Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367678/31016/30] Posted by bradshaw at 17:46, 2nd November 2025 |      |
Taw Valley Halt, Swindon and Cricklade Railway, showing engine run round
| Metropolitan line shut between Baker St and Aldgate until 9 November 2025 In "Transport for London" [367677/31023/46] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:37, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
A section of the Metropolitan line affected by a track fault will remain closed until 9 November, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
The problem with the line is at Baker Street and the services between there and Aldgate are being suspended for the week to ease pressure on the line while engineers work on the issue.
Minor delays are expected on the rest of the line. TfL suggested passengers change at Baker Street for Bakerloo, Circle and Hammersmith & City line services, or use the Jubilee line from either Finchley Road or Baker Street.
Travellers are also advised to allow more time and use the TfL journey planner.
| Re: Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367676/31016/30] Posted by grahame at 17:00, 2nd November 2025 | |
Yesterday was very easy - how about today
| Re: Paddington to Bristol <-> service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [367675/18525/10] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 16:40, 2nd November 2025 | |
Sunday November 2
Successive trains had been cancelled this evening:
02/11/25 18:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/11/2025 23:28
02/11/25 19:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:32 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/11/2025 23:28
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/11/2025 23:28
02/11/25 19:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:32 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/11/2025 23:28
But now sense has prevailed:
18:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:58 will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled.
Last Updated:02/11/2025 16:37
Last Updated:02/11/2025 16:37
| The last days of the Lynn and Dereham railway (1968) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367674/31022/51] Posted by lympstone_commuter at 16:09, 2nd November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
This old BBC documentary film has just appeared on YouTube, recording the last days of the line between Kings Lynn and Dereham in 1968.
I thoroughly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uke3Y43F-BQ
I thought it was a great watch - fascinating, evocative, nostalgic, and of course melancholy......
| London Liverpool Street station to shut for travellers over Christmas 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367673/31021/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:56, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Liverpool Street Station will be closed for eight days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day for works to be carried out on its roof, Network Rail said.
It has urged people travelling over the Christmas period to check journey plans if travelling via the UK's busiest station.
Strengthening work will also be carried out inside the Bishopsgate Tunnel approach to London Liverpool Street, alongside signalling renewal work across Cambridgeshire.
Full services will resume from and to the station on 2 January, it added.
The engineering work taking place in Cambridgeshire will start on Christmas Day and last up to 11 days, Network Rail said, to deliver the second stage of the Cambridge re-signalling project and modernise the system. Signalling engineers will introduce a new control system to operate the signals for the section of railway between Cambridge North and Audley End.
"A new digital workstation at the Cambridge signalling centre will replace the 40-year-old signalling panel allowing signallers to oversee the operation of the network more efficiently," Network Rail said. "This work is also vital to allow the new station at Cambridge South to open early in the New Year."
An upgrade to the Meldreth Road level crossing in Cambridgeshire will see a full barrier CCTV system introduced too.
From 27 December to 4 January 2026, there will be no rail services between Royston and Stansted Mountfitchet and Cambridge and Cambridge North.
Rail services between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds will also be affected during these dates, with rail replacement bus services in place between affected stations from Friday 27 December.
Network Rail, which is responsible for railway infrastructure, said all of its train services will not run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and will finish early on Christmas Eve on some routes.
From 27 December, Greater Anglia services on the Great Eastern and West Anglia mainlines will run to and from Stratford, including Stansted Express services. The Stansted Express would operate a revised service to and from Tottenham Hale on Boxing Day.
Services to Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree will run to and from Witham due to engineering work. Buses will run between Witham and Billericay to provide a connection with train services between Billericay and Stratford.
London Liverpool Street works include the strengthening of Bishopsgate tunnel, which will see the installation of steel support girders inside the tunnel and work to repair existing steelwork to prevent corrosion.
On the station concourse, roof panels will be renewed to allow more light into the station, improve the drainage system and renew seals "to make the roof resilient to more frequent and intense storms", said Network Rail. New ticket gates for platforms one to 10 will also be added.
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367672/31017/51] Posted by chuffed at 14:40, 2nd November 2025 | |
Agreed....but you try getting any uniformed officers out of Avon and Somerset HQ in Portishead between 4pm Friday and 8am Monday.......
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367671/31017/51] Posted by Mark A at 14:06, 2nd November 2025 | |
Another reason to be impressed at the actions of railway staff too - a bit fortuitious but the HQ for Cambridge Constabulary is pretty well adjacent to the railway station.
Mark
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367670/31017/51] Posted by a-driver at 13:41, 2nd November 2025 | |
Two men were arrested EIGHT MINUTES after the first 999 call was made. 8 minutes.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [367669/27102/25] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:31, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Buses replace trains as Mid Cornwall Metro project enters final phase
Train passengers are being reminded to plan ahead of the final phase of engineering work on a rail line.
Network Rail said passengers travelling between Newquay and Par would be affected by the work on the Mid Cornwall Metro project between Monday and Friday next week. It said buses would replace trains from Newquay to St Austell, while passengers at Par were advised to take train to St Austell and change for buses towards Newquay. Trains would still run from Par towards Plymouth and Penzance, it said.
Lee Goodson, Great Western Railway station manager for west Cornwall, said during the works no trains could stop at Newquay, Quintrell Downs, St Columb Road, Roche, Bugle or Luxulyan stations. "Trains will still run at Par on the Cornish main line but replacement buses will operate mostly between Newquay and St Austell," he said. "Most of these rail replacement services will stop at all stations, except for Par, but some will operate non-stop at peak periods. It's important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead."
The Mid Cornwall Metro project involves the restoration of a second platform at Newquay station, a new passing loop at Goss Moor and the installation of new digital signals.
Network Rail said from 2026 there would be hourly trains between Newquay and Par, doubling the current service. It said the enhancements would then be followed by direct trains from Newquay to Falmouth, via Par, St Austell and Truro.
Train passengers are being reminded to plan ahead of the final phase of engineering work on a rail line.
Network Rail said passengers travelling between Newquay and Par would be affected by the work on the Mid Cornwall Metro project between Monday and Friday next week. It said buses would replace trains from Newquay to St Austell, while passengers at Par were advised to take train to St Austell and change for buses towards Newquay. Trains would still run from Par towards Plymouth and Penzance, it said.
Lee Goodson, Great Western Railway station manager for west Cornwall, said during the works no trains could stop at Newquay, Quintrell Downs, St Columb Road, Roche, Bugle or Luxulyan stations. "Trains will still run at Par on the Cornish main line but replacement buses will operate mostly between Newquay and St Austell," he said. "Most of these rail replacement services will stop at all stations, except for Par, but some will operate non-stop at peak periods. It's important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead."
The Mid Cornwall Metro project involves the restoration of a second platform at Newquay station, a new passing loop at Goss Moor and the installation of new digital signals.
Network Rail said from 2026 there would be hourly trains between Newquay and Par, doubling the current service. It said the enhancements would then be followed by direct trains from Newquay to Falmouth, via Par, St Austell and Truro.
| Appeal after 'shocking' assault at Polsloe Bridge railway station - 30 Oct 2025 In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [367668/31020/24] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:17, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
A man in his 50s sustained multiple facial fractures following a serious assault at a Devon railway station.
He was injured at Polsloe Bridge Station, in Exeter, on Thursday at about 23:40 BST.
British Transport Police said a man got off a train and walked along the platform before jumping down onto the tracks. He then followed the victim up the stairs of the station and threw a glass bottle at him before a physical altercation took place.
Det Con Jon Stoodley described it as a "shocking act of violence" and appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
BTP said: "The victim fell down the stairs, before the man stood over him punching and kicking him in the head. The victim remains in hospital with multiple facial fractures."
Det Con Stoodley added: "I'd also like to appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened or the events leading up to it to get in contact with us," he said.
"We know the victim may have spoken to a number of members of the public following the incident, and we'd like to speak to them as part of our investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP.
He was injured at Polsloe Bridge Station, in Exeter, on Thursday at about 23:40 BST.
British Transport Police said a man got off a train and walked along the platform before jumping down onto the tracks. He then followed the victim up the stairs of the station and threw a glass bottle at him before a physical altercation took place.
Det Con Jon Stoodley described it as a "shocking act of violence" and appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
BTP said: "The victim fell down the stairs, before the man stood over him punching and kicking him in the head. The victim remains in hospital with multiple facial fractures."
Det Con Stoodley added: "I'd also like to appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened or the events leading up to it to get in contact with us," he said.
"We know the victim may have spoken to a number of members of the public following the incident, and we'd like to speak to them as part of our investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP.
| Royal Marines abseil into Waterloo Station for 'Poppy Day' - November 2025 In "Across the West" [367667/31019/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:59, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Royal Marines have abseiled into Waterloo Station to help launch The Royal British Legion's (RBL) London Poppy Appeal.
Around 3,000 serving armed forces personnel are selling poppies in London on Thursday in the hopes of raising £1m for the RBL's Poppy Appeal.
The event, which is Europe's biggest one-day street collection, saw military bands perform for commuters at major stations. It was the 19th annual fundraising "Poppy Day" in London.
Rob Rinder, who joined collectors, said: "The poppy isn't just a symbol of remembrance, it's a sign of gratitude and unity, a reminder that our freedoms were bought at great cost, and that we each have a part to play in caring for those who served."
| Re: Serbia - 16 killed in Novi Sad railway station roof collapse - 1 November 2024 In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [367666/29398/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:31, 2nd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Anger lingers in Serbia a year after train station tragedy
A sea of people flowed along the roads leading up to Novi Sad railway station.
They came in their tens of thousands to remember the 16 people who died there this time last year, on another unseasonably warm and sunny autumn day.
The victims were standing or sitting underneath a concrete canopy at the recently-renovated facility, when it collapsed. The two youngest were just six years old, the oldest, 77.
Regular protests have rocked Serbia in the 12 months that have followed. But on Saturday morning, the huge crowd participated in an event that put the emphasis on quiet commemoration.
At 11:52 (10:52 GMT), the time of the disaster, they observed a silence for 16 minutes - one for each of the victims. Family members cried. One woman needed to be physically supported by men wearing the red berets of armed forces veterans.
After the silence, relatives laid flowers at the front of the station.
The rubble of the collapsed canopy has been cleared away, but otherwise the building appears to have remained untouched since the disaster. Twisted metal protruding from the walls and broken glass still offer evidence of the catastrophe.
Novi Sad station was supposed to be a symbol of Serbia's progress, under President Aleksandar Vučić's Progressive Party. The country's second city would be a key stop on the high-speed railway line whipping passengers from Belgrade to Budapest in less than three hours.
Vučić and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban jointly opened the renovated facility in 2022. Its angular, Yugoslav-era form had been upgraded as part of the high-speed project.
But now, after another renovation and the disaster that followed, the station stands as the prime example of everything that is wrong in Serbia.
...
In September, 13 people, including former construction, infrastructure and Transport Minister Goran Vesić, were charged in a criminal case over the collapse.
(BBC article continues)
A sea of people flowed along the roads leading up to Novi Sad railway station.
They came in their tens of thousands to remember the 16 people who died there this time last year, on another unseasonably warm and sunny autumn day.
The victims were standing or sitting underneath a concrete canopy at the recently-renovated facility, when it collapsed. The two youngest were just six years old, the oldest, 77.
Regular protests have rocked Serbia in the 12 months that have followed. But on Saturday morning, the huge crowd participated in an event that put the emphasis on quiet commemoration.
At 11:52 (10:52 GMT), the time of the disaster, they observed a silence for 16 minutes - one for each of the victims. Family members cried. One woman needed to be physically supported by men wearing the red berets of armed forces veterans.
After the silence, relatives laid flowers at the front of the station.
The rubble of the collapsed canopy has been cleared away, but otherwise the building appears to have remained untouched since the disaster. Twisted metal protruding from the walls and broken glass still offer evidence of the catastrophe.
Novi Sad station was supposed to be a symbol of Serbia's progress, under President Aleksandar Vučić's Progressive Party. The country's second city would be a key stop on the high-speed railway line whipping passengers from Belgrade to Budapest in less than three hours.
Vučić and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban jointly opened the renovated facility in 2022. Its angular, Yugoslav-era form had been upgraded as part of the high-speed project.
But now, after another renovation and the disaster that followed, the station stands as the prime example of everything that is wrong in Serbia.
...
In September, 13 people, including former construction, infrastructure and Transport Minister Goran Vesić, were charged in a criminal case over the collapse.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367665/31017/51] Posted by Mark A at 11:33, 2nd November 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Oxonhutch | |
Good comment from Simon Calder, observation from this bluesky account.
https://bsky.app/profile/gawenjenkin.bsky.social/post/3m4n54weobc27
Mark
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367664/31017/51] Posted by Mark A at 11:23, 2nd November 2025 Already liked by a-driver | |
Evidence, away from the public eye, of quality communications, quick decisions and actions from the chain of railway staff involved in this.
Mark
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367663/31017/51] Posted by a-driver at 10:14, 2nd November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Awful news...... but, the driver of that train deserves huge praise. Exemplary response that potentially saved lives.
| Re: A movement strategy for Bath In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [367662/31004/21] Posted by Noggin at 09:09, 2nd November 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Nice to see they are mostly day light start times,just wondering if I could attend and ask if over head wires will ever come to the Bath area?
IIRC, WECA part-funded a recent NR study into the updated costs of wiring Filton Bank into Temple Meads, including whether a couple of bridges could be left in-situ given advances in the rules around clearances and whether the refurbished Temple Meads roof could support electrification spans, Paddington-style.
On that basis, you could ask what BANES and WECA could do to get rail electrification through Bath prioritised and progressed, and what steps have been taken?
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [367661/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:08, 2nd November 2025 | |
Friday 10October 2025:
The protestations that we hear from time to time by GWR that there really are enough staff to run the scheduled service are wearing a bit thin, now
Multiple cancellations occur on a daily basis because there are insufficient staff
15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/10/2025 12:03
19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/10/2025 12:03
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/10/2025 12:03
19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/10/2025 12:03
The protestations that we hear from time to time by GWR that there really are enough staff to run the scheduled service are wearing a bit thin, now
Multiple cancellations occur on a daily basis because there are insufficient staff
Staffing levels are within the agreed level set by the DfT.
You can’t drop below or go above that figure by 5%.
Are staffing levels sufficient to run all services, all things being equal?
| Re: Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367660/31016/30] Posted by grahame at 07:18, 2nd November 2025 | |
Indeed - Devizes and Salisbury. I made a trip on the 272 bus at 08:00 Melksham into Devizes and then the X2 onward to Salisbury, journey time about 2 and a quarter hours which included a 45 minute layover in Devizes, back on the 14:30 bus from Salisbury, similar layover.
The X2 is a recent innovation - and a victory for common sense.
Until not-long-ago, the bus from Devizes to Salisbury studiously avoided the direct road after Shrewton, when it diverted off through a number of lovely little villages, and dawdled into Salisbury via the A36. This was route 2 and the journey was even longer. And whilst it passed a couple of miles from the Stonehenge visitor centre, it seemed to studiously avoid calling there. Tourists visiting Devizes, with really good archaeological exhibits in the museum and a link on the 49 bus to Avebury - the other stone circle - had to go into Salisbury on the 2 and then double back on the tour bus run by the same company to get to Stonehenge. A 30 minute drive in a hire car, but way over 2 hours by public transport between places that people naturally want linked by public transport.
Buses on the 2 now alternate with buses on the X2 which does serve the Stonehenge visitors centre and take the direct load into Salisbury - a considerably quicker journey. There are also some extra short journeys out from Salisbury and back on the 2, in part "paid for" by the bus operating time saved by the X2 as it runs via the henge. I suspect there may also be one extra vehicle.
Routing Devizes - Salisbury buses via Stonehenge has long been a 'campaign' in Devizes and I have certainly added my voice, and good to see the change. It provides a more attractive journey for through passengers from Shrewton and north there of to Salisbury, anti provides that usable link from Devizes to Stonehenge. Whether or not the change has been triggered by campaigning, by growing traffic or subsidy which allows the extra vehicle for the short journeys, or because the X2 can be run with a double decker (only single deck yesterday mind), I don't know.
I was delighted to see that - even on an obscure November Saturday - we were carrying multiple passengers into Stonehenge who got off there from the Devizes direction. And on the way back, in a howling and wet gale, multiple soaking passengers joined us. Also very interesting to see us picking up passenger all the way in to Salisbury City Centre from Devizes Road Top ... whether that is attraction off another local bus, or indeed that other local bus is replaced at some times by X2 journeys helping free up a vehicle for the short journey 2s, I know not. But oversll, from my slim evidence, it's working out well.
The X2 from Devizes is described as "Salisbury via Stonehenge" but the X2 from Salisbury I described as "Devizes direct" - no mention of Stonehenge on the signage, and I suspect this is done to protect the Stonehenge Tour bus from abstraction; the bus itself does admit the call. It was also stated concern (not sure how true it is) that there was a worry than a public bus between Stonehenge and Salisbury would damage the commercial income of GoAhead who run the 2, the X2 and the tour bus. On my journeys yesterday, no-one joined the bus at Stonehenge towards Salisbury, nor did we drop anyone off there later in the day; not unexpected as the visitor centre is an attraction where natural selection is morning drop offs and afternoon pick ups.
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367659/31017/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 01:22, 2nd November 2025 | |
Live coverage, from the BBC: Nine people with life-threatening injuries after mass stabbing on train in Cambridgeshire
| Re: Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367658/31016/30] Posted by eightonedee at 22:44, 1st November 2025 | |
1 is the Salisbury Paddington.
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367657/31017/51] Posted by Mark A at 22:29, 1st November 2025 | |
The train involved may have been the LNER service to Kings Cross from Doncaster (1825). After its booked call at Peterborough, Realtime Trains now records it as at a stand at Huntingdon.
Mark
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P00149/2025-11-01/detailed#allox_id=0
| Ferry Services bill would boost Isle of Wight income, MP says In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367656/31018/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:20, 1st November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
A bill to regulate ferry firms would boost income from tourists who are deterred by reduced timetables and higher fares, an MP has said.
Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, is due to introduce his Ten Minute Rule Motion in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill would set up a framework to regulate routes throughout the country.
The MP said currently there was "no accountability or control over pricing or any aspect" of how ferries are run. He said: "The ferry companies could in theory close up shop, sell off the land for housing and call it a day if that was more profitable. I suspect if they tried to do that the government would be forced to step in and do something. But there is no obligation they have to anyone, so that means we've got prices like £400 return to bring a car back and forth [between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight] on peak weekends."
Mr Robertson said "diminished" timetables and higher costs discouraged tourism, "shutting off the island economy". He said private equity groups, who run some ferry firms, were allowed to set higher fares at busy times, penalising people who travel for family emergencies.
The MP complained: "Of course, the ferry companies say, 'Well, if you book in advance, it's much cheaper'. Well, you know, sometimes you don't know when your grandmother's going to fall ill. She doesn't notify you two months in advance she's going to fall ill on 3 December. So, their attitude doesn't seem to understand the realities of living on the island."
Wightlink, which operates routes serving Fishbourne, Ryde and Yarmouth, said 90% of island resident journeys involved fixed price or discounted tickets. It said it introduced a £40 fixed price vehicle ticket exclusively for Isle of Wight residents in the summer. The firm, which admitted tourism had declined over the past 20 years, said it welcomed suggestions about how to continue to improve its services.
Red Funnel, which sails to Cowes and East Cowes, said it offered islanders discounted travel on up to 20 crossings per day. It said: "We welcome discussion on any measures that would support the vital connection we provide to and from the mainland."
Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, is due to introduce his Ten Minute Rule Motion in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill would set up a framework to regulate routes throughout the country.
The MP said currently there was "no accountability or control over pricing or any aspect" of how ferries are run. He said: "The ferry companies could in theory close up shop, sell off the land for housing and call it a day if that was more profitable. I suspect if they tried to do that the government would be forced to step in and do something. But there is no obligation they have to anyone, so that means we've got prices like £400 return to bring a car back and forth [between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight] on peak weekends."
Mr Robertson said "diminished" timetables and higher costs discouraged tourism, "shutting off the island economy". He said private equity groups, who run some ferry firms, were allowed to set higher fares at busy times, penalising people who travel for family emergencies.
The MP complained: "Of course, the ferry companies say, 'Well, if you book in advance, it's much cheaper'. Well, you know, sometimes you don't know when your grandmother's going to fall ill. She doesn't notify you two months in advance she's going to fall ill on 3 December. So, their attitude doesn't seem to understand the realities of living on the island."
Wightlink, which operates routes serving Fishbourne, Ryde and Yarmouth, said 90% of island resident journeys involved fixed price or discounted tickets. It said it introduced a £40 fixed price vehicle ticket exclusively for Isle of Wight residents in the summer. The firm, which admitted tourism had declined over the past 20 years, said it welcomed suggestions about how to continue to improve its services.
Red Funnel, which sails to Cowes and East Cowes, said it offered islanders discounted travel on up to 20 crossings per day. It said: "We welcome discussion on any measures that would support the vital connection we provide to and from the mainland."
| Re: Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367655/31017/51] Posted by ChrisB at 21:19, 1st November 2025 | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7rrpwl5zno
https://x.com/btp/status/1984723873238061117?s=43&t=xkfWmHOnbkxHSxxmzGCejw
Video: https://x.com/Osint613/status/1984727821273424177
| Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367654/31017/51] Posted by ChrisB at 21:08, 1st November 2025 | |
2 arrested according to BTP - reported on Radio 5 news at 2100.
No web link on BBC News yet
| Re: Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367653/31016/30] Posted by Phil at 20:58, 1st November 2025 | |
(2) is Devizes, the London end of the tunnel that's now a shooting range
| Where was I today - 1.11.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [367652/31016/30] Posted by grahame at 20:33, 1st November 2025 | |
| Car fire on railway track at Brockenhurst disrupts train services - 1 Nov 2025 In "South Western services" [367651/31015/42] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:27, 1st November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
An elderly man was able to escape the vehicle safely according to posts on social media
A car fire on a railway track has disrupted train services.
The vehicle was ablaze at Brockenhurst level crossing in the New Forest earlier. An elderly man made it safely out of the car before it was consumed by flames, according to posts on social media.
South Western Railway said train services running through Dorset and Hampshire might be cancelled, delayed or revised until the end of the day.
Posting on Facebook shortly after 16:00 GMT, Hampshire police said: "We are currently on scene assisting our colleagues from the British Transport Police (BTP) with an incident in Brockenhurst, involving a car on the railway track. As such, the level crossing gates have been closed and the A337 is closed in both directions."
BTP and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for comment.
| Doncaster rail college named after Flying Scotsman engineer In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [367650/31014/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:46, 1st November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to be officially recorded at 100mph
A new railway training centre has been named after the man behind some of Britain's best-known steam locomotives.
Sir Nigel Gresley designed the iconic Flying Scotsman and Mallard, among many others.
Network Rail said the Gresley Institute, in Doncaster, where the famous locomotives were built, would train up to 1,000 workers in the rail industry each year. The name was chosen by the public from a shortlist of four, but was a "clear winner" with 57% of the vote, the company said.
Sarah Newman, business change manager at Network Rail, said the name reflected Doncaster's "proud railway legacy".
"The Gresley Institute will become a cornerstone for training the next generation of rail industry professionals," she added.
Sir Nigel Gresley worked at the LNER works in Doncaster up to his death in 1941
The college, near Lakeside, was built to train engineers to work on HS2 high-speed railway, but was taken over by Network Rail after the scheme was partially scrapped. There are 21 classrooms across two floors, with equipment such as signalling simulators. The first delegates began attending the centre on 6 October, the company said.
The competition to name the centre was organised jointly with City of Doncaster Council and attracted more than 3,500 responses. Other names suggested included Flying Scotsman House, Duddington and Bray House, and The Corridor.
Ros Jones, the mayor of Doncaster, said the city's connection with the railway industry was "long and noble" and the new centre would play a part in "an even brighter" future.
The railway training facility was built to train engineers working on HS2
Flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster Works in 1923. It broke the 100mph barrier in 1934 and holds the record for a non-stop run in a steam locomotive, set in 1989 with a 422-mile trip.
The steam speed record was later broken by the streamlined Mallard, which rocketed to 126mph in 1938.
Philip Benham, the chairman of the Gresley Society Trust, said the group was "delighted" to see such a clear result from the vote. "Sir Nigel Gresley lived in Doncaster for many year, and his greatest engineering achievements were created here – including in his streamlined trains of the 1930s, Britain's first high-speed trains," Mr Benham said. "Development and innovation were at the heart of Sir Nigel's designs, so it is entirely appropriate that his name should be associated with the institute where the rail industry's future professionals will learn their skills."
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [367649/18719/26] Posted by John D at 18:44, 1st November 2025 | |
In addition to the multiple cancellations between Westbury and Weymouth, GWR now added following
Cancellations to services between Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central
Due to a shortage of train crew between Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central fewer trains are able to run.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until 22:30 01/11.
Customer Advice:
Owing to a shortage of train crew the frequency of train services which would normally operate between Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central will be reduced this evening.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
