Penmill Pugs
Newbie
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« Reply #45 on: June 04, 2008, 22:41:55 » |
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First Post, so hopefully I won't offend anybody. Really happy the summer 'loco-hauled' has returned again this year, happy and surprised !!! Happy; because the tedium of seeing 'just another unit' in sleepy
Somerset has been broken (even if they turn up in all sorts of liveries), and surprised; because after last year's abortive attempt to run locos through the summer, I thought we would never see their like again.
I travelled behind the locos on Saturday evening (quite impressed, noise etc). Having tried to obtain a ticket at Yeovil Pen Mill (office closed), I asked one the EWS▸ staff for a ticket on the train. Imagine my surprise when he told me that FGW▸ had failed to provide 'revenue-collecting' staff for this service (apparently for the second week running) and I would have to travel for free. Let me say here and now that I'm not a 'fare-dodger' and although I enjoyed my journey, I was left bewildered. I really want to see this service succeed, but if FGW are unable to collect fares and advertise this service properly, then I fear for the future of it.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #46 on: June 04, 2008, 23:11:18 » |
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Hello, Penmill Pugs, and welcome to the coffee shop!
I think the only people you may have 'ruffled' a bit are FGW▸ , who seem to have overlooked the need to at least try to cover the costs of this service?!
Has anyone else on the forum experienced this rather bizarre situation??
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Timmer
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« Reply #47 on: June 05, 2008, 07:08:01 » |
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We all want to see the Weymouth line do well this summer so FGW▸ do get a return on their investment of running the loco and coaches to demonstrate its worth keeping for future years and yes it would help if someone was there to collect the fares.
I would imagine that it was a rare case of Yeovil Pen Mill station ticket office being closed that morning. Many times I've been on a Weymouth train which was reasonably busy by the time it reaches Yeovil but rammed on departure. Plenty of good revenue there.
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CliveD
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« Reply #48 on: June 05, 2008, 13:32:08 » |
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First week there was no FGW▸ revenue staff on board the train out or back just the EWS▸ crew. Second week, there was a member of the Westbury revenue staff on board on the outward run who I think joined at Keynsham but I don't know how far they went down; it was certainly beyond Frome. As the loco and stock returned on a timetabled service, there should have been someone, but as the outward working (1251 ex Great Malvern) didn't turn up, no one available. In fact, no-one even boarded at Westbury, which I would have expected at the very least.
I recall that when it ran last year, the first week there was no-one, and the subsequent two weeks there was revenue staff on board on the outward journey only. FGW can't on the one hand complain about having to provide the train at extra cost if they don't take steps themselves to - as Timmer says - get a return on their investment. Own goal here I think.
However, the good news is that official posters are now starting to appear at stations advertising the service.
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Graz
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« Reply #49 on: June 05, 2008, 16:45:05 » |
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Though strange that the one at Oldfield Park has loco photos, and none of the others I've seen at any other station have any photos at all...
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Timmer
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« Reply #50 on: June 13, 2008, 07:00:03 » |
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At last! FGW▸ have placed basic details of the Weymouth loco service on the Heart of Wessex page of their website: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=85As is FGW's way these days when you want timetable info...use the online journey planner. They don't like timetables do they? |
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swlines
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« Reply #51 on: June 14, 2008, 03:21:09 » |
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I don't think they've included details as according my RailPlanner software the timings change each week - although are the same for either end of the line (0909 and 1655).
I shall be sampling this service today ...
Interestingly enough, if you want to go to Bristol faster than the 1730 - get that as far as Castle Cary... change at Castle Cary and then Westbury. You arrive about 25 minutes earlier!
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Timmer
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« Reply #52 on: June 15, 2008, 11:11:34 » |
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I shall be sampling this service today ...
I did yesterday evening but only for a couple of minutes as it was a very convenient connection for Oldfield Park off the 17.30 ex Paddington train. A reasonable amount of passengers alighted at Bath Spa. How was the loading from Weymouth? A few bashers were leaning out of vestibule windows sampling the smell and sound of the leading skip! Interestingly enough, if you want to go to Bristol faster than the 1730 - get that as far as Castle Cary... change at Castle Cary and then Westbury. You arrive about 25 minutes earlier!
Useful to know as the 17.30 is a very slow service. |
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devon_metro
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« Reply #53 on: June 15, 2008, 11:14:13 » |
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I shall be sampling this service today ...
I did yesterday evening but only for a couple of minutes as it was a very convenient connection for Oldfield Park off the 17.30 ex Paddington train. A reasonable amount of passengers alighted at Bath Spa. How was the loading from Weymouth? A few bashers were leaning out of vestibule windows sampling the smell and sound of the leading skip! Not guilty. |
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swlines
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« Reply #54 on: June 15, 2008, 15:53:57 » |
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I did yesterday evening but only for a couple of minutes as it was a very convenient connection for Oldfield Park off the 17.30 ex Paddington train. A reasonable amount of passengers alighted at Bath Spa. How was the loading from Weymouth? A few bashers were leaning out of vestibule windows sampling the smell and sound of the leading skip! No idea, I bailed at Trowbridge on the way back, but I suspect D_M was one of the ones leaning out  I'll upload my photos when I can be bothered. |
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devon_metro
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« Reply #55 on: June 15, 2008, 17:17:23 » |
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Not at Bath come to think of it |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #56 on: June 17, 2008, 21:27:40 » |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #57 on: June 20, 2008, 12:37:27 » |
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Timmer
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« Reply #58 on: June 23, 2008, 17:41:59 » |
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All we need now is for the weather to play it's part in helping to fill this train. So far it hasn't been very helpful on Saturdays thus far.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #59 on: June 23, 2008, 20:51:29 » |
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Sorry, Timmer, but it's Wimbledon fortnight and Glastonbury festival: therefore it's bound to pee down with rain for days on end!   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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