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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Volunteering on heritage railways
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [370794/27358/47]
Posted by grahame at 08:32, 9th January 2026
 
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1479380097525694&set=pcb.1479387557524948

An interesting graphic, and perhaps a continuing "time bomb" ...


Best & worst railway stations (Telegraph piece)
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370793/31411/51]
Posted by matth1j at 07:54, 9th January 2026
 
I’ve visited more than 500 British railway stations and these are the best (and worst)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e2638de957aa776e

Re: Gains, Losses, Trials, Risks over the years
In "TransWilts line" [370792/31406/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:48, 9th January 2026
 
2018 - 2/3 coach trains on the TW?

Good point, Bobm - I am going back to edit that into the original list, adding "longer platform".  I am also going to add a gain of the local CRP.  I know CRPs including the local one have changed in their direction from our local early objectives, but it was a very important step along the way for our train service.

Note - I have also stepped back from reporting wider issues away from just the local area / constituency

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [370791/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 07:41, 9th January 2026
 
With Storm Goretti ranging, it's amazing that the only change on trains that run via the Westbury - Swindon line is:

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to severe weather.

To some extent, a technical report as far as the TransWilts is concerned - through passengers from South of Swindon to Foregate Street are few and far between, and the 12 minute scheduled wait at Shrub Hill on this train means that it's not attractive anyway.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370790/31405/25]
Posted by grahame at 07:30, 9th January 2026
Already liked by 1st fan
 
BBC (Live) reports:

An estimated 57,000 properties across the UK are without power after Storm Goretti brings 99mph (159km/h) winds and heavy snowfall.

The region experiencing the most outages (43,400) is the south-west of England, where a rare red "danger to life" wind warning was issued on Thursday

Happy to (personally) be tucked up in a warm home and not anywhere near the worst of the storm.  Stay safe, everyone - and best wishes and thoughts with those who are out there helping get things cleared and running again.

JourneyCheck says

Due to severe weather:
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network will be revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 09/01.
Customer Advice
-
Storm Goretti hit the UK yesterday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain/snow. This brought disruption to the GWR network.
-
For Friday 09 January:
-
With the storm now passed, the railway will have to be inspected in daylight for any damage.
-
> There will be no services between Plymouth and Penzance, in either direction, until 12:00 at the earliest.
> There will be no services between Exeter and Okehampton and between Exeter and Barnstaple, until 12:00 at the earliest.
> There will be no services between Par and Newquay, between Truro and Falmouth and between Plymouth and Gunnislake, until 15:00 at the earliest.
Do not attempt to travel on the routes listed above. Replacement road transport is not available.


Re: Eurostar - merged posts, ongoing discussion topic
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [370789/26929/52]
Posted by Electric train at 07:24, 9th January 2026
 
From The BBC

Ashford International is marking the 30th anniversary of its opening, despite international rail services not having stopped at the station for years.

The UK's second Eurostar station opened on 8 January 1996 following an 18-month, £80million construction project, heralding a new era in travel for passengers across Ashford and east Kent.

However, Eurostar services have not called there, or at Ebbsfleet, since 2020, when passenger numbers fell during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The landmark birthday has sparked renewed calls for international rail services to be brought back to the station.

As much as the good folks of Kent want International trains to call at Ashford, I cannot see that happening in the next 5 plus years to either Ashford or Ebbsfleet.  Based on the number of passengers that used the 2 station prior to the pandemic, today do not justify the cost of the staffing, security and the biggest cost HM Boarder Force and Customs at the stations without Eurostar being subsidised which Kent CC and UK Gov are not willing to do.

Re: Delivering South West England’s New Economy - Greengauge21 Report
In "Across the West" [370788/31402/26]
Posted by trainbuff at 23:06, 8th January 2026
 
In 2014 when Network Rail assessed options a double track, all singing all dancing route via Okehampton, including a new Meldon viaduct was costed at £875m. Alternatively, the cheapest diversionary route between Exeter and Newton Abbot, involving many tunnels was costed at £1.45bn raising higher for longer tunnels. And it still leaves the problem of the Devon Banks of course

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370787/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:53, 8th January 2026
 
From the BBC:

Storm Goretti brings heavy snow in Birmingham and Black Country

Image not available to guests
Snow turned heavy in Aldridge and other parts of the West Midlands on Thursday night

Heavy snow arrived in the West Midlands on Thursday evening thanks to Storm Goretti.

An amber Met Office warning is in place for much of the Midlands and most of Wales until Friday morning. Snow could reach up to 30cm in some areas, it said.

Weather conditions also caused disruption and hazardous driving conditions, with some videos showing cars and even buses sliding around in the snow in Kings Heath, in Birmingham

Rail services have also been affected, with West Midlands Railway and Network Rail asking commuters to check journeys before travelling.

They warned passengers rail services may be delayed as ice could make it difficult for trains to run safely.

"From 19:00 GMT on Thursday, some trains across the West Midlands will run on a reduced timetable and passengers should take extra care and plan their journeys in advance," Network Rail said.

Chiltern Railways advised those travelling that a "significantly reduced service" would be in place on Friday. A spokesperson added one Chiltern Railways service per hour would operate in each direction from Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone.

(BBC article continues)


Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370786/31405/25]
Posted by Mark A at 21:46, 8th January 2026
 
Uksnowmap.com can be good for crowdsource reporting of extents - and accounts and photos

Mark

Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370785/31355/51]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:42, 8th January 2026
 
From the BBC:

Huddersfield gritting lorry toppled amid 'hazardous' conditions

Image not available to guests

A gritting lorry overturned on a patch of icy West Yorkshire moorland road as temperatures across the county dipped below freezing.

The distinctive vehicle came off the road and ended up on its side with its nose in a ditch in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, earlier.

Kirklees Council confirmed the driver was not injured and the vehicle had been recovered and "returned to service".

A spokesperson added: "The incident highlights the challenging and often hazardous conditions our teams are working in to keep roads safe and accessible."

Councillor Tyler Hawkins, from the authority's Highways department, also said: "Although gritting vehicles are designed for winter conditions, severe weather, particularly black ice, can make some routes difficult to navigate. The safety of our staff and the public remain our top priority, but conditions can still be unpredictable." He urged people to take greater care on the roads as the treacherous conditions "could worsen" in the coming weeks.

There are currently a number of severe weather warnings throughout the UK ahead of Storm Goretti, which is expected to bring heavy snowfall to parts of the country, including Yorkshire.

Image not available to guests


Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370784/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:29, 8th January 2026
 
Leominster buses are served by First Worcester: does that count?

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370783/31405/25]
Posted by grahame at 21:03, 8th January 2026
 
My friend in Leominster just sent me a photo of his street under a canopy of snow. I think Leominster is still served by GWR isn't it?

That's Leominster in England?   No - purely served by Transport for Wales  Image not available to guests

Re: MetroWest services begin
In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [370782/25753/21]
Posted by johnneyw at 20:36, 8th January 2026
 
It looks like a motion will be put forward next week by the Conservative group in Bristol City Council to look again at reinstating the Henbury Loop rather than the spur as it's argued that the arena and new housing around Henbury have changed the criteria underlying the original decision.  It's covered by Bristol Live in the link below.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/new-arena-housing-make-plans-10743664

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370781/31405/25]
Posted by Phil at 20:32, 8th January 2026
 
Has anyone yet seen any snow today?

My friend in Leominster just sent me a photo of his street under a canopy of snow. I think Leominster is still served by GWR isn't it?

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370780/31405/25]
Posted by ChrisB at 19:25, 8th January 2026
 
Has anyone yet seen any snow today?

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370779/31405/25]
Posted by bobm at 19:22, 8th January 2026
 
If your travelling to Cornwall from London today the latest you can depart is at 1303. Sleeper's cancelled and all other services will terminate at Plymouth.

The preceding 12:05 to Penzance appears to be soldiering on.   It left Truro over two hours late just after 18:30 but looks not to have moved past Penwithers Junction on the way to Redruth since 18:42.

The 13:03 relies on a connection at Plymouth to reach Cornwall and that is just ahead of the 12:05 but again seems not to be moving, having overtaken it at Truro.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370778/31405/25]
Posted by stuving at 19:18, 8th January 2026
 
Météo France have declared a red warning for the Manche department (the Cotentin). TERs are cancelled for the duration in Normandy and to the east (Hauts-de-France). SNCF have cancelled theirs as well. I've not found any single source of information about this sort of thing for TERs (though one may exist). It's all run by regions, which don't co-operate much with each other (nor with SNCF, in some cases).

The French concern is with the wind, which of course is always strongest on the southern flank of a depression.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370777/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:51, 8th January 2026
 
I merely try to quote from the BBC:

Up to 30cm of snow in Wales and the West Midlands - Met Office
published at 17:18
Image not available to guests
The Met Office has updated its weather warnings ahead of Storm Goretti

The Met Office has updated an amber weather warning covering parts of the West Midlands and Wales as heavy snow is likely to lead to dangerous travelling conditions.

The warning now includes Wrexham, Stafford and parts of Flintshire.

A yellow snow warning has also been extended north to cover parts of Cheshire.

There could be up to 30cm of snow in some locations, especially on hills above 200m in Wales and the Peak District.

There could be 10 to 15cm of snow in a fairly wide area, the Met Office adds.

The forecaster says snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, turning to rain or sleet at times at low levels.

But disruption is likely to continue into Friday after the snow stops falling.


Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370776/31405/25]
Posted by ChrisB at 18:10, 8th January 2026
 
THe amber warning area hasn't changed in England

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370775/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:08, 8th January 2026
 
... Mods please move this post if needed, this may be celtic fringe but Cornwall it ain't)

Mark, I'm leaving it is as it is for now - all things weather-wise are moving a bit fast at the moment. Image not available to guests

From the BBC, the MetOffice have now expanded the potentially affected area to include Wales and the West Midlands.

Image not available to guests


ScotRail investigating claims of staff accepting gifts for contracts
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370774/31410/51]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:54, 8th January 2026
 
From the BBC:

Image not available to guests

ScotRail has confirmed it has launched an internal investigation following allegations that some staff were given gifts in exchange for contracts.

Scotland's nationalised rail operator has allegedly suspended staff members from the property services management team while inquiries take place.

According to a report in the Scotsman, a car may have been one of the gifts accepted.

A ScotRail spokesman confirmed an investigation was being carried out but said he could not divulge any details about it.

ScotRail was taken into public ownership by the SNP government in April 2022, having previously been operated by Dutch company Abellio, and before that National Express and First Group.

A ScotRail spokesman told BBC Scotland: "We can confirm that an independent investigation is ongoing. We wouldn't comment on individuals. We are unable to make any further comment until the investigation process has been completed."


Re: Gains, Losses, Trials, Risks over the years
In "TransWilts line" [370773/31406/18]
Posted by bobm at 17:43, 8th January 2026
 
2018 - 2/3 coach trains on the TW?

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370772/31405/25]
Posted by bobm at 17:21, 8th January 2026
 
Transport for Cornwall also suspending all bus services from 6pm

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370771/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:11, 8th January 2026
 
... Mods please move this post if needed, this may be celtic fringe but Cornwall it ain't)

Mark, I'm leaving it is as it is for now - all things weather-wise are moving a bit fast at the moment. Image not available to guests

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370770/31405/25]
Posted by Mark A at 17:04, 8th January 2026
 
Happy to hear any news of ticket easements Friday into Saturday...

Mark (in Gwynedd, after a foggy day, now weih light winds and increasing rain, local rail lines wound down after the school trains. Mods please move this post if needed, this may be celtic fringe but Cornwall it ain't)

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370769/31405/25]
Posted by Trowres at 17:04, 8th January 2026
 
The St Ives branch is closed for engineering this week.

Buses are being shown "on time" on Tiger and there's no mention on GWR Journeycheck. The GWR engineering web page says that no RRBs are provided and passengers should use "local bus services 17/17A".

If someone's put the local buses into the rail systems that would normally be regarded as a positive measure. However, tonight it's not clear what is happening.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370768/31405/25]
Posted by grahame at 16:26, 8th January 2026
 
Followed GWR's advice and came home early; Bristol-Chippenham-Melksham not due to be (directly) affected but no point in risking it.

Sensible. Welcome home. Hunker down.    I have a 6 p.m meeting at the campus I am not looking forward to!  BUT travel and transport aspects for the future are kinda important and I'm still working closely with Melksham Without.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370767/31405/25]
Posted by matth1j at 16:19, 8th January 2026
 
Followed GWR's advice and came home early; Bristol-Chippenham-Melksham not due to be (directly) affected but no point in risking it.

Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370765/31405/25]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:59, 8th January 2026
Already liked by Timmer
 
Thanks for that rather worrying update, Timmer.  Image not available to guests

The BBC have excellent live coverage of the worsening forecasts, at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgez72ln8wwt

I'm not going to try to quote anything here from there: please do just follow the BBC updates.

Stay safe out there, everyone!  Image not available to guests

 
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