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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: GWR accused of disrupting Wales-England train links
In "Across the West" [375753/32097/26]
Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 16:14, 3rd June 2026
 
The Department for Transport has always instructed franchised train operators to object to new services, or service extensions, by non-franchised operators - because they (in theory) reduce the amount of money flowing back to DfT. Remember way way back when Virgin's objections, at the behest of DfT, stopped Wrexham & Shropshire calling at Birmingham New Street.

What's different here is that the other operator is the Welsh Government, in the form of Transport for Wales. But it's the same principle there's always been.

Re: IET wi-fi upgrades - pilot scheme on West of England trains
In "Across the West" [375752/31108/26]
Posted by stuving at 16:01, 3rd June 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
This thread, plus thoughts of the long wave transmission from Droitwich finishing at the the end of this month, combined to remind me of some pioneering experiments with telephone communication from a train - this was in 1911 and involved the Stratford on Avon and Midland Junction Railway no less.

Mark


https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/im-train-wireless-messages-trains-1911-12


The next year his "Railophone" company was demonstrating (on the same line) using his radio link to control trains - CBTC, no less!

Re: IET wi-fi upgrades - pilot scheme on West of England trains
In "Across the West" [375751/31108/26]
Posted by Mark A at 15:20, 3rd June 2026
 
This thread, plus thoughts of the long wave transmission from Droitwich finishing at the the end of this month, combined to remind me of some pioneering experiments with telephone communication from a train - this was in 1911 and involved the Stratford on Avon and Midland Junction Railway no less.

Mark


https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/im-train-wireless-messages-trains-1911-12

Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [375744/26895/7]
Posted by Sixty3Closure at 09:44, 3rd June 2026
 
A friend who does have an allotment hadn't heard anything which suggests they might be.

I'm struggling to think where a new car park could go though. Allotments on one side, houses on another and the only open spaces nearby are playing fields and a Wildlife Trust reserve both of which I think would cause suitable levels of outrage if they were built on.

I did have to go back to Twyford for the first time in a couple of years and it was quite a surprise to see how far out the yellow lines had pushed commuters but also it felt quite challenging navigating all the parked cars. Pushing them to the village outskirts meant traffic speeds were that much higher along with some blind corners I'm surprised there's not more pictures of damaged cars on the local Facebook page.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [375741/31359/18]
Posted by JohnM at 08:34, 3rd June 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
There are some minor changes to TransWilts timings all day, all week this week.  Some mainline services also affected. 
Arrived at the usual time, 6:27, so just a couple of extra minutes taking in the Melksham station scenery
...and not only that, the 6:46 Trowbridge-Bristol service was 4 carriages instead of the usual 2. Happy days

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [375740/31359/18]
Posted by JohnM at 06:33, 3rd June 2026
 
There are some minor changes to TransWilts timings all day, all week this week.  Some mainline services also affected. 
Arrived at the usual time, 6:27, so just a couple of extra minutes taking in the Melksham station scenery

Re: Seeing how they do it elsewhere - Slovenia
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [375739/32099/52]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 05:37, 3rd June 2026
 
I couldn't help smiling at number 2 - the watering point for electric locomotives.

Seeing how they do it elsewhere - Slovenia
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [375736/32099/52]
Posted by grahame at 22:03, 2nd June 2026
Already liked by PrestburyRoad
 
From Villach to Ljubljana and back today, using local trains. Not the original intent as I had intended to go to Nova Gornia, but my train from Villach left there a few minutes late, got held up at loops because it was out of path, and we arrived at Jelenice just after the ongoing train had left.  Next one, 2 or 3 hours. Sound familiar?

Here are some pictures and I thing they all show things you would not see in England




























Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [375733/31359/18]
Posted by bobm at 21:28, 2nd June 2026
Already liked by JohnM
 
There are some minor changes to TransWilts timings all day, all week this week.  Some mainline services also affected. 

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [375731/31359/18]
Posted by JohnM at 21:13, 2nd June 2026
 
Just noticed that tomorrow morning's 6:29 Melksham departure is 6:31. It was same as usual on Monday, haven't checked whether tomorrow is a one off.

Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [375729/27102/25]
Posted by REVUpminster at 18:56, 2nd June 2026
 
Has anyone had any information regarding loadings since the new timetable was introduced? It's very early days, there have been some "teething troubles" and changes will take time to embed but I'm curious about early signs.

With a five hour gap yesterday and the inability of GWR to move a defective train doesn't auger go well. No loadings on no trains.

Re: GWR accused of disrupting Wales-England train links
In "Across the West" [375728/32097/26]
Posted by REVUpminster at 18:51, 2nd June 2026
 
Once GWR is nationalised, will the dispute over revenue be resolved between the Welsh government and English (British) government be resolved. I don't think so.

Re: GWR accused of disrupting Wales-England train links
In "Across the West" [375727/32097/26]
Posted by eXPassenger at 18:03, 2nd June 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
I see an interesting conundrum developing here.  One of the arguments pushing nationalisation is the different fare structures from different operators and the need to use a train run by the TOC whose ticket you hold.  Hopefully GBR will rationalise this and passengers will be able to buy a ticket and use the next train (subject to time of day restrictions).

What will happen if GBR are running routes into Wales together with TfW.  Will there be revenue sharing or will passengers have to check that their ticket matches the train they are catching?

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026
In "Across the West" [375726/31163/26]
Posted by charles_uk at 17:48, 2nd June 2026
 
And just like London buses...

Delays to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Reading.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 19:15 02/06.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Some axle counters, part of the signalling system, have stopped working in the Ruscombe area. Axle counters tell the signalling system if a section of track has a train on it. If an axle counter stops working, trains need to stop at the affected signal so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.

 
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