Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| River Bann: Is it a bus? Is it a boat? The former Citybus taking to the water In "The Lighter Side" [378575/32396/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 03:08, 23rd August 2026 |      |
I'm posting this item here, simply because it doesn't seem to fit into any of our more formal Coffee Shop forum boards.
From the BBC:
Is it a bus? Is it a boat? The former Citybus taking to the water
The final destination on this journey is Portadown
Steamed-up windows, lumpy seats and heating that often did not provide much warmth - all familiar memories of the journey to school for generations of children. But in retirement, one former Citybus is proving that it has hidden talents.
Thanks to the artistry and captainship of Paddy Bloomer the vehicle has been turned into a boat and is making its way on a journey along the River Bann.
"I'm interested in cobbling stuff together out of bits of junk and my scale has been increasing recently so things have been getting bigger," he said.
Paddy describes himself as an "artist, inventor, explorer and plumber based in Belfast".
His previous projects have included installations in sewers and abandoned factories, while his workshops and talks have taken him as far afield as the US, Portugal and Slovenia. In 2018, he contributed to the BBC's Make It series.
Paddy was inspired for this, his biggest project, by journeys he made on buses when he was younger. "A bus was a kind of social space," he said. "You went for a trip and your friends were on the bus and you looked out the window and you met people. I met some very weird people on buses I suppose, but also had plenty of craic on them."
Paddy's vessel once carried passengers on the streets of Belfast
He came across the bus that would become his boat in a scrapyard and first got to work on making it float as part of the Belfast 2024 festival of creative arts. It started work as a Citybus - the forerunner of Translink's Metro service - in the mid-1980s into the 21st Century before being bought by a company in County Donegal and later offering sightseeing tours of Belfast.
Paddy made the hull out of the mast from a scrap wind turbine before welding a bow and a stern on and then adding an engine. "The reason I did it was because I had the idea in my head and I had to get it out," he said. "It seems like a very simple thing doesn't it? Make a boat and set a bus on top. It's just a boat and a bus, it's only two parts, it seems simple enough."
(BBC article continues)
The final destination on this journey is Portadown
Steamed-up windows, lumpy seats and heating that often did not provide much warmth - all familiar memories of the journey to school for generations of children. But in retirement, one former Citybus is proving that it has hidden talents.
Thanks to the artistry and captainship of Paddy Bloomer the vehicle has been turned into a boat and is making its way on a journey along the River Bann.
"I'm interested in cobbling stuff together out of bits of junk and my scale has been increasing recently so things have been getting bigger," he said.
Paddy describes himself as an "artist, inventor, explorer and plumber based in Belfast".
His previous projects have included installations in sewers and abandoned factories, while his workshops and talks have taken him as far afield as the US, Portugal and Slovenia. In 2018, he contributed to the BBC's Make It series.
Paddy was inspired for this, his biggest project, by journeys he made on buses when he was younger. "A bus was a kind of social space," he said. "You went for a trip and your friends were on the bus and you looked out the window and you met people. I met some very weird people on buses I suppose, but also had plenty of craic on them."
Paddy's vessel once carried passengers on the streets of Belfast
He came across the bus that would become his boat in a scrapyard and first got to work on making it float as part of the Belfast 2024 festival of creative arts. It started work as a Citybus - the forerunner of Translink's Metro service - in the mid-1980s into the 21st Century before being bought by a company in County Donegal and later offering sightseeing tours of Belfast.
Paddy made the hull out of the mast from a scrap wind turbine before welding a bow and a stern on and then adding an engine. "The reason I did it was because I had the idea in my head and I had to get it out," he said. "It seems like a very simple thing doesn't it? Make a boat and set a bus on top. It's just a boat and a bus, it's only two parts, it seems simple enough."
(BBC article continues)
| Re: RMT union plans rail strikes over train safety concerns at East Midlands Railway In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378574/32266/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 02:11, 23rd August 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
RMT Union plans new strikes over train safety concerns
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has been in dispute with East Midlands Railway since April - Image © PA Media
Fresh strike dates have been announced for union members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) over "safety concerns" with a new fleet of trains.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has been in dispute with EMR since April following the rollout of the Aurora (Class 810 fleet), which it said had been operating with a "significant number" of faults.
The union said its members would strike for 48 hours from 30 August - the bank holiday weekend - and for 24 hours on 16 September, following three strikes on Saturdays in August.
EMR previously said "no safety-critical faults have been identified that prevent the trains from meeting regulatory requirements for passenger service".
RMT members are continuing to take action "short of strike", including refusing to work on Class 810 trains, which were brought into service in December 2025.
Ahead of the strikes in August, the union said 16 trains in service required "a full auxiliary reset, leaving trains with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers and trackside".
The union's general secretary Eddie Dempsey highlighted faulty toilets, broken air con systems, communication and door issues, as well as seeing trains stranded on the track as the issues. He said: "RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service. It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members."
On Friday, EMR said it had met union representatives six times for "constructive discussions" and said it was working with Hitachi Rail to ensure concerns were being properly addressed.
The new Aurora (Class 810) trains were brought into service in December 2025 - Image © East Midlands Railway
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, said: "We understand how important it is for our customers to have certainty about their travel plans and recognise the uncertainty and disruption this strike action will cause, particularly over the August bank holiday. Our teams are currently working through the detail of our service plan and assessing what services we will be able to operate on the affected days."
The railway firm added EMR Regional services will not be affected by the strike action.
The newly announced strikes will run from for 24 hours from 00:01 BST on 30 August to 23:59 on 31 August, and for 12 hours from 16 September to 11:59 on 17 September.
EMR reduced services in July due to "reliability issues" with the new Class 810 trains.
Hitachi Rail previously said it had increased its capacity for "modifications and testing", and was working with all partners to resolve the issues.
EMR has since announced it will reinstate some cancelled Intercity services from the end of August.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has been in dispute with East Midlands Railway since April - Image © PA Media
Fresh strike dates have been announced for union members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) over "safety concerns" with a new fleet of trains.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has been in dispute with EMR since April following the rollout of the Aurora (Class 810 fleet), which it said had been operating with a "significant number" of faults.
The union said its members would strike for 48 hours from 30 August - the bank holiday weekend - and for 24 hours on 16 September, following three strikes on Saturdays in August.
EMR previously said "no safety-critical faults have been identified that prevent the trains from meeting regulatory requirements for passenger service".
RMT members are continuing to take action "short of strike", including refusing to work on Class 810 trains, which were brought into service in December 2025.
Ahead of the strikes in August, the union said 16 trains in service required "a full auxiliary reset, leaving trains with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers and trackside".
The union's general secretary Eddie Dempsey highlighted faulty toilets, broken air con systems, communication and door issues, as well as seeing trains stranded on the track as the issues. He said: "RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service. It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members."
On Friday, EMR said it had met union representatives six times for "constructive discussions" and said it was working with Hitachi Rail to ensure concerns were being properly addressed.
The new Aurora (Class 810) trains were brought into service in December 2025 - Image © East Midlands Railway
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, said: "We understand how important it is for our customers to have certainty about their travel plans and recognise the uncertainty and disruption this strike action will cause, particularly over the August bank holiday. Our teams are currently working through the detail of our service plan and assessing what services we will be able to operate on the affected days."
The railway firm added EMR Regional services will not be affected by the strike action.
The newly announced strikes will run from for 24 hours from 00:01 BST on 30 August to 23:59 on 31 August, and for 12 hours from 16 September to 11:59 on 17 September.
EMR reduced services in July due to "reliability issues" with the new Class 810 trains.
Hitachi Rail previously said it had increased its capacity for "modifications and testing", and was working with all partners to resolve the issues.
EMR has since announced it will reinstate some cancelled Intercity services from the end of August.
| Re: Michael Bond CBE - 1926 -2017 In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [378573/18405/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 01:32, 23rd August 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Blue plaque unveiled at home of Paddington creator
Haslemere mayor Jacquie Keen (pictured on the left) with Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, at Saturday's unveiling - Image © Dawn Brown
The unveiling of a blue plaque at the former Surrey home of Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond was a "lovely" occasion with an unexpected surprise, the organiser has said.
Bond, who died in 2017 at the age of 91, moved to Fairacre in Haslemere in 1968, where he spent the next 10 years writing several Paddington books alongside the scripts for the original television series.
The unveiling on Saturday took place with the permission of current owners, Steph and Neil Stephenson, and was attended by Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, who presented them with a special gift.
"It was the [Paddington] Bear that was Karen's as a child," Haslemere Society chairman Chris Harrison said.
The Haslemere Society, including chairman Chris Harrison, organised the unveiling - Image © Dawn Brown
Harrison said about 25 guests were invited but "the same [number] again" turned up to see the unveiling. A number of those were "people who remembered the family" living there, including Jankel. "Quite a few friends were reunited today," Harrison said.
Also among the attendees were the owners before the Stephensons, who Harrison said had travelled all the way from Exeter in Devon.
Speaking earlier this week, Steph Stephenson said the pair had suspicions but only learned of their home's history after the Haslemere Society wrote to them.
The chairman said the success of the day had sparked conversations about the possibility of a Paddington statue in Haslemere. "We'll have to crowdfund for that!," he added.
Haslemere mayor Jacquie Keen (pictured on the left) with Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, at Saturday's unveiling - Image © Dawn Brown
The unveiling of a blue plaque at the former Surrey home of Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond was a "lovely" occasion with an unexpected surprise, the organiser has said.
Bond, who died in 2017 at the age of 91, moved to Fairacre in Haslemere in 1968, where he spent the next 10 years writing several Paddington books alongside the scripts for the original television series.
The unveiling on Saturday took place with the permission of current owners, Steph and Neil Stephenson, and was attended by Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, who presented them with a special gift.
"It was the [Paddington] Bear that was Karen's as a child," Haslemere Society chairman Chris Harrison said.
The Haslemere Society, including chairman Chris Harrison, organised the unveiling - Image © Dawn Brown
Harrison said about 25 guests were invited but "the same [number] again" turned up to see the unveiling. A number of those were "people who remembered the family" living there, including Jankel. "Quite a few friends were reunited today," Harrison said.
Also among the attendees were the owners before the Stephensons, who Harrison said had travelled all the way from Exeter in Devon.
Speaking earlier this week, Steph Stephenson said the pair had suspicions but only learned of their home's history after the Haslemere Society wrote to them.
The chairman said the success of the day had sparked conversations about the possibility of a Paddington statue in Haslemere. "We'll have to crowdfund for that!," he added.
| Re: Station fire at Paignton. Footbridge? In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [378572/32262/24] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:32, 22nd August 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Station reopens to long distance trains after fire
The station was badly damaged by fire last month
A train station platform has reopened a month after a devastating fire.
Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) said full-length access will resume at platform two at Paignton Station in Devon from Monday, allowing nine-carriage trains four days earlier than previously expected.
Long-distance trains have been unable to call at the station, although it reopened to local stopping services between Paignton and Newton Abbot which could use the far end of the platform, a week after the fire on 21 July.
The ticket office, the main station entrance, and footbridge remain closed whilst repair work continues.
The stairs between the platforms was damaged in the fire - Image © Julia Gregory/BBC
A temporary ticket office is in use during the restoration work and passengers are accessing platform one via a ramp at the end of the platform next to the level crossing.
Network Rail route infrastructure engineer, Daniel Parkes, said: "Reinstating access to the full length of platform two ahead of schedule is the result of a huge team effort from colleagues across the railway industry who have worked tirelessly since the fire to ensure we could restore long-distance services to Paignton as safely and as swiftly as possible."
Stephanie Chapman, GWR station manager for South Devon said: "This milestone means more passengers can travel to and from Paignton as normal, taking full advantage of the benefits of rail once more."
The station was badly damaged by fire last month
A train station platform has reopened a month after a devastating fire.
Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) said full-length access will resume at platform two at Paignton Station in Devon from Monday, allowing nine-carriage trains four days earlier than previously expected.
Long-distance trains have been unable to call at the station, although it reopened to local stopping services between Paignton and Newton Abbot which could use the far end of the platform, a week after the fire on 21 July.
The ticket office, the main station entrance, and footbridge remain closed whilst repair work continues.
The stairs between the platforms was damaged in the fire - Image © Julia Gregory/BBC
A temporary ticket office is in use during the restoration work and passengers are accessing platform one via a ramp at the end of the platform next to the level crossing.
Network Rail route infrastructure engineer, Daniel Parkes, said: "Reinstating access to the full length of platform two ahead of schedule is the result of a huge team effort from colleagues across the railway industry who have worked tirelessly since the fire to ensure we could restore long-distance services to Paignton as safely and as swiftly as possible."
Stephanie Chapman, GWR station manager for South Devon said: "This milestone means more passengers can travel to and from Paignton as normal, taking full advantage of the benefits of rail once more."
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378571/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:40, 22nd August 2026 | |
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
Last Updated:22/08/2026 18:18
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
Last Updated:22/08/2026 18:18
I'm on the 18:18 Paddington to Swansea train and was planning to change into the train GWR have just cancelled at Swindon. No indication on Journeycheck of alternative arrangements and no staff have passed through to ask (as yet). Will ne interesting to see what happens.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378570/31359/18] Posted by ChrisB at 18:34, 22nd August 2026 | |
I estimate around 150 people left Swindon on the 08:44 this morning - and it looked like a good proportion were headed for the seaside. Hope they all get home OK.
Leaving aside some that will travel earlier, it's a couple of buses/coaches. Hopefully booked them as soon as the staff shortage was noted
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378569/32392/4] Posted by ChrisB at 18:31, 22nd August 2026 | |
No - atleast you have 8 trains a day.....how many round the loop?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378568/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:31, 22nd August 2026 | |
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
Last Updated:22/08/2026 18:18
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
Last Updated:22/08/2026 18:18
| Re: Brighton Belle - Victoria Station in London to Brighton In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [378567/20826/47] Posted by grahame at 18:28, 22nd August 2026 | |
From the group's newsletter
“The train visited Alstom’s Derby plant for commencement of third-rail testing at
their dedicated facility, travelling out from Crewe on Tuesday 11th August and
returning to Crewe as booked on Thursday 13th August.
The results have now been reviewed by Locomotive Services Limited who are
commissioning the train, and further work on the Belle has been identified.
Following some modifications over the next few weeks, the train will return and
undertake further testing at Derby.”
their dedicated facility, travelling out from Crewe on Tuesday 11th August and
returning to Crewe as booked on Thursday 13th August.
The results have now been reviewed by Locomotive Services Limited who are
commissioning the train, and further work on the Belle has been identified.
Following some modifications over the next few weeks, the train will return and
undertake further testing at Derby.”
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378566/32392/4] Posted by grahame at 18:16, 22nd August 2026 | |
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378565/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:16, 22nd August 2026 | |
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on this train.
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on this train.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378564/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 18:15, 22nd August 2026 | |
19:38 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00
19:38 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Weymouth, Dorchester West, Maiden Newton, Chetnole, Yetminster, Thornford, Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary and Frome.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
19:38 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Weymouth, Dorchester West, Maiden Newton, Chetnole, Yetminster, Thornford, Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary and Frome.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
I estimate around 150 people left Swindon on the 08:44 this morning - and it looked like a good proportion were headed for the seaside. Hope they all get home OK.
| Re: NPPF revisions - more homes can be built near stations? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [378563/32385/40] Posted by IndustryInsider at 17:53, 22nd August 2026 | |
Isn't that what this planning change is all about; more housing.
Yes. More housing in sensible locations.
As for infrastructure move the crossing to Coleford junction to make a dual track and not two single tracks. It should have been done when the original Okehampton was improved. It would benefit Barnstaple travellers as well.
Moving the crossing will also mean changing/upgrading all the signalling on the line which is currently operated locally from Crediton Signal Box with tokens. Perhaps that might make sense if the equipment is being replaced anyway, but will come at quite a cost otherwise. Opening the line to Okehampton would not have happened if the cost of those works had been included at the time.
All this to give a tiny constrained village station a second train per hour.
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378562/32392/4] Posted by ChrisB at 17:24, 22nd August 2026 | |
Round the rhubarb loop - not from Melksham I meant
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378561/32392/4] Posted by grahame at 15:50, 22nd August 2026 | |
By 'reliably', I meant throughout the day, regularly. Say at least every hour?
Ah - right. So that means you can never reliably travel in either direction from Melksham, with gaps up to 2 hours 40 minutes, and only once a day in one direction only do two trains run at better than your definition.
It makes a huge difference to the users or potential users. I have just turned up (elsewhere) for a service that runs every 30 minutes, knowing I can get a train soon - and I did; catching up from the train. I am now working out how to get home - and the last leg is the interesting one.
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378560/32392/4] Posted by ChrisB at 15:40, 22nd August 2026 | |
By 'reliably', I meant throughout the day, regularly. Say at least every hour?
| Re: GWR IEP buffet trolley drinks question In "Across the West" [378557/32395/26] Posted by ChrisB at 15:09, 22nd August 2026 | |
yup, that's them!
| Re: NPPF revisions - more homes can be built near stations? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [378556/32385/40] Posted by REVUpminster at 15:02, 22nd August 2026 | |
Isn't that what this planning change is all about; more housing.
As for infrastructure move the crossing to Coleford junction to make a dual track and not two single tracks. It should have been done when the original Okehampton was improved. It would benefit Barnstaple travellers as well.
Isn't Newton St Cyres already ear marked for housing? Yeoford, Crediton, Newton St Cyres will all come under the new Greater Exeter.
| Re: GWR IEP buffet trolley drinks question In "Across the West" [378555/32395/26] Posted by Mark A at 14:40, 22nd August 2026 | |
Ah, possibly Lakeland Dairies.
Mark
https://lakelanddairies.com/food-service/international-business/milk-butter-portions
| Re: NPPF revisions - more homes can be built near stations? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [378554/32385/40] Posted by IndustryInsider at 13:41, 22nd August 2026 | |
Yeoford has second platform that only needs re-instating. GWR would probably quote £10m.
I've lost all faith in GWR in the southwest unless someone else is paying.
I've lost all faith in GWR in the southwest unless someone else is paying.
Why would GWR be asked to quote on the second platform reinstatement at Yeoford?
Anyway, having visited Yeoford I really can't see how this is ever likely to happen. There's not much of a problem reinstating the platform itself, but I am sure the residents of a small, lovely and charming sleepy village would object strongly to a load more housing being plonked in a place that sits in a natural valley. The tight winding roads in and around the station would then see more traffic and to turn it into a place which is the size to justify a service every 30-minutes to Crediton and Exeter and an hourly service to Okehampton would need hundreds of new houses completely destroying the character of the small village.
None of the narrow roads without footpaths leading to the station can be easily widened and I'm sure modern planning regulations would insist on expensive upgrades to ensure pedestrian safety immediately around the station.
As you mention, the pathing is very tight between Exeter and Crediton and with the Okehampton service having a little as 5 minutes turnaround, so there would need to be further infrastructure improvements to support the 3-4 minutes additional time the line would be occupied between Crediton and Okehampton per hour if the train was to stop in each direction.
I'd estimate at least £25m. Money that would be much better spent elsewhere.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378553/31359/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 13:09, 22nd August 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads some lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 16:00 22/08.
Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham will be cancelled.
| Re: Melksham to Bristol Parkway - no fare, mis-advertised, mis-sold, not corrected In "Fare's Fair" [378551/32392/4] Posted by grahame at 13:03, 22nd August 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
[Can you reliability travel via Rhubarb Loop?]
More so than many other services - the 07:04 from Bath Spa to Filton Abbey Wood has run on 19 out of the last 20 days (so 5% cancellation rate) and has averaged just a 3 minute late arrival.
| Re: Cornish mainline and branch line delays - ongoing discussion In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [378550/28556/25] Posted by REVUpminster at 13:00, 22nd August 2026 | |
175003 has been entrusted with Newquay today. It is the most reliable train.
On Thursday it completed its full passenger diagram starting at 0655 Exeter and finishing there at 2237.
Also running backwards and forwards between Exeter and Plymouth was 175006+175115 completing 500 miles with no incidents. It wasn't in passenger service just mileage accumulation.
At Exeter it coupled up with 175003 in a 2+3+2 and returned to Laira as 5P28. The first 7 car formation.
It was planned to repeat it on Friday but cancelled due to staff shortages.
| Re: NPPF revisions - more homes can be built near stations? In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [378549/32385/40] Posted by REVUpminster at 12:44, 22nd August 2026 | |
I've also thought housing could be developed at Yeoford. Trains every half an hour, roads are terrible. It would need track infrastructure improvements which GWR wouldn't do unless someone else pays. Maybe the new GBR would?
Not so much track as a second platform?
The only think we know about the "real" next GBR generation is that we don't know what it will bring ...
I've lost all faith in GWR in the southwest unless someone else is paying.
Paignton station since the fire which still hasn't fully opened platform 2 for nine car trains. Supposed to be next week. The ticket hall and booking office don't look to be open for weeks. The damage was smoke related. The frontage has been boarded up across the car park. The toilets on platform 2 in a shed further along have been open when staff are present. There is a new back door fire escape to the staff accommodation that has been installed since the fire. The repairers don't work weekends; no urgency.
On a Saturday the toilets close at 1630 and the staff all go by 1700; yet that station is still busy. All the tour trains and their has been one virtually every Saturday and some midweek all depart about 1730. Because they cannot stop in platform 2 to pick up (11 coaches and a diesel at each end) Paignton has lost a lot of business.
| Re: Cornish mainline and branch line delays - ongoing discussion In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [378548/28556/25] Posted by TonyN at 11:55, 22nd August 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Truro and Falmouth Docks fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
One of the trains that operates the Truro to Falmouth Docks service has developed a fault that needs mechanical attention. We do have another train that is operating the service, which means we can only operate half of the service for the rest of today.
If you are wanting to travel to Falmouth, please check your journey and if there is not a service, we recommend take a local bus, where your ticket can be used at no extra cost.
Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Truro and Falmouth Docks fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
One of the trains that operates the Truro to Falmouth Docks service has developed a fault that needs mechanical attention. We do have another train that is operating the service, which means we can only operate half of the service for the rest of today.
If you are wanting to travel to Falmouth, please check your journey and if there is not a service, we recommend take a local bus, where your ticket can be used at no extra cost.
Same again today......
Cancellations to services between Truro and Falmouth Docks
Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Truro and Falmouth Docks fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
.......one of the options on offer is "Consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal" - extremely helpful - if anyone has a crystal ball handy!
Use the ferry from Malpas to Falmouth its more reliable.
| Re: GWR IEP buffet trolley drinks question In "Across the West" [378547/32395/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:50, 22nd August 2026 | |
SEmi-skimmed UHT Dairy it is - but I can't remember the brand....
| GWR IEP buffet trolley drinks question In "Across the West" [378546/32395/26] Posted by Mark A at 11:37, 22nd August 2026 | |
The sachets of 'Milk' (can't recall if it's actually dairy, but no matter, it's effective) - can anyone recall what it is and where it's available retail?
Mark
