New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

As I came through Didcot, I noticed that helpful announcements were being made directing people off the train from Oxford to go through the subway and turn left up to platform 1 to head west.    Only those of us in the know would have carried on through the barrier's wide gate, right, around the outside, up the slope and then back in through the sloped wide gate.   One couple were trying it but struggling for at least 5 minutes with the barrier which was unstaffed, closed, and by the looks of things reusing their ticket.  I know there was probably a help point / button they probably weren't aware of.  What a wonderful way to encourage custom.

Yes, there is: during the earlier part of the covid pandemic, and returning from the notorious April 'Day return to Finmere' expedition, it refused my ticket too and summoned a railway genie using the 'Help' button.

Mark

[Mark A]

As I came through Didcot, I noticed that helpful announcements were being made directing people off the train from Oxford to go through the subway and turn left up to platform 1 to head west. 

With the direct train cancelled, what other options were there? Unless I'm misreading Realtime Trains, without something making an additional call at Didcot, the opportunities are quite sparse.

Mark

[ChrisB]

Well....some might have preferred to take longer but easier with lifts and go via Reading?

[grahame]

Well....some might have preferred to take longer but easier with lifts and go via Reading?

And ... at a higher price; my ticket was "not via Reading".

Of course, you could now do Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads with a single change at Worcestershire Parkway ;-)

[ChrisB]

With the direct train cancelled, permission should be granted for any reasonable (more expensive) routings