Could any one explain what exactly TfW want,I was under the impression that TfW was already in control of its trains in Wales and routes.

Could any one explain what exactly TfW want,I was under the impression that TfW was already in control of its trains in Wales and routes.

From Bedwyn trains via Rail User Express (May edition) who are happy to be quoted with source acknowledged

Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group

At a GWR drop in session for MPs in March, MD Mark Hopwood was very positive regarding
restoring direct Paddington services, but there is no timescale. Martin Pearce, GWR's DfT contact,
asked for a summary of the problems with the shuttles. His kind reply acknowledged the issues.

BTPG also spoke with Zach Bailey, responsible for station development, about extending the 'nose
first' parking at Bedywn Station. It has put him in contact with the Parish Council.

A business case is being developed for an hourly Paddington - Westbury service. A Local Transport
Forum also held in March was told that from early to mid 2030s new battery/electric trains are
proposed, but the battery range isn't quite there yet for Newbury to Westbury. BTPG doesn't want
the Westbury extension lost due to the wrong rolling stock being purchased.

If the Bedwyn line is blocked, can you use Didcot or Swindon? Measures are put in place for planned
closures, but for unscheduled events it is down to Control to make the decision. From past
experience these are slow in coming and often not communicated effectively to passengers. So what
if one just drove to Didcot or Swindon and presented oneself at the barrier? GWR responded that
you'd likely be allowed through, but there is no guarantee. If you had to pay for an additional ticket,
BTPG would take up your case with GWR management and request a refund.

The ticket machines (TVMs) do not offer the same walk-on fares available online; eg one can buy an
off-peak day return to Luton for the 0846 Bedwyn departure online, but even after 0830,
its TVM does not offer this option. GWR will soon have aligned TVMs with what is available online.

Apologies if covered elsewhere.

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard touting a "Plymouth Metro" starting with half-hourly services between Ivybridge and Bere Alston, new stations at Plympton and Laira, followed ultimately by Tavistock reopening.

Would the introduction of an hourly Paddington - Westbury service be dependent on the reinstatement of the 4th platform at Westbury?

They seem to be raising the stakes.............

Yup, posturing should be reserved for Tavistock (and regarding Tavistock shouldn't be posturing, there should be progress).

Mark

Remember that the Welsh Government was their share of HS2 costs & this might be a way of achieving it....

Looking from "afar" - it strikes me that Tavistock could really do with a metro rail re-opening and as it's so close to Plymouth and part of the same economic area ... but once you get to St Budeaux, the line is paralleled by a good road all the way to North Road, from where the road usefully branches away to serve the city centre.   There are, similarly, good bus service from much closer to the centre out past Laira to Marsh Mills.   That does not necessarily rule it out, but there are challenges in providing something that will overlap for so much of the way with other provision already made.

To an extent this is a local MP posturing and he would be wise not to raise expectations.

Long time to keep your legs crossed!

Looking from "afar" - it strikes me that Tavistock could really do with a metro rail re-opening and as it's so close to Plymouth and part of the same economic area ... but once you get to St Budeaux, the line is paralleled by a good road all the way to North Road, from where the road usefully branches away to serve the city centre.   There are, similarly, good bus service from much closer to the centre out past Laira to Marsh Mills.   That does not necessarily rule it out, but there are challenges in providing something that will overlap for so much of the way with other provision already made.

Werner Heubeck, who has died aged 85, served in Hitler's Africa Korps during the second world war, but made his real mark in quite a different arena of conflict – by keeping the buses running in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.