Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Dual Nationality, Electronic Travel Authorisation and Border Control delays In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374740/29537/52] Posted by grahame at 11:44, 4th May 2026 |      |
We're probably booking a Norwegian cruise from/to Southampton next year.
Probably won't affect us needing ETA's, etc?
Probably won't affect us needing ETA's, etc?
Top advise is - if in doubt - read the official ebook sites very carefully.
the ETA is for the UK.
If you and your "we" company are British, you each should have a UK passport. That is even if you are a dual national. If you are dual national, best to hold a UK passport in addition to the other, though you can obtain (costs a lot more than a UK passport) a certificate of authourisation. Your UK passport should be valid on the day you return to the UK.
and the EES is for the Schengen area or Europe.
Again, if you are British, you should have a UK passport and this needs to be valid for at least three months after your return to the UK, and that must be within 10 years of the original validity. OR if you are dual and hold a passport from a Schengen / EU country, that passport will suffice for your entry into and exit from the Schengen area. Entering under EES (and Norway is part of Schengen) you'll probably have photo and finger prints taken, and the Schengen computers will enforce the rule that you can only spend 90 days in any 180 period in Schengen.
In summary - if you are "just" British - as I am for example - no need for and ETA, and this year the EES is done on the fly. Just need a UK passport with 90 days validity left. For a cruise, they will insist on insurance too.
| Re: Teams compete in World Pilot Gig Championships - Isles of Scilly, May 2026 In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374739/31966/31] Posted by johnneyw at 11:43, 4th May 2026 | |
From the BBC:
....while Salcombe Gig Club win multiple medals at World Championships including bronze in Women's Super Vets and silver in Women's Masters.
....while Salcombe Gig Club win multiple medals at World Championships including bronze in Women's Super Vets and silver in Women's Masters.
I used to have a view of the creek where their boats are stored from upstairs at the family pile just up the hill but over the past (50+) years the Holm Oak at the corner of the road has grown and now obscures that vista. While I wouldn't wish anyone to fell it, I must say that I rather miss the sight of the water there.
| Re: Teams compete in World Pilot Gig Championships - Isles of Scilly, May 2026 In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374738/31966/31] Posted by GBM at 11:07, 4th May 2026 | |
Been over for a Saturday day trip during gig weekend a few times as our daughter in law was rowing with her local team.
Great atmosphere (expensive mind).
Lovely day out.
Was looking to do a few days breakaway for my Wife and I, but hotels mostly fully booked up in the quieter parts of the year.
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374737/31969/26] Posted by NickB at 10:33, 4th May 2026 | |
If the thermal transfer has taken place ie. The plug has melted and torched the carriage lining, then no RCD can put that ‘back in the box’ and a proper emergency is then underway.
Incidentally do GWR trains carry fire extinguishers in passenger carriages? I recall them being stripped out of TFL trains many years ago due to misuse.
| Re: Dual Nationality, Electronic Travel Authorisation and Border Control delays In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374736/29537/52] Posted by GBM at 10:27, 4th May 2026 | |
We're probably booking a Norwegian cruise from/to Southampton next year.
Probably won't affect us needing ETA's, etc?
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374735/31969/26] Posted by grahame at 10:13, 4th May 2026 | |
In my personal (and to some extent professional) opinion the issue that actually concerns GWR is the thermal risk from the appliance, not the electrical consumption or potential circuit trip.
I wondered about that - after all, don't they cook food (on a few trains) in the kitchen on the IETs - is that electric these days?
| Re: Squirrels - red, grey or albino, on the railways or otherwise - ongoing discussion In "The Lighter Side" [374734/5560/30] Posted by Clan Line at 09:59, 4th May 2026 | |
Legally owned firearm? Private land?
If so, then fill your boots. Shooting Greys isn't illegal as they're an invasive species.
If so, then fill your boots. Shooting Greys isn't illegal as they're an invasive species.
I can remember free/subsidised 12 bore ammunition which was actually marked "Pest Control", also a faint recollection of a bounty on grey squirrel tails. Seems to be borne out by:
https://www.greysquirrelcontrol.info/control-history
I don't remember many squirrel tails, but the pest control ammo and wood pigeons certainly helped boost my pocket money !
| Re: Cutting services to save fuel In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374733/31970/5] Posted by Clan Line at 09:45, 4th May 2026 Already liked by Mark A, GBM | |
As long as it doesn't affect crowding too much I would consider reducing the frequency on those turn up and go routes.
The problem is with that approach is: what do you do with the buses that you make redundant by reducing the frequency ? I hear people saying that you still need them for the busy periods. Then the finance dept start saying why do we have a thousand (or two) buses that are only in use 4 hours a day ? - we can save £X million a year if we get rid of these under-used vehicles and not have to pay drivers, etc to operate/maintain/clean them.
An idea - buy short buses that you can join together into longer buses for busy periods................hang on though, I think that other transport suppliers have already tried that and you just end up with short buses most of the time............
| [OTD] 4 May 1970 Bourne End - High Wycombe line In "Thames Valley Branches" [374732/31973/13] Posted by Electric train at 09:39, 4th May 2026 | |
On this day 4 May 1970 the line between Bourne End and High Wycombe closed to passengers, with the 2 stations between Wooburn Green and Loudwater closing. along with the 5 level crossings.
There have been a number of looks at a possible reopening, sadly the right of way has been built over in a number of places and at the High Wycombe end the embankment and bridges have been demolished and the land built on.
| Re: Squirrels - red, grey or albino, on the railways or otherwise - ongoing discussion In "The Lighter Side" [374731/5560/30] Posted by froome at 09:16, 4th May 2026 | |
…and yet…
There’s some interesting work going on with pine martens, including in the Forest of Dean. They eat greys, but can’t catch reds!
https://www.gwct.org.uk/policy/position-statements/re-introduction-of-pine-marten-in-england/
There’s some interesting work going on with pine martens, including in the Forest of Dean. They eat greys, but can’t catch reds!
https://www.gwct.org.uk/policy/position-statements/re-introduction-of-pine-marten-in-england/
Yes, this is the most obvious way towards a solution.
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374730/31969/26] Posted by NickB at 08:36, 4th May 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A | |
In my personal (and to some extent professional) opinion the issue that actually concerns GWR is the thermal risk from the appliance, not the electrical consumption or potential circuit trip.
RCD/fuses are there to keep consumers safe from electrical malfunction but it is possible that a thermal overload takes place, or the appliance torches a combustible material, without tripping the RCD.
The risk to passengers is from fire, not electrocution.
| Railfuture - AGM, 2026, 4th July 2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [374729/31972/34] Posted by grahame at 08:23, 4th May 2026 | |
I have received financial papers for the year ending December 2025 from Railfuture, and AGM details for 4th July are on Their website at https://www.railfuture.org.uk/conferences/
Hosted by Railfuture West Midlands branch
Reason for Birmingham: to celebrate the Camp Hill line opening and the two West Midlands tram extensions
Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
Business starts at 11:00 but doors open at 10:00 and refreshments will be served soon after
Venue: The Priory Rooms
Room: Main Meeting House
Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham
Postcode: B4 6AF
Reason for Birmingham: to celebrate the Camp Hill line opening and the two West Midlands tram extensions
Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
Business starts at 11:00 but doors open at 10:00 and refreshments will be served soon after
Venue: The Priory Rooms
Room: Main Meeting House
Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham
Postcode: B4 6AF
The financial papers show subscription income of around £29,000 which suggests around 1400 members (+-20%). It is good to see some use of campaigning / fighting funds including an incoming donation of £18,000 and expenditure of £31,000 in that. General operating costs total around £25,000, and Railfuture has £320,000 "cash in hand and at bank" which they describe as a "substantial reserve".
| Re: Delay due to congestion In "North Downs Line" [374728/31963/16] Posted by grahame at 07:40, 4th May 2026 | |
I find that 'congestion' is announced when there's any sort of wait because of a conflicting move. ...
Agreed, and that's probably enough for most passengers ... "too many trains around" ... I might personally like to see some more detail, I suppose, but that can typically be gleaned from Open Train Times; more aware users can spot single lines blocked by out-of-path freights, platform shortages, etc
| Re: Decarbonisation - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [374727/22573/31] Posted by broadgage at 03:51, 4th May 2026 | |
Amsterdam becomes first capital city to ban advertising of fossil fuels and meat, on public property.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wejdekpwyo
Sounds good to me, I support personal freedom, to eat meat, drink alcohol, and even to smoke.. But I can not support advertising such behaviour.
| Re: Delay due to congestion In "North Downs Line" [374726/31963/16] Posted by Hafren at 00:35, 4th May 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
I find that 'congestion' is announced when there's any sort of wait because of a conflicting move. (I refer here to crew announcements more than a coded delay reason shown somwhere like Journeycheck.)
I suspect passengers take it to mean several trains being in the way in the way that the term may be understood in the context of road traffic congestion, who may then wonder why 'congestion' was given as a reason when there didn't appear to be a lot ot other trains around! For example I've been on trains that were held outside the down platforms at CDF, so that an up departure could weave across, perhaps waiting a few minutes for that departure to take place. The TM announced on departure that the late arrival was due to congestion, but from the perspective of boarding passengers, the platforms were mostly empty, which may look like a contradiction! But of course 'congestion' is simpler than a detailed narrative about a conflicting move. Neither explanation will 'win' with everyone.
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374725/31969/26] Posted by stuving at 23:56, 3rd May 2026 Already liked by IndustryInsider | |
Ah. I would have expected those sockets to have protection so that they are unable to deliver currents unacceptable to them. (More than a bit hazy on how this would be done in an appropriate way though).
The quote attributed to GWR was "could have blown the electric circuit for everyone on board the carriage". In other words, it might have tripped the circuit breaker protecting the circuit feeding all these sockets is one carriage.
Why didn't it do that? I think these are pretty low-power things, though I can't find a figure listed on line. After all, a soldering iron gets pretty hot (if slowly) with much less than 100W.
As an 80x has a pretty chunky 3-phase inverter, sized to feed all auxiliaries including the heating/cooling, it would not need a very low current limit. So it will be the cable that determines the breaker rating, e.g. 6A or 10A (or 20A to make it a standard radial circuit).
| Re: Dual Nationality, Electronic Travel Authorisation and Border Control delays In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [374724/29537/52] Posted by Surrey 455 at 22:57, 3rd May 2026 | |
Geologist here: but if you like fancy and rare rocks, when in Fuerteventura visit the seaside village of Ajuy on the west cost if you can. It is a special area where rocks of the Jurassic aged, Atlantic Ocean floor rocks and the Earth's mantle have been brought to the surface and outcrop in the bay and its surrounds. Even if fancy rocks aren't your sort, there is a lovely tapas bar there on the beach.
Sorry for the late reply. I was in the resort of Costa Calma which is in the South East. I did not have a hire car and unfortunately public buses are very infrequent and I think there was only one route in my resort. I don't remember seeing that as an excursion from Costa Calma either. Anyway it sounds like the sort of place that would have interested me had I been able to get there.
Thank You.
| Re: Cutting services to save fuel In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374723/31970/5] Posted by Surrey 455 at 22:32, 3rd May 2026 | |
Most bus routes in London are fairly frequent, in some cases every few minutes. As long as it doesn't affect crowding too much I would consider reducing the frequency on those turn up and go routes.
| Re: Cutting services to save fuel In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374722/31970/5] Posted by Mark A at 21:25, 3rd May 2026 | |
Thinking of surface public transport, for distances not able to be covered on foot or cycle, that's hopefully more fuel efficient than everyone making their own arrangements to travel. Cutting services to the extent that people are displaced and make their own arrangements would not save fuel.
(Public transport services cut to save money - that's another matter.)
{Narrator: 'The DfT' has entered the chat...}
Mark
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374721/31969/26] Posted by Mark A at 21:19, 3rd May 2026 | |
Anecdote: siblings on an intercity train to Bath in the distant past. No idea of the form of the catering on offer - this wasn't restaurant car stuff and nor were we, but around Reading we asked for (and were granted) a boiled egg. It was in the cutting by Pangbourne - I recall the chalk cutting sides, sunshine and was it an autumn afternoon - anyway, passing through that cutting it emerged that while the egg was on its way, the catering crew were unable to source a teaspoon with which to eat it, this was the start of a hunt for a teaspoon along the entire length of the train, to their great credit one was found.
This may have been the same trip that started from Kingston, and our (Edmondson) tickets were lettered to the effect 'Via Swindon or Devizes' - the latter, even then, had not been possible for several years
Mark
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374720/31969/26] Posted by Mark A at 21:08, 3rd May 2026 | |
Ah. I would have expected those sockets to have protection so that they are unable to deliver currents unacceptable to them. (More than a bit hazy on how this would be done in an appropriate way though). Provision of USB 'c'... would that be happier because doesn't the connection between two of those mutually negotiate what each is capable of and come to an agreement as to what's best.
Fresh in my mind is a certain brand of not cheap rechargable Bluetooth speaker that advertised the ability to recharge other devices via the USB socket that it provided. Not advertised was that plugging a device in that overloaded the speaker's USB supply circuit simply blew an internal fuse protecting the battery, immediately and permanently killing the (not user serviceable) speaker. It was very important to do this within the guarantee period as the manufacturer wouldn't replace them once that had passed, but how they let the device out of the door in the first place I don't know.
Mark
| Re: Squirrels - red, grey or albino, on the railways or otherwise - ongoing discussion In "The Lighter Side" [374719/5560/30] Posted by JayMac at 20:57, 3rd May 2026 | |
Legally owned firearm? Private land?
If so, then fill your boots. Shooting Greys isn't illegal as they're an invasive species.
| Cutting services to save fuel In "Buses and other ways to travel" [374718/31970/5] Posted by grahame at 19:23, 3rd May 2026 | |
From The BBC
Airlines can cancel flights in advance over fuel shortages under new plans
Airlines will be able to cancel flights weeks in advance, without losing valuable take off and landing slots at busy airports, if they face fuel shortages this summer.
New contingency plans have been drawn up by the government to let carriers plan ahead, helping to avoid disruptive last-minute cancellations for passengers.
The proposals would allow airlines to merge flights on routes with multiple trips to the same destination on the same day, meaning passengers could be moved from their original booking to a similar one to save fuel.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said she was confident most people travelling this summer would have a similar experience to last year.
Travel journalist Simon Calder told the BBC the aim was "prioritise holiday flights over business departures."
Airlines will be able to cancel flights weeks in advance, without losing valuable take off and landing slots at busy airports, if they face fuel shortages this summer.
New contingency plans have been drawn up by the government to let carriers plan ahead, helping to avoid disruptive last-minute cancellations for passengers.
The proposals would allow airlines to merge flights on routes with multiple trips to the same destination on the same day, meaning passengers could be moved from their original booking to a similar one to save fuel.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said she was confident most people travelling this summer would have a similar experience to last year.
Travel journalist Simon Calder told the BBC the aim was "prioritise holiday flights over business departures."
What do you think of the idea? Should it be available to other forms of public transport?
| Re: On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374717/31969/26] Posted by bobm at 17:38, 3rd May 2026 | |
In the past I have seen someone using hair straighteners for their intended purpose on a train. Quite apart from the electrics, it is an accident waiting to happen as they take time to cool down after use (I am told).
| Re: Project Churchward - future regional fleet for the West, new rolling stock to replace DMUs In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [374716/27482/40] Posted by grahame at 17:35, 3rd May 2026 Already liked by Noggin | |
Wasn't there a suggestion that the DfT were waiting for [the Scots] to do the hard work ...
There are a number of areas where progress appears stalled and the cynical could suggest there's a PR bonus to be had by having shovel-readier plans. We are speculating in another thread about when trains will start from Milton Keynes to Oxford, and I wonder if it will before or after Chiltern transfers to public ownership on 20th September 2026.
| On train (self) catering In "Across the West" [374715/31969/26] Posted by grahame at 17:28, 3rd May 2026 | |
From Devon Live
A football fan who was filmed cooking strips of steak with hair straighteners on a train to London could have blown the electric circuit for everyone on board the carriage, GWR has warned.
Tony Goodman, 52, was spotted onboard the 10.19am Great Western Railway service to Paddington at the weekend as he was heading to watch his West Ham team play Everton at the London Stadium.
In a video shared with CornwallLive he can be seen plugging a pair of hair straighteners into the train socket beneath his seat and using them as a makeshift grill for the marinated steak.
Describing the stunt, in which he butters slices of sourdough ready for the fresh meat, he said it was "the greatest triumph of train cooking you've ever seen".
Footage shows Tony calmly preparing the sandwich at a table seat, slicing open Lidl sourdough rolls and layering them with mayo and grated mozzarella.
Tony Goodman, 52, was spotted onboard the 10.19am Great Western Railway service to Paddington at the weekend as he was heading to watch his West Ham team play Everton at the London Stadium.
In a video shared with CornwallLive he can be seen plugging a pair of hair straighteners into the train socket beneath his seat and using them as a makeshift grill for the marinated steak.
Describing the stunt, in which he butters slices of sourdough ready for the fresh meat, he said it was "the greatest triumph of train cooking you've ever seen".
Footage shows Tony calmly preparing the sandwich at a table seat, slicing open Lidl sourdough rolls and layering them with mayo and grated mozzarella.
| Re: Project Churchward - future regional fleet for the West, new rolling stock to replace DMUs In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [374714/27482/40] Posted by Noggin at 16:52, 3rd May 2026 | |
This thread will be 3 years old this month.
Some talk and rumours .... yes
Order placed and trains in build .... nope
Current status after 3 years : not even an invitation to tender
Is it just me, or does it seem to anyone else also think, that any new trains will not be in 2020s, and could be (at least) half a decade away
Some talk and rumours .... yes
Order placed and trains in build .... nope
Current status after 3 years : not even an invitation to tender
Is it just me, or does it seem to anyone else also think, that any new trains will not be in 2020s, and could be (at least) half a decade away
Wasn't there a suggestion that the DfT were waiting for the Scots to do the hard work around procurement and place an order for their fleet, possibly in the hope that they could get a cheap follow-on order (like First did to them on the 802s)?
| Re: Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [374712/24834/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:28, 3rd May 2026 Already liked by Oxonhutch, johnneyw | |
From the BBC:
Heritage railway buys its volunteers' favourite pub
The Royal Oak has been a regular meeting place for staff and volunteers of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
A pub which closed suddenly two years ago has reopened after a nearby heritage railway bought it.
The Royal Oak in Haworth has long been popular with visitors to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and other Bronte Country attractions. It was a popular meeting place for enthusiasts who volunteer on the line, and they have now taken over its running.
Sam MacDougall, one of the volunteers, said: "We were all dismayed when it closed so suddenly. Ever since our railway reopened in 1968, The Royal Oak was a favourite watering hole."
The downstairs bar has been decorated with a railway theme - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Under its previous ownership, the pub's snug was decorated with railway memorabilia and photographs, and the reopened Royal Oak will have a railway-themed downstairs bar.
MacDougall added: "We see our railway as part of Haworth and the wider Worth Valley community, so reopening The Royal Oak as a community pub is a way of giving something back to the village, without whose support we would not be here."
The pub was once tied to Websters Brewery of Halifax and passed into private hands before shutting in 2024.
Volunteers behind the takeover said the building has always been "more than a pub" for the railway community.
Volunteers from the neighbouring Keighley and Worth Valley Railway have taken over trade - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
The upper floor, which was formerly used as living accommodation, has now become office space for the railway.
The line, which runs between Keighley and Oxenhope, closed as a main route in 1962, before it was taken over by a preservation society in 1968.
"Haworth village and the railway have really missed it, so this is a really exciting project. It does mean an awful lot."
The Royal Oak has been a regular meeting place for staff and volunteers of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
A pub which closed suddenly two years ago has reopened after a nearby heritage railway bought it.
The Royal Oak in Haworth has long been popular with visitors to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and other Bronte Country attractions. It was a popular meeting place for enthusiasts who volunteer on the line, and they have now taken over its running.
Sam MacDougall, one of the volunteers, said: "We were all dismayed when it closed so suddenly. Ever since our railway reopened in 1968, The Royal Oak was a favourite watering hole."
The downstairs bar has been decorated with a railway theme - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Under its previous ownership, the pub's snug was decorated with railway memorabilia and photographs, and the reopened Royal Oak will have a railway-themed downstairs bar.
MacDougall added: "We see our railway as part of Haworth and the wider Worth Valley community, so reopening The Royal Oak as a community pub is a way of giving something back to the village, without whose support we would not be here."
The pub was once tied to Websters Brewery of Halifax and passed into private hands before shutting in 2024.
Volunteers behind the takeover said the building has always been "more than a pub" for the railway community.
Volunteers from the neighbouring Keighley and Worth Valley Railway have taken over trade - Image © Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
The upper floor, which was formerly used as living accommodation, has now become office space for the railway.
The line, which runs between Keighley and Oxenhope, closed as a main route in 1962, before it was taken over by a preservation society in 1968.
"Haworth village and the railway have really missed it, so this is a really exciting project. It does mean an awful lot."
