Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi All

I dont know if any of our insiders can help here

Last train Newport to Ludlow normally gets in at around 2330 however for some reason today its saying 2350 and allowing 30 minutes from leominster to ludlow.  However it is not indicating a bus or anything.

Does anyone know if this is true, an anomaly, or jut gremlins in the planner.  And if it is true - why in heck !!!!!!!

Checked, confirmed, and National Rail isn't offering any explanation such as buses.

You will know which of these journey times is longer than usual:

(http://www.terrascope.co.uk/images/Ludlow.jpg)

Thanks.  Its the 30 minutes from Leominster to Ludlow thats the problem - its normally about 10 minutes!

I just better hope this train gets into Cardiff on time!

Need to meet a cousin to get a package so on the 1845 to swansea - there is five minutes so should be enough (and this is a mini buffet so there is no excuse to be late).

Will keep trying cousin to see if he can meet me at Newport instead! 

There is something just psychological about getting home at 2330 and almost at midnight!

Hey ho, I may be home at 2232 - which is what I hoped but was prepared to loiter in cardiff for an hour so if need be - not anymore!

I will ask the arriva guard  - maybe they will know! I would bloody hope so!

It's showing later all the way to Shrewsbury.

Single line working / waiting for one coming the other way at Leominster?

it's double track all the way and it has it departing Leominster on time . I'm not aware of any diversionary routes between the two . I know the last southbound is being replaced by a bus as far as Shrewsbury but I can't see them delaying two trains for sake of one.

The plot thickens however I think it's really off for notwork rail to give no explanation. If I wasn't so pessimistic I may have thought - oh well, I'll just get the last train if there were no engineering updates!

I think grahame was refering to the possibility of single line working, ie. one of the two lines closed and therefore 'wrong line' working at reduced speed. But that would be mentioned on NRES as engineering works, but there's nowt there. And you're right - there is no diversionary route between LEO and LUD. A strange one indeed. Let us know what ATW say when you reach their area!

Well I made the connection and have package! (not its not a bomb!)

I will ask the TM on the ticket check but I have to say im judging by cover

He looks like a right George (from George and Mildred!) ......

however, he may be the most helpful TM under the sun and I hope my prejudices are wrong........(and I admit they are prejudices and im usually always wrong judging which guards/tms are the jobsworths and which are not and which will go the extra mile and which will shrug and walk off - I've picked him as a shrugger..........but then I am mistaken for the office girl not the PM!)

Well I suspect my George assessment was correct

We left Cardiff - not a single ticket check and we are now approaching pontypool I think

The train is pretty empty - no overcrowding excuse.

Not the norm for Arriva on this line - only the second time this has happened

I am about to go down to the rear of the train once we leave pontypool and ask him o try to find out - let us see what happens......

I know MOST (not all but most) FGW TM's if asked the question I am going to ask would either know or find out.......

Nope: This is not a pontypool stopper - I'm off now as nexgt is abergavenny

Well I think I will be contacting Arriva tomorrow and making a complaint.

I went down to the rear end of the train and knocked on the door George (we'll call him that for ease) did not answer.  I thought - I wonder if at Cwmbran he went to the front so I went down there - didnt knock as did not want disturb the driver.

Went back the rear and proceeded to knock repeatedly for three minutes.......no answer

As we approach Abergavenny, door gets flung open - luckily I was standing handle side not hinge side.......... George goes out dispatches train.

I asked if he knew what was going on with the train after this..........I did (I admit ) spin a line about having to leave work early because I discovered the last train was going to be after my partner had to get to work for night shift but there was no explanation (hey - by this point I knew a simple- do you have any idea would not go down well I was thinking on my feet)

I got "no idea and what does it matter, you're on this train"

Still no ticket check.........George is now in his locker again - not to be seen until Hereford I suspect

Had I been a passenger trying to buy a ticket in a penalty fare area or - god forbid - an emergency that did not warrant the pass com but needed assistance - George was holed up in his burrow.

For once I was right

Don't forget to see if 'George' has a name badge. I suspect not.....

Nope his badge is absent - I did look

But I know what train he is working

He wont get away that easily - if of course Arriva give a damn about a well constructed complaint tomorrow with train details and all of the above

We are now (ironically) sitting at HFD - he opened the doors and went back to his burrow - and he wont come out again I bet until he has to dispatch

I was right!

I moved to the rear carriage after abergavenny to observe

He came out just in time to whistle and close doors

Oh - he just walked past ...............


He went to the bathroom........and then back to his burrow


I'm sorry but this is not acceptable for a TM - and he's taking this all the way to chester!

That comment he made to you "what does it matter" isn't really on! As for sitting in the cab, it's quite common at night.

I have travelled this train quite a lot in last few weeks - it's not a trouble hotspot! He's the only one who had burrowed down!

The only other was on the last trainp

I'm waiting to hear the punchline here, FallenAngel ... what time DID the train arrive in Ludlow?

The one I was on - 2232
The one after - I do not know

But I am venturing to ludlow later today and we haave a nice indepdent station where they are very helpful
I will ask and I'm sure they will find out - if they do not know already