Daniel Puddicombe
@danielonrails.bsky.social
Freelance journalist: Mostly write about trains and cars. Paloma Faith enthusiast and a snooker anorak as well. Email: [email protected]. Own views.
Also the fire alarm went off JUST AFTER FIRE. Nuts. Back in the venue now…
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Also the fire alarm went off JUST AFTER FIRE. Nuts. Back in the venue now…
Your piece is one of those “why hasn’t anyone written this before?” stories.
That was a cracking day - he is as lovely as you’d hope / expect him to be. Being instructed by the fastest man in the word on how to ding a bell and indicate was a very surreal experience and the piece wrote itself.
That was a cracking day - he is as lovely as you’d hope / expect him to be. Being instructed by the fastest man in the word on how to ding a bell and indicate was a very surreal experience and the piece wrote itself.
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Your piece is one of those “why hasn’t anyone written this before?” stories.
That was a cracking day - he is as lovely as you’d hope / expect him to be. Being instructed by the fastest man in the word on how to ding a bell and indicate was a very surreal experience and the piece wrote itself.
That was a cracking day - he is as lovely as you’d hope / expect him to be. Being instructed by the fastest man in the word on how to ding a bell and indicate was a very surreal experience and the piece wrote itself.
This is a really interesting piece. Thanks for sharing it, Rory; enjoyed reading it!
November 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
This is a really interesting piece. Thanks for sharing it, Rory; enjoyed reading it!
Brilliant news! Can’t wait to see the copy in person.
November 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Brilliant news! Can’t wait to see the copy in person.
(You would think - given I went public about the plagiarism a week ago - the Daily Express might have updated the piece to, y'know, acknowledge the source, wouldn't you? Clearly wouldn't make the problem go away but it would make it less obvious at a glance.
... Of course they haven't.)
... Of course they haven't.)
November 25, 2025 at 10:20 AM
(You would think - given I went public about the plagiarism a week ago - the Daily Express might have updated the piece to, y'know, acknowledge the source, wouldn't you? Clearly wouldn't make the problem go away but it would make it less obvious at a glance.
... Of course they haven't.)
... Of course they haven't.)
Didn't have "quote a The Last Dinner Party lyric in a work thing" on my 2025 bingo card.
Thanks to the ace @lottiegross.bsky.social & @stephdyson.bsky.social for asking me to write about the (ongoing) Express saga for Talking Travel Writing newsletter
travelwriting.substack.com/p/this-trave...
Thanks to the ace @lottiegross.bsky.social & @stephdyson.bsky.social for asking me to write about the (ongoing) Express saga for Talking Travel Writing newsletter
travelwriting.substack.com/p/this-trave...
This travel writer's work was ripped off by national paper
Daniel Puddicombe is embroiled in a battle with a British tabloid. Here's what's happened.
travelwriting.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Didn't have "quote a The Last Dinner Party lyric in a work thing" on my 2025 bingo card.
Thanks to the ace @lottiegross.bsky.social & @stephdyson.bsky.social for asking me to write about the (ongoing) Express saga for Talking Travel Writing newsletter
travelwriting.substack.com/p/this-trave...
Thanks to the ace @lottiegross.bsky.social & @stephdyson.bsky.social for asking me to write about the (ongoing) Express saga for Talking Travel Writing newsletter
travelwriting.substack.com/p/this-trave...
Yes, I’m short-sighted and it is quite difficult to read the signs due to the smaller font.
November 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Yes, I’m short-sighted and it is quite difficult to read the signs due to the smaller font.
Why on earth is the Express pushing this nonsense out? Surely the journalist could have checked basic facts and realised the story just doesn’t stand up? Or is this another example of the publication running AI-generated slop and sticking a reporter’s byline on it?
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Why on earth is the Express pushing this nonsense out? Surely the journalist could have checked basic facts and realised the story just doesn’t stand up? Or is this another example of the publication running AI-generated slop and sticking a reporter’s byline on it?
I could keep on pointing out errors but I’ll leave it at that. It took me not a lot of time to debunk this bollocks; I am currently on a train with dodgy mobile signal so I could have done this a lot quicker if I was at home using my laptop.
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I could keep on pointing out errors but I’ll leave it at that. It took me not a lot of time to debunk this bollocks; I am currently on a train with dodgy mobile signal so I could have done this a lot quicker if I was at home using my laptop.
Later in the piece it says the bridge shortens the journey between Ningbo and Jiaxing…
Except neither place is on the railway line because they are both SOUTH of Shanghai as a glance at a map shows.
Clearly, neither are present on the route’s map.
Finally, the journey time isn’t two hours.
Except neither place is on the railway line because they are both SOUTH of Shanghai as a glance at a map shows.
Clearly, neither are present on the route’s map.
Finally, the journey time isn’t two hours.
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Later in the piece it says the bridge shortens the journey between Ningbo and Jiaxing…
Except neither place is on the railway line because they are both SOUTH of Shanghai as a glance at a map shows.
Clearly, neither are present on the route’s map.
Finally, the journey time isn’t two hours.
Except neither place is on the railway line because they are both SOUTH of Shanghai as a glance at a map shows.
Clearly, neither are present on the route’s map.
Finally, the journey time isn’t two hours.
It is the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, which is indeed 102 miles long. It is on the Beijing - Shanghai high speed line which has a linespeed of 220 mph. That’s quite different to the Express’ claim of a 50mph average speed, isn’t it?
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It is the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, which is indeed 102 miles long. It is on the Beijing - Shanghai high speed line which has a linespeed of 220 mph. That’s quite different to the Express’ claim of a 50mph average speed, isn’t it?
Excellent stuff - and Maria has just gained a follow as well. Hopefully we can chat about railways at some point (and not in the context of people nicking my rail-related pieces!)
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Excellent stuff - and Maria has just gained a follow as well. Hopefully we can chat about railways at some point (and not in the context of people nicking my rail-related pieces!)
Might be wrong as my impression from a bit of Googling a few nights ago is small claims wouldn't work as text is copyrighted material. As you say, it would be an interesting test-case. On a list of things to do is complain to Ipso but not holding out hope for a sensible response.
November 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Might be wrong as my impression from a bit of Googling a few nights ago is small claims wouldn't work as text is copyrighted material. As you say, it would be an interesting test-case. On a list of things to do is complain to Ipso but not holding out hope for a sensible response.
Just to clarify, Josiah, the Express offered payment before I went to Press Gazette; I reached out after I was told twice it wouldn't be able to pay beyond £100/piece.
November 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Just to clarify, Josiah, the Express offered payment before I went to Press Gazette; I reached out after I was told twice it wouldn't be able to pay beyond £100/piece.
Thanks for sharing the piece on here and it also making today's newsletter, Eduardo. Appreciate that. I note from your bio you like trains as well, so clearly you are a good man.
November 20, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Thanks for sharing the piece on here and it also making today's newsletter, Eduardo. Appreciate that. I note from your bio you like trains as well, so clearly you are a good man.