Great Western Coffee Shop

My first town has a population of around 30,000 and is situated mainly to the north of a river that was subject to extensive seasonal flooding - so much that a part of the town is known as "Dryhill".  A record crime took place in the town in February 2006 - for which five were convicted in January 2008. Over 4 million rail journeys originated at (or finished at) the town's station in 2006/7.

My second town had a population of just over 28,000 at the 2001 census and is also situated on a river. It contains a number of historic buildings, including the only remaining example in the UK of a building constructed for the drying and storage of species of Dipsacus. Three tiers of local government are based in the town, to be reduced to 2 within the next year.  But xxxxx is not the largest town in its postal county - that honour goes to a place with five times the population, some 40 km away, from which it has a twice-daily train service.

And my third is a town of just under 15,000 (2001 census). It's 3 miles from an international airport (with its own station), has a famous golf club, and from March to September there's a fast ferry service from the harbour.  An annual trip is arranged by the cabbies of a city that's 55 kms away for sick children - or if you want to make the journey by train, First run two services an hour.

All three of my towns are in the British Isles.  Can you identify ALL THREE of them?

P.S. If you want good rail fare value, an any time day return from my third place to that nearby city costs 10.25 - or 9.3 pence per km.   By comparision, an any time return from Chippenham to London now costs 115.00 - or 35.9 pence per km.

I have all three down to a T but don't want to give the game away and spoil the fun.

Indeed you do.  Much appreciated, thanks!  ;)

Is the first one in Kent/ Sussex?

Thanks, G.Uard!

I suspect I've reached the same answers, so I've sent them to grahame by personal message - just to prolong the suspense for other members!  ;D

You may be right, Btline - "but I couldn't possibly comment"!

So they all begin with T then

I have number 3

Yes ... everyone seems to be getting it.   This was a bit of an experiment to see how it worked ... someone please post up the answers as people have had a decent chance to work them out and - if you like - I'll start another similar set tomorrow, and then from time to time.

I'm inclined to let this run a bit longer, grahame!   ;) :D ;D

Yes, the letter T is certainly significant, and Kent does feature: with that final clue, would someone like to post their answers - to all Three?

Hooray, I finally got one of these "quiz"s sort of right!

But I am brave another to suggest a place in Kent beginning with T?

Tunbridge Wells? Tonbridge? (I always get them mixed up)

Fair comment, Btline - there's historic confusion over the spelling of the name of Tonbridge, in Kent!  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonbridge for example  ;)

2 is a local teasel er teaser even.

... and, if someone didn't know the answer, they may have a right old dipsacus, eh?  :D

Ah ... everyone seems so reluctant to post Tonbridge - Trowbridge - Troon ... thanks for leaving the "game" for others for a while.

I'm off to run a rail replacement taxi service thsi evening ... pickups from Westbury and Swindon as I can't subject my customers to having to finish the last few miles on not one but TWO buses.

I hope you have the appropriate licensing in place...
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/18206?Ns=|0&N=598254&Ne=598327&PagingData=Po_0~Ps_200~Psd_Asc (http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/18206?Ns=|0&N=598254&Ne=598327&PagingData=Po_0~Ps_200~Psd_Asc)

I'm very careful to ensure that what we do doesn't fall into that category - even though my tongue in cheek description here made it look rather as if it might have!