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46
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Office Closure Consultation
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on: October 26, 2023, 09:10:25
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By email from GWR▸ * Digital First, Not Only: We have changed our proposals so that retail trained staff will have handheld sales devices to support self-service ticket machines. This means customers will still find every type of ticket they can get today at a station in the future and staff will be available to help with ticket advice if needed. In addition, we will upgrade our ticket machines to sell a wider variety of tickets and more tickets will become digitally available. Staff will also be able to help switch to buying digitally via our app or other options like pay-as-you-go/CPAY
From a passenger viewpoint, I am relieved at the change that will allow hand held ticket service at stations - guessing (and can anyone confirm) that will be like the equipment train managers have? Misgivings remain - * What hours will staff actually be available - comparison to "today" is confusing as many ticket offices are on short hours or closed today * Will passengers, especially those with sensory or mobility issues, be able to find the roaming staff even if they know they are somewhere there * Having consulted and now changing plans, what consultation on these changes to the changes? Much of my criticism and cynicism comes down to a lack of trust. I am fearful of saying "that sounds better" because there have been so many broken promises by the rail industry. I awaken today to a cancellation of 2 out of 18 services at my local station due to a staff shortage - again. Been going on for years, with promises of fixes; passengers travel on services that run. The 17:36 Swindon to Melksham should have run 60 times in the last 12 weeks. It has run 54. The 18:44 should have run 60 times, but it has only run 49 - that an 82% performance. Get that over 95%, GWR (you aim for 98%) , and I'll be a little less cynical about other plans. The technology does not exist yet - unless it will be a simple pager carried by ex-ticket office staff |
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47
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Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon / Re: Storm Babet
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on: October 18, 2023, 17:55:43
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With several IET▸ sets failing after being doused with seawater one has to wonder at the wisdom of continuing to send them through Dawlish. I believe this Albert Einstein quote is apposite:
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
Where is the good old HST▸ when you need it most? Oh, wait..... |
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50
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Journey by Journey / London to Swindon and Bristol / Re: Weekend strengthening proposed from December 2023
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on: October 06, 2023, 06:13:14
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..... and some outbound services become pickup only at Reading........
I cannot see that working in practice. All Friday afternoon trains from Paddington to the South West are supposedly 'pick up only' at Reading - even to the extent of leaving the Reading stop off the Paddington departure boards, yet invariably there is a large exodus of pax from these services at Reading. |
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52
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All across the Great Western territory / Looking forward - after Coronavirus to 2045 / Re: Shopping list please
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on: October 04, 2023, 06:34:20
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So - where would YOU spend £30bn?
Electrification - Newbury and Cocklebury lane - Westbury - quarries and Taunton and Exeter - Thingley Junction to Bristol and Taunton - Bristol to Bromsgrove - Bathampton to Redbridge - Severn Beach to Stapleton Road - Worting Junction to Exeter St David's- if the money stretches, perhaps Didcot to Oxford? Infrastructure improvements - Redouble Thingley to Bradford Junctions - Redouble Narroways Junction to Clifton Down - 4th Platform at Westbury - Norton Fitzwarren to Butlins Platform - Footbridges at Pilning - Bradford North and Lacock West curves - Totton to Fawley - Bristol to Portishead - Okehampton to Bere Alston - Redouble Wilton South to Pinhoe |
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57
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Here we are over a year on - what effect industrial action on your rail use?
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on: September 09, 2023, 10:14:17
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I’m simply not booking anywhere near as much rail travel. Mileage on my car has gone up by around double this last 12 months. I’ve also used national express when suitable. I’d never used them until 2022.
When I have traveled by train it’s been an unpleasant experience. Cancellations, overcrowding.
Over 75% of my journeys have qualified for delay repay. Over 50% of those delay repays have been 100%.
Highlighting the OP▸ , it would be interesting to note how much of this is a direct result of the industrial action and how much is due to the general malaise the railway is suffering from . |
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58
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Office Closure Consultation
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on: September 08, 2023, 10:57:23
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In some ways could that make matters worse for those campaigning?
If it's put to a vote after the debate, won't the Tories simply whip their MPs▸ to vote for the original closure proposal and then (presumably?) It's game over with a democratic mandate?
I'm sure someone with more constitutional knowledge than me can clarify!
If it does get to a vote, then there are enough Tories who have already spoken out against the closure to defeat the original proposal. If they were whipped, I am sure their local constituents would have something to say after the event and the publicity would not go down well. Just another nail in the Tories coffin. |
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59
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Happy Birthday Finn
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on: August 24, 2023, 20:23:17
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More travelling for Finn this week. We are currently in Blackpool. Heritage tram ride this afternoon from Central Pier to Little Bispham, and back to Pleasure Beach. Then up the coast to Cleveleys and Fleetwood on a scheduled service.  No pics from the top of the 100 year old structure in the background then? |
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