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Author Topic: Bangor to Bristol - does anyone have any tips or warnings about that route?  (Read 34767 times)
phile
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« Reply #15 on: November 06, 2016, 19:06:28 »

I don't think any of the Holyhead-Cardiff services have first class on them.

They do usually (but not always) have a trolley service, but it often only operates for part of the length of the journey. I think the trolley service people operate to/from Shrewsbury, and quite often only service either to or from there, not both on the same service (at least that what announcements I've heard have implied).

0533 Holyhead to Cardiff and 1716 Cardiff to Holyhead Welsh Assembly Government sponsored LHCS (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) trains have first class.   None of the others (unit worked) do.    Trolley service should be available between Newport & Holyhead
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #16 on: November 07, 2016, 21:38:39 »

With my additional thanks to all those here who have contributed their comments on the alleged 'first class only restriction' aspect of that journey, may I offer my apologies for what may well turn out to have been my student's less than precise attention paid to any such 'announcement'.

The wearing of headphones, while playing online games, does tend to result in a less than complete awareness of the realities in the outside world.

 Roll Eyes Shocked Lips sealed
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #17 on: November 16, 2016, 21:43:52 »

Slightly belatedly, for which I must apologise, may I offer an update here on the return journey, last Saturday?

It, too, all went remarkably smoothly.  Departure from Nailsea was on time, arrived in Newport a few minutes late (but that was no problem, as there was a timetabled 35 minute wait for the connection).  Train to Holyhead via Shrewsbury was fine, so my student arrived safely back at Bangor, and indeed has become something of a fan of the way the railways can work.

CfN.  Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #18 on: November 16, 2016, 22:23:14 »

The most important question is, did the person making the journey have a lovely time?

https://youtu.be/HmTov3x6vdc

 Tongue Wink Grin
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2016, 22:36:57 »

Many thanks for that particular youtube link, BNM.  Grin

I did do a search for clips of that song, about two months ago, for the benefit of my student, but at the time I could only find a rather fuzzy 'Top of the Pops' version from about thirty years ago.  Roll Eyes

For the benefit of those who have not visited Bangor: it is a lovely town, and worth a visit, if you happen to be in the area.  Wink

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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #20 on: November 16, 2016, 22:58:33 »

With the pictures of the university, and the historic images of the railway station accompanying the song on youtube, I thought it an apt addition to the thread.

I briefly visited Bangor a couple of months ago. Only to change buses on a journey from Llandudno to Caernarfon. A rather grey day. So I didn't see much bar the bus interchange. I was on my way to Caernarfon for my first ever visit to the Welsh Highland Railway. However, as soon as I saw the bus to Bangor arriving at Llandudno I couldn't help but hum that Fiddlers Dram tune.  Smiley



When you're up that way again visiting your student CfN, I highly recommend a trip on the WHR.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2016, 23:08:18 by bignosemac » Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
chrisr_75
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« Reply #21 on: November 17, 2016, 00:11:31 »

When you're up that way again visiting your student CfN, I highly recommend a trip on the WHR.

As do I! While I've not been on the WHR, I have walked some of the hills surrounding various parts of its route and can confirm it is a particularly nice corner of Snowdonia. WHR also made a very impressive achievement in reopening this line both from an engineering perspective and with property/rights of way issues.

You can also make quite a good (almost) circular day trip travelling Llandudno junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, then Ffestiniog railway to Porthmadog, followed by WHR up to Caernarfon and then by road transport of some sort back to Bangor and the north wales coast line.
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grahame
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« Reply #22 on: March 12, 2017, 15:59:57 »

Additional reason not to fly ... airline has gone bust.

Quote
Citywing tells passengers to use their flight tickets on a five-hour train journey instead

according to The Indepepndent
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John R
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« Reply #23 on: March 12, 2017, 16:26:27 »

What took me aback was how much it costs in subsidy.  9,000 pax per year (averaging 8.6 per flight) at a subsidy of around £1m.  So £200 subsidy per return flight. Gosh!   How much rolling stock could ATW (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC (Train Operating Company))) lease given an extra £1m per year, and how many passengers would that benefit?

Unfortunately it appears as though they have already found a replacement airline (Eastern).
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grahame
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« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2017, 17:38:38 »

How much rolling stock could ATW (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC (Train Operating Company))) lease given an extra £1m per year, and how many passengers would that benefit?

Half a dozen carriages ... if they were available.

Not that simple, of course ... you have to add staffing costs and network access costs and then take away the income if you're looking to draw up a balance sheet.

Three two-car trains, each with (say) 200 journeys made on it in each peak and a further 300 during the day works out around 180,000 journeys a year - so that's around half a million journeys, or £2 support per journey.  If you can get an income of, say, £3 per journey then the operation is "break even".  But are their lines / services that could attract those extra numbers?
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John R
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« Reply #25 on: March 12, 2017, 17:57:13 »

Staffing costs might be limited if the stock was simply used to lengthen existing services.

The Valley Lines in particular are chronically overcrowded, with  many people unable to get on the first service. That's particularly a problem on the line up towards Pontypridd, as if you're travelling beyond Ponty but can't get on, then you have to wait another 30 mins, whereas passengers only headed that far need only wait another 10 mins.

So the benefit may not be additional traffic (although I am sure that would come), rather that instead of conveniencing around 20 return passengers each day, you could be making the daily commute easier for thousands.
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Brucey
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« Reply #26 on: March 12, 2017, 19:12:34 »

What took me aback was how much it costs in subsidy.  9,000 pax per year (averaging 8.6 per flight) at a subsidy of around £1m.  So £200 subsidy per return flight. Gosh!
I never saw the fares for citywing, but the previous operator (Links Air) were offering flights between £19 and £39.  Far too low for an airline that does not offer any upsells.

I'm taking a Loganair flight next month (for a work trip).  The journey is £75 each way and is about 2.4x the length of the Holyhead-Cardiff route, so the fare is probably similar.  This is also subsidised under a PSO.  Considering train fares (about £50-70 each way) or flights to Edinburgh (about £40 each way), if the flight were any more expensive, my employer would tell me to take the slower route and stay for another night away.  Is the subsidy actually doing anything?  No, since I need to travel there regardless of what transport options are available.  In fact, it's reducing the number of nights I would be spending in a local hotel, reducing the number of times I'll be eating out, etc.

As an aside, it is good to see citywing (or the CAA» (Civil Aviation Authority - about), or the WAG» (Welsh Assembly Government - about)) arranged for ticket acceptance on the railway.
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