Interesting day in prospect - May 30th

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

GroupSave should be allowed today to London from South Wales. It's not listed on the 'barred' days list available on NRE^‡(resolve).

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/groupsave_calendar.html

[bobm]

But not according to the spokesman quoted in post 13 by Chris.

[IndustryInsider]

As far as Reading fans are concerned a large slice drove to High Wycombe to use the excellent direct service to Wembley Stadium station.  I was there at just gone midday and the (newly expanded - http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/all-change-high-wycombe-station) multi-storey station car park was just approaching full capacity and so the nearby Easton Street public car park would have been the next best bet.  Upwards of 100 people queueing for tickets a constant stream coming through onto the platforms and I saw a 4-car stopper leave the bay platform full to the rafters.  Luckily I was heading the other way!

I'd be interested to see what percentage of their total annual revenue Chiltern gets through people heading to the big football matches and concerts, as with (I'd guess) around 2000 people travelling just from High Wycombe today it must be a healthy slice!

[bobm]

What a very good point. I hadn't thought of that. I must admit I don't offer consider driving to a railhead for an alternative route. Shame they closed the railway line from Maidenhead to High Wycombe!

[anthony215]

I can say some FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services did operate at all this morning, i didnt see a hst pass through Pyle at 04:25 nor at 05:25 while i was waiting for the 06:08 train to Cardiff.

In case anyone ask's i was bord so decided to take a slow alk to the station.

[Jez]

Whilst waiting at Bridgend for a train home, as well as a refurb 158 on Maesteg I saw a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to London at both 1700 (usual) and 1716. I can understand the need for extra HST this morning with the Swansea game but dont see the need for an extra one 16 minutes after the usual service in the early evening?!

[bobm]

It is a bit strange. They leave 16 mins apart but by Reading the second one is 28 mins behind AND it doesn't call at Didcot Parkway. I'm sure there's a very good reason for it! 

[Hafren]

Bank holiday extras. It looks like the additional trains left Cardiff at xx:55, providing an even interval, but left Swansea relatively early in order to stay clear of the Manchester trains, and then waited a bit at Cardiff.

[Jez]

Bank holiday extras. It looks like the additional trains left Cardiff at xx:55, providing an even interval, but left Swansea relatively early in order to stay clear of the Manchester trains, and then waited a bit at Cardiff.

Makes sense now. Of course in the mornings its the other way around and the Manchester seem to leave Swansea earlier to make way for the half hourly London service before 9am.