Great Western Coffee Shop

Little did I realise that when I made the first post here on 28th January 2007, that I would still be posting here some 2000 days later - and so would many others at an average ot around 50 posts per day. 

The site was set up in the dark days when cancellation on some services were running into double figure percentages. When there were raw wounds with services just cut - people struggling to cope, and in some cases failing to cope and having to give up their work. Butwe've moved on a long way.  In West Wiltshire, where I live, rail passenger numbers have grew by 40% from 2007 to 2010, trains were lengthened, and they're much more reliable too.   And we see a strengthening for the future.  There's a major rebuilt of Reading underway, there's electricification to Bristol, and come a year from now we should be looking at an appropriate service running once again on the TransWilts, which is where I personally came into this.

The site was set up as a campaigining site.  But we've moved on because we've been able to.  We're now about cooperation and coordination.  And it's credit to everyone who uses the site that we've maintained momentum, even in less stressful times, and have continued to provide what's clearly a useful service.

A huge "thank you" to everyone who reads.  A huger "thank you" to everyone who take the time to post, and a huge "thank you" too the the moderator / admin team without which this site wouldn't be possible. But ... we all have fun.

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Some of our top stories over the years

Cotswold line Redoubling - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3602.0
An Open Access operator in the FGW area? - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=835.0
GWML electrification gets go-ahead - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5066.0
Falmouth branch line - engineering work, closures, incidents - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=33.0
Pic(s) and mix - something for the weekend - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8503.0

And some current topics

What's happening at Reading? - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6405.msg120471#msg120471
How are timetables written? - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11530.0
Problems with Revenue Protection Staff over a Child Ticket - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11491.0
Wiltshire Railway links improved in 6 million pound scheme - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11264.0
Theresa May calls for fast Twyford & Maidenhead trains to London to be maintained - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10525.0
I'm a little confused when buying train tickets - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11489.0

And from our ever-popular "lighter side"

Annoying use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate news articles - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11558.msg120448
Quiz - a dozen questions - what's your score? - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11503.0
Where was I today? - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11418.0
First Class excuses - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11486.0

I'd like to thank everyone involved in setting up ,running and contributing to the forum. It is often a good way of passing the hours I spend daily on the train. Long may it continue!