That's a presuming that there will be infrastructure problems in the Thames Valley causing disruption elsewhere in 2026 ....................    I am a born optimist 

Five major changes planned for Bristol in 2026



Some major projects are expected to be completed this year, which could have dramatic impacts on our city.

From the opening of a £11m youth zone to possible reforms to how vehicles move around Bristol, 2026 is set to bring some significant changes.

Below, we take a look at five of Bristol's biggest schemes for the year ahead - some definitely happening, others potential controversies to watch.
...

Car-free Park Street?


Under the new plans, cars will still be able to access the street via side roads but will not be able to drive from end to end

At some point in the not-too-distant future, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is going to have to respond to Bristol City Council's request for money that would stop cars driving through one of the main streets in the city.

In March 2025, Green Party councillors approved the £15m plan to limit Park Street to only buses, cyclists and pedestrians. Under the new plans, vehicles will still be able to access the street via side roads but will not be able to drive from end to end.

However, the funding needs to come from WECA, which has a budget from the government for "sustainable transport" schemes.

WECA is yet to respond to the council's request, but Labour mayor Helen Godwin previously said she was "very unsure" about the proposal. So will she give the council the money it wants? Either way, there will still be plenty of roadworks and building going on around the city.

Temple Quarter opens


The £23m Eastern Entrance is set to welcome its first rail travellers in September 2026

The Temple Quarter redevelopment covers an area roughly the size of a hundred football pitches - and while it will not be totally finished, parts of it are due to open towards the end of 2026. A new eastern entrance to Temple Meads will change the way people access the train station, with predictions it could be used by more than two million people per year.

The £23m project will connect with the University of Bristol's new Enterprise Campus, which is due to open in September. As well as providing a home for about 5,000 students and staff, the campus is expected to be a space for start-ups and community work, and will be open to everyone. It is the first major piece of infrastructure delivered under the ambitious Temple Quarter regeneration programme, which is being administered by WECA.

(BBC article continues)

I'm comfortable with your post appearing here, Worcester_Passenger. Your excellent research will no doubt provide very useful reference material in this ongoing discussion.

CfN. 

***snip***
I don't have the bus safety net in Melksham either.   Also happy to stop for a breakfast at the Knights Templar ...

Plea to help raise £135,000 to fix historic paddle steamer


Waverley, which was launched in 1946, now offers cruises to the public

The team behind the world's last seagoing paddle steamer is hoping to raise £135,000 to replace "vital components" ahead of the 80th anniversary of its launch.

The sum is just a small part of the £1.5m required to repair the Waverley, which is due to visit the Bristol Channel in late May 2026.

Waverley was built in Glasgow to connect rail passengers to seaside towns, and now offers cruises to the public.

Paul Semple, general manager of Waverley Excursions, the company that runs the trips, said: "We are preserving her truly unique character. As the world continuously changes around Waverley, she becomes even more special as she represents a moment in time when she was first designed and built."

The renovations will also be funded by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and the steamer's owning charity, Waverley Steam Navigation Co.

The £135,000 is needed to replace the ship's two masts and several windows in the dining saloon with authentic materials.

Mr Semple said: "They are vital components that really give the authentic nature to Waverley. Essentially, many parts of the ship could be replaced with more modern materials and fittings which may last longer, but collectively that would change the look and feel of the ship."

Waverley was built shortly after the Second World War for the London and North Eastern Railway, connecting passengers from Glasgow to towns such as Rothesay and Dunoon. It was launched in October 1946 and entered service the next year.

Following the end of its working life, the ship was gifted to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 for £1.

08:48 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 11:14 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/01/2026 01:16

11:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 14:35 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:01/01/2026 01:16

Rail passengers have been warned of delays and cancellations until the end of New Year's Eve after 656ft (200m) of signalling cables were stolen in South Yorkshire.

Several routes have been affected following the copper theft between Doncaster and Sheffield, which Network Rail said it was alerted to at about 04:00 GMT.

A spokesperson said engineers had been working on repairs to keep trains moving but passengers were advised disruption was expected until the end of the day.

Network Rail said the theft had so far caused 13 train cancellations with 83 trains delayed by a total of 15 hours and 39 minutes.

Services run by Northern, including local services in South Yorkshire and trains running from Doncaster to Hull and Scarborough, are among those affected.

CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street, which call at Sheffield, Wakefield, Leeds and York, have also been affected.

TransPennine Express services running between Liverpool Lime Street and Cleethorpes, which call at Doncaster, have been hit as well.

A spokesperson for Northern said services were able to run between Doncaster and Swinton again from about 09:30 GMT onwards, although they warned that "fewer trains will be able to operate along this route while this issue continues". They also said that trains between Sheffield and Doncaster/Adwick "may be delayed or revised".

"Northern train ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including advance and peak restrictions, during this disruption," they added.

A National Rail spokesperson said: "Theft of signalling cables between Doncaster and Sheffield means trains must run at a reduced speed on all lines. As a result, services operating between Doncaster and Sheffield may be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes, revised or diverted."

A Network Rail spokesperson said further repairs would take place by engineers after the last passenger service. They added: "Cable theft like this is not only disruptive to passenger and freight services but also costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year.

"It's extremely dangerous – with thousands of volts of electricity running through cables, posing fatal risks to perpetrators. We work proactively to install new ways of securing cable and we work closely with British Transport Police to trace those responsible for theft."

The Great British Rail Sale returns for its fourth year, giving passengers the chance to buy advance and off-peak train tickets at a fraction of the normal price. The initiative, launched by the UK Government, aims to make rail travel more affordable and accessible during the quieter winter season.

The promotion comes at a time when public transport is under pressure to attract more travellers, with efforts underway to rebuild confidence following the pandemic. It also coincides with a rare freeze in regulated rail fares, marking the first time in three decades that prices will not increase in line with inflation.

Substantial Price Cuts Across Key Regional and Long-Distance Routes
The sale period will run from 6 to 12 January 2026, with discounted tickets valid for travel between 13 January and 25 March. According to the Department for Transport, nearly all train operators across England, Scotland and Wales are participating, offering reduced fares on thousands of routes. A total of four million tickets are expected to be made available.

Some of the most significant savings include the journey from Exeter to London Waterloo, where the price has dropped from £41.70 to £10, a 76% reduction. Travellers from Portsmouth to London Waterloo can also benefit from a fare cut of 59%, with tickets reduced to £10. The Nottingham to London route has been halved to £23, while Sheffield to London will now cost £25.50, down from £51.

Shorter trips are also included in the sale. For example, Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells will fall from £8.10 to £4, and Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport is available for just £1.20 instead of the usual £2.90. According to data from last year’s sale, passengers saved on average £8 per journey, with more than one million tickets sold during that campaign.

Discounted tickets are only valid for selected advance and off-peak services and are typically non-refundable. Availability varies depending on route and operator, with passengers advised to book early through train company websites or national ticket retailers.

A Push to Boost Domestic Tourism and Rail Use
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the promotion is part of a broader strategy to support households and encourage rail use. “The Rail Sale is back, and it means further discounts for passengers as we freeze rail fares for the first time in three decades to help ease the cost of living,” she said. “It’s all part of our plans to build a railway owned by the public, that works for the public.”

According to VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates, the campaign is also designed to support the tourism sector during the off-peak winter period. She described it as “the perfect opportunity to hop onto a train and explore Britain’s great tourism treasures sustainably, boosting the economy by supporting our fantastic visitor experiences and attractions.”

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of Rail Delivery Group, added that the initiative was about making rail travel “more accessible” while reinforcing its role in local economies. “This year’s Rail Sale will offer millions of discounted advance fares across the network,” she said, “giving customers the chance to save on journeys big and small.”

The initiative is also tied to a wider reform of the rail network, including the upcoming establishment of Great British Railways, a new public body intended to unify the management of infrastructure and services. According to government sources, the long-term goal is to simplify operations and deliver a system that better meets the needs of passengers.

Police investigation as gulls die in 'shooting' in Somerset


The gulls were discovered in playing fields next to Cheddar Reservoir

Police are investigating the deaths of four gulls after it is believed they were shot down.

Peter Colton, 79, was walking through Sharpham Road Playing Fields next to Cheddar Reservoir on Tuesday morning when he discovered the birds, one of which was dead and three seriously injured.

Volunteers from Secret World Animal Rescue collected the surviving gulls, but had to put them down due to the severity of their injuries. The charity's wildlife and veterinary services manager, Lauren Valentine, said: "Gulls can often be overlooked so we are really grateful this was called in so we could alleviate the suffering of these individuals."

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation is under way into the incident. Like all wild birds, it is illegal to intentionally kill or injure gulls, carrying a maximum prison sentence of six months.

Mr Colton said: "It's pretty upsetting. It's horrific to see any animals suffering in that way. How can anyone do that sort of thing? The assumption was that the bird had been shot by an air rifle or something similar," he said, adding that another dog walker had seen a fifth dead bird in the reservoir with a severed wing.

Secret World's wildlife rescue team attended the scene and brought the birds to their site near Highbridge for assessment. Ms Valentine said: "Euthanasia was necessary as the injuries were not compatible with successful rehabilitation outcomes."

Anyone with relevant information should contact police.

Civil engineering sites are rough places. Materials have to be carried about and dumpers, or even men and wheelbarrows, soon churn up the ground, adding to the difficulties. To overcome this transportation problem Road Machines (Drayton) Ltd., of Horton Parade, West Drayton, Middlesex, designed a simple monorail system. The first Mono-Rail Transporter was sold in 1949 and since then many have gone for use in all parts of the world. It is patented in 48 countries, spread over all five continents.

    The rail is 9in high. The running surface is 1¼in steel rod supported by steel plates 21¼in long, 6¼in high, tapered from 1in thickness at the top, to 2½in at the bottom. These plates, four to a 12ft length, are mounted on inverted 1½in by 3in channel forming the base of the rail. In the spaces between the supporting plates are square plates, each with a hole in its centre for attaching auto stops or buffers. The rail is made in 12ft and 6ft straight lengths and 6ft curves, of 12ft radius, twelve pieces to the circle. These lengths are nominal; for example a 12ft straight is 11ft 8in long, the other 4in being a short length incorporated in the rail stands. A 12ft straight weighs about 1½cwt. Special lengths are supplied to order.

Rich Morris started his monorail collection in 1975 when he purchased several Road Machines Mono-Rail products to add to his narrow gauge collection. He then became focused on the Mono-Rail and actively searched to add to his collection

[snip]

One of his major accomplishments is the Monoloco. In 1998 he commissioned a steam monorail locomotive from Century Millwrights Engineers (works number 11003).

[snip]

There have been a few steam monorail locomotives in the world, but the Monoloco is unique as it is the only one existing today that is operational

Cargo ship runs aground in harbour at Teignmouth


The Scot Pioneer cargo ship ran aground in Teignmouth Harbour on New Year's Eve

A cargo ship has run aground off the south Devon coast.

The coastguard said it received reports of the vessel - its name Scot Pioneer visible from the shore - had got into difficulty in Teignmouth harbour at about 17:25 GMT. It added the ship, registered to Inverness in Scotland, had eight crew on board and no injuries or damage to the vessel had been reported.

A coastguard spokesperson said it was expected the boat would be refloated at the next high tide at about 02:00 on New Year's Day with a harbour tug being sent to assist the vessel get to the dock.

Eyewitnesses said the ship appeared to have got stuck on the seabed about 50m (164ft) away from Shaldon beach.

A marine traffic website said the ship had last docked in Hamburg before leaving the German port on Boxing Day.

Teignmouth harbour master, Rob Parsons, said the timing of incident was "unfortunate".

"Time and tide wait for no man and you can never beat Mother Nature," he added. He said the priority was to get the vessel floated and his team would attempt to do so using a tug called Teign C early on New Year's Day.

In April, a cargo ship carrying animal feed had to be refloated after it ran aground during a similar incident in Teignmouth Harbour.

At least one person has been killed and around 30 passengers have been injured after two trains taking tourists to Machu Picchu in Peru crashed.

The collision involved a train coming from the famed archaeological site and a train headed there in the early afternoon near Qoriwayrachina, also an archaeological site, according to the company operating the railway.

The person who was killed was a railway worker, Jhonathan Castillo Gonzalez, a captain with the police department in the nearby city of Cuzco, said.

He said that train services along the line connecting Machu Picchu with Cuzco were suspended after the accident.

Authorities have not shared details regarding the cause of the crash.

Footage shared by local media showed train carriages with broken windows and dented sides, which were stuck on tracks set between a forest and a rock wall.

Around 1.5 million people flock to Machu Picchu every year, most of whom arrive by train.

The archaeological site was built by the Incas in the 15th century and served as a sanctuary for the Inca emperors.

Machu Picchu is known for its dry-stone brick walls and its three primary structures, including the Temple of the Sun.

Machu Picchu train crash leaves one dead and dozens injured

A train driver has died and at least 40 people have been injured in a head-on rail collision near Peru's most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu.

Two trains collided on the single track leading to the ancient Inca town on Tuesday, according to a statement from the local government.

It said that 20 ambulances had attended the scene and that injured people had been transferred to medical facilities in the nearby city of Cusco.

The US embassy in Peru said that US citizens were injured in the crash, while the UK Foreign Office said it was "supporting a number of British nationals involved".



Local media outlet Peru21 reports that hundreds of tourists remain at the scene awaiting evacuation, which has been hampered by difficult terrain around the crash site.

At least 20 of the injured are in a serious condition, a health official told the Reuters news agency.

The collision occurred on the track linking Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. The journey between the two stations usually takes around 90 minutes.

The two trains involved in the accident were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail respectively.

"We deeply regret what has happened," PeruRail said in a statement, adding that its staff had "immediately" provided first aid to the train driver, the train conductor and the passengers involved in the incident.

The cause of the accident has not yet been made clear.

The crash comes amid an ongoing dispute between providers of transport to the Unesco world heritage site, with local communities unhappy with what they say is an insufficiently open bidding process.

The trains and buses that take tourists to the ancient town have steep ticket prices and can be highly lucrative due to its limited accessibility.

Built in the Peruvian Andes in the 15th Century, the Incan city of Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World.

Visitors can take a series of trains and buses to reach the site, or hike along the Inca trail with a registered tour operator.

In 2011, officials implemented a daily cap on visitors to protect and preserve the site, but concerns remain about overtourism.

North Somerset Council secures refund for faulty recycling bags


Residents were given faulty recycling bags that rapidly faded and ripped

A council has said that it has been given a refund by a company that supplied thousands of faulty household recycling bags.

Residents in the North Somerset Council area were issued with red bags for their plastic and metal waste in March, following a successful trial in November 2024 that aimed to boost recycling. But there were complaints from residents as many of the bags were found to have faded in the sun and were "falling apart at the seams".

Councillor Annemieke Waite said the unnamed company had admitted responsibility for the issues. She added that the authority had reached a "very good agreement" with the supplier and the cost of the faulty bags would be refunded.

The council trialled the bags with 6,000 households last year. Although it received a positive outcome, some residents said the bags were too large. Ahead of the council-wide rollout in March, a batch of smaller bags were ordered from the same supplier and it appeared to be these that deteriorated quickly, said Waite.


Red bags were distributed to residents for plastic and metal waste

She added: "We know that the people who actually had the original bags are still very pleased with them and those bags have never deteriorated, have never faded. So we absolutely know this is something that was completely beyond our control and it was just down to the quality of the bags that were delivered in the second batch."

Residents can order replacement bags on the council website, but are warned that the new bags would come from the same faulty batch, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.