Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford?

On its own, it wouldn't.  But if you add the people attracted to Milton Keynes to the people attracted to Oxford, you may get better mass transit which is combining all the flows along a flow and sharing costs between all the various bums on seats.

Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford?

I can see there being a demand for a north to SW Wales service, but not to the extent of 8 coaches a day. Much of the demand will be capable of being satisfied using the existing T1 and 2 services, so as already said, tweaking these plus maybe a couple of through services that are very limited stop, would I would have thought, be a more sensible way of matching demand to supply.

Improving train times, and more importantly, providing greater capacity (ie more carriages) from north to SE Wales would satisfy the greater demand for a reasonably quick and comfortable service from north Wales to Cardiff and Swansea.

I don't think long-distance coach services can ever really fully replace long-distance trains. There will be many people who find being in a coach for several hours (even if it has toilet facilities) very uncomfortable or completely impossible. How would they accommodate wheelchair users and others of limited mobility? What about luggage space (which the current trains fail to provide adequately)?

Possible progress, with an hourly Bristol-Oxford service hoving in to view. Hopefully.

Mark

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedlxqg7ex5o

Hold it!

The current U1 / U1A/E runs hourly through the main part of the day, from Falmouth through Truro and Perranporth to Newquay. From April it will only run Falmouth - Truro with passengers having to change onto the 87.

Does this prove that there isn't a call for a through service? or, more likely, to publicise "the only direct way between these two places" is by the fantastic new Cornwall Metro coming sometime.....

New images for a proposed £140m revamp of Cardiff Central railway station have been released.

The photos from Transport for Wales (TfW) show a glimpse of how Wales' busiest station could look with the investment, including a new brick arch at the rear entrance and additional retail and cycle facilities.  The plans hope to alleviate overcrowding and improve accessibility for those with reduced mobility, TfW said.

Alexia Course, chief commercial officer, said the investment would "modernise the station, make it fit for a capital city and sustain future growth".



The train operator said plans include a larger concourse to increase capacity and improve passenger access through additional gate-lines.  The proposed improvements aim to modernise the station while still complimenting the history and heritage of the building, they added.

Planning documents will be submitted soon for the scheme, which is subject to planning and full business case approval.  Should the plans be approved, up to £140m funding for the enhancements will be provided by the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh government.

TfW said the proposals for the station are part of wider investment into "transforming transport in central Cardiff" - including ambitious regeneration plans.



Work is currently ongoing to deliver the South Wales Metro service as part of plans to improve the network.  The first phase promises twice the number of services across the south Wales network by early 2026, a number of new stations proposed including Cardiff Parkway, Cardiff East, Newport West, halts at Somerton and Llanwern in Newport and a station at Magor and Undy in Monmouthshire.

Ms Course said: "We've submitted the full business case for the scheme and we'll soon be submitting the planning documents, and if this is approved, we can progress with the delivery of the enhancements."

A decision on the full business case is expected in autumn 2025.

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47.
Toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Additional Information
Toilets are available in coaches X.
Accessible toilet and wheelchair facilities in coach X.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

You’d think they’d be a case for funding from the DfT of additional 57s based at Laira purely for rescuing IETs at Dawlish

I see that Conon Bridge is listed with a platform length of 15 m, the same as Beauly.

And 3 is Conon Bridge; a station I’ve only visited once, but which is quite distinctive.

(1) In the West Highland example, they probably don't want the cycle vehicle to be the non-platformed one - a bit awkward if the cyclists need to carry the bike through after being given their dedicated carriage. Not completely different from any train with designated bike spaces, but more notable if there's a whole carriage designed for the purpose and it's a USP on the line.

(2) If there are too many short platforms, or main stations have short platforms, it may reach the point where the majority of people in a carriage are for stations where that car isn't platformed, in which case the operational hassle is increased.

(3) If SDO isn't available (i.e. local door operation is the only option) the short platforms only really 'work' at minor stations; at least the main stops need to be lengthened to avoid large numbers of people having to fit through one door, and move through the train before arriving, and there's a greater risk of people being caught out.