Hello from Oxford

[whole diary]

[FremlinsMan]

Hi Folks,
Most of my FGW^▸ (First Great Western) journeys are commuting Monday-Friday. I can either take a bus from Oxford city centre direct to my workplace (Harwell Labs), or a train Oxford-Didcot and a bus Didcot-Harwell. The train+bus option costs a lot more, and takes longer, but it's more comfortable overall, so that's my preference, especially with the A34 into Oxford getting clogged up so frequently (don't want to be held up on the way back home...)

I'm planning to take my bike on the train some days and cycle between Didcot and Harwell - just need to check which trains the gate staff at Oxford will allow me to take my bike on. I should mention, I find the staff at Oxford station to be most professional and pleasant.

Otherwise, my FGW use at weekends is mostly between Oxford and Gatwick on the way down to the seaside at Brighton, once or twice a month during the summer. I like trying to spot whether there are any foxes lying on the (shunting?) rails at Redhill, but haven't had any luck taking any pictures of them yet.

Cheers!

[IndustryInsider]

In reality though, if it's a Turbo, then you'll be fine on journeys from Oxford to Didcot.  The only problems you may encounter are with HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) services (marked with a 'H' at the top of the column in the timetable.

[JayMac]

Certain HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) services in the AM are marked as 'Cycle Reservation Compulsory'. These are:

0559, 0627, 0656, 0806.

All other services should be fine, subject to available space. There is a ban on cycles during the peaks in the Thames Valley area, but this only applies between Reading, Reading West, Tilehurst and Paddington, including the Henley, Marlow, Windsor and Greenford branches.