When I applied for planning permission to replace a window, I had to explain "in what way my proposed development would encourage sustainable transport choices"
And also the impact of my proposed works on flood risk.
Nothing about newts though.

Is there any clear plan of action to reliably run full length trains ?
The new timetable does not seem to have improved matters.

Or is this the "new normal" and we should simply get used to it ?

We seem to have moved on from "all peak trains to or from Paddington will be full length" and towards "short trains are not that bad"
Even paying the first class fare is of little help since first is de-facto declassified on short trains. Enforcement of first class is patchy even on full length units.
Reserving a seat does not help as the reservation system is still unreliable, and reservations are voided on half length trains.
And as for catering, the trolley service still hides more often than not, and is often in the other portion of a full length service.
And the new units have proved vulnerable to the adverse but well known conditions at Dawlish, despite the promises made.

I have avoided frequent comment on this subject, and in particular have avoided remarking on my own unsatisfactory journeys, However the absence of frequent criticism from me does not mean that I consider the present situation satisfactory.

Some services that would have been run by IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are also cancelled due to lack of staff. So presumably had a full staff been available there would have been even more short formations.
Most days this week have seen significant levels of short formations.

It sounds to me as though the law was broken.
It is reported that the hounds were following a scent. To me that implies that either the scent for drag hunting was laid along or across the line, Or that the hounds were illegally pursuing an actual fox.

Agree, new housing estates need to be bus friendly from the beginning.
A straight, or nearly straight main road for the buses. Shops and pubs along the main road.
Numerous short side streets off the main road, the majority of the houses to be in these side streets which need to be short enough that walking to the main road and the bus stops therein is easy.
These side streets can be relatively narrow, wide enough for a fire engine or a refuse truck, or indeed a bus in case of diversions, and could reasonably be one way, alternate side streets being one way in opposite directions.
Those ends of the side streets distant from the main road to be linked together by a secondary road, so as to provide access from different directions, and to allow pedestrians and cyclists to take the most direct route to neighbours.
The main road needs to be wide enough for buses to pass each other with ease.

Speed limit 30 mph on the main road, 20 MPH in the side streets and the secondary roads.

Most passenger ships have decent  buffets, restaurants and other catering. The main exception being ferries on very short crossings.
Most boats offer little in the way of catering.
Cargo ships offer surprisingly good catering to the officers, crew, and any small number of passengers that may be carried.

Whilst I am opposed to hunting, I have no sympathy for violent tactics used by hunt saboteurs, especially when such tactics result in harm or distress to horse, dogs or other animals.
Hunting of wild mammals with dogs has been prohibited for some years, and whilst drag hunting and other substitutes that don't involve live victims are permitted, they seem to be declining in popularity.

I support the killing of foxes when they are causing significant harm to young lambs or other livestock, this is permitted AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know).

A boat can be picked up, with a crane or hoist if need be, and put on board a ship.

A ship carries one or more boats, for use in case of emergency, and sometimes for trips ashore if port facilities are inadequate for the ship.

A ships needs qualified mariners to manage it, anyone is allowed to operate a boat.

If the vessel lists noticeably when you move from one side to the other, then it is a boat not a ship.

There are exceptions of course.
Some larger boats such as yachts carry a boat on board.
Submarines are called boats by tradition, but many are ship sized.
The RNLI operate lifeBOATS, but the larger ones are more like ships, and they do carry a boat on board.

I forecast that it will cost about £560 billion, or about ten times the original cost.
Spread not over years, but over decades, so as to make the cost per year seem a bit more reasonable.

Or if not completed, that the cost of the completed portion will be pro-rata to £560 billion for the complete project.

And more recently, a horse was actually transported by bus for a short distance. The animal was found loose on a busy road, and moving it by bus was considered the best option for both the safety of the horse and speedy reopening of the road.
It was a fairly small horse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51146051

Laudable, at a time of year when some feel the need to end it all.

The event could IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) have been better titled. On reading the thread title, my first thought was about the brewing of beer, I was expecting something on the lines of supporting local breweries!

Was not even my cat ! neighbours must be out for the day and their cat visited, as she does when no children are available to entertain her at home.

HS2 wont be cancelled.
Postponed, de-specified, done in small and slow sections, reviewed, re-evaluated, almost certainly, but actually cancelled, I doubt it.

Re-opening would be expensive.
Cheaper would be another round of studies and consultations, the result of which will be that further studies are needed.

And a joint study "with our industry partners" as to why the new trains don't work in the adverse but entirely expected conditions at Dawlish. The result of that study will be something along the lines that things will get better, in some not clearly defined way, and without any clear timescale.

A good definition back in the good old days was;
Tramway=consists primarily of steel rails set into a road surface such that motor cars, pedestrians, horses etc may still use the road. Usually driven by "line of sight" Unlike railways that are usually reliant on signals.
Not normally used by railway trains, though exceptions existed such the Weymouth tramway.

Tram=vehicle intended for use on a tramway. Somewhat like a large bus in general design but equipped with steel wheels to fit the tram rails.
Commonly powered by a direct current overhead supply at about 500 to 800 volts, but steam power, horses, batteries, and cable haulage are less common alternatives.
Not in general intended for use on a railway, though a "one off" low speed journey by rail was not unknown, for example to deliver a newly built tram to the area of operation.

These days though the distinction has become less clear. Many modern trams are IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) more like local trains, with limited street running.
Many modern trams require a raised platform, somewhat like a station platform. Classic trams were able to pick up and set down passengers anywhere like a bus. They had dedicated stops, like a bus, but COULD pick up and set down anywhere.