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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Photographers asked to tell story of rail travel
In "Media about railways, and other means of transport" [366689/30829/49]
Posted by grahame at 11:53, 9th October 2025
 
Chivied on by an article in the Melksham News, I have submitted a picture entitled "Melksham to Moskosel, all the way by train". Competition close date is 31st December 2025.  Competition asks for high res images (makes sense) - if you click on the image below, it will display at higher resolution for you.




Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [366687/26895/7]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:34, 9th October 2025
 
Whether there are other silly little things that might make it more complicated, who knows!

Newts, just for example. 

Yes.  Or more niche ones like gaining approval to increase the footfall of the unusual and outdated method of getting from the car park to the station by crossing the track.

Re: Free things to see and do - day trip to London
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [366683/30879/31]
Posted by Phil at 09:17, 9th October 2025
Already liked by Ralph Ayres
 
Postman's park. Not just a haven of peace and beauty, but it also houses the humbling, beautiful G.F. Watts Memorial to heroic deeds of ordinary men, women and children which is worth a visit in it’s own right

https://www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/postmans-park/introduction.htm

Re: Free things to see and do - day trip to London
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [366682/30879/31]
Posted by grahame at 09:07, 9th October 2025
 
If it is free..why do they need ticket offices

Things have changed (and, I agree, sad).  Whilst you can go in to many things for free, you are encouraged to make a donation, and made to feel [mean / pretty rotten] if you don't.

Re: Free things to see and do - day trip to London
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [366681/30879/31]
Posted by chuffed at 08:44, 9th October 2025
 
The Science museum has been ruined for me. On a previous visit 10 years ago I was absolutely stunned by the Power Hall with all those static steam engines as far as the eye could see. On my last visit there was a line of ticket offices stretching across the width of the hall that completely takes away the 'wow' moment that I experienced before. Talk about an own goal/shooting yourself in the foot! If it is free..why do they need ticket offices

Re: 175s to GWR
In "Across the West" [366680/28982/26]
Posted by John D at 08:39, 9th October 2025
 
Been reported elsewhere that units 175 111 and 175 115 are currently being hauled from storage at Ely to Wolverton works by locos 93006 and 93002


Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025
In "London to the Cotswolds" [366679/29711/14]
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 06:57, 9th October 2025
Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby
 
Thursday October 9

A nice complementary pair this morning:
Facilities on the 08:18 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:25.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9.
Last Updated:09/10/2025 04:03

Facilities on the 08:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 11:14.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 9 coaches instead of 5.
Last Updated:09/10/2025 04:04

... which means the excuse about "trains needing repair" is rather silly.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [366678/29726/18]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:56, 9th October 2025
 

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Re: Bus destroyed by fire, A30 Cornwall, 7th October 2025.
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [366676/7528/5]
Posted by John D at 22:31, 8th October 2025
 
Euro 6 bus again. The exhaust systems run ridiculously hot to burn off and reduce emissions. They also have tiny engines compared to buses in the past which works extremely hard.
To my knowledge there has been no electric bus fires caused by mechanical. The only one I know of was arson by a passenger upstairs!

Yes but, reported as an Alexander Dennis Enviro400. Enviro means electric dont it. 400 means really scary

Enviro is the bodywork style, came out about 2006

Replaced the Alexander ALX400 and Plaxton President, as ADL had merged by then via Transbus

The 400 is double deck 2 axle version, they used same numbers as ALX series except the long single deck ALX300 just became a long Enviro200

There have been diesel, hybrid, compressed gas, and electric versions



Re: Buses and coaches bursting into flames - why are they apparently so combustible? (merged topic)
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [366675/7528/5]
Posted by broadgage at 22:09, 8th October 2025
Already liked by Ralph Ayres
 
My remarks were intended to be light-hearted, and to be reflection of the views held by the hard of thinking.

Re: Bus destroyed by fire, A30 Cornwall, 7th October 2025.
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [366671/7528/5]
Posted by JayMac at 19:36, 8th October 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea
 
Yes but, reported as an Alexander Dennis Enviro400. Enviro means electric dont it. 400 means really scary

Enviro doesn't mean electric. Alexander Dennis (and predecessor TransBus) have been making buses called Enviro since 2001.

Once again. The bus involved in this fire was a diesel engined 2015 Enviro400.

Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [366670/26895/7]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:10, 8th October 2025
 
Whether there are other silly little things that might make it more complicated, who knows!

Newts, just for example. 

Re: Bus destroyed by fire, A30 Cornwall, 7th October 2025.
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [366669/7528/5]
Posted by FarWestJohn at 18:56, 8th October 2025
 
ENVIRO400EV is the electric version

Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [366668/26895/7]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 18:55, 8th October 2025
 
A petition has been opened by somebody called David Sleight to support additional parking at Twyford:

It should in theory be a reasonably easy place to add more parking as the current park is large enough to support a second or third deck with very minimal intrution to the views of neighbouring properties, the nearest ones being the other side of the Henley branch line.

Whether there are other silly little things that might make it more complicated, who knows!

Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [366667/26895/7]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:41, 8th October 2025
 
This doesn't affect me at all, personally, but I do support their intention and agenda.


Re: Bus destroyed by fire, A30 Cornwall, 7th October 2025.
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [366666/7528/5]
Posted by broadgage at 18:35, 8th October 2025
 
Euro 6 bus again. The exhaust systems run ridiculously hot to burn off and reduce emissions. They also have tiny engines compared to buses in the past which works extremely hard.
To my knowledge there has been no electric bus fires caused by mechanical. The only one I know of was arson by a passenger upstairs!

Yes but, reported as an Alexander Dennis Enviro400. Enviro means electric dont it. 400 means really scary

Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens
In "London to Reading" [366665/26895/7]
Posted by BBM at 16:21, 8th October 2025
 
A petition has been opened by somebody called David Sleight to support additional parking at Twyford:

https://www.change.org/p/support-additional-parking-at-twyford-station

The Issue
Twyford Station is a vital lifeline for thousands of commuters across Wokingham Borough. With fast GWR services to London Paddington and convenient Elizabeth Line connections, it’s the Borough’s gateway for work, education, and leisure.

But there’s a major problem: parking is a nightmare.

· Around 400 spaces—usually full by 7:15 AM.
· No clear plan from the Borough Council or GWR to fix it.
· More yellow lines being proposed for local roads, making things worse.

If you’ve ever struggled to park, missed your train, had to walk miles just to catch your commute, or rely on others to drop you off due to the lack of parking — this affects you.

We’re calling on Wokingham Borough Council to:

1. Work with GWR to assess current and future parking demand.
2. Explore proper solutions to expand parking near the station.
3. Act now, not in the “medium term.”
4. Improve connections with buses and cycling options.

Please support this campaign and sign the petition.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [366664/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 15:15, 8th October 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
FWIW I've submitted another complaint to GWR via their online form.
Not that their web software is antiquated or anything but you can't even put brackets or semicolons in the complaint text - "We are unable to submit your form with some of the special characters you’ve used entered" 

EDIT: and I've just noticed how that (copy/pasted) sentence ends!

Could be a precaution against this sort of thing:

https://xkcd.com/327/

Mark

I love little Johnny ...

We had a member sign up to the forum with the user name NULL at one time, and I'm certainly aware of special characters and injection attack issues (which I will not describe here!).   Some sympathy with GWR though simple enough coding wise to filter and change - "cook" - special characters.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [366663/29726/18]
Posted by matth1j at 15:11, 8th October 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
EDIT: and I've just noticed how that (copy/pasted) sentence ends!
Could be a precaution against this sort of thing:
https://xkcd.com/327/
Like I said, "antiquated"

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [366662/29726/18]
Posted by Mark A at 15:04, 8th October 2025
 
FWIW I've submitted another complaint to GWR via their online form.
Not that their web software is antiquated or anything but you can't even put brackets or semicolons in the complaint text - "We are unable to submit your form with some of the special characters you’ve used entered" 

EDIT: and I've just noticed how that (copy/pasted) sentence ends!

Could be a precaution against this sort of thing:

https://xkcd.com/327/

Mark

Re: Free things to see and do - day trip to London
In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [366661/30879/31]
Posted by JayMac at 14:54, 8th October 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea
 
Science Museum

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [366660/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 14:40, 8th October 2025
 
Our aim is to get to the bottom of why delays occur and work out how to prevent them. Our focus is also on the things we can directly control, like:
·        our timetable,
·        how many trains we have and how reliable they are,
·        and our train crew and their availability

For sure, a form letter - and so quickly-out that it had to be.

If the three big issues on the service through Melksham were sorted ...
* Crew availability
* Train availability
* Timetabling for robustness
were worked out and then the steps taken to implement the solutions, much much happier days.  It is excellent to see GWR's confirmation that "these are things we can directly control"


 
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