Great Western Coffee Shop

Are now online:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3396

Quick comment: When I read in the latest edition of FGW magazine Go to... that FGW were going to split some of their timetables to make them easier to use, I was hoping that they were referring to Timetable Book E...sadly not  :(

Well the early morning services from Maidenhead seem to have suffered  >:( currently there is 07:02 (5 car turbo) fast to Padd and the 07:04 (HST) fast to Padd both busy trains in the new time table we have the 07:03 (presumably an HST) but it has a buffet sign shown in the time table ..... whoopee do 2 trains compressed into one with lots of people trying walk down the train to get a cupper ................ FGW you got it about right in Dec 2007 but in Dec 2008 totally wrong.

FGW services to Maidenhead connecting to the Marlow branch late afternoon are still pants either you catch the 15:57 or wait for 17:18

They have separated the local services in timetable B but there is now no information on any stops between Taunton and Reading other than Bristol Temple Meads for passengers from Newton Abbot, Totnes or stations in Cornwall.  If you want times from Hayle, Camborne or Redruth to London then you need timetable B3 (train services in Cornwall) as B1 (London to Devon and Cornwall) goes Penzance - St Erth - Truro.

Hopefully they will produce a timetable the same as the current one. This setup is simply outrageous. Do half the stations in Devon & Cornwall even stock book D (for the Berks and Hants)  ???

Timetable changes, Newquay and TransWilts, from December.

(I sometimes compare Newquay to Melksham, as both towns have a similar resident population in Winter (at least), and both towns have First Great Western provided service which has in recent years been dire in frequency to put it mildly)

Current Monday to Friday services:

Trains arrive Newquay at 10:10, 12:25, 15:52 and 20:23
Trains leave Newquay at 10:17, 12:59, 14:54 and 20:25

Trains call at Melksham at 06:40, 07:17, 19:11 and 19:47

Monday to Friday services, December '08 to May '09

Trains arrive Newquay at 07:44, 10:13, 13:05, 14:50, 16:52, 19:20 and 21:19
Trains leave Newquay at 07:48, 10:13, 13:07, 14:52, 16:54, 19:20 and 21:25

Trains call at Melksham at 06:40, 07:17, 19:11 and 19:47

Congratulations to Newquay on the service improvements - I'm delighted as it shows it can be done. At the same time, to hear of fare rises and seeing Julian Crow on the TV telling us that there will be more seats is a bit hollow (almost provocative) for those of us who live in Melksham!

The new Newquay timetable is an excellent improvement, hopefully there will be some good patronage. Maybe Melksham next year eh Grahame? ;)