Great Western Coffee Shop

Highlights of experience log - 1st week in March - Wednesday to Salisbury, Saturday around Severnside

1. Most trains and buses were on time - worst delay was only a few minutes on Saturday, 15 minutes on Wednesday

2. Most trains and buses pleasantly busy ... of the 14 services taken only 2 were quiet, and there were a couple on Saturday afternoon where people were standing - into Bristol Temple Meads from the Weston direction, and the 17:45 bus that afternoon from Bath to Melksham which was really packed.  Trowbridge to Salisbury on Wednesday morning also busy.

3. Most people were NOT wearing masks - it seems to be very much the exception rather than the rule now

4. Hardly any timetables on display on stations anywhere.  Engineering posters out of date in most cases.

5. Good to see a coffee van at Trowbridge Station - it's there Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 12:00.  Catering at Temple Meads inadequate - queues at Starbucks and at the Pumpkin on platforms 10/12. Pumpkin takeway on platform 7/8 had no sandwiches at all - advertising "meal deal" but nothing to make up the deal. Busy cafe at Yatton.

6. Announcements to excess in places - "mind the gap which is greater than normal", "do not enter or exit the train when the doors are closing", "platforms at this station do not have tactile edging" etc

7. Ticket checks on trains sporadic / random (which is probably a good way ti do it). Almost a tone of admiration of my Melksham to Severn Beach ticket.  Only once asked for my railcard.

8. Ticket gate open at Bath Spa at 17:40 on Saturday afternoon. In use at Salisbury on Wednesday.  Otherwise I did not leave any gated station (I had to put my ticket through the gate entering Bath at around 08:00.

9. Worle station seemed busy with passengers, and yet a vast space for parking of cars and cycles that was virtually unused, and a bus interchange with "no buses stop here at present". On the other side, a bus stop without any information at all - I guess it's out of use.

10. Really good to see the artwork and care from Severnside on the Severn Beach line.  Making something of a silk purse out or a sow's ear.

11. There were services when and where I wanted them for the most part. The exception was Melksham where I used the bus four times and the train not once ... 09:09 first service southbound on Wednesday wad too late for my breakfast meeting in Salisbury (would love the 06:36 back) and 08:00 out on Saturday - first train - does not connect to Bristol at Chippenham.  I didn't know how long my Wednesday meeting was going to be and I landed back at Trowbridge 90 minutes ahead of the next train.  On Saturday also, a switch to the bus at Bath got me back significantly earlier than a w-a-i-t for a train, and I was under time contraint between two events.

12. Rail staff polite, smiling, friendly, professional - think I can say "without exception". Impressive.

Visited Worle station today to collect some tickets today as I was in the area. The car park was comfortably full, clearly mainly used by commuters.  One problem though. Why did someone think it was a good idea to place the ticket machine in an open area facing south making the screen almost impossible to read on a sunny day like today. After much peering, attempts at shading the and an element of good luck, I did manage to collect my tickets. If any thought had been given to the placement it could have been turned through 180^o. we don't get sun from that direction