Rather than paraphrase here's the salient part of the EMail I received earlier.

 [snip]

Hopefully lessons learned.

As I suspect MH might be job hunting within the next 12 months, rocking the boat as you suggest might not be the wisest idea?

Same problem in that the DfT signs off on all costs. Graham, you know this.

Is it true that swans can only take off from water?

With Hendy in the room, and the DfT on the hook as we know for any & all additional costs on the railway, MH did refer a couple of times to the need to get a 7 day railway. In the circumstances, about as much as he could address?

t

That could easily take four years to get nowhere, couldn't it? Just ask Go-Op how!

Next steps

GCRE has begun the next phase of plans to bring private sector investment into the company, GCRE Ltd. It has formally launched a public procurement process, with the publication of a Contract Notice and Selection Questionnaire inviting applicants to pre-qualify.

The public procurement process is expected to run until the autumn of 2023. Following this it is expected that GCRE Ltd will become majority owned by a private investor(s).

I have: broadgage is great. 

I seem to recall that a swan is the size of trespasser where the delay problem (and repay responsibility) moves from the TOC over to Network Rail, although I am not sure how line-side fences are supposed to keep a swan out of the railway reservation. Is it true that swans can only take off from water?

Note: Safety of the Line in this circumstance is deemed to be where the reporting person believes there is a potential risk to the safety of their train, other trains, any persons on those trains or the overall safe operation of the railway.

Note: Incursion incidents involving swans (not struck by a train) are to be coded to X8 given their protected status.

Again, a pacer and a series of stations now up to the top of the valley - I think I saw a sign that said "588 metres" but I could have been wrong, or that could have been the distance to some attraction I missed.

The resort SKIMAKOV is especially popular among young families with children, which predetermine particularly wide slopes that allow safe skiing.

The ski slopes of medium and easy difficulty (overall length of 6 050 m) are located in 660 - 948 m above sea level and they are regularly treated. In the resort are 4 ski lifts with a transport capacity of 2850 person / hour., 3 km artificial snow routes and 1200 m long illuminated trail. The average ski season lasts for 90 days. There is a parking lot for 260 cars at your disposal, which is located right nest to the lifts. The resort is easily accessible.

In the resort, just next to the ski lifts, there is a newly build buffet with the possibility of sitting inside or on a covered terrace with a wonderful view of the ski slopes. Skiers have the option of refreshments in the buffet at the upper lift station, directly on the ridge Javorníky, where a nice view of the resort and Beskydy. There is also a children skifun park, snowtubing, snowpark, snowboarding and ski rental and ski service. For the beginners, we offer ski and snowboard school and ski kindergarten. Tourist - recreational cross-country ski track passes through the ridge Javorníky through top Čerenka 948 m, while the ridge to ski lift exports and supplies to the ridge Beskydy.

In the Makov municipality (2 km from the resort), there is a ice rink, ATM, change office, railway station and other food and accommodation

Would be helpful if they stated in what way it doesn't meet the criteria. I've appealed, asking them to clarify.

We have confirmed that the delay you experienced was 120 minutes or more and that you are entitled to £38.50 in compensation.

From ITV.com

An appeal by the Ffestiniog Railway Company against the Snowdonia National Park Authority’s refusal of a new station building for Beddgelert has been allowed, with the authority also required to pay costs.

In a decision handed down on 21 May by RH Duggan, a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers, it was decreed that the railway organisation may proceed with the development on a concrete slab already put in place when the project was initially put forward in the 2000s.

Costs were also awarded, with the inspector recording that in its refusal the planning committee had not applied the local development plan 2016-2031, and that “the application was decided on the grounds of unsupported local opinion and opposition to any station building,” causing the appellant unnecessary costs.

The applicant is now invited to submit to the national park authority details of its costs, with a view to reaching agreement on the amount to be paid.

Consent was given in 2006 by the authority for a facility including ticket office, waiting room, toilets and café, with the slab developed at the existing Beddgelert station, a stop on the Welsh Highland Railway.

Even at that point the issue was contentious, with conditions attached on trading – conditions that were defeated in an earlier appeal. Since that time, the station has operated with small shelters on platforms, portaloos and temporary cafe provision in place, as financial priorities elsewhere saw the Beddgelert project put on hold.

A  refreshed application was submitted in 2023, looking to deliver a slightly smaller version of the approved 2006 plan.

This went to the parks authority’s planning and access committee in May 2023 with a recommendation to approve, but was refused, leading the heritage group to seek recourse through Planning & Environment Decisions Wales.

Another space for someone else then who does want to attend - there's plenty out there wanting to network