Great Western Coffee Shop

From BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7770692.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7770692.stm)

Err... no. How long have they been running now, 2 years?

TLM

This and a great many reports today of momentous changes across the entire rail network that are nothing of the sort are the result of a DafT press release, which makes it sound as though the entire Thames Valley timetable is being recast, rather than getting a few tweaks around the edges. See http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=386706&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False (http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=386706&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False)

I think its called spin and just in time for the January fares increases. I dont think it fools many though, well not those who travel by train anyway.

Tweaks are a severe case of paddingitis.

Of course not, but it's not aimed at those who travel by train. It's aimed at those who don't travel by train and have no intention of doing so, so that they think that rail passengers are getting a good deal and have no reason to moan.

20 years of working with government funding has taught me that government funding and initiatives are not there to benefit the supposed beneficiaries, but to impress those who don't know anything about the matter. You throw a little money for the sake of a press release..... it doesn't matter if the money is wasted (which in my experience it usually is), because it's rarely enough to make a difference. And of course re-announce the same measures countless times so that it sounds like neverending good news. Both our political parties have played this game throughout my adult life, and no doubt long before that.

At least a handful of train carriages do actually provide a tangible benefit, even if they're spun up to sound like a momentous investment.

I like the increase in trains  ??? so the combining of the 07:02 and 07:04 into one train at 07:03 is an improvement and as for the improved connections to the Marlow branch .............. well they could not make it any worse than it is now therefore anything is am improvement.

Also the improved timings on the Cotswold line and increased numbers of daytime trains....at the cost of useful trains near the peak travel times! Lots of posters and information screens at oxford telling us pax how things are improving from 14th dec when many are actually seeing a change for the worse.

Did you see my other post regarding the 07:02 from Maidenhead?

Yes