Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [380322/28355/22] Posted by bobm at 15:44, 1st October 2026 |      |
Back to the old days
15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13
Facilities on the 15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.
Facilities on the 15:04 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:13.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380321/28982/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 15:39, 1st October 2026 Already liked by GBM | |
Saw them go through Dawlish and they are quick trains when given the chance.
That'll be thanks to the go-faster green vinyl job, then
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380320/32456/31] Posted by WSW Frome at 15:27, 1st October 2026 | |
The B1 bombers from Fairford pass noisily over Frome (at quite low altitude) several times a day. I have read somewhere that they are generally headed SW on exercise over the ocean. However, even when operational in the Middle East the route was way out in the Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and Central Mediterranean. Thereafter who knows? No doubt this route is supported by air tankers.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380319/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 15:19, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Saw them go through Dawlish and they are quick trains when given the chance.
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380318/32572/51] Posted by Electric train at 15:10, 1st October 2026 | |
GW&GCJR) Northolt Junction in northwest London with Ashendon Junction stations all had platformed loops
Crewe avoiding lines, officially known as the Basford Hall and Independent Lines,
On the Great Western Main Line (GWML) running between Langley and West Drayton the Up Relief Loop
More recently built are the Acton dive-under built by Crossrail, Bermondsey dive-under built by Thamelink, The Hitchin Flyover
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380317/10737/21] Posted by WSW Frome at 15:07, 1st October 2026 | |
So as per my comment yesterday - Has the Airport bus stop been moved since July and if so where is it now?
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380315/28982/26] Posted by Witham Bobby at 14:33, 1st October 2026 | |
Going well so far. 77 early Tivvy Jcn
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380314/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 13:51, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Richard Fairhurst, REVUpminster, GBM | |
Let's see if it actually runs, there have been many paths from Wolverton that were in, but then cancelled (sometimes twice).
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
On its way. Sets 110 and 103 in GWR livery as a 6-car.
Melksham 1312hrs
| Re: Passenger Assist to Stapleton Road In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380313/32569/21] Posted by Phantom at 13:37, 1st October 2026 | |
Ok, question from an out-of-county resident....
Do the trains generally calling at Stapleton Road carry a guard/train manager?
I know the station is unstaffed. Was wondering whether I can get there in my wheelchair. It does seem as though residents park on pavements there, looking at Google Maps, certainly coming off the trains from Bristol side (Pl. 1?)
Heading for Downend....is it safe around the station into the evening in winter?
Thanks all
Do the trains generally calling at Stapleton Road carry a guard/train manager?
I know the station is unstaffed. Was wondering whether I can get there in my wheelchair. It does seem as though residents park on pavements there, looking at Google Maps, certainly coming off the trains from Bristol side (Pl. 1?)
Heading for Downend....is it safe around the station into the evening in winter?
Thanks all
Apologies, I am not sure how to share pictures on this site, but there was a "New footbridge installed in 2019 which provides step free access throughout the station"
However, only platform 2 has step-free access from the footbridge so people who can't use the steps to platform 1 have a long journey down onto Stapleton Road and then around Belmont Street to reach it.
There is no car park or taxi rank, and the nearest bus stop is 120 metres (130 yd) away on the A432 Stapleton Road
National Rail state the following
Step Free Category B2 station - step free access can be achieved to both platforms, however it is via a large station ramp. Access from platform to train is very steep, if you require assistance, please contact GWR Passenger Assist on 0800 197 1329.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/stapleton-road/
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380312/10737/21] Posted by Mark A at 13:36, 1st October 2026 | |
Well Temple Meads Station T1 is 100% marked as a stop for the 8 in the timetables. At the following stop, they do pause before restarting the route, but skipping the stop at Temple Meads Station itself, even if there's no one needing to alight, certainly shows attitude.
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380311/32151/51] Posted by Electric train at 13:33, 1st October 2026 | |
RAIB Interim Report published
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6abd271555bc01d752a7f17f/IR012026_261001_Elstow.pdf
| Re: Weston-super-Mare - Birnbeck Pier restoration: ongoing developments and discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380310/16547/31] Posted by Phantom at 13:29, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
I am impressed not only by the rate of progress being made, but also by the fact that restoration is taking place at all.
I rather cynically expected a very slow committee to consider the matter, followed by a total collapse, followed by a report that "restoration is no longer viable"
Well done by all involved.
I rather cynically expected a very slow committee to consider the matter, followed by a total collapse, followed by a report that "restoration is no longer viable"
Well done by all involved.
As a lifelong Weston resident, I share your views above
I honestly thought it was never going to be repaired, there have been so many false dawns over many years
But to see the footage of the new flooring being a quarter of the way through was something I never expected.
A local councillor (Mike Bell) mentioned he got emotional walking on it again, I can completely understand how he would have felt.
I spoke to him on the Waverley cruise from Weston earlier this year and he was very passionate about the pier
They just need to find someone to look after the main part of Birnbeck Island, though I have previously seen footage of repairs on the buildings already
I can remember walking out there in the late 1980s with my (now sadly departed) grandparents, so will be looking forward to how this all progresses
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380309/32572/51] Posted by Mark A at 13:18, 1st October 2026 | |
Lincoln avoiding line, Bradford avoiding line?
[edit] Relics of the crossing on Bradford's Hall Lane are slow to vanish. 2025. Older images record rails across the road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CwL2hx2uPBBooVug6
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380307/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 13:01, 1st October 2026 | |
Melksham 1312hrs
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380306/10737/21] Posted by chuffed at 12:49, 1st October 2026 | |
I waited at Temple gate for the 8 and two went past me despite my signalling for it to stop. The third driver then told me I would have to get off round the corner and catch bhe next bus. Are they making it all up as they go along ?
| Re: Rail passenger numbers and crowding published In "Across the West" [380305/32283/26] Posted by eightonedee at 12:19, 1st October 2026 | |
The wording seems to suggest that whoever wrote this wouldn't know the difference between a train and a bowl of porridge
..or that no-one has checked the standard wording for decades?
| Re: Cross Country Trains - incidents, services and shortage of drivers - ongoing issues In "Cross Country services" [380304/23364/43] Posted by Witham Bobby at 12:07, 1st October 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Cheltenham Spa and Worcester Shrub Hill
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Cheltenham Spa and Worcester Shrub Hill trains have to run at reduced speed on the line.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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There is a fault with the signalling system in the Ashchurch area. The signalling system is how trains are kept a safe distance apart and directed onto the various lines along their journey. When there is a fault with the signalling system trains may need to stop at the affected signals so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.
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What are we doing about it?
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Trains are running and will be talked past the Tredington level crossing in both directions, this will cause delays to the services. We also may experiance some cancelaations because trains and crew are in the wrong place.
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Cheltenham Spa and Worcester Shrub Hill trains have to run at reduced speed on the line.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
There is a fault with the signalling system in the Ashchurch area. The signalling system is how trains are kept a safe distance apart and directed onto the various lines along their journey. When there is a fault with the signalling system trains may need to stop at the affected signals so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.
-
What are we doing about it?
-
Trains are running and will be talked past the Tredington level crossing in both directions, this will cause delays to the services. We also may experiance some cancelaations because trains and crew are in the wrong place.
THis is on GWR journey check, but the same problem must be afflicted upon XC services on the Midland road between Cheltenham and Bromsgrove
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| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [380303/28982/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:53, 1st October 2026 | |
Let's see if it actually runs, there have been many paths from Wolverton that were in, but then cancelled (sometimes twice).
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
There are still lots of 3 car units at Wolverton (and some have been there for 18 months), so potentially could be more than one unit coupled
On its way. Sets 110 and 103 in GWR livery as a 6-car.
| Re: HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) - Government proposals, alternative routes, discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380302/5138/51] Posted by Red Squirrel at 11:43, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Wildlife arrives on time at rewilded chalk grasslands built along HS2 route
The trains may be running late, but the Western Slopes project is already attracting birds and insects on lands around the high-speed railway
The air is scented with the sweet tang of ladies bedstraw and made musical by skylark and blackcap song. An abundance of marbled white butterflies, small skippers and common blue damselflies dart over the flowering knapweed, yarrow and wild carrot.
That the largest chalk grassland in the Chilterns is full of wildlife may not surprise you. But the fact that it is completely artificial, only four years old and has been built by the much-maligned HS2, may do.
[continues...]
Source: The GuardianThe trains may be running late, but the Western Slopes project is already attracting birds and insects on lands around the high-speed railway
The air is scented with the sweet tang of ladies bedstraw and made musical by skylark and blackcap song. An abundance of marbled white butterflies, small skippers and common blue damselflies dart over the flowering knapweed, yarrow and wild carrot.
That the largest chalk grassland in the Chilterns is full of wildlife may not surprise you. But the fact that it is completely artificial, only four years old and has been built by the much-maligned HS2, may do.
[continues...]
| Re: Rail passenger numbers and crowding published In "Across the West" [380301/32283/26] Posted by Red Squirrel at 11:37, 1st October 2026 | |
There is some odd wording in section 3:
Passenger train kilometres includes only the distance covered by a locomotive itself and does not account for the number of carriages.
[...]
Passenger vehicle kilometres includes both the distance covered by locomotives and the carriages they transport.
[...]
Passenger vehicle kilometres includes both the distance covered by locomotives and the carriages they transport.
The wording seems to suggest that whoever wrote this wouldn't know the difference between a train and a bowl of porridge.
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380300/32572/51] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 11:30, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | |
Cheltenham Loop, also known as Cheltenham & Gloucester T Loop, and now known as Gloucester Avoiding Line. Opened in 1847, closed in 1851, reopened in 1901 and continues in use.
| Re: Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380299/32572/51] Posted by Witham Bobby at 11:06, 1st October 2026 | |
"On this day" reminded me of the opening 136 years ago today (1st October 1890) of the Queen Adelaide Loop at Ely, allowing train arriving there from the direction of Peterborough to carry on towards Norwich with carrying on into the station and having to reverse there. In the days of locomotive haulage that was a faff, and with unfitted freight trains a double faff. For all the issues with multiple units raised by some members, the savings made by many of these loops melted away.
I have listed here ten historic loops and avoiders - no two the same, still existing (not sure about Queen Adelaide thiough) but some only just.
Westbury East to North
Rhubarb
Mainadee
Queen Adelaide
Reading (West to Didcot)
Foxhall
Norwich Avoider
Rose Street Curve
Laverstock
Frome avoider
Cannon Street
[snip]
What have I missed? Should any of those not count?
I have listed here ten historic loops and avoiders - no two the same, still existing (not sure about Queen Adelaide thiough) but some only just.
Westbury East to North
Rhubarb
Mainadee
Queen Adelaide
Reading (West to Didcot)
Foxhall
Norwich Avoider
Rose Street Curve
Laverstock
Frome avoider
Cannon Street
[snip]
What have I missed? Should any of those not count?
Barrow-in-Furness Station - The Park South Line
Swansea - The Swansea District Lines
Two that just popped into my head
| Re: Rail passenger numbers and crowding published In "Across the West" [380298/32283/26] Posted by John D at 11:05, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Mark A, eightonedee | |
Latest quarterly (April - June) usage figures have been published by ORR
https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/u3dhxikw/passenger-rail-usage-apr-jun-2026.pdf
For GWR passenger journeys are 3% on same quarter previous year
However as journeys might be distorted by split ticketing, these are the passenger Km
April - June 2026 1652m Km
And for comparison, Pre-Covid
April - June 2019 1573m
So GWR now 105.1% of pre-Covid passenger km
During which time have removed some 387s, scrapped (after accidents) some 158s, removed remaining HSTs, but only managed to put one class 230 into non-daily service, and barely get one 175 into daily service.
Am I missing something, or have they cut the fleet, and have 5% more
People squeezing on.
| Curves, loops, avoider lines In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [380297/32572/51] Posted by grahame at 10:52, 1st October 2026 | |
"On this day" reminded me of the opening 136 years ago today (1st October 1890) of the Queen Adelaide Loop at Ely, allowing train arriving there from the direction of Peterborough to carry on towards Norwich with carrying on into the station and having to reverse there. In the days of locomotive haulage that was a faff, and with unfitted freight trains a double faff. For all the issues with multiple units raised by some members, the savings made by many of these loops melted away.
I have listed here ten historic loops and avoiders - no two the same, still existing (not sure about Queen Adelaide thiough) but some only just.
Westbury East to North
Rhubarb
Mainadee
Queen Adelaide
Reading (West to Didcot)
Foxhall
Norwich Avoider
Rose Street Curve
Laverstock
Frome avoider
Cannon Street
And here are a further 10 places where loops could have been a huge benefit - including one or two installed in my living memory.
Coombe Junction
Bourne End
Bere Alston
Cromer
Battersby
Morcambe
Georgemas
Fort William
New Holland
Bacon Curve
What have I missed? Should any of those not count?
| Re: Weston-super-Mare - Birnbeck Pier restoration: ongoing developments and discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380296/16547/31] Posted by broadgage at 10:04, 1st October 2026 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Phantom, PrestburyRoad | |
I am impressed not only by the rate of progress being made, but also by the fact that restoration is taking place at all.
I rather cynically expected a very slow committee to consider the matter, followed by a total collapse, followed by a report that "restoration is no longer viable"
Well done by all involved.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380295/10737/21] Posted by Mark A at 09:59, 1st October 2026 | |
The fact that climbing aboard the number 8 bus was a bit like getting on a fairground ghost train from the way it departed the stop and promptly dived into a grid of minor roads and then through a mouse-hole of a tunnel beneath the main line before managing to serve the site of Bristol St Philips station, from the stop outside which it picked up several passengers, though none dressed sixties-fashion.
The 8 is currently on a small diversion after leaving its its new stop due to road works. When those are finished it will go on a more direct route along Avon Street direct onto Temple Way.
Others have already mentioned the fact the new stop is actually easier for people to get to and use.
And remember the 70 and 72 buses also serve the stop on Station Approach so it isnt just the airport buses.
Someone remarked that its stop in Temple Gate also makes it easier to change from the 8 onto a range of other bus services - though whether the 8 also met all those services at other stops I don't know. Presumably the 70 and 72 can't use the stop vacated by the number 8 as they'd foul the canopy there.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol and Bath (WECA, now WEMCA)" [380294/10737/21] Posted by Mark A at 09:42, 1st October 2026 | |
I had an event at the university this evening - at 18.45 there seemed to be a fairly steady stream of people exiting the new East exit, including plenty of non-students heading towards the number 8 and beyond.
Incidentally, I forgot to take a picture but the new University building has a Solari board in the lobby. I think it was supposed to be asking students profound questions, but I couldn't help wondering whether they were just jokes waiting for a punchline!
Incidentally, I forgot to take a picture but the new University building has a Solari board in the lobby. I think it was supposed to be asking students profound questions, but I couldn't help wondering whether they were just jokes waiting for a punchline!
It's these people: this page was written when it was commissioned but before its (permanent) installation.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2024/december/tqec-wood-and-harrison.html
When I passed it it was running a single line: riffing on the sentence 'Fail to understand {insert_word}' which caused me a bit of self reflection. :-) I'll have to revisit.
