Great Western Coffee Shop

"International ask a stupid question day" is on 28th September ... or 30th September according to some sources (Stupid question - why the confusion?)

There is no such thing as a stupid question.    Our forum is about informing people and answering questions, and all questions deserve an answer.  Some of us just feel stupid because we don't know, and everyone else seems to not even question something.

On 28th September, and on 30th September, and on any other date ... please add your questions.  Remember that if you're a bit embarrassed about asking, start with "A friend of mine wondered ..."

Talking of  designated days.  Shiver me timbers....it's "International Talk Like A Pirate Day" today.....or so a friend of mine told me! 

A heartie o' mine wondered why we be still givin' Go-op the time o' day, when they 'ave spectacularly failed t' hit a barn door wit' a banjo in any o' thar previous attempts.

A good question.

I can answer for why I (still) take a very serious look at their proposals.

There are elements in most if not all of their train proposals which make huge sense and which are very much worth seeing explored - some of those elements are unusual, unique, new, won't crop us elsewhere.  They may trigger further proposals from Go-op, or influence other party's suggestion and help colour how things develop and what we have in the future.

There is another side to the equation.  Paths, trains, funding are all finite and being competed for.  It behoves everyone who's looking for services changes and/or improvements to be aware of the other players bidding for the same resources.  That's especially the case with single line paths, and a concern that someone will have a phyrric victory - win their access or block someone else from getting them, just to find that one of their ducks is not in line and nothing gets done / improved.

Another stupid question ...

Why did GWR retire most of these, keeping so few and making them so MUCH shorter?

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/wantmore255.jpg)

...and another one - if open-access operaters are still "a thing" under the new regime, is there any chance of one being able to run a Waterloo-Bristol TM service?

Minehead to Salisbury, or even Waterloo comes to mind (maybe)

Calling only at Byfleet and New Haw, Dilton Marsh and Avoncliff, in order to pass the not primarily abstractive test! ;D

I probably shouldn't "cap" that - however ... Bristol (Lawrence Hill), Keynsham, Oldfield Park, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Warminster, Wilton Junction, Whitchurch, Winchfield, West Byfleet, Wimbledon Park and London (Vauxhall). You could add Freshford, Avoncliff and Dilton Marsh but bus connection improvements would be needed at each ...