| Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 14:22, 10th January 2026 |     |
No trains yesterday, just departed Penrhyndeudraeth, train manager doing chapter and verse on the expired ticket, he's taken it away to make enquiries by phone to Bath Spa ticket office and to TfW retail...
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 14:57, 10th January 2026 | |
Sun shining in the west over the sea, snow on the high ground inland, about to cross the bridge. No photos as the train windows are plastered. The ticketing irregularity as yet unresolved, something about which I am intensely relaxed. Onward.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 16:41, 10th January 2026 | |
After fog at Machynlleth and snow cover on the last of the climb, now touching 70mph on the Cambrian main line north of Moat Lane through a frozen landscape.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 16:44, 10th January 2026 | |
Snow swept into heaps on the platforms at Newtown, they've had a drop.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 17:59, 10th January 2026 | |
Onto the 17:44 Manchester Piccadilly to Swansea at Shrewsbury. No chef and first class is quiet but the catering crew are on to things quickly. Snow on the ground outside again. The A49 looks quiet.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 18:12, 10th January 2026 | |
Speed restriction at Little Strettion as the train was brushed by vegetation, now up to line speed again and doing that yomping past vehicles on the A49 thing. Calling additionally at a couple of stations as the preceeding service was cancelled. At Craven Arms, fog.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 20:27, 10th January 2026 | |
At Newport in time for the 19:43 home, but as it was cancelled that'll put me over an hour down at Bath.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 20:32, 10th January 2026 | |
GWR could help here as a Weymouth train leaves 2 minutes after this one arrives. Not exactly cross platform though.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 21:22, 10th January 2026 | |
GWR could help here as a Weymouth train leaves 2 minutes after this one arrives. Not exactly cross platform though.
Mark
Mark
Weymouth train was at the platform but at the extreme weatern end of it, train dispatcher said I'd missed it as its doors were closed and I asked if it could pick me up as it went past, which didn't go down well, as didn't the ensuing conversation about why trains stop in positions that impose the maximum walking distance on passengers. Now on the following Cardiff-Portsmouth with a delay-repay incoming.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by ChrisB at 21:32, 10th January 2026 | |
It'll be interesting to understand how much delay/repay you get. It's generally x% of the single fare, but presumably isn't on a 5 day rover otherwise you might get back more than 100% of its cost?
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Mark A at 23:00, 10th January 2026 | |
Good point - the delay repay claim will be with regards to the Newport - Bath leg only as I was travelling on the return half of a Bath - Newport period return. Certainly today was similar to a journey covered by split tickets and there is a discussion to be had exploring the consequences of delays while travelling on a rover ticket but in this case the experience with TfW was in the main positive even if things promptly went south at Newport. And it would be good if GWR/Network Rail engaged in some self-reflection on their train platforming practices: it's not good for passengers and I'm not convinced it's good for staff either.
Mark
| Re: Wales explorer 4 in 8 part 4 Posted by Hafren at 00:29, 11th January 2026 | |
It would be legitimate to include the rover ticket in the Delay Repay claim as it formed part of the contractual journey; might be interesting to see what the estimated amount due is! It wouldn't surprise me if they simply treated a 4 in 8 as 4 return tickets for claim purposes – consistent with season tickets being treated as a return ticket for each day's validity (or something along those lines). I can't remember if rover is one of the claim options though.
