Rail — Pushing for Better Services

It was a pleasure to welcome local rail campaigners from Bradford on Avon, Devizes and Melksham, alongside colleagues from Wiltshire Council, to a parliamentary drop-in last week with industry specialists from GWR and Network Rail.
 
I took the opportunity to raise the Devizes Gateway station project directly with Network Rail’s Industry Programme Director for the Western Route, ensuring it remains firmly on the agenda of senior rail leaders.
 
A key part of this is capacity at Westbury, which is crucial to delivering a potential Westbury to Paddington service that could include a stop at Devizes. I was encouraged to hear that recent technical work confirms both the feasibility and strong strategic case for reinstating the disused platform there.
 
While the Department for Transport is not currently supporting the scheme, Network Rail indicated they would be open to exploring the use of underspend from other regional projects to help progress these improvements.
 
Wiltshire Council will also play a vital role in developing the business case, and I will continue working closely with them to help move the project forward.
 
We also discussed services through Melksham, where even modest timetable changes could significantly improve connectivity  particularly by strengthening links at Chippenham and Trowbridge. Looking further ahead, more substantial upgrades such as line-speed improvements and a passing loop could transform both the frequency and reliability of services.
 
A huge thank you to our local campaigners and transport experts for their tireless work. I will continue supporting them as we push for the better rail services our communities deserve.

A new overnight train service to and from Gatwick Airport will begin operating for the summer.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said services between the airport and Reading, via Redhill, Reigate, Dorking and Guildford, would begin operating from 6 June.

The service will operate for 12 weeks on a trial basis, with two services from Reading to Gatwick and three return services every Saturday morning, plus one service from Reading and two from Gatwick every Monday morning.

The trains will run down the North Downs line, which has been closed on multiple occasions over the last few years so maintenance can take place.

Currently, GWR services only run between 04:30 and 23:30, meaning passengers with early departures or late arrivals which make up over 20% of Gatwick's daily traffic are not able to reach the airport by rail from the west.

The operator said it would assess how popular the services were and would consider if overnight services on a longer term basis were possible.

... it can no longer be argued that Temple Meads is "in the middle of nowhere".

As a matter of interest, given the choice, in what format do you prefer to receive your ticket?

As a matter of interest, given the choice, in what format do you prefer to receive your ticket?

Apparently, tickets issued by GWR ticket offices will now default to the larger paper tickets. You will still be able to be issued with 'traditional' tickets if you specifically ask for one, or if your journey involves London Underground. So, if you are one of the Coffee Shop members who 'regularly' buys a '3 in 7' or '8 in 15' Rover, make sure you remember to ask as I hate to imagine what the state of your paper ticket on journey 8 will be!

As a matter of interest, given the choice, in what format do you prefer to receive your ticket?

I'll take the easy one please, 1: Clapham Pond, London

Hats off to our government for 'other measures include a new Google Maps partnership to track rural buses'.

Oh, wait...bustimes.org already does this perfectly well, and the urban and suburban services as well!

'Bit of a cock-up on the research front' as Uncle Jimmy might have said (younger readers could search 'Reginald Perrin' for more info).

The volume of graffiti, AKA criminal damage, along the railway between Paddington & Acton, indicates the answer to that question is a resounding 'Yes'.

.....Does the great western line have a track security problem?

Flats to be built on site once set aside for arena


One of the tower blocks will be up to 19-storeys tall

Plans to build numerous tower blocks on land once earmarked for a 20,000-seat arena have been approved.

The new estate, which includes 520 flats and offices, will be built near Bristol Temple Meads railway station, on land between the River Avon and A4 Bath Road.

An indoor arena was previously planned for the site before it was abandoned in 2018, with former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees deciding to build it in Filton instead.

The proposals by Legal and General were approved by Bristol City Council on Wednesday.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the major finance company's plans also include a riverside footpath, a play area, bars, shops and a hotel. The flats will be split over four blocks, with the tallest reaching up to 19 storeys. The firm said the scheme would take a decade to build.

Ben Denton, head of strategy at Legal and General, said: "L&G will be the long-term owner and operator of the commercial space, the market-rented homes and the affordable homes on the site." He said 20% of the homes will be affordable, partly paid for by a government grant from Homes England.


The plans also include bars, shops and a hotel

Speaking at the meeting, Kim Hicks, from Bristol Civic Society, said the tower blocks "will be depressing to look at and live and work among, especially in dull and damp weather".

"This development requires a major redesign that results in a fresh and welcoming approach to Bristol, and is keeping with the brightness of Temple Meads. It should not be a grim reminder of the dirty, grimy, smoke-stained buildings of industrial Britain," she added.

The council's transport experts also expressed concerns about the impact on traffic on Bath Road, the main route in and out of the city centre for south Bristol.


Bristol's new arena, called Aviva Arena, will built in Filton instead

However a council report said the project will deliver "significant economic benefits" for the city including "approximately 3,000 full-time jobs".

The report said: "The development proposed complies with this policy and there are no material considerations to outweigh this compliance."

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of approving the plans.

Legal and General said their plans would contribute to the wider regeneration of Temple Quarter, the area around Temple Meads and St Philips Marsh.

The development was backed by the University of Bristol, which said the new buildings would help cement their new Enterprise Campus, which is being built next to the site.

Lines open again now but still extensive delays until 1800 according to National Rail on one of the busiest days of the year - also affecting local Elizabeth Line services.

This sort of moronic behaviour does indeed seem to be on the rise and not just in this area - saw some footage of a couple of people practically tap dancing on the third rail last week, narrowly avoided being turned into charcoal.

Family to restore 'iconic' Clevedon miniature railway


Emma Coles will now run the miniature railway, years after she first spent time there

A miniature railway is going to be restored by the family that used to run its "iconic" Rio Grande train.

The miniature railway, which loops around the Salthouse Fields next to Clevedon's marine lake, opened in 1952 but has been left unused in recent years.

The family of Len Harvey, who ran the railway's Rio Grande train, has won a bid to get it running again. Emma Coles and her family have been appointed operators by North Somerset Council after a competitive process.

Coles said: "I'm excited to show my vision of what it can be like and what it was, to bring it back to Clevedon for children to enjoy it the way I did when I was a child."


Emma Coles was just eight years old when the Rio Grande train first arrived at Salthouse Fields

Coles was just eight years old when the Rio Grande train first arrived at Salthouse Fields - brought there by her father. "I remember just being with Dad when it was delivered very vividly," she said. "The Evening Post came and the headline in the Evening Post was my dad's new train. It was a very special day for my family."

The distinctive steam locomotive was one of several miniature engines to run on the railway over the years.


The family plans to restore a "fully operational" Rio Grande miniature railway

Council cabinet member Mike Solomon said he was "thrilled" the family were taking on the railway. "Their personal connection to the railway and their plans for improving the site align perfectly with our vision for a vibrant, welcoming seafront," he said.

In addition to planning a "restored and fully-operational" Rio Grande miniature railway, the Coles family plans to create a station cafe, redevelop the adventure golf course and refresh the children's rides area.

Scarborough Station clock tower restored as part of £14m upgrade



A railway station clock tower in a seaside town has been "painstakingly" restored to its former glory as part of a major upgrade.

Scarborough's Grade II-listed station is also getting a new roof, drainage system and an improved waiting room and ticket office as part of the £14m scheme.

A recent grant of £203,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust has meant the gold clock tower's four faces could be individually restored at the same time, said Network Rail, who carried out the work.

A spokesperson added that works are due to be completed by the end of March and the additional funding meant the company had been able to "deliver more benefits than originally planned".


The golden-coloured structure is part of the Grade II-listed station's refurbishment

Network Rail also confirmed workers would remain on site after the project's completion for the controlled removal of asbestos found in the station's social club, ticket office and cafe. However, the areas remain open and pose "no risk to the public", though the cafe will be closed from 30 March for up to three weeks.

Ann Shannon, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: "The main project is on track for completion as planned this month, but some of our colleagues will be working at the station for slightly longer because of the asbestos we've recently identified."


The upgrade is due to be completed by the end of March

Roof repairs were started after a glazing failure in 2021 and the station was made safe and full restoration began in spring 2025. Network Rail said Scarborough's coastal location also meant other considerations had to be implemented such as hawks to prevent seagulls nesting during the main roof work and specific types of tile, paint and timber being used because of the salt-heavy sea air.

Shannon added: "We're grateful for everyone's patience and understanding while we address this safely and responsibly."

Rosyth-Dunkerque proposal.

Mark

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/27/scotland-france-ferry-dunkirk-regeneration-plan

Scotland-France ferry link moves closer with £3 million UK Government commitment

Investment will upgrade vital Border Force and Customs infrastructure at the port.
From               Scotland Office, HM Treasury           Published                       19 March 2026

A direct ferry route from Scotland to Dunkirk has today moved a step closer thanks to a £3 million UK Government commitment.

Funded through the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund, the investment will support the upgrade of vital Border Force and Customs infrastructure at the port. It was announced today [19 March] by the Scottish Secretary ahead of a visit to the Rosyth to meet senior figures from Forth Ports, international ferry operator DFDS, and the operators of the Port of Dunkirk.

The UK Government’s £3 million funding is subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement between Forth Ports (operator of the Port of Rosyth) and a ferry operator, as well as approval of their business case...

Mathieu Girardin, Executive Vice President and Head of DFDS’s Ferry Division, said:

    We are pleased to see the UK Government’s commitment to strengthening port infrastructure in Rosyth. This is an important step in bringing a new route between Scotland and mainland Europe closer to reality. While a few elements still need to be addressed, we see strong potential in the route and look forward to continuing our discussions with all partners involved to move the project forward.