Great Western Coffee Shop

For a number of years I've followed Diamond Geezer's daily blog as he often posts about transport-related subjects. Today he reports on a recent tour he made of the Thames Valley Branches using a Day Ranger ticket:

http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2018/08/thames-branches-day-ranger.html (http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2018/08/thames-branches-day-ranger.html)

Thanks for posting BBM, a very interesting and entertaining blog, and I'm sure I'll enjoy browsing through his archives!

There was a post yesterday on a HST enthusiast Facebook page from someone who had also used the Thames Valley Day Ranger, but unlike Diamond Geezer had just kept to the mainline:

Interestingly he mentions catching a TfL service to West Ealing.  The link he provides to the National Rail website suggests GWR is the only participating TOC but it hasn't been updated since February, so I wonder if it is valid?

It does list only GWR under "train operating companies", but doesn't actually say you can only use their trains - that item is under the general heading of "Prices & information", but not called a restriction. 

It certainly does say the rover is valid to Greenford, and at West Ealing, a station GWR no longer serve from the main line apart from the Greenford shuttle's in and out moves. It also says the rover is valid at Acton Mian Line, a station GWR no longer serve except before 7 am and after 9 pm.

Whatever it means to say, it could be clearer.

You'll probably find, like with most rovers, NRE aren't forthcoming with updating their site to reflect any changes.

Anyway, I've been reading DG for years, usually on a day off when I'll catch up with the week's posts; one of my favourite blogs.

A nice read about the area from my home turf towards London. I must find time to visit some of those  branches I have yet to use.

I see though that DG also suffered from the dreadful mismatch between timetables on the various lines in our part of the world - see my first post!