had a wonder up to station, work is taking place at the evesham end of honeybourne platform, and from the bridge i could also see lights by the new rail bridge.

Slight mistake from last nights sighting, it wasnt a ballast train, seems as if it was a spoil collection train. just had a look and tonights work seems to be back about 200m from the new bridge

As i write, monday at 11.30pm, the ballast train is being unloaded between the station bridge and the pebworth road double bridges, the loco is approx 300m from the station bridge

just popped up to the work site just east of the new bridge at honeybourne as the ballast train arrived. so now within half a mile of the station.
The diggers are now on the opposite side of the track on what will be the london bound line, at some point the track will have to be slewed between the above site and norton hall bridge.

Some seem to be missing my point, which is family travel. and the abilty for a family to sit together as a group, which as the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) has a almost total lack of tables (even in the so called family carriage) is an impossibility, if there were, i would travel more often on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), its what is important to me.

I do remember the old ads on the TV for the HST^▸ (High Speed Train), remember jimmy savel and 'the age of the train', back in them days, BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) did cater for the family, nice wide seats, all with tables etc, I just think that now the leisure traveller has been forgotten, we are in the minority, but its the way of life now with commutors, why cant they start work when they get to work (toungue in cheek comment)!!.

Ok we have a carriage on some services that are designated a FAMILY CARRAIGE, so if I join that train with my family and head for the carriage, and then see loads of office types with laptops hogging the table seats, i would be a tad dissapointed, especially if there were other seats in the other carriages available, it clearly shows that the designers got it wrong, but they or FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would argue otherwise, people want some space when travelling, of note here, i was sitting on a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) voyager at Paignton a short while ago, we as a family were the first to board it and therefore got a table seat, as others boarded, they went straight for the tables seats, as we had a bit of time to kill before departure, i had a quick stroll though the train, and all the table seats were taken, even by lone travellers. XC has more table seats per train than does FGW, and also the seat back hieghts are much less enclosing on the passenger, probably due to the curved design to them, rather than the tall angular HST seat.

I know nothings going to change on the FGW HST, but as the question was asked about whats important to me, well thats it, I use the train when i can, my little one loves travelling on trains, its just a pity that FGW put little thought into the general user of trains and made them into commuter trains.

Good question, re, whats important to me !..
I live in Honeybourne and as so, have a pretty good service, im not a regular traveller on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but do use them for leisure use whenever i can, and i have an interest in railways.

Now, i have a small child of 4, plus wife, if we wish to go out for the day using a FGW service, chances are that if we do find some seats we will not be able to sit as a family group, due to the design of the revampt Mk 3's and the total lack of seats with a proper table arrangement.  FGW advertise a thing called a FAMILY CARRIAGE, on certain trains, well for the life of me ive never seen one, i would expect the 'family carriage' so be so designed for family groups, ie so that a family can sit together, correct me if im wrong, but the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) just isnt a leisure travellers train, its now a glorified commuter train, just not practical for family travel. Families do use trains and its a great shame the designers of the HST didnt take this into account,or those at FGW who ok'ed the design, but we all know why that was..something to do with more seats in the franchise agreement.  I suppose if there ever was a proper carriage with tables intoduced it would be quickly taken by the office boys and girls with thier mobile offices, and wouldnt they like that!!.

As for trying to reserve a table seat, well, you should try it, ive never yet suceeded.... As for a recent trip to devon, i could have used FGW, but opted for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), i got a table seat in both directions, it was on time, comfortable and the tea man was very regular., so as for importance, that pretty much sums it up.