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Great Western Coffee Shop
As at 5th February 2025 09:00 GMT
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Millions of train tickets to be discounted next week
In "Fare's Fair" [357928/29748/4]
Posted by grahame at 08:33, 5th February 2025
 
From The Standard

More than one million discounted train tickets were bought during a promotion last month, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

The total of 1.01 million tickets purchased during the Rail Sale brought in £8.73 million in sales revenue, representing an increase of more than 70% compared with a similar scheme last year.

Do they tell us what proportion of the sales are for journeys that would otherwise not have been made, what proportion are a transfer of journeys from other modes, and what proportion are people who would be travelling by train anyway simply taking advantage of the scheme?

Re: Stop using the word ‘passenger’, Network Rail tells staff
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357927/29845/51]
Posted by grahame at 08:09, 5th February 2025
 
I get it - poking fun at this document. BUT.

But there IS a clear case for clear speech.

And there is a clear case for helping people who speak to the public know how to ensure that what they say is clear and understandable.

Re: Stop using the word ‘passenger’, Network Rail tells staff
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357926/29845/51]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:54, 5th February 2025
 
I've got a good idea.

How about sacking the idiots that came up with this bull and using the over inflated salaries to employ staff to physically inspect the state of the permanent way?

Can we say "cattle" rather than "bull" please?

You are assuming that the bovine in question identifies as male. Network Rail would also recommend that the preferred pronouns are ascertained.

Re: 175s to GWR
In "Across the West" [357925/28982/26]
Posted by REVUpminster at 07:30, 5th February 2025
 
175007 left Ely yesterday. Got as far as Leicester when it was realised they had the wrong unit, 175010, which has axle problems.

Apparently still at Leicester in the goods yard.

Re: Uber credits
In "Fare's Fair" [357924/29854/4]
Posted by matth1j at 06:25, 5th February 2025
 
I've found that it uses them automatically, no manual intervention required. Wasn't obvious though - hadn't noticed until I looked at my bank statement

Re: Vibrant or dangerous? Colourful roundabout redesign divides village in Berkshire
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [357923/29847/31]
Posted by Marlburian at 05:54, 5th February 2025

Uber credits
In "Fare's Fair" [357922/29854/4]
Posted by Clan Line at 20:43, 4th February 2025
 
I am trying to use my accrued Uber credits to buy a train ticket. I cannot get the Uber website to accept the credits. I have more in credits than the cost of the ticket, but it keeps trying to charge the full price of the ticket to my card. The credits say that they are valid to May 2025.

Anyone else had this problem ? Am I missing something ?

Re: Stop using the word ‘passenger’, Network Rail tells staff
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357921/29845/51]
Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 19:44, 4th February 2025
 
I've got a good idea.

How about sacking the idiots that came up with this bull and using the over inflated salaries to employ staff to physically inspect the state of the permanent way?

Re: 18th December, Swindon 11:30 - Go-op Share Offer Launch
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [357919/29623/34]
Posted by grahame at 18:57, 4th February 2025
 
Thirty-one days left on the crowdfunder to raise £2,500,000 - and they are standing at a rather paltry £82,190. A long way to go - I wonder whether someone will offer the remaining investment at the last moment? I'm sort of surprised no one is giving it a push....?

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

I have added the closing date to our calendar.   Coffee Shop members are welcome to post here to encourage people to support  Go-op by share purchase or otherwise, just as they are to encourage people to purchase shares in First group.   As with any investment, the risks and benefits of the particular investment should be carefully considered.

Re: Landslips and landslides on the transport networks
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357918/29849/51]
Posted by paul7575 at 17:56, 4th February 2025
 
Updated BBC article on the SVR bridge failure.   

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7g5yrvz5o

A chap from Network Rail has explained that it’s probably the excess water flow that’s washed out the bridge wall.

Top and bottom stations for passenger convenience
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357917/29853/51]
Posted by grahame at 17:54, 4th February 2025
 
European Railway Station Index - Posting in "UK" because it includes some UK Stations

https://consumerchoicecenter.org/european-railway-station-index-2023/

As the world grapples with post-Covid recovery, railway stations are witnessing a complex blend of continuity and transformation. In the UK, passenger numbers are steadily rebounding, reaching 95% of pre-Covid levels after a significant 70% global drop. However, this surge has brought its challenges, such as severe train delays and longer waiting times. Specific factors unique to each country, like Germany’s subsidy program impacting stations like Munich, and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with millions seeking refuge in Europe, further complicate railway congestion. Against this backdrop, we present the fourth annual European Railway Station Index, evaluating fifty major stations to guide consumers towards the best travel experiences amidst these changing realities.

There are several upsides to choosing one of the top five stations for arrival or departure, such as less time spent waiting for trains, more convenient operating hours for ticket booths, more ticket packages to choose from, easier access to entrances, platforms, and restrooms for people using a wheelchair, more shops, kiosks, restaurants, and first-class lounges, better coverage, easier connections to and from the station, and less hassle traveling to other countries by train.

I suspect that few of us would choose a destination based on the station quality there - but very useful to take a look at what makes for a good and a bad station.    Full report mirrored at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/Railway-Index-2023.pdf for members

Originally from The Mirror

'Worst' train station in Europe is found in country famed for public transport
Despite being a country known for its "excellent" public transport, it appears Germany has one of the worst train stations in Europe - according to new research

Re: Greatest Gathering - 1st to 3rd August 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357916/29728/51]
Posted by grahame at 17:22, 4th February 2025
 
Alstom has confirmed that tickets for The Greatest Gathering are set set to go back on sale following issues with the Mortons Media ticketing website last week.

Tickets originally went on sale on Friday last week, but sales were suspended a matter of hours later after many users received ‘Bad Gateway’ errors when trying to access the Mortons Media website.

Plenty of tickets remain available and will go back on sale tomorrow (5th February) at 9am

Based on last weeks demand, tickets wont be around for long and the new ticket website is being hosted by See Tickets, who are based in Nottingham.

Re: Heathrow Southern Railway
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [357914/20681/28]
Posted by ChrisB at 15:11, 4th February 2025
 
The company has been around for years....that's where Graham Cross moved to after his stint with Adrian Shooter at Chiltern Railways.

Re: Greatest Gathering - 1st to 3rd August 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357912/29728/51]
Posted by grahame at 13:34, 4th February 2025
Already liked by Mark A, GBM
 
Should have gone to wellhouse for a reliable build and service! 

Funnily enough ... when we hear people tell us about great online experiences with some very big organisations, they often turn out to be ones we have trained.  It's amazing how much we got around.     

When we appeared on Four in a Bed, our contestant care person (the person assigned by the production company to help the twits who have signed up to warned us to expect a huge spike when they broadcast our show. Took a look / listened to what we did and said "I don't think you'll have any problems".  We didn't, though traffic was up that day by around 250 times.

I can't recall us training any of the companies who's booking engines have fallen over like in this example

Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts)
In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [357910/10737/21]
Posted by Phantom at 13:17, 4th February 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
Thanks for posting that update, johnneyw.   

That is indeed a fairly large project of restoration / rebuilding / improvement work.



Out of interest when are the works due to be finished?
The station is so depressing with boards everywhere, it reminds me of New Street

Re: 18th December, Swindon 11:30 - Go-op Share Offer Launch
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [357909/29623/34]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:49, 4th February 2025
 
Thirty-one days left on the crowdfunder to raise £2,500,000 - and they are standing at a rather paltry £82,190. A long way to go - I wonder whether someone will offer the remaining investment at the last moment? I'm sort of surprised no one is giving it a push....?

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

Just 3% of the way there?  It looks like an almighty shove is required rather than just a push!

Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025
In "London to the Cotswolds" [357908/29711/14]
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 12:37, 4th February 2025
 
And after some good days, when I've been hesitant to post anything, for fear of something going wrong...

Though yesterday the afternoon 'halts' train was cancelled.

11:52 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:44 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:04/02/2025 11:05

15:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:04/02/2025 11:05

Re: Greatest Gathering - 1st to 3rd August 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357907/29728/51]
Posted by GBM at 12:33, 4th February 2025
 
https://www.alstom.com/greatest-gathering

As part of this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works will be front and centre, as it hosts the largest temporary gathering of trains and rail-related exhibits in a generation – The Greatest Gathering – between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 August.

After yesterday’s fantastic announcement regarding The Greatest Gathering happening at our Derby site in August, our ticketing provider’s site struggled to cope with unprecedented demand from around the world.

Even with a queuing system in place from mid-morning, this was not enough – and it will take time to secure additional capacity.

With that in mind, we have made the decision to suspend ticket sales until we are confident that our provider’s servers can handle the expected web traffic.

Rest assured, there are still thousands of tickets available across the three days and those who have already received a booking confirmation will receive their e-tickets in due course.

Details of when tickets will return to sale will be promoted on this website and on our social media channels.
Should have gone to wellhouse for a reliable build and service! 

Re: 18th December, Swindon 11:30 - Go-op Share Offer Launch
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [357906/29623/34]
Posted by ChrisB at 12:32, 4th February 2025
 
Thirty-one days left on the crowdfunder to raise £2,500,000 - and they are standing at a rather paltry £82,190. A long way to go - I wonder whether someone will offer the remaining investment at the last moment? I'm sort of surprised no one is giving it a push....?

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

Re: Stop using the word ‘passenger’, Network Rail tells staff
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [357904/29845/51]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:42, 4th February 2025
Already liked by GBM, Witham Bobby
 
To avoid causing offence to those people who are pregnant that do not identify as a ‘woman’ I presume?

Truly,  what a time to be alive! 

Re: Vibrant or dangerous? Colourful roundabout redesign divides village in Berkshire
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [357903/29847/31]
Posted by Red Squirrel at 08:12, 4th February 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea
 
To be fair, the crossing by Castle Park in Bristol is signal-controlled - the area that’s been painted would normally just be plain highway - so it’s not particularly confusing.

Re: Vibrant or dangerous? Colourful roundabout redesign divides village in Berkshire
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [357902/29847/31]
Posted by grahame at 08:02, 4th February 2025
 
There are (or have been)  a number of other none-standard Zebra crossings around

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47402269

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-57630842

and I recall a curved zebra crossing on a corner - I think in Funchal - sure I took a picture but can't find it.

MOVED: GWR Rewards - launching March?
In "Fare's Fair" [357901/29852/4]
Posted by grahame at 07:57, 4th February 2025
 
This topic has been moved to The Rumour Mill.

https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29851.0

Awaiting confirmation of the story

 
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