Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [362720/28982/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:36, 28th June 2025 |      |
From a GWR social media feed yesterday
Will this be addressing the fundamental problem of staff shortages? Do the extra 175 units which used to run in Wales come with extra drivers who also used to drive in Wales?
Noting it's in red and white.
Have you spotted a different train operating on our network today?
You might have seen one of our incoming Class 175 trains – unit 175002 – running between Newton Abbot and Plymouth.
It’s part of the testing and training taking place before these trains join our Devon and Cornwall services. The trains will be phased into service from the end of this year to help boost reliability and performance across the wider GWR network
You might have seen one of our incoming Class 175 trains – unit 175002 – running between Newton Abbot and Plymouth.
It’s part of the testing and training taking place before these trains join our Devon and Cornwall services. The trains will be phased into service from the end of this year to help boost reliability and performance across the wider GWR network
Will this be addressing the fundamental problem of staff shortages? Do the extra 175 units which used to run in Wales come with extra drivers who also used to drive in Wales?
Noting it's in red and white.
..........and if so, do those drivers "legally" have to be painted a different colour and/or wear different clothes to allow them to drive the trains?
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [362719/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 06:57, 28th June 2025 Already liked by TaplowGreen | |
From a GWR social media feed yesterday
Have you spotted a different train operating on our network today?
You might have seen one of our incoming Class 175 trains – unit 175002 – running between Newton Abbot and Plymouth.
It’s part of the testing and training taking place before these trains join our Devon and Cornwall services. The trains will be phased into service from the end of this year to help boost reliability and performance across the wider GWR network
You might have seen one of our incoming Class 175 trains – unit 175002 – running between Newton Abbot and Plymouth.
It’s part of the testing and training taking place before these trains join our Devon and Cornwall services. The trains will be phased into service from the end of this year to help boost reliability and performance across the wider GWR network
Will this be addressing the fundamental problem of staff shortages? Do the extra 175 units which used to run in Wales come with extra drivers who also used to drive in Wales?
Noting it's in red and white.
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [362718/28982/26] Posted by grahame at 06:51, 28th June 2025 Already liked by TaplowGreen | |
They will have to be put in GWR colours, and I'd guess they will choose to vinyl them as its the cheapest option.
Legally they can't run in their TfW livery.
Legally they can't run in their TfW livery.
GWR colours - or just have the operator name changed? We have had all sorts of trains running around in wrong liveries over the years - most recently some 387s in C2C livery, for example ... and for many years the morning Melksham to Swindon train was operated by a SWT unit. 153s at one time came in a variety of paint jobs such as Central Trains and Casper. Is there something difference in the legals this time around?
| Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance In "London to the West" [362717/489/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:42, 28th June 2025 | |
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:54
27/06/25 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:54 was terminated at Plymouth.
It will no longer call at Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth and Penzance.
This is due to a broken down train.
| Animals on Railway Tracks In "The Lighter Side" [362716/30410/30] Posted by grahame at 06:32, 28th June 2025 | |
From my social media feed ...
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [362715/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 05:43, 28th June 2025 | |
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts In "Across the West" [362714/29177/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:02, 27th June 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Health alerts come into force ahead of second heatwave
Heat health alerts have come into force across most of England as the country braces for a second summer heatwave.
An amber alert covers the East Midlands, south-east, south-west, east and London - meaning various health services and the whole population could be affected by the heat, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as the West Midlands, less serious yellow alerts apply, meaning that the elderly and vulnerable could be affected.
Temperatures are forecast to rise into the 30s over the weekend, coniciding with Glastonbury Festival, before reaching a new high for the year on Monday, when the Wimbledon tennis championship begins.
Monday could be the hottest day of the year so far with a temperature of 34C, possibly 35C in London towards the Cambridgeshire area, according to BBC Weather. The Met Office says London could reach 34-35C.
That would make Monday the hottest ever start to Wimbledon, exceeding the previous opening-day record of 29.3C in 2001 - although players and spectators can expect more comfortable temperatures in the 20s by the middle of next week. The hottest day during Wimbledon as a whole was on 1 July 2015 when 35.7C was recorded.
Temperatures will remain in the mid to high 20s for the 200,000 festival-goers descending on Glastonbury in Somerset this weekend, with a potential peak of 28C on Sunday.
Mark Savage, the BBC's music correspondent at the festival, said shorts, sun hats, bikini tops and bottled water were the order of the day on Friday. He observed no heat-related health issues - other than the occasional red nose and a few very sleepy children.
Although there was little shade at the Pyramid Stage and temperatures were set to soar higher over the weekend, there was plenty of free water and sun cream around the site.
Conditions are expected to remain dry with sunny spells - free of the mud baths of years past - but warm nights could make things for uncomfortable for campers.
Elsewhere in Britain, dry and sunny spells are forecast, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s this weekend. By Monday, Cardiff could match the 30C highs expected across large parts of England.
(Article continues)
Heat health alerts have come into force across most of England as the country braces for a second summer heatwave.
An amber alert covers the East Midlands, south-east, south-west, east and London - meaning various health services and the whole population could be affected by the heat, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as the West Midlands, less serious yellow alerts apply, meaning that the elderly and vulnerable could be affected.
Temperatures are forecast to rise into the 30s over the weekend, coniciding with Glastonbury Festival, before reaching a new high for the year on Monday, when the Wimbledon tennis championship begins.
Monday could be the hottest day of the year so far with a temperature of 34C, possibly 35C in London towards the Cambridgeshire area, according to BBC Weather. The Met Office says London could reach 34-35C.
That would make Monday the hottest ever start to Wimbledon, exceeding the previous opening-day record of 29.3C in 2001 - although players and spectators can expect more comfortable temperatures in the 20s by the middle of next week. The hottest day during Wimbledon as a whole was on 1 July 2015 when 35.7C was recorded.
Temperatures will remain in the mid to high 20s for the 200,000 festival-goers descending on Glastonbury in Somerset this weekend, with a potential peak of 28C on Sunday.
Mark Savage, the BBC's music correspondent at the festival, said shorts, sun hats, bikini tops and bottled water were the order of the day on Friday. He observed no heat-related health issues - other than the occasional red nose and a few very sleepy children.
Although there was little shade at the Pyramid Stage and temperatures were set to soar higher over the weekend, there was plenty of free water and sun cream around the site.
Conditions are expected to remain dry with sunny spells - free of the mud baths of years past - but warm nights could make things for uncomfortable for campers.
Elsewhere in Britain, dry and sunny spells are forecast, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s this weekend. By Monday, Cardiff could match the 30C highs expected across large parts of England.
(Article continues)
| Re: GWR Community Conference, 24 June 2025 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362713/30406/34] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:28, 27th June 2025 | |
In the interests of continuity and clarity for ease of future reference, I have moved and merged a few posts, all relating to this event, here.
I hope this helps.
CfN.
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts In "Across the West" [362712/29177/26] Posted by broadgage at 20:30, 27th June 2025 | |
| Re: 175s to GWR In "Across the West" [362711/28982/26] Posted by a-driver at 19:18, 27th June 2025 Already liked by TonyK | |
I wonder how long they will stay ... will there be a repaint program ... how will liveries go under GBR?
Until Project Churchward comes to fruition I would imagine.
I would expect GWR vinyls but no full livery change given the amount of time the GWR direct award has to run.
Hmm.
Is there actually any need to remove vinyls, or change liveries on trains, or uniforms on staff?
They will still be the same stations, trains and staff - it's just the 'behind the scenes direction' that will change, so far as the wider travelling public will know.
It would be extremely wasteful to de-vinyl, repaint fleets of trains and refit thousands of railway staff with new uniforms - to prove what? That doing that will 'make things better'?
They will have to be put in GWR colours, and I'd guess they will choose to vinyl them as its the cheapest option.
Legally they can't run in their TfW livery.
| Re: GWR PAYG Accounts Deleted - Compensation being paid In "Fare's Fair" [362710/30405/4] Posted by RailCornwall at 18:50, 27th June 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Well I've reactivated and had my Railcard linkage verified in Truro this morning, the card was accepted at Truro gateline, now to see what's charged when billed in the morning for a quick trip to Redruth (card worked on readers there too) and back.
| Re: Okehampton In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [362708/18334/24] Posted by RichardB at 16:45, 27th June 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Red Squirrel, Timmer, Chris from Nailsea, Pb_devon | |
Here's a photo taken today at 10 15 (as the train arrived from Exeter) by Tony Hill who has given me permission to post it here. He says this is a typical mid morning scene at the station, the car park is usually full by this time and the new Interchange station can't come soon enough (it'll open sometime next year).
| Re: Missing from "Putting the customer first" In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362704/30406/34] Posted by grahame at 12:14, 27th June 2025 Already liked by matth1j, Mark A | |
The staffing situation was acknowledged - as was requiring a 7day railway, as already noted.
But acknowledging a situation is not the same as being "what we do", is it? Words not deeds.
Fair enough - if GWR acknowledge there's a problem but didn't commit to dealing with in in their customer-centred approach, it rather paints a picture to me. They say they are going to focus service manager more on "disruption support" but don't commit to actually reducing the disruption / lack of reliability. Treating the symptoms and not the underlying causes and - yes - you may well suggest that they are not authorised to deal with the causes ...
| Re: Missing from "Putting the customer first" In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362703/30406/34] Posted by ChrisB at 12:04, 27th June 2025 | |
The staffing situation was acknowledged - as was requiring a 7day railway, as already noted.
| Re: Pilning station - services and campaigns (merged posts) In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [362702/21830/21] Posted by grahame at 11:30, 27th June 2025 | |
Sadly the news reaches me that The Wave just up the road from Pilning has had to close,
as it's having financial difficulties,it shut yesterday at no notice ,hopefully some fix can be found ......
as it's having financial difficulties,it shut yesterday at no notice ,hopefully some fix can be found ......
On dear - BBC report
Inland surfing lake closes over financial dispute
A popular inland surfing lake has been closed because of a row over finances.
The Wave, on the outskirts of Bristol, shut suddenly on Thursday and cancelled bookings, with most of its website inoperable.
Majority owners Sullivan Street Partners claimed the closure followed problems surrounding the bankruptcy of a director of another funding partner, JAR Wave. The BBC has approached the firm for comment.
A statement from the majority owners said: "The Wave Group team apologises unreservedly for any upset caused and is doing its best to ensure the situation can be remedied."
A popular inland surfing lake has been closed because of a row over finances.
The Wave, on the outskirts of Bristol, shut suddenly on Thursday and cancelled bookings, with most of its website inoperable.
Majority owners Sullivan Street Partners claimed the closure followed problems surrounding the bankruptcy of a director of another funding partner, JAR Wave. The BBC has approached the firm for comment.
A statement from the majority owners said: "The Wave Group team apologises unreservedly for any upset caused and is doing its best to ensure the situation can be remedied."
| Re: Pilning station - services and campaigns (merged posts) In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [362701/21830/21] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 10:17, 27th June 2025 | |
Sadly the news reaches me that The Wave just up the road from Pilning has had to close,
as it's having financial difficulties,it shut yesterday at no notice ,hopefully some fix can be found ......
| France, out-of-use route back in service: Montréjeau–Luchon In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362700/30407/52] Posted by Mark A at 10:05, 27th June 2025 Already liked by RichardB | |
Montréjeau–Luchon up and running, a spur into the Pyrenees serving a valley and its settlements (it doesn't need to tackle any serious climbing). Google Streetview shows the line before it was brought back into use as gently fading into the greenery, and with rails removed close to its junction with the national system to guard against incursions.
Mark
https://www.railway.supply/en/passenger-service-restored-on-the-montrejeau-luchon-line-in-occitanie/
| Re: TransWilts CRP Annual meeting - 16th July 2025 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362698/30353/34] Posted by grahame at 06:21, 27th June 2025 | |
I have an update ... the meeting is in Trowbridge in person at County Hall, and online, from 12:00 to 13:00.
| Re: Pilning station - services and campaigns (merged posts) In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [362696/21830/21] Posted by grahame at 04:55, 27th June 2025 | |
"On this day" reminds me of Pilning today - 27th June. On may current excursions around Europe I have seen a whole load of footbridges, crossings, subways and other solutions to getting people to and from trains which call in both directions. I just have to wonder why the "can't do that in England" / "but can't be done at Pilning" seems to have won the day.
| Missing from "Putting the customer first" In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362695/30406/34] Posted by grahame at 04:43, 27th June 2025 Already liked by TaplowGreen, matth1j, eightonedee | |
Looking through the slides from the GWR Community rail conference, I came upon this:
To me, something is missing, and it's a biggie ...
* Providing a safe and reliable service that takes customers where and when we say we will
I have no issues with safety. I do with reliability ...
I wasn't at the conference - can anyone who was there re-assure me that it was clear that "putting the customer first" included running the services they advertise, with people able to plan ahead and know that a train will turn up more or less on time except in very exceptional circumstances?
| Re: GWR PAYG Accounts Deleted - Compensation being paid In "Fare's Fair" [362694/30405/4] Posted by RailCornwall at 19:42, 26th June 2025 | |
That was never implemented as far as I know, it's a straight PAYG service, you start with a zero balance, you make a journey or journeys on the first day, these are aggregated adjusted for capping. The user's payment card is debited on day two (usually around 1000) albeit further adjusted for weekly capping as you go along. To confirm there never is a Credit Balance on the product.
| Re: GWR PAYG Accounts Deleted - Compensation being paid In "Fare's Fair" [362693/30405/4] Posted by ChrisB at 19:26, 26th June 2025 | |
What if there was a balance in the customer's favour (ie pay-as-you-go loaded with funds for use)?
| GWR Community Rail Conference - 24th June 2025 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [362692/30406/34] Posted by grahame at 18:35, 26th June 2025 | |
The slides from the day have been copied to me and are mirrored for logged in members at
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/gwr_cdc_2025.pdf
I also have copied of nearly 130 pictures taken on the day - not sure what or how to share those.
| Re: GWR PAYG Accounts Deleted - Compensation being paid In "Fare's Fair" [362691/30405/4] Posted by grahame at 18:14, 26th June 2025 | |
Rather than paraphrase here's the salient part of the EMail I received earlier.
[snip]
Hopefully lessons learned.
[snip]
Hopefully lessons learned.
Thank you for posting that. I have clicked "like" not that I really do - to acknowledge seeing an reading it.
Much appreciate this being brought to a somewhat wider audience - THANK YOU. I suspect you won't het many follow up simply because the post says it all, but wanted to jump to see the information IS appreciated.
