Denmark comprises the peninsular of Jutland, sticking out on map to the north of Germany, and around 1400 islands of which 70 are populated.  The most populous is Zealand, with a population of over 2 million.  Zealand is connected to Sweden to its east by the Oresund bridge / tunnel which starts as a tunnel and becomes a bridge on the artificial island of Peberholm.  And it is connected to the west to the island of Funen (Fyn in Danish) again on the railway again starting with a tunnel which becomes a brifge - this time on the Island of Sprogo where this picture was taken. In this case, the parallel road is on a bridge all the way  from Zealand to Funen - a suspension bridge over the shipping channel where the railway is in a tunnel, then both bridges run side by side at a much lower level to complete the crossing to Funen.

Peberholm is 130 hectares ... on the Oresund bridge / tunnel. It does count - the picture is actually Sprogo Island on the Great Belt where the railway comes out from a tunnel and carries on via a bridge, and it's 154 hectares.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprogø

P.S.  - Peberholm is totally artificial.  Sprogo was originally a much smaller natural island but has a big extension. 

 
I would strongly recommend avoid using German rail replacement busses.

In my experience of the works around Offenburg last summer, rail replacement busses are a rare example of something something that the British are considerably better than the Germans at doing 

 
These are loco hauled coaches replacing loco hauled coaches, not DMUs.

 
Looks like it's an August construction commencement date according to the Stroud News and Journal.  Completion expected in the spring of 2026.  This will include improvements to the approach road, bus stop, cycle parking and car park.

Article link below.

https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/25366395.works-new-charfield-train-station-begin-august/

 
Seems Alaska Air is coming to Heathrow

https://news.alaskaair.com/destinations/alaska-airlines-continues-international-expansion-with-new-flights-to-london-and-reykjavik-from-seattle-with-a-first-look-at-our-new-global-experience/

 
or possibly the artificial island on the Oresund bridge, Peberholm (if that counts?).

 
A few months ago I posted a link to a story about Deutsche Bahn closing parts of the railway for months as part of their rebuilding programme. The latest closure is the Berlin to Hamburg route.

From DW. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-berlin-hamburg-deutsche-bahn-trains-canceled/a-73466333

 
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06 will be terminated at Gloucester.

It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

 
I presume that no buffet is to be offered, but at least loco hauled coaches are a step up from DMUs. The absence of underfloor engines is welcome.
And NOT IETS 
And if the route is ever electrified, the same coaches could be hauled by an electric loco.

 
I've read quite a lot about "Balsam Buster" groups being busy all over the country.  To  add to the solutions, I've also been reading about the introduction of a fungus rust specific only to Himalayan Balsam which looks to control rather than wipe out the plant giving native species the opportunity to compete.  Test results are apparently encouraging although it works better in some locations than others, the reasons for which are still being investigated.

 
This story has hit the Guardian and refers to the Waterloo / Exeter line and SW Trains:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/04/rail-services-england-cut-dry-embankments-disturb-track

Complete with a picture of a Cross Country train at Dawlish

 

Interesting thought - I had to look than one up.  But, no, much smaller.

 
Fehmarn?

 
It reminds me of when that beacon of accurate and fact checked journalism, Bristol Live, ran an article about local pubs you could visit which featured murals and other artwork on their exteriors.  Problem was that a number of them had been repainted some time back....2 years in one example...into a more traditional form but doubtless before Google Streetview had been updated.

 
The second time now an email includes an error

The location listed to visit in Bristol closed weeks ago

 
"First Class carriages offered as an on-the-day upgrade offering more spacious seats"

With 1st class fares available from Dec 2026

 

.......best add another zero or two!

 
Mk5As confirmed:

https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/more-trains-newer-trains

"We're excited to introduce our newer trains to the Chiltern network, designed with your comfort, convenience and accessibility in mind."

 

Well I did say, earlier in this thread, something about HS2 costings in Wiltshire.....................

 
DevonAir's Facebook post about the emergency timetable on the Waterloo - Exeter line amused me. 

https://ibb.co/kV0TQXqc

 
Update from SERUG about the locations of restrictions
Timetable planners updated again from SERUG

 

Leaving / joining public transport along the way - mostly trains

M Melksham
C Chippenham
P Paddington
L Liverpool Street
M Manningtree
H Harwich Parkston Quay
H Hoek van Holland
S Schiedam Central
D Den Haag Central
H Henglo
O Osnabrouck
H Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
O Odense
K Kobenhaven Central
G Gothehburg Cental
O Orebro
L Ludvika
M Mora
O Ostersund
S Storien
A Are
O Ostersund
G Gullivare
B Boden
G Gullivare
N Narvik

 

I would be pretty sure that is for different element combinations - at the current quite early "optioning" stage there is no definitive "this is exactly it" specification. 

 
One of the smallest islands with rails - but where?

 
Same map, but in a better format:

https://open.berthmaps.mistral-data.net/

 
Tuesday August 5

Looks to be on time according to RTT.

 

I'm pretty sure the people in Yorkshire would be hot on the Cornish heals

 
A safety inspection caused some disruption later on:

1W02 1152 London Paddington to Hereford : departed +33, arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +25, cancelled thereafter.
1W25 1252 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street : arrived Shrub Hill +16, foregate St +24
1W27 1350 London Paddington to Great Malvern : held Evesham (+19), arrived Shrub Hill +25 and cancelled thereafter..
1W29 1453 London Paddington to Foregate St : held Evesham (+29), arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +25 and cancelled thereafter
1W30 1523 London Paddington to Foregate St : held Evesham (+37), arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +36 and cancelled thereafter.
1W31 1552 London Paddington to Great Malvern : held Evesham (+34), arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +34 and cancelled thereafter.
1W03 1734 London Paddington to Hereford : held Wolvercote (+20), Evesham (+29), arrived +25.
1W34 1757 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street : departed +14, arrived +15.

1P34 1518 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington : departed +14, eld Charlbury (+27), arrived +32.
1P05 1518 Hereford to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill (+11), held Norton (+15)
1P38 1632 Great Malvern to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill, held Norton (+25), arrived Evesham +42, saved 16 at Moreton, arrived +22.
1P39 1726 Foregate St  to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill, held Norton (+35), saved 10 at Moreton, delayed Didcot (+41), arrived +39.
1P40 1802 Foregate St to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill (+14), ran via Stroud.
1P42 1902 Great Malvern to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill

 

That's the one in the background!