OT, but if this country went to war again we'd be stuffed....

In the didcot case (one I use frequently to go from Bath to London) does it have anything to do with the fact that Didcot was the cut off of the old Network Southeast?

Judging by the amount of traffic outside my house, which is on a diversion route, everyone would rather be stuck in miles long queues than get the train!!

Sometimes I hate First bus - ^3.25 for Saltford to Bath when it's ^3.25 from Combe Down to Bath which is considerably quicker and nearer... Try dropping the prices in Bath too!

No I didn't get a number, just wondered if we were going to get more capacity but perhaps not going on what Jim has said!

Saw this out of the corner of my eye this evening parked up on a siding near the old parcelforce building, anyone know what it's doing there?

I was on this today, great to see no overcrowding on what was the 11.10 from Soton (so 10.22 Ports?) with Bath playing at home too. A few people were standing up when there were seats available... Still, takes all sorts.

I was going to get that back home to Bath today.

Thank god I didn't!

Edit:

As a slight point, National Rail dropped a clanger with the journey planner for this service today - it was being diverted via Eastleigh due to engineering works around St Denys. In my dozy state this morning I tapped in Christchurch -> Bath Spa and it told me to change at Eastleigh. Fine I thought, it must be diverting via Chandler's Ford as has been done before. But oh no, after Eastleigh it went via Airport Parkway to Soton Central where it carried on the normal route. So I went to Eastleigh and back rather pointlessly.....

And, why oh why oh why on a Sunday does the slow SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Poole train arrive at Soton 1 minute before the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Cardiff train departs thus you having to wait an hour to connect, that is 10mins on Mon-Sat!

I seem to remember that it wasn't that long ago (2004 or 2005?) under Wessex trains that the hourly Portsmouth - Cardiff train had different stops between Salisbury and Bristol depending on which hour it was, some wouldn't stop at Westbury, some wouldn't stop at Warminster etc.

As a current user of the line, I'd probably say the timetable is about right - Bradford on Avon is a tricky one as it probably doesn't need the service it gets currently, but then if it stays long enough it'll probably develop quite nicely. Plus timings have only changed by a minute, so it was probably quite slack before. Romsey gets an amazing service now for the size of the town it is!

It was yes, I can't remember how much but there was a steady stream of passengers going forward at Salisbury to the front 2 carriages. If I'd realised we'd gone onto a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) unit I would have sat in 1st class, but I was unaware what we'd attached to until Bath Spa thanks to Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' album!

I was on the 9.22 from Portsmouth (well got on at Southampton), and the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) livered 158 was connected at Salisbury so I presume it's a proper SWT one...

No, Charlton. (And lost in the last minute, typical Saints!)

Apparantly is was all going pete tong again today at Southampton, the 1710 left people behind and then the influx of Southampton football fans made the 1810 full & standing, not sure if people were left behind on that one.

Anyone know anymore?

My mate was not happy when he eventually got to Bath 4 hours after leaving Christchurch (usually 2hrs 10m).

It was cancelled in the end, as I wanted to get it to Bristol (from Bath Spa) last night, but was faced with a mighty fat cancelled when I got there. Had to get the X39, which is more expensive and slower! You really cannot rely on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) in it's current state...

The new ticket hall, while nice new and shiny, isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. There are plenty of self service ticket machines though which isn't too bad (as long as they'll sell you the right ticket, arrive just before Savers become valid and they don't spit them out!!). However, the biggest issue is the ticket gates - if you get two trains coming in at peak time at the same time then the log jam of people trying to get out from both platforms is horrendous. Not to mention additional people trying to get into the station through the same gates.

Not very well thought out at all.

As usual, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have managed to cock it right up.