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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #510 on: February 05, 2014, 21:40:07 » |
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It seems simple to put on the website "no Pullmans at present due to extreme weather"
Cue Ollie?   |
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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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JayMac
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« Reply #511 on: February 05, 2014, 21:56:52 » |
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I like a Pullman lunch as much as the next man (that next man is usually bobm), but I don't think the Pullmans feature very highly in the list of priorities for FGW▸ at the moment.  |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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broadgage
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« Reply #512 on: February 06, 2014, 08:51:13 » |
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I like a Pullman lunch as much as the next man (that next man is usually bobm), but I don't think the Pullmans feature very highly in the list of priorities for FGW▸ at the moment. Agree, regregtfully, but for the benifit of less frequent users it would seem helpful to give accurate information on the website. With nothing listed under "catering updates" people might assume that normal service was being provided. A passenger travelling next week on the 1803 from Paddington to Exeter might well be expecting a meal. You and I know that this cant realisticly be provided, apart from anything else the catering supplies etc are the wrong side of Dawlish. Not everyone however would know this. |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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thetrout
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« Reply #513 on: February 06, 2014, 14:35:41 » |
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With nothing listed under "catering updates"
I have to agree, FGW▸ always used to provide Catering Updates for Buffet, Trolley Service, Travelling Chef etc but have not done so for a good 12 months probably long I'd say. A simple "No Pullmans until further notice" would not be an unreasonable ask for information. But then that's coming from the same forum member who found the single line of text "No Travelling chefs on services via Honiton" somewhere cryptic on the Whiteball Tunnel Closure page. Again no reason why this couldn't be put in Catering Updates Mind you, how long did it take FGW to put a "These machines do not contain cash" on the Ticket Machines at Nailsea & Backwell...?!    |
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broadgage
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« Reply #514 on: February 06, 2014, 14:51:49 » |
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Since Pullman service is clearly not going to be resumed in the near future, it seems a fair bet that the old menus will never be served again.
So what is the point in advertising them on the website ?
The "catering updates" section should simply say "no Pullman services until furthur notice. This is due to storm damage at Dawlish that prevents us running through services"
Once the repairs are well under way, this could be altered to say "no Pullman services expected until about XX"
The Pullman dining section of the website could go into a bit more detail, perhaps giving details of the new menus, prices, wine list, service times, and so on, but with a clear notice "Pullman services are not running at present due to storm damage at Dawlish that prevents us running through trains. We look forward to seeing you again when services resume"
And " We hope that normal service will be resumed from XX-YY but this depends on the progress of the rebuilding works at Dawlish"
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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bobm
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« Reply #515 on: February 07, 2014, 15:45:14 » |
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Well the good news is the Pullmans will return in a limited fashion on Monday Had this from FGW▸ with permission to pass it on. The Pullman Dining services are currently suspended until Monday 10th February. From Monday 10th we will run a reduced Pullman Dining service. Two services will operate, a lunchtime Exeter to London Paddington service departing Exeter at 13.04 and an evening service from London Paddington to Exeter departing at 17.33 I understand steps are being taken to move the equipment needed to Exeter by road and the necessary food storage equipment is being hired in to run the operation from St Davids until the line is restored to Plymouth. The old menus will be used with the launch of the new ones postponed. |
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broadgage
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« Reply #516 on: February 07, 2014, 15:52:24 » |
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Presuming that this actually happens, then that is very good news indeed.
Hats off to FGW▸ .
2 services is rather limited, but very much better than nothing, which is what I was expecting.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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bobm
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« Reply #517 on: February 07, 2014, 19:04:42 » |
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Ironically FGW▸ have updated their "Pullman" page Pullman Service times
The Pullman Dining services are currently suspended until further notice due to the flooding at Storm damage at Dawlish.
However I am assured it has been overtaken by the announcement further up the thread, subject only to no further damage east of Exeter in this weekend's forecast storms. |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #518 on: February 09, 2014, 14:52:21 » |
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Seeing as there are no trains via CRewkerne nor west of Castle Cary, I doubt very much these will run on Monday!
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broadgage
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« Reply #519 on: February 09, 2014, 15:07:46 » |
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Seeing as there are no trains via CRewkerne nor west of Castle Cary, I doubt very much these will run on Monday!
I very much doubt that we will a see a Pullman on Monday due to the ongoing disruption. Hopefully though we WILL see a limited return of dining once the line re-opens as far as Exeter, but before the work at Dawlish is completed. |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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bobm
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« Reply #520 on: February 09, 2014, 15:19:12 » |
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Yes, I did rather put the mockers on it when I posted above ... subject only to no further damage east of Exeter in this weekend's forecast storms.
I was originally told the announcement wasn't go to be made until Monday because of the threat of bad weather over the weekend, but then the release was brought forward. Only supposition on my part but if both the lines east of Taunton are still closed on Monday the 13:00 may run via Honiton as it has during the Whiteball closure. Whether they put a Pullman on it will not be top of the list however. I am sure FGW▸ will be keen to run some through services to London to take the pressure off the bus replacements. |
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bobm
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« Reply #521 on: February 09, 2014, 19:59:34 » |
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Perhaps not surprisingly, I understand the revised Pullman plan has been suspended for at least a week.
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broadgage
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« Reply #522 on: February 10, 2014, 11:02:10 » |
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Perhaps not surprisingly, I understand the revised Pullman plan has been suspended for at least a week.
Entirely understandable under the circumstances. I do hope however that they pursue the plan to run at least a limited Pullman service on services to/from Exeter as soon as the line is open that far. |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #523 on: February 10, 2014, 21:36:31 » |
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It doesn't help the longer term business case of the Pullman service (which isn't exactly a huge money spinner) if its withdrawn for several weeks, while its dedicated staff are presumably being paid to do very little?
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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JayMac
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« Reply #524 on: February 10, 2014, 22:40:27 » |
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The Pullman staff don't exclusively work the restaurant services. They can be found working as 1st Class Hosts or Buffet Customer Hosts. The chefs will sometimes work Travelling Chef services.
At the moment though I suspect there are catering staff across all grades who are either doing very little or are being redeployed elsewhere.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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