Recent content by peteb

You're absolutely right, I'm looking at a colour photo of No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell at Ribblehead, and there are indeed only three maroon coaches in the consist! Someone had better start painting......!!

Given 2028 is only 15 months away, and it'll be 60 years since the 15 guinea special in August 2028, it'd be good to get a decent rake of mainline-certified mk1's set up in appropriate livery. These would need to be mainly in maroon but with a few carriages in blue and grey, as per the original...

I can't see that increasing the current speed limit for trains (on the Bewdley to Kidderminster section of the SVR in passenger carrying service) is going to be feasible for anyone. Rather, if the trial is considered successful, then through WMR running from the national network onto SVR metals...

Birmingham's new skyscrapers can be seen at night from the A road crossing Titterstone Clee, looking east (32 miles). A few years ago I saw the tower blocks in Brierley Hill from the Devils Chair, Stiperstones (35 miles). As the Birmingham buildings are much taller their red lights may well be...

Strange maybe but dipping in and out has to be the way to go on the 1,2,3 month passes. I'll be getting a 3 month paper pass Plus the traditional inter-rail trip for students in the 80s was a month, so maybe they're trying to re-attract that customer-base again?

Yes a WMR card reader at the entrance to Platform 2 Bewdley from where all Kidderminster bound services depart, and an identical one at the ticket gates at Kidderminster SVR would then place the onus on all travellers, in whichever direction, to tap in and thus validating their journey. I can...

It seems that tickets are available to purchase from the West Midlands Railway website: West Midlands Railway: Train tickets, travel information, train times and train timetables https://share.google/vYJpU83KVpM0NQumQ However, attempts to buy them on the West Midlands Railway App failed...

Yes, verbally to the Revenue Protection Manager on Bewdley station.

I see the current situation thus: WMR only have revenue protection teams at Bewdley and on morning trains to sell tickets for the morning services towards Kidderminster and beyond/vice versa. Kidderminster (Network Rail) booking office can sell tickets for journeys to/from Bewdley (as can any...

The article on BBC 1 Midlands Today broadcast 6.30pm 1st September 2026 featured interviews with genuine commuters from Bewdley heading towards Birmingham on the first trial service train. There's a link on BBC iplayer but I cannot access iPlayer on my devices (except TV) at present to attach...

WMR is chartering the trains from the SVR, I believe, so I'd think they'd have a contingency plan in place in the event of railway related disruption.

Nice little cafe run by the SVR has opened early mornings just outside the SVR station entrance adjacent to its booking hall. So allow a few minutes to visit that. The kiosk space on the Network Rail station remains empty......... Videos are starting to appear on YouTube.

It's outside the West Midlands Fare Zones which go up to Stourbridge Junction. However I believe there is still a West Midlands Day Ranger available, valid to places like Stratford and Worcester so it'd fall within that area boundary. Also someone today was on an all line rover and that was...

Just to update, 01/09/2026 first morning trains ran to time. Press presence including BBC TV and radio, Rail Magazine, Geoff Marshall etc. Inaugural 0640am train well loaded with passengers for various destinations. Purchase of ticket no problem at Kidderminster booking office. Anytime day...

I'm going to attempt to travel Kidderminster to Bewdley and return tomorrow morning. I'll report back on if/how/where I managed to buy a ticket!!!! However it seems as though tickets won't be available from Kidderminster to Bewdley on the return leg of the morning services, certainly WM trains...