Great Western Coffee Shop

Seems there is one rogue train plying for hire on Christmas Day..

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/xmas2.png)

not sure I'd fancy spending all day on a Voyager mind... ;D

This service shows on Real Time Trains too.  Didn't think any of the signalboxes would be open on Christmas Day anyway?

Presumably they set the route last thing on Xmas Eve an then operate under 'one engine in steam' rules? ;-)

There are two ECS (empty coaching stock) moves in the Birmingham area on Christmas Day, one London Midland and the other Virgin.  Same in the Aberdeen area and presumably at other places across the network.  So it appears there may actually be some staff working.

There is also a Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central in the evening: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P70490/2013/12/25/advanced

While I have no doubt the Aberdeen to Penzance service is in the system in error, I suspect a lot of the major panel boxes and some smaller conventional signal boxes will be staffed because of engineering work across the network.

In the unlikely event you were planning to take the Aberdeen to Penzance train, it seems it has now been removed from booking systems.

Just for the sake of completeness etc.   ;D

I wonder if you actually booked that train before it was removed where you would stand??

I couldn't get the system to offer reservations on any train that day.  Maybe something has been programmed in to bar Christmas day?

Wherever it was, you'd be standing there for a very long time.  ;) :D ;D

Given I have one relative who wants to get out of the rat race and run a soup kitchen on Christmas Day and the rest who cannot decide where or what they want to do - despite everywhere getting booked up - a day on a cold drafty Aberdeen Station doesn't look so bad!!   ;D ;D


(too much to hope they might read this and get the hint!)