Great Western Coffee Shop

Random observations ... from my current journey.  What strikes you as you travel?

The footbridge at Bradford-on-Avon is shut out of use with a sign "please use temporary footbridge".  But no sign to say how to get to it.  It looks like it starts in the car park, so you walk down there just to find ... an inset from the platform has been made into the car park, and you've got to walk all the way around again!

The young lady with the baggage that required its own seat.   When challenged, she suggested that I sat in one of the reserved seats (not about to do that, as I was joining at B-o-A and that's where they were labelled from.  Her comment of "I'm only going to the next station" seemed odd if it was supposed to be an excuse, and incorrect when she passed chances to get out at Avoncliff and Freshford, and remained on until Bath.

A sign at Newport which says "Do not sit on the counter".  Presumably they have trouble with locals sho sit in all sorts of odd places they shouldn't.

The Upper Crust at Newport which closes at 16:30 on a Sunday.  At 17:30, there are lots of people who would like to get in (I think Sunday late afternoon / evening is one of the busiest for long distance travel), but all we can do is look in through the door and see bright lights and the staff clearing up.  The sign om platform 4 says "Upper Crust - Fresh Coffee - Platforms 2 and 3" but doesn't tell you that it's only got limited hours.

All trains arriving in Newport seem to have 5 or 10 minutes to wait there.  Is that to make sure they're on time and have a good record for their TOC when they reach Cardiff?

Another sign - "Caution - High Speed Trains pass this platform" on Platform 4 at Newport.  And I wonder (a) when an HST last went through that platform without stopping and (b) what's the speed limit on it?

Newport station ALWAYS seems to be very cold, and the waiting room on Platform 4 full and without anything more interesting than seats.   The Arriva trains Wales service to Manchester is ... nice and warn, I have a table (yay!) and the trolley has more sandwiches on it than were available at the entire Newport station (2 x tired chicken things on an otherwise empty shelf in WH Smiths!)

Snow on the ground at Pontypool and New Inn, where I am now ("New Inn" in Welsh is "New Inn" ;-) )

In such a case, I would probably politely but firmly move the baggage onto a luggage rack, with an explanation that "I have a valid ticket: your baggage does not."  ::)

I have travelled a bit on Cross Country voyagers recently. Whilst I'm not a big fan of these trains I am impressed by the frequent TM announcements not to block passageways or spare seats with luggage.

I remember the notice at Earley station:

"Toilet out of use - wet paint!"

Two ways to read anything.

OTC

The amount of people who avoid sitting in reserved seats simply because they have the white flag; when the seat may well be available for their whole journey.

I've also had it when a lady decided to swipe my reserved seat in Coach H because I had 'vacated' the seat. Apparently, Going to the buffet car to buy a sandwich constitutes for-fitting your reservation. Errr. No. It doesn't!

The alleged availability of albatross crisps on some atw at seat catering services!

The trout's tale about a reserved seat being forfeited (note spelling tt  ;)), I arrived at Glasgow Queen Street early for my train to Oban so thought I'd wander over and check my reserved seat through the window.  I was satisfied that my forward facing widow seat was duly flagged, went for a snack and boarded ten minutes before departure.  Imagine my surprise to find a woman sitting in my seat and my flag now on the seat opposite.  'That's your seat,' she boldly announced when challenged.  It was only a few moments before she moved, the conversation being brusque, but polite.  She sat an scowled all the way to Oban. Tough!

Was that also on the Sunday? The timings allow for relief line running between Severn Tunnel and Cardiff, which means a line speed of 60mph west of Newport and IIRC 40mph east of Newport, which frequently leads to an early arrival, particularly going down.

If I was travelling all the way to Oban, I'd probably scowl, too ...  :P

Yep, that explains it thanks ... the service I was on is given 19 minutes from 7TJ to Newport ... I note weekday services are given 10 or 11

Has anyone then ever noticed the difference in lighting from outside, on a HST in First vs. Standard Class??

First appears to be a creamy and fairly nice light. First Class seems harsh, white and bright??

Or is tt colourblind.

trainer. My feeling in your situation is mutual. It is tough. Last year just before the Olympics I took sister trout to London. She wanted to see the Trams so we did East Croydon - Beckenham Junction. Then a train to Bromley South and back to London Victoria on an SE Fast. On the VIC train we sat in the only two single-double seats in 1ST opposite an old gent who questioned our presence in 1ST. I politely asked if he was a member of rail staff to which his reply was "Well yes I've paid for a First Class Ticket"

So the answer will be a no then... >:(

I don't know, young trout: you've rather lost me on that one.  ::)

It may be the flourescent lamps fitted. Originally these were warm white but evidently replacements (of failed lamps and on refurbishment) were white or cool white lamps. This is quite noticeable on some coaches where a random mix may be seen. The white or cool white appear brighter and harsher.

OTC

What OTC said. Basically the lighting in Coach F, G & H appears different to A, B, C, D & E. I'll take a picture when I see a HST tonight ;)

*edit* Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IwmoIG5c_M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IwmoIG5c_M) The first 3 carriages appear to have a different lighting tone than the remaining carriages... Well I think so anyway ;)

He might be right. That's a truly random observation.

Call me a pedant, but if I write in to complain that I didn't get a seat, I'll be told that a ticket does not equal a seat, merely travel on that service.  Now, I could reverse this and argue that a suitcase doesn't need a ticket to be on a seat because a ticket doesn't equal a seat.  ::)  :P

You're a pedant  ;D

You're also correct that a ticket doesn't equate to a seat.

However ... if suitcases and people had an equal right to seats, why do train managers on busy services make announcements asking people to put their luggage somewhere other than seats?    I suspect that the pedantic answer is that a ticket allows you a maximum of one seat.

Random oberservations if I am in my garden I can tell how the service is running by the speed of the trains. Particulary if they are an HST locked down by ATP.

Something from Fawlty Towers often helps at times like this. Try "My God, you're ugly!" next time.


In Welsh, it should be Newydd Inn. It's been abbreviated. One for the Acronyms / Abbreviations thread? Thought not.