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Great Western Coffee Shop
30.4.2025 (Wednesday) 09:06 - All running AOK
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Explanations - beginner's guides of why trains are not running to timetable
In "Introductions and chat" [361060/30217/1]
Posted by Mark A at 08:51, 30th April 2025
 
Journeycheck's signal to noise ratio isn't good. It feels as though that approach risks boosting the noise.

Mark

Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361059/30210/52]
Posted by Electric train at 07:57, 30th April 2025
 
The Times this morning had a quote from "energy bosses" that a "very strong oscillation in the electrical network" led to disconnection from "the European system" - i.e. France. I have not heard that anywhere else, so either the Times is very good at digging out sources, or it's wrong. Since it's what such bosses would have said if asked in advance what was the most likely cause of a hypothetical transmission grid collapse, perhaps it was basically a guess - by someone.

At a more recent press conference, the start of the collapse was said to be the disconnection of five (I think) nuclear generators, supplying more than half of of the demand at the time. Now, something must have caused that, and oscillation (instability) fits that bill. After that, total collapse was almost inevitable - it could only be avoided if the links from France (and Morocco, much smaller) could supply most of that deficit (15 GW), which sounds pretty unlikely.

Those links from outside all overloaded and tripped, though for the south-west of France the split was within France. They had to break the connection at the Pyrenees before resupplying from the French aside. The powering up of Iberia was done starting from the areas that could be supplied from abroad, in he north and south.

That sounds like the process I would expect to see. Starting the generators in a grid involves them following a grid already supplying power, so that was done using the external links. As much of the grid as could be supplied by those infeeds, at the north and south, was turned on and the generators in that area started up. That gives enough surplus power to prime the next areas and get them going.

There is some concern with Grid systems that rely heavily on renewable generation of the lack of inertia that spinning mass generation provides.  In the event of a fault on the transition system the Voltage takes longer to stabilise with  renewables based generation, Power Factor is also something more challenging the manage.

Black starting power stations ie a power station that has no live Grid takes time even natural gas fuelled.

It will be interesting to see the finding of the instigation[

quote author=broadgage link=topic=30210.msg361041#msg361041 date=1745947316]
I have long held the view that ALL new electric trains should be equipped with either a diesel engine or a battery able to move the train at a much reduced performance for a reasonable distance.
In stating this, I was thinking primarily of UK conditions, but it looks as though it would be prudent overseas also.

At least affected passengers were allowed off the trains, in contrast to the UK policy of "keep them on the trains no matter what."

On a more general note, there appears to have been a regrettable lack of both battery emergency lighting and standby generation in public buildings.
[/quote].

In the case of UK electrified railways the loss of traction power results in the loss of power to signalling, normally not a problem as there are independent locally sourced DNO supplies; however should an Iberian Peninsular type of failure occur there would be no DNO available.  And no putting generators everywhere of UPS's large enough to run for hours is not economically practical ................... quite simply the travelling public are not willing to cover the cost for what is an extremely rare event

Explanations - beginner's guides of why trains are not running to timetable
In "Introductions and chat" [361058/30217/1]
Posted by grahame at 07:55, 30th April 2025
 
Journey check has recently been adding explanations of technical issue and, whilst the more experienced of us may give a wry smile and say "surely we all know that" ... actually some of guest readers may not.  I suspect these explanations are prepackages chunks of text - I may be starting a collection here

We've received a report from Network Rail of a track circuit failure at Yeovil Pen Mill.

Track circuits help Signallers know if a section of the track has a train on it. If the track circuit fails, trains need to stop at each affected signal and speak to the Signaller to confirm the track ahead is clear. This can lead to delays, especially if mutliple track circuits have failed.

Re: Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 4 - planning until 2038 - consultation
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [361057/29497/34]
Posted by grahame at 07:36, 30th April 2025
 
From https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/localtransportplan

Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4)

The fourth Wiltshire Council Local Transport Plan 2025 -2038 (LTP4) was endorsed at full council on 11 March 2025.

LTP4 sets out Wiltshire Council's strategic transport objectives, using a place-based approach that aligns with the Wiltshire Local Plan. It is designed to address the needs of three distinct areas: principal settlements, including Salisbury, Trowbridge, and Chippenham; market towns; and rural communities.

By tailoring the plan to these specific areas, the council can better respond to their unique transport challenges, recognising that the needs of rural residents differ from those in towns and cities. This approach also increases opportunities to secure additional government funding to enhance transport infrastructure across the county.

Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361056/30210/52]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 07:28, 30th April 2025
 
At least affected passengers were allowed off the trains, in contrast to the UK policy of "keep them on the trains no matter what."

These, and other, anecdotes suggest that wasn’t the case:

https://apnews.com/article/spain-portugal-power-outage-electicity-train-transport-8f22b5d7a760298773cd2659eb34a58a

Re: Warmest day of year as UK temperature hits 24.9C - April 2025
In "Across the West" [361055/30215/26]
Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 06:26, 30th April 2025
 
It is forecast to be into the mid 20s today in Ústí nad Labem.

Re: Warmest day of year as UK temperature hits 24.9C - April 2025
In "Across the West" [361054/30215/26]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:56, 29th April 2025
 

I put the shorts on for the first time this year.


Too much information. 


Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361053/30210/52]
Posted by broadgage at 23:31, 29th April 2025
 
Perhaps surprisingly, large grid systems are not well understood.
They are much too big and expensive to build a spare one for experiments. Only small and low risk tests and experiments can be performed on a working grid system.

Computer modelling is of limited use in view of the many variables, many of which change in unknown or unpredictable ways.

In recent years several factors have "conspired" to increase instability.
1) The increased use of switched mode power supplies. These draw roughly constant watts over a wide range of voltages, and can draw unexpectedly large currents during a supply voltage dip, this tends to increase the degree of voltage drop and may result in what would otherwise have been a brief voltage dip, now becoming a "fail to recover" event.
Note that variable speed motor drives and electronic lighting ballasts are all sub-species of switched mode power supplies.

2) Increased amounts of generation connected via static inverters rather than consisting of traditional rotating alternators.
Such sources CANNOT supply extra energy in a low voltage or low frequency emergency.

3)Increased geographical areas supplied by a common grid system. This tends to promote instability.

I expect more such outages.


Re: Warmest day of year as UK temperature hits 24.9C - April 2025
In "Across the West" [361052/30215/26]
Posted by JayMac at 23:01, 29th April 2025
 
I put the shorts on for the first time this year.

And Finn had his cooling mat for the car.

Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361051/30210/52]
Posted by stuving at 22:43, 29th April 2025
 
The Times this morning had a quote from "energy bosses" that a "very strong oscillation in the electrical network" led to disconnection from "the European system" - i.e. France. I have not heard that anywhere else, so either the Times is very good at digging out sources, or it's wrong. Since it's what such bosses would have said if asked in advance what was the most likely cause of a hypothetical transmission grid collapse, perhaps it was basically a guess - by someone.

At a more recent press conference, the start of the collapse was said to be the disconnection of five (I think) nuclear generators, supplying more than half of of the demand at the time. Now, something must have caused that, and oscillation (instability) fits that bill. After that, total collapse was almost inevitable - it could only be avoided if the links from France (and Morocco, much smaller) could supply most of that deficit (15 GW), which sounds pretty unlikely.

Those links from outside all overloaded and tripped, though for the south-west of France the split was within France. They had to break the connection at the Pyrenees before resupplying from the French aside. The powering up of Iberia was done starting from the areas that could be supplied from abroad, in he north and south.

That sounds like the process I would expect to see. Starting the generators in a grid involves them following a grid already supplying power, so that was done using the external links. As much of the grid as could be supplied by those infeeds, at the north and south, was turned on and the generators in that area started up. That gives enough surplus power to prime the next areas and get them going.

Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [361050/5138/51]
Posted by Mark A at 21:23, 29th April 2025
 
An on-the-ground account on this Substack blog. The conflict really is dismal.

Mark


https://martinrobbins.substack.com/p/i-visit-britains-most-expensive-farm

Re: Longer distance canal walks - public transport for one way section returns
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [361049/30213/50]
Posted by bradshaw at 20:36, 29th April 2025
 
Back in the 90s I set out to walk the K & A in a series of stretches, usually around 12 miles. Living in Maiden Newton I set out using the train. The stages I embarked on were Bath to Bradford; Trowbridge to Avoncliff ( for the Cross Guns); Trowbridge to Devizes for bus to Bath; Pewsey to Devizes for bus to Bath; Pewsey to Great Bedwyn; Bedwyn to Hungerford; Hungerford to Kintbury. I never got round to the last section.
The walks were helped by there being an hostelry every four miles or so.
In addition these guides were very useful.

Three people killed after shooting in Sweden - April 2025
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361048/30216/52]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:35, 29th April 2025
 
From the BBC:



Three people have been killed in a shooting in the Swedish city of Uppsala, police have confirmed.

The shooting took place at a hair salon close to Vaksala Square in the centre of the city, local media reported. The shooter, who fled on a scooter, is still on the run, according to the reports. Officers have cordoned off a large area and a murder investigation is under way.

The incident happened on the eve of the Walpurgis spring festival, which brings large crowds onto the streets of Uppsala, a city located north of the capital Stockholm, and known for its university.

"Everything happened so fast. It just went bang, bang, bang," a witness told Swedish channel TV4.

Another man said he was cooking at home when he heard "two bangs that sounded a bit like fireworks" going off outside on the street. He told Swedish television he was "very surprised and scared" and shortly after "swarms of police and ambulances" started blocking off the street and telling people to move back.

A major effort is under way to find the shooter, with a police helicopter joining in the search, police spokesman Magnus Jansson Klarin told TV4.

Train services had been stopped in the area to stop the perpetrator using them to get away, Mr Klarin said, but they have now resumed.

(Article continues)



Re: Shipping services across the Severn
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [361047/30207/28]
Posted by broadgage at 20:31, 29th April 2025
Already liked by Kempis
 
In years gone by, there was a regular shipping service between Minehead and South Wales, this conveyed coal to the Minehead gas works, and bagged coal for household use.
Gas production ceased decades ago, but the gas holders remained until recent years. Almost no trace remains today, but the location is still known as "gas works beach" by anglers. It was on the edge of town, past the lifeboat station.

Seagoing sailing barges were used, and later small steamers. Passengers and livestock were carried in return for a suitable gratuity. The vessels used were not licensed to carry passengers.

Warmest day of year as UK temperature hits 24.9C - April 2025
In "Across the West" [361046/30215/26]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:24, 29th April 2025
 
From the BBC:

The UK saw its warmest day of the year on Tuesday with a peak of 24.9C (76.8F) recorded - and forecasters predicting that later this week could see the hottest start to May on record.

The highest temperatures were seen in Ross-on-Wye in the West Midlands and Trawscoed in the west of Wales - surpassing 2025's previous high of 24.5C recorded at St James's Park in London on Monday.

Forecasters say the current warm spell could see temperatures peak at 29C on the first day of the new month on Thursday, as many voters head to the polls for local elections in England.

High UV and pollen levels also likely. The weather will gradually cool over the bank holiday weekend, although it will stay dry and sunny for most.

Peak temperatures in Scotland on Tuesday varied between 17C in the Northern Isles and 22.4C at Aboyne, while 22.2C was recorded at Derrylin in Northern Ireland.

They will widely be in the low to mid-twenties on Wednesday, with the hottest weather likely in the London area at 27C.

The last time this temperature was recorded in April was in 2018 in Cambridge.

(Article continues)



Re: What and why - on the platform
In "Fare's Fair" [361045/30214/4]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:55, 29th April 2025
 
There were - but apparently they weren't wide or intimidating enough! 

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [361044/29650/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:41, 29th April 2025
 
Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury
Due to a points failure between Reading and Newbury some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or diverted between Reading and Taunton. Some stations between Reading and Taunton will not be served. Disruption is expected until 13:15 29/04.

A few diverted trains resulting.

Still ongoing, now forecast disruption until 2000

Re: What and why - on the platform
In "Fare's Fair" [361043/30214/4]
Posted by ChrisB at 19:29, 29th April 2025
 
Chippenham? I thought there were barriers there already?

Re: Driving licences and tests - ongoing discussion, merged topics
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [361042/19893/51]
Posted by broadgage at 18:28, 29th April 2025
 
Why is it, and why ever was it, possible for people and bots to buy-up driving tests slots for resale?

I presume that no one foresaw any need to prohibit the practice. Back in the days when a driving test was available promptly on payment of the fee, nothing was gained by bulk buying and then reselling test slots.
These days there is a clear financial incentive.

Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361041/30210/52]
Posted by broadgage at 18:21, 29th April 2025
 
I have long held the view that ALL new electric trains should be equipped with either a diesel engine or a battery able to move the train at a much reduced performance for a reasonable distance.
In stating this, I was thinking primarily of UK conditions, but it looks as though it would be prudent overseas also.

At least affected passengers were allowed off the trains, in contrast to the UK policy of "keep them on the trains no matter what."

On a more general note, there appears to have been a regrettable lack of both battery emergency lighting and standby generation in public buildings.


Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361040/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 18:04, 29th April 2025
 
It's in "Oh no - not AGAIN" territory ...  known as being a risky train. I will look at putting some numbers on it some time.

This train has run 89 times in the last six months, in which there have been 130 weekdays.  28 of those days it was cancelled because of planned engineering, 2 because it was Christmas / Boxing Day.   So 100 "should" have run. 11% cancellation rate - a very high percentage for a weekday.

Here's the proof, and comparison to other services:



Because of the very thin service, any cancellation is serious.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361039/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 17:52, 29th April 2025
 
It's in "Oh no - not AGAIN" territory ...  known as being a risky train. I will look at putting some numbers on it some time.

This train has run 89 times in the last six months, in which there have been 130 weekdays.  28 of those days it was cancelled because of planned engineering, 2 because it was Christmas / Boxing Day.   So 100 "should" have run. 11% cancellation rate - a very high percentage for a weekday.

Re: What and why - on the platform
In "Fare's Fair" [361038/30214/4]
Posted by Timmer at 17:28, 29th April 2025
Already liked by Oxonhutch, Chris from Nailsea, PrestburyRoad, Mark A, grahame, lympstone_commuter
 
Like the old platform 1 at Westbury, it would look much better with a railway line next to it.

What and why - on the platform
In "Fare's Fair" [361037/30214/4]
Posted by grahame at 17:16, 29th April 2025
 
On what was just a plain old platform we now have this lot ...


Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361036/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 16:21, 29th April 2025
 
Only 2 trains in GWR area cancelled through lack of crew ... guess where

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Cancelled as the guard for those services is booked to arrive at Westbury on the 1C77 10:35 Paddington to Exeter St Davids service which is currently being diverted via Swindon. Not the first time that problems or delays with 1C77 see the Swindon services cancelled.

It's in "Oh no - not AGAIN" territory ...  known as being a risky train. I will look at putting some numbers on it some time.

For the record, the points failure at Westbury yesterday caused the cancellation of the 2M28 15:15 Swindon to Westbury and 2M21 16:23 Westbury to Swindon services. The unit stayed in the bay platform at Swindon and became the 17:35 departure to Westbury.

Re: Spain / Portugal power outage
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [361035/30210/52]
Posted by Timmer at 12:19, 29th April 2025
 
I shall await you posting here about a how a big smash on the M25 prevented you from catching your flight....
Oh dear, that post was so predictable Chris, I was expecting it 


Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361034/29726/18]
Posted by RA at 12:14, 29th April 2025
 
Only 2 trains in GWR area cancelled through lack of crew ... guess where

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Cancelled as the guard for those services is booked to arrive at Westbury on the 1C77 10:35 Paddington to Exeter St Davids service which is currently being diverted via Swindon. Not the first time that problems or delays with 1C77 see the Swindon services cancelled.

For the record, the points failure at Westbury yesterday caused the cancellation of the 2M28 15:15 Swindon to Westbury and 2M21 16:23 Westbury to Swindon services. The unit stayed in the bay platform at Swindon and became the 17:35 departure to Westbury.

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [361033/18719/26]
Posted by a-driver at 11:59, 29th April 2025
 
Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue?  On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.
Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?

A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.

It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?

To really answer that you would need to know how often that service runs on a Sunday's via the B&H

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361032/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 11:50, 29th April 2025
 
Only 2 trains in GWR area cancelled through lack of crew ... guess where

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [361031/29650/26]
Posted by GBM at 11:44, 29th April 2025
 
Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury
Due to a points failure between Reading and Newbury some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or diverted between Reading and Taunton. Some stations between Reading and Taunton will not be served. Disruption is expected until 13:15 29/04.

A few diverted trains resulting.

 
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