Tag: infrastructure

Rail legacy issues and the Deaf

March 12, 2026

On March 2nd 2026 Chancellor Reeves inadvertently eulogised what the railways are most excellent at. This being the art of aural communications. Its so much easier to pick up a microphone and make announcements isn’t it? “This government is making sure passengers aren’t asked to spend a penny more on regulated fares, including season tickets…
Men in the railways

March 7, 2026

This weekend’s March 8th 2026 is International Womens Day. Despite the advent of a number of equality measures the status of women is still affected by numerous obstacles in many areas of society – and that includes the railway. That because railways have always been designed by men. That has changed somewhat in the last…
Waterways’ extra funding

February 5, 2026

England and Wales’ canal network will receive an additional £6.5 million in government funding to enhance resilience against extreme weather and maintenance costs. This adds to the existing £52.6 million annual funding for the Canal and River Trust (CRT). The investment aims to extend the life of critical assets such as embankments and reservoirs, supporting…
GWR Battery train in public service

January 31, 2026

Today (Saturday 31st January 2026) Great Western Railway’s battery train (Class 230) began public service. Initially it will operate Saturdays only with a view to increased coverage during the week as the year progresses. I attended the first day’s operation in the early morning with the 08.15, 08.45 and 09.15 trips from West Ealing to…
Canal breach news

January 29, 2026

Which of the two major canal breach sites of 2025 will it be that gets to see its repairs finished first. The answer is doubtless Whitchurch. That on the Bridgewater, well in my view its going to be finished sometime in 2027. For most of 2026 however, the two will be running concurrently thus it…
Changes at Paddington station

January 21, 2026

The small and somewhat cramped accommodation on platform one at Paddington station has been replaced by a new a bigger unit right on the Lawn itself. The new Assisted Travel Lounge is sited near platform nine and it was formerly separate shop units (including a Whistlestop store) that were merged and refurbished to create this…
Whitchurch boat rescue #4

January 18, 2026

The latest news re Llangollen canal and Whitchurch breach (21st January) is several boats have been moved off the canal. A number of Youtubers have filmed these going ons. One of those is Pacemaker which has gone away for inspection and work. The hull didn’t look too bad, and that because having painted a number…
Whitchurch boat rescue #3

January 17, 2026

The two boats Sefton and Ganymede have been refloated. Actually they were refloated for a short while last night, however the short pound they were in was soon drained again just to be sure there was nothing untoward happening. Today the boats were refloated once again. The fact the water was drained might possibly have…
Whitchurch boat rescue #2

January 15, 2026

What will happen over the weekend? Not much unless the contractors are being paid extra to undertake certain works – which could include the completion of the secondary cofferdam, the inspection and towing of the two retrieved narrowboats. Possibly other sundry work here and there, as well as taking all the winching equipment away and…
Whitchurch boat rescue #1

January 13, 2026

Narrowboat Pacemaker was removed from the New Mills breach site at Whitchurch, Shropshire, today! It is now entirely safe. A series of pulleys was used for this operation due to the very tight site constraints. No doubt pulleys (as I said yesterday) will be a feature during these boat rescue operations. I didn’t expect it…

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