Great Western Coffee Shop

Here's a picture of the new route map at Bath bus station (please excuse the reflections on the shiny glass which make parts hard to see).   The new bus station still seems to be missing a few things - a clock ("they'll be bringing the one across from the temporary bus station"), electronic departure boards of any sort, staff (did I hear that they made them redundant?) refreshment facilities (4 machines, all labelled "due to technical problems - machine out of service") ... but it does have this nice new map ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/bncrest.jpg)

... with a nice new rail route ... stations at Bath, Freshford, Avoncliff, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham and Chippenham.

Looks like a very sensible service.   When does it start?  Is there a draft timetable available?  ;)

Even more interesting is that they've re-instated the North curve at Bradford on Avon.

I know Networkrail are trying to speed up engineering work but even they can't work that fast!

If you read some of my previous posts this is something that seems to me to be emminently sensible so that the stopping service runs via Braford on Avon and Melksham and the fasts via Box. With a new station to serve North Trowbridge (park and ride?).

It would lesson the need for a Corsham station which might upset some users.

Another problem is shortage ofsuitable stock, I would imagine HSTs through to Padd Paddington would even with SDO cause problems with short platforms and besides they are not really stopping trains. Apparrently an HST uses 80 gallons of fuel extra per stop.

So it would have to DMUs (if there are any spare) with a change at Chippenham or Swindon.

Roll on Electrification. Loco and coaches on main line and up to 2*4 EMUs for stopping services.

If only we could have had that north curve this afternoon. Engineering over-run saw 1T24 Bristol TM - Swindon sit in the loop at Bathampton for 25 minutes waiting 1H05 from Swindon to clear the down reversible line!