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Great Western Coffee Shop
As at 10th February 2025 15:54 GMT
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Document and post archives and searching
In "News, Help and Assistance" [358130/27977/29]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:33, 10th February 2025
 
Had to spend quite a while using the search function to find this topic in the forum.
No results found!
Next search found threads from 2020 and earlier, but not this topic.
Had to go into my posts section and scroll through.......

Please let me know the search terms you used and which search function - the one in the top bar after "Home, Help ..." or Deep Search?
Two emails with attachments sent.

Thank you ... and an answer / explanation - doing it in public since this is of general interest.

Our search tools are - if you like - a very basic form of AI and for "intelligence" have a rather low IQ and a frustrating pedanticism ... they search the bodies of public threads, the extractable text from .pdf documents and station names.

1. In the case of "Cornish delays" the words aren't mentioned as a pair anywhere in the thread - just in the subject line - so you drew a blank.  The fact that I have now mentioned them means that this tread and post will be found in the future. clearly a design shortcoming - because at times some of our member don't repeat the words of the subject in their threads - something I have been aware of for a time and I have just applied a patch so it searches both. I hope I have not caused a problem applying the law of unintended consequences.

2. Where a search uses a pseudonym the search is only on the word you put in - so look for "Cornish delays" and our system is not bright enough to look for "Cornwall delays' and will certainly not offer you  "Western Peninsular delays". If you put in a single word which does not match, it WILL offer you close spellings - "did you mean".   Put in "Sinday" and it will suggest Sunday, even if you were searching for a naughty overnight destination with the girlfriend.

3. If you put a space between word in the search we look for the words consequetively.  If you put an "*" between two words it will look for both words in the post / document and in that order, but not necessarily together

Our receptionist server is more powerful than our worker that does all the searching at present, and there is scope for enhancement - the sort of code I enjoy writing.  All sorts of consideration for - well - some point in the future


I have added a copy of the above post here, in this general guidance for the use of the Coffee Shop forum's search facility.

Personally, I hate our forum 'search' facility with a passion: that's why I spend time moving and merging existing topics wherever possible - to avoid the need to 'search'.

That is in no way any criticism of grahame: he has done a brilliant job, working to improve upon the software restrictions this forum uses.


Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [358129/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 15:13, 10th February 2025
 
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:14 Swindon to Westbury due 20:57
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12

Facilities on the 22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12.
Toilet facilities are reduced.

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 0 Liverpool
In "The Lighter Side" [358128/29881/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:05, 10th February 2025
 
From the BBC:

Arne Slot's seamless succession to Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager has shown he is not only an outstanding coach but a fast learner - but he was given a harsh lesson in one of the game's oldest rules on a wild afternoon in Devon.

Never play fast and loose with the grand old FA Cup.

The sight of Plymouth Argyle, bottom of the Championship, embarrassing Premier League leaders and the previously all-conquering Liverpool with this fourth-round victory was a compelling response to those who would to attempt to downgrade the magic and history of the competition.

A rather good result, for those of us here from Plymouth, eh, TaplowGreen? 


Re: Rail replacement advise - Melksham - until 23rd January 2025
In "TransWilts line" [358126/29692/18]
Posted by matth1j at 14:52, 10th February 2025
 
BTW I also asked Faresaver about the possibility of using one of their double deckers for the first 271 Melksham-Bath which I've been catching intermittently in my commute to Bristol, instead of the 100% train (or replacement bus) option. The single decker 271 is full before it reaches Bath which puts me off using it, and they do use a double for at least one service (1715 Bath-Melksham).

Just got a response from 'a director':

It is the case that the number of passengers travelling on this route has increased significantly as a result of the £2 fare cap, which has been running throughout 2024. It is difficult to make enhancements to services based on schemes which are of a short-term nature, such as the £2 fare scheme. This has now increased to £3 for 2025 and we will monitor usage levels over the coming weeks to ascertain if there is scope to increase the frequency of buses between Bath and Devizes.

We use double decks vehicles on certain days, such as when there are events in Bath which lead to increased usage, but again it is difficult to justify expenditure on new double deck vehicles costing £300,000 each, where schemes designed to encourage usage are only short-term schemes. We are encouraging local and central government to provide more concrete long-term funding plans to give operators the confidence to invest in larger vehicles and enhance the frequencies of services.

Got quite excited this morning walking to Melksham train station at about 7am when a double decker 271 passed me on its way to Bath. I contacted Faresaver to ask if this was a permanent change, but it was just a one-off apparently, something to do with weekend rugby

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358125/28556/25]
Posted by grahame at 14:28, 10th February 2025
Already liked by PrestburyRoad
 
Had to spend quite a while using the search function to find this topic in the forum.
No results found!
Next search found threads from 2020 and earlier, but not this topic.
Had to go into my posts section and scroll through.......

Please let me know the search terms you used and which search function - the one in the top bar after "Home, Help ..." or Deep Search?
Two emails with attachments sent.

Thank you ... and an answer / explanation - doing it in public since this is of general interest.

Our search tools are - if you like - a very basic form of AI and for "intelligence" have a rather low IQ and a frustrating pedanticism ... they search the bodies of public threads, the extractable text from .pdf documents and station names.

1. In the case of "Cornish delays" the words aren't mentioned as a pair anywhere in the thread - just in the subject line - so you drew a blank.  The fact that I have now mentioned them means that this tread and post will be found in the future. clearly a design shortcoming - because at times some of our member don't repeat the words of the subject in their threads - something I have been aware of for a time and I have just applied a patch so it searches both. I hope I have not caused a problem applying the law of unintended consequences.

2. Where a search uses a pseudonym the search is only on the word you put in - so look for "Cornish delays" and our system is not bright enough to look for "Cornwall delays' and will certainly not offer you  "Western Peninsular delays". If you put in a single word which does not match, it WILL offer you close spellings - "did you mean".   Put in "Sinday" and it will suggest Sunday, even if you were searching for a naughty overnight destination with the girlfriend.

3. If you put a space between word in the search we look for the words consequetively.  If you put an "*" between two words it will look for both words in the post / document and in that order, but not necessarily together

Our receptionist server is more powerful than our worker that does all the searching at present, and there is scope for enhancement - the sort of code I enjoy writing.  All sorts of consideration for - well - some point in the future


Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358124/28556/25]
Posted by The Tall Controller at 13:05, 10th February 2025
Already liked by PrestburyRoad
 
St Erth signal box can be 'switched out' which basically transfers the Penzance-St Erth and St Erth-Roskear sections into a Penzance-Roskear section. In the process of switching out, the signaller at St Erth has to clear all signals to allow a clear route through the station in either direction.

Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [358123/16620/28]
Posted by ellendune at 11:48, 10th February 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
A bridge is much more vulnerable to being hit by a ship, whether accidentally or otherwise.  (Think what happened to the Severn Railway Bridge or more recently the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore).  They also are vulnerable to closure during storms. 



Re: Weekend First Upgrades
In "Fare's Fair" [358122/22737/4]
Posted by GBM at 11:40, 10th February 2025
 

Have you ever used "Seatfrog", I use it for all my trips from WSM to Paddington now, usually get the upgrade for £17 each
Hmm. Never considered them.
Thank you

Re: Weekend First Upgrades
In "Fare's Fair" [358121/22737/4]
Posted by Phantom at 11:22, 10th February 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
Anyone know the upgrade cost (for tomorrow), Paddington to Penzance?

Railforum suggests it might be £30, but unable to find any official fare.

Many thanks

Have you ever used "Seatfrog", I use it for all my trips from WSM to Paddington now, usually get the upgrade for £17 each

Firstgroup: article in the Times newspaper.
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [358120/29880/51]
Posted by Mark A at 11:20, 10th February 2025
Already liked by GBM, rogerw
 
This will be/become paywalled. Firstgroup's situation, given the current direction* of the railways.

Mark

*That word used loosely...

https://www.thetimes.com/article/ea2903bf-f03f-4024-9b03-13f0a839c897?shareToken=c97e2bbed7152568568143a7ae63fb7e

Re: Out and about in the South West - regional and local trains
In "The Lighter Side" [358119/29874/30]
Posted by Rob on the hill at 11:11, 10th February 2025
 
9. Hilsea

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358118/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 10:31, 10th February 2025
 
Question please.
If the box is not operative, how do trains run through if all signals are set to danger.
The driver can't call the closed signal box, so who has signalling control/authorisation?

Thank you

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358117/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 10:29, 10th February 2025
 
Delays to services between Penzance and Plymouth
Due to signalling staff being taken ill at St Erth fewer trains are able to run on all lines. Disruption is expected until 20:00 10/02.
Train services between Penzance and Plymouth may be delayed.

BUT
Cancellations to services between St Erth and St Ives
Following signalling staff being taken ill between St Erth and St Ives the line will be reopened shortly.
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal but some services have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until 11:30 10/02.

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358116/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 10:28, 10th February 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
Had to spend quite a while using the search function to find this topic in the forum.
No results found!
Next search found threads from 2020 and earlier, but not this topic.
Had to go into my posts section and scroll through.......

Please let me know the search terms you used and which search function - the one in the top bar after "Home, Help ..." or Deep Search?
Two emails with attachments sent.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [358115/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 09:43, 10th February 2025
 
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2.

Sensible.  On schooldays should always be 3 carriages - otherwise it overloads in the Stroud Valley. During covid was the "most overcrowded train" on GWR ...

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358114/28556/25]
Posted by grahame at 08:23, 10th February 2025
 
Had to spend quite a while using the search function to find this topic in the forum.
No results found!
Next search found threads from 2020 and earlier, but not this topic.
Had to go into my posts section and scroll through.......

Please let me know the search terms you used and which search function - the one in the top bar after "Home, Help ..." or Deep Search?

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358112/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 08:04, 10th February 2025
 
Had to spend quite a while using the search function to find this topic in the forum.
No results found!
Next search found threads from 2020 and earlier, but not this topic.
Had to go into my posts section and scroll through.......

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [358111/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 08:01, 10th February 2025
 
Delays to services between Penzance and Plymouth
Due to signalling staff being taken ill at St Erth fewer trains are able to run on all lines. Disruption is expected until 10:00 10/02.
Train services between Penzance and Plymouth may be delayed.
Customer Advice
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.
Due to Network Rail signalling staff being taken ill at St Erth, trains may be delayed in the St Erth area, as the other local signallers will need to send/receive trains one at a time through the affected area.
Please check your journey.

Cancellations to services between St Erth and St Ives
Due to signalling staff being taken ill between St Erth and St Ives the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 12:00 10/02.

Re: Ticket agency sales commission rates
In "Fare's Fair" [358110/29877/4]
Posted by grahame at 07:32, 10th February 2025
 
At Ledbury the guy running the ticket office, up to a few years ago was is a one man band,

so no issue, in my opinion, with him selling tickets.

There are / have been a number of agencies - Chester-le-track, Llandrindod, Looe.  Business tickets sales at the Trowbridge TIC.  Something I have had an eye on over the years / when buying your ticket before boarding the train, and getting the right fare from the baffling array of options, has been sufficient of a hurdle to put a number of passengers off.  There is or have been significant overheads involved - it's not as easy as just putting someone behind the counter as a shop assistant.

Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025
In "London to the Cotswolds" [358109/29711/14]
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 07:00, 10th February 2025
 
Monday February 10

07:13 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 09:42 will be cancelled.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident near the railway yesterday.
Last Updated:10/02/2025 06:00

08:15 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident near the railway yesterday.
Last Updated:10/02/2025 06:00

The stock for both of these comes in from Stoke Gifford.
Leaves a gap in the up direction at Shrub Hill between the 'halts' train at 07:00 and the next at 09:15.

Later:

19:04 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be started from Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/02/2025 12:51

15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be reinstated.
It will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/02/2025 12:51

public open forum of development in and around Bristol Temple meads
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [358108/29879/34]
Posted by infoman at 04:20, 10th February 2025
 

    Tuesday 11th Feb, 3pm-6pm - Tesco Totterdown, Oxford Street, BS3 4RJ
    Wednesday 12 Feb, 3pm-6pm - Bristol Temple Meads station – main entrance, BS1 6QF
    Tuesday 18 Feb, 10am-1pm - Bristol Temple Meads Station – main entrance, BS1 6QF
    Wednesday 19 Feb, 10.30am-1.30pm - Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX
    Wednesday 26 Feb, 3pm-6pm - Coop St Annes, Wyatts View, BS4 4WW
    Thursday 27 Feb, 11am-2pm - Temple Quay, BS1 6DG

Re: Ticket agency sales commission rates
In "Fare's Fair" [358107/29877/4]
Posted by infoman at 04:09, 10th February 2025
 
At Ledbury the guy running the ticket office, up to a few years ago was is a one man band,

so no issue, in my opinion, with him selling tickets.

Re: English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) - now BRTA
In "Who's who on Western railways" [358106/22385/2]
Posted by grahame at 00:31, 10th February 2025
 
Dear All,

The British Regional Transport Association(BRTA) will be holding another Westbury Forum soon which will be at the Railway Inn, Station Road, Westbury BA13 4HW, which was the same place as we had before.

An Agenda will be sent as soon it is available.

Yours faithfully,

Simon Barber - Administrator
British Regional Transport Association

I will add to diary when I have something more specific than "soon".

Re: Out and about in the South West - regional and local trains
In "The Lighter Side" [358105/29874/30]
Posted by grahame at 00:24, 10th February 2025
 
Only 2 (numbers 9 and 24) left to identify ...and a lovely reminder of places to visit again this year.    Once those two are identified, I'll repost the whole list

Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [358104/16620/28]
Posted by broadgage at 22:38, 9th February 2025
 
I have limited faith in long underwater rail tunnels. Mainly due to the risks of fire.
I feel that more use could be made of bridges instead. These days it should be possible to build long bridges high enough that any likely ship can pass under it.

Tunnels consume electricity continually for ventilation, cooling and removing water, a bridge does not.




Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [358103/16620/28]
Posted by Noggin at 22:06, 9th February 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
Given the number of recent "accidents" involving anchors and cables, it's perhaps a good idea to build tunnels for the more sensitive, ideally with a railway line running alongside. 

Re: Out and about in the South West - regional and local trains
In "The Lighter Side" [358102/29874/30]
Posted by TonyN at 22:03, 9th February 2025
 
7 Marlow

Re: Out and about in the South West - regional and local trains
In "The Lighter Side" [358101/29874/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:02, 9th February 2025
Already liked by GBM
 

... Those concrete sleepers are about 70 yrs old !


I know that feeling ... 

 
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