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Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 11:35 29 Mar 2024
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 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:29 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
12:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
14:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
12:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:10 Penzance to London Paddington
10:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
etc
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16  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion on: March 04, 2015, 07:29:31
An impressive amount of work has obviously gone on to reopen this line.  Hope this isn't a stupid question, but was all this line restoration done by employed staff, or has there been any input by volunteers?  Who financed the work?  I knownotheeng, as Manuel used to say. Roll Eyes Thank you for your patience.
17  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Farewell East Coast. Hello Virgin Trains East Coast. on: March 01, 2015, 09:21:15
Grahame, I don't see East Coast Trains applying for certification for this scheme as a problem, even if they are using public funds to apply.  Any company is only as good as the employees who run it, and as I'm sure any psychologist would agree, happy, contented, secure, well-catered for and properly trained staff with good promotion prospects will provide a better service and be more loyal to their employer.  This in turn costs the company less in terms of the amount of sick leave they have to fund, attracts even more motivated people to join the company, again, reducing costs through smaller staff turn-over.  I could go on....  Wink
18  All across the Great Western territory / Media about railways, and other means of transport / Re: The Golden Age of British Rail..BBC Timeshift documentary on: March 01, 2015, 08:40:31
Wow, what a  feast of nostalgia !
For those of you that missed it , it is repeated on BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 4 this coming Thursday 27th Feb at 2200

Oh, how did I miss that, I wonder?  Still, it's bound to be shown on one of the minor channels before long; many of them seem to survive on the repeats from other stations.  Perhaps it'll be on iplayer....
19  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Farewell East Coast. Hello Virgin Trains East Coast. on: March 01, 2015, 08:36:48
I was reading only yesterday about East Coast Main Line TOC (Train Operating Company) having earned certification to become one of the 'Top Employers UK (United Kingdom) 2015'.  (All excel in terms of employee benefits, training and development, career development and culture management).  Interestingly, Virgin is NOT on the list.  I hope they don't exert a negative influence on East coast.  More information at www.top-employers.com

I don't understand why all the livery has to change to reflect Virgins 10% investment.  It seems to me like a company winning investment in the Dragons' Den having to rename their business 'Peter Jones' Sausage Machine' or whatever.   I hope Virgin is funding the new graphics. 
20  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: The stereotype map of Britain according to north Londoners: from the Independent on: February 28, 2015, 08:07:51
Ha! Second map made me laugh, but why is it only men who get to slide down a hill in a bath tub?  (Somewhere north of Watford)  Anyway, I think I'll move to Devon, and I don't even care how cider is spelled!
21  All across the Great Western territory / Media about railways, and other means of transport / Re: Great British Railway Journeys - Michael Portillo's television series on: February 15, 2015, 08:42:22
Week three of the series (w/c 19th Jan) takes him from Derby to Lindisfarne - via Grantham, birthplace of his former boss Margaret Thatcher.

Much to my surprise, Mr. P. didn't get down on his knees to pay homage to Mrs T whilst in Grantham.  Probably didn't want to spoil his snazzy slacks.

Certainly, he was an ardent fan of the "Iron Lady", and was said by some to have some traits that were more Thatcherite than Thatcher. He coined the phrase "clear blue water", and was tipped for the Tory leadership until unexpectedly losing his seat in the 1997 election. There may indeed have been a bit of quasi-papal dirt kissing, therefore, but off-camera to preserve the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)'s stance of neutrality (during licence fee negotiations at least).

His love of railways can be traced to his early ministerial career, when he claimed to have rescued the Settle and Carlisle route whilst in charge at transport. It is by no means his first foray in the heady world of professional television. In 1961, the star of a Ribena advert was none other than an 8-year-old Michael Portillo Blyth.

TV pays better than politics. It is much easier, and if people don't like what you are doing, you don't have to worry about them voting you out. The bonus of getting to ride around Britain, stay in fine hotels, and eat the best food available locally, then charging the tab to expenses, is common to both professions.

If there was a 'Like Very Much' button I would have pressed that!
22  All across the Great Western territory / Who's who on Western railways / Re: Mark Carne(y) on: February 15, 2015, 08:36:55
I wonder whether Carne without the Y will miraculously be in a position to find funds with which to keep the share holders happy, whilst flatlining employees' pay?  Whoops, little bit of politics there.  Well, there is an election coming up

Network Rail it is a company limited by guarantee and has no shareholders.  All profits are returned to the business.  Its members (who guarantee a small sum in the event that the company goes bankrupt) do not receive any benefit and a principally representatives of industry stakeholders such as TOCs (Train Operating Company)

So finding funds to keep them happy would be finding funds to make the railway run better!

Oh, I sit corrected, ellendune, forgot NR» (Network Rail - home page) doesn't have shareholders.  Thanks!  (she says, dismounting from hobbyhorse)
23  All across the Great Western territory / Who's who on Western railways / Re: Mark Carne(y) on: February 15, 2015, 08:24:30
I wonder whether Carne without the Y will miraculously be in a position to find funds with which to keep the share holders happy, whilst flatlining employees' pay?  Whoops, little bit of politics there.  Well, there is an election coming up
24  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Beautiful Roads on: February 09, 2015, 09:01:15
Poetry is, a bit like beauty, in the ear of the beholder.

But back to the main thread - Beautiful roads?  I can't help but think of modern routes, (however well they're landscaped) perhaps like the Newbury by-pass, as being great, suppurating wounds. Along these travel toxic 'metal box' bugs, causing septicaemia of, and in the environment, driven by selfish people like me who are too lazy to work out how to get from A to B via a more sustainable form of transport. 

In its way, your post is poetic, Cynthia: some strong images within an extended metaphor.   Smiley

Thank you, trainer, I hope one of the images includes one of me hanging my head in shame, as I do at frequent intervals.  I should be prepared to set a better example to my growing grandchildren.




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.
25  All across the Great Western territory / Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them / Re: Disused tube tunnels as cycle lanes? on: February 09, 2015, 08:54:21
I imagine the tunnels would be similar to the Woolwich foot tunnel and Greenwich foot tunnel.

Neither are something I would now considering using alone.  I did start descending the stairs at the northern Woolwich entrance last year, but two things made me turn round: 1. the smell of urine, and 2. a very strange man started pestering me on the stairs about halfway down.  Immediately turned round and waited for the free ferry as I didn't want to be alone in the tunnel with some weirdo(s).

Personally, I wouldn't suggest anything else like this be built.

Yes, Brucey, I would share your diffidence re personal safety, especially considering that there is probably no mobile signal in these tunnels?  All in all I think this idea's a bit of a non-runner.  (Or even a non-biker...)




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.
26  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The West - but NOT trains in the West / Re: My Secret Westcountry: Caroline Quentin, on Tiverton and FGW on: February 09, 2015, 08:49:23
That'd be Heathcoat Fabrics.

Oh, I knew it was something beginning with 'h', thanks BNM!
27  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The West - but NOT trains in the West / Re: My Secret Westcountry: Caroline Quentin, on Tiverton and FGW on: February 08, 2015, 13:36:43
Caroline is obviously not a fan of 'Sewing Bee'!  If she was, she would have mentioned that brilliant fabric and haberdashery store in Tiverton....  I've completely forgotten what it's called now.  Ask any townsperson and they'll direct you to it, as it adjoins their factory.  I want to say Hadleys but not sure that's right.
28  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Beautiful Roads on: February 08, 2015, 13:27:45
Poetry is, a bit like beauty, in the ear of the beholder.

But back to the main thread - Beautiful roads?  I can't help but think of modern routes, (however well they're landscaped) perhaps like the Newbury by-pass, as being great, suppurating wounds. Along these travel toxic 'metal box' bugs, causing septicaemia of, and in the environment, driven by selfish people like me who are too lazy to work out how to get from A to B via a more sustainable form of transport. 
29  All across the Great Western territory / Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them / Re: Disused tube tunnels as cycle lanes? on: February 08, 2015, 13:09:32
Seems like a good idea in theory, and might attract cyclists who are nervous of riding in heavy traffic.  I'd be a bit worried on two scores though: Who would continue to finance the upkeep of abandoned tunnels, and keep them illuminated, and, well, just from a personal point of view, I'd find it a bit creepy cycling in an abandoned tunnel! Shocked
30  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Beautiful Roads on: February 05, 2015, 13:42:58

I wonder what the Poet Laureate was moved to say in response ...
[/quote]

Better ask Carol Ann Duffy!
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