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. 

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.

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.

£2.54million was specifically mentioned by Rachel Reeves yesterday - so no "confirmed" needed in quotes.

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.

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.

Now both re-instated.

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).

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

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."

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?

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.

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

As reported in this article, the incident has prompted Network Rail to apply for closure of this crossing.

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.

Do you have difficulties getting a taxi in the evenings or peak times?

Our bus service makes no sense in terms of frequency.

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