Andy Bowes-Roden

#hayle looking gorgeous today

Storm Ingrid damage forces closure of Devon railway line The Dawlish railway line is closed

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... - the SW economy could be looking at a £27m/day hit to its economy with the loss of the coastal railway. It’s time to revisit the TORS proposals to reopen the #NorthernRoute from plymouth to Exeter via Tavistock - generated by genuine #railway experts.

A nature vid from the weekend in #Gwithian #Cornwall. I’m told this is a kestrel. Bird recognition not a strong point. Enjoy !

I’ve subbed Roger Ford’s latest Informed Sources for the next issue of @modernrailways.keypublishing.com and he’s on fire. If you’ve an interest in railways, you’re really not going to miss the February issue!

Editorial Assistant Woof is opting for comfort tonight. If she does this tomorrow, she’s doing the writing and subbing.

Gently, I shall ask. The blunt reality from a work perspective is that it’s still very useful. Railway, Cornwall and retro games are what I’m on the other place for.

Editorial Assistant Woof and I are making a conscious decision to post much more on here than the other place. So expect trains, Cornwall and dog treats posts from now on.

I went a while ago for Modern Railways - first time over there. Absolutely fell in love with Ryde St John’s Road depot and can’t wait to head back to do the remaining railways, Mrs B-R and Editorial Assistant Woof alongside :-)

#Stormgoretti was the worst I’ve known in 21 years in #Cornwall. Huge thanks to the power, water, telecoms, highways and many other teams for working so bloody hard to get things back to normal. A hell of an achievement given the damage caused. We’re very grateful.

I’m hoping for lelant saltings in the bottom 10!

This whole Avanti West Coast/ORR surreality exposes why having a single body responsible for the timetable is so important. If the train’s a big money maker and really important, it goes first on the graph and everything else works around it. It is utterly bonkers.

Put a ham in the oven to roast at lunchtime. Editorial Assistant Woof is refusing to leave a radius of more than two metres from the cooker. Clever woof!

The Human Factor: We must take power away from the In her latest column looking at the human side of the railway, TRACEY BARBER says racism, homophobia and other prejudice must be challenged - and eliminated.

In her latest The Human Factor column, Tracey Barber highlights prejudice on the railway - and says power MUST be taken away from those who preach it. www.modernrailways.com/article/huma...

#Hayle #Cornwall #EditorialAssistantWoof

Experience with #SaveOurSleeper 20 years ago proves our voices really CAN make a difference and if we speak with one strong voice, we can get these vital works for the South West completed and ensure Plymouth, Torbay, South Devon and Cornwall remain connected to the network. Thanks so much!

This campaign needs you now Unpause Phase 5 of South West Rail Resilience Programme

#SaveOurRailway #Dawlish

PETITION NOW LIVE!

Our petition calling on the Government to reinstate the Phase 5 cliff works of the South West Rail Resilience Programme is now live here: chng.it/MnChtg2zfG

Please sign the petition and share the link to help us make the strongest case possible.

If any of my lovely friends can offer any sort of assistance, please let me know. If we speak with one strong voice we can give the government the ammunition it needs to put the vital cliff works back on the agenda.

20 years after Save Our Sleeper, it’s time for the South West to dust off its campaigning hat and present an irresistible case for the government to rethink its decision to pause the resilience works at #Dawlish. I’ll be setting up a petition before work tomorrow, but in the meantime…

Just me and eldest in the house tonight. Eldest will likely go upstairs after din meaning I can watch old episodes of top gear guilt free with curry and chips.

A few from this morning’s walk with Assistant Woof. Looks like it’s going to be gorgeous!

I was watching Heidi Alexander make her debut appearance at #transportcommittee today. Some interesting answers - but am I alone in perceiving a lukewarm attitude to freight in her responses? Was noticeable how quickly she shifted them to passengers. Freight sector is concerned about GBR.

Dull old morning in Kernow today walking Editorial Assistant Woof. Atmospheric though…

It ain’t. As long as there are people with the passion and deep enough pockets to support it, steam will survive.

I don’t, funnily enough, get much chance to write about steam for MR, but once in a while it happens. Ignore the doom mongers: #ETCS is not a death knell for main line steam.

Arriva orders battery ‘80x’ fleet for Grand Central Hitachi scoops first UK inter-city battery train order

Arriva goes tri-mode for Grand Central with £300m order to replace Class 180s and 221s - www.modernrailways.com/article/arri...

A fascinating order from Arriva here - and telling that Angel is funding a battery train fleet. The battery revolution is gathering pace.

Refurb from giffgaff - and it’s absolutely fine. Why pay for a new phone if you don’t have to?

Look what turned up while waiting for Mrs B-R at the station - a @gwr.com castle set heading east. Enjoy them while you can folks!

The cover of the February issue of Modern Railways magazine.

The February issue of Modern Railways is out now! Roger Ford reveals how much YOUR train costs to run, @Clinnick1 examines Southeastern’s fleet replacement plans and @andyroden.bsky.social looks at how satellites could transform signalling.

All of this, plus much more at www.modernrailways.com

Good stuff - hope you enjoy!