Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| RMT to ballot GWR Gateline staff over lone staffing plans - June 2025 In "Across the West" [362196/30351/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:04, 12th June 2025 |      |
From the Morning Star:
Rail union RMT announced today that it will be balloting over 300 gateline staff across Great Western Railway (GWR) for strike action. The ballot, opening on June 17, comes in response to company plans to impose single staffing and extend working hours.
The rail union argues that this will leave staff on ticket barriers isolated, more exposed to abuse and violence, and unable to provide proper ticket enforcement and adequate assistance to passengers. RMT reports that management has attempted to intimidate workers by insisting they will not win the ballot, and that the new working arrangements will go ahead regardless.
General secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Our members are being threatened with unsafe working conditions and told there is nothing they can do about it. GWR is trying to impose single staffing, which will put our members at greater chance of being harmed at work and we cannot allow that. RMT will not accept lone working on stations and Gatelines, and we are prepared to take strike action to stop it.”
A Great Western Railway spokesman said: “These proposals mean more colleagues at seven GWR stations on our network to offer help and support to customers. We’ve got no plans to extend the working hours for gateline colleagues and there is no suggestion of single staffing being imposed. We’ve been speaking to trades unions colleagues about recruiting an additional 30 members of staff at seven locations on our network to help us provide more staff at gatelines for longer. Rather than being imposed, we’ve been clear that minimum staffing levels would be agreed by local station teams, based on risk assessments agreed with trades unions. We’re keen to talk to colleagues and their trades union representatives to find a mutually beneficial solution here that doesn’t involve colleagues losing money through unnecessary industrial action.”
Of note is the apparently obligatory illustrative image, again from Bristol Temple Meads - which would surely be the last railway station to be subject to any proposed 'single staffing' on the ticket barriers?
CfN.
| Re: London to Frankfurt and Geneva - direct trains from Eurostar? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362195/30344/51] Posted by Electric train at 20:55, 12th June 2025 | |
Press release from Railfuture:
Railfuture comments on Eurostar announcement. Planning new trains to Germany and Switzerland:
It looks as if Eurostar has finally decided to expand. The Eurostar 50 new trains order has been around for a while but without stated commitment to run from Britain.
The "concentrate in the core, high fares" strategy is fine in the short run if you have no wider economic objectives but it has opened up a plethora of open access proposals.
Perhaps the most significant result is for Eurostar to realise that they are best placed to expand with less barriers to entry than new entrants. The key is to do this fast enough to keep new entrants at bay. The announcement to add new routes from London to Germany and Switzerland is strategically significant in this respect.
Open access has, in this way, already served a purpose without even running a train. In strategic terms this is good. Railfuture welcomes this development but makes it clear that this still leaves scope for more services and more competition, particularly on the existing Paris route and to the largest air market from Britain, after Paris and Amsterdam, i.e. Spain.
Also, sooner or later, someone will realise that there are other cities in Britain that have a huge air market, More people travel from Manchester to Paris than from London to any city in Switzerland.
Railfuture contends that the timing and the economics are right for sustainable rail travel from Britain as is the market appetite.
Railfuture's suggested choice of preferred open access routes.
This is ambitious for obvious reasons against the present situation but far less so in market terms. It also makes the presumption that the current preoccupation with immigration and security will be eased, with new technology and EU technology.
This proposes two strategic stops en route here, Stratford in long haul fast services to take about 30% volume to ease St Pancras, and Ashford for the Kent catchment area with its propensity to travel to Continental Europe.
Stratford or in some case, Lille would largely replace St Pancras as the interchange point from NW England.
Draft list of contenders.
Eurostar's proposals plus;
Paris route competition
London, Stratford - Paris (fast)
London, Ashford - Calais, Lille, Paris
London, Ashford - Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland Paris, Lyon. Delete Lyon, add Tours, Bordeaux
Manchester, Crewe (Merseyside and North West hub), Rugby(West Midlands hub), Stratford - Lille, Paris (all with long platforms)
South of France and Spain route competition
London, Stratford- Barcelona, Madrid (fast)
London, Ashford - Lyon, Avignon, Marseille
London, Ashford - Lyon, Montpellier, Perpignan, Barcelona. Delete Barcelona, possibly combined to Avignon
Add
London, Ashford, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland, LeMans, Nantes, with multiple service stops to provide frequency to CdG and Disneyland.
London, Ashford- Germany route competition
London, Stratford - Hannover, Berlin (fast)
London, Stratford - Brussels, Koln, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Zurich, Milan
Belgium, Netherlands route competition
Manchester, Crewe, Rugby, Stratford - Lille, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam
Nord Pas de Calais shuttle in cooperation on fares with SE High Speed and domestic Ashford - Calais, Lille
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to editors:
Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.
Railfuture's website can be found at: www.railfuture.org.uk
It looks as if Eurostar has finally decided to expand. The Eurostar 50 new trains order has been around for a while but without stated commitment to run from Britain.
The "concentrate in the core, high fares" strategy is fine in the short run if you have no wider economic objectives but it has opened up a plethora of open access proposals.
Perhaps the most significant result is for Eurostar to realise that they are best placed to expand with less barriers to entry than new entrants. The key is to do this fast enough to keep new entrants at bay. The announcement to add new routes from London to Germany and Switzerland is strategically significant in this respect.
Open access has, in this way, already served a purpose without even running a train. In strategic terms this is good. Railfuture welcomes this development but makes it clear that this still leaves scope for more services and more competition, particularly on the existing Paris route and to the largest air market from Britain, after Paris and Amsterdam, i.e. Spain.
Also, sooner or later, someone will realise that there are other cities in Britain that have a huge air market, More people travel from Manchester to Paris than from London to any city in Switzerland.
Railfuture contends that the timing and the economics are right for sustainable rail travel from Britain as is the market appetite.
Railfuture's suggested choice of preferred open access routes.
This is ambitious for obvious reasons against the present situation but far less so in market terms. It also makes the presumption that the current preoccupation with immigration and security will be eased, with new technology and EU technology.
This proposes two strategic stops en route here, Stratford in long haul fast services to take about 30% volume to ease St Pancras, and Ashford for the Kent catchment area with its propensity to travel to Continental Europe.
Stratford or in some case, Lille would largely replace St Pancras as the interchange point from NW England.
Draft list of contenders.
Eurostar's proposals plus;
Paris route competition
London, Stratford - Paris (fast)
London, Ashford - Calais, Lille, Paris
London, Ashford - Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland Paris, Lyon. Delete Lyon, add Tours, Bordeaux
Manchester, Crewe (Merseyside and North West hub), Rugby(West Midlands hub), Stratford - Lille, Paris (all with long platforms)
South of France and Spain route competition
London, Stratford- Barcelona, Madrid (fast)
London, Ashford - Lyon, Avignon, Marseille
London, Ashford - Lyon, Montpellier, Perpignan, Barcelona. Delete Barcelona, possibly combined to Avignon
Add
London, Ashford, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland, LeMans, Nantes, with multiple service stops to provide frequency to CdG and Disneyland.
London, Ashford- Germany route competition
London, Stratford - Hannover, Berlin (fast)
London, Stratford - Brussels, Koln, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Zurich, Milan
Belgium, Netherlands route competition
Manchester, Crewe, Rugby, Stratford - Lille, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam
Nord Pas de Calais shuttle in cooperation on fares with SE High Speed and domestic Ashford - Calais, Lille
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to editors:
Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.
Railfuture's website can be found at: www.railfuture.org.uk
I believe it was always Eurostar ambition to expand its services further into Europe. A few things that dented that ambition, Covid really hit Eurostar hard financially onto top of the cost of procuring the class 375's and to a lesser extent was initially the uncertainty of the impact of Brexit border controls. The other part of the picture has been more and more high speed lines being linked up in Europe, they get on and build theirs while we procrastinate
The full merger and rebranding of Thalys into Eurostar certainly underlines their ambition.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362194/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 20:47, 12th June 2025 Already liked by matth1j | |
...and the 17:35 Swindon-Westbury left Chippenham on time, but then stopped for about 5 mins somewhere before Thingley, due to a red signal according to the train manager. Wasn't obvious why; I assumed something had got delayed coming from Melksham in the opposite direction on the single track we were waiting to turn into, but nothing came past us. Strange.
Nothing obvious on Real Time Trains ... the other possibility that I looked at was the possibility of something ahead of it that had to clear Bradford Junction before you could proceed, but that was NOT showing on RTT.
Signalling experts may be able to help me - but I think that the train is passed from Didcot to Westbury sit passes along the line and signallers at both ends have to co-operate to pass trains. I get the impression that the paths / this is occasionally done very late.
| Re: HMS Bristol: Last Falklands warship given send-off by veterans - 11 June 2025 In "Introductions and chat" [362193/30348/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:12, 12th June 2025 | |
Thank you all for your replies to my original post: I did wonder whether it would be of any interest here, on a predominantly railway forum, but it has shown to be so.
CfN.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362192/29726/18] Posted by matth1j at 19:57, 12th June 2025 | |
...and the 17:35 Swindon-Westbury left Chippenham on time, but then stopped for about 5 mins somewhere before Thingley, due to a red signal according to the train manager. Wasn't obvious why; I assumed something had got delayed coming from Melksham in the opposite direction on the single track we were waiting to turn into, but nothing came past us. Strange.
| Re: Coldstream Guards making their way to Berwick from Kings Cross train station In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362191/30340/49] Posted by Electric train at 19:06, 12th June 2025 Already liked by broadgage | |
In my opinion I don't there is anything wrong with having the rifles on display, don't think they would have had bullets in them though.
I agree, but am still surprised that the military authorities allowed this. I support HM forces and have no problem with such forces carrying weapons.I rather think that the relevant military authorities actually 'arranged' this, rather than just 'allowing' it: it was a very big public relations event, after all.
The paperwork and risk assessments for the movement of weapons is quite onerous.
But remember the armed forces regularly parade in the open public in Windsor and London.
It if it ever gets to the point where our armed forces are not allowed to march and parade in public will be the day I know for certain the lunatics have taken over the asylum
Oh they would have an armed civilian Police escort to protect the Guardsmen from ill intentioned members of the public, the armed forces do not have the powers of arrest other than civil arrest
| Re: HMS Bristol: Last Falklands warship given send-off by veterans - 11 June 2025 In "Introductions and chat" [362190/30348/1] Posted by Electric train at 18:57, 12th June 2025 Already liked by Western Pathfinder | |
I was quite surprised it lasted in service as long as it did, I suspect it would have had a much earlier retirement without the Falklands losses.
She was used as the RN Cadet and Schools acquaint and accommodation as well as being used by the RN for training until recently, she sat on permanent mooring off of HMS Excellent (Whale Island)
As a Sea Cadet adult volunteer I have spent many weekends and week living onboard HMS Bristol, sad to see her go
| Re: Air India flight to London Gatwick crashed in Ahmedabad In "Introductions and chat" [362189/30350/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:19, 12th June 2025 | |
Thank you for your post, grahame.
I held back from posting, earlier today, as the news continued to develop: this is an awful transport incident, with effects felt locally to us, as you wrote.
My thoughts and sympathies, too, are with all the families, friends and colleagues of those deceased. A very sad day.
CfN.
| Re: Darwin Award Hopeful? In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362188/30287/49] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 17:12, 12th June 2025 | |
Loss of life on the crossing was back in 2021, never heard anymore about it You ?.
| Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362187/1219/28] Posted by ChrisB at 16:53, 12th June 2025 | |
indeed.....thanks!
| Re: HMS Bristol: Last Falklands warship given send-off by veterans - 11 June 2025 In "Introductions and chat" [362186/30348/1] Posted by paul7575 at 16:48, 12th June 2025 | |
Basically she was overtaken by events while in build, steam turbine main propulsion was about to be ruled out in surface ships in favour of all gas turbine.
The weapon and radar systems were effectively that of a Type 42 in a different hull, but in the details she had a unique Seadart missile handling system, she had no helicopter hangar, and retained the obsolescent Mortar Mk 10 for a long while until it was removed. There was also an Ikara anti submarine system that was mothballed quite early in the ship’s life.
I was quite surprised it lasted in service as long as it did, I suspect it would have had a much earlier retirement without the Falklands losses.
Paul
| Re: Coldstream Guards making their way to Berwick from Kings Cross train station In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362185/30340/49] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:34, 12th June 2025 | |
In my opinion I don't there is anything wrong with having the rifles on display, don't think they would have had bullets in them though.
I agree, but am still surprised that the military authorities allowed this. I support HM forces and have no problem with such forces carrying weapons.I rather think that the relevant military authorities actually 'arranged' this, rather than just 'allowing' it: it was a very big public relations event, after all.
| Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362184/1219/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 16:10, 12th June 2025 | |
£2.54million was specifically mentioned by Rachel Reeves yesterday - so no "confirmed" needed in quotes.
Three orders of magnitude out there, ChrisB. Make that £2.54 billion
| Re: Coldstream Guards making their way to Berwick from Kings Cross train station In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362183/30340/49] Posted by Oxonhutch at 15:50, 12th June 2025 | |
I agree, but am still surprised that the military authorities allowed this. I support HM forces and have no problem with such forces carrying weapons.
My old man, as a National Serviceman in the late 1950's, found himself in front of the RSM having been seen cycling home to his married accommodation, 5 miles from camp, with his Lee Enfield slung over his shoulder. It was always kept safe at night in the bedroom wardrobe!
Apparently it was a no - no even then for a soldier to carry a firearm off camp. From that day hence it stayed in the armoury until his very last parade - by which time they had changed rifle type - and the drill.
I suspect that on parade - which I suspect all these Guardsmen are - things are different.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362182/231/28] Posted by ChrisB at 15:46, 12th June 2025 Already liked by Andy | |
There is an infrastructure announcement due next week sometime, so it may well be in that.
| Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362181/1219/28] Posted by ChrisB at 15:45, 12th June 2025 | |
£2.54million was specifically mentioned by Rachel Reeves yesterday - so no "confirmed" needed in quotes.
| Air India flight to London Gatwick crashed in Ahmedabad In "Introductions and chat" [362180/30350/1] Posted by grahame at 15:38, 12th June 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
From The BBC
An Air India passenger plane bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving at least 204 people dead.
The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it was involved in what the airline has called a "tragic accident" in the city in western India.
Ahmedabad's police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries.
He earlier told news agencies there appeared to be no survivors from the crash, and that some local people would also have died given where the plane came down.
The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it was involved in what the airline has called a "tragic accident" in the city in western India.
Ahmedabad's police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries.
He earlier told news agencies there appeared to be no survivors from the crash, and that some local people would also have died given where the plane came down.
We are primarily a UK rail forum - but just occasionally something as major as this takes place - classified so far as a tragic accident - which goes for comment beyond our narrower sphere of interest.
My thoughts for those who died on board (I understand - stop press - at least one survivor) , those who have died or been injured on the ground. And my thoughts with family, friends and colleagues of those who have perished. This was a flight into Gatwick - an airport that many of us use, and served by the trains we talk about. Perhaps "meet and greet" people will have been on their way down, and arrivals planned to carry on on "our" trains.
Over coming time, we will learn what caused the plane to fall out of the sky; out of respect for those who have perished or been bereaved, I am not speculating here.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362179/29726/18] Posted by matth1j at 15:38, 12th June 2025 | |
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362178/29726/18] Posted by bobm at 15:32, 12th June 2025 Already liked by matth1j | |
Now both re-instated.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362177/29726/18] Posted by matth1j at 15:26, 12th June 2025 | |
| Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [362176/30345/50] Posted by Red Squirrel at 15:10, 12th June 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Richard Fairhurst, Oxonhutch, rogerw, Chris from Nailsea | |
The new estate will be about 3 miles from Kemble so absolutely prime territory for cycling. But I wonder if the Coventry VLR trials will tip the balance in future (insert usual gadgetbahn disclaimer here).
Kemble is the railhead for Cirencester and Tetbury, and (without researching this) I’d bet a fiver that part of the justification for closing both lines was that a bus could do the job. But the 882 - which looks like the modern incarnation of that substitute bus - does not integrate with the hourly train service at Kemble, so an onward connection is hit-and-miss.
So before committing to any kind of rail-based connection to Kemble, maybe it would be good to market a bus service from Tetbury to Cirencester via Kemble which connected to the trains, similar to the Bodmin and Okehampton services?
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362175/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 15:06, 12th June 2025 | |
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Further Information
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Further Information
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
| Re: Announcement - Billions of investment on tram, train and bus projects. In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [362174/30318/40] Posted by johnneyw at 14:06, 12th June 2025 | |
The BBC is reporting that both Wellington and Cullompton stations will go ahead.
"The opening of two new railway stations has been given the go-ahead by the government.
Stations in Wellington, Somerset, and Cullompton in Devon will be funded by money allocated in the government's spending review.
While Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not specifically mention the stations in her speech on Wednesday, the Treasury has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that funding would be given to the projects."
"The opening of two new railway stations has been given the go-ahead by the government.
Stations in Wellington, Somerset, and Cullompton in Devon will be funded by money allocated in the government's spending review.
While Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not specifically mention the stations in her speech on Wednesday, the Treasury has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that funding would be given to the projects."
Similarly, Portishead was not specifically mentioned which prompted an article in Somerset Live. I've mislaid the link but my guess is that it was a slow news day in the office.
| Re: Announcement - Billions of investment on tram, train and bus projects. In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [362173/30318/40] Posted by Andy at 13:08, 12th June 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Nothing for Devon & Cornwall - Quelle surprise!
Okehampton has been reopened, Okehampton interchange is being built, Ponsandane sidings have been laid and the Mid-Cornwall Metro is progressing.
I'm desperately hoping they'll provide enough funding to keep Tavistock moving forward at least.... and possibly go ahead with one of the two stations at Cullompton or Wellington - not sure which has the strongest case, Wellington, maybe?
The BBC is reporting that both Wellington and Cullompton stations will go ahead.
"The opening of two new railway stations has been given the go-ahead by the government.
Stations in Wellington, Somerset, and Cullompton in Devon will be funded by money allocated in the government's spending review.
While Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not specifically mention the stations in her speech on Wednesday, the Treasury has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that funding would be given to the projects."
Full article here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0g4kzp7n0o
| Re: Coldstream Guards making their way to Berwick from Kings Cross train station In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362172/30340/49] Posted by broadgage at 13:07, 12th June 2025 | |
In my opinion I don't there is anything wrong with having the rifles on display, don't think they would have had bullets in them though.
I agree, but am still surprised that the military authorities allowed this. I support HM forces and have no problem with such forces carrying weapons.
| Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362171/1219/28] Posted by grahame at 10:23, 12th June 2025 | |
I don't believe that this has only just been classified as an England & wales project at this stage - so why complain only now?
Oooh look, a chance to bash the London government and get my name in the paper, along with my "angry" photo.
£2.5bn "confirmed" for extension through to Cambridge, apparently: https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lrdl3pd6kk24
This "Wales" business has bothered me ... as I have felt it will benefit passengers from South Wales travelling to Cambridge. Melksham to Cambridge was a journey I use to make quite often and by public transport it was awful as is Cardiff to Cambridge. And yet - just this one flow - there are around 7,000 journey tickets sold annually and how much higher might that be if the journey wasn't a nightmare one. It would take time for me to gather other southwales-to-cambridge stats, but a quick look show things like Llandaf to Cambridge North tickets ...
| Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [362170/30345/50] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 10:16, 12th June 2025 | |
The new estate will be about 3 miles from Kemble so absolutely prime territory for cycling. But I wonder if the Coventry VLR trials will tip the balance in future (insert usual gadgetbahn disclaimer here).
| Re: Darwin Award Hopeful? In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [362169/30287/49] Posted by grahame at 10:11, 12th June 2025 | |
As reported in this article, the incident has prompted Network Rail to apply for closure of this crossing.
I have two minds about the application. Undoubtedly there are idiots sprinkled around from time to time - but is the stupid/thoughtless action of a (very?) few really justification for applying for a closure order. Far more convenient for NR to extinguish a crossing (or remove a footbridge some times) than to fulfil their [moral/legal] duty to the wider general public. Reminds me of the 9.11 "convenient time to release bad news". I can understand the temptation to slip in changes ... removal of footbridge at Pilning, these idiots in the video, death on the Pilning crossing which (to me and to be confirmed?) Network Rail were hardly blameless over.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362168/231/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 10:00, 12th June 2025 Already liked by RichardB, TonyK | |
Updates from Portishead Railway Group:
June 2025:
11 June – Chancellor’s Spending Review: The Portishead line is a comparatively small project so would probably not merit mention. The project has been waiting since last summer for the Chancellor’s spending review to complete. The Dept. for Transport capital expenditure budget has been increased by 3.9%, so PRG’s view is that there is now no reason why the DfT can’t sign off the funding for Portishead. We should have clarity very soon and confirmation that the funding is all now released and construction can start.
4 June: The Government announcement on 4 June of £750m investment in transport for the West of England does not relate to the reopening of the Portishead line. The new funding is part of a five-year funding allocation from 2027/28 to 2031/32.
11 June – Chancellor’s Spending Review: The Portishead line is a comparatively small project so would probably not merit mention. The project has been waiting since last summer for the Chancellor’s spending review to complete. The Dept. for Transport capital expenditure budget has been increased by 3.9%, so PRG’s view is that there is now no reason why the DfT can’t sign off the funding for Portishead. We should have clarity very soon and confirmation that the funding is all now released and construction can start.
4 June: The Government announcement on 4 June of £750m investment in transport for the West of England does not relate to the reopening of the Portishead line. The new funding is part of a five-year funding allocation from 2027/28 to 2031/32.
| Re: East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [362167/1219/28] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 09:24, 12th June 2025 | |
£2.5bn "confirmed" for extension through to Cambridge, apparently: https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lrdl3pd6kk24
