1 possibly Llandudno junction

I was caught up in this. i arrived at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to catch the 1005 to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) to find the concourse heaving. nothing happened until a late running 1130 to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) was announced which caused a stampede towards platform 3. A large number were refused access to the platform as the train was already full. Other trains were announced, but nothing for south Wales. I eventually left on the 1330 to BRI, for a connection to BPW, as there was no indication as to when a south Wales service would depart. That train was full and standing to Bath. I eventually arrived 4¼ hours late.

I can't identify the location, although I am sure someone will. The stock is MK2 air conditioned and definitely not HST^▸ (High Speed Train) as the seats align with the windows. Probably either a charter service or stock hired in to cover a particular need.

 

The government has already publicly denied in involvement in its response to a petition.
The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Require train operators keep ticket offices and platform staff at train stations”.
Government responded:
The rail industry has consulted on plans to modernise to provide the service passengers deserve, moving staff from behind ticket office screens to provide help and advice in customer-focused roles.
Together with the rail industry, we want to improve and modernise the experience for passengers by moving staff out from behind the ticket office screens to provide more help and advice in customer-focused roles in the station. No currently staffed station will become unstaffed as a result of this reform, with staff still being there to provide assistance and additional support at stations for those who need and want it. This would include providing assistance in purchasing tickets and providing customer information. When consulting, train operators were required to follow the rules set out in the rail industry’s Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA^▸ (Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.)), and the Government has no role unless objections are referred to the Secretary of State for a decision. We do not therefore plan to require train operators to keep ticket offices and platform staff at train stations.
There has been a significant shift in the way passengers purchase tickets, with just one in every ten transactions taking place at a ticket office in 2022/23, down from one in three a decade earlier. This is equivalent to 13% of revenue in 2022/23. Train operators have therefore consulted on proposals to close ticket offices and move staff out onto stations where they can provide support to passenger where this is needed.

The public consultations on proposed ticket office changes have now closed. The independent passenger bodies, Transport Focus and London TravelWatch, are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out on how they will consider their responses. Train operators are expected to work collaboratively with passenger bodies in the coming weeks to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.

Should ticket offices close following this process, staff would be redeployed and multi-skilled in order to provide advice and assistance across stations. Exact arrangements will vary operator by operator and will be the subject of collective bargaining with the trade unions. 
Department for Transport
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636542

Group save is not valid on Cross Country, so that woud have entailed travelling via Worcester. Split tickets?

Perhaps they will be transferred to Scotland to replace the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) that ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) have taken a dislike to

The wartime connection between the two lines was double track. The signal box contrlling it was switched out most of the time.

 AIUI^▸ (as I understand it), Tickets are always valid on through  trains even if the route is not normally accepted

I couldn't attend this year as i was on my way back from Switzerland (by rail)

A sensible decision which makes its aim clear to the public

Too long to copy and paste. I'm a subscriber but it may be possible to register and view

Interesting interview with Mark Hopwood in the latest Modern Railways newsletter

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/gwr-seeks-opportunities-grow?utm_campaign=KMR%20Social&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=269063124&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8cZdKAQLwT3p_T55zoU4SJxEe2mQEPpkFocgGXwdwtzjvNK-KPRRc0vFJxa-DN0fKOx-MKNyLX71k3S5c7_n1MKO3MzQ&utm_content=269063124&utm_source=hs_email

I suspect that 10 is the obligatory Melksham one

The picture has now been changed to a turbo