Brown: Whitechapel Road and Old Kent Road
Light Blue: The Angel Islington, Euston Road and Pentonville Road
Pink (aka Light Purple): Pall Mall, Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue
Orange: Bow Street, Marlborough Street and Vine Street
Red: The Strand, Fleet Street and Trafalgar Square
Yellow: Leicester Square, Coventry Street and Piccadilly
Green: Regent Street, Oxford Street and Bond Street
Dark Blue: Park Lane and Mayfair

Train Stations (King's Cross Station,  Marylebone Station, Fenchurch St Station and Liverpool Street Station)
Utilities (Electric Company and Water Works)

Income Tax
Community Chest
Chance
Super Tax

Go
Go to Jail
Free Parking
Jail / just visiting

Quick question, as they are expected to run Exeter - Penzance... how Dawlish proof are they?

Lorries and other traffic heading to the south coast from the M4 should be routed through Wiltshire instead of Bath, according to a government study.

Currently, the designated route from the M4 to the Dorset coast is via the A46 and A36, funnelling it across Cleveland Bridge and through Bath. But a National Highways' study has recommended making the A350 in Wiltshire the designated route instead.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said it would make a "hugely positive impact" to traffic in the city. Wiltshire Council said it would need to secure investment but the finding was "a vital first positive step" towards improvements.

To avoid Bath, the agency's M4 to Dorset Coast Study recommends traffic should follow the A350 via Chippenham, Melksham and Westbury and then join the A36 at Warminster.  HGVs already have to find alternative routes due to an 18-tonne weight limit on Cleveland Bridge in Bath, introduced in 2021.

Manda Rigby, BANES cabinet member for transport, said the authority was "delighted at this outcome".  "No longer will Bath be seen as the preferred route for HGVs between the M4 and the south coast," she said.  "This will have a hugely positive impact on traffic flows long term in Bath and north east Somerset and air quality enhancements."



Parvis Khansari, from Wiltshire Council, said it will mean highway improvements could be made at "several key points in the county" including Melksham, Westbury, Warminster and Salisbury.  "This corridor is not only essential for regional travel, but these strategic roads also provide vital links between many of our towns and villages here in Wiltshire and so improving them will benefit us all," he said.  "There is a long way to go before we can secure this investment and make these improvements a reality, but this is a vital first positive step in the right direction."

Great Western Railway will provide 11 extra trains and more than 6,000 additional seats for fans attending Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations fixture.

Trains are expected to be very busy immediately after the match at the Principality Stadium and a queueing system will be in place outside Cardiff Central station. Fans are reminded to allow plenty of time to queue to board trains safely.

Great Western Railway will provide 11 extra trains and more than 6,000 additional seats for fans attending Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations fixture.

Trains are expected to be very busy immediately after the match at the Principality Stadium and a queueing system will be in place outside Cardiff Central station. Fans are reminded to allow plenty of time to queue to board trains safely.

GWR will operate a total of six additional services on top of the usual timetabled service to Cardiff ahead of the 1645 kick-off, with a further five extra trains carrying rugby fans home afterwards. As well as extra trains, GWR will also put on extra carriages.

I looked up "new" in the dictionary

I also took a look at the "new" season ticket fare and it's 15p per mile (7 day ticket, assuming 5 return journeys) which was easily accessible data.   And that compares to 33p per mile Tonbridge to London (cheaper by the slower route via Redhill and to 36p per mile Reading to London - similar distances.   All the more stark when you look at cost per minute on the train I suspect if anyone wants to do the maths!

I never knew any of the Camp Hill Flight had individual names!

Would the money be better spent on electrification from Cardiff to Swansea/Carmarthen

Not sure of the cost of Cardiff to Swansea electrification though

‘New’ trains 

GWR responds to concerns over rising rail fares in North Devon

GWR responds to fare rise concerns with plans for new trains to improve service

Great Western Railway (GWR) has provided a response following concerns raised by North Devon’s MP, Ian Roome, regarding the recent 4.6 per cent rise in rail fares.

Roome had highlighted that an annual season ticket from Barnstaple to Exeter now costs £2,724, while passengers continue to face overcrowding and infrastructure challenges.

GWR, which operates trains to and from Barnstaple, has clarified that fare rises are determined by government policy rather than individual train operators.

A spokesperson for GWR explained that all revenue raised through fares is returned to the Treasury.

[snip]

As part of this ongoing investment, GWR is set to welcome 26 new Class 175 trains to its fleet, which will run to Barnstaple.

These new trains are expected to replace older diesel models, offering better fuel efficiency, improved environmental performance, and enhanced passenger comfort.

The Class 175 trains will help improve punctuality and reliability for commuters travelling across the network, including those in North Devon.

It's well worth visiting Bordesley Station on maps.nls.com.

Also, as an aside, much taken with the name of the lock above the (moved) Sandy Lane Lock. Seeing "Hen's Row Lock" has made the day better.

I could have sworn there were more than one service on a match day
When I have returned home starting here there have been a number of services available

I wonder if someone high up has noticed my comment at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29251.msg352532#msg352532

And realised the big problem that has developed over the last few years.

As Paddington and Bristol HSS▸ drivers finish the ability to do short notice diversions via the B+H is drastically reduced. Out of all the GWR depots only Exeter are capable of going Reading Newbury Westbury Bath. No other GWR depot signs between Bedwyn and Westbury.

Devon & Cornwall CRP picked up at least two places....hopefully, Mr Bermingham will advise us soon

An inspiring range of community rail initiatives, delivered by community rail partnerships, station friends volunteers, and other community groups across Britain, has been recognised at the 20th Community Rail Awards this week.

The event, organised by Community Rail Network and headline partnered by Lumo, was this year held in Newcastle, to honour the wider railway industries’ celebration of 200 years since the birth of modern railways. A record-breaking 510 guests were in attendance including senior rail and transport leaders and community rail officers and volunteers. The evening recognised projects supporting diversity, accessibility and inclusion, sustainable travel and tourism, youth and schools engagement, community-led station improvements, empowered communities and influencing positive change.

Most Effective Communications Campaign sponsored by West Midlands Trains
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Black History Month Every Month

Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability sponsored by Northern
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Youth Travel Toolkit

Most Enhanced Railway Spaces sponsored by Greater Anglia
Severnside Community Rail Partnership for Mike Hodge Community Room at Bridgwater Station

BTW, I agree with CfN on the repaint/vinyl issue. All they need is a GWR logo on the side for the time being, much in the way the C2C stock drafted in at the height of the cracking IET crisis did, or the Thames Trains liveried Turbos acquired FGW Link logos for a couple of years after termination of the former's franchise. Spend the time and money saved on more maintenance of the rest of the current fleet.

Confirming good news - but will it really "transform South West travel"?