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I’m thinking of a having short break in Mallorca in September to sample their rail system - the recently-electrified “main line” across the island, the Metro line to the University and the “heritage” Ferrocarril de Sóller, along with the Sóller tram. There are three flights a week to/from Exeter...

Elsewhere on the Forum, we’ve discussed railway stations with no access to/from the road network – Dovey Junction, Smallbrook Junction, Manulla Junction and several closed examples, notably Riccarton Junction. That they all are or were junctions is a clue to their existence. So what about bus...

To me, a junction is the point of divergence of two or more routes and this has certainly been the traditional meaning of the word. However, in recent years, the term has been used to include Crossovers between fast and slow lines on a four-track section paired by use, i.e. FFSS, and On single...

From Today's Guardian - "A plan for Rachel Reeves to back a third runway at Heathrow and an expansion of Gatwick and Luton airports has been labelled “desperate”, as the chancellor faces opposition from within Labour. The chancellor is expected to make a swathe of announcements intended to...

I saw this item about Gloucester steam crews on Facebook - "Upon closure in 1964, the Barnwood (ex-LMS) staff had come to 85B (Horton Road ex GWR shed) en masse on the closure of the Midland shed. This meant that the top link at Horton Rd gained mileage turns to Derby as well as the traditional...

I can't find a thread discussing the new government's approach to buses, other than one specially on TfGM franchising. My view is that franchising is not likely to extend much beyond the metropolitan areas. This is partly because of the likely cost involved but also because smaller local...

The difference between term time and school holiday traffic reinforces the argument that there are far too many school-run car trips. (I've put this thread under "Buses and Coaches" but it would also fit into a walking and cycling one.) How is the experience different in mainland Europe? mod...

RMT members working for First South West are taking strike action on August 9 and 12 and Mick Lynch has been in Penzance today (12th). Anyone know more - i.e. is this just about pay, or conditions as well? (I see there is already a discussion on this dispute under First South West (Kernow &...

A niche subject. During a recent holiday in Switzerland, I had a ride on the funicular from Vevey to Mont Pèlerin. The line rises 414 m over its 1,584 m length. A feature of the line is the four intermediate halts, two each side of the passing loop. Obviously, the halts have to be positioned in...

Not sure if this belongs in the buses or trams section of the Forum. In several European cities I've seen buses using tram tracks laid in the street and observing the tram signals, rather than the signals for general motor traffic. This happens outside Brussels Midi station, where the trams run...

I've booked a Railtrail tour in Switzerland in mid-May, my first overseas trip since Brexit. We go via Eurostar to Brussels and through Germany. Some advice needed please on tickets between Exeter and London as there are industrial disputes going on in the UK and possibly Germany. I know that...

Mod Note: Posts #1 - #8 originally in this thread. I had a Christmas card arrive here in Exeter on 24th January - from Torquay! I've just seen a Royal Mail van today (Sunday) delivering a parcel to a neighbour. I didn't know they were working Sundays. Recently it was announced that Royal Mail...

This from the Unite Union website today. Does Unite have many staff in the rail industry? I'm a bit out of touch but see they were formerly the T&GWU. https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/december/poor-pay-offer-to-send-gwr-and-lner-trains-off-the-rails

This from BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-67335952 My main purpose in posting this is to ask whether there was a card payment option at this car park (in which case a QR code is not needed)? Surely all car parks should have a card payment option (whether on the railway...

Here's an issue which has been of concern to me for some time. Bus shelters should always have a seat or seats, and there should also be a timetable. Many shelters are provided by advertising companies free of charge to the local authority in return for the right to install advertising panels on...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-drivers/the-plan-for-drivers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-drivers/the-plan-for-drivers Anyone read this? A worrying development. We risk going backwards on bus priority, encouraging active travel, reducing carbon...

A couple of topics under this general heading. 1. Do buses in your area sometimes have to reverse when in service, either to turn round at a terminus when empty or in the middle of the route with passengers on board? I’ve come across both practices since moving to Devon and previously in West...

I and two other guys had an unusual experience today while photographing the Devon General Running Day at Newton Abbot. The first bus to pass our vantage point was a Stagecoach bus on service which the two others photographed, at which point a woman pedestrian crossed the road and said to us “if...

There are two new books on this subject, which should make interesting reading "How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn't" by Ian Dunt, author, political journalist and broadcaster. "Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament" - and How to Do It by Chris Bryant MP, due out soon A...

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/train-cancelled-ticket-office-advised-to-board-service-of-another-operator-rejected-by-guard.252127/#post-6334205 Indeed. All the revenue is going to the Govt. anyway. A task for GBR, if and when it happens, is to ditch...