Was speaking about the castle sets, my mistake.

It seems like a good short term solution although it would be great to see some new West specific new rolling stock right down to Devon and Cornwall.

I have been traveling fairly frequently recently and I have noticed how a ticket inspection is something that I find myself not expecting anymore.

I never seem to end up with a Ticket Examiner in front set of a 10 car train, nor does the train manager ever seem to check tickets, especially in first class.

Is it just me or is anyone else noticing this?

Not enough around, hopefully whoever takes the next franchise will offer to order some new rolling stock, and maybe DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) could electrify some more areas.

Apparently there is a cardboard cutout of Mr. Hopwood at Milford House for his absence. 

It’s not very safe to play hide and seek on the railway, good idea though.

That’s painfull. All four of some of the busiest HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) services off the day.

You’d be right in saying that.

DfT should have allowed the refurbishment to go ahead, it is needed. They have worked a large amount of busy services and not only are they dirty but the seating layout is not practical. Having a 158 that has tables, comfy seats, 2+2 seating and larger seats is an ideal train to work many of those services, where as a 3+2 formation which can barely fit 3 people in a row on, next to no legroom, no tables and half the time broken air con and GWR advertise it as an improvement. Yes, if you want a seat, no if you want to feel like you are atcually on a semi-express service. And practically everyone has worked out on the 166s and some remaining 165s with first class about not being declassified, so you are unlikely to get a seat in there, especially traveling solo.

I believe it was sung by commuters finding out that their train will atcually be a 10 car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)!

This might come to some use to people, found it somewhere a while back but forgot about it.

http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab656259048fb93837ecc0ecbcf0c557.r23.cf3.rackcdn.com/assets/library/document/e/original/elizabeth_line_service_pattern-reading_to_central_london.pdf

A member of Cheltenham staff said the siding was to small for the ten car when it was in testing. Apparently they won’t run any 5+5 anymore to Cheltenham due to Gloucester platform issues and other minor difficulties.

There is a siding that can fit up to a nine car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train), however capacity is needed hence the bay proposals that have been called off. There is no bi-directional signalling now nor is there needed though all trains terminating have to reverse.

Does anyone know of any areas that are planned to be resignalled in the next few years? I am interested to find out what projects are planned to take place.

Thanks.

When Filton Bank was blocked a couple of weekends ago I took the oppertunity to go to Bath, as I wouls be able to change at Swindon. I had a nice HST^▸ (High Speed Train) trip from Gloucester to Swindon, then waited for the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to take me onward to Bath. The journey is less congested, more comfortable and is a decent journey in my opinion.

A direct Cheltenham to Bath service would be good, however I don't think that Cheltenham has the capacity to hold another train there, considering the fact that there will be an additional Wales service as well. Could Worcester-Bath be considered? It would allow more Swindon to Worcester trips, and easier connections for Ashchurch onto London and other places. It would also mean that less service would need to extend from Cheltenham to Worcester on HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) services, or on Bristol stoppers. A 166 would do the job well, and an additional service along the Golden Valley as well as Worcester is a job well done in my opinion.

Another route I thought would be good is a Gloucester/Cheltenham/Worcester to Oxford service, but I then realised that a service from Bristol/Bath/Westbury would probably more operationally suitable.


Another thing that Network Rail were/are looking at is how the HSS to Gloucester/Cheltenham could have time enhancements, i.e Cheltenhams missing Gloucester. The things that were considered however was that Gloucester shouldn't loose a service/services to and from London and therefore it has been a difficult task. Aprox time saving would be 11 minutes by not serving Gloucester.

I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should make minor improvements to there services rather than extend some. More services into Wales, later services, improving how direct services are (missing off stops for a separate service) and improving timetables so they match with connecting services. Increase local patterns that aren’t yet 1tph (Worcester, TransWilts etc.) and improve reliability.