I am not sure Ukraine Railways would say, and Russian figures couldn't be trusted.

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64706057

Basically an updated version of the Bailey bridge.

Partly written as a result of President Biden's recent train trip

https://balkaninsight.com/2023/02/21/a-year-of-war-in-ukraine-the-new-railway-age/

Plans to overcome the difference in gauge
although I don't think it will be in time to materially affect the current conflict.

And the Presidential train
https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-f5f0-08db138eafa3_w1023_s.jpg
https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-e30c-08db138c570f_w1023_s.jpg

This reminded me of the engravings of JC Bourne https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cooke_Bourne who you could say recorded "The seven wonders of railways of the British Isles" in the Victorian era.

Surely a good employer wouldn't need to be considering this sort of option.

It would be useful if the MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) regularly travelled by train, and then they probably wouldn't need us to tell them what was needed?

Royalty? Do they have similar going towards Kings Lynn?

My preference is for somewhere I can keep an eye on the bike (Brompton). Rear seat on Voyagers large luggage area where you can tuck the bike behind. Sliding the bike under a table is problematical, as you end up effectively taking two seats, which is not immediately obvious to others wanting the space. On IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) usually stand in the bike space.

Rail is not the main focus of this item.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64640215


There is a bit of me that thinks this is good, another bit worries that I have not seen any obvious connection to active and sustainable transport alternatives (please point out if I have missed them). Is it a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or have we got the stage where we have to do something a bit radical?

I think the issue isn't just the hardware, but the software and the peopleware. It has been reported elsewhere the people with visual disabilities are particularly concerned. I have also seen examples of what might be thought of as "bloodymindedness" at staffed stations where station staff have stood there and watched the guard/train manager find a deploy the on-train ramp (of a standard train that runs through that station).

At risk of inciting trouble, what it needs is one of the disability groups to organise wheel chair users at every unmanned station on a DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) line and see what that does for the time keeping.

Haven't seen if this has been put elsewhere:

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdog-takes-equality-act-steps-against-government-over-rail-access/

As always will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens as a result.

I wondered what the "South Western Railways replacement" bus through Reading was as I came to work this morning.

More news on the Rosslare - Waterford link, from RTE^‡(resolve):

https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2023/0212/1356196-tensions-over-future-of-rosslare-waterford-rail-route/


Although any lack of an administration in Northern Ireland shouldn't affect the Rosslare - Waterford link.

I have just been under the bridge and had a look from the pavement.

Yes it is two bridges side by side. My uncalibrated eyeballs think it might be a foot between the flanges at the bottom of the bridge deck, and possibly three feet between the sides. In case of dispute refer to my optometrist.

Do I hear a faint echo of "we don't need experts"?

Similar in both engineering and my analytical job. Quote a realistic delivery time and then add contingency.When you deliver early they think you are a magician (?). Clients approve, even if management aren't keen.