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29th Mar (1913)
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09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
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16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
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17:36 Swindon to Westbury
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Short Run
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
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13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
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19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
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Delayed
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
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08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
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28381  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Melksham to London commute - the little problems on: December 10, 2012, 08:15:39
I'll be doing a lot of work in London over the next 4 months, and considered giving FGW (First Great Western) my travelling business.  This morning's been something of a test:

http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3950_10-reasons-why-I-travel-the-night-before-a-course-starts.html

Some little trifles there, but some big issues too.  Sorry - the train doesn't cut the mustard at the moment.  Money that could have gone from my pocket to the railways will be going largely to hotels ...
28382  Journey by Journey / London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury / Re: Oxford station gate to be shut to stop fare dodgers on: December 08, 2012, 19:01:43
According to the plan at (Oxford - next trains)/plan.html?rtnloc=oxf" target="_blank">http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/OXF/plan.html?rtnloc=OXF this gate gives access to the accessible parking.  So presumably it will become inaccessible accessible parking  Wink

I've not been round the back of Oxford station, but as I recall it's quite a long way around.   If you want to get to the accessible parking in the future when arriving from London, you'll need to go over the footbridge, out through the main building, turn right outside, go round the bike park, under the bridge, and turn right up the road the the parking.  Or have I missed something?
28383  Sideshoots - associated subjects / News, Help and Assistance / MOVED: Cutting Spam on: December 08, 2012, 06:12:12
This topic has been moved to Frequent Posters Club.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11652.0

In order to reduce the number of sign-up requests that the administrators have to vet, we have introduced a system which helps to reduce sign-ups that we consider to be spammerous.

The discussion has been moved to "frequent posters'; if you feel that (as a guest / new user) you have been unjustly stopped, please send me an email. See more at http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3946_Moving-from-a-warning-system-to-a-control-system-PHP-forum-spammers.html - Graham
28384  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Christmas Bumper bignosemac Prize Picture Quiz. December 2012 *CLOSED* on: December 07, 2012, 17:30:28
Good work, Bignosemac - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11647.0

There's some that I think are quite easy, but there's a number that aren't  Cheesy - it will be very interesting to see how our members do!
28385  All across the Great Western territory / Looking forward - after Coronavirus to 2045 / Re: West Coast Main Line franchise shambles - possible impact on Great Western franchise? on: December 07, 2012, 17:07:39
So where does that leave the Greater Western tender process, still in the sidings or back on track?



Presumably on hold awaiting the findings of the Brown review which is looking into the franchising system in general.

Confirmed ... http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/story-17525335-detail/story.html says:

Quote
A DfT» (Department for Transport - about) spokesman said: ^No decision on the Great Western franchise will been taken until we have considered the Brown report, but the Great Western invitation to tender states that each bidder shall be responsible for all costs, incurred whether or not the bid process is varied or terminated.^
28386  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Vending Machines vs. Disability on: December 07, 2012, 15:23:48
d) TVMs (Ticket Vending Machine) can only provide the tickets I need on a small proporton of occasions; either there's no TVM available, or I'm buying in advance in anticipation of a journey that starts from another station, or I'm splitting.
Selling tickets with another origin station is something TVMs in this country can do. Southern have it enabled on their TVMs, there's a button on the screen which says something like tickets from other origins. [snip] ...

Didn't realise that - I stand corrected. I should have written:

d) TVMs at the stations I use are only programmed to provide the tickets I need on a small proporton of occasions; either there's no TVM available, or I'm buying in advance in anticipation of a journey that starts from another station and the machine isn't a Southern one, or I'm splitting.  Cheesy

Really has the same effect, though - it's won't rather than can't and I still can't use the machine unless I web program it in advance and then collect my tickets hours later.
28387  All across the Great Western territory / Introductions and chat / Paging Alex from Gillingham on: December 07, 2012, 12:42:10
Hi ... you tried to sign up, but the email for your registration bounced.   I suspect that there may have been a mis-key in your email address - please sign up again as I've had to delete your initial application (and I can't even email you to let you know  Undecided )

Thanks
28388  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Vending Machines vs. Disability on: December 07, 2012, 12:10:11
Have a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/janepbr/3340254241/in/photostream/ for an ideal ticket machine. Walk up, and it clearly lists destinations covered. Put your money in, and it gives you the ticket.  Perhaps we have taken 10 steps forward and 25 back?
28389  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Vending Machines vs. Disability on: December 07, 2012, 09:39:03
Interesting thread ... a couple of personal comments

a) I feel pressure when there are people waiting behind me to purchase as quickly as possible, and that feeling of pressure is shared (and thus halved) when buying from a real person

b) At times, I have found the wide range of ticket choices confusing, and that the best priced ticket for me, even on a simple journey, required me to move ask for a second page of prices.   I know that on Google, only a tiny proportion of people look at the second page of results, and wonder if that's also the case with TVMs (Ticket Vending Machine)

c) These days, I have poor eyesight and require the use of a clinical aid (glasses) to make use of a TVM.  Should I not be entitled to a disabled rail card, just as someone who requires an aid such as a wheelchair is, or at least be allowed to buy my ticket using voice rather than site? (Intentionally provocative suggestion, this one!)

d) TVMs can only provide the tickets I need on a small proporton of occasions; either there's no TVM available, or I'm buying in advance in anticipation of a journey that starts from another station, or I'm splitting.

e) There's no button on a TVM labelled "is this valid on the 19:00 train back this evening", nor "is there another option for travel on these trains which will cost me less?"

f) If I know what I need, and / or it's easy to select what I need and have any ancilliary questions answered, and I don't feel I'm delaying others, I'm perfectly happy to use an automated system.

In our own business ...

i) we have an automated booking system for hotel rooms which a high proportion of people, especially returning guests, use.  We strive for efficiency, clarity and simplicity, and look to cover virtually every base, and we have a phone line to a real person that can always be used to book, query, or even change an automeated booking.  And we do NOT require that customers turn up with a piece of cardboard to proove that they have booked / paid.

ii) we have an automated system for training courses which we scarsely ever use.  A few customers prefer to use such a system, but the majority want to discuss their needs and ensure that they are buying the product that's right for them, and the options we offer are so wide that such a discussion ofetn results in them buying a better product for them than they might have selected, often at a lower price.

Railwaywise, TVMs can have their place - ideal for common tickets within a straightforward system where the users are confident of what they need. But IMHO (in my humble opinion) they need backing up by dynamic / human staffed point of sales alternatives.  The easier you make the ticketing regime, the more TVMs - be they via your home printer or at the station, (or swipe in / swipe out systems) can provide an excellent service for the regular, confident customer.  And the human approach can be used for the more specialised requirements, and for the marketing of product by building customer knowledge and confidence.   In West Wilts, journey numbers have increase by 80% in 10 years; encouraging new customers by having a human interface to the railways can help it grow a further 80% in the next 10 years.
28390  Journey by Journey / London to the West / Re: Dawlish and Dawlish Warren sea defences - ongoing concerns and issues discussion on: December 06, 2012, 06:24:37
Not entirely sure why people have such hang-ups regarding reversals.

If you're looking at my "chord" suggestion, that was to remove a single point of failure (St David's Station) rather than to remove a reversal I agree that - interchange wise - it's sensible to have a single station.  Just look at how man cross-London transfers would be avoided if lines into Paddington, Euston,  St Pancras, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Charing Cross, Victoria and Waterloo had all been extended into Holborn Kingsway, renamed "London Central".
28391  Journey by Journey / London to the West / Re: Dawlish and Dawlish Warren sea defences - ongoing concerns and issues discussion on: December 05, 2012, 16:58:43
[...] via Taunton, Barnstaple Town, Barnstaple Junction, Meeth [...]

ITYM Barnstaple Victoria Road, not Barnstaple Town.

I think I do.  Thanks!
28392  Journey by Journey / London to the West / Re: Dawlish and Dawlish Warren sea defences - ongoing concerns and issues discussion on: December 05, 2012, 16:09:41
Both that route and the GWR (Great Western Railway) converge at Cowley and to my mind, it is the Exe valley that is the headache.

To relieve the "single point of failure" problem / getting trains to Plymouth, you could:

1. Complete the triangle from Exeter Central to St Thomas (a line that passes under St David's Hill / Iron Bridge, over Bonhay Road near the weirs, over the flood channel and down to join the current line where it crossed Okehampton Road / Okehampton Street.

2. Reopen from Okehampton to Tavistock / Bere Alston.

You then have two independent routes from London to Plymouth .. (a) Waterloo, Central, St. Thomas, Totnes, Plymouth and (b) Paddington, St. Davids (reverse) and Meldon to Plymouth.   Which is better that it every was in the past - as far as I can tell, the only way ever to avoid Cowley Bridge was from London via Taunton, Barnstaple Town, Barnstaple Junction, Meeth and Halwill!
28393  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Train arrival and departure information, by station, for whole week on: December 05, 2012, 10:43:24
Where can I get lists of train departures (and arrivals) for stations, for the whole day, and for each day of the week?

I've been asked to help provide data for a regional web site covering a dozen or two stations, showing arrivals and departures for the whole 24 hour period.  "Obvious" example (for me) - Melksham.   This is for businesses and local residents to be able to point visitors to and say "here are the local trains".   I don't want a specific day / time of day - I want an overall departure sheet and corresponding arrivals one.

"Obvious" example (for me) - Melksham.

Departures, Monday to Friday:
06:38 to Westbury, Salisbury and Southampton
07:20 to Swindon, Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham
19:11 to Westbury, Salisbury and Southampton
19:47 to Swindon, Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham

Arrivals, Monday to Friday:
06:38 from Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon
07:20 from Westbury
19:11 from Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon
19:47 from Westbury

I'll probably need to give all stations, common connections, times at the remote stations (at least on the arrivals chart), and to cover each day of the week.
28394  Journey by Journey / London to the Cotswolds / Re: Much improved London Midland services at Hereford/Colwall/Ledbury on Sundays on: December 05, 2012, 07:08:24
Very good news, I think, all around ... as ever, there's going to be a compromise on connections versus well spaced services where two services share a popular section of track in the middle of their journeys.  And in all but the most unusual circumstances, the likelyhood is that the regular service section (where you're looking at a flow that doesn't require a change) will be more significant than the journey-with-change flow.  So regular from Malvern to Foregate Street makes sense.

Sundays are, indeed, getting busier.   In my own neck of the woods, I'm delighted to see a requirement for Sunday trains including a morning service in priced option 1 of the ITT (Invitation to Tender).  Mind you, we 'proved' that Sunday morning services are rather popular in the summer of 2011 - not only with Swindon to Weymouth traffic, but also with the large numbers who were travelling on the 07:30 (Westbury), 07:35 (Trowbridge) and 07:45 (Melksham) to Swindon.  With limited publicity, traffic rose to the best part of 100 passengers into Swindon by the end of the 8 week trial, with many passengers using the train as the start of long distance journeys, and most being on journeys that would NOT have been limited to the summer season (i.e. year round traffic).

I'm not an expert on Malvernshire ... but the new services look like a sensible development to serve changing and growing requirements and I'm sure they'll do well.
28395  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Bath Bus Station Farce 01/12/12 (A big rant and contains minor expletives) on: December 04, 2012, 10:13:38
Under First's bus customer promise (I have a pile of forms) free travel is offered if ...

"we fail to operate an advertised service for reasons within our control" and it strikes me that leaving from a different stop and not providing adequate information, resulting in people being left behind, falls into the "failing to operate" category.

Of course, for concessionary travellers such as pensioners who are paid for by the county council, this doesn't really do very much, and I doubt that many will fill in a travel claim form on behalf of the council ...

It seems that sometimes, they go out of their way to be unhelpful.

In the last couple of months, I have seen some promising shoots of First (in Bath, Bus) taking more note of customers via the new customer panel.  Early days, and that looks at systemic stuff rather than individual cases.   However, it does mean there's a chance to enquire as to how buses are reallocated to different bays and how customers are kept informed.  Also to ask what "delay /repay" really offers to pensioners.   We may, though, have to accept "nothing" as the answer
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