An update, from the BBC:


I recommend a full read of that BBC news item - it contains a lot of detail about that sad incident.

CfN. 

 
This can be a situation where a rising tide can lift all boats. A more joined-up network, more useable and relevant to people's lives and this catalyses services to be strengthened on parts of the network in reach but less well served.

 
Well there was that time, as I retrieved it approaching Newport, the waistband of my rucksack accidentally fastened itself securely to the light fitting of a class 166, thankfully the staff were very understanding as I undertook an unintended trip to accompany it from Newport to Cardiff. I've never seen a carriage full of people travelling to work go so deadpan though.

(When this happens to you, something thin and flexible will make for a quick-release key: push the strap further in to the light fitting, persuade whatever you have to hand to pass beneath the buckle and withdraw both together.)

 

There is always going to be an ongoing up-and-down as travel improves / regresses, as local facilities and schools and medicals get better / worse in an area, and as popularity / marketing / fashion changes.   I recall that at one time, the Medway towns (Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham) were a good, lower priced place to live, encouraged by fast, lower peak cost rail services - not sure if that's still the case.  When I lived in Harpenden, there was a joke about a line marked "£6000" on the road to Luton which was the typical difference in house price for that one (as it was in those days) extra stop on the train; got married for the first time in 1978, moved north and swapped a two-up two-down mid terrace in Batford for a three bedroom semi in Caddington without the need for much extra capital.

 
From a social media enquiry from a group looking at travel for older people around Europe - on padlocking your luggage to the train's luggage rack in order to reduce / prevent theft


A mix of responses ranging from recommendations of particular lock products to "don't do it".  I replied: and brough a whole load of "like"s and support such as which I confirmed
But - oh dear - I seem to have annoyed the people who have flown under the radar with this and seem to routinely lock their luggage to racks:
Locking luggage to a train rack is generally discouraged or prohibited by many train operators.  As an example, Lumo (a UK operator) state "For safety reasons, luggage cannot be padlocked to the train's infrastructure or doors."

I am not a fan of AI answers, but this one I got when I asked seems to me to confirm the situation as I understand it:


Personally?   I travel a lot, do not use locks but do place luggage sensibly within sight. My own rucksack has straps which have firm clips on them - released in an instant, but hold if you don't press on exactly the right spot. Where I put my luggage down / have it with me (not so much on train, but in restaurant, waiting or seating areas, etc), I DO clip it to the seat sometimes.  Doesn't stop it being picked up, but does mean that an opportunist doing a grab and would find him/herself pulled up short.  To my knowldege, the effectiveness of approach has never been tested on my luggage, and I do take care to ensure that personal stuff stays much closer to my person.



The rules / regulations on this are not exactly stuff that makes the headlines - after all, there are so many pressing issues around that much need to go unsaid.   I can recall a past conversation about shelling prawns on the underground, which whilst we considered it antisocial didn't appear to be against the rules - but as far as I know, there are no specifics anywhere.

 

I suspect that they "know" just how vulnerable modern society is to any disruption in food supplies or utilities, and that the UK  is especially bad at preparing for this.
It is now about 80 years since the last major war in Europe.
It is now about 75 years since the East Coast floods.
It is now over 50 years since the last major national disruption to electricity supplies, outside living memory for many.
When I was a kid most homes still had a fire place, now rare.

Most of the population have no idea how to cope with significant disruption.

It is in my view a proper subject to discuss.

 

I should have mentioned that I would expect the water trains to run overnight, which would also reduce evaporation rates.

 
I have added a calendar link into the Coffee Shop diary.    For those of us from further afield, first train would involve staying away from home the night before (hotel, hostel, park bench) and I will probably be with you in spirit rather than in person.

I admit - slight jealousy.  New stations at Ashely Down, Portway Parkway, Bristol Parkway, Yate, Cam and Dursley, and Pill and Portishead physically under way ("shovels in the ground") with Henbury not far behind. Last brand new station in Wiltshire - 1937. Just one re-opening of a Beeching era (1966) closure in 1985 and with a much thinner service than any of the WECA / Bristol area stations.  Congratulations to the area, including all the campaigners and community advocates and partners in the area who have and continue to help on this appropriate re-inviguration of rail in the area.

 

Yep - that quote is directly from a senior ASLEF official, whose members have voted to accept the new arrangements.

This is largely about Dempsey doing what Dempsey does.

 

Looks likely that I'll be in Bristol then so I might plod down the to see the first train off or, more likely, make a grand entrance on the first train in just a little later. 

 

I took the 75 from Gloucester Road and got off just before the newly built Runway Avenue which runs up through the middle of the former airfield.  It's a bit of walk up to the station from there (although one of the Metrobust services that goes to the Mall runs along there) and the station is signposted from the Avenue even if it's not entirely clear were the pathway is (best to walk past the frontages of the container outlets).  The entrance to the station is right next to the side of the Propeller Quarter building.
Off course, from Ashley Down Station, there's the 07.17 to Brabazon....the first train arrive at, rather than depart, Bristol Brabazon.

 

That's absolutely brilliant, johnneyw - thanks for posting that information!  

I rather intend to attend that event, and will look out for other members of the Coffee Shop forum there.  Please do walk up and tap me on the shoulder, if you do happen to recognize me.

CfN.  

 

In terms of roads / paths etc, how much is open up there? Living near Ashley Down thinking thia may be a nice easy way of visiting Aerospace Bristol but obviously that depends on being able to easily get to there from the new station.

 
For anyone interested in going to the station opening on the 23rd or using it in the future, I noticed on my visit that there are nearby refreshment opportunities.  Less than a minute from the station entrance are a cluster of container type commercial units which includes a coffee shop and for the hungrier, a pasta bar.  I've not tried either so I can't comment on the how good they are, nor can I recall the options on offer, other than that the pasta place seemed to be reasonably priced.
All of the outlets seemed to be geared to the adjacent student flats which provided the only signs of human life that day apart from a middle aged couple who stopped in their car to ask me if I knew of a pasta restaurant nearby.

 
As soon as people start doing this, house prices will go up steeply. Homes in other London commuter belt towns within 30-45 mins train ride that have become popular options have all rocketed in price

 
From My London


Where would you suggest for economic, practical and enjoyable living for London based commuters about the Leighton Buzzard distance / time out.

 
An update, from the BBC, which includes reference to previous incidents, reminding us that Egypt has a rather sad history, in terms of railway safety:

 

and


It reads to me that the local train from Giza to Faroum crashed into the the long distance train from Cairo to Aswan which was stationary at the time.   No indication as to the probable cause or other factors as yet.

 
From the BBC:

 


Nope - hot drinks sold on Waverley in 2026.  Other stats - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1470812314934036 (a Facebook reel).

 

 
All now identified correctly ... in journey order

4. Gare du Grau-du-Roi, Gard, Occitanie, France -
5. Gare de Nimes - Bob_Blakey
7. InOui buffet car - stuving
1. Paris, Gare de Lyon - stuving
3. Paris, Gare du Nord - Chris from Nailsea
8. London, St Pancras - stuving
6. London, Paddington - PrestburyRoad
9. Chippenham - Chris from Nailsea
2. Melksham - JohnM

Grau-du-Roi has just 2 arrivals (and three departures!) per day - and I chose 9 minutes rather than 8 hours there. Never the less, there were 4 or 5 bus bays outside, and several buses called, dropping off and picking up in our short turn around.  As at so many stations, there were clear signs of past, much more substantial infracturure onto which model(ised) facilities had been overlaid.

In Nimes, the four platforms (A, B, C and E) seemed to struggle with both the number of trains, and the number of passengers waiting on A and C on quite a narrow platform for both the regional trains that passed or terminated ahead of the slightly delayed Paris express.  We were also reminded of the difference between the provision of a lift, and the provision of a working lift. 

The InOui service to Paris had a buffet car just 2 up from us, with a good selection.  No need to wait for and hope that a trolley with limited selection would come through.   When a single traveller on an unreserved train making frequent stops, the trolley has to be my preference.  Otherwise, buffet is so much more friendly to this customer.

We chose to take a taxi to cross Paris.  Time was limited, and Lisa's mobility is not Metro Station Friendly; with plenty of time, finding, getting tickets for and travelling on the 91 bus would have been the choice.  As it was,  taxi turned out perfect once we found the rank at Gare de Lyon, which was not well signposted from the platform we arrived on.

Paris Gare du Nord was ... a zoo.  We arrived at the allotted time and took around 40 minutes to get to the departure area, and because of Lisa's aid we were fast tracked too.   The security scanners seemed to be the biggest hold up and there were some elements that appeared not to be working well - a hallway jammed with people and stuff getting stuck in the machines.  We were in the rear of the train, but they would not let us use the escalator and insisted we go to the forward access and then double back along the platform.

At St Pancras, again directed around to the lift off International.   Long walkies and mutliple lifts down to the Hammersmith and City line, and a train came in for Hammersmith just as we got onto the platform.  Just managed to fold "Henry" before the doors shut, and big "Thank you" to the young lady who gave up her seat for Lisa (and her neighbour who offered hers to me). It may surprise readers, but England and France are so much more helpful within the travelling passenger community than is the case in Portugal and Spain.  Again, sample size too small to be significant.

Paddington - easy enough; sushi / Chinese on the lawn and once again staff (till staff, barrier staff and train manager) going out of their way to offer help.  Likewise help at Chippenham.   Melksham unstaffed, of course!

We ended the day having covered 6 kms around transfers and station, and with the walk / ride home from Melksham Station. Unlike at Grau-du-Roi, buses at Melksham do not connect with the trains either in location of time dimensions; a ride from the station would have been welcome but wasn't easily available (sure, we could have used taxi, Uber or friend) and as usual there was someone off the train waiting for a lift and looking isolated.

Good day - 09:30 from Nimes, 19:40 at our front door.

 
The Somerset and Dorset's Park Bank, now the Two Tunnels route: this unwelcome split in the tarmac. The curve might be a bit of a telltale. For some reason - the surface went down on the downhill edge of the embankment and it might be that the split reflects the position of the trackbed itself - though photos taken from the time it was laid are a bit ambiguous - it's difficult to tell the position of anything as in the course of the work, vehicles used in construction had been driven over the route there with more impact than, say, the occasional road vehicle that ventured that way after the line closed. Was it Adrian Vaughan who records that he located the position of a hallade monument by searching for it using the sump of the car he was in?