I noticed it had stopped at green signals just after Taplow, before the A4 roadbridge. It eventually limped into M'head at about 6.50. ouch

Now down nearly 50p or 20% this morning...
A screaming buy at that price with a divi yield at 10%.
But, Not for widows and orphans though.......

Arrggh, but this used to be a 7 or 8 coach HST^▸ (High Speed Train), not so long ago.
I don't blame them for not advertising this fact, taking some away and giving less back doesn't sound too good.

Well done!
Let me get that right, you got a ^1,200 refund instead of something about ^600.
That^s sounds like madness.
I assume that with the Ryde annual ticket you are paying pro-rata cancellation rates as opposed to short-period rates?.
I wonder how many Ryde annual tickets there are out there that don^t get used!

Well looks like you have started your week-end early then^!

Anyway, for the avoidance of doubt, for all the non-facebookers and non-twits, what do you do in FGW?
Are you here as an official rep?
Cheers

And there's enough of them already, clagging up the gangways.....

.... She is probably now moving to the Isle of Sheppey !....

West London is full and a new small 3rd runway would not be the panacea people are making out.
A radical new option is needed, which should have been chosen by the new labour govt 15 years ago.

Was in PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) early this morning (07.30).
The W.C sleeper was being pulled out by OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) resident 08 shunter "Dusty".
Not sure why the service wasn't top and tailed, as usual, but the other loco appeared to already be in OOC, perhaps awaiting attention ?.
Pendennis Castle was at the buffer stops.

Was there something going on in Dorney?
Must admit I escaped off almost as far west as you can go, to Tenby for the whole week.
Had a wander round Tenby station, a service every 3 hours!.
Lots of atmosphere there though, still had rails in the station loading dock, must have been last used 50 years ago.

"Standing near the front" - hope you had a first class ticket sir

Yes it was very packed this morning.
Tannoy advised all passengers to take the 7.08, and leave the 7.03
Standing room only in every carriage.
Lucky the journey is only 20 minutes, time enough to read the metro.

Cann't say I was impressed by the 180 forming the 08.34 from Maidenhead to Pad this morning. Turned up 10 minutes late, and although of five cars instead of 3 with the usual Turbo unit, there seemed alot less room and much more standing. The aisles were packed all the way down. I'm not sure of the comparison with the number of seats, but at least the seats were bigger and more comfortable!
I'll have to give this some time before I'd welcome these hydraulics back on the W.R

Quite a few BNP^▸ (Barnstaple) as well, I mean BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) as backup to the ticket checkers, the other morning.

I got to Paddington and saw some fellow Maidenhead commuters coming the other way. When I got down the ramp onto the lawn, it was absolutely rammed with people, pretty much confused. Lots of tourist wandering around. If this happens during the Games goodness knows what will happen.

Did consider going via Waterloo but thought it would also be rammed and a long stopper to Windsor. The choice about going via Marylebone someone has said is a good one, I might make that in future. Are Chiltern pretty good at ticket swapping as far a High Wycombe, or do you need a new ticket etc?
Instead I went to the Pride of Paddington and settled down with a pint or two of Pride, and a copy of BRM.....
Whilst mulling around I did see a turbo unit and it was absolutely rammed with passengers, but with no driver. In the cab the other end there must have been half a dozen fgw employees, all trying to get home as well. Did make me lol!

It pulled us into PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) this morning on the 08.00 fast from Maidenhead.
Quite a striking design, a bit garrish with the dark blue as a backround.
Must have been a sight crossing the Maidenhead Bridge.

Well it was a rum old trip to work this morning.
The 8.34 fast to Paddington was advertised as having 6 coaches from Maidenhead.
There was a collective aghast from the thronged crowd at the re-instatement of a coach that was withdrawn 24 months ago on the technicality of refurbishment. Was this the additional seats that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were so keen to trumpet a few weeks ago, now being available?!
Anyway, in came the Turbo and a few stares were sent westwards. Eyes strained in the low morning sun. ^It can^t be^ was the cry. In came the fast with only 3 coaches!. Either the service had lost coaches at Twyford or else they were slipped at Reading.
In the end managed to squeeze in first class as the train was rammed.
Still arrived at Paddington 7 minutes late.

Anyway, nice to see a King back at Southall, keeping company with Sir Nige!.