Great Western Coffee Shop

All looked after by FGW, if not served by them.

1. Master Donal
2. Bodger sittin unddam font
3. Stash Al
4. Wrobit gred

Once you have sorted them out, can you explain the apparent criticism in my clue, and why in fact it is no criticism?

1. Aldermaston
2. Mottisfont and Dunbridge
3. Saltash
4. Trowbridge

 :-\

Paul

100% and *** three gold stars to that man.

Now the bonus question - what do I mean by All looked after by FGW, if not served by them, ande what other station might the same comment be made about?

Dean ;)

Well, I was going to suggest that they're all unstaffed stations - but Trowbridge is, so that knocks my idea out.  ::)

Indeed.   It's one particular station in the list that my comment attaches to, though - so I may have misrrespsented the question if you're looking for the answer.  And devon_metro has correctly noticed the other station that the same comment applied to.

"I'm a computer programmer. I'm bound to be a bit obtuse at times!

Hmm.  I'd say that your clues were obscure, rather than obtuse, grahame!  ;) :D ;D

I don't think anyone's actually given you the answer Graham, although D-M obviously knows. They are stations operated by FGW but no FGW trains stop there, only a rather decent SWT service (pa
rticularly from December).

 

Yes, Mottisfont and Dunbridge, and Dean, are the only two stations that I'm aware of that are looked after by a train operating company that doesn't provide a service to them.  But the arrangement seems to work well, doesn't it  ;)

Further information on a related topic, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3877.0  ;)

I have wondered for a while why these stations didn't get handed straight to SWT with the service. It seems quite inconsistent, apparently the Tonbridge to Redhill route is passing from SE to SN in December, and 5 or 6 stations are transferring at the same time, re-signing into SN's colours has already started.

There are a few Midlands routes where TOCs look after stations with none of their own services, EMT retained a few stations where only XC call, with the Stansted service. As XC had no existing stations of their own on the long distance XC network, the same setup was decided on for 'newXC', so as Central's successor, EMT won the stations.

I believe LM look after Coleshill Parkway for the same reason, and have no calls.

Paul

The overall answer is the "Wolmar Question"

"What are TOCS for?"