Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: FGW announce link with Singapore Airlines In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359399/13495/5] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 13:24, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Anybody wanting to try the UK > Singapore 'All The Way By Train' journey better get a move on because when the new Johor Bahru<>Singapore RTS link opens in the near future the current KTM heavy rail service across the Causeway will cease and, I suspect, shortly thereafter the tracks will be lifted to provide more space for motor vehicles.
Re: 13th March 2025 - Community Rail Awards, Newcastle In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359398/30021/34] Posted by grahame at 13:15, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Devon & Cornwall CRP picked up at least two places....hopefully, Mr Bermingham will advise us soon
Delighted - I was careful not to miss any out from the initial press release - but it did list winners only and there's a lot of fabulous other work going on that would have reached the placed and commended level not shown in that first release.
I would be - almost certain - that there would be many others across our region who got excellent national recognition last night and I would ask that they, or others who where there, please fill us in
Re: 13th March 2025 - Community Rail Awards, Newcastle In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359397/30021/34] Posted by ChrisB at 12:43, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Devon & Cornwall CRP picked up at least two places....hopefully, Mr Bermingham will advise us soon
13th March 2025 - Community Rail Awards, Newcastle In "Diary - what's happening when?" [359396/30021/34] Posted by grahame at 12:38, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
An inspiring range of community rail initiatives, delivered by community rail partnerships, station friends volunteers, and other community groups across Britain, has been recognised at the 20th Community Rail Awards this week.
The event, organised by Community Rail Network and headline partnered by Lumo, was this year held in Newcastle, to honour the wider railway industries’ celebration of 200 years since the birth of modern railways. A record-breaking 510 guests were in attendance including senior rail and transport leaders and community rail officers and volunteers. The evening recognised projects supporting diversity, accessibility and inclusion, sustainable travel and tourism, youth and schools engagement, community-led station improvements, empowered communities and influencing positive change.
The event, organised by Community Rail Network and headline partnered by Lumo, was this year held in Newcastle, to honour the wider railway industries’ celebration of 200 years since the birth of modern railways. A record-breaking 510 guests were in attendance including senior rail and transport leaders and community rail officers and volunteers. The evening recognised projects supporting diversity, accessibility and inclusion, sustainable travel and tourism, youth and schools engagement, community-led station improvements, empowered communities and influencing positive change.
The night’s winners across included within our area ...
Most Effective Communications Campaign sponsored by West Midlands Trains
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Black History Month Every Month
Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability sponsored by Northern
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Youth Travel Toolkit
Most Enhanced Railway Spaces sponsored by Greater Anglia
Severnside Community Rail Partnership for Mike Hodge Community Room at Bridgwater Station
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Black History Month Every Month
Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability sponsored by Northern
Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership for Youth Travel Toolkit
Most Enhanced Railway Spaces sponsored by Greater Anglia
Severnside Community Rail Partnership for Mike Hodge Community Room at Bridgwater Station
The above gleaned from the Community Rail Network web site, which also tells me that 510 guests attended in Newcastle.
Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [359395/28982/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:03, 14th March 2025 Already liked by Timmer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BTW, I agree with CfN on the repaint/vinyl issue. All they need is a GWR logo on the side for the time being, much in the way the C2C stock drafted in at the height of the cracking IET crisis did, or the Thames Trains liveried Turbos acquired FGW Link logos for a couple of years after termination of the former's franchise. Spend the time and money saved on more maintenance of the rest of the current fleet.
Yes, I think that is sensible and kind of what I meant in my earlier post.
The exteriors should be in a decent enough state as they had not long gone from Arriva to TfW livery and the TfW one is very neutral anyway.
As for transformational qualities? We all know what we’re going to get. A mid-life train with very good interior layouts, but relatively low capacity and slightly questionable reliability.
Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [359394/28982/26] Posted by Mark A at 10:58, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Confirming good news - but will it really "transform South West travel"?
Not exactly a transformation: the doors being at the ends of the carriages are welcome though.
It may be just me: 1/3 2/3 doors combined with longer distance travel is a bit meh: e.g. on runs such as Cardiff and up the Marches it feels as if TfW are using the likes of 197s for the wrong purpose.
Mark
Re: Upcoming closure consultation - Bordesley Station In "Chiltern Railways services" [359393/30020/44] Posted by Mark A at 10:48, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
It's well worth visiting Bordesley Station on maps.nls.com.
Also, as an aside, much taken with the name of the lock above the (moved) Sandy Lane Lock. Seeing "Hen's Row Lock" has made the day better.
Mark
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.6&lat=52.47151&lon=-1.87769&layers=258&b=GoogleSat&o=88
Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [359392/28982/26] Posted by eightonedee at 10:42, 14th March 2025 Already liked by Timmer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Confirming good news - but will it really "transform South West travel"?
In the breathless world of shock horror probe Reach local newspapers (or perhaps some cheap AI they now use to write this stuff?) - it does, as it will (partly) replace stories on 40 year old trains breaking down in Devon!
BTW, I agree with CfN on the repaint/vinyl issue. All they need is a GWR logo on the side for the time being, much in the way the C2C stock drafted in at the height of the cracking IET crisis did, or the Thames Trains liveried Turbos acquired FGW Link logos for a couple of years after termination of the former's franchise. Spend the time and money saved on more maintenance of the rest of the current fleet.
Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [359391/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 09:59, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
From Plymouth Live
New GWR trains set to transform South West travel
Great Western Railway (GWR) is set to roll out a fleet of 26 Class 175 trains, replacing its ageing diesel fleet with a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative. The move is expected to enhance punctuality and reliability for passengers while paving the way for future decarbonisation.
The fleet upgrade, which marks the first phase of GWR’s regional and suburban service improvements, will introduce 10 two-car and 16 three-car trains. These units will enter service in Devon and Cornwall later this year, with full deployment expected by the end of next year.
Great Western Railway (GWR) is set to roll out a fleet of 26 Class 175 trains, replacing its ageing diesel fleet with a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative. The move is expected to enhance punctuality and reliability for passengers while paving the way for future decarbonisation.
The fleet upgrade, which marks the first phase of GWR’s regional and suburban service improvements, will introduce 10 two-car and 16 three-car trains. These units will enter service in Devon and Cornwall later this year, with full deployment expected by the end of next year.
Confirming good news - but will it really "transform South West travel"?
Upcoming closure consultation - Bordesley Station In "Chiltern Railways services" [359390/30020/44] Posted by grahame at 09:35, 14th March 2025 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
From Birmingham World
A consultation to close Birmingham’s ‘ghost’ railway station which delivers one service a week to St Andrews is set to get underway.
Rail bosses confirmed a formal process to close Bordesley Railway Station will start in late spring and early summer, as part of the major Midlands Rail Hub project.
The station hosts one service a week on a Saturday to help football fans get to St Andrews for Birmingham City home games. Other football specials are put on when Blues are playing home games at other times.
Rail bosses confirmed a formal process to close Bordesley Railway Station will start in late spring and early summer, as part of the major Midlands Rail Hub project.
The station hosts one service a week on a Saturday to help football fans get to St Andrews for Birmingham City home games. Other football specials are put on when Blues are playing home games at other times.
Re: Transport focus passenger survey vs train operating company In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359389/30019/51] Posted by Mark A at 09:17, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Each individual toc scorecard uses the same pair of (negative) quotes from passengers pulled from the general pool, which does emphasise two valid passenger concerns but perhaps it would be better if those quotes were related to the individual TOC. It would improve the, er, focus.
Mark
Transport focus passenger survey vs train operating company In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [359388/30019/51] Posted by Mark A at 09:10, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Here's a link to the survey. Not straightforward to take this in at a glance, need to dig.
Mark
https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/insight/rail-passenger-scorecard/
Re: Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion In "London to the West" [359387/489/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:10, 14th March 2025 Already liked by alexross42 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apparently 57305 and 57311 are being hired in for a year to cover 602 and 604 which are both due heavy maintenance exams.
Hopefully that will improve reliability, however time will tell!
Hopefully that will improve reliability, however time will tell!
Trigger's broom.
Re: Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion In "London to the West" [359386/489/12] Posted by alexross42 at 08:57, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apparently 57305 and 57311 are being hired in for a year to cover 602 and 604 which are both due heavy maintenance exams.
Hopefully that will improve reliability, however time will tell!
Re: Images show £140m revamp plan for Cardiff Central In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [359385/30018/23] Posted by grahame at 08:39, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Would the money be better spent on electrification from Cardiff to Swansea/Carmarthen
Not sure of the cost of Cardiff to Swansea electrification though
Not sure of the cost of Cardiff to Swansea electrification though
The best I could find was at https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2017-10/great-western-main-line-electrification-cardiff-to-swansea-outline-business-case.pdf which is very old costings - my reading is that the cost of electrifying on current costs Cardiff to Swansea would be several/multiple times that of revamping Cardiff Central Station.
Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [359384/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 08:31, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
An hourly service with a running time of just over 1 hour Bristol to Oxford - 3 trains in the "cycle" - extend it to Milton Keynes and the running time looks like it would be around 1 hour 45 minutes, so 4 trains in the cycle (educated guess - looking at the running time of the Verney Venurer as shown on Six Bells Junction). With the extra train required for this, we must note that it would / will be one of the Oxford - Milton Keynes services anyway, so that the it's not really an "extra" train.
For sure, ChrisB, more peoeple coming into Oxford from Swindon would get off than stay on, but quite a number would stay on and many more would join. Rather like the Cardiff - Portsmouth service has major changeovers at Bristol and at Southampton.
Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [359383/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 07:47, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47
14/03/25 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
14/03/25 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Re: Images show £140m revamp plan for Cardiff Central In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [359382/30018/23] Posted by infoman at 01:42, 14th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Would the money be better spent on electrification from Cardiff to Swansea/Carmarthen
Not sure of the cost of Cardiff to Swansea electrification though
Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford? 

People could travel there to connect with other services and destinations plus this service would allow people to avoid have to travel across London or even changing at Birmingham new street etc
Taken to extremis, this is a pretty good - err "CrossRail 3"
Weymouth
Dorchester for Poole and Bournemouth
Yeovil Junction Lower Platform for Salisbury - Exteter line
Castle Cary for Taunton, Plymouth, Cornwll
Westbury for Reading, Newbury, Bath, Bristol
Chippenham for Bath and Bristol
Swindon for South Wales and Gloucseter
Oxford for Banbury and Leamington and for Worcester and Hereford
Bicester Village for Bang & Olufsen, Barbour, Beauté Prestige International, Belstaff, Benefit Cosmetics, Bonpoint, BOSS and many more
Bletchley for Northampton, North West, North Wales, Scotland
Bedford for Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. Also for Luton
Sandy for Peterbourough, Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle
Cambridge for Kings Lynn and for Ipswich and Harwich
Norwich for Cromer, Sheringham, Lowestoft
Great Yarmouth
Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [359380/28355/22] Posted by anthony215 at 21:18, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford? 

People could travel there to connect with other services and destinations plus this service would allow people to avoid have to travel across London or even changing at Birmingham new street etc
Re: Engineering Work Swindon area weekends of 22/23 and 29/30 March In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [359379/30016/10] Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 20:36, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I wonder if someone high up has noticed my comment at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29251.msg352532#msg352532
And realised the big problem that has developed over the last few years.
Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [359378/28355/22] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:51, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
As this very welcome 'news' discussion develops, I've removed the link to last year's specific date in our calendar and expanded the heading of this topic - purely in the interests of clarity and ease of future reference.
CfN.

Re: Grotty Scotty Piccies In "The Lighter Side" [359377/30004/30] Posted by stuving at 19:18, 13th March 2025 Already liked by grahame | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Looking at the earlier picture of Plockton, I reckon no. 5 is there too. The curvature is the same, and so is the platform surface - just a bit drier. All it requires is to sneakily crop the image to exclude the bridge and warning sign at the end of the platform ...
Re: First Bus cuts through buses from Falmouth to Newquay In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359376/30017/5] Posted by FarWestJohn at 18:49, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I don't think either are designed for Newquay to Falmouth journeys but for intermediate trips. The bus and train serve different routes.
At the moment there are 5 buses an hour between Truro and Newquay via different routes with Go bus being the quickest.
Re: First Bus cuts through buses from Falmouth to Newquay In "Buses and other ways to travel" [359375/30017/5] Posted by FarWestJohn at 18:43, 13th March 2025 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Very backward step with no through buses from Falmouth and Penryn to the hospital at Treliske. The way First are going one can only hope they will pull out of Cornwall soon.
Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford? 

On its own, it wouldn't. But if you add the people attracted to Milton Keynes to the people attracted to Oxford, you may get better mass transit which is combining all the flows along a flow and sharing costs between all the various bums on seats.
Quite agree. The more East-West rail becomes a true East-West service over time - Bristol<>Milton Keynes/Bedford/Cambridge and perhaps beyond to Norwich/Ipswich - the appeal grows and an ideal route for a 5-car IET. Not dissimilar to the Cardiff<>Portsmouth or Norwich<>Liverpool routes where relatively low numbers of people are travelling the whole route, but taken as a whole with people joining/alighting at various points en-route, it's difficult to not see it being extremely popular.
But for now I'll be very happy for a new hourly Bristol<>Oxford service. With a presumed target journey time of 70-75 minutes, three IETs would be needed with sensible layovers at each end of the route. Platform 5 at Oxford should be ready by then and IETs should be available by then with Class 175s taking over existing IET diagrams in the west. Crew availablility remains a slightly thorny issue, but drivers wise some Oxford based crew are about to 'sign' as far as Swindon and that would be the logical depot, along with Bristol, to work it.
Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [359373/28355/22] Posted by grahame at 16:56, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford? 

On its own, it wouldn't. But if you add the people attracted to Milton Keynes to the people attracted to Oxford, you may get better mass transit which is combining all the flows along a flow and sharing costs between all the various bums on seats.
Re: Connectivity - north to south Wales In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [359372/29974/23] Posted by anthony215 at 16:32, 13th March 2025 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I can see there being a demand for a north to SW Wales service, but not to the extent of 8 coaches a day. Much of the demand will be capable of being satisfied using the existing T1 and 2 services, so as already said, tweaking these plus maybe a couple of through services that are very limited stop, would I would have thought, be a more sensible way of matching demand to supply.
Improving train times, and more importantly, providing greater capacity (ie more carriages) from north to SE Wales would satisfy the greater demand for a reasonably quick and comfortable service from north Wales to Cardiff and Swansea.
I don't think long-distance coach services can ever really fully replace long-distance trains. There will be many people who find being in a coach for several hours (even if it has toilet facilities) very uncomfortable or completely impossible. How would they accommodate wheelchair users and others of limited mobility? What about luggage space (which the current trains fail to provide adequately)?
Improving train times, and more importantly, providing greater capacity (ie more carriages) from north to SE Wales would satisfy the greater demand for a reasonably quick and comfortable service from north Wales to Cardiff and Swansea.
I don't think long-distance coach services can ever really fully replace long-distance trains. There will be many people who find being in a coach for several hours (even if it has toilet facilities) very uncomfortable or completely impossible. How would they accommodate wheelchair users and others of limited mobility? What about luggage space (which the current trains fail to provide adequately)?
I think the 1st timetable they proposed which was 4 or 5 coaches per day was acceptable. The T1.does get very busy in fact it seriously needs later services especially a 2100 from Carmarthen up.to lampeter at least.
This express should run-through to Swansea at least I think especially serving Crosshands
Re: Images show £140m revamp plan for Cardiff Central In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [359371/30018/23] Posted by anthony215 at 16:29, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Not what I was hoping for could really have done with more especially the proposed bridgedeck like Readings at the western end of te statio to cope with the crowds.
These proposals still see the bottlenecks caused by the two subways. No.idea too.if platform 0 is going to be extended like tfw and network rail want.
As well is this is do hope Cardiff West junction is sorted
Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [359370/28355/22] Posted by ChrisB at 16:26, 13th March 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Why would Milton Keynes be a more attractive destination than Oxford?
