Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: GWR responds to concerns over rising rail fares in North Devon In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [359636/30022/24] Posted by Ralph Ayres at 22:21, 19th March 2025 |      |
Not City Thameslink as it isn't a London Terminus station - you need a specific A2B ticket or a Travelcard. Same with Farringdon
City Thameslink and Farringdon aren't the same. London Terminals from the south does extend as far north as City Thameslink. From the north you need a "London Thameslink" ticket to reach either of them if travelling on Thameslink, or generally a ticket to "Zone U1" on other routes though tickets showing the specific station name may occasionally pop up. It's all logical (but admittedly not simple) if you know the background and history of the various lines, and is explained at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-in-london/ though even the compiler of that page seems to accept that it's not straightforward given the inclusion of a "The below diagrams may help with understanding" apology....All admittedly some way off the topic of rail fares in North Devon!
| Re: WW2 steam train built by women takes to the tracks again after restoration In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [359635/30046/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:21, 19th March 2025 | |
To be fair, CyclingSid, in the detail of that article, it is made clear that the Watercress Line are making efforts to trace the women who built 'Canadian Pacific':
A search for the women of Canadian Pacific
Throughout the Second World War, while men were deployed, many women stepped into vital roles across the UK.
Initially, only single women aged 20 to 30 were called up but by mid-1943, nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were working in places such as factories, on farms or in the Armed Forces.
Women at Eastleigh Works were employed in various departments, such as machine shops, forges and sawmills.
They played a crucial role in supporting the war effort by building Merchant Navy Class locomotives, including the Canadian Pacific.
In the early stages of researching the history surrounding the iconic locomotive, project leader Dr Becky Peacock collected various stories and memories about Canadian Pacific, including those of Mr Asprey whose father was the foreman of the machine shop at the time that Canadian Pacific was built.
By 1940, he was the only man working in the machine shop.
Throughout the Second World War, while men were deployed, many women stepped into vital roles across the UK.
Initially, only single women aged 20 to 30 were called up but by mid-1943, nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were working in places such as factories, on farms or in the Armed Forces.
Women at Eastleigh Works were employed in various departments, such as machine shops, forges and sawmills.
They played a crucial role in supporting the war effort by building Merchant Navy Class locomotives, including the Canadian Pacific.
In the early stages of researching the history surrounding the iconic locomotive, project leader Dr Becky Peacock collected various stories and memories about Canadian Pacific, including those of Mr Asprey whose father was the foreman of the machine shop at the time that Canadian Pacific was built.
By 1940, he was the only man working in the machine shop.
| WW2 steam train built by women takes to the tracks again after restoration In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [359633/30046/47] Posted by CyclingSid at 18:42, 19th March 2025 | |
Sounds like another reason to visit the Watercress Line
https://www.forcesnews.com/heritage/wwii/iconic-ww2-steam-train-built-women-takes-tracks-once-more
Not many ladies obvious in the restoration team.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [359631/27102/25] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:27, 19th March 2025 | |
I have now expanded the heading of this topic, in the interests of clarity and ease of future reference.
CfN.
| Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [359630/27102/25] Posted by old original at 17:58, 19th March 2025 | |
I think this shows where a chunk of the money's going....
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8j0vpyll03o
| Re: Evening Star - named 65 years ago today - 18.3.1960 In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [359628/30044/47] Posted by eXPassenger at 17:18, 19th March 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Western Pathfinder | |
On 8 September 1962 it hauled the last Pines Express on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway
There is a description of that run in 'Mendips Engineman' by the driver PW Smith.
| Friday 21st March 2025 - still happy to chat about buses in Taunton In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359627/30045/5] Posted by grahame at 17:01, 19th March 2025 | |
Headline is "TravelWatch SouthWest" Cancelled - at far shorter notice than is comfortable. As a director of TWSW, I apologise - the cancellation is due to multiple things that could not have been foretold or even guessed at a week ago, and as I always say to people "your health comes first" and that expands beyond personal contacts to speakers, organisers, and attendees.
A very difficult decision for our secretariat and chair to make - not one I envy them.
I am aware that some people have travel plans to Taunton, and that there is a great deal going on (or not) especially with buses in the counties around. As I had Friday set aside anyway, I'm planning to travel down for the day - a "jolly" perhaps - arriving 11:15 if the train is on time and leaving back around 6 p.m. I had already set up a post-meeting meeting for around 15:30 at The Plough and will still make that - happy to meet other friends too.
Will write more overnight - off to the WWRUG AGM now!
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359624/30000/34] Posted by ChrisB at 16:13, 19th March 2025 | |
Of course, emergencies can happen to someone at any time/day, I appreciate that, but the way these days are structured, there are at least 4 speakers & I might find it less believable that all 4 (or even 3) have all had something emergency happen together. This isn't a one-person all-day seminar that you used to run.
My suggestion of a warning in the booking engine stands.
The West Somerset Railway unfortunately is not exactly accessible, Graham.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [359623/29650/26] Posted by NickB at 16:12, 19th March 2025 | |
Still cancellations particularly for Didcot services.
| Re: Coffee Shop offline early on 19th March 2025 In "News, Help and Assistance" [359622/29980/29] Posted by grahame at 16:02, 19th March 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Turned out to be minimally disruptive.
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359621/30000/34] Posted by grahame at 16:01, 19th March 2025 | |
And still mentioned (as a TBC admittedly) on the TWSW '.org' website!
Yes - I *do* have access to that and am struggling to do an editVery poorly handled 
I'm sorry, but cancellations need to happen at least a week out, preferably two,
I'm sorry, but cancellations need to happen at least a week out, preferably two,
I am - NOT - about to disclose personal information of others, but I note that I have had to pull out of an event I was scheduled to attend at very short notice indeed. Not often - just once in 25 years - that resulted in the an assembled group being let down on the day. And where specialists are involved - as I was at the time - zero change of finding a standing.
So, I have to come for a jolly, as I booked during the GWR sale & have 1st class seats booked for a total of £74.20. I also have to get out of bed at 0530 on a Saturday - something I don't mind doing if its going to be rewarding enough....BUT.
Damned if I'm going to waste these!!
Now to find somewhere else to go between 1015 & 1700 from TAU.
Damned if I'm going to waste these!!
Now to find somewhere else to go between 1015 & 1700 from TAU.
I have already looked at the West Somerset Railway but their season starts the following day. I also have (decision in the next hour) to decide whether to carry on with my suggested meet up for Wiltshire and Somerset bus groups at The Plough, just down the road, at 15:30 and I am in discussion with others who were going on to that.
[/quote]
| Re: GWR responds to concerns over rising rail fares in North Devon In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [359620/30022/24] Posted by ChrisB at 15:45, 19th March 2025 | |
Not City Thameslink as it isn't a London Terminus station - you need a specific A2B ticket or a Travelcard. Same with Farringdon
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [359619/29650/26] Posted by ChrisB at 15:27, 19th March 2025 | |
And then it completes at 1130.....
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [359618/29650/26] Posted by grahame at 15:25, 19th March 2025 | |
The "disruption is expected until..." time has been gradually extended throughout the day - currently expected until 16:00 at present.
Sadly, these messages make no reference to what to expect after 12:00 as was, or 16:00 as is.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 19/03.
would be better as
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected at least until 12:00 19/03.
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359617/30000/34] Posted by ChrisB at 15:20, 19th March 2025 | |
Nothing about cancellation on TWSW website. Will they email ticket holders? Many of whom may already have booked and paid for travel.
EventBrite still offering tickets.
EventBrite still offering tickets.
And still mentioned (as a TBC admittedly) on the TWSW '.org' website!
Very poorly handled
Only notification was from Eventbrite with two words "Event Cancelled" - zilch, nader, nothing else.
I'm sorry, but cancellations need to happen at least a week out, preferably two, and made very clear in the booking process not to book your travel before the two weeks prior as you may lose your money if you buy in Advance!
So, I have to come for a jolly, as I booked during the GWR sale & have 1st class seats booked for a total of £74.20. I also have to get out of bed at 0530 on a Saturday - something I don't mind doing if its going to be rewarding enough....BUT.
Damned if I'm going to waste these!!
Now to find somewhere else to go between 1015 & 1700 from TAU.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [359616/29650/26] Posted by charles_uk at 15:12, 19th March 2025 | |
Alterations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Reading bound high speed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 19/03.
Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Reading bound high speed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 19/03.
The "disruption is expected until..." time has been gradually extended throughout the day - currently expected until 16:00 at present.
| Steam engine 92220 'Evening Star' In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [359615/30044/47] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:56, 19th March 2025 | |
There is a lot of detail regarding steam engine 92220 'Evening Star', at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_9F_92220_Evening_Star
CfN.
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359613/30000/34] Posted by grahame at 11:48, 19th March 2025 | |
Nothing about cancellation on TWSW website. Will they email ticket holders? Many of whom may already have booked and paid for travel.
EventBrite still offering tickets.
EventBrite still offering tickets.
Just updated https://www.travelwatchsouthwest.org.uk ... and I would be pretty sure that the secretarial team WILL be in touch and dealing with Eventbrite too very shortly. I broke news here as soon as I heard and was sure of the news.
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359612/30000/34] Posted by JayMac at 11:31, 19th March 2025 | |
Nothing about cancellation on TWSW website. Will they email ticket holders? Many of whom may already have booked and paid for travel.
EventBrite still offering tickets.
| Re: 21st March 2025 - TravelWatch SouthWest General meeting In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359611/30000/34] Posted by grahame at 11:20, 19th March 2025 | |
CANCELLATION - TWSW ... This Friday in Taunton. Several speakers have pulled out because of exceptional personal issues, short term "subs" seem to be using up their annual leave before the end of the holiday year and in view of signup numbers in person not being very high the decision was taken to pull the meeting by chair and secratrial team.
Flagging up as soon as I got the news as "Cancellation" but may turn into a postponement ... to something else but not this week.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025 In "Across the West" [359610/29650/26] Posted by grahame at 09:33, 19th March 2025 | |
Alterations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Reading bound high speed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 19/03.
Customer Advice
Owing to urgent repair work required on a small section of track in the Ealing Broadway area fewer train services are able to operate between London Paddington and Reading in both directions
Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Reading bound high speed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 19/03.
Customer Advice
Owing to urgent repair work required on a small section of track in the Ealing Broadway area fewer train services are able to operate between London Paddington and Reading in both directions
| Re: Bad weather warning, from the BBC, for this weekend In "Across the West" [359609/29177/26] Posted by grahame at 09:31, 19th March 2025 | |
The easterly wind was very strong in the Exeter area yesterday so the sea would have been surging directly towards the railway line. As a result of this I suspect NR would have implemented Single Line Working (SLW) between DWW and TGM (West) and would have cancelled these station calls to avoid making the resulting capacity issue even worse.
Ah yes - that makes some sense. Not that an IET would get drowned at Teignmouth as it might have at Dawlish, but rather these stops were left out because they had become stations on a highly limiting (capacity wise) single line section for the duration of the storm.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [359608/29711/14] Posted by charles_uk at 08:36, 19th March 2025 | |
Once again
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23
Facilities on the 05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. Service full and standing from Charlbury.
Facilities on the 05:23 Hereford to London Paddington due 08:23.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. Service full and standing from Charlbury.
This is becoming quite a regular occurrence recently. This service was also held Charlbury for 18 minutes due to the late running 06:50 Paddington to Great Malvern service. It departed Hanborough at roughly the time the following 06:43 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington train was supposed to arrive, leaving a very full platform of passengers who decided to wait for that train (or, quite possibly, simply couldn't board the crush loaded HFD:PAD short-form).
| Re: Bad weather warning, from the BBC, for this weekend In "Across the West" [359607/29177/26] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:34, 19th March 2025 | |
The easterly wind was very strong in the Exeter area yesterday so the sea would have been surging directly towards the railway line. As a result of this I suspect NR would have implemented Single Line Working (SLW) between DWW and TGM (West) and would have cancelled these station calls to avoid making the resulting capacity issue even worse.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [359606/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 21:28, 18th March 2025 | |
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be starting late from Westbury and is expected to be 5 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be starting late from Westbury and is expected to be 5 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
