Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377344/18525/10] Posted by JohnM at 18:30, 23rd July 2026 |      |
Well as expected I missed the connection. Oh well I thought, at least they'll offer me a taxi...
Nope - the helpful and apologetic member of station staff explained that the delay now has to be more than 2 hours, and the Salisbury service is 7.00.
So I'm now in an Uber
It was only £9 with some sort of promo, which I can afford.EDIT: and the Uber/taxi saves me the 1.6 mile walk from the station to home. Although I got the Uber driver to drop me off about half a mile early so I could get at least some of the expected exercise (yes I'm a bit obsessive).
| Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377343/18525/10] Posted by grahame at 18:19, 23rd July 2026 | |
That is just rubbish service for the passengers wanting to connect to Melksham - and all for the sake of a couple of minutes on a delayed service? 
Headline performance stats are operationally slanted. No element I'm aware of to consider total journey time for people who have changes along the way. There ARE a few services that get held in the event of late running, and my impression is that it' better than it used to be.
| Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377342/18525/10] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:06, 23rd July 2026 | |
That is just rubbish service for the passengers wanting to connect to Melksham - and all for the sake of a couple of minutes on a delayed service?
| Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377341/18525/10] Posted by JohnM at 17:51, 23rd July 2026 | |
Trespassers on the railway somewhere between Bath and Chippenham I guess; I'm on the 17:12 Bristol-Oxford and we're stopped just after leaving Bath. And very annoyingly we've just been overtaken by the 17:29 Bristol-Paddington, which means our ETA at Chippenham is now 1 minute after the 18:00 Chippenham-Melksham departs
| MOVED: New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377340/32272/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:07, 23rd July 2026 | |
This topic has been moved to Heart of Wessex and merged with an existing topic there - with thanks to Coffee Shop forum member 'bradshaw' for posting.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=618.msg377333#msg377333
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377339/231/28] Posted by John D at 16:38, 23rd July 2026 | |
New DfT press release regarding reopening to Portishead
First time I have seen journey duration (says 25 mins to Bristol Temple Meads
Also says in time, service will run to Bristol Brabazon and Aviva Arena (doesn't mention Henbury)
More than 50,000 people in North Somerset are a step closer to getting train services back after more than 60 years, as work begins to restore the railway line to Portishead.
The government has invested over £63 million to reconnect Portishead and Pill to the railway network, making journeys quicker, easier and more reliable while supporting jobs, housing and investment across the region.
With services due to begin in 2028, passengers will be able to travel directly between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes – less than half the time journeys can take by car during rush hour traffic.
The line will provide an hourly service between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads, calling at Pill, Parson Street and Bedminster, improving connections, unlocking housing and employment opportunities and creating an estimated £43 million of economic growth for the region each year.
In time, the restored railway line will eventually connect through to Bristol Brabazon – one of the UK’s largest new communities – and the new Aviva Arena, giving residents and visitors fast, easy access to the region’s biggest music, sport and entertainment events.
But does suggest opening is sometime in 2028
The west is moving out of the slow lane, and it is great that Rail Minister Lord Hendy could join us today to see firsthand how we are improving transport across our region. I look forward to hopefully welcoming him back as one of the first passengers when services begin in 2028!
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-stations-faster-journeys-and-better-connections-as-works-begin-to-restore-portishead-line-for-the-first-time-in-60-years
| Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377338/26638/5] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:08, 23rd July 2026 | |
Others making the point here about the cost of rail travel and the need for it to be reduced............I don't suppose anyone is holding their breath!!!
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/brits-all-make-1-train-plea-after-andy-burnham-announces-2-bus-cap/ar-AA28wdsk?ocid=socialshare
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377337/31355/51] Posted by Mark A at 14:55, 23rd July 2026 | |
Fast forward to late July and, drying soils throwing issues at Network Rail in East Anglia for starters. The press release has two photos.
Mark
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/service-changes-as-anglia-soil-dries-out-in-the-heat
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [377336/25368/42] Posted by Mark A at 14:50, 23rd July 2026 | |
Yup, about 80,000. Also, five (or if you're generous, six) railway lines and a host of bus services converge there, but somehow it's missing through trains to London and also, arguably, Bristol.
It could though be in a class of its own, as through history, Shrewsbury has perhaps lost through services to as many London terminals as many of us can count on the fingers of one hand. I count Paddington, Euston (twice?), Marylebone, and, er, Waterloo. There's a quiz question in there somewhere....
Mark
| Re: New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary In "Heart of Wessex" [377335/618/19] Posted by GBM at 14:31, 23rd July 2026 | |
Note to Mods - thread already running
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=618.msg374566#msg374566
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [377334/25368/42] Posted by ChrisB at 14:18, 23rd July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Shrewsbury - and its bigger than Trowbridge I believe
| New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary In "Heart of Wessex" [377333/618/19] Posted by bradshaw at 14:00, 23rd July 2026 | |
A new experimental service starts in August linking Glastonbury with Castle Cary station, with connections from Somerton/Langport at Keinton Mandeville.
Details below
https://www.somerset.gov.uk/news/new-trial-rail-link-bus-to-launch-in-august/
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [377332/25368/42] Posted by Mark A at 13:47, 23rd July 2026 | |
Thinking of English county towns and their rail services, I can't think of one with no station at all & the great majority have through trains to London. Some, e.g. Lincoln, have regained these trains relatively recently. Trowbridge is an outlier - the shift has been in the opposite direction - its residents and the seat of local government pretty unfortunate to lose the daytime links to and from Waterloo.
With no trains to London (save for the one below and that runs Mondays to Fridays only) Trowbridge shares that distinction with Oakham in Rutland and Appleby in Westmoreland. The other forty five or so all have through services to the capital.
Here's Realtimetrains data for that sole before-six-am and therefore peak time GWR Mondays to Fridays through service.
Mark
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W77150/2026-12-23
| Re: Station fire at Paignton. Footbridge? In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [377331/32262/24] Posted by REVUpminster at 11:57, 23rd July 2026 Already liked by Mark A, GBM | |
Today the trains are running empty Torquay-Paignton-Torquay stopping at the usual mark.
The booking hall, ticket office untouched. The roof of the old newsagents and the footbridge suffered most damage.
I've uploaded some photos from today here because it's easier.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/paignton-station-footbridge-on-fire-21-07-26.304899/page-4
| Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377330/26638/5] Posted by Mark A at 11:50, 23rd July 2026 | |
I wondered why there were police vehicles in, er... Curry's car park at the little retail centre on the Lower Bristol Road yesterday morning. A van and an anonymous volvo estate.
(The article highlights that Andy Burnham has a personal connection with "the MD of First Bus for the South and West Doug Claringbold, with whom he was at university." I wonder if this attention will result in any thoughts on how to relaunch the city's bus services when the current round of roadworks draws to a close - there must surely have been a drop-off in passenger numbers as the majority of routes are a distress purchase at the moment and if that's the case they would benefit from a boost - I'm hoping this has not hit the other operators' services in to the city too.)
Mark
| Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377329/26638/5] Posted by Fourbee at 11:47, 23rd July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
That article also explains the introduction/timing, in my naivety I thought it could be sooner rather than later!
£3 until 31/12/2026, then £2 from 01/01/2027 to 31/12/2027.
(The £3 fare was scheduled to end on 31/03/2027).
| Re: Go-Op Cooperative - proposals for additional rail services In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377328/11010/28] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:28, 23rd July 2026 | |
Operations director Alex Lawrie said the co-operative had "not been ambitious enough" with its previous plans...
Yes, that was clearly the issue!
Though, for what it's worth, I think the latest complete and utter change in strategy and direction actually might have a bit of promise.
There's still a very high chance it won't end up going anywhere tangible though.
| Re: WOMAD comes to Wiltshire - nearest station, Melksham, July 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377327/31642/18] Posted by JohnM at 10:47, 23rd July 2026 | |
Looking at the A365 near the festival on google maps with traffic colouring, there's quite a lot of yellow, but no red, yet...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YRt54qNFQ1vNdK9z7
| Re: WOMAD comes to Wiltshire - nearest station, Melksham, July 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377326/31642/18] Posted by grahame at 10:17, 23rd July 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?
I guess the main reason Chippenham was chosen in preference to Melksham was Melksham's lack of capacity - low service frequency by short trains?There was a danger of trying to put a gallon into a pint pot. Even with extra trains (from where? how on the line?) only 3 carriage platform then a lack of turning spaces for buses and no station loos.
| 42 million hours wasted on train delays In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377325/32270/51] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:02, 23rd July 2026 | |
An interesting take!
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/revealed-the-42-million-wasted-hours-caused-by-train-delays/ar-AA28uStt?ocid=socialshare
| Re: WOMAD comes to Wiltshire - nearest station, Melksham, July 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377324/31642/18] Posted by JohnM at 08:32, 23rd July 2026 | |
Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?
I guess the main reason Chippenham was chosen in preference to Melksham was Melksham's lack of capacity - low service frequency by short trains?| Re: WOMAD comes to Wiltshire - nearest station, Melksham, July 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [377323/31642/18] Posted by Phil at 07:51, 23rd July 2026 | |
Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?
I used Melksham station a couple of times yesterday (Wednesday) and whilst there wasn't exactly a bus, there were definitely more than one MPVs meeting and greeting people associated with Womad (staff and performers at a guess, since a couple were carrying either musical instruments or well disguised machine guns...)
| Re: SWR timetable consultation - a suggestion In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [377322/32168/20] Posted by grahame at 06:08, 23rd July 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Clan Line | |
On 21st, Wiltshire Council passed a motion calling for through services from Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge to London (Waterloo) to be provided by the SWR timetable revision, linking the Bristol -> Salisbury local service into the Salisbury -> Waterloo service. And important considering especially that Wiltshire Council is the LTA (Local Transport Authority).
Unanimous - Cross party
A "friendly amendment" from Cllr Holder, saying [the] motion had "missed a trick" and added that there should be a letter to Heidi Alexander too
| Re: Ryanair - routes, schedules, incidents and issues (merged posts) In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377321/29076/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:38, 22nd July 2026 | |
I don't think it's very wise for an airline boss ...
Just to say, we are referring to Michael O'Leary here ...
That's my personal opinion, not the official view of the Coffee Shop forum.
CfN.
| Wreckage of Pan American plane that shaped aviation safety found 74 years on In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377320/32269/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:20, 22nd July 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Wreckage of Pan Am plane that shaped aviation safety found 74 years on
The wreckage of a Pan American Airways plane has been found 74 years after it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in a crash that prompted mandatory airline safety briefings.
The Clipper Endeavor was found 2,000ft (610m) below sea level off the coast of Puerto Rico with a sonar-equipped drone. It went down on 11 April 1952 following multiple-engine failure shortly after take-off.
Everyone onboard survived the impact - but passengers struggled to locate life vests and rafts as the plane rapidly sank. Of the 69 passengers and crew onboard, just 17 survived.
The disaster led to sweeping reforms in aviation safety, including compulsory pre-flight safety briefings on every commercial flight.
(BBC article continues)
The wreckage of a Pan American Airways plane has been found 74 years after it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in a crash that prompted mandatory airline safety briefings.
The Clipper Endeavor was found 2,000ft (610m) below sea level off the coast of Puerto Rico with a sonar-equipped drone. It went down on 11 April 1952 following multiple-engine failure shortly after take-off.
Everyone onboard survived the impact - but passengers struggled to locate life vests and rafts as the plane rapidly sank. Of the 69 passengers and crew onboard, just 17 survived.
The disaster led to sweeping reforms in aviation safety, including compulsory pre-flight safety briefings on every commercial flight.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Severn Valley Railway - public (not tourist) service trial In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377319/32267/28] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:46, 22nd July 2026 Already liked by broadgage, GBM | |
Not to mention Taunton - Minehead
After all, the people of West Somerset have only been waiting 55 years so far
One particular resident of Minehead has indeed been remarkably patient. However, I think he takes a much broader view.
CfN.
| Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377318/26638/5] Posted by Mark A at 22:25, 22nd July 2026 | |
Ah, it was. Silly me.
Mark
https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/politics/new-prime-minister-bath-launch-bus-fare-cap-118874/
| Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377317/26638/5] Posted by Mark A at 22:22, 22nd July 2026 | |
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cdx7z2wwe7qt
Thank you. What about a train fare cap, or is that different?
Looks like Mark A missed a photo opportunity with the new PMPrime Minister Andy Burnham says no one should be "priced out" or "left behind" when it comes to affordable transport links after announcing bus fares in England will be capped at £2.
"For too long people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country," he says in a statement.
"Lower fares will help people get to where they need to - giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living."
"For too long people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country," he says in a statement.
"Lower fares will help people get to where they need to - giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living."
Thank you. What about a train fare cap, or is that different?
Drat. But his visit can't have been connected with public transport surely, Bath's network is irredeemable for the foreseeable future.
Mark
| Re: Severn Valley Railway - public (not tourist) service trial In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377316/32267/28] Posted by JayMac at 21:53, 22nd July 2026 | |
After all, the people of West Somerset have only been waiting 55 years so far
Most of that in traffic!
| Re: Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts In "London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury" [377315/593/9] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:47, 22nd July 2026 | |
You should always be pessimistic: that way, you'll never be disappointed.
