A few weeks ago on the last cross country train of the day which was running late from the North.

Train still went into Gloucester (which cost an extra fifteen minutes?)

On arrival at Bristol Parkway approx ten 20 year olds were talking to staff about getting the 20 year olds back to Yate by taxi.

Can't apply for a new re-test for ten days,fair enough.

But getting a new test date could take many weeks/months?

Older motorists could be required to pass eye tests to keep their driving licence.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons Transport Select Committee that is something she is “open to considering” as part of the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy.
Earlier this month she received a prevention of future deaths report from HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley, which related to the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight
Ms Alexander said: “I know that reading that report will be very distressing for the families of the victims who were killed.
“That, of course, was a situation where the optician had suggested to (four) individuals that they needed to advise the authorities that they had a medical condition which affected their eyesight and where they shouldn’t be driving.
“And of course, that didn’t happen. So I am open to considering the evidence on this issue.”
Dr Adeley described the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)’s licensing system as “the laxest in Europe”.
Drivers are not subjected to mandatory checks of their skills or health once they obtain their licence, no matter how old they become, although they are required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)) if they are no longer fit to drive.
Dr Adeley wrote: “Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive.
Would any one who has lived or still living in the European region know how different countries, address older drivers test requirements? 

ALSO
The Government is planning to increase the amount of driving test staff to reduce the backlog of those who wish to take their driving test.
I presume for our younger members of society,a note of caution just because you have been given a test driving date does not mean your going to pass.
Am I correct in saying you then have to wait six months to take your driving test again?

We have approx 10 million senior citizens in the U.K.
Don't think it would be a good idea to give all those ten million a free senior rail card,
maybe you would have to apply for them,but not means tested.
If one million applied for a rail card the cost would be 30 million pounds.
If those one million made just one trip costing 30 pounds per year,
the rail industry would get its money back.
   

Those of a certain age get free bus bus travel,maybe the railway could bring in free senior red cards,just a thought.

Joint survey by Oxford and Gloucestershire councils

https://www.facebook.com/groups/445927350452502/user/100066543489651/?locale=en_GB

Wednesday 23 April till Friday 2 May 2025 at Bristol Temple Meads

https://railway200.co.uk/railway-heritage-trust-celebrates-40-years-of-transformation-in-rails-200th-anniversary/

Media employees saying

"You will remember"

I might not

It should be

"You may recall"

Noise in the Quiet Carriage         94
Incorrect bike use on trains     81
School children bad behaviour     80
Feet and bags on seats                63 
Personal devices (played too loudly)      63
Priority seating                              23
Consuming food and drink on board     20
Rubbish left on board                      9

Below the Panellists: it says
James Jackson – GBRTT
Alexia Course – Chief Commercial Officer – TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales)
Welsh Government – senior official TBC

Would the Government official actually be Ken Skates as he is mentioned in the panellists  or some one else?

https://peloton-events.co.uk/rail-cymru-conference-2025/

would any one know who was the Welsh Government – senior official that was expected to speak?

I think the poster said at the time

over 60? get senior citizen railcard

Underneath someone scrawled driven by a driver who is 65

just wondering if there any countries in the World that don't require a driving licence

When I made a trip to Australia,I recall how motorists gave way to the pedestrians on all road junctions.

My thoughts on the issue with ticket checking staff at Preston towards Blackpool North(and South),is, are they value for money?
From a staff safety point of view,the guard on the train,its a good thing which means less disputes about paying etc.
Value for money not so sure,the cheap day turn up on the day return fare from Blackpool to Preston must be approx four pounds,will confirm later.
How many ticket checking staff are there at Preston over the period when the station is open.
If you are a serial fare avoider and got away with out paying all the way from London,you won't be too bothered about paying four pounds to get to Blackpool.
It appears that there are very few Blackpool to Preston only services ,Blackpool North is a staffed station
So the staff at Preston would be only checking tickets from three small stations between Blackpool North and Preston.
The trains from Blackpool South always seem to be very quiet.
As regards to Preston to London trains,I was at Preston for the first train of the day and their were two ticket checking staff on the footbridge
making sure that every one on the London bound train had tickets