Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Stations vs development In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373908/31827/51] Posted by Red Squirrel at 13:59, 4th April 2026 |      |
In the case of Temple Meads of course, the Luftwaffe had a lot to do with it originally. Oh, and the planners who moved in shortly afterwards!
Not sure the Luftwaffe had very much to do with it at all, really.
Temple Meads is a bit of an awkward site, made even more isolated by the routing of the erstwhile Inner Circuit Road along Temple Way and Redcliff Way, and the dual carriageway through Temple Gate. Before that, bustling Victoria St led straight to it - and of course there was a tram terminal right outside.
A bit like Kings Cross of old, Temple Meads has had what to most is a ‘dead zone’ behind it made up of large industrial sites.
What is new is the re-zoning of this area to housing and education. This probably reflects the way the importance of freight has given way to a more passenger-oriented railway.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373907/31355/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:58, 4th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Amber wind warning issued as Storm Dave set to hit parts of UK
An amber wind warning has been issued for Saturday evening as Storm Dave is expected to bring "disruptive and potentially damaging winds" to parts of the UK.
The warning, covering northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland, will begin at 19:00 BST and is due to expire at 03:00 on Sunday.
The Met Office said injuries or danger to life could occur as a result of flying debris, with potential travel disruption and a "good chance" of power cuts.
A series of yellow wind and snow warnings are set to take effect on Saturday afternoon as the country braces for a blustery Easter weekend.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
An amber wind warning has been issued for Saturday evening as Storm Dave is expected to bring "disruptive and potentially damaging winds" to parts of the UK.
The warning, covering northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland, will begin at 19:00 BST and is due to expire at 03:00 on Sunday.
The Met Office said injuries or danger to life could occur as a result of flying debris, with potential travel disruption and a "good chance" of power cuts.
A series of yellow wind and snow warnings are set to take effect on Saturday afternoon as the country braces for a blustery Easter weekend.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
| Nottingham tram fare dodge penalty to increase to £120 In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373906/31833/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:50, 4th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Tram fare dodge penalty to increase to £120
People travelling on Nottingham's tram network without a valid ticket will be issued with an increased fine from next month
Tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is set to increase penalties for fare dodgers to £120.
Passengers caught riding without a valid ticket or pass receive a "no questions asked" fine and from 1 May it will increase from £70 to £120, travel bosses said.
The operator said more than 10,000 people were caught travelling without a valid ticket in 2025.
NET said it wanted to reaffirm its "zero tolerance" approach and added fare evasion was "theft".
Penalties will be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, NET said.
Bosses said an unpaid penalty leaves the passenger liable for prosecution with a further fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.
Tim Hesketh, CEO at NET said: "We're all aware that if you're caught shoplifting you would expect to be prosecuted, so similarly, anyone caught travelling without a valid ticket – which is a crime – should expect to be treated accordingly.
"The last time we increased the cost of a PFN was five years ago, and while the cost of a PFN is much higher now, there are also more options available due to the early payment discount.
"Just like most of the public who pay for their ticket and use the trams properly, we want to ensure that our network is safe to use, and reducing fare dodging is part of that."
Hesketh added signs were located on each tram stop to assist people in how to buy a ticket before boarding and that each ticket purchased helped to improve the network.
People travelling on Nottingham's tram network without a valid ticket will be issued with an increased fine from next month
Tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is set to increase penalties for fare dodgers to £120.
Passengers caught riding without a valid ticket or pass receive a "no questions asked" fine and from 1 May it will increase from £70 to £120, travel bosses said.
The operator said more than 10,000 people were caught travelling without a valid ticket in 2025.
NET said it wanted to reaffirm its "zero tolerance" approach and added fare evasion was "theft".
Penalties will be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, NET said.
Bosses said an unpaid penalty leaves the passenger liable for prosecution with a further fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.
Tim Hesketh, CEO at NET said: "We're all aware that if you're caught shoplifting you would expect to be prosecuted, so similarly, anyone caught travelling without a valid ticket – which is a crime – should expect to be treated accordingly.
"The last time we increased the cost of a PFN was five years ago, and while the cost of a PFN is much higher now, there are also more options available due to the early payment discount.
"Just like most of the public who pay for their ticket and use the trams properly, we want to ensure that our network is safe to use, and reducing fare dodging is part of that."
Hesketh added signs were located on each tram stop to assist people in how to buy a ticket before boarding and that each ticket purchased helped to improve the network.
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373905/31830/5] Posted by JayMac at 13:44, 4th April 2026 | |
Motability is a well intentioned scheme but long overdue for reform (with a small "r"!!!)I
What needs reforming?
I'd start with increasing the lease period to five years per vehicle, with MOT exemption for years four and five. Modern vehicles and mobility products are reliable enough not to need replacing every three year. Then increase the underlying benefit amount. The annual benefit uprating hasn't matched the price inflation in the passenger vehicle market, nor the vehicle conversion and mobility products industries. Meaning people eligible for the the Motability scheme are paying considerably more in upfront costs than a decade ago. A typical wheelchair accessible vehicle on the scheme costs the user anything from £5,000 to £30,000 upfront. And that's repeated every three years. You have to lease a new vehicle every three years. Advance payments are not a refundable deposit and do not roll over. Even regular unmodified passenger cars can have advance payments up to £5,000 for ICE and £7,000 for EV. The UK's current best selling car is the Ford Puma. All but the poverty spec model command advance payments of up to £2,000.
If we look at a PIP claimant leasing a Ford Puma with an advance payment of £1000 plus the £80 a week from their PIP then their monthly leasing cost is £430. Even with insurance, servicing, and breakdown recovery included, Motability leasing costs aren't that much cheaper than the Joe Public lease offerings.
One area that really does need reform is the claiming, initial assessment and periodic reassessment processes for some of the underlying qualifying benefits. Processes which are long, complicated, and soul destroying.
As for the small minority abusing the scheme, then yes, take back their vehicles. And I've no issue with younger Motability vehicle users being required to have a 'black box' fitted to monitor driving style. Motability cover the vehicle's insurance premiums so it's perfectly acceptable for them to lessen their risk exposure. What isn't acceptable is penalising ALL motability users (actual and potential) for the actions of a few by making an already hard scheme to qualify for even more restrictive.
| Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373904/30034/5] Posted by Mark A at 13:09, 4th April 2026 | |
From the end of February & Ullapool. Its not commonplace to see two Calmac ferries there at once. The Stornoway ferry Loch Seaforth has arrived and is about to berth, while the second ferry, 'Hebrides', is leaving after a brief call en route from her more usual haunts to Leith for maintenance.
Hebrides had just given a long blast on her horn, the echoes from which came back from various parts of the loch for around the next thirty seconds, which was atmospheric.
Mark
| Belfast Bikes see drop in rentals after price hike In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [373902/31832/50] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:33, 4th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Belfast Bikes see drop in rentals after price hike
The hire scheme, which includes a fleet of pedal and e-bikes, was launched in September
A bicycle rental scheme in Belfast has seen usage fall by a quarter since prices were sharply increased.
The revamped Belfast Bikes scheme was launched last September, with Beryl taking over operations and introducing e-bikes. It had faced some criticism over price rises, including a year-long membership costing £120 - nearly five times higher than before.
Belfast City Council said the latest rental figures "reflect a period of transition" and the new pricing structures offer users "flexibility". It said rentals were affected by reduced bicycle numbers during the initial installation period and users being required to register new accounts with Beryl.
The council added it was "encouraged by the steady growth in new sign-ups" and it expects usage to increase in the months ahead and into the summer.
Almost 51,800 rentals were recorded between last September and March this year, according to figures obtained by BBC News NI.
That compares to nearly 69,500 in the same period a year earlier - a drop of more than 25%. It is also the second-lowest figure for the September to March period since Belfast Bikes began operating in 2015.
Meg Hoyt, chair of the Belfast Cycle Campaign group, urged the council to make the scheme "as affordable and friction-less as possible".
"Our view is that the price change probably had a significant impact on numbers in the short term," she said. She added that Belfast "badly needs joined-up cycling infrastructure", describing current provisions as "patchy, difficult to negotiate and not very visible".
The council's figures were released in a Freedom of Information response.
They also show that since their introduction, e-bikes have been more popular than standard pedal bicycles. There were almost 29,900 e-bike journeys or rentals between last September and March, compared to just over 21,900 for pedal bikes.
A bike-sharing scheme was first introduced in the city over a decade ago. At one point, almost 40% of the rental bikes were out of action due to vandalism.
(BBC article continues)
The hire scheme, which includes a fleet of pedal and e-bikes, was launched in September
A bicycle rental scheme in Belfast has seen usage fall by a quarter since prices were sharply increased.
The revamped Belfast Bikes scheme was launched last September, with Beryl taking over operations and introducing e-bikes. It had faced some criticism over price rises, including a year-long membership costing £120 - nearly five times higher than before.
Belfast City Council said the latest rental figures "reflect a period of transition" and the new pricing structures offer users "flexibility". It said rentals were affected by reduced bicycle numbers during the initial installation period and users being required to register new accounts with Beryl.
The council added it was "encouraged by the steady growth in new sign-ups" and it expects usage to increase in the months ahead and into the summer.
Almost 51,800 rentals were recorded between last September and March this year, according to figures obtained by BBC News NI.
That compares to nearly 69,500 in the same period a year earlier - a drop of more than 25%. It is also the second-lowest figure for the September to March period since Belfast Bikes began operating in 2015.
Meg Hoyt, chair of the Belfast Cycle Campaign group, urged the council to make the scheme "as affordable and friction-less as possible".
"Our view is that the price change probably had a significant impact on numbers in the short term," she said. She added that Belfast "badly needs joined-up cycling infrastructure", describing current provisions as "patchy, difficult to negotiate and not very visible".
The council's figures were released in a Freedom of Information response.
They also show that since their introduction, e-bikes have been more popular than standard pedal bicycles. There were almost 29,900 e-bike journeys or rentals between last September and March, compared to just over 21,900 for pedal bikes.
A bike-sharing scheme was first introduced in the city over a decade ago. At one point, almost 40% of the rental bikes were out of action due to vandalism.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: New overnight train service at Gatwick to launch In "North Downs Line" [373901/31828/16] Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:30, 4th April 2026 | |
I guess one issue is how you'd get to Reading station to catch a train at 0228 or 0330 on Saturdays or 0324 in the early hours of Monday morning?
I suppose a cab may be an option if you're already reasonably local but otherwise I suspect these trains will largely be carting fresh air around.
I suppose a cab may be an option if you're already reasonably local but otherwise I suspect these trains will largely be carting fresh air around.
Drive to Reading station and park there or in a nearby long stay car park/private reservable space?
| Re: Stations vs development In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [373900/31827/51] Posted by Sulis John at 12:16, 4th April 2026 | |
In the case of Temple Meads of course, the Luftwaffe had a lot to do with it originally. Oh, and the planners who moved in shortly afterwards!
| Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373899/30034/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:06, 4th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
CalMac in 'better place' as third repaired ferry returns to service
Scotland's ferry shortage is reaching a "much better place" with a third major vessel set to resume service, CalMac says.
MV Lord of the Isles will be ready to sail again "early next week" after problems with its main engine put it out of action last Saturday.
The operator said its network was in a "critical" state last weekend after a series of issues left four ferries needing repairs while four others were under annual maintenance.
Earlier this week MV Glen Sannox returned to Arran and MV Isle of Islay, the newest ferry of the fleet, entered service after snagging issues were resolved.
However, chief executive Duncan Mackison warned passengers to be prepared for weather disruption over Easter weekend during Storm Dave. He said: "With MV Lord of the Isles available for service from early next week, we will have three of the four major vessels which had unplanned technical issues back in action. The picture is much improved from a few days ago and we're able to operate additional services for Mull, Barra and South Uist next week."
He added: "We have detailed information on our website for customers travelling over Easter weekend."
(BBC article continues)
Scotland's ferry shortage is reaching a "much better place" with a third major vessel set to resume service, CalMac says.
MV Lord of the Isles will be ready to sail again "early next week" after problems with its main engine put it out of action last Saturday.
The operator said its network was in a "critical" state last weekend after a series of issues left four ferries needing repairs while four others were under annual maintenance.
Earlier this week MV Glen Sannox returned to Arran and MV Isle of Islay, the newest ferry of the fleet, entered service after snagging issues were resolved.
However, chief executive Duncan Mackison warned passengers to be prepared for weather disruption over Easter weekend during Storm Dave. He said: "With MV Lord of the Isles available for service from early next week, we will have three of the four major vessels which had unplanned technical issues back in action. The picture is much improved from a few days ago and we're able to operate additional services for Mull, Barra and South Uist next week."
He added: "We have detailed information on our website for customers travelling over Easter weekend."
(BBC article continues)
| Bus or Lime bike? New subscription joins the race for a cheaper commute In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373898/31831/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:41, 4th April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Bus or Lime bike? New subscription heats up the race for a cheaper commute
New pricing means it might be cheaper to e-cycle or e-scooter than get the bus - but would you?
Suited and booted, James is on his 15-minute commute home from work. But he's not on a bus, a train or a tram - he's on an e-scooter.
"I get to avoid the rush hour and being packed in like a sardine," says the 23-year-old in Salford, Greater Manchester. James is also saving money, something he's keen to do as a recent university graduate. "In terms of raw affordability, £4 on your commute a day is not bad - especially in the cost of living crisis."
He's one of a legion of often young people seen zipping around some of Britain's cities on bright green hired e-scooters and e-bikes operated by US company Lime. Other companies, including Forest and Bolt, and other councils run similar schemes.
And Lime's latest move appears to be an attempt to help change habits for commuters - not just those already scooting or pedalling for leisure.
It launched LimePrime at the end of February - a monthly subscription giving riders in Salford, Nottingham, London, Oxford and Milton Keynes a fixed price for the first 20 minutes of their journey. After that, riders are charged per minute at a discounted rate.
While Lime has arguably been perceived by some in the past as relatively expensive, the new subscription appears to try to undercut the cost of single journeys using buses and other forms of public transport.
In Salford, the LimePrime costs £1.50 for the first 20 minutes in return for a £2.99 monthly fee. By comparison, a single ticket from Salford to Manchester costs £2 by bus and £2.80 by tram - though season tickets for buses and trams can be cheaper.
It raises the question: will more companies and councils bring the pricing of e-scooters and e-bikes in line with buses and other traditional public transport - and can that change how we travel to work in cities?
(BBC article continues)
New pricing means it might be cheaper to e-cycle or e-scooter than get the bus - but would you?
Suited and booted, James is on his 15-minute commute home from work. But he's not on a bus, a train or a tram - he's on an e-scooter.
"I get to avoid the rush hour and being packed in like a sardine," says the 23-year-old in Salford, Greater Manchester. James is also saving money, something he's keen to do as a recent university graduate. "In terms of raw affordability, £4 on your commute a day is not bad - especially in the cost of living crisis."
He's one of a legion of often young people seen zipping around some of Britain's cities on bright green hired e-scooters and e-bikes operated by US company Lime. Other companies, including Forest and Bolt, and other councils run similar schemes.
And Lime's latest move appears to be an attempt to help change habits for commuters - not just those already scooting or pedalling for leisure.
It launched LimePrime at the end of February - a monthly subscription giving riders in Salford, Nottingham, London, Oxford and Milton Keynes a fixed price for the first 20 minutes of their journey. After that, riders are charged per minute at a discounted rate.
While Lime has arguably been perceived by some in the past as relatively expensive, the new subscription appears to try to undercut the cost of single journeys using buses and other forms of public transport.
In Salford, the LimePrime costs £1.50 for the first 20 minutes in return for a £2.99 monthly fee. By comparison, a single ticket from Salford to Manchester costs £2 by bus and £2.80 by tram - though season tickets for buses and trams can be cheaper.
It raises the question: will more companies and councils bring the pricing of e-scooters and e-bikes in line with buses and other traditional public transport - and can that change how we travel to work in cities?
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373897/31830/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:56, 4th April 2026 | |
There is more detail in a BBC article:
Motability drivers 'horrified' by compulsory black-box trackers
Motability drivers under the age of 30 say they are "horrified" by rule changes that mean their vehicles will be fitted with compulsory black boxes.
They will monitor driving habits, such as speed and braking, and will provide a weekly rating.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme, which allows eligible disabled people to lease a new car using part of their benefit payments.
Critics say the UK-wide change will affect disabled people's freedom and ability to work, but Motability says it is about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe". It says it has removed 300 drivers since a pilot scheme began in Northern Ireland in September.
...
During last year's Budget, the government removed its tax break on insurance and it must now cover 12% on each insurance premium. It must also now pay VAT on some vehicles meaning the scheme will need to pay out an additional £300m from 1 July.
Nigel Fletcher, chief executive of the Motability Foundation, said that would be the equivalent of a price rise of £1,100 for every driver on the scheme. "A lot of disabled people won't be able to afford that, so we're now having to try and work out how can we make changes to the scheme that protects pricing as much as we possibly can," said Fletcher.
He added that black box was about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe" and its data had also found younger drivers to be the highest risk.
He said, of the 300 drivers removed from the scheme, one had driven 117mph in a 30mph zone.
"This a serious safety issue, not just for that individual, but everyone else in that community. They will get lots of warnings before they get taken off the scheme. And then if they are taken off the scheme, we will need to start looking at what our policies are around allowing them back onto the scheme in the future."
(BBC article continues)
Motability drivers under the age of 30 say they are "horrified" by rule changes that mean their vehicles will be fitted with compulsory black boxes.
They will monitor driving habits, such as speed and braking, and will provide a weekly rating.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme, which allows eligible disabled people to lease a new car using part of their benefit payments.
Critics say the UK-wide change will affect disabled people's freedom and ability to work, but Motability says it is about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe". It says it has removed 300 drivers since a pilot scheme began in Northern Ireland in September.
...
During last year's Budget, the government removed its tax break on insurance and it must now cover 12% on each insurance premium. It must also now pay VAT on some vehicles meaning the scheme will need to pay out an additional £300m from 1 July.
Nigel Fletcher, chief executive of the Motability Foundation, said that would be the equivalent of a price rise of £1,100 for every driver on the scheme. "A lot of disabled people won't be able to afford that, so we're now having to try and work out how can we make changes to the scheme that protects pricing as much as we possibly can," said Fletcher.
He added that black box was about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe" and its data had also found younger drivers to be the highest risk.
He said, of the 300 drivers removed from the scheme, one had driven 117mph in a 30mph zone.
"This a serious safety issue, not just for that individual, but everyone else in that community. They will get lots of warnings before they get taken off the scheme. And then if they are taken off the scheme, we will need to start looking at what our policies are around allowing them back onto the scheme in the future."
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Calstock, on the Gunnislake Branch Line In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [373896/17294/25] Posted by Noggin at 10:43, 4th April 2026 | |
One of the best things GBR could do for UK tourism would be to commission from Stadler a UK-spec unit with Swiss-style panoramic windows and a decent catering facilities.
Plenty of routes in Scotland, Wales and England that punters would pay a premium to see from the comfort of a well-upholstered armchair, or whilst eating a decent lunch.
If they could reopen the line to Okehampton, I'd imagine that a suitably luxurious "Dartmoor Circular" service might draw punters in from around the world.
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373895/31830/5] Posted by ChrisB at 10:36, 4th April 2026 | |
A test in Northern Ireland saw 300 vehicles taken from the disabled - one was recorded doing 117mph in a 30mph zone
I find that hard to believe without further press coverage Practically impossible?
| Re: New overnight train service at Gatwick to launch In "North Downs Line" [373894/31828/16] Posted by ChrisB at 10:32, 4th April 2026 | |
More likely to be carting arrivals back surely? And staff inwards possibly that currently drive all the way?
| Re: New overnight train service at Gatwick to launch In "North Downs Line" [373893/31828/16] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:27, 4th April 2026 | |
I guess one issue is how you'd get to Reading station to catch a train at 0228 or 0330 on Saturdays or 0324 in the early hours of Monday morning?
I suppose a cab may be an option if you're already reasonably local but otherwise I suspect these trains will largely be carting fresh air around.
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373892/31830/5] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:19, 4th April 2026 | |
From Belfast Live
Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles as compulsory black box rules come in on April 13
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
Motability is a well intentioned scheme but long overdue for reform (with a small "r"!!!)
| Re: Day trips from Melksham - Out and about - for 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [373891/31825/30] Posted by CyclingSid at 08:22, 4th April 2026 | |
10 - I presume that the 23A bus to Imber is off/en route.
9 - Imber bus, I guess you would like something more precise than the Imber range section of Salisbury Plain Training Area. My guess of two options would be Gore Cross.
| Re: Calstock, on the Gunnislake Branch Line In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [373890/17294/25] Posted by bradshaw at 08:10, 4th April 2026 | |
I seem to remember it once had a wagon lift for exchange between the railway and the Quay, replacing the narrow gauge East Cornwall Mineral Railways incline to the north.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Cornwall_Mineral_Railway
| Re: Day trips from Melksham - Out and about - for 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [373889/31825/30] Posted by RobT at 07:59, 4th April 2026 | |
8. Swindon and Cricklade Railway.
| Re: Day trips from Melksham - Out and about - for 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [373888/31825/30] Posted by PhilWakely at 07:37, 4th April 2026 | |
5. Plym Bridge Halt on the Plym Valley Railway ?
12. London Transport Museum, Acton Depot ?
| Re: Ticket Types - Traditional card; Paper; or Mobile In "Fare's Fair" [373887/31826/4] Posted by bobm at 07:31, 4th April 2026 | |
Maybe not but I would have the means to buy a new one.
| Re: New overnight train service at Gatwick to launch In "North Downs Line" [373886/31828/16] Posted by grahame at 06:07, 4th April 2026 | |
I confess to having misread that as "(overnight train) service" rather than "overnight (train service)" initially and wondered whether couchettes or sleepers would be offered.
A cautious welcome from me - as an advocate of 24/7 type services where appropriate. I do wonder if a 12 week trial will show very much based on past DfT guidance that you can't really tell for the first three years, I wonder about onward connections to / from Reading, and I ask about the timings - are there blank "shoulders", for example, between the last service from Reading on a Sunday and the 03:24 on Monday morning? Perhaps they are times for specific flights of flight groups rather than being a true mass transit provision?
| Re: Day trips from Melksham - Out and about - for 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [373885/31825/30] Posted by grahame at 05:57, 4th April 2026 | |
All correct so far ...
1. Clapton Pond - Oxonhutch
2. Eastleigh - MVR S&T
3. Cranmore - AMLAG
4. Kingswear - Chris fArom Nailsea
6. Parkend - TonyN
7. Swanage - bradshaw
10. Glastonbury - Western Pathfinder
11. Southend - Johnneyw
... just 5, 8, 9 and 12 left to identify.
| Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule In "Buses and other ways to travel" [373884/31830/5] Posted by grahame at 05:54, 4th April 2026 | |
From Belfast Live
Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles as compulsory black box rules come in on April 13
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
| Re: Calstock, on the Gunnislake Branch Line In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [373883/17294/25] Posted by Oxonhutch at 22:16, 3rd April 2026 | |
Recreate the wagon hoist - tallest in Britain.
| Re: Calstock, on the Gunnislake Branch Line In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [373882/17294/25] Posted by Mark A at 21:37, 3rd April 2026 | |
What a structure. Was it pier 9 that involved going to a silly depth to find a foundation? Oh, and I wonder what that plastic pipe is?
Mark
| Re: Day trips from Melksham - Out and about - for 2026 In "The Lighter Side" [373881/31825/30] Posted by TonyN at 21:36, 3rd April 2026 | |
6: Parkend Dean Forest Railway
| Re: Ticket Types - Traditional card; Paper; or Mobile In "Fare's Fair" [373880/31826/4] Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:32, 3rd April 2026 | |
I tend to go for physical tickets. Having a mobile one could be seen as putting all your eggs in one basket. If my phone is lost or stolen I’d lose my ticket and my virtual debit card so would not be able to buy a replacement.
What if you lost your "physical" tickets? Would GWR replace them?
| Re: Calstock, on the Gunnislake Branch Line In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [373879/17294/25] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:44, 3rd April 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Tamar Valley experience holidays may boost tourism industry
The viaduct at Calstock that carries the branch line across the Tamar Valley
Tourism bosses in the Tamar Valley are hoping to boost the local economy by encouraging people to stay a little longer with experiential holidays.
Experiential is where a tourism businesses collaborates with other providers to add an experience such as a ferry ride, a tour or even a cooking course.
The unspoilt beauty of Tamar Valley, which is a National Landscape, has long been a destination choice for short-stay visitors.
Sarah Bartlett, head of marketing at Visit Tamar Valley, said: "We're now focussing on experiential stays and we're asking our members to package up experiences along with stays so people have a real focus... and invest in spending time here." She said: "People are no longer just wanting to book somewhere to stay, they want to come and experience the area fully, like a local arguably. They're really going to get an experience that creates memories and lasts a lifetime."
A popular attraction for visitors is the 87-mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way that starts in Devon and crosses over the River Tamar, which is traditionally via train across the Calstock Viaduct.
But now an electric ferry, which is powered entirely by solar energy, can pick up passengers at Ferry Farm in Devon and then drop off at Calstock or the National Trust's Cothele House. Will Mattos, who runs the ferry, hopes to create a Community Interest Company to keep it running following the end of the Tamara Landscape Partnership scheme.
Visit Tamar Valley is hoping the ferry will collaborate with self-catering accommodation owner Jon Tully who offers guests a tour of Okel Tor Mine, which fills his 16 acre plot.
The viaduct at Calstock that carries the branch line across the Tamar Valley
Tourism bosses in the Tamar Valley are hoping to boost the local economy by encouraging people to stay a little longer with experiential holidays.
Experiential is where a tourism businesses collaborates with other providers to add an experience such as a ferry ride, a tour or even a cooking course.
The unspoilt beauty of Tamar Valley, which is a National Landscape, has long been a destination choice for short-stay visitors.
Sarah Bartlett, head of marketing at Visit Tamar Valley, said: "We're now focussing on experiential stays and we're asking our members to package up experiences along with stays so people have a real focus... and invest in spending time here." She said: "People are no longer just wanting to book somewhere to stay, they want to come and experience the area fully, like a local arguably. They're really going to get an experience that creates memories and lasts a lifetime."
A popular attraction for visitors is the 87-mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way that starts in Devon and crosses over the River Tamar, which is traditionally via train across the Calstock Viaduct.
But now an electric ferry, which is powered entirely by solar energy, can pick up passengers at Ferry Farm in Devon and then drop off at Calstock or the National Trust's Cothele House. Will Mattos, who runs the ferry, hopes to create a Community Interest Company to keep it running following the end of the Tamara Landscape Partnership scheme.
Visit Tamar Valley is hoping the ferry will collaborate with self-catering accommodation owner Jon Tully who offers guests a tour of Okel Tor Mine, which fills his 16 acre plot.
| Re: New overnight train service at Gatwick to launch In "North Downs Line" [373878/31828/16] Posted by stuving at 18:41, 3rd April 2026 | |
In GWR's own information (in their airports page) it says about stops only "These services will also stop at key stations along the route including Wokingham, Blackwater, North Camp, Guildford, and Dorking.". It adds "For the full timetable, visit our train times page.", which is less than helpful since post-May timetables haven't appeared there yet.
Looking at RTT, the schedules there do include all the usual "big" stops (those listed plus Reigate and Redhill), but they are all pick-up only to Gatwick and set down only on the way back; i.e. only available for travel to and from Gatwick. I guess part of the trial is to see how well that works in practice!
