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Great Western Coffee Shop
19.4.2025 (Saturday) 13:50 - All running AOK
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360689/30166/26]
Posted by Cattewater Junction at 13:44, 19th April 2025
 
No 5 is the Cattewater Branch  and Cattewater Junction is at the end of the curve

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360688/30166/26]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:57, 19th April 2025
 
5.  Cattewater Branch Line, Plymouth.

Chris from Plymouth. 

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360687/30166/26]
Posted by johnneyw at 10:49, 19th April 2025
 
4.  Plym Valley railway perchance?

Re: Delays on Devon services - merged posts, ongoing discussion
In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [360686/28378/24]
Posted by plymothian at 09:55, 19th April 2025
 
Slightly more involved than a tresspasser - someone with end of life intentions.

Re: 10 Reasons that rail investment should continue
In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [360685/24275/40]
Posted by ellendune at 09:13, 19th April 2025
 

... and then Donald Trump barges his way into the arena ... 


Not really. Broadgage is expressing a preference is for classic Keynesian economics.  A theory that, despite being adopted by Franklin Roosevelt during the 1930, Trumps Republican allies at least would regard as so left wing as to be communist. 

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360684/30166/26]
Posted by grahame at 09:01, 19th April 2025
 
0. Diverted XC service passing through Bath due to a points issue between Bridgwater and Taunton on Tuesday.

Ah - I had wondered what it was doing there!

7. Heading for Kingswear from Bridge Halt (now removed?).
Paignton to Kingswear.
Dartmouth used to have a ticket and luggage office, but no trains of course.
Used to alight from Churston school at Bridge Halt many years ago.

Yes; I'm a little sad that intermediate stations between Paignton and Kingswear are no longer served.   Picture shown Goliath pulling Madelaine, Rebecca and others about ...

Sorry - No. 5 is not the Heathfield Branch

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360683/30166/26]
Posted by ellendune at 08:54, 19th April 2025
 
5.  I am going to guess Heathfield Branch at Newton Abbot from Newton Road Bridge

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360682/30166/26]
Posted by GBM at 08:24, 19th April 2025
 
7. Heading for Kingswear from Bridge Halt (now removed?).
Paignton to Kingswear.
Dartmouth used to have a ticket and luggage office, but no trains of course.
Used to alight from Churston school at Bridge Halt many years ago.

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360681/30166/26]
Posted by Timmer at 08:23, 19th April 2025
 
0. Diverted XC service passing through Bath due to a points issue between Bridgwater and Taunton on Tuesday.

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360680/30166/26]
Posted by grahame at 08:16, 19th April 2025
 
11 Thornford (Bridge Halt), that and Chetnole used the old platform from Cattistock Halt, replacing the timber one originally used.

Correct - also know as Thornford for Beer Hackett, and as Thornford International in some quarters.    I walked there from Yeovil Junction - and the walk reminded me of just how crass (IMHO) it is that there's no good passenger interchange between the main line East-West and the North-South line.    Of course, one was "Southern" and the other was "Western" and so never the two shall talk - surely we could overcome that history?

3.  Truro.

Yep!  My intent was to head to Falmouth Docks but plans changed (nothing to do with the railway) ... another day, perhaps.


Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360679/30166/26]
Posted by old original at 08:12, 19th April 2025
 
3.  Truro.

Re: Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360678/30166/26]
Posted by bradshaw at 08:00, 19th April 2025
 
11 Thornford (Bridge Halt), that and Chetnole used the old platform from Cattistock Halt, replacing the timber one originally used.

Re: Most remote stations....
In "The Lighter Side" [360677/7683/30]
Posted by grahame at 06:46, 19th April 2025
 
I wonder if the residents of the former station house and it's surrounding land are granting access for Network Rail to carry out the work. If not then there's little NR and BTP can do.

Except try to arrest the landowners for trespassing on their own property again!

It's a long running saga of claim and counter-claim with Network Rail consistently calling BTP out as their "personal security force".

https://youtube.com/@altnabreac

From The Scotsman

Trains have once again been calling at the request stop after the station was closed for the last 18 months.

One of the country’s remotest train stations that takes passengers to the heart of a world heritage site has reopened.

Altnabreac is located in the Flow Country, a vast expanse of blanket bog and peatlands stretching across Caithness and Sutherland in the north Highlands.

Across the South West over Easter - trains in pictures
In "Across the West" [360676/30166/26]
Posted by grahame at 06:33, 19th April 2025
 
A little more free time, and a need to brush up on what's going on with public transport across the region "encouraged" me to take a FOSW ticket that I am half way through,  Rather more serious than "lighter side", here are a dozen rail related pictures taken over the last few days as I brush up showing a great variety.

As an Easter Quiz, how many can you recognise from the great variation we have across the region?   Please name one each (I'm sure they will all be identified very quickly ...)

0


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


10


11

Re: FOSS and FOSW validity - some quirks
In "Fare's Fair" [360675/30127/4]
Posted by grahame at 06:19, 19th April 2025
 
The 'QR code style ticket could be programmed to work, but the magstrip tickets have only 8 bytes of data storage on them & writing used dates isn't possible in that space

Is that the limit of what the ticket barriers can write or a total storage limit?   

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [360674/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 22:44, 18th April 2025
 
2P27 arrived at Plymouth 74 minutes late with 1Z99 waiting for it.
2M77 arrived Plymouth 59 minutes late; left 57 minutes late.
5P90 arrived 59 late; still sat at platform.
1Z99 seems to have departed back to Laira without 2P27 (5P27).
5P27 departed for Laira 22h37.
2P29 arrived 26 late.
5P86 arrived 24 late.

Re: St Erth station - facilities, footbridge, improvements, incidents and awards (merged posts)
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [360673/3828/25]
Posted by RailCornwall at 22:19, 18th April 2025
 
Deep winter months the south St Erth P&R site is more or less moribund with very few users M-F, most weekdays customers can be accomodated on the northern side of the station (on the right side for St Ives) although desirable a bus service wouldn't see much use at all. Rail passengers from east of St Erth can of course use the longstanding easement detailed below and travel to St Ives via Penzance at no additional cost. 

700221 Customers travelling from, to or via Truro to St Ives, Carbis Bay, Lelant and Lelant Saltings may double back between St Erth and Penzance. This easement applies in both directions.

Re: Cornish delays
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [360672/28556/25]
Posted by GBM at 21:53, 18th April 2025
 
2P27 1850 Penzance to Plymouth (HST) WAS reported as delayed at St Germans due to a safety inspection of this train.
Please clarify - do the train crew inspect the outside and inside; or what!
It has been sat at (or just passed) St Germans since 20h30.

2M77 1915 Penzance to Bristol Temple Meads (5 car IET) seems to have driven up to 2P27 (or near it), but has been sat there since 21h28.

5P90 2041 Par to Exeter Tmd (2 car unit) sat at Liskeard since 21h30.
2P29 2015 Penzance to Plymouth (9 car IET) sat at Bodmin since 21h30.
5P86 2039 Penzance to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. (9 car IET) sat outside Lostwithiel since 21h31.

Re: Steam trains to return at Severn Beach
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [360671/29794/47]
Posted by johnneyw at 21:31, 18th April 2025
 
That rather explains the lack of progress that I saw when I visited the site a month or two back.  It seems that even miniature railways have their fair share of the bureaucracy that the "big" railways enjoy.
Still, it looks like there'll be a bit more to see next time I pootle down there.


Re: Wiltshire Day Rover - new multi-operator bus ticket
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360670/12333/5]
Posted by Mark A at 20:39, 18th April 2025
 
This is a magnificent thread, and it's rumbled on for a decade or so.

Also me: yes, bus day rover fares are the gateway to a right old adventure.

Also me: I'm careful to only turn up at that pub at Horton on the K&A by... either a bus or some other distinctive transport, in order not to break the spell.

Marm

Re: Wiltshire Day Rover - new multi-operator bus ticket
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360669/12333/5]
Posted by bobm at 20:15, 18th April 2025
Already liked by JayMac
 
Indeed.  Ignoring the fact you sound like a child in the playground. 

Re: Destination: London Travelcard Zones 1-6
In "Fare's Fair" [360668/30163/4]
Posted by Mark A at 19:29, 18th April 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea
 
(Mark's problem was he was trying to be too clever, of course.)

Mark, if you require a second in any subsequent duel, I'm free! 



Goodness no, terrible tradition, duelling. Also, Stuving was bang on the nail. Also, I'm grateful for anyone prepared to wade into issues of fares. Thanks for offering though.

Mark

Mark

Re: Wiltshire Day Rover - new multi-operator bus ticket
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360667/12333/5]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:18, 18th April 2025
 
Although this thread seems to be me mainly talking to myself ...

Well, Trowres started it. 


Re: Wiltshire Day Rover - new multi-operator bus ticket
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360666/12333/5]
Posted by bobm at 19:13, 18th April 2025
Already liked by Mark A, Timmer
 
Although this thread seems to be me mainly talking to myself, I thought it was worth giving the Wiltshire Day Rover another plug.

It is now priced at £11 for adults and £7.50 for over 60s.

I went to Cricklade, Royal Wootton Bassett, a local shopping park and three trips to B&Q today.  The individual fares would have cost me £27.20 - so paying £7.50 was a real bargain.

Easter travel disruption expected on rail and roads - April 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360665/30165/51]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:58, 18th April 2025
 
From the BBC:



Millions of people are on the move this Easter bank holiday weekend amid warnings there could be disruption due to rail engineering works, an airport strike and heavy traffic.

More than 300 maintenance projects will be carried out by Network Rail - including at London Euston Station - over the long weekend, and Gatwick Airport is warning that planned industrial action could impact a "small number of airlines".

On the roads, the RAC has warned there could be "big [traffic] jams" with nearly 20 million people expected to travel on Good Friday.

Weather could also have an impact with yellow warnings for rain issued for parts of south-west England, south Wales and eastern parts of Northern Ireland.

Kevin Groves, Network Rail's head of media, said the vast majority of the rail network - over 95% - was "actually open for business as usual". But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there were "some pockets" of major work, most significantly at London Euston Station, which would be closed from Saturday to Monday. During this time, there will be no trains running from the station to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.

A reduced timetable will operate during the long weekend, and services on the West Coast Main Line will begin and end at Carlisle from Saturday to Monday, with replacement buses covering northern stations.

Meanwhile, half of London Victoria will be shut, with Southeastern trains diverted to London Bridge or London Cannon Street. Routes around Southampton and Brockenhurst will also be hit by closures.

Mr Groves urged passengers travelling during the Easter period to "plan ahead" and check their journeys. But he said the railway network was going to be "actually quieter" than any other Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

(Article continues)



Re: Destination: London Travelcard Zones 1-6
In "Fare's Fair" [360664/30163/4]
Posted by Mark A at 18:46, 18th April 2025
Already liked by Timmer
 
Busted. :-)

Also, thanks for checking.

I felt like I was panning for gold. I have since found that the thing is purchaseable from the machines at Bath Spa. After putting in a set of conditions, there it was, gleaming in the pan at the heavy end of the the handful of gravel and sand.

Also, I found that the Trainline web site seems to have a different (and again hard to expose) name for a travelcard zone 1 to 6  - if it's the same thing they call it a London *Underground* zone 1 to 6. Someone's going to have to go and break the news to the likes of Anerley Station or perhaps Loughborough Junction...

Mark


Re: Destination: London Travelcard Zones 1-6
In "Fare's Fair" [360663/30163/4]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:37, 18th April 2025
 
(Mark's problem was he was trying to be too clever, of course.)

Mark, if you require a second in any subsequent duel, I'm free! 


Re: Destination: London Travelcard Zones 1-6
In "Fare's Fair" [360662/30163/4]
Posted by stuving at 18:20, 18th April 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
So, for the proverbial 'little old lady, living in Bradford on Avon, who wants to visit her sister whom is still living in East London', how does she do all of that - with perhaps limited access / experience of the internet?

She won't: she will take a bus / coach journey instead.  And probably pay less. 

But I don't think that's the problem. Your stereotype is quite likely to just fill in what's asked for: where to, when, coming back? - and press "go". The difficult bit, as everyone acknowledges, is making sense of the choice of ticket types and fares that comes up next. (Mark's problem was he was trying to be too clever, of course.)

Re: Destination: London Travelcard Zones 1-6
In "Fare's Fair" [360661/30163/4]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:06, 18th April 2025
 
So, for the proverbial 'little old lady, living in Bradford on Avon, who wants to visit her sister whom is still living in East London', how does she do all of that - with perhaps limited access / experience of the internet?

She won't: she will take a bus / coach journey instead.  And probably pay less. 


Re: 10 Reasons that rail investment should continue
In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [360660/24275/40]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:47, 18th April 2025
 
... preference should be given to use of British made materials and employment of British workers.

Unemployment is likely to worsen, and spending public money within the UK economy helps both directly and indirectly.

Foreign made goods might be unavoidable in some circumstances, but preference should be given to UK suppliers unless there is a significant reason to do otherwise.

The UK is "greener" than many of our competitors, and this advantage is diluted by purchasing supplies from many overseas suppliers.

... and then Donald Trump barges his way into the arena ... 


 
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