Starbucks customers in South Korea have been asked to stop bringing "bulky items" into cafes to do their office work, after some brought printers and desktop computers.

Others had brought in partitions and more than one computer to mark their office territory.

As many people choose to work from home, cafes like Starbucks have been trying to strike the balance between being a casual coffee place and welcoming customers choosing to work there.

Because boardmasters arrives without warning, rather like Easter.

Wot?  They (GWR) didn't pick that one up on their early warning radar?? 

Steam trains suspended due to moorland fire



The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has suspended its steam train services while firefighters tackle a moorland blaze.

Fire crews were called at 18:30 BST on Monday to reports of smoke at Langdale Moor near RAF Fylingdales.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said crews would be tackling the blaze "for some time", with seven remaining at the scene on Tuesday.

The NYMR said steam services would be on hold until further notice to help "reduce pressure" on the fire service. It said: "Due to the large wildfire at Harwood Dale, which is outside the NYMR route but within the North York Moors National Park, we have made the decision to pause steam services until further notice. This is to help reduce the risk of lineside fires and reduce pressure on the fire service. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding."

The NYMR said its heritage diesel fleet would still run its scheduled services.

A fire service spokesperson said crews found the fire had "jumped" a fire break put in place late on Monday, and advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed. They added the fire was covering an area more than 980ft by 980ft (300m x 300m).

An eyesight test that requires the driver to be able to read a numberplate at 20 metres is archaic: it has never has been fit for purpose and needs to be ... retired.

I've not yet booked my Autumn break.

All train services into Bristol Temple Meads Station are either cancelled or delayed while emergency services respond to an incident.

Great Western Railway (GWR) announced just before 16:00 BST that all lines are currently blocked, with the disruption expected to last until at least 18:30.

GWR said a person had been struck by a train, adding: "Emergency services are on site currently. Whilst the situation is assessed all trains in the area are not able to move."

The operator said further updates would be posted on its website and that it was looking at other public transport options that might be able to help stranded passengers.

'Action still needed' five years after fatal derailment


Donald Dinnie, Christopher Stuchbury and Brett McCullough died in the 2020 crash

"Urgent action" is still needed to improve rail safety after the Stonehaven train derailment which left three men dead five years ago, a union has warned.

The Aberdeen to Glasgow train derailed at Carmont in Aberdeenshire on 12 August 2020 after hitting a landslide following heavy rain.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died. Network Rail was fined £6.7m in 2023 after admitting a series of failings which led to the deaths.

The RMT union said eight of 20 safety recommendations still remained incomplete. Network Rail said "meaningful progress" had been made.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) annual report for 2024, published earlier this year, revealed eight of its 20 safety recommendations remained "open".

These included control room capability and drainage design. It was based on information provided by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) about work carried out before 31 March this year.

"Open" is described as the recommendation being taken into consideration and action being taken to implement it.

The ORR said the rail industry had taken "significant steps", and recommendations which remained open had "agreed plans to implement the recommended actions".



On the 5th anniversary, RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: "Our thoughts are with the families of Donald, Brett and Chris, and with those injured and traumatised in the crash. But remembrance alone is not enough - there must be action, and it needs to be urgent. It is outrageous that five years after the accident took place, and three years since the RAIB set out what needed to change, that so many safety recommendations are still outstanding."

He added: "We demand better - for those we lost, for those who survived, and for the safety of every worker and passenger going forward."

Network Rail also said its thoughts were with everyone involved in the Carmont tragedy. "Since August 2020, we've been working hard to make our railway safer for passengers and colleagues," a statement said. "We're investing more than £400m in projects to strengthen the railway's resilience to increasingly unpredictable weather."

It added: "Meaningful progress has been made on the recommendations from the Carmont investigation, which includes co-ordinated action across all Network Rail routes, and we continue to work closely with the ORR, train operators, and other key stakeholders."


(BBC article continues)

From The Telegraph via Facebook


Yes - but if there is a significant risk of you changing the life of others you'll just have to accept the life change. Perhaps even see it as a new start or phase.  This story highlights the impact of the changes on people.   My understanding is that the proposal is not to take away license at 90, but to take away licenses if and when your reduced eyesight means you can no longer drive safely

It looks like they have a service every 2 hours to beyond Plymouth today, mostly to Paddington.  Will it be able to be hourly next year, and will they have enough trains and enough staff?

I have to say that I find the final paragraph in the GWR statement somewhat distasteful (and, regrettably, predictable) - it praises the "station staff for their swift response" - then goes on to "tick off" the man for taking immediate action. I must suppose the mystery man was expected to produce his phone and send a text to 61016.................and look around for (probably) non-existent staff. I daresay he knew full well that jumping down onto the track was not the safest thing to do - but his concern for the fallen passenger overcame his concern for his own safety. People used to get the George Cross for that - now they get b*******d by someone in GWR's ivory tower.

How about GWR saying "well done sir" to the unknown man - at the very least    Fat chance  !!

I used to cycle a reasonable amount, including commuting, but the thought of getting on a bike now at 60 scares me.

Do you live on a remote Scottish island, or are you just exceptionally brave?

That route does look good, to my untrained eye anyway.

EDIT removed daft suggestion

This is going to be the 'Bypass of the bypass', yes.? Provision for the Wilts and Berks Canal klaxon too.

Mark