Rodbourne's Bridge Not Too Far

Congratulations to Network Rail for completing the work on the Rodbourne Road bridges a whole week ahead of planned, for reopening tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Swindon Borough Council's enlightened plan to open the bus gates on Penzance Drive certainly did a lot for drivers in the evening rush hour.

On several occasions in the past few weeks, Swindon Centric has been stuck on Wootton Bassett Road in the rush hour crawling towards Mannington Roundabout with hundreds of others. The cause of the logjam was the opening up of the Penzance Drive bus gate at the Wootton Bassett Road end, clearly no-one had retimed the lights being triggered by a small number of cars every few minutes, turning from Penzance Drive east towards Kingshill, meaning all vehicles heading east and west on Wootton Bassett Road had to wait for the lights to change every minute or so to accommodate the small number of drivers taking advantage of the opened-up bus gate. Once past this spot, the traffic flowed fine.

Genius.

A bus gate designed (traffic signal-phasing included) for a bus every five minutes will operate very differently (and alter the flow of traffic on nearby roads for the worse) if you throw a constant flow of cars at it instead and don't account for that with altering the phasing software.

As far as Swindon Centric and Swindon's buses are concerned, Network Rail can shut Rodbourne Road again if it wishes, just please let SBC remember that bus gates are designed for buses and not cars. Don't just cover the 'bus only' signs up and hope for the best.

Bruce Street Bungle - peak time over night time right time

Avoid Bruce Street Bridges today if you value your sanity!

Swindon Borough Council has given this stellar advice, as the rebuilding work today sees resurfacing happening. This will mean only two lanes available at evening peak time and long delays during the day.

As Network Rail gets on with it's work at Stratton Green Bridge, why didn't SBC schedule the work over a very small number of nights? This happens in other parts of the world, but somehow, the least disruptive option for road users (the night time noise to local residents would be regrettable, but if it could shorten the delays they suffer day after day, it could be welcomed) is the one that has not been taken up for this work.

Maybe SBC needs to up it's skill and knowledge levels for projects like this, as it seems the residents have better ideas as to how to carry out the work than they do.

The Grade II* Elephant in the Room

Swindon Borough Council is making more positive noises about the Mechanics' Institute than for a while.

They have once again made it very clear that there is no SBC money to buy it, restore it, or run it.

However the Mechanics' Trust still keeps banging the drum for it being a community-owned and community-operated use.

That's okay then, the thousands of members of the Trust and the vast coffers they've swelled at the Trust, will support their plans.

So how many members and how much money does the always very-vocal Mechanics' Trust has backing them up?

Spacious Station Forecourt Given The Right Away

Work on Swindon's railway station forecourt will start within a few weeks after contracts were signed on the £1.75 million scheme.

The plan will include a far-greater pedestrian space, smaller taxi rank, the return of the Jubilee Clock to the town centre after being cleaned and repaired and greenery.

Swindon Centric Says ; The amount of money is relatively small, but will make a big difference to one of Swindon's most important gateways, we'll keep you updated on the work.

The Sparks Effect For Swindon- Hooray!

The Great Western Main Line, through Swindon to Cardiff will be electrified, with the delayed decision that was announced today.

At long last (though it won't happen any earlier than 2014 if you read the detail) the golden egg for railway investment, electrification, will happen for passengers from Swindon.

Swindon Centric Says ; Of course, whether the Department for Transport can get to grips with the Intercity Express Project and whether bi-modal trains will work in squadron service will be closely watched.

But Swindon's going to be 'under the wires', for THE railway town, it's a wonderful addition!

Rail Town Councillors Show Their Poor Knowledge Of The Railway

Councillors meeting staff from Network Rail and First Great Western to discuss railway travel showed little professionalism when it came to the questions asked. Councillor Peter Greenhalgh (for Freshbrook and Grange Park) said that for him there is no incentive to use the train. He missed the incentive of the smaller environmental impact and when reading his comment and question in full, sounds more like an angry and narked rant from a passenger than a representative of the people.

His colleague, councillor Peter Mallinson (for Walcot) faired little better. He was appalled that people have to stand and "can't believe it's in line with health and safety". Maybe if he'd done his homework he could have answered his own question that there is no legal limit on number of passengers in a railway carriage, says the Office Of Rail Regulation. The question was pointless when directed at Network Rail and First Great Western, as they don't set the rule on capacity.

Swindon Centric Says ; Can someone arrange for Mr Greenhalgh and Mr Mallinson to visit the Department for Environment and Office Of Rail Regulation respectively and explain to them what their policies are and what they do?

World Heritage Status For A World First, In Our Town

It seems that the Great Western railway line between Paddington and Bristol has been on a possible shortlist for about ten years, it certainly doesn't have the pace of a Pop Idol semi-finals. Well the decision is, it seems, getting closer as to whether the GWR will be put forward by the UK as the country can only submit one location each year to be considered for World Heritage Status .

Preservation groups express concern that the owners and operators of the line, Network Rail may not lend their support to the scheme. They have yet to comment.

Swindon Centric Says ; Since Network Rail haven't said anything yet, we can't predict their response, but we will say this. English Heritage, National Trust and UNESCO have to recognise that the GWR is pretty unique, it is a continually working railway that's needed by thousands of travellers every day. So when choices have to be made in future to upgrade the line, which is bound to come, they have balance the need to protect heritage with the broad and simple fact that its a working railway and cannot be treated in the same vein as other World Heritage sites.

It is a unique submission for a site and as such demands unique preservation criteria and unique abilities for all parties concerned to compromise, otherwise the line will become a railway backwater, for the sake of heritage.