They'll be just the job when they finally start their slimmed-down first route, Bedminster to Parson Street.

 
Planning a journey and I'm having to account for possibly/probably hitting the evening peak on my return. I've tested numerous combinations, and even the splitter sites and ChatGPT haven't exactly been up to the challenge! The annoyance is that I could possibly make the last pre-peak train, but I cna't guarantee it, so I must pay more on the (strong) change I miss it - or pay the off-peak fare and the pay an even bigger total if I do end up needing to travel in the peak. I've ended up with an option with 3 or 4 splits to make it work! What doesn't help is that it seemed each ticket I looked at for the peak-minimising splits had a different restriction code!

So I'd be very happy with at least a tidying of peak fares. I can understand morning peak fares as a way of maximising the railway's income without having to raise the off-peak fare to cover costs. However doing away with evening peak restrictions and/or rationalising the plethora of restriction codes would be a great compromise.

 

The backstory is SWR have contracted with WABTEC in Staffordshire to overhaul the engines.  However it appears WABTEC failed to ensure it had sufficient spare parts to actually do the work in a timely way.

Not sure if it was a case of SWR failing to do due diligence to ensure their chosen party was capable, or if they had no choice as no one else is still prepared to overhaul these 1980s designs, as some parts are no longer available.

Basically the 159s are now older than their predecessors, class 50s, and earlier locos, classes 33, 47, 42 warships, and Bulleid Pacific's etc.  I think have to go back to the Lord Nelson class to find motive power that got older on the Salisbury-Exeter line

 

I received it once from TfW after purchasing through the app. It wasn't even an advance fare, but being an app-based purchase the ticket stated a train. I think an e-mail or add notification arrived saying the planned train had been cancelled or delayed or whatever, and I had to confirm if I wanted to claim. 

 
Whilst the headline news on SWR's Exeter to waterloo services relates to soil infrastructure, they are also saying that a number of short forms of their Class 159s on that route is due to a shortage of spare parts at the factory.

 
It ran as normal to Oxford, but then non-stop from there to Shrub Hill... or at least that's what was announced and shown on the boards at Oxford. Looking at RTT, it seems to have lost 7 or so minutes at Wolvercot waiting for the single line, but then clawed back 20 by not stopping until Shrub Hill.

(Yes, I was waiting for it at Oxford and trying to get back to Charlbury, mutter mutter.)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P08644/2025-08-13/detailed#allox_id=0

 
1W21 1053 Padd - Shrub Hill is reported on RTT to be cancelled due to a problem with the doors.  But the same site is showing it as running, but 33 minutes late at present (at Charlbury)

 
Wednesday August 13

1P11 05:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington (07:24) departed +59 and may have skipped stops, arrived +47.


Seems to be running to time.

 
Not many going early. Less than 20 on the 1215 from Truro. I suspect that will change later

 
A sensible decision in my view

 

Various people have asked me if I will stand, and I told them I would consider doing so.  Well - I have considered and had basically concluded "no, I won't".  Further discussion with Lisa, and more observation of current councillors, have confirmed that decision - more at https://grahamellis.uk/blog1685.html

It will mean more time to do other things - now that I am back off the end of my 2000 mile plus journey from Svolvaer, I have time to work on software, sort out some transport questions, wash my clothes and write a book without being constantly pulled into fraught in-person meetings where progress seems positively snail-paced, and which worry my tempremant.

 
Go-Op might afford them....

 
Don't start me on those who try to eat one handed on the Pullman while using their laptop with the other.....

 

That unit was ok, it was swapped with a faulty Class 150.

 
This graphic came up on a Facebook feed:



One of the problems that heritage and small independent operators have is that almost all of their operational stock is unique, making spares, expertise and service robustness a very serious concern. With a fleet of 3 units, could this make a difference somewhere?  Perhaps to connect into Network Rail / GBR lines for an off-tourist-peak service?

In the South West ... totally detached running ... Bodmin General, Kingswear, Buckfastleigh, Parked.    And with through running into a GBR station ... Minehead, Swanage.  Contentious extension - would an open access operator locally find them a useful fleet and/or would an otherwise track-isolated branch run well with them?

 
It annoys me in the smaller outlets where several will be working at tables, with a queue of customers wanting tables.

 
Usual alterations for this event are in place...

Falmouth Town closed and half hourly service running to close of service 23.00hrs

 
Don’t think I’d get my bus inside. That’ll be bulkier than the desktops and printers they’re complaining about!

 
Have seen a shuttle bus at Bradford on Avon, route numbered W1 (presumably as it serves Winsley) however First aren't operating it.  It was a white short envio200 belonging to Beeline coaches of Warminster.

If ever there was a bridge that needed a steel height beam, based on number of times it has been hit Limpley Stoke should be near top of list.   

One span was taken out years ago, that held the Camerton line track, it was three track to the junction for decades, but nowadays the third trackbed is just lots of overgrown buddliea bushes attacking the joints in brick retaining wall alongside the road .

 
There seems to be an increasing number of 5 car IET running around on long distance services, instead of 9 or 10 cars.
Noticeably over the last week, and today.
The 0503 Penzance to Paddington has been 5 cars a few times this week.
Also a few short running with faults appearing on a unit, making it terminate short.

Notice today that 2P04
06:28 Penzance to Plymouth due 08:20 will be terminated at Liskeard.
It will no longer call at Plymouth.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 2.
Then it transforms into 2P05
2P05 0808 Liskeard to Plymouth

So the unit is faulty and can't continue to Plymouth as 2P04 but the fault clears at Liskeard and it continues to Plymouth.

Things seem to be going downhill?

 
It's been Falmouth Week, and the Red Arrows are there at 1815 today.
Will this catch GWR by surprise and not be ready for big crowds!

The branch suffered a few breakdowns by one unit or other over the last few weeks, hopefully won't happen today of all days. 

 
I would guess this is exactly the same basic process as used by LNER for their Automated Delay Repay system. AFAIK it only applies to Advance Purchase tickets bought online, assumes by the person travelling, and they obviously monitor their services and pay out for relevant delays without any intervention from the passenger. I don't know if any other TOCs have a similar Automated Delay Repay tool. 

 

Indeed - there's various balances to be struck.  I - often (perhaps I might even say "usually" when alone) have my laptop to hand when eating and drinking away from home. In part it's a 'mental' thing of having company or something to do.  If I am pausing at the location for a while (perhaps to rest, or awaiting onward public transport, or completing a post) in addition to the time taken to eat or drink, how long is it reasonable to do that, and am I seat or table blocking?   The modern form of sitting in the corner and reading a book or newspaper ... rather than staring into space or people-watching to the extent they may feel that I am creepy.

Coffee Shops and eateries themselves set out their "stall"s to guide their customers and tune their customer bases.  In work days, there was one chain restaurant I would use where it seemed the staff were taught to take tuned care of customers eating alone; subtle differences that made me feel welcome.   There are other where "find your table and have one come to the bar to order" discourage the lone eater as (s)he is split between finding and holding on to a table - perhaps leaving something there to mark it as taken - while ordering.   And then there's the whole business of how tables are arranged - is the tiniest table for one in that awkward triangle in the passageway to the loo?

 
In days gone by,did we get refunds if our train was delayed or cancelled?