Changes to FGW complimentary service?

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Oops! How do you plea, Btline? 

[Btline]

Digging up a post from 20 months ago is rather a low blow really.

(a) Malvern Stas includes Cowall anyway, and I probably missed out Ledbury to save time on the typing.

(b) As you yourself know, my opinions/knowledge have changed since 2 years ago. (many of which, you have had a part in changing) So a similar post today would not miss out Charlbury and Kingham.

(c) Pershore, Hanborough and Honeyboune would still have their peak train. No-one would force them to drive to Evesham, and fight through that mysterious traffic jam that disappeared when the stops were added. I think the needs of Herford - Worcester are greater.

(d) Don't try and pretend that people don't drive to Warwick Parkway. They do. Chiltern are cashing in. And people wouldn't if it wasn't worth their while!

[willc]

Saving time, I should have known... but if Colwall's in Malvern, then I must live in Kingham (can't afford to, sadly).

Maybe the people who use Pershore, Honeybourne and Hanborough would like to keep their peak trains. The extra Vale stops were added in large part due to the problems at Evesham, because people drove in from all over the area to catch the expresses there, as there were just two southbound peak stops at Pershore and Honeybourne previously - the first Malvern departure and then the halts service - so their only through London train was at pretty ungodly hours (about 6am at Pershore, I think). Due to current single-line timing constraints, the halts now skips Honeybourne, so it only has a net gain of one train.

If FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had found little demand, I am sure they would have dropped the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) stops long ago, but three years on, or whatever it is, they are still there.

The timetable is not set in stone. The experiment with stopping the first London train at Shipton was abandoned due to lack of demand - perhaps not surprising at just after 6am. There have been various changes to calls at Hanborough and Honeybourne at other times of the day and the London-bound Cathedrals Express has never stopped at Hanborough - even though, with an 8.45am arrival into Oxford, I have little doubt it would attract a lot of custom if it did - but there isn't any room to accommodate anyone past Charlbury and it helps achieve a 3hr 4min timing from Hereford to London. Take out those Vale stops and yes, you'd be pretty near that 2hr 50 timing, but people in the Vale would have a far worse service.

Post-redoubling, you may well see some adjustments in the morning peak, both to journey times, gaps between trains and calling patterns. As I have said elsewhere, being able to move the Cathedrals Express a bit earlier could allow you to slot in a short working from Moreton to Oxford to get people into work for 9am, which would then be able to serve Hanborough and the Wychwoods and ease a bit of the pressure on the express - but that would depend on being able to find stock and a crew and a path for the train.

What I meant about Warwick was that faced with the prospect of being forced to revert to the 'drive to Evesham' scenario again, many Vale residents would probably think that rather than enduring aggro there, they might just take their custom elsewhere.

[Btline]

Saving time, I should have known... but if Colwall's in Malvern, then I must live in Kingham (can't afford to, sadly).

Maybe the people who use Pershore, Honeybourne and Hanborough would like to keep their peak trains. The extra Vale stops were added in large part due to the problems at Evesham, because people drove in from all over the area to catch the expresses there, as there were just two southbound peak stops at Pershore and Honeybourne previously - the first Malvern departure and then the halts service - so their only through London train was at pretty ungodly hours (about 6am at Pershore, I think). Due to current single-line timing constraints, the halts now skips Honeybourne, so it only has a net gain of one train.

If FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had found little demand, I am sure they would have dropped the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) stops long ago, but three years on, or whatever it is, they are still there.

The timetable is not set in stone. The experiment with stopping the first London train at Shipton was abandoned due to lack of demand - perhaps not surprising at just after 6am. There have been various changes to calls at Hanborough and Honeybourne at other times of the day and the London-bound Cathedrals Express has never stopped at Hanborough - even though, with an 8.45am arrival into Oxford, I have little doubt it would attract a lot of custom if it did - but there isn't any room to accommodate anyone past Charlbury and it helps achieve a 3hr 4min timing from Hereford to London. Take out those Vale stops and yes, you'd be pretty near that 2hr 50 timing, but people in the Vale would have a far worse service.

Post-redoubling, you may well see some adjustments in the morning peak, both to journey times, gaps between trains and calling patterns. As I have said elsewhere, being able to move the Cathedrals Express a bit earlier could allow you to slot in a short working from Moreton to Oxford to get people into work for 9am, which would then be able to serve Hanborough and the Wychwoods and ease a bit of the pressure on the express - but that would depend on being able to find stock and a crew and a path for the train.

What I meant about Warwick was that faced with the prospect of being forced to revert to the 'drive to Evesham' scenario again, many Vale residents would probably think that rather than enduring aggro there, they might just take their custom elsewhere.

Cowall is counted as a Malvern station. (not in ticketing obviously)

Malvern used to have 4: Link, Great, Wells* and Cowall

*Debatable whether is was one or two stations.

[JayMac]

Are North Cotswold stopping patterns part of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s complimentary service in first class?
Way off topic folks.

[Btline]

This thread has been off topic for ages, ranging from Old Grannies, to Birmingham New Street; and from whether it is better to change at Bristol or Cheltenham for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services, to Malvern and its stations!

^{Comma added}

[JayMac]

This thread has been off topic for ages, ranging from Old Grannies to Birmingham New Street; and from whether it is better to change at Bristol or Cheltenham for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services to Malvern and its stations!

I always click on 'unread posts since last visit' and tend to go to the last page and see what is being said. Your right that the thread has been off topic for a long while....I see macbooks and Phil Sayer have also put in an appearance.
And at the risk of keeping it off topic "XC services to Malvern and it's stations"? Shurely shome mistake....

[willc]

A thread's gone off in a whole new direction, well I never... it's not the first - it won't be the last.

And whoops, btline missed out the comma, but it's clear enough what he meant.

But if it upsets you that much... I'll say no more.

[grahame]

A thread's gone off in a whole new direction, well I never... it's not the first - it won't be the last.

Yeah ... but let's not start splitting, redirecting and restructing wholesale.    We could have a "degrees of separation" game, where we see how many posts it takes to get from Cola that's included in the price of a first class ticket to the number of type of point machine in use on the section from London to Reading ... (37, I recall someone saying!)

[Btline]

I've added a comma above.

To be honest, when a thread changes direction like this, it is usually because there is nothing more to be said about the topic.

Does anyone have anything else to add about removal of Coca Cola?

[devon_metro]

Does anyone have anything else to add about removal of Coca Cola?

Personally, I preferred the Diet Coke option, however it was a shame that it was always warm!

At least the new offering features chilled fruit juice, and some of the fruit cake and flapjack offerings are most delectable!

[JayMac]

I've added a comma above.

To be honest, when a thread changes direction like this, it is usually because there is nothing more to be said about the topic.

Does anyone have anything else to add about removal of Coca Cola?

You got me! I'm Coked out.
Loving the new recipe Wasabi Peas though. Well hot!! If you've got blocked sinuses they are miles better than Tunes to help you breath more easily. I was able to elucidate "A weekend first upgrade to Paddington, please" in a crystal clear voice despite my current sinusitis!!

[Btline]

I have to say - the orange biscuits XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) give out are vry nice. Perhaps FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could get those...

Very nice to dunk in a mug o' tea...

[JayMac]

I have to say - the orange biscuits XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) give out are vry nice. Perhaps FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could get those...

Very nice to dunk in a mug o' tea...

Oh for a proper mug o' tea, with 4* fresh milk and three full teaspoons of white sugar. I'd carry a flask with me on my travels but that is just one more item on the road to full blown Spotter-dom.
FGW have the orange marmalade biccies as well, or at least they used to. Don't like the bananana ones.

[Mookiemoo]

I just want a relatively calorie free alternative to water and tea/coffee

i've started to irritate the morning CH by asking for lemon from the buffet to pour the water over!

They arent used to it on the morning service!