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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369098/31222/30]
Posted by eightonedee at 21:39, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
12 - Leer, Germany near Dutch border (?)

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369097/31222/30]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 21:13, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
0. Is that rail replacement bus stop sign in Melksham by any chance?

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369096/18719/26]
Posted by grahame at 20:50, 7th December 2025
 
**snip**
Through trains between Cheltenham and London are further reduced from the existing 3 at 10.47, 15.00 and 17.00 to just a single working at 10.47, the other two workings terminating at Swindon.
**snip**

Today, 4 out of 14 trains via the Stroud Valley and Swindon were cancelled and three (that ran) carried on to London. Next Sunday, there are again 14 scheduled but one the one carries on to London.   So will that and other reductions such as Bristol to London help it become more reliable?  Will it help the railway save money?  Has no-one been too bothered today because it's changing anyway next weekend?   

In the back of my mind, I recall the promise that the railway has to save money - is it being done by running fewer trains when staff are on the best rate, and fares are super-off-peak?

I also recall a promise to make services more reliable - is it being done by some thinning out of services in the timetable?

Re: Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369095/31223/31]
Posted by bobm at 20:48, 7th December 2025
 
The “Baltic Kipper”?   All sounds a bit fishy to me. 

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369094/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 20:40, 7th December 2025
 
9. Tallinn - specifically Balti jaam tram stop.

I so felt that Balti jaam should be an Indiaan dish.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369093/31222/30]
Posted by stuving at 20:20, 7th December 2025
 
9. Tallinn - specifically Balti jaam tram stop.

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369092/18719/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:30, 7th December 2025
 
Those Bristol - London trains are packed on a half hourly schedule on a Sunday. As is the afternoon service from Cheltenham. Wow.

Meanwhile the DfT have had GWR’s seven day railway proposals since August with not a dickie bird heard since, so god knows if that’s happening.

I guess what I find surprising, given the number of years it's been an issue, is that GWR took until August 2025 to submit these proposals?

Re: Comedian Dom Joly rants about poor rail service between Cheltenham and London
In "Swindon to Gloucester / Cheltenham" [369091/31221/38]
Posted by Mark A at 18:28, 7th December 2025
 
Ah, heading from Cheltenham to London via Kingham - the route that came up in discussion with someone's elderly nephew as, by train before the Banbury and Cheltenham route closed, with careful choice of trains it offered an earlier arrival time at Paddington than the Cheltenham Express. I've still not sourced sufficient timetables to fact-check this.

Mark

Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369090/31223/31]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:26, 7th December 2025
 
From the BBC:


The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) advised the public to report any materials found

Warnings have been broadcast to ships in the Solent after 16 containers, mostly containing bananas, fell overboard off the Isle of Wight.

HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation after the containers came off cargo ship the Baltic Klipper near the Nab tower lighthouse, off Bembridge, on Saturday, at about 18:00 GMT.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said no crew members were injured and that the containers were carrying "non-hazardous cargo". Two containers have so far come ashore at Selsey, West Sussex.

The incident has disrupted some shipping movements, with the P&O Cruises ship Iona delayed in departing from Southampton because of the obstruction.

Eight containers were carrying bananas, two have avocados, another plantain, and five others are empty.

A cordon has been put in place in Selsey, where West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police, and local coastguard rescue teams are in attendance where boxes and bananas have been spotted washing up on the shore.

The MCA said: "HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities, including the vessel's owners, who are responsible for recovering the containers. Broadcasts are being sent to warn local shipping, and Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team is on patrol."


The 16 containers were being shipped on the Baltic Klipper

The MCA advised the public to avoid the area and that "all wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to HM Coastguard's Receiver of Wreck".

"Those who fail to declare items within 28 days are breaking the law and may have further action taken against then," it said.


The drifting containers include various fruit

Steve Wenham, from Portsmouth, who has worked on ferries in the Solent, said the Baltic Klipper was a refrigerated vessel specialising in soft fruits, and was a "regular visitor" to the area. "She normally does a round-robin trip every month from the Caribbean or West Africa," he said. "If any containers have sunk they're not going to be a problem, but it's the ones that are still afloat, they're the hazard." He said the drifting containers were a "massive issue" because they could float into the shipping lanes and "cause a great deal of damage".

Iona, which has a capacity of 5,200 passengers, had been due to set off on Saturday for a 14-day trip to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. It was eventually given clearance at about 13:00 GMT on Sunday.


Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369089/18719/26]
Posted by a-driver at 18:13, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
Meanwhile the DfT have had GWR’s seven day railway proposals since August with not a dickie bird heard since, so god knows if that’s happening.

Standard DfT.

I honestly won’t be surprised if they keep hold of it until the operation is nationalised so they can take the credit for it.

Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
In "The Lighter Side" [369088/11558/30]
Posted by stuving at 15:42, 7th December 2025
Already liked by IndustryInsider, Mark A, PrestburyRoad, eightonedee
 
And the picture is of ...

Basingstoke! Well, there are some similarities, I guess ...

Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
In "The Lighter Side" [369087/11558/30]
Posted by grahame at 14:36, 7th December 2025
 
And the picture is of ...


Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369086/31222/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:14, 7th December 2025
 
8.  Melksham. 

Re: Station Search
In "The Lighter Side" [369085/31216/30]
Posted by grahame at 12:12, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A
 
Here are the places that Lisa helped me wedge into the puzzle

25 or so from Flanders and Swann
Millers Dale
Tideswell
Mow Cop
Scholar Green
Blandford Forum
Mortehoe
Midsomer
Norton
Chorlton
Chester-le-Street
Littleton Badsey
Longstanton 
Formby
(Four) Crosses
Dunstable Town
Dogdyke
Tumby Woodside
Ambergate 
Chittening
Selby
St Ives
Cockermouth
Buttermere
Armley
Moor

And a few more that helped fill the gaps
Croy
Ebbw
Bury
Chard
Hoo
Eden
Mold
Lee
Eye

There are about 30 stations in here - 25 of the with a connecting theme.   Can you spot the theme?  Post up the place you find to help others know whet they're looking for.   Some stations have long names that don't fit it and you'll find that some stations are only here in parts - Bow Brickhill might have been there as Bow or Brickhill for example.



Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [369084/29650/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 10:41, 7th December 2025
 
Train services between Didcot Parkway and Reading may be running non stop between Didcot Parkway and Goring & Streatley. Cholsey will not be served.

In that direction only - service stops towards Didcot.

Re: Comedian Dom Joly rants about poor rail service between Cheltenham and London
In "Swindon to Gloucester / Cheltenham" [369083/31221/38]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 10:10, 7th December 2025
 
I have oft wondered about Cheltenham Spa, and the somewhat convoluted route by train to London with a reversal at Gloucester. The closure of Eastgate Station must have added time to the journey, and routes via Honeybourne and via Andoversford are both closed.  Does a change a journey with a change at Worcestershire Parkway make any sense at times?

Given the current reliability of the Old Worse & Worse I'd be wary of risking this.

Re: Comedian Dom Joly rants about poor rail service between Cheltenham and London
In "Swindon to Gloucester / Cheltenham" [369082/31221/38]
Posted by grahame at 09:57, 7th December 2025
 
From Gloucestershire Live

Comedian Dom Joly has ripped into train operator GWR saying it'd be easier to travel from New York than it is to commute by train from his home in Cheltenham.

[snip]

In his funny video, the award-winning television comedian, broadcaster and travel-writer, said: "It is very early in morning but I am doing my new thing, not going by train from Cheltenham to London which costs me more than it'd cost me to get to New York and takes an insane amount of time and crazy waiting time at Gloucester train station for no reason whatsoever.

I have oft wondered about Cheltenham Spa, and the somewhat convoluted route by train to London with a reversal at Gloucester. The closure of Eastgate Station must have added time to the journey, and routes via Honeybourne and via Andoversford are both closed.  Does a change a journey with a change at Worcestershire Parkway make any sense at times?

Cheltenham Spa these days share with Wick the unfortunate delays (via Gloucester and via Thurso) to many longer distance passengers ...

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369081/31222/30]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 09:55, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
10: Terminal Rodoviário Faro, Portugal

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369080/31222/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 09:44, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
16.  Newcastle Central.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369079/31222/30]
Posted by Mark A at 09:30, 7th December 2025
 
Mules not donkeys? Not that that helps animal welfare in those conditions...

Mark

Re: London to Frankfurt and Geneva - direct trains from Eurostar?
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369078/29934/51]
Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:59, 7th December 2025
 
Eurostar are (were?) very definitely trying - and almost certainly failing - to preserve their passenger service monopoly on the existing UK > Europe routes. In the run up to the recent decision by the ORR to allow Virgin Trains to use the Temple Mills maintenance facility, to support their proposed new services, Eurostar continually insisted that the depot was fully occupied by them. The ORR response was 'oh no it's not' (well it is pantomime season!).

In the referenced press reports North of London services are repeatedly mentioned. Ignoring the fact that the existing or possible new rolling stock would be 'out of gauge' for the UK network, HS1 & HS2 excepted. So maybe HS2 will turn out to have been not such a bad idea if a connection between the two lines can be built (who's gonna pay for it?).
 

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369077/31222/30]
Posted by Western Pathfinder at 08:51, 7th December 2025
 
No.16. York..

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369076/18719/26]
Posted by Wizard at 08:44, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
Those Bristol - London trains are packed on a half hourly schedule on a Sunday. As is the afternoon service from Cheltenham. Wow.

Meanwhile the DfT have had GWR’s seven day railway proposals since August with not a dickie bird heard since, so god knows if that’s happening.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369075/31222/30]
Posted by stuving at 08:43, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
3. Still St. Malo! That's the trouble reusing a picture from a recent quiz, isn't it? Whoever knew it last time ...

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369074/31222/30]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 08:41, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
11: Felletin, France branch line recently closed.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369073/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 08:29, 7th December 2025
 
4 Santorini.  It's a very long climb up the stepped path from the quay to the town.  On a darker note, I have read of concerns for the welfare of the donkeys.

Yes, and I have read those concerns too. I don't know enough from seeing them on one day, but I did wonder about waiting around in the sun and heat and then climbing with some of those not-insignificant people on my back.   There is now a more modern way to climb too


Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369072/31222/30]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 08:18, 7th December 2025
 
4 Santorini.  It's a very long climb up the stepped path from the quay to the town.  On a darker note, I have read of concerns for the welfare of the donkeys.

AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369071/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 08:05, 7th December 2025
 


I've travelled across Europe - from Melksham to Svolvaer - mostly by train, but in some places trains have not been available and I've taken to other forms of transport.  This will - I suspect be a hard set of "where is this" questions and exceptionally I'm going to invite members to identify as may as they can straight away.  You folks often impress me - I suspect I may find a some answers coming up quiet fast, but some will "stick"

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.


11.


12.


13.


14.


15.


16.

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [369070/29650/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:52, 7th December 2025
 
Alterations to services between Didcot Parkway and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track at Cholsey fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Reading. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Train services between Didcot Parkway and Reading may be running non stop between Didcot Parkway and Goring & Streatley. Cholsey will not be served.

Re: Greenwich foot tunnel to get 'full regeneration'
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [369069/31220/50]
Posted by CyclingSid at 07:41, 7th December 2025
 
Went through the Greenwich foot tunnel yesterday. Both lifts working. No clutter of "dead" e-bikes, there are now notices warning that if you take an e-bike into the tunnel you will be charged a penalty by the company (presumably they lose connectivity under the Thames).

I wonder if they will open up the restricted diameter section which was installed as a repair for bomb damage in WWII▸
I would imagine that would depend on what the peak usage is now. In WWII I could imagine a massive tidal flow of humanity going to work in the Isle of Dogs.

 
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