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3826
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Journey by Journey / Portsmouth to Cardiff / Re: New Units revisited
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on: March 31, 2009, 17:41:28
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And just to keep the pot boiling, the latest Network Rail route plans still include the possibility of gauge clearance work to allow 165/166 use on Cardiff - Portsmouth services...
Paul
Hmmmm interesting...though I still think the new units will be deployed on the Cardiff-Portsmouth line but you never know with the Dft! |
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3827
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Voyagers invade Bath Spa
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on: March 29, 2009, 21:03:53
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Yep, there are a couple of Voyagers calling at Bath Spa on a Sunday over the next few weeks.
It would make sense to have more XC▸ services call at Bath Spa when services are diverted as quite a number of passengers travelling XC would be travelling to/from Bath and one year quite a few actually did when services were diverted away from the Bristol-Taunton line due to a two week blockade a few years back. It made the Bath Spa departure board have destinations rarely seen on it...Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh etc. They have to slow right down anyway to pass through the station because of the curving nature of the station.
Some good photo oportunities to catch a XC HST▸ passing through the Limpey Stoke Valley too.
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3829
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Journey by Journey / London to the Cotswolds / Re: PLEA FOR FASTER HEREFORD/WORCESTER TRAINS
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on: March 25, 2009, 21:56:59
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stebbo can I just say that I am with you on this one and there are others out there who would agree that services are slower than they used to be because trains stop at more stations along the way and its very annoying. I'm all for providing a decent service from each station but thanks to Dft specifications its got to the point where many 'Intercity' routes are now more like SE commuter routes stopping at every station, why? because there isn't enough rolling stock to provide both fast and stopping services as in the case of services in the West for example.
I don't see this changing much now because if you cut services stopping at certain stations there will be an outcry from those easily forgetting the almost non existent service they used to suffer in the days of BR▸ .
Like I say, I'm all for providing a decent service to every station where it can be justified. I just think Dft, and before them the SRA» , made one rule for every station along the route regardless of usage and said to the TOCs▸ you must stop there every hour, half hour etc without looking at every station on it's own merit and whether it justifies having every train stop there.
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3831
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: FGW Catering
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on: March 23, 2009, 17:28:55
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Right, bad news people, FGW▸ are axeing all but two restaraunts as from 29th May, the only two will be the 1803 and 1903 Pad-Pnz, apparently 75% of all Pullman revenue is from these two trains alone! There will however be more travelling chef coverage from 29th May.
Can't blame FGW at all for this decision when times are tough. All the other restaurant running TOCs▸ are cutting back so why shouldn't FGW sad though it is. It seems the days of having a full restaurant service meal are fast disappearing from the UK▸ 's railways. |
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3835
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Journey by Journey / London to the Cotswolds / Re: Skipping stops due to fatility
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on: March 17, 2009, 22:03:19
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Strong rumours BTW▸ that the Malverns are to be dropped by FGW▸ West services from the May timetable.
That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if that was to happen G.Uard as I have often wondered why 'West' services go that far since the days when this started under Wessex Trains. |
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3838
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues / Re: Good travel web sites
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on: March 16, 2009, 07:03:20
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Yes, as a passenger, I'm constantly disappointed that the FGW▸ website remains stuck in a rut, so to speak - not particularly easy to navigate, information not kept up to date, not interactive, not offering a 'contact me' feature ...
I think FGW really do need to invest in an upgrade of their website - particularly as, with reductions in customer-facing staff, their website becomes the only way many passengers can find out about FGW services.
Current FGW website will be three years old on April 1st so is well overdue for a refresh. Generally its good to refresh your site every 1 1/2-2 years. Would be great if Ollie could get his hands on it and sort it out though I would imagine the website is not overly high up on the agenda for FGW especially if cutbacks are starting to happen. |
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3839
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Where is 158769
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on: March 15, 2009, 20:49:37
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Ok, Here is one of several pictures I have taken on my travels, I'll start with an easy one   Where is 158769...?? Good picture this one thetrout as its not a scene that will ever be repeated but was a common site during the early days of the expanded FGW▸ franchise...an ex Trans Pennine Express 158 pre-refurb. Can't be many un-refurbed units left to be done now, just a couple of 150s and 143s? |
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