Great Western Coffee Shop

Message from Andrew Griffiths :

First Great Western is running an HST special excursion train to Minehead on Saturday 10 May (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2419

The outward and return starts/ends at Westbury, calling at Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath Spa, Keynsham, Bristol Temple Meads, Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton and Worle.

100% of the ticket price goes to 'The Railway Children' charity, which looks after homeless children who take refuge in railway stations across the world.

All railway staff are giving their time for free, and all costs of running the train have been waived by First Great Western, Network Rail and the West Somerset Railway.

There will be entertainment for children on board, and a raffle, plus free entry to Butlins and half price tickets on the West Somerset Railway's steam trains.

Ticket prices from all stations - Standard Class ^25 per adult / ^12.50 per child, or First Class ^40 per adult / ^20 per child.

I have posted TransWilts timings here (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6978.0)

I'm looking at my diary - should be a good day!

Further FGW link.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=590

Have booked my ticket.  Joining at Trowbridge. Coach G 13F

Think we'll be going, provided I can persuade my son to miss his football match that day. Full marks to FGW - I hope it's a success. Maybe it could encourage an ocassional service to Minehead on a regular basis. One problem with the Minehead - Bristol services last summer was that they didn't allow a day trip to Minehead from the Bristol area, which could have been quite popular. 

Likewise, John: I'd also like to join in - and my own son seems keen, too!

More info on the West Somerset Railway site - which suggests there will also be stops at Highbridge & Burnham, Bridgwater and Taunton?  See http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/railtours.html#rt5

I'll telephone the FGW booking number on Monday morning for clarification.

 ::)

Booked this today (actually yesterday when I looked at the time posted). When I asked for 4 tickets in standard class, I was immediately offered a table. Given how few tables there are in an HST that doesn't seem to bode very well for bookings. Anyone know how well tickets are going?

But it'll certainly make the journey much more pleasurable.

John, just beccause they offered you a table doesn't mean you will get it.
If it is a LD or HD set the tables are in different places so you don't know whether you will get a table or not.

Well the booking clerk gave me a strong expectation ("I'll give you a table") that I've got one when she gave me my seat nos (B25,26,29,30). If what you say is right then she could have made it clear that it's not guaranteed, as she will have mismanaged my expectations. 

#Belive that table is existant in LD and HD

Wiltshire Times article link.
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2216148.0.seaside_express_to_raise_charity_cash.php

FGW staff really shouldn't tell anyone they will get them a table as it is very hard to guarentee it. You may well get one but in general they shouldn't be saying that.

Oh good. Thank you!

just a reminder that bookings close TODAY at 1630.

So call me churlish, but when my tickets arrive today there's a message that Butlins is no longer available, due to an event taking place. Having hyped up the trip to my boys, shown them the leaflet for Butlins, got them all enthusiastic etc, etc, do I feel a bit ripped off? Yep, I certainly do.


 

I must admit, the main reason I have kept quiet until now and didn't buy into this trip was that I had a feeling Butlins wouldn't be available next weekend.

I usually attend the ATP rock festival which takes place at Butlins Minehead in May - the only reason I'm not going this year is that I'm off to another festival in the USA in a few weeks time.

ATP opens to the public next Thursday (15th). I have considerable experience of this, as an event curator myself, and there is no way the three stages can be built, all the sound and lighting installed and everything got ready for 40 bands and several thousand fans to descend on it in under a week.

Quite frankly, there was never a glimmer of a chance that a trainload of tourists would be allowed to wander around the site whilst all that work was going on.

And even if they were, Butlins would be all but closed - even when ATP is taking place there in mid-May it's still officially pre-season and very few of the attractions are open (or indeed staffed).

Knowing Minehead as well as I do, the thought of having to kill 5 hours there out of season filled me with dread. It's a shame, as I would have loved to have ridden the train all the way down for once, but in this instance, I just couldn't see it working out. Sorry.

I've now got exactly that prospect to look forward to. And, even worse, a hacked off rest of family blaming me "these train trips always go wrong.....".

I've just got to hope that the 4 tickets I magicked up for the FA Cup Final will redeem me in their eyes. 

John, you do have my sincere sympathy.  I was hoping to take my son on that trip, too, but family / domestic commitments took precedence - otherwise we, too, would have gone - and I'd also be blamed for 'everything going wrong'.  ???

May I suggest Dunster as a 'sort of' alternative?  Lovely village, shops, and the castle is good for boys - a bit of Harry Potter atmosphere: cellars, dungeons, weapons on walls, if that appeals?

Thanks for the suggestion Chris. Current thinking is we might write the cost off, particularly if the weather is poor, and particularly as we are now away the following Saturday.

Fair enough!

Ermm ... not travelling there by train, are you ?   ::)

Does anyone happen to know whether there will be on the day ticket sales now the telephone booking option has finished?

Hello, laird, and welcome to the forum!

I've no idea about the possibility of 'walk up' fares being available, quite honestly - but please bear in mind, the goalposts have been shifted somewhat, from what were originally advertised as various attractions for this excursion!

Chris ???

Hi, Laird ... I'm going to suggest that you call the number (even though the deadline has passed).  It's possible that they may no longer be allowed to sell seats ("APEX" only) because much of the route is shared with other TOCs and it would be deemed to be competing with them (SWT, AXC and WSR) unfairly in law. Also possible that they don't have an accounting system set up that would let them handle fares on the day.  But on the other hand, I suspect the train is far from fully sold.

Different subject - if any of you were aware of the original routing of the train, that's changed too. Pity really; a rare opportunity to use a piece of track that doesn't to my knowledge often see passenger services.

http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1525

This train is not subject to NR ticketing and as such you would be best off contacting First Great Western at the first possible opportunity requesting whether it will be possible to buy on board.

They appear to have extended bookings according to the website. But still advertising Butlins too!

Pay on day available as well apparently - also I belive train is only 1/5 full atm!

That's a real shame (even given my comments about the non-availability of Butlins). Maybe if they put a sticker across the station posters to advertise it is pay on the day and then it's nice weather, loadings might increase.   

grahame

Different subject - if any of you were aware of the original routing of the train, that's changed too. Pity really; a rare opportunity to use a piece of track that doesn't to my knowledge often see passenger services.

Which bit? Studying my Baker the only bit I can see is through St Phillips Marsh but that would mean reversing at BTM.

Would probably got more takers if starting from London.

I've done the Hertfordshire trains to the beer festival. Excellent straight off the train and there's the beer.

Thanks for the advice, it is always disappointing when a tour route changes except when luckily you weren't planning on the section of route removed :-)
I did try calling the number to book numerous times today but there appeared to be a fault so I'm hopeful they will still be selling tickets tomorrow/on the day.
Did anyone else experience a problem where the recorded announcement that the call may be recorded is played but then the line drops out?
By any luck is there an alternate number to the 0845 678 2976 number given on the website - even a reception number?
Trying after 430 the message does change but to an equally unhelpful message saying the service is unavailable.

BTW the route if it had been via St. Philip's Marsh would be depart from East End of Temple Meads, branch off at North Somerset Junction along the Goods Road into the Goods Through Siding rejoining the Down Main at Bristol West Junction (other routes through St. Philips Marsh mean passing through the shed itself which I guess is prohibited for passenger carrying services?). Signalling is shown as Bi-directional in the Trackmaps Western 4th edition so it could be done in the opposite direction if needed.

Buy on the day will be available for the same price.

Yes, my understanding is that it was to reverse at Temple Meads and go through St. Philip's Marsh.

Hi Conner

Thanks for the good news about on the day availability.

David

Hope to see some of you on the train in a couple of hours!

-- Graham

What coach/seat are you?

Well, everything's going very smoothly so far, apparently!  I've just been down to Nailsea & Backwell, and the train was exactly on time.

A few people joined at Nailsea (not me, unfortunately), and I had a quick chat with grahame.

I'll try to meet the return and update the topic this evening!

Chris  ;) :D ;D

An excellent day, aided by perfect weather. A very sincere thanks to everyone (especially FGW) who helped make the day happen.     

Well, I did meet the return train - and again, it was on time, to the second, I think!  It was rather strange seeing the screens at Nailsea & Backwell announcing a '20:12 to Westbury' service, though!

John R was obviously happy with the day - and I had another quick chat with grahame, who also seemed very happy!  No doubt he'll be posting here in due course, so I'll leave further details to him.

Thanks, Chris - good to know people had "a grand day out"

Hopefully, they all did, Phil - even with the disappointing lack of access to Butlins.

I had a quick chat with John R - he was certainly happy with the way it turned out.

Yes, a great day - thanks to FGW, NR, WSR, to the individual who gave their time and the many other sponsors who donated too.  Good to see First class fuller than standard too as that will have raised more for the Railway Children.

After getting back on time to Westbury (now THAT is a change from excursions in my youth!) I have been operatingh one of those tyre-on-tarmac devices to get people back home to Devizes and Melksham ... so to tired to post a full report or many picture.   However

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/oldand125.jpg)

Contrast in seating - from the "Minehead Marauder" looing across to the West Somerset's steam train at

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/oldplace.jpg)

Top day out! Well done to all involved, especially SM and KB!