I couldn't give two hoots.

Nottingham, then?

Exeter Central?

According to a report on the website of "Radio Eska", the owner of the lorry claims that his driver has been stitched up, and the train driver had plenty of time to sound the horn and to brake. He also claims that the level crossing was faulty (he does not expand on this). As to the "heroism" of the driver in making his dash down the train, he likens this to a car driver diving into the back seat instead of staying up front with his foot on the brake. Something tells me that the courts will be slightly under-impressed!

The band "One Direction" are said to have been inspired by a visit to Polesworth.

No 8 - Taunton

They originally asked for Bittern rather than Mallard, but the bill was too big

I agree with Richard that if the Eynsham problem can be cracked, then the continuation to a station somewhere in Witney will be unstoppable. To get back to how this affects the Cotswold Line, it seems to me that the proposals aired so far are quite incoherent in the absence of any obvious plan about how travellers (for most intents and purposes, drivers) get to Hanborough. The assertion that there is little likelihood of doubling through to Charlbury I also find confusing. In that case, why not stop the double-track just short of Hanborough, and you can make do with the one existing platform instead of the proposed three? Or looking at it another way, if West Oxfordshire "park and ride" traffic is viewed as separate from Cotswold traffic, why not keep the single line as it is, and make the second track an independent single line. If this fed into the new north Oxford down loop, which could be made reversible, then you could avoid conflicts with both Cotswold and Cherwell line traffic. Going back a few posts, this single line could stop at Yarnton instead of Hanborough, which already has convenient access to the A40 - I cannot see how a one-platform station and car park would cost any more than the proposed Hanborough modifications, and a Witney extension, whether you think it likely or not, is still a future option.

I think we can take it as read that the inhabitants of West Oxfordshire are inconsiderate types, who should be taking up their rightful places in cars and buses crawling along the A40, rather than demanding a train service of such extravagance that it adds two minutes to the journeys of those important people from Worcestershire. I think we can also take it as read that Hanborough will continue to function as West Oxfordshire Parkway for the forseeable future. In that case, what can, or should, be done about improving access to it, for the benefit of both travellers and residents? Does it really need three trains per hour? Are there plans to eventually redouble the whole of the remaining single-track section? In which case, surely the whole line will be able to support 3 trains per hour (perhaps 2 passenger and 1 freight path), and the modifications which appear to be proposed in this report to provide turnround facilities at Hanborough will have been a waste of money. Leaving aside possible new routes (and note I carefully said *towards* Witney), the only strategies which make sense to me are either to redouble to *somewhere* between Wolvercote and (possibly just short of) Hanborough, or to redouble the lot. The plan as expressed in the report seems to be an incoherent jumble which is going to please nobody.

Agreed. But would anything short of redoubling the whole stretch to Charlbury make a significant difference to that area? Just suggesting that if the idea is to extend double track in stages, then Yarnton would be a start; it would at least allow trains to clear Wolvercote Junction. And if a case is subsequently made for a new station, it could take the pressure off the local roads around Hanborough.

Rather than to Hanborough, has any consideration been given to extending double-track as far as a rebuilt Yarnton Junction, alias A40 Parkway (with potential future extension towards Witney)?

I have seen a number of vehicles apparently reserved for dogfish and catfish, so no doubt they are being lined up for this service.

Good point. On the other hand, the bus station has secure car parking nearby, and a taxi-rank round the corner as a fall-back in case you cannot arrange to get picked up. Can see the pros and cons of both situations.

Perhaps Comrade Corbyn pressed the red button. In which case it was probably not armed.

Even from Taunton, let alone further west, a check-in before 7.30 a.m., or (at least at weekends), a landing after 9.00 p.m precludes the use of the existing service via Bristol TM^‡(resolve), so the Falcon has the market to itself outside those hours. But one thing that might put people off is the insistence of avoiding a diversion to the (Taunton) town centre - I am not overly happy at the prospect of being dumped at a deserted business park in the small hours of the morning! Do not know if similar misgivings apply to the other stops - perhaps other people may have some input on this.