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1  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Interesting transport modes on: December 18, 2017, 18:40:44
I met somebody who went to Leicester and told tales of "overriding" the paternoster despite numerous warning signs. Apparently once you go past the top floor it is completely dark as you move laterally before reappearing on the down side.
2  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: National Railcard discounts - ongoing discussion, no longer date specific on: September 19, 2017, 11:49:11
If you have a railcard for all ages, you may as well just lower fares, surely?

Rail Delivery Group brief to staff:

Quote
• based on the existing 16-25 Railcard offering - same conditions and time restrictions will apply (with the exception of the July/August minimum fare restriction- which will be removed)

I didn't think there is a restriction in the summer months of July/August is there - what is it?

I was wondering about this wording too. The only way I can get my head around it is they mean that on the 16-25 the minimum fare is restricted in July/August (not applied) - it wont be restricted on the 26-30 (it will be applied). Crystal clear mud.

Also means that while this railcard is similar to others there are now a lot of variations when it comes to July/August minimum fares - no minimum fare on 16-25, minimum fare on 26-30, no minimum fare on HM Forces but cannot be used if going to work... Not really major issues but I wonder why this situation has arisen?
3  Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / Re: Bristol: former Royal Mail sorting office building eventually chosen as new University city camp on: June 22, 2017, 15:00:07
Some outline plans have appeared on the UoB website:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/university/strategy/implementation/temple-quarter-campus/

Looks interesting!

On a related note a public consultation opened on 19th. Online responses:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TQECUOBweb

[The survey link contains a lot of the plan pictures/artists impressions etc without needing to access the >9MB pdf available via the first link!]
4  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: £10k first class fare Taunton-to-Trowbridge on: April 28, 2017, 11:33:59
Just out of interest (and I can't imagine it would have happened) but what would have happened if someone actually bought one of those tickets online?  Huh

I expect the credit card company would have refused authorisation as an unusual payment on the account.  If not and it was a joint account or a company account, use of the ticket would have been followed by some huge questions!

[See Tim has a similar view - both posting at the same time!]

Would they? Some season tickets are several thousand pounds a year. If you have a history of spending large amounts on your season ticket and this was close to your renewal date.......

Looks like we need a volunteer to try buying one next time something like this appears. Anyone..?
5  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Go-Op Cooperative - update on: April 21, 2017, 08:35:26
Sorry to keep resurrecting this thread but the Go-op website is one on a list "to check very occasionally" and there is a new newsletter (cannot find it posted elsewhere).

http://www.go-op.coop/workspace/uploads/files/issue11.pdf

The picture painted by this latest one looks pretty bleak.
6  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Using income from box junctions to support public transport? on: October 07, 2016, 10:48:00
Are lorries really limited in their speed? I thought the little signs on the back were just for show, they often seem to be going much more than 60!

Yes, absolutely. With pretty heavy penalties for drivers and/or operators found to have tampered with the speed limiting devices. Maximum limit of 60mph on motorways, but generally limited for fuel economy reasons to between 52-56mph.


Is this only UK (United Kingdom) registered/based vehicles? I have (alas) been motorway driving daily for the last month and lorries happily go along in the 65-70 range. Or is it a limited when laden type of thing giving a higher speed when not so full?

Alternatively the car I use has a very inaccurate speedo!

Quote
Quote
On a slightly different vein (already way off topic anyway, so no regrets!) I have often wondered why cars that can go 100+ are sold. If that is such a deal-breaking threshold then why is there no requirement for manufacturers to add limiters?  Huh

I think the 100mph thing has become important as it is really starting to result in quite high closing speeds with other 'normal' traffic. For whatever reasons of myth/psychology, it has been a bit of a number I have noticed not many people are willing to exceed, so it is self regulating. We don't all have an individual security guard to escort us around shops to ensure we don't steal anything, so why limit cars to 100mph when it is largely self governing. I suspect you'd also notice a lot more cars being driven like lorries - foot flat to the floor with max speed bumping off the limiter.

HGV's on the other hand are speed limited because of the devastating effects of collisions involving them - owners and operators have demonstrated in the past that they will overload, drive for huge periods of time without rest and do hugely inappropriate speeds without heavy regulation, so they became regulated.

I do not quite buy the security guard analogy - I think when it comes to driving a large number of people break the rules but I suspect most of them would not think of shoplifting. Although the 100 mark may well be the limit as you say.

For me I think any frustration comes down to what you said earlier about driving standards in general. I do not mind if somebody goes past me at 80+ too much. It is when they indicate after they have starting pulling in in a too small gap in front of me, simultaneously braking (or similar, etc) that gets my goat.

I was back on the train this morning, quite nice to be able to daydream while looking out the window!
7  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Using income from box junctions to support public transport? on: October 07, 2016, 09:11:52
Are lorries really limited in their speed? I thought the little signs on the back were just for show, they often seem to be going much more than 60!

On a slightly different vein (already way off topic anyway, so no regrets!) I have often wondered why cars that can go 100+ are sold. If that is such a deal-breaking threshold then why is there no requirement for manufacturers to add limiters?  Huh
8  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: The Adelphi - the old railway hotel in Liverpool on: September 23, 2016, 14:54:19
I stayed there for a conference/training type event back in 2010. Definitely had a dated splendour feel to the place but the back stairs provided some decent exercise. My room was notable for having a step up immediately after going through the door and loads of granite.

Food was not memorable but I do not remember it being bad. I suppose though that food hygiene ratings don't look at presentation and taste - if it was filthy back then then it at least tasted alright.

Train back to Bristol after the event had some engineering related diversions and I went via Lincoln...?
9  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Southern / Govia Thameslink Railways - ongoing disputes on: July 13, 2016, 12:20:32
P.S. Can anyone spot the slight 'error' currently on the Wikipedia entry:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Govia_Thameslink_Railway

That's funny. I wonder how long it has been like that? Aren't modern, media-savvy companies supposed to have people who keep an eye on injudicious edits of Wikipedia and suchlike?

Since 05.11 this morning (13th July) so not too long!
10  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Thomas the Tank Engine goes global for new film on: April 07, 2016, 11:25:15
I'm not a fan of these CGI (Computer-generated imagery) remakes - some things, in my opinion, are just not right. It's like Thunderbirds without strings or Crossroads without wobbly sets.

Oh, and does Ringo Starr do the voiceover?! (Yes, I know he wasn't the only voice for the TV series but he is the one I associate with it.



Quite agree with all this. These newer versions actually look less real to me - and far too clean  Undecided

11  Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / Re: Electrification work West of Bath on: April 05, 2016, 10:57:08
Journey home yesterday was okay, embarrassingly I apparently made it on the local ITV news as well. Journey this morning was no trouble too. Seems that the replacement buses have been realistically timed and executed from my point of view - no crowding so far and at the very least I am getting through more of my book while sat down than usual. Will see how tomorrow goes - my season runs out and I am not sure whether to replace it straight away or drive to work for a few days.
12  Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / Re: Electrification work West of Bath on: April 04, 2016, 11:07:02
I used the replacement buses yesterday and this morning - the buses ARE nice. "Leather" seats which give off that new leathery furniture smell - crikey!

I went from Bradford-on-Avon to Bristol this morning. Train portion of the journey was delayed more than the window given for the connecting bus (9minutes) so it did not look like a good start. However as the buses are sheduled so frequently I arrived in Bristol pretty much when I expected to. Seems that the timetabling for the bus journeys is very generous to allow for whatever as it was last year. Bus was not full to the brim as I had feared.

All in all, a good start for me, will see what the journey home brings!
13  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Bristol: A stupid city? on: February 24, 2016, 08:33:17
That spiky bridge will seriously outdo the cheese-grater!  Wink (..yes, okay, I realise that isn't the finished surface)
14  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Duck, or grouse? on: February 23, 2016, 11:59:26
More demeaning would be a duck on his head, luckily being inside the statue should avoid being an expensive perch.

Seems academic now but my view is that I cannot see what is demeaning about having a duck there. I think it has missed an opportunity in that it might have drawn attention and interest from younger folk who will ask "why?" - that is pretty important. The story about design and ultimately record breaking engineering may inspire them in a similar way to what the Bloodhound project is trying to do at the moment.  The alternative is another bloke on a plinth, a nice celebration maybe but in my opinion less inspiring.

A scale model A4 might work as it is pretty distinctive - but then maybe a bit demeaning to have a model train at the chap's feet  Wink
15  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: First Great Western rebrands to Great Western Railway and related department changes on: February 18, 2016, 17:38:17
Hehe, just seen 150232 arrive at BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) attached to and behind a 153. GLORIOUS  Grin
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