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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Pilning Station - where are we, and looking at future options (May 2025)
In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [368318/30237/21]
Posted by Western Pathfinder at 17:58, 18th November 2025
Already liked by Oxonhutch, grahame, PrestburyRoad
 
PIGS MIGHT FLY.....
Yes I know that's not at all likely,
However,on a little trip out this afternoon,I chanced to drop in at Pilning Station!
 
Now in the past I've been known to complain about many things to do with Pilning
The lack of a second platform,and also no way of getting too what's left of the original platform two ,the general poor state of the one that remains in service,not to mention only two trains calling a week.

But blow me down Pilning Has had one hell of a face lift !...
Platform edge has been repaired,tactile paving has been installed,yellow line is in place the entire length,and wonder of wonders the whole of platform one has been completely resurfaced with a good standard of Tarmac.
Not only but also,the old bus stop waiting shelter has been scrapped and replaced with a bright shiny new one which has been moved back from the platform and placed in a more comfortable position.
Wait there's more,as well as all of the above, new signage ,a new help point ,new platform entry gate ,new fencing the entire length of the platform egg crates at both ends with access gates to platform ends.

And last but not least Platform Lighting has been fitted

My Flabber is well and Truly Gasted.

Note the car park surface still resembles a dirt track ,oh and by the he way the gates that were fitted a while back to prevent fly tipping have been adjusted by bending them so as to prevent them from being closed .
One would imagine that the application of a transit van or something similar to the gate was employed to prevent access being denied

Has Christmas Come Early To Pilning....
Remains to be seen..

However a very big Thankyou to Network Rail and GWR is deserved

Going to have a cup of tea and a bit of a lye down now ,to get over the surprise.

Re: Explosion on rail track Poland
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [368317/31110/52]
Posted by Marlburian at 15:50, 18th November 2025
 
Is that the line taken by VIP (and other) visitors to Ukraine? I have the idea that some/most fly into Poland and take a cross-border train, rather than fly direct to Ukraine.

Re: Explosion on rail track Poland
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [368316/31110/52]
Posted by broadgage at 15:05, 18th November 2025
 
Russia said to behind the attack.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gknv8nxlzo

Bristol car park nightmare
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368315/31115/5]
Posted by matth1j at 14:36, 18th November 2025
 
We went to see The Book of Mormon at the Bristol Hippodrome a couple of weeks ago - my wife's friend's stepson was in it and he kindly provided us with free tickets. My office is near the Hippodrome so we also enjoyed free and queue-less car parking. The show was excellent.

We drove in (from Melksham, M4/M32) during the rush hour, and the traffic was pretty bad as you can imagine. But it wasn't much better when we drove home at about 10 - we couldn't believe how busy it was. Our route home included Bath city centre, and that was relatively deserted.

Anyway, on the bright side it could have been a lot worse - BBC 15th November https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c397me7gprvo

Four-hour car park queue amid city gridlock

Drivers who faced four-hour queues to exit a shopping centre car park in central Bristol will not be charged if they left their vehicles overnight.

Motorists in Bristol reported moving just a few feet after hours of waiting on Saturday afternoon, with dozens of cars unable to leave the Cabot Circus car park.

Several roads in the area were also experiencing long queues.

A spokesperson for the city council blamed the problem on a faulty traffic light and the shopping centre said it would not charge people who had abandoned their vehicles.

A Cabot Circus spokesperson said: "The traffic lights were down in the area which caused major delays on the roads but it's now been rectified by the council.

"That was the cause of the delay and then backlog leaving the car park."

The spokesperson said there would be no charge for people collecting their vehicle on Sunday.

They said anyone who paid using the QR code or registered with the car park's automatic Drive In Drive Out system could apply for a refund by emailing car.park@cabotcircus.com.

A number of people trapped in the car park said they were unable to get through to the Cabot Circus helpline.

The spokesperson said: "Given the sheer volume of customers there may have been moments when customer calls couldn't have been taken."

Sam Hill said had been waiting for four hours: "We've only seen one staff member on level three helping people, but it's been chaos. There's no support here from Cabot Circus at all."

The Cabot Circus team said it "diverted as many staff as possible" to the car park and to support with answering the phone in the control room.

"They did everything they could to assist in the circumstances," a spokesperson said.

"Our barriers were also in the up position so that customers were able to exit as soon as congestion had cleared."

James Bleeg, 53, said he spent more than three hours in the jam after coming into town to shop and visit the Christmas market with his wife and 12-year-old son.

Mr Bleeg estimated they only moved a few metres in that time.

He said: "We've been better but life doesn't always go as you planned it. We are trying to keep our spirits up by speaking to family and listening to podcasts."

By 19:00, there were traffic wardens on each floor by the exit ramps helping to direct traffic.

Lucy Trimnell, a Somerset councillor, posted on X that Bristol was "absolute bedlam" after spending three hours stuck in queues.

She added there was "gridlock" on all the roads.

There were multiple traffic jams including Bond Street, Temple Way, The Haymarket, Newfoundland Way and St James Barton Roundabout, according to Google Maps.

Re: Exeter to Barnstaple "commute from hell"
In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [368314/31055/24]
Posted by grahame at 13:28, 18th November 2025
 
Anon post to the Tarka Line Group

Traincrew are currently en route to Barnstaple in a taxi from Exeter to bring back the pair of 150s that have been stranded in the station since last Wednesday. This will be done under empty coaching stock conditions and will not be in passenger service as they need to do a route proving run accompanied by some Network Rail Staff before the line can reopen.

Re: Holding GWR to account - service reliability
In "TransWilts line" [368313/31113/18]
Posted by bobm at 13:25, 18th November 2025
Already liked by grahame, matth1j, Chris from Nailsea, rogerw, Timmer
 
Just for the record I was there too representing the TransWilts CIC.   Some of the stuff we had heard before but as reported there were some encouraging signs for the future and some reassurances that the matter is very much being looked at.

Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion
In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368312/28355/22]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:50, 18th November 2025
 
Correct. Talk to your MP.

Sympathy for GWR. Their budget is still shrinking year-on-year

..............not too much sympathy though 

https://www.firstgroupplc.com/investors/results-centre.aspx

Shares currently down 12.5% today.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025
In "TransWilts line" [368311/29726/18]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:45, 18th November 2025
Already liked by matth1j, Witham Bobby, GBM
 
According to Real Time Trains an Oxford to Westbury feright was held at Bradford Junction waiting for a path, not departing until 1800

One of the benefits of our new berthmaps system is that I can run replays anywhere, not just on a TMIS at work, and having done that I can see nothing obvious that caused the delay - so, no sign of the above freight, or anything coming the other way. 

That suggests it could have been a minor signalling issue, or a temporary block due to trespassers and so on (though nothing was entered into any of the signal berths to indicate that).

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025
In "TransWilts line" [368310/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 11:38, 18th November 2025
 
According to Real Time Trains an Oxford to Westbury feright was held at Bradford Junction waiting for a path, not departing until 1800

I thought I saw that - BUT it was a "Q" - runs as required - path but hadn't been switched on which suggested to me it had not been run.   In hindsight, makes sense that it WAS run.   Intermediate signal or better needed!

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [368309/29650/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 11:27, 18th November 2025
 
Alterations to services between Reading and Didcot Parkway

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Reading and Didcot Parkway the line towards Didcot Parkway is disrupted.

Train services running to and from these stations may be running non stop from Reading. Some stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway will not be served. Disruption is expected until 14:00 18/11.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025
In "TransWilts line" [368308/29726/18]
Posted by rogerw at 11:13, 18th November 2025
Already liked by matth1j
 
According to Real Time Trains an Oxford to Westbury feright was held at Bradford Junction waiting for a path, not departing until 1800

Inspiration Train at Paddington from 8th to 13th December 2025
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [368307/31114/34]
Posted by grahame at 11:01, 18th November 2025
 
Bookings to view the Inspiration train at London Paddington in December opened today.

https://railway200.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/70983?catID=66018

I have booked ... for Saturday 13th December

Essential information - Before your visit

Time:
Please arrive at the station no earlier than 10 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket.

Wow ... I would normally arrive at Paddington in good time and perhaps partake of one of the various refreshment establishments there.  Do they really want me to time it ultra-tight?

Separate post / thread to highlight this on the diary

Re: Holding GWR to account - service reliability
In "TransWilts line" [368306/31113/18]
Posted by grahame at 10:50, 18th November 2025
 
Wot, none of the real bosses, from DfT? I'm sure they did get mentioned, though (and GBR-to-be as well).

Hence
as far as it could go within the metrics set.

Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic)
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368305/5272/28]
Posted by rogerpatenall at 10:45, 18th November 2025
 
Sorry Tony - didn't see that you had already given the RA!

Re: Holding GWR to account - service reliability
In "TransWilts line" [368304/31113/18]
Posted by stuving at 10:43, 18th November 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
Wot, none of the real bosses, from DfT? I'm sure they did get mentioned, though (and GBR-to-be as well).

Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic)
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368303/5272/28]
Posted by rogerpatenall at 10:41, 18th November 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
Interesting subject for a poll. Which will happen first? The stations actually open, or members run out of cliches?

I though that I would get that one in Right Away.

Re: GWR Train / Bus integration - WWRUG, 26th November 2025, Trowbridge. All welcome
In "Diary - what's happening when?" [368302/30844/34]
Posted by grahame at 10:26, 18th November 2025
 

Re: Holding GWR to account - service reliability
In "TransWilts line" [368301/31113/18]
Posted by grahame at 10:24, 18th November 2025
Already liked by matth1j
 
An excellent meeting yesterday as far as it could go within the metrics set. Around six people from GWR, four from the West Wiltshire Rail User Group, and our MP and a member of his technical team. Subject - various across West Wiltshire, but dominant is/was the appalling cancellation rate of trains that are supposed to call at Melksham.   Meetings do not solve problems in themselves - and reliability of services has been an ongoing problem in recent years. But steps are taken, and now is the time to be moving towards a new level with everyone concerned looking to provide an excellent public transport offering for the people of Melksham.

It is really good to have the Melksham Transport User Group (MTUG) - committee met last Thursday - with support (and not just meeting attendance!) from our Melksham Town and Melksham Without reps - giving support not only to help with the immediate reliability issue, but also to look ahead to immediate information provision and reliability improvements, then to improving station access and walking, cycling and bus integration, and then to an improved capacity and services to use that capacity.

An MTUG public transport timetable is in final proofing today, initial copies at the West Wilts meeting next Wednesday (public meeting, Bethesda Church Hall, Trowbridge, 19:00 for 19:30 and finishing to catch the 21:22 back to Melksham) and with the main topic being bus / rail integration. Then distributed at various places and events such as the Christmas Lights on 6th December.   We are concerned at train reliability - however, around 90% of trains do run and there are already systems - to be greatly improved - to provide much better standbys in an environment in which in any case there are reducing cancellations.

Holding GWR to account - service reliability
In "TransWilts line" [368300/31113/18]
Posted by grahame at 10:20, 18th November 2025
Already liked by GBM
 
Brian Mathew is our MP for Melksham and Devizes. From Brian Mathew on Facebook

Holding GWR to account on train reliability

I met with senior GWR management in Swindon to discuss the high number of cancellations at Melksham.

Along with representatives from Melksham Transport User Group and West Wilts Rail User Group (photographed), we pressed for urgent action to improve reliability and passenger experience.

GWR set out its plans, and work to date, in reducing cancellations including:
• Increasing driver and guard recruitment at Westbury Depot and building greater resilience in the local workforce.
• Improving passenger communication systems
• Providing more consistent alternative transport when cancellations do hit

We will be following up on progress early in the new year.

Long term, we want to see a much more frequent and reliable service through Melksham, and I am committed to working with the industry and our fantastic rail user groups to achieve this.


Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic)
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368299/5272/28]
Posted by Andy at 09:43, 18th November 2025
Already liked by Mark A, Chris from Nailsea
 
I didn't mean to derail or sidetrack the discussion but just needed to let off steam on this practice ;-)

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025
In "TransWilts line" [368298/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 08:51, 18th November 2025
Already liked by matth1j
 
I was on the 1750 Chippenham to Melksham yesterday evening, which stopped for no obvious reason on the main line before turning off into the single track section. The train manager announced that we were waiting for another train, but the only one that came past was an IET on its way to Paddington, which AFAIK shouldn't have held us up. We departed Chippenham one minute late, but were 11 minutes late arriving at Melksham.

Graham - I saw you on the platform at Melksham and assumed you'd also been on board; any ideas? (Sorry, had to dash off - band rehearsal in Bristol on Monday evenings and it's already a bit tight without an 11 minute delay.)

I must have missed you as I walked though - mind you, there were nearly 70 people on that train ( [72/18] ) .  I was with a retired driver and a current senior member of the Westbury platform team, and they were a bit puzzled too. Might have been a freight train ahead of us on the single line so waiting for it to clear at Bradford junction - or is it possible that the IET had come through wrong line from the Corsham direction and had to cross to right line ahead of us? Mystery ...

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025
In "TransWilts line" [368297/29726/18]
Posted by matth1j at 08:11, 18th November 2025
 
I was on the 1750 Chippenham to Melksham yesterday evening, which stopped for no obvious reason on the main line before turning off into the single track section. The train manager announced that we were waiting for another train, but the only one that came past was an IET on its way to Paddington, which AFAIK shouldn't have held us up. We departed Chippenham one minute late, but were 11 minutes late arriving at Melksham.

Graham - I saw you on the platform at Melksham and assumed you'd also been on board; any ideas? (Sorry, had to dash off - band rehearsal in Bristol on Monday evenings and it's already a bit tight without an 11 minute delay.)

Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025
In "London to the Cotswolds" [368296/29711/14]
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 07:59, 18th November 2025
 
Tuesday November 18

Today's problem is nothing to do with the trains:

06:43 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 08:44 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train driver being taken ill.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 06:19

09:30:

The stock of the 06:43 is running ECS to Paddington (dep. Shrub Hill 08:55, arr. Paddington 10:47) via Stroud.

Meanwhile,

1W13 06:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (09:29) : arrived Evesham on time, but departed +26, arrived +31.
1W15 07:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern (10:14) : held Evesham (+26) and Shrub Hill (+37), arrived +43.

1P22 08:56 Great Malvern to London Paddington : held Norton (+32), skipped Didcot, arrived +12.
1P24 09:56 Great Malvern to London Paddington (12:23) : departed +26, held Henwick (+38),
1P26 10:59 Great Malvern to London Paddington (13:25) : departed +23, held Norton (+43) and Charlbury (+52), arrived Reading +55 and cancelled thereafter.

13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 16:15 will be started from Reading.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 12:46
Arrived Shrub Hill +16 and cancelled thereafter.

15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be starting late from London Paddington.
This is due to this train being late from the depot.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 15:47
Departed +17, Oxford +18, saved 13 at Evesham, arrived Shrub Hill +9 and cancelled thereafter.

15:18 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 17:29 has been delayed at Evesham and is now 18 minutes late.
This is due to trespassers on the railway.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 16:12
Held Charlbury (+28), arrived +30.

16:32 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:29 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to trespassers on the railway.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 16:13

19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to this train being late from the depot.
Last Updated:18/11/2025 16:41

EDIT 12:30 : more additions.
EDIT 12:50 : correction to the ECS movement - I thought that it was this that was responsible for the delay to 1W13, but it actually went round via Stroud.
EDIT 14:05 : more additions.
EDIT 16:00 : more additions.


Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025
In "Across the West" [368295/30953/26]
Posted by John D at 07:59, 18th November 2025
Already liked by Witham Bobby, Timmer
 
A decent cold snap & the diesel fuel will wax up....
Busses use Adblu these days.
Does that help reduce the wax up problem, and do diesel trains use the same/similar?

Adblu is an exhaust gas treatment added in exhaust system, so doesn't affect fuel delivery to pistons

There are chemical Pour Point depressants added to winter diesel to lower the ambient temperature where it starts to solidify. Years ago they use to add kerosene (aviation jet) to diesel in the winter to do same thing when winter flights were lower and jet was in excess in winter. 

There are whole series of other additives that can be added if raw EN590 spec (Euro diesel) is not met when split at the refinery depending what spec it fails.  Some would be rarely needed, but possibly a mix of additives was in one batch and different additives in another batch of fuel and when trains were topped up with fuel, they ended up together and some metals didn't really like it.

Not going to bore everyone with EN590 specs (can be googled) or the additives and their concentrations to correct the spec (and some are tiny proportions like one part in 10,000)

Re: Weather updates, from across our area - ongoing discussion, 2025
In "Across the West" [368294/30953/26]
Posted by GBM at 07:36, 18th November 2025
 
A decent cold snap & the diesel fuel will wax up....
Busses use Adblu these days.
Does that help reduce the wax up problem, and do diesel trains use the same/similar?

Re: Problems with IET trains from April 2021
In "Across the West" [368293/24934/26]
Posted by GBM at 07:28, 18th November 2025
 
05:03 Penzance to London Paddington due 09:54
Facilities on the 05:03 Penzance to London Paddington due 09:54.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 10.

Another 5 car unit all the way to Paddington.
Very cozy 

Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion
In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [368292/28355/22]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:04, 18th November 2025
 
Correct. Talk to your MP.

Sympathy for GWR. Their budget is still shrinking year-on-year

..............not too much sympathy though 

https://www.firstgroupplc.com/investors/results-centre.aspx

Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025
In "London to the Cotswolds" [368290/29711/14]
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 03:45, 18th November 2025
 
Sunday was a terrible day for service, the 1850 was cancelled due to a smell of biting at the Paddington End , when it
 Was about to depart, however there were 2 hour gaps in the afternoon, and I was wondering based on Monday , if Agility Trains are again failing to get enough trains out .

What I see is trains that can't keep to the timetable. Monday night had:

1W30 15:23 London Paddington to Foregate Street (17:47) : held Wolvercote (+13?), arrived +20.
1W31 15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (18:26) : lost time, arrived Shrub Hill +18 and cancelled thereafter (train, according to RTT)
2E14 17:04 Didcot to Evesham (18:23) : departed Oxford +25, arrived Evesham +24
1W33 16:58 London Paddington to Great Malvern (19:25) : cancelled throughout (windscreen)
1W03 17:34 London Paddington to Hereford (20:25) : lost time, held Evesham (+31), arrived +30.
1W34 17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (20:11) : delayed Didcot (+13), arrived +24.
1W36 18:57 London Paddington to Great Malvern (21:18): lost time, arrived +24.
1W41 20:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (23:13) : Oxford +10, arrived +22.
1W43 21:53 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill (00:01) : delayed Reading (+16), arrived Evesham +23 but departed +59, arrived Shrub Hill +65

Quite why 1W43 sat at Evesham for 36 minutes isn't apparent from RTT. I hope it gets attended to overnight.
At least all of Tuesday's peak sets are nine cars.

Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic)
In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [368289/5272/28]
Posted by TonyK at 21:51, 17th November 2025
Already liked by Andy
 

Quite so. These tired cliches should be shunted into a siding.

And right away.

 
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