https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrt3Uj6H8JI ?

I am Council for Trade to transmit to you the enclosed copy of the report of the okccr appointed d by their Lordships to inquire into the circumstances attending the fatal accident that occurred on the 7th ultimo to a third class passenger on the North Eastern Railway.

My Lords desire mc to point out that it would appear that this accident maybe traced to the fact that, notwithstanding that the space t)between adjacent lines of way upon the North Eastern Railway is considerably less than that usually allowed on other lines, carriages belonging to other railway Companies much wider than those which the lmc was originally intended to receive, are allowed to travel upon it.

This poor man's life would probably have been saved if he had been riding in a roofed carriage, or if there were sufficient room between the carriages on separate lines of rails, to allow of a door swinging freely between them.

The blow which inflicted the damage that was done on this occasion to the Great Northern van, might still more easily have killed one or more passengers looking from the windows of the express train ; and I cannot, therefore, avoid remarking upon the danger that seems to exist, as long as carriages adapted for an intermediate space of six feet, are used on a line where the intermediate space is only 4' 9", and without any special means of protection being employed.

I fear that any recommendation as to the widening of the gauge would be of but little avail, on account of the difficulties that would necessarily attend such an operation ; I shall therefore not. do nlore than express, for the Company's consideration, a hope that open carriages may not be used, that the rolling stock of the company used on this line may be suited to the circumstances of the case, and that such regulations may bc made, as to the ac!inission of rolling stock from other lincs, and from the lines of other companies, on this portion of the North Eastern Railway Company's line, as may bc necessary to ensure the safety of the public.

I would also beg to suggest, for the Company's consideration, that it would be better not to allow passengers, such as the old man" above referred to, to ride in any vehicle but those intended for the conveyance of passengers.

This is often a risk when a train is in reverse formation.

A train I was on yesterday was bound for Weston-super-Mare but had the first class coaches leading.

There were two parties heading for Yatton in standard class and their seat reservations were in coach B - which would normally be platformed at Yatton (and indeed Nailsea & Backwell) but with the train in reverse they would be off the back.

The train manager spotted it when he checked their tickets and suggested they got out at Temple Meads and walked down the platform to coach G.

From the British Library - https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/catch-me-who-can-trevithicks-steam-locomotive-demonstration-of-1808

The Rainhill trials of the first steam locomotives were held in Lancashire (now Merseyside), from 6 to 14 October 1829.

See Wikipedia for excellent coverage of that historic event.

In September 1808, the Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick exhibited and operated a steam engine called Catch Me Who Can on a circular track of about 100 feet in radius, on a site to the south of Euston Road within walking distance of the British Library. This was the first time in the world that a steam locomotive was used to haul paying passengers on a railway. (It was not the first time that passengers had been carried by steam at all, as five years earlier Trevithick had carried passengers on a steam-powered road vehicle, the London Steam Carriage, and in 1804 had used the world's first steam railway locomotive to haul employees of the Penydarren ironworks in Wales.)

* The Inventor: Taqi al-Din was a famous 16th-century Ottoman astronomer, engineer, and mathematician.
* The Device: In his 1551 book, he described a copper water boiler with a pipe that directed a jet of steam onto a rotating vane wheel.
* The Purpose: The wheel turned a spit to cook meat evenly without manual labor.

M4 junction closures and new Menai bridge in plans to tackle congestion on Welsh roads


The Welsh government has announced plans to tackle congestion in north and south Wales - Image © Getty Images

Junctions on the M4 in Newport could close, and a new bridge built across the Menai Strait, as part of Welsh government plans for two notorious transport bottlenecks.

It will also begin an 18-month project looking at a range of "roads-based" options for the M4, that could include a new motorway or expanding the Brynglas Tunnels.

Ministers are considering whether to close or partially close three junctions, potentially by 2028. However, a review has warned that closing them could cause increased congestion and noise on alternative routes.

It is not clear at this stage how anything would be paid for - the new Menai crossing could cost up to £700m and take up to 10 years to be built.

It is the latest set of proposals to tackle congestion on the M4, after plans for a relief road were developed in the 2010s and axed by former Labour first minister Mark Drakeford in 2019.

The government said that Transport for Wales would provide support to "accelerate delivery" of train stations in Cardiff Parkway, Magor and Undy stations.

Proposed junction closures were criticised by the city's council leader, Dimitri Batrouni, while the Tories and Reform called for the Welsh government to get on with an M4 Relief Road.

In south Wales, the Welsh government is to hold an 18-month study that will look at a range of options for what it says are "road-based solutions" to congestion on the motorway.

Ministers have ruled out the black route previously proposed for the M4 Relief Road - a new motorway south of Newport along the Gwent Levels.  However, it is understood that the study could still include a new motorway south of Newport.

Other options include widening the Brynglas Tunnels - one of the most significant causes of congestion on the M4 in Wales.

The Welsh government also plans a five-year programme of changes to deliver "shorter-term benefits", including "a delivery plan to improve how the motorway is operated and managed".

In a statement, Deputy Transport Minister Mark Hooper said this could include potential junction closures in and around Newport to improve traffic flow.  "The review found that measures such as these offer some of the quickest opportunities to improve traffic flow and resilience on the M4," he said.

The government is considering closing junction 27 - at High Cross, and east-facing slip roads at junction 26 - Malpas, and junction 25 - Caerleon.  However, firm decisions have not been made and ministers want to consider the impact on local roads, and speak to Newport council, before it goes ahead.

The announcement follows a review by transport consultants at ARUP on some of the options that could be implemented along the M4 corridor, which warned that public acceptance of the junction closures was "likely to be low" among their users.  It said: "There is a risk that economic costs would be redistributed rather than reduced, with poorer access for local businesses and increased congestion, noise and delay on alternative routes."

The review put the cost at £14m would reduce traffic by an estimated 3%.  "The capital cost would [be] relatively affordable, but the option would likely provide limited long-term value," the review said.

(BBC article continues)

link to bookings please?

What are the drones going to do?  Drop skyhooks and lift the trespassers off the railway?

From the BBC:

*snip*  the high cost of provision and maintenance of infrastructure on cycles, and to the NHS for the repair of cyclists damaged on the road. *snip*

I didn't follow the first link, in case it was another of grahame 's attempts to drum up trade for an ailing tech giant. But the second link is to a four year old Guardian article which is based on something from the Daily Mail!

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Sounds idylic.  What could go wrong?

Trespass incidents cause almost 10,000 minutes of delays


Trespassers are seen on the tracks at Motspur Park in south-west London in dashcam footage from a train driver's cab - Image © Network Rail

Trespass incidents caused almost 10,000 minutes of delays to South Western Railway (SWR) services for the 2025/26 period.

Data released by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) shows that 9,437 minutes worth of delays were caused, equivalent to about six and a half days.

Across England, trespass, cable theft and obstruction caused more than 3,300 hours of delays during the same period, making it one of the railway's biggest causes of disruption, with a significant impact on customers.

The SWR network had the third-highest rate of vandalism and obstruction across Network Rail's 14 routes, including deliberately placed items such as debris and other pieces of track on the railway.

The rail firm said an additional risk on its network was the fact it uses a third rail as electricity supply.  It carries 750 volts of direct current, which can cause severe or lifechanging injuries, or death.

As part of a new campaign launched by SWR and Network Rail, drones, sensors and smart CCTV are being rolled out to make it easier to catch and prevent trespassers.

The use of drones is a new strategy, which has been trialled at London Waterloo station.  Further drone units have been planned for Clapham Junction, New Malden and Walton-on-Thames.

Tom Desmond, operations director for SWR, said: "Trespass is one of the leading causes of disruption on our network, delaying our customers' journeys and costing taxpayers.  As part of our plan to deliver more reliable journeys, we're working with partners to reduce these types of incidents and improve our response so that we can keep services running."

If anyone's attending who is equipped to sign me up as a member of the WWRUG I'd be grateful.

Mark

People in the UK are terrified today after considering the possibility that high diesel prices could lead to an increase in cyclists.

With diesel prices in the UK rising above £2 a litre for the first time, many in the UK have started to consider the horrifying thought of more people picking up a bike. ...

Cyclists could be made to have registration plates and insurance

Whitehall review is also said to suggest cycling speed limits, along with licence penalty points and fines

By a combination of time, official announcements on the radio, and measured radiation dose rate. In marginal conditions it might be better to sleep/rest in the shelter, but emerge for essential work.

Encouragingly, Network Rail has a planning application in earlier this year to lengthen Bath Spa station's platform 1.

*Edit* It received consent in August.

https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/planning/network-rail-extend-platform-bath-station-117137/

This is often a risk when a train is in reverse formation.

A train I was on yesterday was bound for Weston-super-Mare but had the first class coaches leading.

There were two parties heading for Yatton in standard class and their seat reservations were in coach B - which would normally be platformed at Yatton (and indeed Nailsea & Backwell) but with the train in reverse they would be off the back.

The train manager spotted it when he checked their tickets and suggested they got out at Temple Meads and walked down the platform to coach G.