Great Western Coffee Shop

The Coffee shop started off as a 12 month project ... and is still going nearly 12 years later. We seem to be here for good!

Over the months leading up to Christmas I will be working on a long overdue software upgrade - pulling our database of posts and members into the current decade, and making us fit for the next decade too.  Culmination of that work is planned for the period between Christmas and the New Year, though you'll see odd hints of code and ideas under test in the meantime.

Come the New Year, plans are to document and work out our permanent way forward - our constitution was the term I used in an earlier post, positioning the forum and working out ongoing operation and governance.  I would very much like interested members to be involved, and I'm proposing a real live meeting for those who wish to attend to launch the process next February - to be followed by the rest of that month and March for discussions and inputs, and the whole thing being drawn up by late April.  We have a successful and apparently popular and needed formula here, so I suspect that most of what we do will continue along very much the same lines, but we do need to consider scenarios "what happens to the forum if ..." and the moderator / admin team / webmaster wish to be guided by user and potential user inputs.

Anyway - poll - concerning the initial meeting(s) [may do one or several based on the response here]. Choose as many options as you like.  And I have set up this poll so that you can change your vote(s) if you wish.  The poll will remain open until the end of this month.

Voting (the way the software works) is for logged in members only, but I would welcome constructive comments by email from none-members too.

Would depend entirely where it was, day trip Off Peak travel, and possibly  not February

Judging by the interest already, we might end up with a couple of meetings - and if we do, logic would be to split them geographically and time-of-week wise to help maximise opportunities - people being able to choose if time of week was important, or if venue was.  Yes - being mindful of cost for people, of course.   Not at the extremes of GWR territory, but not all dead centre either.

I think the logical places would be Didcot and Exeter.

Didcot because it is a station with Off Peak Day Returns from east, west and north from Oxford/Cotswold Line.

Exeter to cover Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

Thanks ... the meeting we did at Didcot in January this year worked very well travel and venue wise.    With my TravelWatch SouthWest hat, I've also come across / got to know a number of venues in both Exeter and Taunton.    Suggestions noted - I have intentionally set a long period for the poll to garner a very full response set and won't come to any final venue decisions until I see a clear outcome.

I thought about Taunton but didn't want to be seen favouring what I regard as my home town!  ;D

Taunton can be a bit of a hike from deepest darkest Cornwall. Hence Exeter.  ;)

I could make Didcot, Exeter or taunton.

If Didcot is selected perhaps we could make it a visit to the railway centre there and visit the Swindon Panel project there and maybe have the meeting in their building itself with a silver collection to their funds.

People who attend TWSW are used to Taunton and the Albermarle Centre is convenient.  In Exeter, venues tend to be near Central rather that St. David's.

I have broken an 'oliday in 'ayle to travel up to (and back from) a Taunton meeting.   

Options open - we may find massive interest and do Dickdot, Tinmouth and (Saturday, right?) The Plough.  Sorry - semi-kidding there unless we could persuade GWR to make an extra drop-off stop as a one-off (or rather for a 25 off)

I'm not sure whether this is a famous Grahame typo or a deliberate joke – or just a Freudian slip! But I like it.

Taunton sounds like a decent venue.  :)

I would love to attend although work is too much of an issue for me to be using my only day off to travel somewhere.

Suggesting places though, Didcot seems an easy link for the London, Swindon, Bristol, Worcester, Oxford and Cheltenham line connections, where as Worcester, Oxford, Swindon etc is not particularly an easy connection to Taunton.

Also am looking forward to the website improvements Grahame!

I think we were perhaps looking to multiple meetings with the suggestion of Didcot and Taunton/Exeter;  seeing how the vote goes we may look to 0, 1, 2 or even 3 (2 or 1 being most likely; pretty sure we will be doing at least one ...)

Hope a venue wouldn't be to near to Taunton Station,,, CfN would never find it!

But there is a decent rail service between the two stations plus buses no doubt.

Pilning platform shelter could be considered as a venue? May be too much to hire  :D

A consideration would be https://theploughpilning.co.uk - but with the issue that the arrival train is too early from many places - 07:23 from Bristol Temple Meads, 40 minute change in the warm and pleasant station building at Severn Tunnel Junction (February, remember!) and an 08:34 arrival at Pilning.   A 15:34 return is spot on.

From Bristol Parkway, it would be 07:10, change at Newport (07:31 to 08:15) ... 06:51 from Yate via Filton Abbey Wood and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Timings almost feel designed to be unworkable, don't they?

I'd probably add the option of I would like to attend but also trust the current team to manage the way forward.

As with many others it depends on the location and as I don't drive I'm reliant on the trains so a bit nervous about a Weekend meeting. Slightly ironic for a train forum :)

You sound like you are voting for multiple options are you are allowed to do so  ;)

I understand the weekend concern and the idea is / would be to find somewhere minimally effected that's easily reached and left even if a few trains are missing.    Too much experience of meetings set up at 10 a.m. when the trains arrive at 07:59 and 10:11 from this line the meeting's about. At first that felt just like thoughtlessness by the car-driving meeting organiser and we got meetings rescheduled for 10:30, but a recent meeting pushed to 10:00 again looked calculated to irritate. Sorry - hurts.   Any weekend meeting will take strong account of trains realistically expected to run that day

Week commencing February 17th is Cornwall education half term so we could book a lodge (or similar) for a few days away. Hopefully might persuade Mrs GBM (who works in education in aforementioned County) to come away.  If not, would schedule a day off and drive.
Rarely travel by train but follow the forum avidly.

Modification of previous post now unlikely to be available February.

I have pencilled in SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2019 for a potential get-together.  Although voting remains open, Saturday is "in the lead" and from 16th February onwards there are major engineering works planned which will effect travel.

I thought engineering works usually had the opposite effect :P

...I'll get my coat.

I'll quote Grahame, Love the Joke.   8)

And maybe the 2nd for the East?

There's an open question as we see how the vote proceeds / comments thereon as to whether it's on or more than one meeting.  I jumped in with 9th Feb to alert people with the tunnel works happening - minimal stuff while the vote is open.

Venue booked 9.2.2019 ... location, timings, tickets (free but organised via EventBrite) over the weekend.

Bookings open!   

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-western-coffee-shop-forum-constitution-and-planning-tickets-52974243388

This is the first time I have used EventBrite to help me sign up people for an event, so please advise me of any issues and be gentle on any goos you find.

Event text:


I have set up a 10:30 start though the pub will be specially opening for us from 10:00 ... detailed agenda to follow in the New Year.  And there will be some draft stuff on the forum too.   Plan is to have a couple of fairly heavy talk / think / planning sessions, with a copious natter chance at lunchtime and at the end.   

Finishing at 15:00, we may have the chance of short trip for anyone who's not been there to Dilton Marsh on the 15:12, getting back to Westbury at 15:37.

Booked and diaried.

It may be a little sacrilegious, but I'll probably drive.

He turns nouns into verbs..!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg1BljLu9YY

Diarised then!

I went to add the event to my Google Calendar, but Eventbrite had done it for me. Did I miss that function in the booking process?

Booked. Will be using public transport, bus or train depending on my mood on the day  :-\ :-\

Good; sprinkling of early bookings already, and Saturday is always the quietest day here on the forum.  D1 stops outside; Trains a few yards round the corner.

Booked. Will have to be by train for me.

The important question is do I go direct from Reading, or give a boost to the Transwilts numbers?  ;)

Google calendar sometimes takes booking info from your Gmail and places it into the calendar. It's a bit hit and miss. For example I booked 2 flights for outward and return travel a few months ago. From my separate confirmation Gmails, the Eurowings flight details were placed in the calendar automatically but the British Airways one was not.

Advance Train Tickets now on sale for 9^th Feb.


I've bagged two of them  ;)

Yup. £10.25 with a railcard from Paddington. But I will have to catch the 1503 back. Hope Management isn't saving the best for last.

I saw that discussion above and thought "what an excellent hook to hang comment onto concerning the Coffee Shop and how it fits in" - rather more than just likeing both posts

When I started seeking a better service (in the widest meaning of 'service') for passengers and potential passengers, I was very much aware of blogs such as "Worst Great Western" and "First Late Western", and groups such as "More train, less strain" - see http://www.passenger.chat/1574 . And to this day you'll find similar activity - much of it on Facebook - with groups like the Association of British Commuters who have taken the DfT to court, and Northern Resist who's relationship with their train operator is so poor they get blocked from the operator's facebook page. In our own region, "First Bus is not a public service - it's a disgrace" has recently joined that genre, though I'm delighed to see them renaming to "First Bus Bristol Have your say".  The Coffee shop was never intended - and never has - taken quite the same adversarial approach.

The Coffee Shop's approach - see http://www.passenger.chat/1761 - is to look to promote better, better know, better tailored, better tuned public transport provision across the Thames Valley, South West and South Wales.  At times, that will involve us being critical, cynical, candid with the specifiers and operators of those services, and to seek changes which enhance the product for the customer - but at the same time, so much of the real experise needed to make these enhancements is within the organisation with whom we are being candid/critical/cynical, and we can be really much more effective if we help ensure that goal are mutual goals, that partnership takes priority over protest where it can, and that we work together in an environment of mutual respect and trust.

It speaks for the enduring nature of our approach that the threads I've referred you to above are 10 years old and yet still pretty relevant. 

It speaks for the nature of our approach that we're on excellent terms (for the most part) with GWR, the DfT, local councils, etc. 

It speaks for the nature of our approach that even in the days when forums have somewhat given way to other social media, we still have strong support

And it speaks to the nature of our approach that we have takan a significant and noticable role in certain improvements and in certain informing of people.
Just how much of this is down to the forum, to the forum members, and general good development is hypothetical - but experience is certainly such that what we has been achieved in many areas has been what we have been looking towards, and that much of our work in informing people has helped those individuals too.

Where is this leading me?   To saying "welcome" to new members, saying "please join - it's free and we only need you to register in case we need to contact you, for an audit train, and to protect the forum against unregistered spam" and to say "our members make our forum - please help us this year as we head towards our constitution meeting in a month's time


Edit to correct typo

Three weeks to go ... 10:30 on 9th February at the Railway Inn, Station Approach Westbury

If you have not yet signed up, please do so via
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-western-coffee-shop-forum-constitution-and-planning-tickets-52974243388

The Coffee Shop is very much about working alongside industry organisations - private and public sector - these days, and I have invited representatives of a handful of such organisations to come along on 9th should they wish to do so - for inclusion and confirmation of a desire to work alongside them.   Each is welcome to a short (10 minute) slot if they wish - to update us in how / where they see customer / passenger involvement and working with us going forward - i.e. telling us what doors are open.  As we are a geographically wide forum, these invites are only to organisations covering a wide area. There will (of course) be lots of frequent posters there with more local interest.

Over the last few days, much of my time has been taken up with personal issues and last week was a busy meeting one too. We have also been incredibly busy "behind the counter" on moderation issues. After next Wednesday, I have a hiatus and hope to have much more detail for an agenda by the end of January.  A Wednesday meeting will also help give me other inputs for next month.

This meeting in Westbury is open to all Frequent Posters - please sign up so that I have a rough idea of how many to expect. There is plenty of capacity - I really don't see this being as popular as Bath Rugby or a royal wedding ... though I personally will probably find it far more interesting!

Cant commit myself to attend as I have a family function on an as yet unknown Saturday in February, will it be ok if I attend without giving notice until later, even up the day before ?

Yes, that's utterly fine.

Thanks - that's useful to know as I am in a similar situation

....and me!

To clarify ... sign-up is to give an idea of numbers expected - if it's "probable" you can make it, please grab a ticket. Tickets are free, cost me / Coffee Shop nothing either and give me an ability to easily see numbers and to circulate a final agenda.  No problem with last minute changes; I'm somewhat ruggedised to the knowledge that they will happen!

Further agenda item for the day:
What does 'ruggedised' mean?

It means that I'm planning for "x" people at the meeting, but well able and prepared if 0.85 * x or 1.15 * x turn up.  The meeting set up is rugged enough for it to work well even if numbers are a bit out!

I realised what you meant, really - but that is a great explanation and an etymological marvel. Hope you are flattered that I intend to plagiarise that one for future use. Thank you.

Pinging this to the top ... all more or less in place for next Saturday.  Rough running order to go out on Wednesday/Thursday and meeting objectives ("know where we're going")  but no huge formal agenda.  Additional signups still welcome.   Some industry inputs received and I'll be chasing a couple move over the next few days.  For the next 60 hours I'm deep into the Melksham count and survey though.

My apologies, unfortunately unable now to attend.

The Great Western Coffee Shop Forum - Agenda, 9th February 2019

at The Railway Inn, Westbury.  About 100 yards from Westbury Station
* All frequent posters welcome.  Also very happy for industry partners to join us in the morning (*)
* This is NOT a public meeting - if you haven't reached "frequent poster" yet, by all means come, but if you haven't even signed up for an account on the Coffee Shop this is NOT the meeting for you.
* Coffee on tap as you arrive (of course!)
* Lunches available at the pub - we will sort out pre-ordering as we arrive to make best use for lunch time

We are expecting round 20 people ... morning I will have a slide presentation though bobm will take the (*) session for partners (give my voice a break and you at the meeting a relief from the monotony of it!).   Afternoon - very much more round table discussions; I will have printed sheets with topics.   Rogerw will be taking notes / minutes through the day so that we have follow up and don't end up with a 'meeting to nothing' - capturing the route(s) forward.

Unusually (for me) outcomes fluid / not totally scripted as this is very much for members - especially those taking so much interest they've given up their Saturdays to make the trip.

10:30 to 12:15

Welcome

The Coffee Shop
   - what we are
   - how others see us (*)
   - how we fit our 'market'
   - what are our objectives

Looking forward
   - what is good
   - what needs fixing
   - how we want to progress

13:15 to 15:00

Constitution
Finance
Operational resource
Activity Range
Independence and direction
Partnerships
Next Stages

Puliing it together
where we go from here

* The Coffee Shop (thus far) has been very much a partner working with other organisations and members are welcome to bring along leaflets, etc, from groups they are involved with

* Notes and Slides to be available online afterwards together with 'next stage' stuff, whatever that turns out to be!

I'm now working all day but I hope you have a good session.

I hope to be there on the 9th.

Look forward to seeing you ... and ANY other current posters who can make it at the last minute.

Apologies -- I'm otherwise engaged this weekend. Hope the meeting goes well.

Unable to make it unfortunately due to volunteering at Swindon Panel in Didcot. If anyone does drop by feel free to say hello.  ;D

Unfortunately unable to make it now.  Apologies for the short notice.  Have a good day.

So am I, sadly.

Hope it all goes well, and those present pass on our thanks to Graham and the moderators for all they do.

I look forward to reading the minutes/report on the outcomes.

There was something I meant to raise, but I'll put it in a new thread......

Noting the above ... and a couple of personal messages too.  Thanks for letting me / us know, and the good wishes. 

I will have the morning's presentations on line fairly quickly; the afternoon is very much around the table and we'll see what come out and that will be a little longer to write up - I am not going to put a timescale on the person who is doing that for us.

Online now at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/21035 .... and I'm locking this thread to keep all follow ups together.