11:27 Weymouth to Chippenham due 13:29

11:27 Weymouth to Chippenham due 13:29 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

13:47 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45

13:47 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time

19:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:23 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:27/07/2025 04:49

I would look to MarkA's opinion on what the "unusual conditions" mean **nip**

10:41 Westbury to Swindon due 11:23

Facilities on the 10:41 Westbury to Swindon due 11:23.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

I think it's Sweden - despite my previous Indian-sub-continent-themed post.

More ABBA, then. 

Five grab lorries were needed to remove a "carpet" of 80 tonnes of duckweed from a canal.

Stourport Basin in Worcestershire, was turned fluorescent green by the tiny, free-floating aquatic plant, and earlier in July it was reported a dog had drowned in the canal after it went into the water.

Charles Hughes from the Canal and Rivers Trust said Stourport Basin had one of the worst incidents of duckweed growth ever seen in the West Midlands, with the entire canal and nearby locations experiencing rapid widespread growth.  "We've been spending a lot of money and time trying to deal with this - it was a five day job which cost us £12,500," he said.

"Duckweed is very difficult to manually remove, because it's very small plants, but it can get quite heavy as well. Because they multiply and grow so quickly, they almost form these mats over the surface and often it can be quite deceptive, especially for people who come into an area they are not familiar with. You won't see any open water so it presents a health and safety risk," he added.



The task to remove the plant involved using a weed harvester boat, developed to specifically remove water plants. "We then remove it into a storage called a hopper before we take it away to be disposed of. We had five grab lorries worth which amounted to 80 tonnes of duckweed."

Mr Hughes said as the region experiences hotter and drier weather, it creates the perfect environment for the aquatic plant to grow quickly and invasively. "Over the last five years, we've been having to spend tens of thousands of pounds just in the West Midlands region alone. The annual costs of just managing aquatic weed can come close to the million pound mark," he said.

View from train about an hour ago ... where am I?

Cropredy lock on the Oxford Canal is already closed, meaning that this canal is closed south of that lock already.

Absolute safety is not achievable, but the risks could be reduced by CCTV monitoring, and by regular police patrols.

I presume that more people are seeking telephone help from the Samaritans, rather than visiting in person.

I was about to say it is amazing how many children see coal for the first time when they go to a heritage railways.   But I then noticed I made the same comment in this thread 11 years ago!

Increasing numbers of canals in the West Midlands are closing, due to a lack of water.

The Canal and River Trust has warned that dry conditions were causing problems at a number of locks, including Wolverhampton lock flight.

It will close from Wednesday 30 July until there is sufficient rainfall to replenish reservoirs, said the trust.

The measure was necessary to help protect vital water resources on the Wolverhampton level, which supports several other parts of the Birmingham Canal navigations, it said.

"Whilst the majority of the network is open and fully navigable, there are currently restrictions in place on certain canals," the trust said.

Other areas affected in the region include:

Birmingham and Fazeley Canal - Minworth lock is closed

Coventry Canal - Atherstone top lock to lock 6 has restricted passage

Rushall Canal lock is closed

Walsall Canal - Ryders Green lock has restricted passage

Caldon Canal in Staffordshire - Cheddleton top lock to bottom lock is closed

Volunteer lock-keepers have been helping to manage boat traffic at lock flights "to ensure water supplies are used as sparingly as possible," said national boating manager Alex Hennessey.  "Water levels are being reviewed on a daily basis and we will remove, or introduce, water-saving measures as necessary," he added.

Great Western Railway train manager who sexually assaulted woman passenger, 18, as he asked to check her ticket is jailed for seven years

A Great Western Railway train manager has been jailed for seven years after he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old passenger when asking to check her ticket.

Nicholas McMurray, 38, approached the victim and asked to see her ticket, and adjusted the woman's dress, British Transport Police said.

The 18-year-old had been standing and chatting on the phone in the vestibule shortly before it arrived in Swansea when McMurray sexually assaulted her on June 22, 2024.

He continued to hold the victim until the train pulled into the station and made sexually explicit comments to her before touching her again as she got off the train.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, bravely reported the incident to officers at the station.

Police found the 38-year-old standing by the stationary train when he was arrested.

Predator McMurray was 'immediately removed from duty as train manager for GWR' and no longer works there.

He has since been found guilty of sexual assault, assault by penetration as Swansea Crown Court on February 5.

Last year he was sentenced to seven years in prison and put on the sex offenders register for life.



Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Farrell, said: 'When arrested, McMurray lied to officers stating the victim had tried to kiss him and he had pushed her off. His lies continued in interview as he claimed that the victim had consented to his actions'

He added: 'McMurray completely abused his position and took advantage of this young woman. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victim for her courage and bravery throughout the police investigation. McMurray will now have to spend a considering amount of time to reflect on the actions he took that day'

Anyone who is a victim or a witness to a sexual offence on a railway has been urged to report it by texting 61016.

A GWR spokesperson said: 'We are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and trust for our customers and employees. As soon as we became aware of the incident, we took immediate action to remove the individual from duty and he no longer works for the business. This sentencing was only possible because of the victim's immense courage in coming forward and her strength and determination in the aftermath. As we welcome the court's decision, our thoughts remain firmly with her and her family. We extend our sincere thanks to the British Transport Police for their thorough investigation into this matter and continue to work with them to maintain the safety of our trains and at our stations.'

Police hunt for woman who sexually assaulted male train worker as he walked through carriage

Police are hunting for a woman who allegedly sexually assaulted a male train worker as he walked through a carriage late at night.

At the time of the assault, the railway employee had been passing through a carriage as it travelled between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook in northern Nottinghamshire. The attack is said to have occurred at around 9pm on Saturday, May 31.

Now, the British Transport Police have issued an urgent appeal for the public's assistance and are hoping to speak to a woman captured on CCTV on the day of the incident. Officers believe that she could hold vital information that could help aid their investigation. Anyone who recognises the woman has been asked to contact British Transport Police.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'Police investigating a sexual assault on a rail staff member in Nottinghamshire have released this image in connection. At around 9pm on Saturday 31 May, a member of staff was on a train between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook.



'As he walked down the carriage, a woman sexually assaulted him. Officers would like to speak to the woman pictured as they believe she may have information that could assist their enquiries.'

Any individuals with relevant information or able to identify the woman pictured have been asked to contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 682 of 31 May.  Information can also be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.