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 10/12/23 - Winter Timetable starts
14/12/23 - Estimates of station usage: Ap
24/12/23 - Paddington closed
25/12/23 - No GWR trains

On this day
8th Dec (2013)
Restoration of useable service through Melksham (link)

Train RunningCancelled
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
17:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
18:08 London Paddington to Frome
18:10 Taunton to Cardiff Central
18:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
18:30 Plymouth to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
19:04 London Paddington to Penzance
19:06 London Paddington to Bedwyn
19:08 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester
19:15 Penzance to Bristol Temple Meads
19:20 Reading to Redhill
19:23 London Paddington to Oxford
19:30 Looe to Liskeard
Additional 19:35 Westbury to Salisbury
19:39 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester
19:45 Banbury to London Paddington
19:50 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads
19:58 Cardiff Central to Taunton
20:01 Reading to Gatwick Airport
20:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads
20:05 Liskeard to Looe
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa
20:10 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:14 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads
20:16 Frome to Westbury
20:37 Looe to Liskeard
20:42 Bedwyn to London Paddington
21:00 Penzance to Exeter St Davids
21:02 Oxford to London Paddington
21:05 Liskeard to Looe
21:11 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
21:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
21:37 Looe to Liskeard
22:03 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
22:16 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon
22:24 Plymouth to Exeter St Davids
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
22:44 Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads
23:42 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa
09/12/23 05:58 Plymouth to London Paddington
09/12/23 06:27 Plymouth to Gunnislake
09/12/23 07:16 Gunnislake to Plymouth
09/12/23 08:22 Plymouth to Gunnislake
09/12/23 08:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
09/12/23 09:14 Gunnislake to Plymouth
09/12/23 11:36 Liskeard to Looe
09/12/23 12:08 Looe to Liskeard
09/12/23 12:36 Liskeard to Looe
09/12/23 12:45 Truro to Falmouth Docks
09/12/23 13:05 Looe to Liskeard
09/12/23 13:15 Falmouth Docks to Truro
09/12/23 13:50 Liskeard to Looe
09/12/23 14:15 Truro to Falmouth Docks
09/12/23 14:22 Looe to Liskeard
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09/12/23 14:50 Liskeard to Looe
09/12/23 15:19 Looe to Liskeard
09/12/23 15:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
09/12/23 19:09 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads
09/12/23 19:54 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
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15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:50 Penzance to Gloucester
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
17:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
17:28 London Paddington to Taunton
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury
17:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
18:10 Gloucester to Westbury
18:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
18:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
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18:38 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
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Author Topic: London to Brighton Bike Ride, and not using the train to get your bike there  (Read 3811 times)
grahame
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« on: September 14, 2021, 07:01:23 am »

From The Argus

Quote
Restrictions will be in place on train services ahead of the London to Brighton Bike Ride, Southern Rail has said.

In a statement on Twitter, the rail company confirmed that bicycles will not be permitted on Southern or Thameslink trains from the start of service on Sunday (September 19) until midday.

However, restrictions will remain in place between Gatwick Airport and Brighton for the duration of the day.

Passengers were also warned that those travelling with bikes on Saturday (September 18) and Monday (September 20) may face delays, as train services can only hold a certain number of bicycles.

Both Thameslink and Southern advised customers to check their cycle policies ahead of travelling.

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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2021, 07:29:51 am »

From The Argus

Quote
Restrictions will be in place on train services ahead of the London to Brighton Bike Ride, Southern Rail has said.

In a statement on Twitter, the rail company confirmed that bicycles will not be permitted on Southern or Thameslink trains from the start of service on Sunday (September 19) until midday.

However, restrictions will remain in place between Gatwick Airport and Brighton for the duration of the day.

Passengers were also warned that those travelling with bikes on Saturday (September 18) and Monday (September 20) may face delays, as train services can only hold a certain number of bicycles.

Both Thameslink and Southern advised customers to check their cycle policies ahead of travelling.


Beyond parody - rather like extra trains for Boardmasters - no surfboards allowed!  Roll Eyes
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2021, 08:12:24 am »

Beyond parody - rather like extra trains for Boardmasters - no surfboards allowed!  Roll Eyes

Hear, hear!

I am headed for the Great Global Greyhound Walk on Sunday.  The event I am attending is near Chippenham Station.  Will I be allowed to take them by train, or would I be wise to drive?

We could also try ...
... no heavy luggage to Southampton Central on days that cruises start
... no travel from England to Cardiff on days that Wales are playing England at the Millennium Stadium
... no anoraks to be warn to Warminster on Imber Bus day
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ChrisB
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« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2021, 10:24:46 am »

I’m sure suitable rolling stock, deisel hauled, could be available should the organisers wish to organise it….and charge to cover the cost.

It’s unrealistic to design passenger rolling stock in order to cope with the demand on one weekend a year.
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broadgage
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« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2021, 01:40:29 pm »

Back in the good old days, a newspaper van or similar vehicle would have been added to the train, with space for DOZENS of cycles, or luggage for connecting with cruise ships.

In the case of an EMU (Electric Multiple Unit), adding an extra and non powered vehicle to the train presumably reduced performance but I do not recall this being significant. And going further back, there existed "motor luggage vans"  a powered vehicle for adding to DC (Direct Current) EMUS these increased performance as the extra power was more than in proportion to the extra weight.

There was even a battery version, that could haul the WHOLE TRAIN very slowly and for a limited distance in docks and similar places were conductor rail was not installed.

Cant expect that sort of thing these days though.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
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« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2021, 01:53:57 pm »

Cant expect that sort of thing these days though.

No, but I suspect that a 710/2 or 710/3 could carry a lot more cycles than the normal 2 or 3 of most trains, and would enjoy a trip to the seaside of its normal rather boring suburban beat at the weekend when its commuter line was less that crowded.  Might even be available on Friday afternoon, as that's now more POETS (As in "Poets day". Friday. (Push Off Early - Tomorrow's Saturday).) day than even.

Of course, this sort of thing was pretty awkward with competing franchises, but what's stopping this sort of co-operation between lines and operators now that it's pretty much down to management contracts  Grin .
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ChrisB
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« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2021, 02:31:21 pm »

But you need to be avle to carry *all* or nothing….managing say, 75%, isn’t any use to the owners of the remaining 25%!

They used to use the loco-hauled newspaper trains/mail trains, then the guards vans during the Red Star parcel days. Nowadays, there would be a stack of HSE (Health and Safety Executive) rules that require that many cycles to all be secured, and likely away from passengers too. Not enough tip-up seating, and for obe weekend a year, why should passengers have to use tip-up seating that is usually the most uncomfortable seating there is?

No, the organisers need to put in place some suitable diesel hauled stock with volunteers at either end to load/unload & recnnect cycle with owners. Doable, but would need a lot of organising & plenty of volunteers.
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broadgage
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« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2021, 02:44:07 pm »

Or we need some proper trains with generous luggage space, to be deployed as needed for events like
Boardmasters.
Glastonbury.
Connecting with cruise ships.
Cycling events.
Beginnings/ends of university terms.

Probably loco hauled.

A fleet of perhaps a dozen trains for use when ever needed, a lot more than one weekend a year. Also a handy reserve for exceptional passenger flows even without unusual volumes of luggage.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
ChrisB
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« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2021, 02:57:31 pm »

I’m sure that stick probably already exists amongst the charter/heritage organisations already.

Just needs some organisation by those likely to require it.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2021, 04:16:33 pm »

Managing 75% is still good if you have an effective reservation system. You're only left with a quarter who have to make other arrangements, and not everyone will want to take a train back anyway
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
ChrisB
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« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2021, 04:24:26 pm »

Indeed, but the organisers, not the rail industry, needs to organise it and hire it!
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2021, 05:02:23 pm »

In practice, that often does happen with similar events (I don't know about this one specifically). But it's buses and trailers they hire, not trains.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2021, 06:22:55 pm »

Yep, they’re cheaper.

But this ride has always left it to the rail industry to cope and need calling out on it.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2021, 08:36:08 pm »

Yep, they’re cheaper.

But this ride has always left it to the rail industry to cope and need calling out on it.

Chris.....go on.....you know you want to....it's on the tip of your tongue......."Ooooooooos gonna pay for it?"  Wink
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froome
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« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2021, 09:39:50 pm »

The last time I rode the London to Brighton ride, probably more than 35 years ago now, I took a week off work and spent 2 days cycling to London from Bristol, did the ride and then spent 2 days riding back from Brighton. A lovely week.

I had ridden it a couple of times before that and think on those occasions there were buses arranged from Brighton back to London to take the bikes, with the riders taking the train and getting their bikes back in London.

I stopped doing the ride because I didn't enjoy having such large numbers of people riding very close, to the point that it felt pretty dangerous, and did see a few accidents were one bike clipped the wheel of another.
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