know why?
Same again this morning, although it arrived at 06:27. It's also scheduled for 06:31 tomorrow, but back to normal on Monday.| Re: High Speed 2 (HS2), now Northern Powerhouse Railway (NPR) - Government proposals, alternative ro In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371088/5138/51] Posted by TonyN at 21:49, 14th January 2026 Already liked by IndustryInsider, johnneyw, PrestburyRoad, Mark A, Oxonhutch, Clan Line | |
One Uy Hoang has captured, for Google Streetview, a glimpse of actual tangible HS2 phase 2a embankment - from the towpath of the Staffs and Worcs Canal.
Mark
https://tinyurl.com/3vje36vw
Mark
https://tinyurl.com/3vje36vw
Its actualy on the Trent and Mersey just south of Fradley Junction with the Coventry canal.
Passengers will be able to transfer from a temporary terminus to a narrowboat service to Manchester taking about 3 days. Fares will be cheaper if they work the locks.
| Re: Model railways - marshalling your train for the right time in history In "Railway History and related topics" [371087/31454/55] Posted by TonyN at 21:37, 14th January 2026 | |
Could a class 101 unit be seen at the same time as class 195?
I saw a 101 and a 172 moving on adjacent tracks at Kidderminster when I was working there on Sunday. 196s are frequent there as well.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371085/31448/20] Posted by bobm at 20:56, 14th January 2026 | |
Bit strange this announcement. Places have been available to book on the official website since before Christmas. Also the Swanage and Mid Hants heritage lines.
| Re: North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [371082/31429/5] Posted by froome at 20:33, 14th January 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A, Oxonhutch, TonyN, johnneyw, eightonedee, PrestburyRoad, GBM, Richard Fairhurst | |
As someone who used the former routes to Sweden and Denmark on three occasions between 1979 and 1988, I miss this as a means of getting to Scandinavia. I guess that cheaper air fares killed these services, as they were not cheap. Back in those days, Sweden advertised itself as a place to take your car and family for a holiday, taking advantage of uncrowded roads, rural and coastal areas. There was also a scheme whereby you could buy a pass (Bilturlogi pass) that gave discounts on B&B accommodation throughout the country listed in the accompanying booklet. Now it's much cheaper to take a cheap flight and pick up a hire car.
There is still a freight ferry between Immingham and Brevik in Norway, but to quote DFDS's website
Ridiculous, isn't it? Are they worried we might get a Viking invasion?
There is still a freight ferry between Immingham and Brevik in Norway, but to quote DFDS's website
DFDS freight port of Immingham can accept commercial freight drivers with their loads. Due to UKBF port approval, private passengers are not permitted to be carried through Immingham. This means that we can no longer accept leisure fare paying passengers on the freight routes through Immingham.
Ridiculous, isn't it? Are they worried we might get a Viking invasion?
Another true story here, following from the quote about private passengers not being permitted to be carried through Immingham.
About 20 years ago now I was cycling along the Lincolnshire coast and chose to cycle on the sea wall (which is a wide bund built up to stop the flat agricultural land from flooding) for a few miles southwards towards Immingham. It was wonderfully peaceful, and after a while I could see Immingham approaching in the distance. I expected at some point that a lane or track would reach the sea wall which I could escape down but none did, and I eventually arrived by the landing slip at Immingham just after the last of a series of HGVs had driven off a ship. I turned right and cycled towards the customs post, and a very surprised customs officer stepped out and asked "Where the hell have you just come from?" I explained, and fortunately he believed me and let me through, which was just as well as I onviously didn't have a passport on me!
| Re: The Red Arrows - RAF display team, popular with members on the Coffee Shop forum (merged posts) In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371081/9364/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:54, 14th January 2026 Already liked by Phantom | |
Further to my recent posts, I have now moved and merged a few previous posts on the Coffee Shop forum in to this topic here.
May I offer my recognition and respects to, in particular, two of the members of the Red Arrows team who sadly died recently.
CfN. Image not available to guests
| Re: Model railways - marshalling your train for the right time in history In "Railway History and related topics" [371080/31454/55] Posted by bobm at 19:49, 14th January 2026 Already liked by johnneyw | |
For those model rail enthusiasts who are also philatelists, Royal Mail are bringing out a set of stamps on the 19th February celebrating Hornby Hobbies.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [371078/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 19:43, 14th January 2026 | |
From the Wiltshire Times
GWR trains cancelled in Wiltshire amid travel chaos
A freight train has broken down at Melksham, blocking the line between Swindon and Westbury and forcing GWR to cancel services between the two towns.
Disruption on the line is expected until at least midday on Wednesday, January 14, with customers being advised to take alternative routes during that time.
This comes after a train broke down on the line between Westbury and Reading on Wednesday morning.
A freight train has broken down at Melksham, blocking the line between Swindon and Westbury and forcing GWR to cancel services between the two towns.
Disruption on the line is expected until at least midday on Wednesday, January 14, with customers being advised to take alternative routes during that time.
This comes after a train broke down on the line between Westbury and Reading on Wednesday morning.
| Re: First-ever UK Town of Culture competition launched In "Introductions and chat" [371077/31453/1] Posted by Oxonhutch at 18:52, 14th January 2026 Already liked by grahame, PrestburyRoad | |
When we first moved to Nevada for my job, my wife didn't believe me when I said that the Brothels were listed in the Yellow Pages. So I showed her Image not available to guests
The Yellow Pages, that is ...
| Re: First-ever UK Town of Culture competition launched In "Introductions and chat" [371076/31453/1] Posted by grahame at 18:16, 14th January 2026 | |
The current culture of Melksham might not translate ... click on the image to go to the paper's web site
