a) The operator is not obliging - they are not running the services ("Cancelled" means to me that a service is not running)

b) I posted my view that GWR should be driving this to get approval.  Does your "nope" mean that you don't believe they should be?

 
Premium bonds are a bit of fun but statistically even with the maximum holding you're better off with an ISA in terms of likely returns on your money.

I'll have an occasional flutter on sporting fixtures just to add a bit of fun if I'm attending!

 
Nope. The DfT request the operator to run some services within a set budget; the operator obliges.

 

Hope you're on 29th or thereafter.   

 

Have you come across this:
DACI: Driver, Approver, Contributor, Informed

I appreciate that the DfT is the approver.  GWR are / (or at least should be) the driver

 
Most items: definitely not - because on average I'm going to lose out to the bookie etc.
Premium bonds and carefully selected investments: yes - because the average gain makes them worthwhile.
Crossing the road in front of oncoming traffic: usually - but only after looking both ways twice and because I reckon I'm still nimble.
Depending on the last train: yes - because I expect the train company to be able to get me home eventually.

For the Greatest Gathering I did risk getting the last train home from Derby to Cheltenham.  Because I really wanted to stay on for the Museum of Making evening slot, and I reckoned that the worst that was at all likely to happen would be having to get the first train the following day.

 
1. is out of GWRs hands - requires funding by the DfT

 
Example that I know of at Westbury. Station users parking on the estate nearby. That was soon sorted by the arrival of double yellows.

Another estate has recently been built near the station. The double yellows were there from the outset. Problem now with parking at Westbury is that on weekdays it’s often full by 8am despite the expansion a few years back.

I wonder how much parking at Westbury will go up by come 1st of September to possibly reflect the popularity of parking there?

 
Local authority problem then....

 

In my neck of the woods ... may effect Freshford and Yetminster? I really wonder if in some cases this may push regular parkers onto the local streets ...

 
The DfT has required GWR to start charging at car parks that have been free to use up till now.

Heyford, Honeybourne & the 9 space - Pershore car parks all have charges from next Monday. THey are just the ones I know about, there will be others like this

 
I've got some Premium Bonds and so has Lisa - it's a way we can have some funds off to one side for emergency use in separate accounts just in case one of us becomes no longer available and the other has to pick up the pieces.  And I will occasionally buy tickets for a prize draw; I will admit to that being either to support the old cause the money goes to, or because it's expected of me.  I will not gamble on going out and taking a punt on being able to get home if it's in doubt - in other words I will not take a significant risk in being stuck, unplanned, away from home.

Last night (and far from the first time), GWR cancelled but then re-instated the last train home, and that would have put me personally off even risking an evening out.  Sure, the train ran, BUT I wouldn't have risked it.  Posting a poll here to see if I'm unusually cautious on that, or if others would gamble being able to get home.

 
Fares go up "annually" in March (or January) ... and other costs go up at other times too ...


and car parking charges are going up as from next weekend too ... as alerted by Tarka line friends and groups on Facebook

Here's a comparison - {left} the current charges on the APCOA site as linked to by GWR a few minutes ago - no mention on that page of the new rates and {right} the sign at Barnstaple station shared for review from the group above.



Reaction on the Facebook page has not been positive to the extent that an admin has turned commenting off.

 
This is probably why Elizabeth line and Oxford to London services are being affected, signalling fault affecting the fast London bound platforms at Reading.

Cancellations to services at Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running to and from this station will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Reading affecting platforms 10 & 11, some services will be altered; delayed or cancelled.

We're sorry for the delay to your journey.

We will update this message with more information when we have it.
Elizabeth line are conveying passengers between Reading and London Paddington in both directions until further notice.

 
From National Rail - judging by the cancellations between Oxford-Paddington it's not only affecting the Elizabeth Line.

A fault with the signalling system between Reading and Twyford means some lines are disrupted.

As a result, Elizabeth line trains running between Reading and Maidenhead may be delayed or cancelled.

Disruption is expected to continue until 09:00.

 

Yet AGAIN ... From a passenger viewpoint, that's one cheer rather than three.  Yes, happy that the trains ran but customers (or wannabe customers) plan ahead and typically make return journeys and need to be re-assured that GWR will get them home - which they are NOT when a cancellation is announced in such definite terms, and without any alternative being offered.

It may be OPERATIONALLY CONVENIENT to cancel a train and then re-instate it, but it shakes passenger confidence.   We can't even just roll our eyes and work on the basis that it will probably be re-instated - because frankly, we would be guessing or gambling.  And people don't want to guess or gamble as to whether/how they'll get home at the end of the day.

Three suggestions for GWR:

1. Employ enough staff with appropriate training so you don't have to cancel more than 1.5% of trains
 
2. If you have doubt as to whether or not a train will run, clearly state that it's in doubt rather than the definite cancellation notice that's later reminded. And give an update time when you'll know for definite.

3. When you announce a cancellation, at the same time announce alternatives that will get people home / to their destinations.  It is already routine to tell people how they can get their money back - but that's typically not what people want.  They want to get home.

 

It appears that these cancellations were rescinded; the whole TransWilts service on Mon 25th ran.
Weymouth line also  better than originally suggested, but still 3 cancellations.

 

When we were a hotel and lived up the road, we had no night porter but rather were on emergency call and if concerned I would take our "Gyp" the across if called out.  Black dog, speed and height of a greyhound, build and strength of a staffie.  Sweetest, softest dog you ever did meet, but at a first sight people wouldn't have been sure of that.

 
Bank Holiday Monday August 25

First day of service after seven days of closure.


Final scores:

1W30 15:23 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (17:47) : held Evesham (+67), arrived +71.
1W31 15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern : delayed at Ladbroke Grove (+17), held Moreton (+68), arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +118 and cancelled thereafter.
2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham (18:23) : delayed Ascott (+46), arrived Moreton-in-Marsh +45 and cancelled thereafter.
1W03 17:34 London Paddington to Hereford (20:25) : held Honeybourne (+31) and Evesham (+52), arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +54 and cancelled thereafter.
1W34 17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (20:11) : held Moreton (+19), Evesham (+32), arrived +38.
1W36 18:57 London Paddington to Great Malvern : departed +17, arrived Reading +20 and cancelled thereafter.
1W05 19:53 London Paddington to Hereford (22:57) : held Oxford (+45) and Wolvercote (+51), saved 14 at Great Malvern (+51), arrived +57.
1W41 20:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (23:13) : delayed Oxford (+9), arrived +17.
1W43 21:53 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill (00:01) : cancelled throughout.
1W45 23:32 London Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway (01:06) : started from Reading.

1P38 16:32 Great Malvern to Paddington (19:29) : arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +8 and cancelled thereafter.
1P39 17:26 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington (19:52) : held Shrub Hill (+61), Norton (+103), saved 10 at Moreton, arrived +90.
1P40 18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington (20:29) : departed +79, held Shrub Hill (+90), operated via Stroud, arrived +71.
2E16 18:51 Evesham to Oxford (19:50) : started from Moreton-in-Marsh
1P42 19:02 Great Malvern to London Paddington : started from Worcester Shrub Hill (+50), held Norton (+66), arrived Reading +77 and cancelled thereafter.
1P44 19:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington (22:24) : started from Oxford (+19), arrived +18.
1P06 22:00 Hereford to London Paddington (01:15) : started from Worcester Shrub Hill

Aug 26 05:00 : "latest scores" replaced by "final scores".

 
The Times gives us this taster from behind a firewall


It kinda suggests the care needed if jail sentences are replaced by "you cannot drive" orders.   Clearly, a lot detail is missing yet, but if things aren't done carefully ...

 

I would agree with you.  These changes have been ongoing in recent years, and budget changes effecting the cost of employing will have tipped the balance / brought changes forward for some.

 
From the BBC:

Three killed in Isle of Wight helicopter crash during flying lesson



Three people have died and a fourth remains in hospital in a serious condition after a helicopter crashed during a flying lesson on the Isle of Wight.

The helicopter came down in a field near Ventor just before 09:30 BST on Monday morning.

An investigation has been launched by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson described the crash as a tragedy and said the whole community is in shock.

 

But not all since the beginning of the year! (when those losses are counted from)

 
From my own recent experience, the greatest challenge over the past year was not so much 'checking in' to a hotel as 'negotiating my way past the guard dogs'. 

 
Bearing in mind the number of people caught driving while disqualified I am sure this will be highly effective.

 

......I thought it was "pick up only" at Reading?

Either way, if you are correct I can't imagine trying to enforce that would have been a particularly bright move, given that it was most likely the last option for many to get home following the end of the Reading festival, may have got a bit unpleasant on the platform!

 
From The BBC


Are we sure that the job loss blame goes so much onto the Budget?

I have spent a lot - and I mean a LOT - of nights away so far this year.n. Looking at hotels where I have some inside experience:
* Modern automation allows for self checkin and no need for evening staff
* Room servicing is often only undertaken on an "as required" basic on intermediate days
* AirBandB type establishments are strong as such places now have a way to find a market
* Room occupancy rates, so efficiency, can be so much higher with online booking

 
Can confirm after passing through this morning that the lifts still arent working, indeed there's signs of weeds around the south platform lift doors. There really needs to be an enquiry into this, I've heard about the 'power supply issues' but really these should have been resolved by now and service started.