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Great Western Coffee Shop
2.5.2025 (Friday) 05:55 - All running AOK
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361122/30228/30]
Posted by PhilWakely at 05:32, 2nd May 2025
 
RB.37 is a cryptic reference to Derwent Water.

"The Rolls-Royce RB.37 Derwent is a 1940s British centrifugal compressor turbojet engine, the second Rolls-Royce jet engine to enter production."

D3 refers to Skiddaw.

D3 'Skiddaw' was the first Class 44 Peak that I copped many moons ago on a trip to Nottingham.

Re: A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361121/30228/30]
Posted by Red Squirrel at 23:22, 1st May 2025
 
Yes - KWK is Keswick Bus Station, and you can now get through tickets from Avanti West Coast. The bus runs every half hour from Penrith Station forecourt, and worked very well for us.

Now as it happens, we walked past the old railway station on our way to D3…

Re: A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361120/30228/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:15, 1st May 2025
 
Darn!

It's Keswick, isn't it?

But I'm still struggling. 

Re: A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361119/30228/30]
Posted by Red Squirrel at 22:52, 1st May 2025
 
KWK has a station, but no trains. But it has recently (I think) got itself a CRS code!

Re: A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361118/30228/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:47, 1st May 2025
 
No, it's not an easy riddle - for me, anyway. 

KNK is, I think, Cornish language for Cornwall, but after that I'm struggling. 


Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361117/29726/18]
Posted by bobm at 22:13, 1st May 2025
 
Hold it!

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47.
Toilet facilities are not available. Disabled toilet facilities are not available.

Opportunities if the train is running to time, you have ...
1 minute (no chance!) at Westbury
7 minutes at Swindon (*)
9 minutes at Gloucester (*)
17 minutes at Worcester Shrub Hill
* - Train calls at platform away from station building

Agreed at Swindon but the toilets are on the same island platform and I reckon, even at the speed I walk, you could get to the lavatory and back in the time allowed.

A very easy riddle
In "The Lighter Side" [361116/30228/30]
Posted by Red Squirrel at 20:44, 1st May 2025
 
This week I have been visiting the land of my kin.

We arrived in KWK on Monday;
On Tuesday we visited D3
(On Wednesday we had a well-earned rest)
Today we walked all the way round RB.37

So what or where are KWK, D3 and RB.37?

Low passenger numbers due to train unreliability
In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [361114/30227/23]
Posted by grahame at 19:07, 1st May 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, Mark A, Timmer
 
From Powys County Times and full story here

'I have to warn my guests that more often than not there will be a bus replacement. It’s not reliable.'



Some horror stories, comments about infrequent services being a problem too, and that there has been engineering so trains not running anyway (and no trains running does, of course, mean low numbers on no trains  )

Re: Delays on Devon services - merged posts, ongoing discussion
In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [361113/28378/24]
Posted by Bob_Blakey at 16:23, 1st May 2025
 
Happened to pop over to DIG at around 1300 yesterday, to collect some pre-booked tickets, and noticed that the station PIS was still showing 2F10 (0929 DIG>EXM) as 'Delayed' but the 'real time' service was running OK. A perusal of RTT today showed that a points failure had caused a number of trains between EXD & EXM to be cancelled in the period 0830-1030.

Was it really not possible for somebody to reset the display screen manually?   

Re: Service reduction - Coombe Junction
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361112/30226/25]
Posted by LiskeardRich at 16:16, 1st May 2025
 
On GwR journey planner there’s now a 1457 weekdays Coombe to Liskeard after the timetable change. It used to be just after 1530.
Screenshots from before and after the timetable change for Liskeard bound services

Thanks ... it would appear that the National Rail timetable, and GWR's .pdf timetables too, have service cuts, and that Real Time Trains and Journey Planners are telling us of service levels as at present, though with significant timing changes which I suspect might mess up anyone headed to or from work or school.    Looking closely at the NR and GWR timetables, they do seem to have a couple of extra minutes running time in the services that RTT and Journey Planner offer, so I suspect it's a typo.









The journey planners suggest the 0902 and 1424 from Looe will be calling at Coombe junction. The printed timetables don’t appear to do so.

Re: Taplow-Hassocks
In "Fare's Fair" [361111/30198/4]
Posted by nickswift99 at 16:12, 1st May 2025
 
As a former resident of Hassocks, this thread intrigued me. (I used to commute on one of the services with a 4BIG - the slice of hot toast puts GWR catering today to shame)

I've not checked, but there might be some opportunities around Southern Advances and possibly some PAYG tapping in/out somewhere.

There were some historic fare anomalies that I remember using in my youth around ticket validity to Lewes and some other local stations too but I suspect the Routing Guide will have put paid to those.

Re: Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [361110/30223/47]
Posted by Ralph Ayres at 16:06, 1st May 2025
Already liked by PhilWakely
 
As an avid railway photographer, I would gladly phot a steam excursion from lineside, but as a participant of a railtour, it really does not matter what the motive power is.

Fortunately there are enough people who do think it's worth paying to travel behind steam or there'd be no steam to photograph!  Ideally the trip should be enhanced by a welcoming boarding experience (a chance for a leisurely inspection of the haulage, including in this case during the mid-point attachment perhaps?) as well as that onboard experience and being made to feel appreciated for keeping the show on the (iron) road.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361109/29726/18]
Posted by grahame at 15:58, 1st May 2025
 
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train

At least they've given is two hour's notice this time rather than cancelling it at 18:08 as they did on Easter Monday.   One of those "don't ask" days.

Interesting that it's the 17:50 to Salisbury that's cancelled rather than the 18:10 to Westbury, on a service with a far more frequent service where a gap might be less missed.

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361108/29726/18]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:54, 1st May 2025
 
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train

Re: Service reduction - Coombe Junction
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361107/30226/25]
Posted by grahame at 14:32, 1st May 2025
 
For the record, adding the GWR timetable up to midMay - we already knew (and have discussed) the loss of the early morning service.





So it's down from 15 round trips a day to 13 Monday to Saturday.

Re: Service reduction - Coombe Junction
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361106/30226/25]
Posted by grahame at 14:17, 1st May 2025
 
On GwR journey planner there’s now a 1457 weekdays Coombe to Liskeard after the timetable change. It used to be just after 1530.
Screenshots from before and after the timetable change for Liskeard bound services

Thanks ... it would appear that the National Rail timetable, and GWR's .pdf timetables too, have service cuts, and that Real Time Trains and Journey Planners are telling us of service levels as at present, though with significant timing changes which I suspect might mess up anyone headed to or from work or school.    Looking closely at the NR and GWR timetables, they do seem to have a couple of extra minutes running time in the services that RTT and Journey Planner offer, so I suspect it's a typo.








Re: Inaugural nonstop run Kings Cross to Edinburgh - 1st May 1928
In "Railway History and related topics" [361105/30224/55]
Posted by Mark A at 13:48, 1st May 2025
 
The 05:40 from Edinburgh to Kings Cross - in 4 hours - runs non stop from Newcastle will be a contender.

Mark

Re: Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [361104/30223/47]
Posted by PhilWakely at 13:13, 1st May 2025
Already liked by grahame, Timmer, eightonedee
 
Many moons ago, on 14th February 2009, as a 30-year long-service award, my company paid for myself and my wife to be pampered aboard a British Pullman dining experience behind Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific, 35028 'Clan Line' (if I'd paid for it myself, I'd have needed a second mortgage!). You barely noticed that you were behind a steam locomotive!  The onboard experience was the attraction (I won't say the scenery - unless you enjoy the south London suburbs and Surrey Hills!).

Rather more recently, I treated my daughter (who is an avid Harry Potter fan) to a weekend around Glenfinnan. As part of that weekend, we boarded a Scotrail Class 156 unit and travelled from Fort William to Mallaig and back. We saw exactly the same scenery as the tourists on board The Jacobite at a (huge) fraction of the price. We witnessed The Jacobite cross the viaduct from a couple of lineside vantage points.

As an avid railway photographer, I would gladly phot a steam excursion from lineside, but as a participant of a railtour, it really does not matter what the motive power is.

Re: Service reduction - Coombe Junction
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361103/30226/25]
Posted by LiskeardRich at 11:04, 1st May 2025
 
On GwR journey planner there’s now a 1457 weekdays Coombe to Liskeard after the timetable change. It used to be just after 1530.
Screenshots from before and after the timetable change for Liskeard bound services

Service reduction - Coombe Junction
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361102/30226/25]
Posted by grahame at 10:15, 1st May 2025
 
Just picked this up ... comparing the National Rail Timetables at

https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/nrtt/2024_12/141%20Liskeard%20to%20Looe.pdf
and
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/nrtt/2025_05/141%20Liskeard%20to%20Looe.pdf

it would appear that service are reduced at Coombe Junction from 12 a week to Looe and 12 a week to Liskeard to 6 a week to Looe and just a single weekly service to Liskeard.    There's "get you there" service to Coombe Junction from Liskeard, and from Coombe Junction to Looe in the morning, but the "get you home" afternoon service has been withdrawn, as have the "get you there" services Looe to Coombe Junction and Coombe Junction to Liskeard for Plymouth connection on Monday to Friday mornings. Have I read that right?

Re: Inaugural nonstop run Kings Cross to Edinburgh - 1st May 1928
In "Railway History and related topics" [361101/30224/55]
Posted by ChrisB at 10:05, 1st May 2025
 
The York runs I guess, on LNER

Re: May Timetable Change
In "Across the West" [361100/30225/26]
Posted by grahame at 09:52, 1st May 2025
 
No summary that I can yet see, but individual timetables are available -
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times

Thanks, Chris - sorry for my "double post" on that - I was in the process of uploading the new national timetable to the Coffee Shop!

Re: May Timetable Change
In "Across the West" [361099/30225/26]
Posted by grahame at 09:51, 1st May 2025
 
Good question ...

No summary that I can easily see - but the times are now available at GWR via https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times

National Train times (including GWR) all on the Coffee Shop via https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/nrtt.html (and, yes, I need to update that page because it erroneously reports the current timetable until 18th May as "superseded" already.

Re: May Timetable Change
In "Across the West" [361098/30225/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 09:38, 1st May 2025
 
No summary that I can yet see, but individual timetables are available -
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2025
In "Across the West" [361097/29650/26]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:14, 1st May 2025
 
Cancellations to services between Newbury and Reading

Due to a points failure between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 10:00 01/05.

Customer Advice
Due to an Axle Counter Failure near Thatcham Station, the line towards Reading is delayed. Trains maybe cancelled, altered or delayed as a result.

May Timetable Change
In "Across the West" [361096/30225/26]
Posted by nickswift99 at 09:11, 1st May 2025
Already liked by Mark A
 
I've searched the forums but couldn't see any topics on this.

Does anyone know where I can find a summary of the changes to the GWR timetable that come in on 18th May?

Inaugural nonstop run Kings Cross to Edinburgh - 1st May 1928
In "Railway History and related topics" [361095/30224/55]
Posted by grahame at 09:00, 1st May 2025
 
https://www.railart.co.uk/prints/product/flying-scotsman-kings-cross-1928/

Gresley A1 class locomotive No.4472 ‘Flying Scotsman’ hauled the inaugural non-stop train from London on 1st May 1928, and it successfully ran the 392 miles between Edinburgh and London, Kings Cross without stopping, a then record for a scheduled service.

The 1928 non-stop Flying Scotsman train had improved catering and other on-board services – including a barber’s car. With the end of the LNER-LMSR limited timing agreement in 1932, the journey time was reduced to 7 hours 20 minutes.





What is the longest non-stop run these days? GWR? XC? UK? Overseas?

Edit to add pictures

Re: "Save the Last Remaining British Rail Hovercraft from Destruction"
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [361094/16695/47]
Posted by grahame at 08:53, 1st May 2025
Already liked by Western Pathfinder, RichardB
 
An OLD topic .... and a reminder that the Hovercraft Museum IS still with us - https://hovercraft-museum.org/

Whether visiting as a family, enthusiast or just plain curious, we offer something for everyone!  Overlooking the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent, and based on the old Daedalus naval base, we are the only Hovercraft Museum in the world. One of Hampshire’s unique attractions it’s a collection of international significance and is entirely volunteer-run.

Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [361093/30223/47]
Posted by grahame at 08:34, 1st May 2025
 
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/05/steam-locomotive-34046-braunton-to-pass-through-dawlish-this-saturday.html

The tour starts with a diesel locomotive at Poole, where it will depart at 06:34. The train will then pass through Bournemouth (06:47), Brockenhurst (07:17), Southampton Central (07:40), Eastleigh (07:56), Salisbury (08:50), Warminster (09:16), Westbury (09:25) and Taunton at 10:23, where 34046 Braunton is attached.

With 34046 now on the front of the train, 34046 Braunton will pass through Tiverton Parkway (11:15), Dawlish Warren (11:52), Dawlish (12:10), Newton Abbot (12:16), Paignton (12:34) and Kingswear at 13:15.

[personal opinion piece] So that's about 4 hours behind a diesel, half an hour for a loco change, an hour and a quarter behind a steam engine on the main line, then a final section on a heritage line where you could travel behind a steam engine anyway.

 
The Coffee Shop forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western). The views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit https://www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site at admin@railcustomer.info if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules. Our full legal statment is at https://www.greatwesternrailway.info/legal.html

Although we are planning ahead, we don't know what the future will bring here in the Coffee Shop. We have domains "firstgreatwestern.info" for w-a-y back and also "greatwesternrailway.info"; we can also answer to "greatbritishrailways.info" too. For the future, information about Great Brisish Railways, by customers and for customers.
 
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Code Updated 11th January 2025