Great Western Coffee Shop

Oh no, I've left my drone on the train

(http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/Article/images/26767202/10360207.jpg)
Bryony Morgan manager of the Bristol 2015 Lab and Helen Brown of Kecks Clothing are surrounded by items which forgetful passengers have left on First Great Western trains in the past year. The public are now invited to recycle these items and put them to good use or buy them in a jumble sale. Among the more bizarre items left are skateboards, Woody and Buzz Lightyear models and even a drone
PICTURE: BARBARA EVRIPIDOU

Musical instruments, cookery books and even a drone are among the items left behind by careless passengers on First Great Western's train carriages in the past year.

And instead of letting the abandoned belongings fester in a lost and found warehouse, this weekend the public will be able to create works of art from them ^ or buy them to give them a good home. Funds raised from the sales will go to charity.

Bristol 2015 is partnering with First Great Western this weekend to host a series of "ReFound" events, giving people the chance to create their own piece of Train Treasure from lost property found on trains across the region.

Taking place at the Bristol 2015 Lab on the Harbourside, Train Treasure will provide visitors with information on how to restyle and upcycle, as well as giving them the opportunity to take home a few lost gems with a jumble sale in aid of local charities.

More than 400 items of unclaimed property are collected on First Great Western trains each week, with all items taken to the lost property department at Bristol Temple Meads to be logged, sorted and reunited with owners where possible. Items most frequently left behind include cycling helmets, umbrellas and items of clothing, but there are also some weird and wonderful items handed in. The department is currently looking for the owner of a drone.

On Saturday and Sunday, Helen Brown from Kecks Clothing will demonstrate how to create tote bags and dresses with left behind clothing, and designer and sewing tutor Jennifer Mills will show visitors how to refashion, restyle and upcycle.

The lost property available to transform will include microscooters, musical instruments, games, sports equipment, empty wallets, jewellery, clothing and sunglasses.

Children can also get hands-on with the activities. The #leaftoleaf workshop will turn unsellable or damaged books into seed paper, and Elm Tree Farm will host a workshop upcycling old cycling helmets into hanging baskets.

The lost property jumble sale will sell unclaimed items ^ some still with their tags on ^ for as little as ^1, ^2 or ^5 depending on their condition.

All funds that are raised, and any useful items left over from the weekend's activities, will be donated to charities Brandon Trust in collaboration with Elm Tree Farm, Labour behind the Label, St Mungo's Broadway, and the Creative Youth Network.

Bryony Morgan, manager of the Bristol 2015 Lab, said: "We're thrilled to be working with First Great Western to provide a new way of rehoming the many items of lost property found on their trains. Not only will the events give visitors some really useful tips for upcycling at home, but it will also raise much-needed funds for very worthy local causes."

Amie Coppin, head of sustainability for First Great Western, said: "Dedicated to supporting the communities we serve and with a minimum impact on our environment, it is great to find a new home for these lost items. They've been with us for over three months so to be able to upcycle them and create a new lease of life ^ while helping raise money for local good causes at the same time ^ is fantastic."

Train Treasure takes place at the Bristol 2015 Lab from today until Sunday, from 10am until 6pm, and is free.

But transport campaigners claim, with passengers already paying ever soaring ticket prices, that lost property ought to be offered for free.

I wonder what the charges are at Lost Property offices run directly by TOCs, such as GWR's at Bristol Temple Meads.

I've managed to get items back from there for free (ticket wallet, bicycle*) although told I should really be charged.

*Yes, I once 'lost' a bike on a railway station. Left it outside the Bristol TM booking office while I made an enquiry, then went straight to my train. I'd planned to take the bike with me. Only when I was halfway to Taunton did I remember!

For the last two years FGW have chosen to ignore the convoluted ATOC pricing bands and have charged a flat rate of ^2 to retrieve an item of Lost Property. With the rebrand to GWR this fee has been dropped altogether and there will no longer be a charge at all. In addition, GWR have partnered with www.missingx.com and from next week, customers will no longer have to contact the call centre to register and search for lost items as this can be done online instead.

Not for the poor 80 something old lady who inadvertently leaves something on a train and has no access or even possesses computer sills.

"can be done online", not has to be - phone is still an option?

It's not as if we aren't told at every station stop "please take a moment to check that you have all your personal belongings with you before leaving the train".

It's not as if we aren't told at every station stop "please take a moment to check that you have all your personal belongings with you before leaving the train".

I'd say ^14.80 per item would be a fair price. Obviously I'd want more money for larger items (if it was down to me).

I'd say ^14.80 per item would be a fair price. Obviously I'd want more money for larger items (if it was down to me).

I'd say that was excessive for a bunch of keys, jumper, ticket wallet/railcard...

If you employ 2 members of staff in one office to deal with it for example, that could cost around ^180 a day just in staff wages.

^11.25 an hour?  Wow!  :o

In most station, even up to quite large ones, nobody is specifically employed to deal with lost property, it is just part of the job description of, for example, a member of platform dispatch staff.  Of course there are costs involved, but only the very large stations have dedicated staff employed.  Personally I feel a small charge is warranted for items and that charge should raise depending on how long the item has been kept (and its value), but to charge ^15 to pick up a brolley or bunch of keys is frankly absurd and fortunately the TOCs think so to.

How much would you charge for small items and how much would you charge for large/designer items like laptops and tablets?

No doubt you Pen-Pad would find a way to criminalise losing property on the railway and charge accordingly.

How much would you charge for small items and how much would you charge for large/designer items like laptops and tablets?

However, if the item concerned causes a security alert, perhaps the person collecting should be charged for the delay minutes they cause.  ;)

I find that question uncalled for. I know many of us (myself included) had good cause to disagree with the posters view on another subject. But to effectively raise the issue again, on a completely different topic, and in response to a perfectly reasonable question, seems to be goading Penz - Pad to respond.   

It was a statement, not a question. Deliberately flippant and one I stand by. And one I hope Pen-Pad responds to.

Every little bit of information that can be gleaned from his postings is information that can prove (or more likely) disprove his bona fides.

I'm not going to respond just so you can put me on your 'Kicked my cat' Twitter thingy.

these security alert incidents are quite rare, and may be co-incicental on who actually finds the property and their personal level of concern.

Firstly, I'd have to find a member of GWR staff, never mind a BTP officer, on board a train, for example ...  ::)

I must admit that I have avoided reporting unattended items for fear of causing an evacuation and consequent delays.

Reporting unattended luggage was important decades ago when terrorists  used to leave bombs in public places concealed in luggage etc.

Less relevant these days though as the current fashion is to keep ones bomb with one, or to carry out attacks with a gun or knife and not involving explosives.

One must admit that one would rather have ones journey delayed for a while, giving one the excuse to calm ones nerves with a pint or two, than have ones constituent parts separated & redistributed throughout the vicinity courtesy of explosive devices!  :o