Great Western Coffee Shop

Did anyone else watch this programme today?

Although out of the GW area, many excellent points were put across.

Interesting that the Virgin HF timetable is causing a halving of freight train between B'ham and M'chester. It seems that this timetable is turning out as controversial as the FGW 2006 timetable (axing of M'chester local trains etc.).

It was also good to see the SVR and Bewdley station!

And the prospects for New Street and SVR commuter trains.

What did others think?

Thanks for this post, Btline!

I think you'll find that each of the BBC areas had their own version of this programme: the one covering our local lines in Portishead and Minehead is covered at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3710.0

Chris  ;)

Oh, so only members who live at my end of the Cotswold Line would have seen it! ;D ::)

If you can catch it on iPlayer etc, do so as it was very interesting.

I will have to look for the South West version.

Its not on iPlayer. Thus am very annoyed as I was busy!

Same up here!

Why not? I thought the iPlayer did all BBC programmes?

I am rather annoyed, too!  ::)

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/10/17/beeching_feature.shtml


Any comment, BBC West???

The London version was Edwina Currie traipsing about on the Spa Line East Grinstead Uckfield, North London Line (the one that got away), Gospel Oak - Barking and Marylebone.

No mention of the fact fact that from Dalston Jn to Stratford there was no passenger service  for Beeching to withdraw. Although Broad Streeet Dalston Jn did close, but is now sort of reopening and linked to the East London line.

The South West version (spotlight news area) covered the southern railways route from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock. It was presented by Dick Strawbridge. It also mentioned about the challenges facing Dawlish and Dawlish Warren from sea level rises and apparantly the South West is sinking by 1.2mm a year. It also suggested there is a chance of the route to Tavistock being reopened. Which in turn would make the reopening of the inland route more viable. The network rail engineer interviewed said that the Dawlish sea wall is in the best condition it has ever been in, and also there is an ATOC report that by 2050 - 2070 the inland route could be reopened is an aspiration.

I want to see all of these variations now!

What is the BBC playing at?

For more information about the South West version follow this link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/10_october/20/beeching_sw.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/10_october/20/beeching_sw.shtml)

Not sure if its directly related to Down The Line, but here is a relevant BBC Midlands Today link.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/how_beechings_cuts_hit_the_mid.html#more

From the BBC, in response to my complaint:

My (very late) response from the BBC, basically saying "tough."

Thank you for contacting BBC iPlayer support team.

I understand you would like to watch regional version of 'Down the Line' on BBC iPlayer.

Unfortunately there was a technical problem with the programme resulting in it being unavailable.  As it is now beyond seven days from broadcast the programme would have since expired therefore we are unable to make it available after this time, due to rights agreements.  Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Once again thank you for contacting BBC iPlayer.  If you have any further enquires please do not hesitate to contact our team.

Regards
 
BBC iPlayer

'Down the Line' is being given a repeat showing on BBC4 at 20:30 on 30 November - I've added it to the calendar.