Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 12:55 01 May 2025
 
- Snake halts Japanese bullet trains after wrapping around power line
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 05/05/25 - Walk to Pilning
10/05/25 - BRTA Westbury
10/05/25 - Model Railway Show, Calne
13/05/25 - Melksham TUG / AGM

On this day
1st May (1964)
Helicopter service from Penzance to Scilly Isles starts (link)

Train RunningCancelled
11:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport
12:24 Reading to Gatwick Airport
13:25 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
13:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
13:55 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
13:57 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
13:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading
14:25 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
14:27 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
14:55 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
14:57 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
15:07 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
15:25 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
15:27 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
15:34 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
15:55 London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5
15:57 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
16:27 Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Paddington
17:34 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
18:00 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
18:34 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
19:05 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
Short Run
10:59 Great Malvern to London Paddington
11:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
11:55 Newbury to London Paddington
12:13 London Paddington to Newbury
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
12:37 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
12:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
13:09 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
13:11 Taunton to Cardiff Central
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
13:48 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
14:15 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
16:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
17:30 London Paddington to Taunton
Delayed
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
12:00 Oxford to London Paddington
12:12 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington
13:00 Oxford to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
15:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
May 01, 2025, 13:05:07 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[112] Cash payments for transport services
[69] Brighton Belle - merged topics
[53] May Timetable Change
[52] Longer distance canal walks - public transport for one way sec...
[36] "Save the Last Remaining British Rail Hovercraft from Destruct...
[36] What and why - on the platform
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: End for Volo TV?  (Read 12439 times)
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10240



View Profile
« on: April 12, 2014, 20:20:52 »

The content seems to have become a bit stale on the Volo TV (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) screens leading me to wonder if it is to be phased out.

Looking at this tweet today on @FGW (First Great Western) it would seem to be the case.



I have grown tired of most of the programmes on Volo - but I will miss the moving map.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13350


View Profile Email
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2014, 20:29:35 »

No surprise there....it was out of date before being installed.
Logged
LiskeardRich
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 3570

richardwarwicker@hotmail.co.uk
View Profile
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2014, 23:03:00 »

It hasn't worked on the last 2 or 3 services I've tried using it on.
Logged

All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19310



View Profile
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2014, 00:10:18 »

I wonder if the service will continue on the Night Riviera?

Even there, the programme selection has not changed in well over a year.
Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
Btline
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4782



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2014, 00:18:27 »

The map doesn't stay on! It goes back to the home page after a few mins.
Logged
Southern Stag
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 984


View Profile
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2014, 00:29:44 »

If you press the zoom button every now and then it will stay on the map, it's still a bit inconvenient though.
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 8643



View Profile
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2014, 09:52:24 »

Never watched it so wouldn't miss it - WiFi a much better idea.
Logged
centralman
Jr. Member
**
Posts: 28


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2014, 12:39:14 »

Hey!

I have just asked them on twitter and got this responce

Quote
@platypusfighter Hi. That's correct. It will be removed and replaced with WiFi. There is no official start date yet though. TJ
Logged
Brucey
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2259


View Profile WWW
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2014, 13:14:01 »

I wonder if the service will continue on the Night Riviera?
I would imagine most passengers would prefer investment to be made in fitting plug sockets*.  Then at least you can provide your own entertainment (downloaded programmes, DVDs, music etc) on your own device.

* = is this technically possible on the sleeper stock?
Logged
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10240



View Profile
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2014, 13:23:00 »

There is a 240v mains supply to each compartment for the shaver socket but probably not designed to take much current. 

Replacing the shaver socket with a mains socket in its current location would not be either very convenient for users or indeed safe given it is just above the wash basin.

There is also a greater chance of misuse given the nature of the compartment compared to the sockets in HST (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) stock - after all you wouldn't want people plugging in hair dryers or straighteners!

Some sockets in the lounge car would be a start however.
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19310



View Profile
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2014, 13:35:44 »

The Draft ITT (Invitation to Tender) for the next Caledonian Sleeper franchise issued by Transport Scotland specifies power sockets throughout the train (provided at minimum of per berth, per couchette/seat, and with a reasonable number in the social/catered area), be that in the existing stock or new build.
« Last Edit: April 13, 2014, 14:41:52 by bignosemac » Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
Surrey 455
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1276


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2014, 23:45:35 »

I have grown tired of most of the programmes on Volo - but I will miss the moving map.

I've accidentally boarded one of these carriages then swiftly moved to the next one. I didn't like the idea of a screen right in front of me distracting me with flickering images that I haven't asked to see. I've no problem watching a film or TV (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) on my mobile (or tablet if I ever get one) though because I am in control of that.

A moving map? Just use the wifi and watch Google maps on your phone to see where you are.

Incidentally I didn't see any mention about whether the wifi will be free or chargeable.
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19310



View Profile
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2014, 02:23:01 »

I didn't like the idea of a screen right in front of me distracting me with flickering images that I haven't asked to see.
 

It has an 'off' button.  Wink

Incidentally I didn't see any mention about whether the wifi will be free or chargeable.

WiFi will be free aboard all 53 FGW (First Great Western) High Speed Trains and the Night Riviera fleet.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Media-Centre/2013/December-2013/First-Great-Western-announces-major-WiFi-expansion-plans
Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
Rhydgaled
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1500


View Profile WWW
« Reply #13 on: April 15, 2014, 13:46:32 »

I have grown tired of most of the programmes on Volo - but I will miss the moving map.
A moving map? Just use the wifi and watch Google maps on your phone to see where you are.

Incidentally I didn't see any mention about whether the wifi will be free or chargeable.
The maps are the only thing I've used on the Volo screens. Not everyone has a smartphone (I don't, my mobile is just for calls/texts) or wants to pay for downloading all the Google Maps data (although the latter will be resolved if FirstGW install free WiFi). Also, I don't know if the Volo maps use GPS or are actually linked to the train's speedometer. If the latter then a phone is never going to provide the same information.
Logged

----------------------------
Don't DOO (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
thetrout
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2612



View Profile
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2014, 17:00:32 »

Loading Google Maps over Train WiFi is also a very bad idea... Uses a huge amount of Bandwidth and it would never work reliably. You'd be best using 3G, H+ or 4G if available. But even then that will be slow and use a chunk of your Data Allowance.

A few apps will do a speedometer on Android and iPhone devices which uses GPS. Pretty accurate from what I've seen too.

Then of course there is Google Location History which plots where you go (or where your phone does)...

Logged

Grin Grin Grin Grin
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page