Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Station Jim’s whereabouts In "London to Reading" [361002/30208/7] Posted by Birdie100 at 13:00, 28th April 2025 |      |
I wondered if any forumites had any details of the whereabouts of Station Jim who’d proudly stood in a Perspex box in Slough for many years. Given the initial GWR Facebook post suggested he’d be gone for 2months last summer, I’m becoming concerned he’s lost without trace. Not like you can just claim for the delay on Delay Repay for him!
https://www.facebook.com/share/16St6uGyuL/?mibextid=wwXIfr
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [361001/29711/14] Posted by charles_uk at 12:44, 28th April 2025 | |
Going back to route knowledge in 2021 60+ Bristol drivers used to sign Newport Hereford Oxford and Didcot as well as Worcester to Cheltenham. From next month that will be zero.
<snip>
<snip>
Might it be worth having this in a separate thread? Whilst the annual delays and cancellation thread is a useful historical record, there is sometimes the risk that the issues behind particular delays (e.g. regular flooding in a particular area, the issues with the bridge at Yarnton last year) simply get buried when, perhaps, they deserve a little more air.
| Shipping services across the Severn In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [361000/30207/28] Posted by grahame at 12:16, 28th April 2025 | |
There's an old postcard being shared here on Facebook of Barry Railway cruises across the Severn Estuary and the question being asked as to whether a service could / should resume. One commentator suggested that bus and rail links are needed.
At the Barry end, the line that terminates at Barry Island station used to continue on through a tunnel to Barry Pier station; last steamer called there in 1971 and the station officially closed in 1976. Like so many seaside and other branch lines, cut back.
Notable on the advertising postcard - just how many of the locations served across the channe in England no longer have a rail link - Clevedon, Burnham, Lynmouth. Two more have a rail link that's disconnected for all but occasional used from the national network - Minehead and Watchet. And the final destination - Weston-super-mare does still have a station. Looking at old maps, railway tracks used to run closer to the town, but was that a goods yard or terminal platforms?
Is there any scope for a cross-Severn service again, and if so for what traffic and serving where?
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [360999/30206/44] Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:07, 28th April 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby, grahame | |
Painfully slow negotiations again on what should be something fairly easy to solve. The fleet is not being used elsewhere. There is a clear need for the extra capacity.
Look at the fuss and nonsense just to get a few redundant Class 175s to GWR.
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [360998/30206/44] Posted by Witham Bobby at 11:56, 28th April 2025 | |
They're struggling with demand and also with the age of their fleet of trains. A roundup from Chiltern on this link.
Mark
https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/capacity-challenges-2025
Mark
https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/capacity-challenges-2025
We have been working with the Department for Transport on modernising our fleet since 2021
Chiltern RailwaysF O U R years to not get to a decision yet. And, although I know this should require incredulity, I guess it's actually unsurprising
Are we entiltled to ask what we are paying civil servants in the DfT to do with their time?
| Re: Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [360997/30206/44] Posted by ray951 at 11:17, 28th April 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | |
According to the Oxford Clarion https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lnuhiadpd22q Chiltern have signed a deal to run 10 locomotive hauled Mk5a sets to replace 4 locomotive hauled Mk3 sets.
They were previously used by Trans Pennine Express (TPE). TPE had 13 5 cars sets made up of 4 standard class and 1 first class coach. It is unclear to me whether TPE actual used all the sets as the most number of sets they had running at the same time was 4 and they also suffered from cracks similar to IET.
I assume that as well as replacing the Mk3's they will either replace some existing Class 165/168 services or even some additional services will be added.
Will we see a return of the Oxford Flyers?
| Chiltern Railways: an update on rolling stock / services In "Chiltern Railways services" [360996/30206/44] Posted by Mark A at 10:58, 28th April 2025 | |
They're struggling with demand and also with the age of their fleet of trains. A roundup from Chiltern on this link.
Mark
https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/capacity-challenges-2025
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [360995/29711/14] Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:50, 28th April 2025 | |
Going back to route knowledge in 2021 60+ Bristol drivers used to sign Newport Hereford Oxford and Didcot as well as Worcester to Cheltenham. From next month that will be zero.
It used to be only the top link at Oxford signed the North Cotswolds, I don't know if that has changed since I finished. The Worcester HSS drivers haven't been replaced as retirements occur. Again I don't know if there has been changes since retiring but the GWR drivers only signed Hereford to Oxford whilst HSS did Paddington to Oxford, Didcot to Worcester via Kemble and Standish to Bristol Parkway.
So there will be shortages from the timetable change.
It used to be only the top link at Oxford signed the North Cotswolds, I don't know if that has changed since I finished. The Worcester HSS drivers haven't been replaced as retirements occur. Again I don't know if there has been changes since retiring but the GWR drivers only signed Hereford to Oxford whilst HSS did Paddington to Oxford, Didcot to Worcester via Kemble and Standish to Bristol Parkway.
So there will be shortages from the timetable change.
Oxford's second link has signed the North Cotswolds (as far as Malvern Wells) for over twenty years. With those links growing in numbers over that time it now stands at over 70 drivers - virtually the whole depot - that sign it.
Worcester GWR driver numbers are increasing at a quicker rate than HSS drivers are decreasing. Originally the depot was 30 HSS drivers. It is now 22 HSS drivers and 18 GWR ones. Worcester GWR drivers now sign to Paddington via North and South Cotswolds routes and from Bristol Parkway to Paddington. They also sign Turbos.
HSS is dying out as people retire, and it's probably no surprise that they are now starting to be starved of route knowledge. Morale seems to be getting quite low on the HSS side from casual conversations I've had as that fact is slowly dawning on them.
To what extent in the grand scheme of things that will result in additional crew shortages remains to be seen.
| Re: Stop orders as cover for cancelled services In "Heart of Wessex" [360994/30201/19] Posted by grahame at 10:25, 28th April 2025 Already liked by RichardB | |
It makes sense to add "stop" orders and indeed to call diverted trains during engineering works at various stations.
It does happen - as an example, during the recent closure of the St Denys to Fareham line, the SWR Romsey 6 was pulled between Southampton and Romsey via Eastleigh, with the diverted long distance Cardiff to Portsmouth train making the calls at Chandlers Ford which would otherwise have been unserved.
Dilton Marsh also sets stop orders added in at times when local trains are cancelled and that makes sense. However, reports suggest that sometimes these stops are added, sometimes they are not, and that unpredictability there is off-putting and inconvenient to people wanting to use the station.
The XC train is due to call at Gloucester from 22:00 to 22:05 which (I would presume) is the train that Infoman is talking about in his comment (no date given, so no ability to look back). As far as I can see, that should connect into a 22:13 last train to Cam and Dursley, and to Yate. OK - it may have missed if there had been severe delays further north and it makes huge sense to arrange something from Parkway as it's far closer to Yate than is Gloucester, even though it's a double-back. Adding further delay with a Yate stop would be novel for XC staff, and could (for we don't know how late the service from the north was) have solved one problem and created another with connections on to other places just missed. Real solutions? (a) put up with these things occasionally, (b) look to have a more robust system with longer recover holds and a more reliable and more money spent on problems system and (c) avoid the final service of the day when long distance connections are involved.
| Re: Standardisation of Time and the Railway Clearing House In "Railway History and related topics" [360993/27904/55] Posted by Witham Bobby at 09:59, 28th April 2025 | |
A bit more about the Railway Clearing House
Text said to be from 1935 at https://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/clearing-house.html
Text said to be from 1935 at https://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/clearing-house.html
A PROSPECTIVE passenger can walk into any station booking-office in Great Britain and purchase a ticket for practically any other station in the country - and that ticket will take him right through to his destination, irrespective of the ownership of the lines over which he may have to travel.
The traveller may buy a ticket at Dover, on the Southern Railway, for - say, Oban, served by the LMS. How is the ticket money shared?
Again, a train of goods wagons on any line will often bear the initials of all the railway companies - GWR, LMS, LNER, SR. How is carriage paid for on the goods in these wagons - running as they do over the lines of other companies?
In both instances settlement is made through the Railway Clearing House. The story of the RCH, as it is usually known, goes back to the very early days of railway operation. At first there was no provision for through booking by passengers. It was not possible to send goods throughout the journey in the same wagon.
The travelling public soon began to demand the convenience of through booking. Merchants, too, dissatisfied with the loss and delay occasioned by transhipping goods from one company’s wagons to those of another, agitated for a system of through-invoicing for goods traffic. The railways were forced to give facilities to meet the general demand, but for a time the difficulties of settlement between the various companies were a bar to progress.
The traveller may buy a ticket at Dover, on the Southern Railway, for - say, Oban, served by the LMS. How is the ticket money shared?
Again, a train of goods wagons on any line will often bear the initials of all the railway companies - GWR, LMS, LNER, SR. How is carriage paid for on the goods in these wagons - running as they do over the lines of other companies?
In both instances settlement is made through the Railway Clearing House. The story of the RCH, as it is usually known, goes back to the very early days of railway operation. At first there was no provision for through booking by passengers. It was not possible to send goods throughout the journey in the same wagon.
The travelling public soon began to demand the convenience of through booking. Merchants, too, dissatisfied with the loss and delay occasioned by transhipping goods from one company’s wagons to those of another, agitated for a system of through-invoicing for goods traffic. The railways were forced to give facilities to meet the general demand, but for a time the difficulties of settlement between the various companies were a bar to progress.
And not a computer or AI anywhere in the process. How labour intensive and costly must this process (and all accountancy) been, back in the day!
| Re: Doublebagging, Rawdoggers, Barebackers In "Transport for London" [360992/30203/46] Posted by ChrisB at 09:43, 28th April 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
From The Metro
Rucksacks, handbags and ugly briefcases are dumped on empty seats, as their owners lounge on the seat next to them. And of course, there’s no thought to move their bag to floor so you can take its place.
This infuriating behaviour isn’t new, but it’s now got a name: ‘double bagging’.
This infuriating behaviour isn’t new, but it’s now got a name: ‘double bagging’.
Ahhh - Just go to pick it up & place it the floor - the owner will quickly grab it & do that for you....
| Priority seats redesigned for London transport - April 2025 In "Transport for London" [360991/30205/46] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 09:03, 28th April 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
From the BBC:
Priority seats on London's buses and Underground will be more clearly labelled, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
The transport body has redesigned its seating to have a greater colour contrast and with "This is a priority seat" signs on them. It will be added to new DLR and Piccadilly trains, as well as on refurbished Central and Waterloo and City line trains.
Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, is also asking Londoners to offer their seat to "those who may need it more than them".
TfL has said some customers who need to sit down may not always have a "please offer me a seat" badge or Sunflower lanyard. It said its new seat design matched the appearance of "please offer me a seat" badges and the Government's Blue Badge scheme, and aligned with the priority seating design already in place on the Jubilee line.
Allison Peter, deputy chair of TfL's independent Disability Advisory Group, said: "Priority seats are essential for many disabled people, including those with non-visible conditions, as well as older people. They play a vital role in enabling people to travel with confidence and stay connected in London. By looking up, offering our seat, and being mindful of non-visible disabilities, we can help to make public transport more accessible and inclusive."
Previous TfL research looked at how likely people were to get a priority seat if they needed one. It found that while many people who needed a seat got one, it was not always clear when someone needed a priority seat and people were not always paying attention to their surroundings to notice if someone needed a seat.
More than 152,000 free "please offer me a seat" badges have been issued since 2017. They can be used by people with a broad range of disabilities and conditions including chronic pain, respiratory conditions and diabetes, learning disabilities, autism, other forms of neurodivergence and mental health conditions.
| Twyford to Bucklebury - a "quick carriage ride"? And Reading taxi fares. In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [360990/30204/49] Posted by Marlburian at 08:57, 28th April 2025 | |
On March 2 the Daily Express published (yet another) article about the best place in which to live, this time Twyford in Berkshire being the choice. One plus, apparently, is that it is "a quick carriage ride from the Princess of Wales’s childhood home in Bucklebury". It's unclear what sort of carriage that would be, as Bucklebury is four miles from the nearest station, and I can't see a horse drawing a carriage being very happy in Reading's traffic. (Could it use the town's controversial bus lanes?)
Eventually a local news website picked up the story, and though it retained the very tenuous royal connection (as well as the town's proximity to Windsor), it wisely omitted the reference to quick carriage rides.
The same local website has also published a comparison of taxi fares. The full article may be behind a paywall, but it notes that "the average cost for a 4km journey in Reading is £18.06 ... with the average cost per 1km in the town being £3.39. " Four times £3.39 equals £13.56.
My friends must be lucky. On their last five taxi rides to my house from the station, they've been charged an average of £15.10 for a journey that is, at best, 5km, though drivers often take a longer route to avoid snarl-ups in Oxford Road and road works. Curiously the fares are much the same as before Lockdown.
| Doublebagging, Rawdoggers, Barebackers In "Transport for London" [360989/30203/46] Posted by grahame at 07:38, 28th April 2025 | |
From The Metro
You’re in a huff as you hurry through a sea of commuters onto a packed Circle Line train, praying you won’t be late for work (again).
You look around for a seat and, in typical fashion, they’re all occupied – but not by people.
Rucksacks, handbags and ugly briefcases are dumped on empty seats, as their owners lounge on the seat next to them. And of course, there’s no thought to move their bag to floor so you can take its place.
This infuriating behaviour isn’t new, but it’s now got a name: ‘double bagging’.
You look around for a seat and, in typical fashion, they’re all occupied – but not by people.
Rucksacks, handbags and ugly briefcases are dumped on empty seats, as their owners lounge on the seat next to them. And of course, there’s no thought to move their bag to floor so you can take its place.
This infuriating behaviour isn’t new, but it’s now got a name: ‘double bagging’.
There’s another subset of London Underground passengers who have been labelled the worst of them all: the ‘barebackers’.
Get your mind out of the gutter – it’s a perfectly innocent term coined by Curtis Morton, co-host of the Behind the Screens podcast, in a TikTok that’s racked up nearly 100,000 views.
Essentially, barebackers – also known as rawdoggers – are people who sit without any form of entertainment and people-watch, staring at other passengers to pass the time.
Get your mind out of the gutter – it’s a perfectly innocent term coined by Curtis Morton, co-host of the Behind the Screens podcast, in a TikTok that’s racked up nearly 100,000 views.
Essentially, barebackers – also known as rawdoggers – are people who sit without any form of entertainment and people-watch, staring at other passengers to pass the time.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360988/18719/26] Posted by grahame at 07:31, 28th April 2025 | |
Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?
A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.
It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?
A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.
It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?
Exactly my point - just clarifying where the 9 O'clock (ish) stops the rest of the week.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360987/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 07:12, 28th April 2025 | |
Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue? On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.
Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.
It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360986/18719/26] Posted by grahame at 06:51, 28th April 2025 | |
And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?
The 2100 Paddington to Exeter made extra stops to cover stations between Reading and Taunton: 21:00 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 23:11 will be diverted between Pewsey and Castle Cary.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.
I have often wondered why this train doesn’t stop at these stations anyway to give Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary a later train from London. 2000 does seem a little early these days.
Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue? On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.
| Re: Stop orders as cover for cancelled services In "Heart of Wessex" [360985/30201/19] Posted by infoman at 05:50, 28th April 2025 | |
A few weeks ago on the last cross country train of the day which was running late from the North.
Train still went into Gloucester (which cost an extra fifteen minutes?)
On arrival at Bristol Parkway approx ten 20 year olds were talking to staff about getting the 20 year olds back to Yate by taxi.
| Re: Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion In "London to the West" [360984/489/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 04:35, 28th April 2025 | |
21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04
27/04/25 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 will be terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at London Paddington.
It is being delayed between Castle Cary and Bedwyn and is now expected to be 123 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360983/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 21:54, 27th April 2025 | |
And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?
The 2100 Paddington to Exeter made extra stops to cover stations between Reading and Taunton: 21:00 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 23:11 will be diverted between Pewsey and Castle Cary.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.
I have often wondered why this train doesn’t stop at these stations anyway to give Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary a later train from London. 2000 does seem a little early these days.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [360982/29711/14] Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 20:48, 27th April 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Going back to route knowledge in 2021 60+ Bristol drivers used to sign Newport Hereford Oxford and Didcot as well as Worcester to Cheltenham. From next month that will be zero.
It used to be only the top link at Oxford signed the North Cotswolds, I don't know if that has changed since I finished. The Worcester HSS drivers haven't been replaced as retirements occur. Again I don't know if there has been changes since retiring but the GWR drivers only signed Hereford to Oxford whilst HSS did Paddington to Oxford, Didcot to Worcester via Kemble and Standish to Bristol Parkway.
So there will be shortages from the timetable change.
So glad to be out of it all.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360981/18719/26] Posted by ChrisB at 20:31, 27th April 2025 | |
And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [360980/18719/26] Posted by Mark A at 20:17, 27th April 2025 | |
Indeed, it stayed cancelled and the National Rail site is suggesting the sleeper.
Mark
| Re: Taplow-Hassocks In "Fare's Fair" [360979/30198/4] Posted by stuving at 19:32, 27th April 2025 | |
Possibly a not very helpful multi-modal option. It is normally cheaper not to go via London. The Wexham Park to Bracknell bus (53?) and then a Reading Buses 4 to Wokingham station, then the Noth Downs line to Gatwick and change for Hassocks. Depends on how much time you have to waste. Also check service 53 because I believe it doesn't run seven days.
However, in this case possibly not. From Taplow the two fares (both priced by GWR) are £51.40 via London and £57.80 via Reading. From Wokingham not via London (GWR) is £46.50 (and the any permitted/via London (SWR) is £59.40, not that it's relevant here). Standard SVR full fare in each case. So it is a bit cheaper, but not enough to make it worthwhile (unless you want to go multimodal for other reasons).
| Re: Czech Catering. In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [360978/30202/52] Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 19:23, 27th April 2025 Already liked by Kempis | |
That post wasn't well constructed.
Breakfast between Brno and Česká Třebová then dinner this evening between Praha Holešovice and Ústí nad Labem.
| Re: Taplow-Hassocks In "Fare's Fair" [360977/30198/4] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:20, 27th April 2025 | |
I think TaplowHassocks could be a rather good username.
| Czech Catering. In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [360976/30202/52] Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 18:31, 27th April 2025 | |
As mentioned on the GWR catering thread I'm quite impressed with the offerings on České Dráhy.
https://jidelnivozy.cz/menu/index.html
Is the menu. So today heading north from Brno I had the ham and eggs but unfortunately the 3 yolks were all solid
| Re: Taplow-Hassocks In "Fare's Fair" [360975/30198/4] Posted by bobm at 18:19, 27th April 2025 | |
Reminds me of one of my grandfathers. His chosen cuss word in front of the children was "Oh Hassocks!".
| Re: Driving tests - ongoing discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360974/30200/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:15, 27th April 2025 | |
I believe the Reading test centre has closed. Seemed to be a lack of DVLA signage when I went by the other day.
Yes, the Reading Driving Test Centre is closed - due to relocation.
From the Reading Chronicle:
Date of closure confirmed for Reading driving test centre
The driving test centre in Reading has confirmed when it will be conducting its last lot of tests following news that it is relocating.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) was served notice by the owner of the current driving test centre site, because it is being redeveloped for housing. Staff have now found a permanent new location for a driving test centre, and are in the process of negotiating a lease for this.
The last day of testing at the Elgar Road site will be on March 22 2025. It was hoped that this would mean they could move from the current site to the new permanent site, but we are being asked to leave by the landlord before the new site is ready.
For this reason, they are invoking the business continuity plan, which involves running driving tests from the nearby Holiday Inn in Reading. All driving examiners will move to the temporary site, so there will be no interruption or loss of tests. The first day of testing at the Holiday Inn temporary site will be March 24 2025. Following this, all driving examiner roles will move to the new permanent site later in the year.
A spokesperson said "I am unable to confirm the location of the new site yet as it is still commercially sensitive at this stage of the process; this is normal practice in the commercial property sector. We will be happy to write to you again when we are able to announce where the permanent site is. We will be holding an information session about the temporary move on the 10 March at 6:00pm at the Holiday Inn. We are fully committed to opening the permanent new driving test centre in Reading as soon as possible."
The centre, where drivers undertake their practical tests, is set to be demolished to make way for a new residential building containing 16 flats.
The driving test centre in Reading has confirmed when it will be conducting its last lot of tests following news that it is relocating.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) was served notice by the owner of the current driving test centre site, because it is being redeveloped for housing. Staff have now found a permanent new location for a driving test centre, and are in the process of negotiating a lease for this.
The last day of testing at the Elgar Road site will be on March 22 2025. It was hoped that this would mean they could move from the current site to the new permanent site, but we are being asked to leave by the landlord before the new site is ready.
For this reason, they are invoking the business continuity plan, which involves running driving tests from the nearby Holiday Inn in Reading. All driving examiners will move to the temporary site, so there will be no interruption or loss of tests. The first day of testing at the Holiday Inn temporary site will be March 24 2025. Following this, all driving examiner roles will move to the new permanent site later in the year.
A spokesperson said "I am unable to confirm the location of the new site yet as it is still commercially sensitive at this stage of the process; this is normal practice in the commercial property sector. We will be happy to write to you again when we are able to announce where the permanent site is. We will be holding an information session about the temporary move on the 10 March at 6:00pm at the Holiday Inn. We are fully committed to opening the permanent new driving test centre in Reading as soon as possible."
The centre, where drivers undertake their practical tests, is set to be demolished to make way for a new residential building containing 16 flats.
| Re: Beggars on the railways In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360973/12651/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:03, 27th April 2025 | |
The French authorities have a rather more....ahem....robust attitude to these issues. I shall never forget a trip to Paris for the France v England rugby match whilst everything was kicking off in the Balkans.........we were in a bar in Place Pigalle (keeping it classy as ever!) and there was a young Kosovan girl begging on the other side of the road - late teens I would have thought - we had spoken to her a little earlier and given her a few coins.
Along comes a CRS van, "the lads" pile out, have a quick look around and promptly piled into her, kicking, punching etc before chucking her into the back of the van..........one of our number was a middle ranking Police Officer who happened to speak French and was disgusted by what he was seeing - despite the advice of the bar staff to desist, he ran across the road to intervene, and was stopped short by one of the French CRS guys pointing a gun at him and telling him in no uncertain terms to mind his own business.
I've just stumbled across this historic topic - for which I, too, can offer an example from France: see https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=28122.msg358246#msg358246
CfN.
