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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: 2 of 3 - rail related but no trains
In "The Lighter Side" [379051/32435/30]
Posted by DR7835 at 10:28, 2nd September 2026
 
Similarly I'd guess at B9 being somewhere in Germany judging by the general appearance, signs and the PZB inductor on the track.

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379050/32437/30]
Posted by DR7835 at 10:09, 2nd September 2026
 
thanks DR7835

C9-Milan
Happy to oblige and that was also my answer - well Milano Centrale to be precise.

Dave

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379049/32437/30]
Posted by grahame at 10:08, 2nd September 2026
 
I think that third set might be a bit harder - correct so far

C0 Mora - Chris from Nailsea
C2 Rotterdam Centraak - stuving
C3 London Bridge - rogerpatenall
C4 Beauly - eightonedee
C5 Corfe Castle - bradshaw
C9 Milan - eightonedee
C10 Antwerpen Centraal  - stuving
C12 Castlebar - stuving
C13 Göschenen - DR7835
C14 Bewdley - DR7835

so outstanding:

C1.


C6.


C7.


C8.


C11.


Re: 2 of 3 - rail related but no trains
In "The Lighter Side" [379048/32435/30]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 10:03, 2nd September 2026
 
B5 looks to be in France, from the 'Sor' or 'Sort' as the beginning of the possible word 'Sortie' on the sign at the top right of the picture.

Re: Call for improved catering (a Coffee Shop!) in Cornwall
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [379047/32440/28]
Posted by GBM at 09:51, 2nd September 2026
 
Being related to "Cornish News", I think I can safely say this is not to be taken seriously.

:-)

Thank you Andy.
Was about to post the same in case anyone took the item seriously!

Cornish News is a spoof site (running throughout the year, rather than April 1st only).

Re: Railways but no trains - 1 of 3
In "The Lighter Side" [379046/32425/30]
Posted by grahame at 09:46, 2nd September 2026
 
0 Paddington - stuving
1 Saltash - stuving
2 Prague hlavní nádraží  - DR7835
3 Arbroath - broooklea
4 Italy (somewhere!) - eightonedee
5 York - Chris from Nailsea
6 Marlow - Mark A
7 Usti nad Labem - Chris from Nailsea
8 King's Cross - eightonedee
10 Ebbw Vale - stuving
11 Brighton - TonyN
12 Amsterdam Zuid - Chris from Nailsea
13 Plymouth - Chris from Nailsea
14 Prague hlavní nádraží  - DR7835

Just two left, and I think we have established that both are Italian, but the towns not yet mentioned in this thread

4.


9.


Re: Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379045/32448/5]
Posted by grahame at 09:28, 2nd September 2026
 
The Highlands are already covered by a £2 cap

Noted - and the distinction may be between the Highlands which does NOT include Oban and the Highlands and Islands which does

From https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Maps/LocalAuthorityRegions.aspx


Re: 2 of 3 - rail related but no trains
In "The Lighter Side" [379044/32435/30]
Posted by grahame at 09:26, 2nd September 2026
 
B0 Reading - ChrisB
B1 Arnhem - stuving
B2 Wuppertal - PrestburyRoad
B3 Cattewater (Plymouth) - Chris from Nailsea
B4 Bregenz - stuving
B6 Taunton - Chris from Nailsea
B7 Inverness - eightonedee
B8 (London) St Pancras - TonyN
B11 Leven - brooklea
B12 Melksham - Phil
B13 Liege - oxviem
B14 Potsdam - DR7835

Just 3 to go - anyone?

B5. 


B9.


B10.


Same word - different meanings - public transport context
In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [379043/32449/20]
Posted by grahame at 09:14, 2nd September 2026
 
1. What's the difference between a Group (1a) and a group (1b)? 
2. What's the difference between a shop (2a) and our Shop (2b)?
3. What's the difference between a station (3a) and a station (3b)?
4. What's the difference between a stop (4a) and a halt (4b)?
5. What's the difference between reading (5a) and Reading (5b)?

Words are confusing with dual use!

1a. The West Wiltshire Rail Users Group (WWRUG) is an independent association which aims to maintain and enhance the rail services serving West Wiltshire. Meetings are held throughout the year, with prominent speakers from the rail industry, local government, and other relevant organisations giving informative talks on rail related issues. Members receive a regular newsletter in return for an annual subscription, currently £8 for an individual and £10 for a family. Web site at https://www.wwrug.org.uk . Next meeting 16th September 2026, when we welcome Peter West, who for many years was the Franchise Manager for Great Western for many years at the Department for Transport.  19:00 for 19:30 at the Bethesda Church Hall in Trowbridge - about 100 yards from the station.  Guests are welcome, but are asked to pay £2 per meeting (better to pay £8 up front to join?)

1b. A Facebook group is a community that connects people who share specific interests, and the West Wiltshire Rail Users (Facebook) group - note the lower case "G" - does exactly that. https://www.facebook.com/groups/wwrug  I'm one of the administrators of that group, and the other two are both WWRUG Committee members. It's public readable and so everyone can read and with admin approval anyone can contribute - and we welcome and encourage people to do so, to chat, to post news, to share views on west Wiltshire rail topics. 

1c. Online group members are welcome at public Group meetings and encouraged to join - bringing them quarterly meetings, newsletters and opportunities to get involved deeper at committee level, which is the heart of our campaigning and partnering for better services.

2a. A shop is where you buy things.  Typically lots of products all in one place where you go (physically or online) to select what you want, and which becomes yours for a financial consideration.

2b. Our Great Western Coffee Shop  (where you are reading this) has nothing to sell financially.  A coffee shop is somewhere to sit around and chant with others of similar interests - to share stories and news, exchange views and learn from them in a convivial and friendly environment.  The Great Western Coffee Shop is - in this vein - a meeting point of like and enquiring minds with a shared interest in rail travel across the wedge of Great Britain from London headed west to the Cotswolds, Wessex, South Wales and the South West of England. And being a meeting point amongst friends, talk often turns to related topics such as other public transport, trains in neighbouring area and sometimes beyond, and other topics of tangential interest in the areas covered

3a. A railway Station is a place where trains stop - a station on the railway.

3b. A fire station is - you hope - the last place you'll find a fire!

4a. A stop is where a train or bus stops for passengers to get on or off; on the railway, it's very much the same as a "railway station" and in the UK can range from Waterloo with goodness knows how many platform and passenger to Beauly where the only platform is so short that just one door of the train opens.

4b. A halt is where a train will stop - but only if there are passengers to drop off or pick up. There are a few remaining in GWR territory, including Lympstone Commando and Dilton Marsh where the passenger numbers are such that the train almost always stops anyway.  Others in the GWR area include places like Thornford, Sandplace and Portsmouth Arms (which is nowhere near Portsmouth) on lines that are quieter too, and the "halt" designation and operation remains logical.

5a. reading is a skill we learn - before or at school for the majority of us in the UK these days - that sets us up for life's progress in modern society

5b. Reading is a town in Berkshire, and one of the biggest railway interchanges in the region. South Western Railway, Cross Country, Great Western and Transport for London all operate scheduled passenger trains there, and for most people travelling, who's operating the train you arrive on and the train you leave on is of little practical consequence.  You just need to know who's website to drill down into for things like delay/repay claims, and if you're travelling as a group whether you groupsave ticket is valid on this or that operator.

Try also -
6. Flying Scotsman v The Flying Scotsman
7. Passenger v Customer
8. Barry Island v Barry Links
9. Usual (standard English usage) and usual as in "more trains needing repair than usual"

Re: 2 of 3 - rail related but no trains
In "The Lighter Side" [379042/32435/30]
Posted by ChrisB at 08:31, 2nd September 2026
 
Yes, indeed. Fair amount of damp to sort out before they sign a contract though

Re: Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379041/32448/5]
Posted by ChrisB at 08:25, 2nd September 2026
 
The Highlands are already covered by a £2 cap

Re: Severn Valley Railway - public (not tourist) service trial
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [379040/32267/28]
Posted by grahame at 07:57, 2nd September 2026
Already liked by Mark A, Western Pathfinder
 
https://svr.co.uk/news/bewdley-express-rolls-out-for-first-commuter-journey-on-the-svr/

Bewdley Express rolls out for first commuter journey on the SVR

The Severn Valley Railway’s Bewdley Express commuter trial got off to a flying start today [Tuesday 1 September] as the first heritage train carried passengers from Bewdley towards Birmingham, marking the beginning of an eight-week experiment in connecting the town directly with the wider West Midlands rail network.

The inaugural service, which departed Bewdley at 6.40am, attracted plenty of interest, with press and photographers on hand to capture the historic first journey.

Representatives of Bewdley Town Council and Worcestershire County Council were also present, alongside representatives of the three organisations that have worked together to make the trial possible: the Severn Valley Railway (SVR), West Midlands Railway and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE).

The Bewdley Express operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the eight-week trial, with two morning services departing Bewdley at 6.40am and 7.40am. Passengers change at Kidderminster for West Midlands Railway services, with the first service reaching Birmingham Snow Hill at 7.46am and the second at 8.46am.

Evening return services leave Birmingham Snow Hill at 4.46pm and 5.46pm, connecting at Kidderminster with SVR trains back to Bewdley, arriving at 5.57pm and 7.02pm respectively.

I wish the trial well.  I ... worry ... that people may try it out, but many who could make long term use of it will just make the odd journey knowing it's only running - err - 3 days a week for 8 weeks.

Re: Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister, with a strong transport reputation
In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379039/32149/40]
Posted by REVUpminster at 07:46, 2nd September 2026
Already liked by Western Pathfinder, GBM
 
I bought a new car because it said it could be reversed faster than any other. It was a Kia Starmer.

Re: Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister, with a strong transport reputation
In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379038/32149/40]
Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:30, 2nd September 2026
 
.....this was not entirely unexpected, surely? .....

In view of Mr. Starmer's categoric statement that he would stay as a backbench MP until the next general election coupled with his well deserved reputation for u-turning and/or lying this was probably an absolute certainty.


Re: Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379036/32448/5]
Posted by grahame at 22:09, 1st September 2026
 
From the BBC:

Bus fares in the west of Scotland will be capped at £2, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

The move takes effect from Monday morning for journeys in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde.

[snip]

The bus fare announcement is part of an SNP manifesto pledge to cut the cost of bus travel to £2 per single fare for every journey in the country by the end of this parliamentary term.

A cap is already in place in the Highlands and islands. Swinney did not say when it will be extended to the rest of Scotland.


For "West of Scotland" I read "Glasgow Region".   Looks to me that it's not happening in Argyll and Bute, nor Dumfries and Galloway, so that places like Oban, Campbeltown and Stranraer are not covered.

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379035/32437/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:02, 1st September 2026
 
C12.  Ballymote station, on the Sligo to Dublin line.

Right country ... shame about the town

Well, I ballywell got that one wrong, didn't I? 

I'll try again:

C0.  Mora järnvägsstation, if you'll pardon my possible mispronunciation, from my very schoolboy Swedish.

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379034/32437/30]
Posted by eightonedee at 21:14, 1st September 2026
 
thanks DR7835

C9-Milan

Re: Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister, with a strong transport reputation
In "Looking forward - the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years" [379033/32149/40]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:48, 1st September 2026
 
Going off at yet another slight tangent here, but this was not entirely unexpected, surely?

From the BBC:

Sir Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP


Since he resigned as prime minister in July, there was speculation over whether Sir Keir would stay on as MP - Image © PA Media

Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as an MP to focus on a role in international affairs.

The move will trigger a by-election in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras, long a Labour stronghold, which he has represented since 2015.

Sir Keir, who left Downing Street in July, had previously said he would stay on as an MP until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029.  But in a surprise statement hours before his successor Andy Burnham made his debut in the House of Commons, he said he was resigning to work on issues such as international affairs and violence against women and girls.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Burnham highlighted Sir Keir's work with Ukraine and the Hillsborough Law drawn up under his government to improve the accountability of public officials, which is going through Parliament.

"He has given this country a lifetime of public service, particularly for those fighting for justice," he added.  "His leadership took our party from one of its worst defeats to its best victories and created a platform to change this country for the better. We will use it well, and we wish his family the very best for the future."

Announcing his resignation, Sir Keir told the Camden New Journal it had been a "huge honour and privilege" to represent the London constituency for 11 years, ending weeks of speculation about whether he would remain an MP.

He added he was ready to "pass the baton to a successor", telling the newspaper it was the "right time" for him to leave Parliament.  He said: "I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

"I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.  It's work I started before I became an MP and it's work I'm keen to continue after I'm an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other."

Sir Keir became prime minister after winning a landslide majority at the 2024 election, but quit No 10 after pressure from Labour MPs to stand aside.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wished Sir Keir the best for the future adding: "I can understand why he would not want to spend time with the Labour MPs who treated him so badly after he won them their seats."

Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Sir Keir of making "another U-turn having pledged to stay on", prompting a "costly by-election for taxpayers".

A date will not be set for the by-election until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat.  This will only be confirmed once the government has given him a crown appointment, the mechanism that disqualifies him from being an MP.

Labour expects to select a candidate for the by-election by 9 September, according to the party's website.  Holborn and St Pancras has long been a Labour stronghold, with Sir Keir securing a more than 11,000-vote majority at the last general election in 2024.

(BBC article continues)


Re: Wanted - a bit of automated intelligence.
In "Fare's Fair" [379032/32442/4]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:44, 1st September 2026
 
Many years ago (well, twenty, give or take one) we had a similar expert, Dave, in the morning ticket office at Nailsea & Backwell.  That was in the days of Wessex Trains (pah! ), but he was absolutely brilliant: what he didn't know about railway ticketing wouldn't even use up the back of a postage stamp.

CfN. 

Re: 'Surveillance pricing'.
In "Fare's Fair" [379031/32345/4]
Posted by Mark A at 19:32, 1st September 2026
 
Thanks for that link.

Mark

Re: 'Surveillance pricing'.
In "Fare's Fair" [379030/32345/4]
Posted by 1st fan at 19:31, 1st September 2026
Already liked by Mark A
 
It's probably good to know that surveillance pricing exists. (I didn't.) Prices for items are not displayed and a system checks what it knows about someone and presents a personalised price for that person - which may take account of e.g. their pain point. It could be argued that dynamic pricing / surge pricing is on the way to this, but for the addition of the personal data aspect. It's easy to think how this could go south & become a 'mare for everyone if it crept in to transport ticketing.

Mark

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_pricing

Sadly, pricing based on what people appear to be able to pay does exist and has for many years. I suspect I have seen it on airline fares where an enquiry gives a price, then (having checked with family) a couple of minutes later the fare offer is higher.  Do we also see elements of it where prices are available only to new customers?

Even before "internet days", living in a bigger house we got very familiar with quotations for the same service being - we felt - adjusted upwards having seen where we lived.   


Edit note: Minor typo corrected, for clarity. CfN. 

I have looked into this for a family member who was convinced a British airline had done this to them. I checked on the ITA Matrix https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search and found that the fare she was looking for had indeed gone. It wasn’t related to her or her prior searches it was just that fare had sold out. Someone else I knew at the time checked the actual fare buckets and the cheapy, non refundable, no changes bucket was now showing as 0. She bought the slightly more expensive fare and then when she was selecting her seats noticed there were very few unselected ones. Turns out it was a very popular and full flight.

Re: Coffee shop - posting stats as we approach our 20th birthday
In "News, Help and Assistance" [379029/32441/29]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:29, 1st September 2026
Already liked by rogerw
 
... I don't visit every day, but when I do, there's always something ... annoying ... to be found.

Me, for example. 

Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [379028/32448/5]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:26, 1st September 2026
 
From the BBC:

Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday


The bus fare cap will cover journeys in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde - Image © Getty Images

Bus fares in the west of Scotland will be capped at £2, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

The move takes effect from Monday morning for journeys in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde.

In his programme for government, Swinney also confirmed plans to cut Scotland's health boards from 14 to two in what he said was the "most significant structural reform in the NHS in the era of devolution".

He vowed that by 2031, no patient will wait longer than 26 weeks for the treatment they need - an apparent downgrade on a promise in 2011 that patients should not wait longer than 12 weeks for inpatient or day-case treatment after diagnosis.

This is the first programme for government in the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament and outlines the government's policy and legislative goals.

The bus fare announcement is part of an SNP manifesto pledge to cut the cost of bus travel to £2 per single fare for every journey in the country by the end of this parliamentary term.

A cap is already in place in the Highlands and islands. Swinney did not say when it will be extended to the rest of Scotland.

(BBC article continues)


Re: Wanted - a bit of automated intelligence.
In "Fare's Fair" [379027/32442/4]
Posted by 1st fan at 19:20, 1st September 2026
 
The old ticket office at Kensington Olympia (KPA) which was the old Motorail one from back in the days of old was staffed by an Ex-BR bloke who was fabulous. He knew everything and was always happy to do odd tickets that others would stuggle with, or check something in the fares manual for you. It has, since becoming an TFL Overground station, been closed and replaced by a portacabin type thing at the other platform entrance and a bank of ticket machines.

My gripe with GWR and their ticket machines at Paddington is that they don’t accept the three letter code for a station which I habitually type in first, before realising that it isn’t showing me my destination. This is really annoying if you’ve just arrived, a little late for the train you’re hoping to get. Also don’t understand why they took the ticket machine(s) away from the Taxi Rank at Paddington. Last time I was there there were HEX ones but not GWR ones, it may have been temporary ans they may have been put back subsequently. Still bloody annoying though.

Re: Bristol Temple Meads unusual activity
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [379026/32174/47]
Posted by bobm at 19:10, 1st September 2026
 
The class 47s, as they became, first appeared in the early 1960s while Nottingham Victoria closed in September 1967.   So it was a brief co-existence.

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379025/32437/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:55, 1st September 2026
 
Thanks, stuving. 

Re: 2 of 3 - rail related but no trains
In "The Lighter Side" [379024/32435/30]
Posted by johnneyw at 18:19, 1st September 2026
 
Stroud is the one I forgot. So 4 it is at the mo - two more possibly following at Great Malvern & Surbiton....

I presume that would replace the sadly missed Lady Foley's tea room at Great Malvern.

Re: Science Museum Group Collection, Wroughton
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [379023/32443/47]
Posted by johnneyw at 18:08, 1st September 2026
 
Duly inspired, I am currently refining my plans for an autumn visit.

Re: 3rd and final (for now) "Rail related but no trains"
In "The Lighter Side" [379022/32437/30]
Posted by stuving at 18:06, 1st September 2026
 
C12.  Ballymote station, on the Sligo to Dublin line.

Right country ... shame about the town

C12: Castlebar - I thought that one looked familiar, though not by being the other Castlebar that I grew up close to.

 
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