Great Western Coffee Shop

Thought this might be of interest to some: https://youtu.be/P_ewpQ5aUOw

Leaflets were being handed out at Derby station today, describing the changes.
They refer to a website - dby2018 dot co dot uk.
Unfortunately, that isn't the website for the remodelling.  That is derby2018 dot co dot uk.

If you look at https://www.derby2018.co.uk/the-programme/ (https://www.derby2018.co.uk/the-programme/), and click on the "downloads" button on the right, then examine the leaflet, you'll see what I mean.

Massive job.   No CrossCountry calls at Derby 22/7 to 2/9 but trains will call at Burton-on-Trent and Chesterfield.  Which route will they take to get between the two?   

Via Toton. (http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/C77563/2018-08-15)

With thanks to Richard Fairhurst's map attached - that's Burton, Castle Donnington, Trent, Ilkeston, Clay Cross

Following the link in the leaflet takes you to another site that covers the same so I don't see what the problem is.

Ooops, my bad.  My IT department has blocked one site but not the other. Sorry.

Well, it's all going quite smoothly so far. (as far as I can tell).  Derby station is awash with green-suited passenger hosts, armed with bus timetables, station maps, bottles of water, pains-au-chocolat; also purple-suited bus advisors, checking which bus is going where.

I have taken the 0827 Rail-replacement bus from Willington to Derby Mon-Thurs this week, and I've been the only passenger.  On the 1710 return journey, (Mon-Wed - I haven't gone home yet today Thursday) there's been one other passenger each day - the same lady.  The bus was a 38-seater for Mon and Tues, but downgraded to a 17-seater minibus yesterday and today.   I'm off on my hols tomorrow, and away for the whole of next week - so my fear is that, after a week of no-passengers-at-all, someone takes the decision to cancel the bus completely.

Looking out of my office window, I can see many of the Orange Army, working on the new platform 6 at Derby.  There are still trains running London to Derby to Sheffield, and Newark to Derby to Matlock this week - it's only the Burton line that's closed so far. 

Many familiar faces are still boarding the 0825 train at Willington, since that train still runs, to Nottingham (now via the Castle Donnington line - just avoiding Derby and Long Eaton).

It'll be great when it's finished...