Going back to the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter), my question is what exactly where these TIs wearing? If they were wearing suits (rather than uniforms), with name badges and ID hanging around their necks, then they were RPIs^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) or RPOs (the only difference being (I think), the seniority and powers available to them). I was going to say that I had never seen RPI/Os in "plain clothes", but that is not quite correct. Back in the early noughties, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had a Revenue Protection Manager who enjoyed "going undercover"!

But, if they were in suits, then they were in the standard "uniform" for RPI/Os. The difference between these guys and ATEs is simply that, if you don't have a ticket an ATE will sell you one, but an RPI/O will (unless you have a valid reason) issue a penalty fare, or better still report you for prosecution. I have no sympathy for fare dodgers!

I was a Duty Manager at Reading before the reconstruction and much enjoyed watching fare dodgers attempting to take the lift from the platform to the overbridge (in an attempt to avoid going through the gateline), only to find that those lifts were controlled from the gateline office and when they (eventually) got to the overbridge they were met by RPI/Os who were very happy to meet and greet them (and prosecute them for fare dodging)!

Every poster site on every station is numbered and allocated to a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that uses the station, and within that, to the purpose of the poster. So, for example, poster boards for timetables, charter results, engineering work are all specified and the TOC that runs the station must conform with the specification. A number of poster boards are simply allocated to TOCs that use the station, on pro rata basis, for general advertising. Reading, for example, has sites allocated to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), SWT^▸ (South West Trains) and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)). Every week a new set of posters is sent to the stations with a list of where they must go. The local manager/supervisor must ensure that every poster is in its correct position. Audits are carried out to ensure this is being done - I believe it is a licence condition that TOCs must ensure conformance. So, for example, poster boards for XC on FGW stations are all identified and XC specify the poster that should be in the board from week to week.

So the poster board at Truro is allocated to XC, which has sent the poster to the Station Manager at Truro, with instructions to put it in that board!

Maintaining poster boards is a time consuming pain. Reading has several hundred boards. Changing one poster at all of the unmanned stations on a branch line can take all day!

Welcome, Poggs - good to have you on the forum.

And thank you also for your excellent work on Opentraintimes.

I expect you get lots of requests, so here is another one!

I have the Reading and Oxford maps up together, to follow progress across my old stamping ground. Unfortunately, Didcot East Junction and Moreton Cutting are missing. Any chance of adding this missing link? (same applies to Swindon - Didcot).

Thanks again though for a great job.

Noticed yesterday and again today on Realtime Trains that the up main at Didcot Parkway appears to be closed. All services from Swindon are running via Platform 3, whether stopping or not. Obviously causing some delays to eastbound services, with most losing a few minutes by the time they get to Reading. Also impacting services to and from Oxford.

Anyone know what the problem is?

Its called "P2" (well it was when I worked for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) a few years ago!).

Just noticed this on Channel 4 tonight:

"Channel 4 Dispatches: Dispatches goes undercover to investigate ticket prices, overcrowding and compensation in the rail industry, and reveals what the rail companies don't tell passengers."

According to National Rail web site: "Lines are now open, residual delays may occur. "

Message tweeted at 1505.

I have it on good authority that FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are looking at a system of remote monitoring that would allow the lifts to operate 24/7.

NR is responsible for maintenance of lifts on stations. It has a contract with the lift maintenance contractor that currently specifies a maximum response time of two hours for an engineer to attend on site following an entrapment. Most entrapments are dealt with quickly by the station staff, and the passengers are released well before the engineer arrives. But I guess this might mean that, for an unstaffed station, it could take up to two hours to release anyone that becomes trapped.

The FGW on call manager for stations is not going to be too happy if he/she is also called out to lift entrapments!!!

Paper tape was safer! (for bootstraps).

It never rains..............................

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32214430

Large crane at Goring today, lifting out the old footbridge. The building used as a store on platform 2/3 is to be demolished tomorrow to make way for the new bridge.

You could try the St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre. Ten minutes from the station, good food (chef makes his own pasties), and you can also take in a brewery tour and the museum. Oh, and the beer is good as well!!!!

Well, I tried to cross the bridge this afternoon, heading from Port Clarence to Middlesbrough, and it was closed! No explanation, just a standard road side notice at the bridge saying it was closed, and no one around to ask. Harumph!

I believe a walking route was provided at Aynho as part of the work that was done to allow HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to divert along the Chiltern line. It should not be a problem for drivers to swap ends.

Advance tickets are sold at discounted prices to entice passengers to use a service they might not otherwise use. Think of it as a shop running a promotion - the price of goods will be vary day to day to create and reflect demand. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) (and all the other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), I'm sure) are only doing what all retailers do to stimulate demand and maximise profit. Your ticket was at a "sale" price - its still at a "sale" price, but not as a big a discount as before!