Great Western Coffee Shop

If you are planning to travel for the festive season would suggest booking now for Advance tickets, for example 23/12/14 no Advance std tickets available on 1006/1206/1406/1506 ex- Paddington and only 2 berths on Sleeper Advance at ^49 ! :o

I don't think Advance fares after 17/12 have been released yet?

Advance tickets available to book on Christmas Eve via FGW website.

Yep, FGW website says advance tickets available through to 24th of December.

So does this page - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13628.0 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13628.0)  ;D

RE: Christmas travel, am I right in thinking that peak restrictions out of Paddington are relaxed over the Christmas period? I'm looking to travel back on the evening of the 23rd December.

Restrictions are lifted on First Great Western services from 24 December 2014 to 1 January 2015 inclusive.

I must admit I am surprised they are lifted on Christmas Eve - I thought that would be a busy travelling day.  I guess the number of commuters will be down so effectively lowering the fares from the start of service evens out the load.

I have picked up a ^31.70 advance to the West of England on the 22nd.  The same train the following day is ^77!

I think it's always the case that FGW lift restrictions on the 24th when it falls on a week day.

A quick look through past NFMs confirms that.

Thanks, looks like i'll be squeezing onto the first off peak train from Pad!

If restrictions are lifted, it's ALL off-peak....

See reply #5...

....as there are no trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day (don't get me started re: the latter!  >:(, what happens in respect of those two days for season tickets? Are a couple of days added on?

I hope the service between Xmas and New Year is better than the last couple of years which has been chaotic, especially on the 27th - hope there is a realisation that not everyone is fortunate to enjoy a lengthy Xmas break! (Bah, humbug!)  ;D

Nothing - taken into account within its price.

Chiltern season holders however get a bonus - they're running trains again on Boxing Day

Some engineering works as well, all London - Cornwall/Devon services going via Swindon, between Christmas/New Year

Possibly because of Reading - are the Berks & Hants lines blocked?

Hopefully with additional calls at Bristol from those diverted FGW HSTs.. Great news for me if so, as the 27th is the day I usually escape Taunton, back to Bristol. Last two years have been a little trying on CrossCountry, despite having reservations in 1st Class. In the spirit of peace and goodwill a couple of years ago I gave up my seat for an elderly and infirm lady who had a walk-up 1st Class ticket but no reservation. You do feel a bit guilty when you've only paid ^6.60 for your 1st Class fare with seat and dear old Nan has paid over five times as much but can't sit down.

I think it was last year that I gave up even trying to board my booked XC Voyager, so rammed was it.