I've seen a Bristol Temple Meads derparture boards say "Train formed of 8 Carriages Today" for an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service to Plymouth.

But then seen a service at the same station on the departure board "Train formed of 3 Coaches Today"

I think they just use whatever term depnding on what mood the person is in...

I don't think a xmas day service would be necessary but a boxing day limited service might prove useful for those that cannot drive. Although with engineering works over the christmas break, it could cause delays to the works and then cause delays for the normal service on the 27th

The amount of LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) ive seen around the railway in places like Derby, Crewe, London I doubt very much that there is a shortage of LHCS.

however an insider did tell me that alot of it is incompatible with certain locos and other carriages of the same type (MKII etc).

but having said that of the LHCS i've seen there alot of it in GW^▸ (Great Western) Fag Packet livery. So why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) don't use it to relieve overcrowding on busier routes such as the Portsmouth - Cardiff lines is beyond me.

I for one would quite like to see a FGW refurbished MK2 and a loco such as a 67 or 47 in FGW dynamic lines livery

I know where that is (I live near there), thats at Witham Friary between Bruton Station and Frome Branch Line. The line goes up towards Torr works and divides at Wanstrow to Torr works quarry and Cranmore (ESR^▸ (Emergency Speed Restriction ))

I would suspect you are right, When i first saw the set in formation it had the same livery BSO as the TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI))'s, now its a EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) Executive Livery BSO

The set also worked the 0728 Taunton - Bristol Parkway this morning, saw it at Taunton Station on platform 3 on the way to work