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1  Journey by Journey / London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury / Re: Oxford station parking on: November 17, 2022, 16:22:29
You need to pay online using the app or by phone quoting the car park code number. As I understand it is like Bristol Parkway and there are two codes. If you pay using the publicly available code it is very expensive £30.  However once you are on the platform there is a dot matrix sign with another code which if you use that you get to pay the lower amount £6.70.  It is to try and ensure the car park is for rail users only. 
Aha, great stuff, thanks for the confirmation.

I don't think Bristol parkway has a separate code now, it's just one high price!!

I remember when the app came out it was billed as the cheapest way to pay, but not now - they even add a 20p admin fee so it costs more than using the ticket machine!! But that's not a discussion for here!
2  Journey by Journey / London to Didcot, Oxford and Banbury / Oxford station parking on: November 17, 2022, 07:50:57
Hi there
I wonder if someone can tell me how much the car park is please? 
If I search on the APCOA (Car parking company used at GWR (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) app I can find the station but it does say "see platform for discount" so I assume there is a location code on posters beyond the ticket gates that gives a different price. 
The app seems to quote about 30 quid per day, but national rail and GWR website suggest 6.70 ! 
Parking Saturday to Sunday if this makes a difference.
Cheers
Alan

3  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion on: July 30, 2022, 17:15:49
Thanks, glad it's not just me who is totally baffled.
4  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion on: July 30, 2022, 12:49:19
Is anyone able to explain please, about the 3 car platform and the rule of only one car hanging over each end?

For example at Worle there are often 9 car IET (Intercity Express Train) stopping with 4 cars haning off one end, similar Nailsea & Backwell and Yatton.   In fact all trains that are too long, I have never seen carriages off both ends, normally one end is on a platform.  (Probably back to the day when HST (High Speed Train) had the bike/luggage van at the A end and this was always platformed at the expense of first class pax having to walk through).

Edit: It's occurred to me about whether you can walk through or not - but then there are 2x5 IETs that have the whole of one unit off the end, so surely a 3+2 turbo could have the 2 off the end.
5  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion on: March 11, 2022, 10:14:53
If my employer books a train ticket, it can be collected with any credit or debit card, so maybe PayPal is the same?
6  Journey by Journey / London to South Wales / IETs at Patchway (diversions) on: January 16, 2022, 10:21:39
Hi all, so I understand due to engineering works the trains from S.Wales to Paddington are picking up at Patchway rather than Bristol Parkway so then presumably going down filton bank and round rhubarb curve.

I am looking at getting the 1653 (1L74) today which shows on realtime trains as 2x5 cars.  I believe patchway platform is only 4 or 5 cars long, so will the train stop with just one unit platformed, or cunningly positioned so that both halves have a couple of coaches platformed?

I also note an operational stop at Bath (presumably for pilot to get off and take the next down working back) so would they normally unlock the doors here (booked 5 mins stop 1712-1717) so that one could move to the other unit if it was just one half platformed at patchway?

{source of info: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L64664/2022-01-16/detailed#allox_id=1 }
7  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Have Off Peak Times changed recently? on: September 03, 2020, 21:10:35
Thanks for your prompt and detailed reply.  I'd not noticed those "unpublished restrictions" before.  It does seem a bit cheeky that the TOC (Train Operating Company) can just add this in and it's invisible to the normal traveller even when in possession of a ticket and checks NRE(resolve) for the limitations. 

Someone in all innocence could by a SVR in advance for the 9.56, read the ticket, follow the link to the NRE page, see the entry for BPW» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) says 08.45, no mention of 08.59, so could genuinely believe it would be valid an hour earlier at 8.56
8  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Have Off Peak Times changed recently? on: September 03, 2020, 19:19:20
Looking at brfares.com an off-peak return (SVR) BPW» (Bristol Parkway - next trains)-PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains) is valid from 08:45. (restrictions LC (Level Crossing)).  Yet GWR (Great Western Railway) and other booking sites are not selling this for the 08:56 and insist it is a peak service.  National rail still lists LC restriction as 08:45.  So why is the 08:56 now a peak service?  Or have all ticket codes changed recently and BRfares not been updated?
9  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Power points on trains on: August 14, 2019, 15:57:43
Regarding availability of sockets, each coach has it's own separate power supply, so if a circuit breaker in one carriage has tripped out due to a hairdryer being plugged in, then chances are the rest of the train is OK.  Even with an advance ticket, I would imagine most TM(resolve)'s would be sympathetic to you changing carriages if seats are available if you explain and ask to move.
The only time I've ever been told off for not sitting in my booked seat was on Grand Central.  A friend and I had 2 seats in first on a table for 4, and decided to move to a 2 instead, as it was better for us, and would also mean a 4 was available if 3 or 4 people wanted to sit together.  We moved the reserved cards too so no one would think they couldn't sit there!  I would have thought this improves things all round, but the guard was really stroppy!

No other guard has cared less where I've been sitting, as long as it's the correct train if an AP.
10  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion on: August 14, 2019, 13:05:43
...
I don’t see how “preparing for a short form/lack of catering” is needed, short forms are a lot less likely now and despite the word of some members catering isn’t often unavailable..
Short form is less likely, but there's still good chance you get a 5+5 rather than a 9 turn up, and the trolley only in one of the two units...
11  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: First Trenitalia win West Coast Partnership on: August 14, 2019, 10:34:02
I noticed this in the statement from FirstGroup at https://otp.tools.investis.com/generic/regulatory-story.aspx?newsid=1321900&cid=858

Quote
Our fleet of 56 Pendolino trains will be completely refurbished, incorporating 25,000 brand new comfortable seats and additional luggage space for passengers. Better and more reliable free Wi-Fi and at-seat power will be provided for all customers across the fleet, with wireless charging and onboard entertainment. Catering will be upgraded with at-seat service for all.

I wonder if the two parts I have highlighted in bold will mean the end of the line for the buffet (shop) on this route.

I hope not, but you are probably right!
12  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion on: August 14, 2019, 09:16:43
Quick food related question...I've got my first ever First Class journey on GWR (Great Western Railway) coming up.

Is it free food or just an at seat service (assuming there's anything at all)?
Depends what train you're on, if it's the turbo Reading to Gatwick, there's nothing at all, if it's an IET (Intercity Express Train) you might be lucky to get one visit from the trolley if there is one in your section (you might get a 10 car IET made up of 2 fives - with no walkway between the two).  I have not experienced the weekday offering. On the weekend you get one drink (tea/ (instant)coffee/ water/ pepsi) and a snack box.
13  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Power points on trains on: August 13, 2019, 11:23:31
I find the location of the sockets in the IET (Intercity Express Train) most inconvenient! 

On the HST (High Speed Train), the scoket being behind the seat in front was fine - could prop phone/table on the table and get in/out without issue.

Now with the IET if you're in the window seat, you have to carefully climb over the cable as it plugs into your own seat rather than the seat in front!  Usually i end up knocking my phone onto the floor as the cable gets caught round my leg!

The same with tables - why not have the sockets in the wall where they used to be!
14  Journey by Journey / London to Swindon and Bristol / Re: IEP between Bristol and WSM on: August 13, 2019, 11:12:49
I know this is an old thread but it's mine and still relevant Smiley

Had a better trip back from London last Sunday but there was confusion with the stock.  2x 5car IET (Intercity Express Train) sitting in the platform.  Had first class tickets booked in coach K but knowing that worle is too short sat in coach D instead.  (Train was (front)EDCBA-LKJHG(buffers)).  About 10 mins before departure coach D suddenly became K and showed the relevant reservations.  Then just before departure it reverted to D again!  No warning until Bristol that if you wanted Nailsea Yatton Worle to move to the front section. 

If they are going to insist on sending 5+5 where they don't fit, why not put the stop marker 2 or 3 cars beyond the platform (like they did with the HSTs (High Speed Train)) so that they can open doors from both units?
15  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion on: July 08, 2019, 18:30:08
....
Moving on to trolley services, I have a gut feeling that they may actually do more business than a traditional buffet car. They will possibly engender impulse buying, which may not happen if a passenger has to get out of their seat and wander a few coaches away to the buffet, and I am also sure that there are many passengers who don't like walking around in moving trains - we all know that there is an element pf "sea legs" required, which is a skill that the occasional traveller may not have developed.
....

There is another side of course. I can't be alone in when I decide I want some refreshment, I want it now, not when the trolley finally appears!  I would much rather walk to the buffet and have a full range of hot and cold snacks, freshly brewed coffee etc, rather than a poor choice of crisps and nuts off a trolley with lukewarm coffee from a flask!  I bet they never asked the questions like that in the survey where they got the support for trolleys!
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