Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Northern Powerhouse Rail - plans for east to west high speed rail links delayed again In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371035/5138/51] Posted by grahame at 21:54, 13th January 2026 |      |
The original plan had HS2 going to high-level platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, so will be interesting to see what the proposal is for Manchester
I remember seeing pictures of Mayfield and seem to remember it existing quite recently. any scope there?
| Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371033/31448/20] Posted by grahame at 21:43, 13th January 2026 | |
Inspiration train - touring again ... at at Salisbury from 21st to 23rd February. Book via:
https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/
Sporting an eye-catching livery, visitors young and old will go on a journey of discovery exploring the railway’s 200-year story of innovation, brought to life by interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities
| Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371032/5138/51] Posted by Oxonhutch at 21:41, 13th January 2026 | |
As the present platforms at Manchester Picc are already at high level (The Metrolink trams in the undercroft are at ground level), I would be interested to see how that would work.
| Re: Landslip west of Axminster - message from SWR In "South Western services" [371031/31445/42] Posted by ChrisB at 21:19, 13th January 2026 | |
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January Yeovil Pen Mill area The lines between Castle Cary and Dorchester will be closed all weekend due to maintenance work.Great Western Railway services will also be affected by this work. Please see their publicity for more details. Saturday• 1750 London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction via Westbury will terminate at Salisbury. Sunday• 0946 Yeovil Junction to Salisbury via Westbury will not run.• 1312 Reading to Yeovil Pen Mill via Yeovil Junction will terminate at Yeovil Junction.• 1543 Yeovil Pen Mill to London Waterloo via Yeovil
| Re: Landslip west of Axminster - message from SWR In "South Western services" [371030/31445/42] Posted by Mark A at 21:05, 13th January 2026 | |
Just visited SWRs web site and I can find no reference as to what this might be about.
The web site then redirected me to the Journeycheck site, which was at pains to inform me that there had been a 'Hazard to passengers' warning for Honiton on the 10th January (icy surfaces). It's now the 13th - temperatures there are between 4 and 7 degrees centigrade.
This put me in mind of the frequent station announcements at Shrewsbury last Friday that trains that had already arrived at the station would be delayed by forecasts of 'Heavy snow' on sections of route far behind them (for good measure, there were no forecasts of heavy snow on that day, that too was a day in the past...)
Mark
| Re: Llangollen Canal - Whitchurch, Shropshire canal breach: 22 Dec 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371029/31316/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:58, 13th January 2026 | |
From Independent, via MSN
First of three stranded narrow boats refloated after Shropshire canal breach
A narrow boat left high and dry by a pre-Christmas canal bank collapse has been successfully refloated by waterways engineers.
The stern of the Pacemaker was left hanging precariously over a 50-metre-long “sinkhole” in Whitchurch, Shropshire, three weeks ago, after an incident its owner likened to being caught in a waterfall.
Two other narrow boats remain stranded in the bottom of the breach, ahead of an operation to winch them clear due to begin later this week.
Engineers from the Canal & River Trust oversaw the operation to refloat the Pacemaker, which saw the craft pulled underneath a movable footbridge and then refloated inside a temporary dam.
Fire crews helped around 12 people to safety after declaring a major incident at 4.22am on December 22 as millions of gallons of water escaped from the canal.
After the Pacemaker was moved using a winch, engineers took just over an hour to fill a newly-dammed area with water, allowing the boat to rejoin the canal network.
The boat’s owner Paul Stowe then stepped on board to inspect the inside.
Mr Stowe, who is currently living in rented accommodation, recalled how he had rescued his cats as he and family members saw a “gaping hole” appear under the boat, having been woken at around 4.05am.
He told the Press Association: “At the moment I don’t feel like the boat’s mine.
“There are an awful lot of people here.
“Once everybody’s gone and once we’ve had it inspected and checked, we’ve had all the repairs done and it’s back in the water, then I’ll feel like it’s my boat.”
Describing the canal breach, Mr Stowe added: “When it actually happened I looked over the stern of the boat and within 20 minutes this went from nothing to an enormous hole in the ground.
“It was almost like an implosion.”
The Canal & River Trust said its teams are ensuring that pipes and pumps are in place to safeguard a continued flow of water around the breach site, so boats downstream on the Llangollen Canal are kept afloat.
Julie Sharman, chief operating officer at the Trust, said: “We know how deeply distressing this breach has been for the boaters and local community.
“After initially making sure everyone was safe, a key area of focus has been recovering the last boats impacted ahead of the long and expensive job of getting the canal rebuilt and back open.
“I’d like to thank all those who have supported, including all who donated to assist the boaters affected, as well as those donating to our longer-term task of getting this historic canal back open in the weeks and months ahead.
“We’re still investigating the likely cause of the breach. The reasons behind earth embankment failures are not always clear, and multiple factors may be involved. We are undertaking a full and robust investigation and will make a summary of the findings publicly available in the coming weeks.”
A narrow boat left high and dry by a pre-Christmas canal bank collapse has been successfully refloated by waterways engineers.
The stern of the Pacemaker was left hanging precariously over a 50-metre-long “sinkhole” in Whitchurch, Shropshire, three weeks ago, after an incident its owner likened to being caught in a waterfall.
Two other narrow boats remain stranded in the bottom of the breach, ahead of an operation to winch them clear due to begin later this week.
Engineers from the Canal & River Trust oversaw the operation to refloat the Pacemaker, which saw the craft pulled underneath a movable footbridge and then refloated inside a temporary dam.
Fire crews helped around 12 people to safety after declaring a major incident at 4.22am on December 22 as millions of gallons of water escaped from the canal.
After the Pacemaker was moved using a winch, engineers took just over an hour to fill a newly-dammed area with water, allowing the boat to rejoin the canal network.
The boat’s owner Paul Stowe then stepped on board to inspect the inside.
Mr Stowe, who is currently living in rented accommodation, recalled how he had rescued his cats as he and family members saw a “gaping hole” appear under the boat, having been woken at around 4.05am.
He told the Press Association: “At the moment I don’t feel like the boat’s mine.
“There are an awful lot of people here.
“Once everybody’s gone and once we’ve had it inspected and checked, we’ve had all the repairs done and it’s back in the water, then I’ll feel like it’s my boat.”
Describing the canal breach, Mr Stowe added: “When it actually happened I looked over the stern of the boat and within 20 minutes this went from nothing to an enormous hole in the ground.
“It was almost like an implosion.”
The Canal & River Trust said its teams are ensuring that pipes and pumps are in place to safeguard a continued flow of water around the breach site, so boats downstream on the Llangollen Canal are kept afloat.
Julie Sharman, chief operating officer at the Trust, said: “We know how deeply distressing this breach has been for the boaters and local community.
“After initially making sure everyone was safe, a key area of focus has been recovering the last boats impacted ahead of the long and expensive job of getting the canal rebuilt and back open.
“I’d like to thank all those who have supported, including all who donated to assist the boaters affected, as well as those donating to our longer-term task of getting this historic canal back open in the weeks and months ahead.
“We’re still investigating the likely cause of the breach. The reasons behind earth embankment failures are not always clear, and multiple factors may be involved. We are undertaking a full and robust investigation and will make a summary of the findings publicly available in the coming weeks.”
| Re: Harlington, Bedfordshire: New station footbridge to last more than a century In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371028/31440/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:54, 13th January 2026 | |
Yes, I noted that (or the lack of them), too. Image not available to guests
| Trip Report: 08-11/01/26 European Rugby In Paris Part 2 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371027/31447/51] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 20:54, 13th January 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
08/01/26 - Exeter To Paris
DIG 0843 (0846) > EXD 0856 (0859) : 2T10 EXM > PGN : 1 x 150/2 (2 Cars)
EXD 0916 (OT) > PAD 1128 (OT) : 1A76 PNZ > PAD▸ : 1 x 802/1 (9 Cars)
TfL» Underground Paddington > King's Cross St. Pancras (H&C Line)
Eurostar STP 1431 (1511) > PBN 1749 (1832) : Train 9O32
Tickets: DIG > PAD Senior Railcard Advance Single £37.60 x 2, Railcard TfL Underground £1.85 x 2, Eurostar Standard Single £64.00 x 2
2T10 was full and standing on arrival at DIG where 30 pax were waiting to board. Everybody managed to get on but a few intending pax at POL were, I think, unable to get on. The train emptied significantly at EXC (Exeter College students & office/retail workers). Memo to GWR: don’t put a 2 car train on 2T10 if it can in any way be avoided!
1A76 departed EXD and arrived at PAD as scheduled. Wonders will never cease! Tickets but not Railcards were checked as the train passed Somerton. There is still a fairly obvious TSR on the Up Westbury Avoiding Line but this had no effect on the overall journey.
On arrival at STP it was immediately clear that things were not going to plan; there was a large queue outside the Eurostar departure lounge and our entry thereto did not start until a staff shift changeover had been completed. It was then announced that 9O32 would be delayed by the late arrival of the incoming service. Also the lounge was completely rammed by the large number of pax waiting for the 1504 to HamsterJam many of whom, I suspect, had switched to rail because of the ongoing chaos at Schipol (several days of snow and, apparently, they ran out of de-icer!)
9O32 eventually departed STP 50 minutes down and arrived at PBN 43 late. Quick Metro journey to the Clichy district (€2.55 2-hour ticket).
09/01/26
Retail Therapy For SWTSMBO! (€12.30 Metro All Day Pass)
10/01/26
Notre Dame (partially reopened after the fire) followed by Stade Francais v Exeter Chiefs at Stade Jean Bouin where Chiefs managed to turn an early second half lead of 0-22 into a full time loss of 27-25!
11/01/26 - Paris To Exeter
PBN 1112 (OT) > STP 1230 (1227) : Train 9O23
TfL Underground King's Cross St. Pancras > Paddington (Circle Line)
PAD 1303 (OT) > EXD 1509 (1517) : 1C83 PAD > PLY : 1 x 800/3 (9 Cars)
EXD 1551 (1552) > DIG 1600 (1601) : 2F16 PGN > EXM 1 x 165/1 (3 Cars)
Tickets: Eurostar £55.00 x 3, Railcard TfL Underground £1.85 x 2, PAD > DIG Senior Railcard Super Off-Peak Single £43.75 x 2
On arrival at Gare du Nord, at around 0950, there were massive queues in the Eurostar departures area. The pax for the 9O19 (1012) and 9O21 (1042) departures, the latter of which left about 15 late, were still being processed through immigration. When our turn came I did notice that a significant number of idiots, and I use that word deliberately, were slowing the whole process by inserting their passports into the eGate scanners the wrong way round. Eventually we departed for London on time and arrived at STP 3 early after an entirely unremarkable journey.
Our Super Off-Peak tickets had us booked on the 1403 1C84 PAD > PNZ but we made the 1303 1C83 with 4 minutes to spare. All went well, including a full ticket & railcard check, until CLC where we ‘caught up’ with the late running 1236 1C82 PAD > PGN. I knew this was going to happen as I had Traksy running on my ‘phone! 1C83 was held at CLC for 4-5 minutes and reached EXD 8 late causing the missing of the 1515 2F15 PGN > EXM connection.
On the plus side the consequent Delay Replay claim which I submitted the next morning was notified as having been approved just after midday on Tuesday 12/01. So a Gold Star to GWR for that.
| Re: Northern Powerhouse Rail - plans for east to west high speed rail links delayed again In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371026/5138/51] Posted by Noggin at 20:44, 13th January 2026 | |
The suggestion is that the Mayors of Liverpool and Manchester (Rotherem and Burnham) will be allowed to develop the proposals for a HS line between the two via Manchester Airport, presumably providing that they can get developers to pay for the bulk of the project, which is not inconceivable if they are left to their own devices.
As that's the expensive (and politically difficult bit of the HS2 project), the extension of HS2 to Middlewich "when HS2 is open and the NPR line is ready" is presumably a fairly cheap commitment to make, justifies retaining existing land holdings etc.
Rotherem supposedly wants the HS terminus on the Liverpool Central site, already the busiest station on the Merseyrail lines, with a rejig of Merseyrail as part of the project.
The original plan had HS2 going to high-level platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, so will be interesting to see what the proposal is for Manchester
| Re: Bath Spa: postwar rail ambitions In "Railway History and related topics" [371025/31442/55] Posted by Mark A at 20:38, 13th January 2026 | |
Reading on that link that the Westmoreland proposal may have been an initiative under consideration by the GWR and LMS, you wonder whether the two of them had any intentions for Lansdown in Cheltenham (where lines adjacent to the Midland station had no interchange platforms, and even when the GWR's line to Honeybourne arrived, a station materialised some distance away, something that could be argued didn't exactly optimise the passenger experience.)
A side by side comparison on the National Library of Scotland's web site is instructive.
Mark
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.8&lat=51.89920&lon=-2.09398&layers=178&right=206
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [371024/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 20:36, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
The seventeen hour drag from Ely to Long Rock took place today; reportedly 175010.
So I think this is the situation. 175001 is the only train in passenger service and that had a door failure that should have been fixable but it was taken out of service. Back working today.
Ely Mif :8: 175004/005/008, 175103/104/105/109/110 (175008 is in two halves)
Wolverton : 10 : 175101/102/106/107/108/111/112/113/115/116
Laira : 8: 175002/007/009, 175114; 175001/003/006/011 are refurbished.
Long Rock : 1 : 175010
Updated 13 January 2026
| Re: The Red Arrows, RAF display team - popular with members of the Coffee Shop forum In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371023/31444/31] Posted by johnneyw at 20:27, 13th January 2026 | |
Erm ... no. Image not available to guests
The middle picture is the right way up - showing how The Red Arrows fly, during their routines.
CfN. Image not available to guests
The middle picture is the right way up - showing how The Red Arrows fly, during their routines.
CfN. Image not available to guests
Or was that taken in Australia CfN? Image not available to guests
| Re: Harlington, Bedfordshire: New station footbridge to last more than a century In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371022/31440/51] Posted by ChrisB at 20:22, 13th January 2026 | |
Good to see the accessible lift shafts Image not available to guests
| Cardiff -Portsmouth Engineering work 2026 In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [371021/31446/20] Posted by John D at 19:46, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Seems the Cardiff-Portsmouth service is having multiple interruptions due to engineering work this year.
Sun 1 Feb
suspended Salisbury - Southampton
Sat 7 - Sun 8 Feb
suspended Warminster - Salisbury
Sun 15 Feb, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Feb
Diverted via Eastleigh, not serving Southampton
Mon 16 - Fri 20 March & Sun 29 March
Only 2 or 4 tracks Newport-Cardiff, some timings changed, some trains not beyond Bristol
Sat 21 - Sun 22 March
suspended Bristol - Cardiff
Sat 2 - Mon 4 May
suspended Bath Spa - Westbury
Sat 23 May - Mon 8 June
suspended Bristol - Cardiff (provisional)
| Landslip west of Axminster - message from SWR In "South Western services" [371020/31445/42] Posted by grahame at 19:12, 13th January 2026 | |
Dear all,
You may have had the message below directly but I wanted to provide a bit of additional context for you as key stakeholders, particularly around train options and journey planners.
The e-mail below explains the issue with the landslip to the west of Axminster. The current 5mph restriction has been causing delays of 3-4 mins per London bound train which of course then creates further delays across the day on top of any other disruption. It is there essential that the permanent repair works take place next weekend.
As explained the Waterloo service will start and terminate at Crewkerne. Please do however note the fact that Crewkerne station car park is closed to enable the buses to turn (though a couple of accessible bays will be available). Anyone who wishes to drive to a railhead from the west is therefore encouraged to drive to Yeovil Junction instead.
We did look into the possibility of a Honiton – Exeter shuttle rail service. Unfortunately this wasn’t possible from an SWR point of view given the very limited timescale to rebuild the crew diagrams. We also discussed options with our friends at GWR. They were unable to help due to only having a very limited pool of high speed drivers that currently sign the route – this group of drivers is already heavily committed at weekends. In addition the movements of the engineering trains for the works meant that Honiton station was unavailable for a shuttle train service on this occasion. We will however look at options as to how this could be achieved in future as the railway moves towards integration and rolling stock / training programmes progress.
Station calls west of Crewkerne were removed from online journey planners last night (Monday). Industry system restrictions mean that the bus replacement services cannot be loaded into journey planners until 24 hours before (which is different for long term planned engineering works). We have therefore included a bus timetable on our website in the interim. As a result online journey planners will currently show no results for stations west of Crewkerne. This is obviously not ideal but which is why we’re keen to make customers aware of the need to go to SWR’s website to view the detailed information.
I would be grateful if you could use your communication channels to spread the message to customers as widely as possible, pointing them to SWR’s website. Both SWR and Network Rail have issued press releases and have social media posts planned. Please feel free to reshare our posts.
Let me know if you have any queries.
Regards
Andrew
Andrew Ardley
You may have had the message below directly but I wanted to provide a bit of additional context for you as key stakeholders, particularly around train options and journey planners.
The e-mail below explains the issue with the landslip to the west of Axminster. The current 5mph restriction has been causing delays of 3-4 mins per London bound train which of course then creates further delays across the day on top of any other disruption. It is there essential that the permanent repair works take place next weekend.
As explained the Waterloo service will start and terminate at Crewkerne. Please do however note the fact that Crewkerne station car park is closed to enable the buses to turn (though a couple of accessible bays will be available). Anyone who wishes to drive to a railhead from the west is therefore encouraged to drive to Yeovil Junction instead.
We did look into the possibility of a Honiton – Exeter shuttle rail service. Unfortunately this wasn’t possible from an SWR point of view given the very limited timescale to rebuild the crew diagrams. We also discussed options with our friends at GWR. They were unable to help due to only having a very limited pool of high speed drivers that currently sign the route – this group of drivers is already heavily committed at weekends. In addition the movements of the engineering trains for the works meant that Honiton station was unavailable for a shuttle train service on this occasion. We will however look at options as to how this could be achieved in future as the railway moves towards integration and rolling stock / training programmes progress.
Station calls west of Crewkerne were removed from online journey planners last night (Monday). Industry system restrictions mean that the bus replacement services cannot be loaded into journey planners until 24 hours before (which is different for long term planned engineering works). We have therefore included a bus timetable on our website in the interim. As a result online journey planners will currently show no results for stations west of Crewkerne. This is obviously not ideal but which is why we’re keen to make customers aware of the need to go to SWR’s website to view the detailed information.
I would be grateful if you could use your communication channels to spread the message to customers as widely as possible, pointing them to SWR’s website. Both SWR and Network Rail have issued press releases and have social media posts planned. Please feel free to reshare our posts.
Let me know if you have any queries.
Regards
Andrew
Andrew Ardley
| Re: The Red Arrows, RAF display team - popular with members of the Coffee Shop forum In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371019/31444/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:33, 13th January 2026 | |
Erm ... no. Image not available to guests
The middle picture is the right way up - showing how The Red Arrows fly, during their routines.
CfN. Image not available to guests
| Re: 13th January 2026 / West Wilts Radio In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [371017/31432/49] Posted by grahame at 18:24, 13th January 2026 | |
Chance to hear again ... (and can anyone grab the audio as it re-aires?). ... https://westwiltsradio.com
btw - the show repeats at 12 noon thursday and after that it will be available on-demand from the playagain page at westwiltsradio.com
| Re: The Red Arrows, RAF display team - popular with members of the Coffee Shop forum In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371014/31444/31] Posted by Oxonhutch at 18:01, 13th January 2026 | |
That top picture is upside-down Image not available to guests
| Re: 13th January 2026 / West Wilts Radio In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [371013/31432/49] Posted by grahame at 17:40, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Sadly no "listen back" ... but here are my notes wot I woz gonna say.
Notes for West Wilts Radio
Graham Ellis on the WWRUG committee. 5 urban stations on the main line - WMN, DMH (Dilton Marsh and Westbury Leigh), WSB, TRO and BOA. You also have MKM on the side shoot and the AVF village station. Also with narrower MTUG (just the town) and wider TWSW (South West)
Much has improved over 20 years, but some slips back. For B-o-A for example up to 3 trains an hour, but loss of many through services – all those from Brighton, from London, from Great Malvern, from West Wales and from Manchester. Passenger numbers have doubled, but train lengths have not kept pace and there are overcrowding issues, and as the trains get older they break down more often. Financial squeezing on track and train maintenance and numbers of staff mean that cancellations are far above what would be regarded as "reliable". But yet typically people get where they want, all be that on the next train. The exceptions are Melksham and Dilton Marsh, where the cancellation of one train when the next isn't due for several hours puts people off using the service at all.
But the train - and buses - are a good and much more sustainable way for the future and we look forward to HMG stated reliability aims and successes, with a not of caution that we don't want to see that done by thinning out trains as they have just done at DMH.
Fares, ticket offices, information systems, parking at stations, connecting buses, safety at stations - there is so much to consider and more and more it's the rail industry and the government that both specifies and monitors these, all micromanaged by the DfT and at times passengers feel they are the pawns in a game. We were staggered at the Dilton Marsh cuts in December - although we liaise and are informed somewhat by GWR, they had neglected to tell us about these and even their own timetable poster team put up a new poster advertising trains that no longer ran.
WWRUG committee meets every 2 months and the group 4 times a year - next on March 20th at the Bethesda Church Hall in Trowbridge (7 for 7:30) across from the station behind Trinity church. Newsletter 4 times a year - all eight items £8 or £10 for a family. We are, truly, independent of the DfT that funds virtually everything else directly or indirectly. We also have a WWRUG group on Facebook committee meets every 2 months and the group 4 times a year - next on March 20th at the Bethesda Church Hall in Trowbridge (7 for 7:30) across from the station behind Trinity church.
Looking ahead - increased capacity through Melksham, reliability, "simplification" of fares. Be careful those don't mean fewer trains and higher prices. This year, the regular "inflation plus" rises are not happening.
Encourage engagement and membership. Search and find us online. Personally retired and now travelling very widely - but still there, learning and advocating for the passenger and different future while taking a pragmatic view and accepting the need for change and for financial prudence. Look forward to coping with all new housing and a minimum 30 minute service with cancellations less than 2% and bus and train fare and network integrtaion.
Canon in D is a piece scored for three violins and bass by the German composer Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706). YouTuber Pavel Jirásek has reworked if for train horns and this version brings a big smile to my face as it recalls the sounds of the railway both locally and around Europe.
Graham Ellis on the WWRUG committee. 5 urban stations on the main line - WMN, DMH (Dilton Marsh and Westbury Leigh), WSB, TRO and BOA. You also have MKM on the side shoot and the AVF village station. Also with narrower MTUG (just the town) and wider TWSW (South West)
Much has improved over 20 years, but some slips back. For B-o-A for example up to 3 trains an hour, but loss of many through services – all those from Brighton, from London, from Great Malvern, from West Wales and from Manchester. Passenger numbers have doubled, but train lengths have not kept pace and there are overcrowding issues, and as the trains get older they break down more often. Financial squeezing on track and train maintenance and numbers of staff mean that cancellations are far above what would be regarded as "reliable". But yet typically people get where they want, all be that on the next train. The exceptions are Melksham and Dilton Marsh, where the cancellation of one train when the next isn't due for several hours puts people off using the service at all.
But the train - and buses - are a good and much more sustainable way for the future and we look forward to HMG stated reliability aims and successes, with a not of caution that we don't want to see that done by thinning out trains as they have just done at DMH.
Fares, ticket offices, information systems, parking at stations, connecting buses, safety at stations - there is so much to consider and more and more it's the rail industry and the government that both specifies and monitors these, all micromanaged by the DfT and at times passengers feel they are the pawns in a game. We were staggered at the Dilton Marsh cuts in December - although we liaise and are informed somewhat by GWR, they had neglected to tell us about these and even their own timetable poster team put up a new poster advertising trains that no longer ran.
WWRUG committee meets every 2 months and the group 4 times a year - next on March 20th at the Bethesda Church Hall in Trowbridge (7 for 7:30) across from the station behind Trinity church. Newsletter 4 times a year - all eight items £8 or £10 for a family. We are, truly, independent of the DfT that funds virtually everything else directly or indirectly. We also have a WWRUG group on Facebook committee meets every 2 months and the group 4 times a year - next on March 20th at the Bethesda Church Hall in Trowbridge (7 for 7:30) across from the station behind Trinity church.
Looking ahead - increased capacity through Melksham, reliability, "simplification" of fares. Be careful those don't mean fewer trains and higher prices. This year, the regular "inflation plus" rises are not happening.
Encourage engagement and membership. Search and find us online. Personally retired and now travelling very widely - but still there, learning and advocating for the passenger and different future while taking a pragmatic view and accepting the need for change and for financial prudence. Look forward to coping with all new housing and a minimum 30 minute service with cancellations less than 2% and bus and train fare and network integrtaion.
Canon in D is a piece scored for three violins and bass by the German composer Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706). YouTuber Pavel Jirásek has reworked if for train horns and this version brings a big smile to my face as it recalls the sounds of the railway both locally and around Europe.
Elements of the above were skipped. And it became stronger in tone as we discussed who actually sets the service levels, on what criteria, and who and how a two hour peak gap can be put into an hourly service without notice. We discussed the need for freight, the prospects for Melksham, the crucial nature of reliability and how it's that much more important on an infrequent service than on a frequent one. And we discussed management motivation in the rail industry - private and public operations - at the current times of change and how "more reliability" can be achieved by withdrawing unreliable services, which looks good for statistics but leaves customers in the lurch.
| Re: Speed cut approved for walking and cycling route In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [371012/31439/50] Posted by Red Squirrel at 17:31, 13th January 2026 | |
I was in Wokingham a few months ago - I was surprised at how intimidating the combination of narrow pavements and 30mph limits was. But I'm less surprised that Wokingham folk tend to oppose 20mph limits; it's a different world there.
This road/cycle route isn't in Wokingham at all, except (for the time being) it's part of the Borough (Unitary) area. It's in Woodley, Earley, and bit of Greater Reading that has no specific name. All very suburban.
And while Woodley doesn't have Wokingham town centre's big traffic problem (two A roads going through it) it does lack custom-built access roads. Woodlands Avenue is the only access to the west/southwest, the A3290 ex-motorway acting as a barrier to the south. So I'm sure a lot of people resent being forced onto this unsuitable road, and now forced off it in favor of hypothetical (and "vulnerable") cyclists.
I probably should have restrained myself from commenting on this - it's not in my area. In mitigation, my blood pressure may have been slightly elevated by a collision in Bristol on Sunday in which an unhypothetical cyclist, vulnerable without ironic quotes, was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdqygnp5gzo
| Re: Test thread In "News, Help and Assistance" [371011/31443/29] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:02, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Western Pathfinder | |
... (fellow admins and moderators), please do not tidy it up ...
Whoever would do such a thing? Image not available to guests
| The Red Arrows, RAF display team - popular with members of the Coffee Shop forum In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371010/31444/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:59, 13th January 2026 | |
Since the launch of this Coffee Shop forum, our members have posted on many boards and topics about The Red Arrows.
Indeed, doing a simple search here (with the intention of my doing some merging), I was presented with "Found 177 posts in 110 threads".
I will therefore post this particular news item as a fresh topic here. From the BBC:
Red Arrows get first woman leader
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Wing Cdr Sasha Nash says she hopes "to inspire future generations of aviators" during her time in the role
The Red Arrows will be led by a woman for the first time in its history.
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash, who has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins as the most senior officer in the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, described it as the "opportunity of a lifetime".
Nash said she was "incredibly proud", adding she hoped to "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds".
In 2023, the team faced criticism after an inquiry found predatory behaviour towards women within the team was "widespread and normalised".
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The Red Arrows team has performed thousands of displays in more than 50 countries
Nash, a former Tornado pilot who has flown tours in Afghanistan, will command 150 RAF and civilian personnel at the team's headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, and have responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the operation.
"This is a career opportunity of a lifetime," she said. "If someone had told me 20 years ago that, one day, I'd be Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows, I don't think I would have believed it."
Talking about her passion for aviation, she said it had all started when she was a child. "I was a six-year-old little girl when I decided to join the Royal Air Force and to fly fast jets – inspired by air shows and seeing the speed and excitement of aircraft displaying at those events. That ambition stayed with me throughout school, where I achieved a sixth form scholarship and subsequent university bursary to join the RAF."
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Wing Cdr Sasha Nash has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins
Nash, who has previously worked alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and played lacrosse for England at junior and senior level, paid tribute to her predecessor. "I've worked alongside Adam over the last couple of years and witnessed, first hand, his utter dedication to both the team and the RAF."
Collins, whose career saw him lead the team during its 60th anniversary season, as well as a five-week tour of Canada, wished his successor well. "I am confident that, under her leadership, the Red Arrows will continue to demonstrate our recipe of precision, excellence and teamwork across the globe," he said.
Speaking in 2024, Collins said the team had moved on from the harassment claims, saying at the time it was his job to "make people feel included, valued and respected".
Image not available to guests
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash says she hopes "to inspire future generations of aviators" during her time in the role
The Red Arrows will be led by a woman for the first time in its history.
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash, who has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins as the most senior officer in the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, described it as the "opportunity of a lifetime".
Nash said she was "incredibly proud", adding she hoped to "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds".
In 2023, the team faced criticism after an inquiry found predatory behaviour towards women within the team was "widespread and normalised".
Image not available to guests
The Red Arrows team has performed thousands of displays in more than 50 countries
Nash, a former Tornado pilot who has flown tours in Afghanistan, will command 150 RAF and civilian personnel at the team's headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, and have responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the operation.
"This is a career opportunity of a lifetime," she said. "If someone had told me 20 years ago that, one day, I'd be Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows, I don't think I would have believed it."
Talking about her passion for aviation, she said it had all started when she was a child. "I was a six-year-old little girl when I decided to join the Royal Air Force and to fly fast jets – inspired by air shows and seeing the speed and excitement of aircraft displaying at those events. That ambition stayed with me throughout school, where I achieved a sixth form scholarship and subsequent university bursary to join the RAF."
Image not available to guests
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins
Nash, who has previously worked alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and played lacrosse for England at junior and senior level, paid tribute to her predecessor. "I've worked alongside Adam over the last couple of years and witnessed, first hand, his utter dedication to both the team and the RAF."
Collins, whose career saw him lead the team during its 60th anniversary season, as well as a five-week tour of Canada, wished his successor well. "I am confident that, under her leadership, the Red Arrows will continue to demonstrate our recipe of precision, excellence and teamwork across the globe," he said.
Speaking in 2024, Collins said the team had moved on from the harassment claims, saying at the time it was his job to "make people feel included, valued and respected".
All images in that BBC news item are copyright Ministry of Defence (MOD).
| Test thread In "News, Help and Assistance" [371009/31443/29] Posted by grahame at 16:38, 13th January 2026 | |
I normally set up tests and check code in a side area that's not public / member / guest visible before unleasing it on the world. However, I'm testing various permissions things here so having to ask you, pretty please, to ignore the thread and (fellow admins and moderators), please do not tidy it up Image not available to guests [CC]
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| Re: Bath Spa: postwar rail ambitions In "Railway History and related topics" [371008/31442/55] Posted by grahame at 16:13, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Didn't take long to answer my own musings as a web search looped straight back to this very web site.
Mark
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/t30230.html
Mark
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/t30230.html
A good / excellent indicator that the Coffee Shop provides a significant knowledge resource to a far wider public making general enquiries online.
| Re: Speed cut approved for walking and cycling route In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [371007/31439/50] Posted by stuving at 16:06, 13th January 2026 | |
I was in Wokingham a few months ago - I was surprised at how intimidating the combination of narrow pavements and 30mph limits was. But I'm less surprised that Wokingham folk tend to oppose 20mph limits; it's a different world there.
This road/cycle route isn't in Wokingham at all, except (for the time being) it's part of the Borough (Unitary) area. It's in Woodley, Earley, and bit of Greater Reading that has no specific name. All very suburban.
And while Woodley doesn't have Wokingham town centre's big traffic problem (two A roads going through it) it does lack custom-built access roads. Woodlands Avenue is the only access to the west/southwest, the A3290 ex-motorway acting as a barrier to the south. So I'm sure a lot of people resent being forced onto this unsuitable road, and now forced off it in favor of hypothetical (and "vulnerable") cyclists.
| Re: Bath Spa: postwar rail ambitions In "Railway History and related topics" [371006/31442/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:03, 13th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
