As always after standing up to say something you think of extra things you could have said at the time.
I found the two days very informative and also inspiring.
One of the pre-conference events was a trip to the Strawberry Line Café at Yatton. Based on the Taunton-bound platform, it provides a popular service of hot food and drinks from breakfast time into the afternoon. Many of its workforce come from groups who find getting jobs difficult either due to social, mental or physical challenges. All are paid a proper wage for the job and it was evident they enjoy what they do.
The food was excellent and good value for money. Newspaper cuttings on the wall show the long journey it took from the initial idea to getting the café open.
It was then back to Bristol Temple Meads for a trip to Severn Beach. The introduction of Turbos last year saw reliability on the branch drop, but it is now improved.
The Severnside Community Rail Partnership have been working hard with local groups to improve the look of the stations on the line. Most are adorned with large murals which certainly brighten up to the environment
They also seem to deter the cruder applications of tags and other graffiti. I suspect if it were not for the mural, the white wall next to it would be a mecca for those with the spray cans
The evening session started with an excellent speech from Peter Wilkinson from the Department for Transport. He talked passionately and fluently about rail for some 25 minutes without notes. One of the best talks I have heard for a long time.
Day two saw more interesting talks and presentations on the conference theme of social inclusion - including the story of the Strawberry Line Cafe.
Tim Bowles, the mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, gave an update on transport in his area.
After lunch Mark Hopwood gave a wide-ranging presentation on the state of the business and plans for the future. The continuing negotiations for the next Direct Award are continuing, which limits all parties on what can be said, but with the major timetable changes planned for December there is still plenty to talk about. Billed as the biggest change on the Western since the
HSTs▸ were introduced in 1976, the schedules will start to take advantage of the
IETs▸ ' quicker acceration and shorter station dwell times.
In between the sessions there were opportunities to speak to
GWR▸ managers on a one to one basis as well as colleagues from other Community Rail Partnerships. No doubt the results of those conversations will help to inform discussions on here in the weeks and months to come.
As has already been said - it was a very well organised event and a profitable use of two days.
