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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Only Connect - Lion Wall - AQ 8.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369114/31224/30]
Posted by ellendune at 09:36, 8th December 2025
 
Severn Beach, Blue Anchor, Carbis Bay, Dawlish Warren  - All directly on the coast near a beach

Re: Problems with IET trains from April 2021
In "Across the West" [369113/24934/26]
Posted by GBM at 09:03, 8th December 2025
 
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington due 12:57
Facilities on the 07:10 Penzance to London Paddington due 12:57.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 10 to Bristol Temple Meads. There are no reservations on this service.
No additional coaches waiting at Plymouth.
Cozy.
In addition the service shows Bristol Temple Meads [BRI]
Service stops to drop passengers off only  (yeh, right!).

I see Penzance has lost the 0503 Paddington service, and all services (today?) run via Bristol.
Why?

Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance
In "London to the West" [369112/489/12]
Posted by GBM at 08:21, 8th December 2025
 
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55

23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55 will be terminated at Plymouth.

It will no longer call at Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth and Penzance.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Loco issues, or carriage issues?

Re: London to Frankfurt and Geneva - direct trains from Eurostar?
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369111/29934/51]
Posted by ray951 at 08:16, 8th December 2025
Already liked by Witham Bobby
 
The HS2 to HS1 link was descoped from the HS2 Programme in 2015, and I am not making this up, it was replaced by an enhanced walking route between Euston and St. Pancras. See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f79bae5274a2e8ab4c681/HS2-HS1_report.pdf

Of course now that HS2 won't get to Euston until 20??, even the enhanced walking route would be of no use, although it will probably still be built

A map of the proposed HS2-HS1 link can be found here https://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hs2-maps-20120110/hs2arp00drrw05140issue2.pdf


Re: Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369110/31223/31]
Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:01, 8th December 2025
Already liked by GBM, Witham Bobby, rogerw
 
The loss of two containers of avocados should surely be the subject of celebration? 

Re: Only Connect - Lion Wall - AQ 8.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369109/31224/30]
Posted by grahame at 07:52, 8th December 2025
 
Battersby, Bere Alston, Bodmin General, Coombe Junction

All locations where through trains stop and reverse, before continuing along a different line of route to that which they arrived on.

Yes - that is exactly the first connection I had ...

Re: Only Connect - Lion Wall - AQ 8.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369108/31224/30]
Posted by brooklea at 07:45, 8th December 2025
Already liked by bradshaw
 
Battersby, Bere Alston, Bodmin General, Coombe Junction

All locations where through trains stop and reverse, before continuing along a different line of route to that which they arrived on.

Re: London to Frankfurt and Geneva - direct trains from Eurostar?
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [369107/29934/51]
Posted by Electric train at 07:39, 8th December 2025
 
So maybe HS2 will turn out to have been not such a bad idea if a connection between the two lines can be built (who's gonna pay for it?).
 

Not in the centaury, judging by the ability of UK plc to take and fund infrastructure projects.  It reality in my view given all the previous challenges of building the link in London,  the only viable HS1 HS2 link would skirt around North London from the existing HS1 Thames Tunnels and linking up with HS2 in the Wendover / Aylesbury area, providing the Northern Powerhouse with a link but missing a vital link to London

Re: Elizabeth Line - most used National Rail stations
In "Transport for London" [369106/31217/46]
Posted by Electric train at 07:25, 8th December 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
The hidden Violet, (in terms of  Modesty and Humility) is at 8th is Farringdon from a fairly obscure station now such a key National rail interchange with Thameslink.  Thameslink providing services to St Pancras, Bedford, Cambridge, Peterborough,  Gatwick, Brighton, London Bridge, Sevenoaks and many more.


Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369105/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 07:15, 8th December 2025
 
14. Fiesch, neuer Bahnhof. More than that, it's an ÖV-Hub, and won a prize for best new bit of transport stuff in its year.


Actually no - in fact I had to scroll back to the questions, and to look up Fiesch, to help me put your answer in context.  Having done so, I can see why you might think ...

The quiz (now from yesterday) was a particularly tricky one - I'll leave it open for another day or two, but then come in with the answers to those not yet solved.   By the way - if I "like" an answer, it's correct ... I will also be coming back and filling all of those correct answers in on the original a bit later.

Only Connect - Lion Wall - AQ 8.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369104/31224/30]
Posted by grahame at 07:10, 8th December 2025
 
How many members watch "Only Connect" on TV (BBC2)? One of the games the teams are asked to answer if to find four groups of four somehow-related words or things from a 4 by 4 wall of 16 - for example four words that express happiness, or four names that contain a foodstuff.  It's made more complex by the categories being somewhat obscure, and by there being more than four items that fit a category - those extre combinations ruled out because some of the items fit multiple categories and those that multi-fit have to be in the "right" place because of the need for four in some other group which might otherwiser be incomplete.

Only Connect uses ancient Egyptian hyroglyphs to name questions ... and is played by two teams.   Here is my first wall for today (a second is prepared and may follow) - the "Lion" wall.  Expect me to reject some apparent good conbinations with "no, that's not it" as you find four perfectly good linked items, but one or more have to be held back for another category.

AinsdaleBattersbyBere AlstonBlue Anchor
Bodmin GeneralCarbis BayCoombe JunctionCorkickle
Dawlish WarrenHayleLelantLlanbister Road
RavenglassSandplaceSevern BeachSt Germans


The British Railways lion on wheel emblem, designed by Abram Games. Photo by Nottsexminer [CC BY-SA 2.0] via flickr and via the beauty of Transport

Re: Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369103/31223/31]
Posted by CyclingSid at 06:14, 8th December 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
Not exactly "Whisky Galore", unfortunately.

Re: Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance
In "London to the West" [369102/489/12]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 05:45, 8th December 2025
 
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55

23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55 will be terminated at Plymouth.

It will no longer call at Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth and Penzance.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369101/31222/30]
Posted by stuving at 01:02, 8th December 2025
 
14. Fiesch, neuer Bahnhof. More than that, it's an ÖV-Hub, and won a prize for best new bit of transport stuff in its year.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369100/31222/30]
Posted by stuving at 00:45, 8th December 2025
 
9. Tallinn - specifically Balti jaam tram stop.

I so felt that Balti jaam should be an Indiaan dish.

Something to be eaten with your Nan, perhaps?

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369099/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 22:16, 7th December 2025
 
12 - Leer, Germany near Dutch border (?)

Yes - the train service from Leer to Groningen is suspended. On 3 December 2015, the bridge over the Ems was destroyed by a ship colliding with it. Due back after 5 years, then in 2024, most recent estimate was this year.  It's the only international rail link between Germany and the Netherlands to the north of the main line east from Amsterdam via Osnabroek

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369098/31222/30]
Posted by eightonedee at 21:39, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
12 - Leer, Germany near Dutch border (?)

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369097/31222/30]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 21:13, 7th December 2025
Already liked by grahame
 
0. Is that rail replacement bus stop sign in Melksham by any chance?

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369096/18719/26]
Posted by grahame at 20:50, 7th December 2025
 
**snip**
Through trains between Cheltenham and London are further reduced from the existing 3 at 10.47, 15.00 and 17.00 to just a single working at 10.47, the other two workings terminating at Swindon.
**snip**

Today, 4 out of 14 trains via the Stroud Valley and Swindon were cancelled and three (that ran) carried on to London. Next Sunday, there are again 14 scheduled but one the one carries on to London.   So will that and other reductions such as Bristol to London help it become more reliable?  Will it help the railway save money?  Has no-one been too bothered today because it's changing anyway next weekend?   

In the back of my mind, I recall the promise that the railway has to save money - is it being done by running fewer trains when staff are on the best rate, and fares are super-off-peak?

I also recall a promise to make services more reliable - is it being done by some thinning out of services in the timetable?

Re: Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369095/31223/31]
Posted by bobm at 20:48, 7th December 2025
 
The “Baltic Kipper”?   All sounds a bit fishy to me. 

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369094/31222/30]
Posted by grahame at 20:40, 7th December 2025
 
9. Tallinn - specifically Balti jaam tram stop.

I so felt that Balti jaam should be an Indiaan dish.

Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369093/31222/30]
Posted by stuving at 20:20, 7th December 2025
 
9. Tallinn - specifically Balti jaam tram stop.

Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369092/18719/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:30, 7th December 2025
 
Those Bristol - London trains are packed on a half hourly schedule on a Sunday. As is the afternoon service from Cheltenham. Wow.

Meanwhile the DfT have had GWR’s seven day railway proposals since August with not a dickie bird heard since, so god knows if that’s happening.

I guess what I find surprising, given the number of years it's been an issue, is that GWR took until August 2025 to submit these proposals?

Re: Comedian Dom Joly rants about poor rail service between Cheltenham and London
In "Swindon to Gloucester / Cheltenham" [369091/31221/38]
Posted by Mark A at 18:28, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Witham Bobby
 
Ah, heading from Cheltenham to London via Kingham - the route that came up in discussion with someone's elderly nephew as, by train before the Banbury and Cheltenham route closed, with careful choice of trains it offered an earlier arrival time at Paddington than the Cheltenham Express. I've still not sourced sufficient timetables to fact-check this.

Mark

Solent - Banana containers cause shipping disruption, Dec 2025
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [369090/31223/31]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:26, 7th December 2025
 
From the BBC:


The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) advised the public to report any materials found

Warnings have been broadcast to ships in the Solent after 16 containers, mostly containing bananas, fell overboard off the Isle of Wight.

HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation after the containers came off cargo ship the Baltic Klipper near the Nab tower lighthouse, off Bembridge, on Saturday, at about 18:00 GMT.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said no crew members were injured and that the containers were carrying "non-hazardous cargo". Two containers have so far come ashore at Selsey, West Sussex.

The incident has disrupted some shipping movements, with the P&O Cruises ship Iona delayed in departing from Southampton because of the obstruction.

Eight containers were carrying bananas, two have avocados, another plantain, and five others are empty.

A cordon has been put in place in Selsey, where West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police, and local coastguard rescue teams are in attendance where boxes and bananas have been spotted washing up on the shore.

The MCA said: "HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities, including the vessel's owners, who are responsible for recovering the containers. Broadcasts are being sent to warn local shipping, and Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team is on patrol."


The 16 containers were being shipped on the Baltic Klipper

The MCA advised the public to avoid the area and that "all wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to HM Coastguard's Receiver of Wreck".

"Those who fail to declare items within 28 days are breaking the law and may have further action taken against then," it said.


The drifting containers include various fruit

Steve Wenham, from Portsmouth, who has worked on ferries in the Solent, said the Baltic Klipper was a refrigerated vessel specialising in soft fruits, and was a "regular visitor" to the area. "She normally does a round-robin trip every month from the Caribbean or West Africa," he said. "If any containers have sunk they're not going to be a problem, but it's the ones that are still afloat, they're the hazard." He said the drifting containers were a "massive issue" because they could float into the shipping lanes and "cause a great deal of damage".

Iona, which has a capacity of 5,200 passengers, had been due to set off on Saturday for a 14-day trip to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. It was eventually given clearance at about 13:00 GMT on Sunday.


Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion
In "Across the West" [369089/18719/26]
Posted by a-driver at 18:13, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
Meanwhile the DfT have had GWR’s seven day railway proposals since August with not a dickie bird heard since, so god knows if that’s happening.

Standard DfT.

I honestly won’t be surprised if they keep hold of it until the operation is nationalised so they can take the credit for it.

Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
In "The Lighter Side" [369088/11558/30]
Posted by stuving at 15:42, 7th December 2025
Already liked by IndustryInsider, Mark A, PrestburyRoad, eightonedee, Witham Bobby
 
And the picture is of ...

Basingstoke! Well, there are some similarities, I guess ...

Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
In "The Lighter Side" [369087/11558/30]
Posted by grahame at 14:36, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Witham Bobby
 
And the picture is of ...


Re: AQ - Sometimes there are no trains ... 7.12.2025
In "The Lighter Side" [369086/31222/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:14, 7th December 2025
 
8.  Melksham. 

Re: Station Search
In "The Lighter Side" [369085/31216/30]
Posted by grahame at 12:12, 7th December 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A
 
Here are the places that Lisa helped me wedge into the puzzle

25 or so from Flanders and Swann
Millers Dale
Tideswell
Mow Cop
Scholar Green
Blandford Forum
Mortehoe
Midsomer
Norton
Chorlton
Chester-le-Street
Littleton Badsey
Longstanton 
Formby
(Four) Crosses
Dunstable Town
Dogdyke
Tumby Woodside
Ambergate 
Chittening
Selby
St Ives
Cockermouth
Buttermere
Armley
Moor

And a few more that helped fill the gaps
Croy
Ebbw
Bury
Chard
Hoo
Eden
Mold
Lee
Eye

There are about 30 stations in here - 25 of the with a connecting theme.   Can you spot the theme?  Post up the place you find to help others know whet they're looking for.   Some stations have long names that don't fit it and you'll find that some stations are only here in parts - Bow Brickhill might have been there as Bow or Brickhill for example.



 
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