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Author Topic: ADvice - two alternate routes  (Read 4217 times)
Mookiemoo
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« on: February 05, 2008, 22:13:45 »

Hi all,

not sure which forum to post on so posting here (please feel free to move it)

Leaving current client imminantly (sp?)

Have possibility of a contract in bristol........ have two choices (driving isnt one of them)

1. Arriva trains from ludlow to newport then FGW (First Great Western) from newport to Bristol (this appears to be a 150 route with over crowding issues as it is the cardiff to pompeii train).  I'd want to be arriving in Bristol between 8-9am so probably not a good move

2. London midland to cheltenham spa and the XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) to Bristol

In terms of journey experience (2) is better I think BUT its very disjoint - Ludlow route gives me over an hour undisturbed time (which is important) but not if newport - bristol is a sardine can

P.S. other contract is in Warrington so out of FGW area totally!  Arriva to crewe then crewe to Warrington
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

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Shazz
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« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2008, 22:23:25 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week. (friday at around 10PM)

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)
« Last Edit: February 05, 2008, 22:27:17 by Shazz » Logged
Mookiemoo
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« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2008, 22:26:50 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week.

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)

Warringotn is Virgin - its the glasgow train

London midland to cheltenham is daily - i often get it when the 0545 FGW (First Great Western) train is cancelled!
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
Shazz
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« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2008, 22:27:56 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week.

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)

Warringotn is Virgin - its the glasgow train

London midland to cheltenham is daily - i often get it when the 0545 FGW (First Great Western) train is cancelled!

interesting, when was that added?

As as far as i'm aware it's only on a friday evening ans thats from BNS (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street) which is actually BHM))...

You're not thinking of the Peak AM XC service from WOS» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) are you?
« Last Edit: February 05, 2008, 22:30:03 by Shazz » Logged
Mookiemoo
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« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2008, 22:30:21 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week.

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)

Warringotn is Virgin - its the glasgow train

London midland to cheltenham is daily - i often get it when the 0545 FGW (First Great Western) train is cancelled!

interesting, when was that added?

As as far as i'm aware it's only on a friday evening ans thats from BNS (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street) which is actually BHM))...

There is an 0540 from WOS» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) to Cheltenham every day - the ony place where london midland comes into play!

Maybe we are talking about different things

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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
Shazz
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« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2008, 22:32:21 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week.

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)

Warringotn is Virgin - its the glasgow train

London midland to cheltenham is daily - i often get it when the 0545 FGW (First Great Western) train is cancelled!

interesting, when was that added?

As as far as i'm aware it's only on a friday evening ans thats from BNS (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street) which is actually BHM))...

There is an 0540 from WOS» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) to Cheltenham every day - the ony place where london midland comes into play!

Maybe we are talking about different things



Yep there is,

it's however operated by cross country...

Which is were you three me when you said "london midland"

best bet is that to Chelt spa then get an XC train direct to bristol
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2008, 22:40:50 »

The London midland service is only 1 service a week.

Your best bet is either train > Birmingham NS when XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) direct to bristol

or train > Chelt then XC > bristol

I'd be wary of the warrington service with XC, as IIRC ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') its to be withdrawn sometime next year, so you'd have to Virgin train it (which isnt a bad thing tbh)

Warringotn is Virgin - its the glasgow train

London midland to cheltenham is daily - i often get it when the 0545 FGW (First Great Western) train is cancelled!

interesting, when was that added?

As as far as i'm aware it's only on a friday evening ans thats from BNS (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street) which is actually BHM))...

There is an 0540 from WOS» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) to Cheltenham every day - the ony place where london midland comes into play!

Maybe we are talking about different things



Yep there is,

it's however operated by cross country...

Which is were you three me when you said "london midland"

best bet is that to Chelt spa then get an XC train direct to bristol

Thats probably because the unit XC use for that service is the same one central used to use for effectivly the same service (or its damn close in appearancce - I'm not a spotter - I dont note numbers)

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - its a duck

Therefore I assumed it was an ex central service that is now operate by london midland/XC
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
John R
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« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2008, 23:10:55 »

From what I understand the service arriving Bristol at 0819ish from Newport is badly overcrowded from STJ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) (ie they are currently laying on a relief coach because not everyone can get on there). This service will be a bit of a culture shock compared with 1st Class on a Cotswold Line service.  (No 1st on Cardiff - Portsmouth trains). One of my staff commutes Cheltenham to BTM (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) and it seems to work pretty well. Arrivals at around 0810 and 0840. Never heard her complain about overcrowding.
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2008, 23:25:11 »

From what I understand the service arriving Bristol at 0819ish from Newport is badly overcrowded from STJ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) (ie they are currently laying on a relief coach because not everyone can get on there). This service will be a bit of a culture shock compared with 1st Class on a Cotswold Line service.  (No 1st on Cardiff - Portsmouth trains). One of my staff commutes Cheltenham to BTM (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) and it seems to work pretty well. Arrivals at around 0810 and 0840. Never heard her complain about overcrowding.

Thanks - this si the sort of advice I wanted


I know theres no first on cardiff to pompeii hence my query

If I take that contract - will go WOS» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) - CHelt =- BTM

The fear of a bus offsets the spplit jounrey



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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2008, 00:16:32 »

For what it's worth, I agree with John.  Someone who used to work with me in Bristol now travels to Cheltenham (via Bristol from Nailsea) - it's not too bad, he reckons.  You'd probably be travelling against the greater flow of commuters, too - lots of Bristol people travel up to Gloucester / Cheltenham, maybe there are less in the other direction at that time of day?  Good luck with the contract, anyway!
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dog box
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« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2008, 21:25:34 »

6.49 FGW (First Great Western) service from Shrub hill will get you to BTM (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) at 8.36, with return working at 16.41 or 18.41, service is normally 158 worked and not normally rammed
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Shazz
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« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2008, 00:14:53 »

6.49 FGW (First Great Western) service from Shrub hill will get you to BTM (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) at 8.36, with return working at 16.41 or 18.41, service is normally 158 worked and not normally rammed

That's when its running Wink
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