Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Abbey Wood station In "Transport for London" [365331/30700/46] Posted by CyclingSid at 15:27, 8th September 2025 |      |
As they say, the power of the Liz line https://bsky.app/profile/murkydepths.bsky.social/post/3lyd3vxobws2e
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365330/30696/51] Posted by johnneyw at 15:02, 8th September 2025 | |
I see the alerts as not just a means of potentially avoiding risk to myself but also of reducing the likelihood of having to put demands upon what could be hard pressed emergency services.... 'doing ones bit', if you like.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365329/30696/51] Posted by broadgage at 14:46, 8th September 2025 | |
I didn't receive it as I was out of the country at the time so have no idea what it sounds like
Sounds awful, screeching sound. I switched it off before they did the first test a couple of years ago.A bit like a seagull screeching ?
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365328/30696/51] Posted by bobm at 14:03, 8th September 2025 | |
As I said before, I am not against the alerts just the way they are delivered. If Apple allowed them to post a message and vibrate without the sound, I'd be happy.
As it is I've survived more than three score years without them so I am happy to take my chances going forward.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365326/30696/51] Posted by JayMac at 13:29, 8th September 2025 Already liked by IndustryInsider, broadgage | |
Authoritarianism is bad enough, without inviting yet more of it from the government
The current government were not the architects of this 'authoritarianism'.
A system using modern technology that is designed to save lives is the sort of 'authoritarianism' I can get on board with. An infrequent test of said system is a mere trifle.
You are of course free to ignore the tests, and any real 'threats to life' warnings. Or block them completely. Were it really authoritarian you wouldn't have the choice to ignore or block.
| Re: Bus Service 205 In "Transport for London" [365325/30357/46] Posted by grahame at 13:18, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Chris from Nailsea | |
I had to travel from St Pancras to Paddington yesterday evening. No underground and Thameslink not crossing London. Staff at St Pancras were telling passengers to catch the 205 bus to Paddington despite the fact that it doesn't go there anymore. The buses were chaotic with many terminating short. the 27 which is the connecting service from the 205 showed a wait of 24 minutes. I ended up in a taxi for the last stage of the journey and just caught my train. Not good service.
Forgive me quoting you from another thread - but this illustrates the gap the TfL have chosen to leave for visitors crossing London, and how impractical the change between buses is. Failure of public transport. You should not end up needing a Taxi to cross between major terminals!
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365324/30696/51] Posted by ChrisB at 12:53, 8th September 2025 | |
iPhone has a setting in Settings>Notifications. Just scroll down to the bottom and there are a couple of toggles to silence the alarms. Authoritarianism is bad enough, without inviting yet more of it from the government
Yup - that completely stops the iphone from receiving any alerts at all.
I don't however think there is a setting that allows you to receive the alert silently, with or without vibrate - and just get the message on screen silently
| Re: London Underground - industrial action by RMT, early September 2025 In "Transport for London" [365323/30605/46] Posted by ChrisB at 12:49, 8th September 2025 | |
Elizabeth Line bow showing "Good service" stopping at all stations.
Thameslink stopping at Farringdon 0730 - 2230 today
| Re: London Underground - industrial action by RMT, early September 2025 In "Transport for London" [365322/30605/46] Posted by rogerw at 12:33, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
I had to travel from St Pancras to Paddington yesterday evening. No underground and Thameslink not crossing London. Staff at St Pancras were telling passengers to catch the 205 bus to Paddington despite the fact that it doesn't go there anymore. The buses were chaotic with many terminating short. the 27 which is the connecting service from the 205 showed a wait of 24 minutes. I ended up in a taxi for the last stage of the journey and just caught my train. Not good service.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365321/30696/51] Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:32, 8th September 2025 Already liked by JayMac, GBM | |
I'm quite happy to put up with a very occasional test for a system that has the potential to save lives on the very rare occasions it needs to be used.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [365320/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 12:28, 8th September 2025 | |
Hereford is not having a good day:
09:52 London Paddington to Hereford due 12:46 has been cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 12:19
13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:24 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 12:19
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 12:19
13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:24 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 12:19
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365319/30696/51] Posted by Witham Bobby at 12:18, 8th September 2025 | |
iPhone has a setting in Settings>Notifications. Just scroll down to the bottom and there are a couple of toggles to silence the alarms. Authoritarianism is bad enough, without inviting yet more of it from the government
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365318/30696/51] Posted by Timmer at 11:47, 8th September 2025 | |
I didn't receive it as I was out of the country at the time so have no idea what it sounds like
Sounds awful, screeching sound. I switched it off before they did the first test a couple of years ago.| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365317/30696/51] Posted by rogerw at 11:46, 8th September 2025 | |
I didn't receive it as I was out of the country at the time so have no idea what it sounds like
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365316/30696/51] Posted by stuving at 11:27, 8th September 2025 | |
On my (Samsung/Android) tablet, in the settings for emergency alerts, there is an option to "speak alert messages" using text-to-speech. This was set to off, so the tablet made a lot of noise but said nothing yesterday. I imagine this is present in of most, if not all, Android phones.
I also wonder whether a phone might allow you to answer an alert as if it was a call. That might not be standardised, but depend on the specific user interface.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [365315/29711/14] Posted by ChrisB at 09:44, 8th September 2025 | |
I heard it was signal failure at Ledbury
| Re: Three killed in Isle of Wight helicopter crash during flying lesson: 25 Aug 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365314/30626/51] Posted by grahame at 09:42, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
It was being used for pilot training - so may be student error or pilot error - but yes, human error of some kind
It's probably fair to say that - as we aim for zero accidents / casualties - any and every accident is caused by an error (which may be a systemic one) in every case. Sometimes by the operational people there at the time, and at other times by those a little - or a lot removed. Best to look at the evidence but leave conclusions until the experts have poured over the data they have which is far more than's available to us.
I'm looking at the IoW helicopter, the Lisbon funicular, the Lyndey heritage railway incident, and also the most-days toll of "person hit by train" which, sadly, seem so regular that they don't make the front page any longer.
| Re: Belmond Britannic Explorer In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [365313/30661/47] Posted by Andy at 09:32, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, johnneyw | |
Maybe they could take on (part of) the Royal train when it's decommissioned....
| Re: Three killed in Isle of Wight helicopter crash during flying lesson: 25 Aug 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365312/30626/51] Posted by ChrisB at 09:19, 8th September 2025 | |
It was being used for pilot training - so may be student error or pilot error - but yes, human error of some kind
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365311/30696/51] Posted by ChrisB at 09:18, 8th September 2025 | |
Actually, ChrisB, it was verbal as well as textual. Unless you've blocked the audio setting?
How do you do that then? You can turn off the alert completely, but not the audio unless you silence it - but I got the tone plus vibrate.But
Only audio (plus written stuff on the screen), no verbal.
Will look at our settings later as not aware there were alternatives.
Will look at our settings later as not aware there were alternatives.
No verbal, at least on iPhones.
| Re: London Underground - industrial action by RMT, early September 2025 In "Transport for London" [365310/30605/46] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:58, 8th September 2025 | |
.....are the RMT also campaigning for a reduction in wages to match the reduced hours?
Seems fairly unlikely but surely it is incumbent upon TfL to inform the RMT that a wage reduction would be required to at least partially cover the cost of the additional staff.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365309/30696/51] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:33, 8th September 2025 | |
I did not receive the alert on my 'phone; long may that continue.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365308/30696/51] Posted by Phil at 08:19, 8th September 2025 | |
I was in my car when it went off (I know, forgive me; I realise it's sacrilege mentioning cars on a public transport forum but I had heavy stuff to transport) - anyway, my iPhone is connected to the car when I'm driving, so I received the alert through the car's speakers, then used the touch screen on the dashboard to hear the spoken information (and get rid of the annoying display). That was read out in my car's usual speaking voice, not the American voice I've heard people complaining of. So, there's that at least.
| Re: When is the emergency alert test on mobile phones and can you opt out? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365307/30696/51] Posted by GBM at 07:34, 8th September 2025 | |
Huh? It wasn't verbal.
I'm guessing that you have accessibility settings turned on, and it read the alert message to you. But the alert was a tone, nothing verbal
Only audio (plus written stuff on the screen), no verbal.I'm guessing that you have accessibility settings turned on, and it read the alert message to you. But the alert was a tone, nothing verbal
Will look at our settings later as not aware there were alternatives.
| Re: Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads Oct 27-30 replacement buses only In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [365306/30643/10] Posted by grahame at 07:25, 8th September 2025 | |
From Bristol Live
A section of the A4, the major road connecting Bristol and Bath, is set to be affected by works for six months from today (Monday, September 
. The works are part of the construction of a new 208-home development on the eastern edge of Keynsham by Curo Group, a home builder and housing association.
[snip]
There will be no diversions in place during the construction. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation between 9.30am and 3pm. Arrangements will be made to ensure "two way traffic and normal pedestrian flow" during the busy Christmas period between November 24 and January 1, according to traffic monitoring site One.Network.
Thousand of extra motorists journey along the A4 at that time of year to visit Bath's incredibly popular Christmas Market, with congestion particularly common at weekends.
According to Bath and North East Somerset Council, delays are unlikely to occur as a result of the works. The project will also include pedestrian and cycle improvements, Curo said.
. The works are part of the construction of a new 208-home development on the eastern edge of Keynsham by Curo Group, a home builder and housing association.[snip]
There will be no diversions in place during the construction. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation between 9.30am and 3pm. Arrangements will be made to ensure "two way traffic and normal pedestrian flow" during the busy Christmas period between November 24 and January 1, according to traffic monitoring site One.Network.
Thousand of extra motorists journey along the A4 at that time of year to visit Bath's incredibly popular Christmas Market, with congestion particularly common at weekends.
According to Bath and North East Somerset Council, delays are unlikely to occur as a result of the works. The project will also include pedestrian and cycle improvements, Curo said.
Noting that the Christmas Market is considered, but the time the railway line is shut is not mentioned ...
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [365305/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 07:16, 8th September 2025 | |
Monday September 8
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:24 has been delayed at Hereford and is now 86 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 06:58
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 06:58
The problem looks as if it's on 'our' line - 1V17 0556 Worcester Shrub Hill to Hereford was cancelled after Great Malvern. But 1V18 0628 Worcester Shrub Hill to Hereford is currently waiting for the single line at Ledbury.
An update:
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:24 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
It has been delayed at Hereford and is now 86 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 07:22
Arrived Shrub Hill 07:50 (+102).It has been delayed at Hereford and is now 86 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 07:22
And:
09:52 London Paddington to Hereford due 12:46 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 07:49
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:08/09/2025 07:49
| Re: A fear of driving / on the rise In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [365304/30694/49] Posted by grahame at 07:02, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Mark A, broadgage, johnneyw | |
I have cut my driving from 30,000 a year to more like 300 miles a year these days and you could ask "why"?
a) I have no need to travel long distances with heavy equipment any more
b) I prefer to travel by public transport as it's more relaxed, more social and greener
c) The only car we have left on the road has a 150 mile range - electric car now 7 years old
d) Whist my eyesight has changed, it is still very easily legal (professionally checked a couple or months ago)
e) I do not feel as confident driving in the dark as I once did (is this the "fear" talked about??)
f) I know that at some point I won't be able to drive and don't want it to be a shattering life change when that happens
g) Too much hassle on many shorter journeys driving in traffic jams and parking; better to allow a few more minutes and walk or even cycle.
h) Cheaper to get the bus into Bath than pay for parking
i) Not travelling as much with multiple family members i.e. children, etc, where car is more efficient
| Re: A fear of driving / on the rise In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [365303/30694/49] Posted by infoman at 06:35, 8th September 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
My annoyance is drivers who sound their horns at other motorists who think they have been wronged by other drivers.
If drivers have got time to sound their horn,they have time to to avoid "the issue"
| Re: Three killed in Isle of Wight helicopter crash during flying lesson: 25 Aug 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [365302/30626/51] Posted by JayMac at 22:03, 7th September 2025 | |
It may be premature and insensitive but it is a fact that most air incidents are due to human error. Upwards of 80%. Pilot error though is found to be the primary cause in around 50% of fatal incidents in commercial passenger aviation. Higher in general aviation.
Still a dangerous assumption for an aircraft manufacturer to make. Boeing executives blamed pilot error for the two 737 Max crashes. That insinuation came back and bit them hard on the butt. Those crashes were still human error though. Just not the humans in the cockpit.
