The problem is that it's not an either/or. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have deliberately chosen to replace affordable, flexible, walk-up tickets with restrictive Advance tickets. That's what happened here on the Cotswold Line: new, draconian peak restrictions were introduced for flexible tickets, and Advances introduced as a sweetener.

Advances don't generally suit my circumstances, so since these fare changes, I simply travel less frequently to Paddington using GWR. On the occasions that I do, I either split my ticket to get round the off-peak restrictions, or go to Marylebone instead (thank you, Chiltern, for retaining sane fares). Oxford Parkway is becoming surprisingly popular for passengers from the Charlbury area, more than I originally expected, and GWR have only themselves to blame.

I see the shortlist for the awards has been published: https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/cycle-rail-awards/cra-shortlist.html

Among the shortlisted TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) is CrossCountry for, wait for it, "improvements or excellence in overall customer service for people wishing to make journeys using cycle-rail".

This, presumably, is the same CrossCountry whose first action was to reduce the number of bike spaces per Voyager from four to three. Which is an interesting definition of "improvements or excellence" in "cycle-rail". Do you think there's a Golden Puncture Award they could win?

(I've merged the two topics on the same subject into one --Richard)

Just saw 166219 go through Bath Spa on its way west.

The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) launch prospectus doing the rounds a while back did suggest improved journey times on the Cotswold Line. I suspect most of this will be a small acceleration between London and Oxford, and then the savings from powered doors at station calls between Oxford and Worcester/Hereford, rather than the performance of the trains themselves on the Cotswold Line.

First train this morning cancelled (06.06 from Charlbury) - on the one day this year I drag myself up at this ungodly hour!

I believe that platform extensions are planned for the Cotswold Line and that 2x5 won't run until then. But what the state of that project is, who knows. References (both from 2016): http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/24011/enhancements-delivery-plan-change-control-october-december-2016.pdf, https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Modernising-the-Great-Western-railway.pdf

Until then, there's the 1x5 and 1x9 units.

No - that's a different one. Bessie's definitely doesn't have a website! A brief writeup I found: https://thegrillandbarrel.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/the-dyffryn-arms-a-pub-from-another-time/


Ah yes - went there on a Sustrans volunteer weekend a few years ago. I vaguely remember the wonderful cider. (Good cider is usually only vaguely remembered.)

Further west, New Year is still celebrated according to the Julian calendar in the Gwaun Valley in Pembrokeshire: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16487089

It's a lovely place, especially the Dyffryn Arms (aka Bessie's) which is a miraculous survival of an old-style pub. We discovered it while cycling through on NCN 81: it's sadly a bit far to pop out for a pint from Charlbury, but a sketch of Bessie's by a local artist hangs in our living room now!

Wonder how long it's been since the word "Intercity" has appeared on screens (or Solari boards!) at Paddington?

Being live tweeted by https://twitter.com/clinnick1

0600 HSTituted apparently.

It's particularly surprising given the wholesale surgery that's been carried out on Campden Bank over the past few years.

Campden Bank, unsurprisingly: "Trains travelling towards London Paddington / Oxford from Hereford / Worcester (in this direction only) will not call at Honeybourne until approximately midday", according to JourneyCheck.

OpenTrainTimes is showing a new Saturday service on the Cotswold Line from 6th January - the 12.22 from Paddington to Oxford is extended to Moreton-in-Marsh, and then returns as a 14.50 departure. Fills a two-hour hole in the timetable. HST^▸ (High Speed Train) timings, but who knows if it'll be an HST or an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)...