A group of us are travelling to Reading during the Olympic periods and whilst our journey up is clear of restrictions, we want to travel back on a Sunday evening. Groupsave is banned on all services leaving Paddington between 1600 and 2000. Ash the last train I can catch would be the ex-Pad 1957, is groupsave also banned from Reading? I.e. is it. the entire service that is restricted or just travel from London?

So where does this money come from?

Why did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) back down so easily?

According to someone on the rails, this has been a long time coming with money from the Olympic Commission given to TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) ages ago. Sickening all the same. Just as bad as the profiteering of hoteliers etc.

Doesn't make thr RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) or TOCs look good in the eyes of Joe public.

Save yourself from the disappointment of Land's End - it's become a tacky tourist trap. Sennen Cove is much better. Trengwainton gardens at Madron just outside Penzance are well worth a visit.

Brilliant - thanks for the info! Not sure how I missed that on the website 

Does anyone know what time you get kicked off in the morning at Pad?

Used the sleeper for the first time the other month and am using it again soon - highly recommended! Shame that Advance Solo Sleeper fares are only valid to London and not beyond.

Booked at Newton Abbot only to be sold a ticket for the night before! Even checked with the person who sold it to me several times as I thought the dates were dodgy but they assured me that they were correct. Alas, they weren't. Thanks to a no show at Truro, I got a night's sleep.

Much easier to buy online now though.

It used to empty out at Newton Abbot as people with to a faster XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service. Cramped until then though.

I got the 'seal of approval' on an Ashford-Tonbridge journey recently - dolphin shaped stamp through my ticket - great stuff! 

I have a Devon and Cornwall Railcard. My current one is fine but last year's startede fading and was barely legible towards the end of its validity. I keep it in a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) issued wallet away from heat.

I asked at a station if they can replace it for a legible one only to be told that they don't keep records of D&C Railcards and that I would have to buy a new one and that I should look after it better.

What would have happened had it faded totally as season tickets have done so in the past?

I often get on and off at St Thomas (not for fare evasion reason!) and I have to say, I always get checked for tickets - well, approached instantly and sold a ticket.

Been on a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service that forgot to stop at Dawlish - ok, it wasn't a 30 minute wait at Teignmouth to get a train back but still, surely this sort of thing happens a bit more often than is worthy of headline news?

I've often got a different train for the 'connection' than is suggested when buying the ticket. Namely because I make it to the other London Terminal in time to catch an earlier one.

Also, I often travel to Kent to see family. Before HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel), the possible list of stations I could use comprised of Victoria, Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge. The suggested service would often be London Bridge. However, it is often rammed and the train becomes full and standing at L Bridge. So I go to Charing Cross instead. Much simpler, much smaller, much quieter station and I am guaranteed a seat! This has never caused me a problem before.

Coming back, I normally get the suggested service - however I have caught an earlier train to have coffee with friends at Paddington - does that count as breaking my journey? I don't leave the concourse!

Manston is in the middle of nowhere which is the only drawback. I don't think it would be anymore of a threat than Edinburgh to London flights which will have far better connections to rail heads.

There was another cheapy airline that operated out of Manston - it went bust quite quickly. Will be interesting to see how Flybe do.

Thanks everyone. I like the teddy idea! Better get shopping...