Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Commuting to Uni - not so new, or was I ahead of the times? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370914/31428/51] Posted by bobm at 19:17, 11th January 2026 |      |
I didn’t go to University - I had a place but had landed a well paid job and decided to stick with that.
However I did go to boarding school. Despite the increased cost, I think it was worth it and gave me a greater sense of confidence and independence. I could have been a day boy and indeed 45 years on there are pupils from the village where I lived making the daily trip. I also benefitted by having the option to used the three hours a day not travelling to take part in other activities.
As always, one size doesn’t fit all.
| Re: TfW: carriage washing. In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [370913/31431/23] Posted by bobm at 19:11, 11th January 2026 | |
Even if not completely frozen you wouldn’t want ice encrusted brushes flailing the bodywork. Be akin to Basil
Fawlty and his tree branch.
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370912/31426/2] Posted by eightonedee at 18:44, 11th January 2026 | |
There used to be "passenger panels" for various parts of the system - I used to commute with one of the members for (if I recall correctly) either the North Downs line or London & Thames Valley area. I think they lapsed with Covid, possibly earlier.
I tried to find something on line about this, all I found was this from one of the most useful websites for such matters-
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29176.0
I'll leave CfA to consolidate these threads...!
| Re: North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [370911/31429/5] Posted by eightonedee at 18:35, 11th January 2026 | |
As someone who used the former routes to Sweden and Denmark on three occasions between 1979 and 1988, I miss this as a means of getting to Scandinavia. I guess that cheaper air fares killed these services, as they were not cheap. Back in those days, Sweden advertised itself as a place to take your car and family for a holiday, taking advantage of uncrowded roads, rural and coastal areas. There was also a scheme whereby you could buy a pass (Bilturlogi pass) that gave discounts on B&B accommodation throughout the country listed in the accompanying booklet. Now it's much cheaper to take a cheap flight and pick up a hire car.
There is still a freight ferry between Immingham and Brevik in Norway, but to quote DFDS's website
DFDS freight port of Immingham can accept commercial freight drivers with their loads. Due to UKBF port approval, private passengers are not permitted to be carried through Immingham. This means that we can no longer accept leisure fare paying passengers on the freight routes through Immingham.
Ridiculous, isn't it? Are they worried we might get a Viking invasion?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370910/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 17:49, 11th January 2026 | |
16:53 Frome to Chippenham due 17:30
16:53 Frome to Chippenham due 17:30 is being delayed at Westbury and is now expected to be 25 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.
16:53 Frome to Chippenham due 17:30 is being delayed at Westbury and is now expected to be 25 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.
And there was a false alarm cancellation on this one ...
17:59 Chippenham to Salisbury due 18:55
17:59 Chippenham to Salisbury due 18:55 will now run as scheduled.
Last Updated:11/01/2026 17:41
17:59 Chippenham to Salisbury due 18:55 will now run as scheduled.
Last Updated:11/01/2026 17:41
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370909/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 17:14, 11th January 2026 | |
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
... which means ... exactly what, GWR ?
Your text is just random words, selected from the Oxford Dictionary.
It's a piece of text that's used when a "whoopsie" is found in the temporary timetable around engineering.
In this case, 5M11 ECS arrived as normal at Frome at 13:43. It normally sets off at 14:05 for Swindon, clearing in good time for the 14:28 call of the (Swindon, but today Chippenham) to Weymouth train. However, the trains from Frome can't go as far as Swindon today - only to Chippenham - and so it didn't leave until 14:38. Frome has just one platform ...
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370908/31359/18] Posted by ChrisB at 17:03, 11th January 2026 | |
Today, we have removed the Frome stop from this service.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370907/31359/18] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:54, 11th January 2026 | |
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
... which means ... exactly what, GWR ?
Your text is just random words, selected from the Oxford Dictionary.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370906/31355/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:45, 11th January 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Weather risk brings flooding as snow warnings downgraded
Image not available to guests
Drivers face deep water on rural roads near Parkhill in Aberdeenshire
Heavy rain and melting snow has brought flooding to parts of Scotland, after a week of winter weather disruption.
Scotland's environment agency Sepa has issued a series of alerts as the Met Office downgraded a weekend warning for further snow.
Many roads in North East Scotland have been hit by floodwater after last week's freezing temperatures eased on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to deep water on A92 at Portlethen and the A90 at Toll of Birness, with various other reports of flooding across the region.
An amber snow alert in central Scotland, Grampian and the Highlands had been due to run until 15:00 on Sunday, but ended at 11:00. A yellow warning lapsed at 14:00
Yellow warnings for wind and rain have been put in place overnight until 10:00 on Monday.
Image not available to guests
Cars navigate the flooded A90 near Portlethen in Aberdeenshire
In Orkney, a flood warning is in place for the Churchill Barriers causeway. It connects the main island to South Ronaldsay through Burray and the islands of Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm.
In the south of Scotland, Sepa has also issued a warning over rising river levels in Newton Stewart. A series of less severe flood alerts are in place in other parts of the country.
Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: "With rainfall forecast to spread north and as temperatures rise following recent cold conditions, rain and thaw of lying snow will increase the risk of flooding. Possible impacts could include flooding of low lying land, roads and individual properties."
In Argyll, road management firm Bear Scotland said traffic from the A83 Rest and Be Thankful had been rerouted as a precaution due to forecast rain. Bear Scotland's Euan Scott said: "Heavy rainfall is expected throughout Sunday, which will increase saturation levels on the hillside. We have therefore made the decision to utilise the Old Military Road as a proactive safety measure."
The firm said a decision to lift the diversion would be made after a hillside inspection on Monday. The flooding comes after Scotland faced a week of snow and ice disruption across northern areas.
More than 250 schools remained closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray. Aberdeen City Council said all schools should be open again on Monday. Many pupils had a whole week off school at the start of the new term.
Image not available to guests
A worker closes snow gates in Spittal of Glenshee near the Cairngorms
Image not available to guests
Drivers face deep water on rural roads near Parkhill in Aberdeenshire
Heavy rain and melting snow has brought flooding to parts of Scotland, after a week of winter weather disruption.
Scotland's environment agency Sepa has issued a series of alerts as the Met Office downgraded a weekend warning for further snow.
Many roads in North East Scotland have been hit by floodwater after last week's freezing temperatures eased on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to deep water on A92 at Portlethen and the A90 at Toll of Birness, with various other reports of flooding across the region.
An amber snow alert in central Scotland, Grampian and the Highlands had been due to run until 15:00 on Sunday, but ended at 11:00. A yellow warning lapsed at 14:00
Yellow warnings for wind and rain have been put in place overnight until 10:00 on Monday.
Image not available to guests
Cars navigate the flooded A90 near Portlethen in Aberdeenshire
In Orkney, a flood warning is in place for the Churchill Barriers causeway. It connects the main island to South Ronaldsay through Burray and the islands of Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm.
In the south of Scotland, Sepa has also issued a warning over rising river levels in Newton Stewart. A series of less severe flood alerts are in place in other parts of the country.
Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: "With rainfall forecast to spread north and as temperatures rise following recent cold conditions, rain and thaw of lying snow will increase the risk of flooding. Possible impacts could include flooding of low lying land, roads and individual properties."
In Argyll, road management firm Bear Scotland said traffic from the A83 Rest and Be Thankful had been rerouted as a precaution due to forecast rain. Bear Scotland's Euan Scott said: "Heavy rainfall is expected throughout Sunday, which will increase saturation levels on the hillside. We have therefore made the decision to utilise the Old Military Road as a proactive safety measure."
The firm said a decision to lift the diversion would be made after a hillside inspection on Monday. The flooding comes after Scotland faced a week of snow and ice disruption across northern areas.
More than 250 schools remained closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray. Aberdeen City Council said all schools should be open again on Monday. Many pupils had a whole week off school at the start of the new term.
Image not available to guests
A worker closes snow gates in Spittal of Glenshee near the Cairngorms
Pah. Image not available to guests
I would have driven a Mercedes Sprinter van through Image not available to guests - but I was a professional delivery driver, until I retired. CfN. Image not available to guests
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370905/31419/1] Posted by Hafren at 16:26, 11th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
[...] (Also, why does the railway have 'Penalty fare areas'? Either they're checking ticketing universally or they're not...) [...]
Thinking about the areas that have had Penalty Fares for longest, which as far as I'm aware are in the former Network SouthEast area, the following apply/ied:
• A large proportion of trains were DOO.
• A relatively large proportion of stations were staffed, and the rest (and staffed stations out of hours) had ticket machines for cash purchases for local journeys, and PERTIS machines to cover for other needs.
These conditions increased the need for and utility of Penalty Fares because:
• Without frequent ticket checks by guards, there were less frequent checks by RPIs (or whoever did them) and therefore the economics worked differently for the "I'll pay if I'm checked" passenger.
• Passengers mostly had the opportunity to buy a ticket, or at least pick up a permit to travel, and therefore there wouldn't be too many "gotchas" that genuinely didn't have the opportunity to buy a ticket or at least show intent to purchase.
Now that self-service ticket machines are more widespread, perhaps the second point is less important these days, and thus PFs can spread to provincial routes. With more people travelling perhaps the first point works differently now, as perhaps guards can't get through everyone, or for some other reason the "need" for PFs (in the eyes of the operators) has changed. This means the PF map now looks like a random patchwork.
I note that when TfW started PFs (or somehting similar) in the Valleys, there were comments about people having to allow extra time to buy their ticket as they were "no longer allowed" to board without a ticket at their local staffed station. Errr... you were never "allowed" - you've just been given a new deterrent!
| Re: TfW: carriage washing. In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [370904/31431/23] Posted by ChrisB at 16:24, 11th January 2026 | |
I would imagine that carriage washers have been frozen solid since Christmas?
| TfW: carriage washing. In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [370903/31431/23] Posted by Mark A at 16:17, 11th January 2026 | |
Thinking back to last week's travel, are there parts of their network other than the lines serving mid-Wales and the Cambrian Coast for which TfW do not have the kit to wash train exteriors (at least, presumably the depot at Machynlleth does not have a carriage washer otherwise they'd surely be using it). I recall the shorter distance trains that run to Warrington as being clean, the valley lines metro train from Merthyr was squeaky clean, or had started out that way, and the Cardiff - Manchester services were clean. Not sure where the trains that run via the likes of Builth Road are serviced or their current state of exterior cleanliness, at one time they weren't brilliant.
Mark
| Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF) 2026/27 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [370902/31430/34] Posted by grahame at 15:56, 11th January 2026 | |
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/community/community-investment
Customer and Community Improvement Fund 2026/27
GWR are delighted to announce we are inviting bids to our Customer and Community Improvement Fund for the financial year 2026/27.
The fund will open to bids on Monday 5 January at 12:00 and close to bids on Monday 2 February at 12:00.
Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is designed to support small and medium rail related projects that can be completed over the course of the 2026/27 financial year. Our maximum bid amount is £25,000 and we welcome a wide range of applications, particularly from organisations who haven't worked with us previously or who propose innovative projects.
We are particularly interested in schemes that benefit customers, increase rail travel, encourage carbon reduction, connect communities, people, and places, support economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and educational programmes that support careers in rail.
A good bid will show a strong level of community involvement and support, and the proposal will have benefits that last beyond the duration of the project.
Important information for bids
Bids must be related to the railway and proposals which don't relate in some way to customers (or potential customers), stations, railway property, rail services, rail education or careers in rail will not be considered.
Bids which involve installations at stations (for example, murals, artwork, signage, wayfinding, platform furniture etc.) will require consultation with GWR before bid submission. Please contact us at community.fund@gwr.com to discuss further.
GWR are delighted to announce we are inviting bids to our Customer and Community Improvement Fund for the financial year 2026/27.
The fund will open to bids on Monday 5 January at 12:00 and close to bids on Monday 2 February at 12:00.
Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is designed to support small and medium rail related projects that can be completed over the course of the 2026/27 financial year. Our maximum bid amount is £25,000 and we welcome a wide range of applications, particularly from organisations who haven't worked with us previously or who propose innovative projects.
We are particularly interested in schemes that benefit customers, increase rail travel, encourage carbon reduction, connect communities, people, and places, support economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and educational programmes that support careers in rail.
A good bid will show a strong level of community involvement and support, and the proposal will have benefits that last beyond the duration of the project.
Important information for bids
Bids must be related to the railway and proposals which don't relate in some way to customers (or potential customers), stations, railway property, rail services, rail education or careers in rail will not be considered.
Bids which involve installations at stations (for example, murals, artwork, signage, wayfinding, platform furniture etc.) will require consultation with GWR before bid submission. Please contact us at community.fund@gwr.com to discuss further.
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370901/31426/2] Posted by grahame at 15:40, 11th January 2026 | |
Still on their web site, but no dates, mind.
Mark
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/meet-the-manager
Mark
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/meet-the-manager
"Regular" doing some extraordinarily heavy lifting there.
Leap years are regular ...
We've had "Meet the Manager" session on the Coffee Shop over the years, as recent as October 2024. With technology moving on, perhaps we are not the best forum for those these days, but something *is* needed.
We anticipate their being a senior GWR manager at the TWSW general meeting on 6th March, and there should be a chance to network engage. You will see I have use woolly words "anticipate" and "should" in there, and TWSW is not a forum for all - rather for reps of user groups. There is a degree of flexibility there for independent transport advocates to attend - needs to be agreed / booked ahead.
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370900/31426/2] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:34, 11th January 2026 | |
Ah. Image not available to guests Cue my own ongoing grievance about the misuse of 'regular v frequent'.
'Regular' could be, for example, 'once every 100 years'.
'Frequent' could be, again for example (and in railway terminology), 'once every three months'.
CfN.
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370899/31426/2] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:18, 11th January 2026 | |
Still on their web site, but no dates, mind.
Mark
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/meet-the-manager
Mark
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/meet-the-manager
"Regular" doing some extraordinarily heavy lifting there.
| Re: Storm Goretti 'weather bomb' to hit South West England In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [370898/31405/25] Posted by ChrisB at 15:12, 11th January 2026 | |
I saw a tweet that said the Falmouth line was open, though with cancellations
| Re: North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [370897/31429/5] Posted by Mark A at 15:01, 11th January 2026 | |
If there was a convenient port in the south of England, add a call there and they'll have reinvented Motorrail to Scotland.
Mark
| North Sea ferries - case for re-opening routes? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [370896/31429/5] Posted by grahame at 14:56, 11th January 2026 | |
From Time Out.
How committed are you to slow travel? So committed that you would swap a swift two-hour flight from Scotland to France for a 20-hour ride on open water? Soon, that could be a very real option.
Danish company DFDS wants to launch a brand new ferry service from the port of Rosyth (around half an hour from Edinburgh) to the French city of Dunkirk this year.
Danish company DFDS wants to launch a brand new ferry service from the port of Rosyth (around half an hour from Edinburgh) to the French city of Dunkirk this year.
A very real and useful option - top left to bottom right on the North Sea. Is there a case for a bottom left to top right service? I recall making businss trips from Harwich to Oslo, back from Gothenburg, and also trip from Newcastle to Bergen. The Harwich to Esbjerg service is no more - the most northerly you'll get on the mainland now is in the Netherlands. Is there a case for a Harwich to Hirshals and / or Kristiansand service?
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370895/31426/2] Posted by Mark A at 14:55, 11th January 2026 | |
Still on their web site, but no dates, mind.
Mark
https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/meet-the-manager
| Re: Why survey for bats? In "Railway History and related topics" [370894/31427/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:55, 11th January 2026 | |
Thanks for posting that, Mark. Ah, those four-hundred-year-old railway bridges, eh? Image not available to guests
YouTube has a whole board based on the demolition work of 'Blaster Bates', at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzbCG8ICvmluYV8aa8zh7w
I commend it to our readers - there's some very funny material there! Image not available to guests
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370893/31419/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:30, 11th January 2026 | |
... Shrug shoulders and move on.
Indeed. About two months ago, after a medical appointment at the BRI (the hospital, not the railway station, bobm Image not available to guests ), I walked to (the other) BRI and bought a single ticket to Nailsea.
The train was delayed, by well over 15 minutes, but I simply got the next available one to get me home.
I couldn't be bothered to make a claim on 'delay / repay': I'd have got a notional refund of rather less than a pint in Wetherspoon's, for example. Image not available to guests
CfN.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [370892/31371/14] Posted by charles_uk at 14:29, 11th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Nothing mentioned on JourneyCheck re short-forms but the entire service on the north Cotswold line today is made up of five car units. This is very unusual as normally nine car units make up the majority of the Sunday service.
| Re: GWR passenger representative forum?? In "Who's who on Western railways" [370891/31426/2] Posted by TaplowGreen at 14:14, 11th January 2026 | |
............I can remember a time when GWR managers used to spend time meeting their customers at stations and listening to their concerns in person...........I believe that forum was called "Meet the Manager" - seems to have fallen into abeyance now though.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370890/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 14:11, 11th January 2026 | |
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
13:54 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:45 will no longer call at Frome.
This is due to a short-notice change to the timetable.
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 In "Introductions and chat" [370889/31419/1] Posted by grahame at 14:08, 11th January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Also, Graham's experience with respect to a rover ticket when opportunities for travel were curtailed by Covid restrictions... that was poor.
Yes, it was. But at the time everyone was far more concerned with the huge business of covid and I felt that although the treatment was poor ("trains were still running - not our decision that you could not use them" as I recall) it was not a time to follow-up and make a song and dance over it. Pragmatic acceptance as sometimes happens.
I have had similar thoughts with regard delay / repay claims on rangers and rovers ... and in Interrail ticket compensations too. There have been a couple of occasions where significant delays have been suffered but ... yes ... I believe it's worked out by dividing down the cost over the number of active days, and then based on an assumption of a return trip on that day. I am planning a 7 day Freedom of North East at £101.45 in a few weeks - that's £14.50 a day and so £7.25 per single journey. So for delay of just under an hour, I would get £3.63 back. Shrug shoulders and move on.
| Re: Survey - Making a success of rail reform - Campaign for Better Transport In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [370888/31424/40] Posted by johnneyw at 14:03, 11th January 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A | |
Just completed the survey, and yes, it does rather focus your attention of what it is that you want/expect from GBR.... although I now realise that I forgot to mention in the appropriate free text area that I prefer the old BR title, which I rather expect most people will refer to it as over time anyway.
| Commuting to Uni - not so new, or was I ahead of the times? In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370887/31428/51] Posted by grahame at 13:51, 11th January 2026 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A, rogerw | |
From The BBC
My three-hour university commute is worth the £7,000 saving on halls
On a packed morning train to Manchester, 19-year-old Amelka Zambrzycka is surrounded by commuters heading into work.
There isn't a suitable bus from her mum's house in Horwich, on the other side of Bolton, so she has just walked the 25 minutes to the station - as she does every morning - despite the freezing weather.
But Amelka isn't on her way to work. She's a first-year biology student, one of hundreds of thousands of undergraduates who now choose to live at home rather than paying for university halls
On a packed morning train to Manchester, 19-year-old Amelka Zambrzycka is surrounded by commuters heading into work.
There isn't a suitable bus from her mum's house in Horwich, on the other side of Bolton, so she has just walked the 25 minutes to the station - as she does every morning - despite the freezing weather.
But Amelka isn't on her way to work. She's a first-year biology student, one of hundreds of thousands of undergraduates who now choose to live at home rather than paying for university halls
I can identify with this. I
Edit note: Two of grahame's trademark typos corrected, for clarity. CfN.
| Re: Somerset to Sydney without flying In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [370886/28286/52] Posted by broadgage at 13:44, 11th January 2026 | |
My friend is currently in the USA having travelled thereto by container ship.
Weather very cold with snow and high winds.
Nice and warm on board.
Food was excellent, and included Beef Wellington.
They intend to return on a second cargo ship, or possibly the same one.
| Why survey for bats? In "Railway History and related topics" [370885/31427/55] Posted by Mark A at 13:37, 11th January 2026 | |
Surprised that this film isn't used as an exemplar for what happens when we do not survey for bats. Also, Coffeeshop readers might like to read the description and play "Spot the error".
Film from 1962 hosted on BFI: the marines demolish a bridge using explosives. Most of the debris falls to the ground, some of it takes to the wing and flies away in terror. The fate of the lamb is not recorded.
Mark
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-royal-demolition-1962-online
