To continue the praise my journey to collect the file was reasonably priced for a walk on fair, punctual and clean. Thumbs up all round First Great Western! Things are definately getting better as far as I'm concerned.

Thank You Great Western!

The file turned up and I picked it up from Bristol this afternoon - phew!

Much appreciated. Government secrets they ain't but quite important to me!

It is a black lever arch file and it was on the 18th November.

I stupidly left an important file on the 1702 Worcester to Southampton train on Tuesday 18th November when I got off at Swindon. I've phoned the lost property department a few times but have had no luck. Anybody got any tips?

Does anybody know where the unit on that service (a 153) ends its day. From looking at the public timetable I think it works the 2120 service to Westbury after arriving at Southampton - does it then go on depot?

I've been given a number for Westbury but nobody picks up.

Any help much appreciated.

Crossing at the start of the Weymouth Quay branch?

Thanks willc, very interesting. There can't be too many sections left on the national network where physical tokens are required - I assume they use electric token rather than staff and ticket on the two sections mentioned. Come to think of it there must be an electric system if you can deposit the token at Shrub Hill and Honeybourne.

Does this mean that even after the redoubling there still could be problems due to the limited number of block sections?

Thanks for the detailed reply grahame - very interesting. I would hope that the Wallingford branch wouldn't cost as much and be as much physical work as you suggest. As the line is pretty short, the current 25mph maximum speed I don't think would be too much of an issue - this would mean it could continue to operate under a LRO. From personal experience I know the P Way would need some upgrading - but I would have thought remedial work rather than total replacement would do the trick. Volunteers have done quite a bit of work in recent years to replace 100's of life expired wooden sleepers with concrete ones. As for rolling stock, I think a Parry People Mover would be ideally suited to the line with backup provided by say a heritage bubble car.

By keeping the branch self contained I think costs could be kept down and as the council actually own the trackbed I'm sure they'd want to see their asset used for the greater public benefit.

With many new houses due to be built in Wallingford over the next 10-15 years do you think a proper commercial service could ever be introduced on the Wallingford branch? Many of the new houses are proposed to be built near the current terminus which makes the fact it is a bit of a walk from town less of an issue. Could be an ideal line for a Parry people mover or bubble car. The track would probably need a bit of work, but it would cost a lot less than a full on reopening.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

I used the Cotswolds line for work last week for the first time and was fascinated by the ancient signalling. Can anyone tell me how the single line sections are operated please. I saw a sign at Moreton that said obtain token before proceeding - is this a physical token or RETB^▸ (Radio Electronic Token Block)? I assume it is track circuited on the two outer single line sections?

My trains were reasonably reliable but I can see how the re-doubling will improve the current situation and hopefully provide quicker and more frequent journeys.

Good news for Henley in the new timetable - the service during weekdays will increase from hourly to roughly one every 45 minutes during the day off-peak. Shame they couldn't also increase the frequency during the evenings and at weekends, but one step at a time. Not too pleased about the slightly later start on a Saturday and again connections could be tweaked at Twyford to reduce waiting times. I'm reasonably happy though.