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There are very worrying signs that AI is already out of control. Here's my starting point - I would like to see what others think. It's OpenAi's report into the "Hugging Face Incident" available here: https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-incident-and-the-road-ahead/ Here's the summary. The...

60103 Flying Scotsman is currently at the Watercress Line (attracting a lot of punters, by all accounts). Its last event in Hampshire is on the 21st March and NRM is advertising it on display there from 28th; it arrived in steam from Tyseley via Worcester, Oxford, Reading and Guildford...

All lines closed somewhere south of Milton Keynes this morning. National Rail is saying "emergency services incident". Any further info? Reason for asking is that we have a some students travelling down for a seminar this morning and just wondering what to plan for.

William McGonagall gets my "worst railway poem" vote: Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay! Alas! I am very sorry to say That ninety lives have been taken away On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember’d for a very long time But what's your best? Reason for asking: I...

A lot has been written on this Forum about the perceived failure of the Swanage Railway's main line connecting service. I was trying to recall which heritage railways have a main line connection, and if any of those have made a success of a regular (probably seasonal) main line connecting...

There was a thought provoking article by Alan Rusbridger in the Independent last week. It's behind a paywall so I can't link it but the important bit is below. And the answer seems to be a resounding "YES". Thoughts invited.

This thread is prompted by the following article in "Rail" online: Article available here...

Whilst pottering round about the history of the City Widened Lines (part of the Metropolitan Railway, now partly used by Thameslink) I found this extraordinary photograph of the prototype GNR L1 0-8-2T No 116. It's clear that the locomotive is in ex-works condition - I think in photographic...

Mrs C attended a small boarding school in Devon in the 1960s. Her trunk would be sent ahead by the "Passenger's Luggage in Advance" service. (It didn't always arrive before she did). How did that work? Presumably you had to book and pay extra for your luggage when buying the ticket. Did it...

Am travelling from Crewkerne to Alton this afternoon but realtime trains is showing lots of disruption. Problem seems to be between Woking and Basingstoke. Any clues as to how long it might go on?

Next week I am travelling with Mrs C from Crewkerne to Alton and back - change at Woking. I wasn't expecting a reserved seat on the Woking-Alton and Alton-Woking legs, but I remembered reserving a seat on the Wessex Main Line service a few years ago. Crewkerne - Woking is two hours more or...

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 came into force this week (20th May 2024) but didn't get much airtime. Here's the government announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/self-driving-vehicles-set-to-be-on-roads-by-2026-as-automated-vehicles-act-becomes-law The Act itself is published...

I think many on this Forum may be interested in the above report which has just been published on the RAIB/Government website. The message (which I think might have been stated more clearly) is that the lessons of the Clapham accident are being forgotten and if the industry doesn't mend its...

I used to live in village with a (short) 40mph section on on an otherwise unrestricted "A" road that cut the community in half. We measured speeds of up to 60mph at times and crossing on foot, at the only possible location, on a bend with a restricted sightline, was a nightmare. You had to...

I will start with some extracts from a booklet called "Portsmouth Railways" by Edwin Course, published by Portsmouth City Council in 1969. A copy has kindly been given to me recently: I hadn't heard of this proposal before. It strikes me that if built it might have radically changed Hayling...

RSSB has released a "Sustainable Rail Blueprint" - available on the following link: https://www.rssb.co.uk/-/media/Project/RSSB/RssbWebsite/Documents/Public/Public-content/Sustainability/the-sustainable-rail-blueprint.pdf Here's the Executive Summary: And the Introduction, which doesn't...

The Public Accounts Committee has published a report on the plans for Euston Station. It's available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7316/hs2-euston/publications/ Here is the Summary on Page 1:

I see that the Class 700s are to get an ERTMS upgrade: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/thameslink-fleet-set-for-additional-digital-upgrade#:~:text=The%20entire%20fleet%20will%20be,the%20East%20Coast%20Digital%20Programme. These trains were fitted with ETCS and and ATO from the...

Article dated 10th May 2023 from New Civil Engineer website - it's behind a paywall so no point in linking it. I will quote in full: Is this money well spent?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64540696 I have started this thread, not because I have anything useful to say, but because it seems wrong that we ignore this tragic event completely. Our thoughts are, I am sure, with the victims and their families and particularly with those...