This is a test of GDPR / Cookie Acceptance [about our cookies]
Really irritating test - cookie expires in 24 hour!
Great Western Coffee Shop
7.6.2025 (Saturday) 23:44 - All running AOK
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Train hits tractor and trailer on level crossing, Leominster, 22 May 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362028/30290/51]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:19, 7th June 2025
 
Meanwhile, the BBC news item has been updated:

Man arrested after train hits tractor and trailer



A man has been arrested after a train hit a tractor and trailer on a level crossing in Herefordshire, leaving two people injured and rail services at a standstill.

One passenger, a man, was airlifted to Hereford County Hospital, although his injuries were not life-threatening, West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) said.

A woman was also taken to hospital by ambulance following the crash near Leominster at about 10:45 BST, although she is not thought to be seriously hurt.

British Transport Police (BTP) said a 32-year-old man from Bromyard had been arrested on suspicion of endangering safety on the railway.

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said a team of inspectors was at the site, gathering evidence.

Fifteen other people were checked over and discharged at the scene. The tractor driver was uninjured, the ambulance service added.

(article continues)



Re: Train hits tractor and trailer on level crossing, Leominster, 22 May 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362027/30290/51]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:20, 7th June 2025
 
It's not a User Worked Crossing, but a pedestrian footpath crossing the Bristol to Exeter main line, just west of Nailsea & Backwell station.  There are no barriers, gates or lights (nor telephones to the nearest signal box (?)).

The entire responsibility for using that footpath railway crossing remains with the user: there is good visibility in both directions, but discretion is advised - the line speed here is 100 mph, and not all trains actually stop at NLS, so some of them are travelling at that speed.

I have used that footpath crossing, years ago, with my family while dog-walking.  Arriving at trackside, I stopped, took a good look (and listen) up and down the line, then encouraged them to cross the tracks promptly.  On one occasion, I remember, a train appeared in the distance, while we were crossing: I raised one arm in acknowledgement, while hustling the family and dog off the track. The train driver gave a 'toot' of thanks.

CfN.

Re: Railway Mission - Chaplains to the rail industry
In "Introductions and chat" [362026/30284/1]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 19:11, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea, PrestburyRoad
 
Some years ago there was a fatality on the fast lines at Cholsey station. Arriving to find the all of the police and railway responders on site and a very somber mood, there among the team with a prominent identifying reflective tabard was the Railway Chaplain.

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362025/30325/5]
Posted by Marlburian at 18:19, 7th June 2025
 
I thought it odd that the print outs that the salesman gave me included an acknowledgment of an application for vehicle tax starting on June 1. That was quick work, I thought, as it gave a registration number. Which I've just Googled: it relates to a completely different car that sold recently. Sigh.

Railway Mission - Chaplains to the rail industry
In "Introductions and chat" [362023/30284/1]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:34, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Timmer, PrestburyRoad
 
A (rather delayed) update from me, on this topic.  I did try to post here at the time, but from my mobile phone it didn't seem to work. 

I did find myself in Trowbridge, and at the venue, in plenty of time for the WWRUG meeting - no problems at all with my trains. 

A very modest charge of £2 on the door for non-members was well worth it.  There were some 30 in the audience.

John Roe gave an excellent illustrated talk on his work as a chaplain with the Railway Mission.  He is a qualified Baptist Minister, but played down his role as such - explaining that their purpose is 'rather more listening than preaching'.  There are about an equal number of male and female chaplains, so he was able to refer a female contact to one of his colleagues for further help, for example.

It was a very informative evening: I walked away with the conclusion that if anyone, anywhere, on the railways is in need of support, they should approach the Railway Mission for help.

CfN.

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362022/30325/5]
Posted by Marlburian at 16:12, 7th June 2025
 
Thanks, but the site's quoted price was £95 more than what I'm paying the dealer, who's also supplying £500 worth of  mats, extended warranty and a spacesaver wheel. I've an idea that the standard colour is black, and I'm also paying  £581 extra for red.

At least checking the website has reassured me that I'm (probably) paying a good price.  At first the dealer quote me £2-300 more, allowing, I suspect, some wiggle room and allowing me to think I'm a good haggler (which I'm not).

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362021/30325/5]
Posted by matth1j at 13:09, 7th June 2025
 
Previously I had done some on-line comparisons and reckon that the deal I signed up to wasn't too bad - with the convenience factor of having the dealer less than three miles away.
This lot appear to offer some decent discounts; never used them though. Probably useful if you want to use your dealer but need some haggling ammunition.
https://www.carfile.net/buy-your-car/vauxhall/corsa.html

Re: Penleigh Park Level Crossing (Westbury Avoiding Line) Closure Application.
In "London to the West" [362020/30322/12]
Posted by a-driver at 11:22, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Timmer
 
£5,000,000 pounds for a footbridge to replace the crossing

Eyewatering!

I hesitate to imagine how that cost is broken down, but it's not all going to be design, steelwork and labour

Ridiculous.  Someone mentioned it's a railway job, that's automatically an additional zero added!


Yep.  We've been quoted £1,000,000 for Network Rail to provide a disabled ramp at Nailsea & Backwell. 



And that's why infrastructure in the UK remains so antiquated

Re: Train hits tractor and trailer on level crossing, Leominster, 22 May 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362019/30290/51]
Posted by a-driver at 11:21, 7th June 2025
 
Interesting perspective on the issues and risks involved with these types of crossings in general.....

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12K9u3WiHKT/

And you can't disagree with what that farmer is saying

When I worked in a box, we had a panel with a button for each crossing, anytime someone called from a crossing the button illuminated so we knew exactly what crossing they were be calling from.  I don't know if that's still the case though. 

Workload is a big issue.  One signaller can only manage a certain amount of these crossings.  If you've got 20 crossings in your area and a queue of calls waiting to be answered mistakes are going to be made.  Signallers are only human, we are all prone to making mistakes, there needs to be a fail safe method of working. 

Can't they just install automatic gates on all crossings, as seems to be the suggestion?

Or at least lights

Cost being the obvious answer, there's around 3,000 user worked crossings in the UK.... and then you could potentially argue it's another failure point adding more delay minutes.  It would be interesting to see a breakdown of all those crossings based on linespeeds

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362018/30325/5]
Posted by Marlburian at 11:09, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Timmer
 
I've threads on two other forums about this, and on one someone has replied "Luton has always been a van plant, not car - it started off as a Bedford truck factory. The only cars ever assembled there were Frontera 4x4s from 1992 to 2004, but it closed completely two months ago. Stellantis' only UK assembly plant is Ellesmere Port - and that stopped assembling Corsas in 2020 and Astras in 2022. It now assembles electric Berlingo/Partner/Doblo/Combo small vans and their car equivalents."

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362017/30325/5]
Posted by Timmer at 10:53, 7th June 2025
 
Another curiosity of the quotation, noticed only when I got home, was a £750 delivery fee. The salesman, in his third week in the job, seemed to think that car, a Vauxhall Corsa, would be made at Luton, 56 miles away; in fact production is in Zaragoza, Spain.
As far as I’m aware Vauxhall only build vans in Luton. I don’t know if that’s always been the case and that Vauxhall did once build cars at Luton as well. If they did it was a long time ago.

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362016/30321/16]
Posted by grahame at 10:12, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Timmer
 
I have been suggesting a Weymouth trip ... however, weather forecast has got worse ... I will probably go to Melksham Station and make a last hour / minute / second choice there.  I have pictures of Weymouth in the wet already!
Sigh, yes the weather doesn’t look good. I was planning a day trip today, but based on the forecast decided against. I’ve done Weymouth in the wet and I didn’t stay very long getting the next train home after a bite to eat.

At Melksham - +17-2 on the 09:09 ... the major destination being Weymouth, and it was explained to me buy one group that it doesn't rain in the pub.  Also passengerd headed towards Portsmouth and Taunton.    No real reason to travel and lots else to do ... the photolibrary update of some parts of Weymouth can wait, so I am back home.

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362015/30325/5]
Posted by Marlburian at 10:08, 7th June 2025
 
Thanks. With my low mileage the protection plans offer poorer value than they might for other drivers.

An irony is that I've never been too keen on cars and could almost cope without one. I do about 400 miles a year on necessary chores, such as the weekly Big Shop (though I've successfully used Home Delivery several times). In fact I've only motored 10,100 miles in 45 months (it would have been a bit more but for ill-health), and much of that was to get out into the country for walks - which I could do by public transport as I live conveniently close to a railway station serving five different routes.

Another curiosity of the quotation, noticed only when I got home, was a £750 delivery fee. The salesman, in his third week in the job, seemed to think that car, a Vauxhall Corsa, would be made at Luton, 56 miles away; in fact production is in Zaragoza, Spain.

I did some token havering, on the lines of "thinking about it over the weekend", but succumbed to the sales talk about the need to get my order in for an August delivery. Previously I had done some on-line comparisons and reckon that the deal I signed up to wasn't too bad - with the convenience factor of having the dealer less than three miles away.  And no doubt those website prices would be lower than any final quotations.

Re: Train hits tractor and trailer on level crossing, Leominster, 22 May 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362014/30290/51]
Posted by LiskeardRich at 09:29, 7th June 2025
Already liked by TaplowGreen
 
Interesting perspective on the issues and risks involved with these types of crossings in general.....

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12K9u3WiHKT/

And you can't disagree with what that farmer is saying

When I worked in a box, we had a panel with a button for each crossing, anytime someone called from a crossing the button illuminated so we knew exactly what crossing they were be calling from.  I don't know if that's still the case though. 

Workload is a big issue.  One signaller can only manage a certain amount of these crossings.  If you've got 20 crossings in your area and a queue of calls waiting to be answered mistakes are going to be made.  Signallers are only human, we are all prone to making mistakes, there needs to be a fail safe method of working. 

Can't they just install automatic gates on all crossings, as seems to be the suggestion?

Or at least lights

Re: Penleigh Park Level Crossing (Westbury Avoiding Line) Closure Application.
In "London to the West" [362013/30322/12]
Posted by rogerpatenall at 08:40, 7th June 2025
 
But is any estimate from Network Rail not multiplied by a factor of 10 for 'Contribution to overheads'?

As an aside - at our old house in France we sometimes have to have estimates from builders, etc. We know that every time one looks at a job and says 'Bizarre' , that equates to another 0 on the end of the quote.

Re: My new car, as yet unbuilt, is already in love with me
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [362011/30325/5]
Posted by Western Pathfinder at 08:26, 7th June 2025
Already liked by Timmer
 
Glad to hear that you have avoided being seriously overcharged by the dealer,for your protection packages,however they are a good idea especially the interior treatment,especially if the process comes with an inspection and re application after a period of time has gone by,as for the exterior bodywork,many reputable firms offer a ceramic paint coating service which I find makes life much easier especially when it comes to keeping the vehicles appearance up to the desired level,so it's worth having a shop around locally to see what's on offer .
As for extending the warranty,if what is offered by the dealer is backed by the manufacturer of the vehicle then it may well be worth considering,however if it's from a third party operation,then  caveat emptor ! after sales warranty is not a guarantee,it is an insurance policy against mechanical failures,and in my experience and that of my customers,most offers leave a lot to be desired......
Good luck with your new purchase,and many happy miles/ years of trouble free motoring.

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362010/30321/16]
Posted by eightonedee at 08:03, 7th June 2025
 

As to Timmer's first post above (with GWR' s advice), that advice is totally inadequate.  It assumes all traffic is through traffic from Reading to Gatwick and ignores the fact that the line is an important local line for the Blackwater Valley and Surrey Hills areas.

At the very least there should be advice that travellers between Reading and Farnborough and Guildford should go via Basingstoke and (in the latter case) Woking, Wokingham passengers should use SWT and some information on buses for other destinations. Have any arrangements been made for buses to accept GWR tickets? Some should be made ASAP.

Re: Train hits tractor and trailer on level crossing, Leominster, 22 May 2025
In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [362009/30290/51]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:54, 7th June 2025
 
Interesting perspective on the issues and risks involved with these types of crossings in general.....

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12K9u3WiHKT/

And you can't disagree with what that farmer is saying

When I worked in a box, we had a panel with a button for each crossing, anytime someone called from a crossing the button illuminated so we knew exactly what crossing they were be calling from.  I don't know if that's still the case though. 

Workload is a big issue.  One signaller can only manage a certain amount of these crossings.  If you've got 20 crossings in your area and a queue of calls waiting to be answered mistakes are going to be made.  Signallers are only human, we are all prone to making mistakes, there needs to be a fail safe method of working. 

Can't they just install automatic gates on all crossings, as seems to be the suggestion?

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362008/30321/16]
Posted by Timmer at 07:51, 7th June 2025
 
I have been suggesting a Weymouth trip ... however, weather forecast has got worse ... I will probably go to Melksham Station and make a last hour / minute / second choice there.  I have pictures of Weymouth in the wet already!
Sigh, yes the weather doesn’t look good. I was planning a day trip today, but based on the forecast decided against. I’ve done Weymouth in the wet and I didn’t stay very long getting the next train home after a bite to eat.

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362007/30321/16]
Posted by Timmer at 07:48, 7th June 2025
Already liked by eightonedee
 
Cancellations to services between Reading and Gatwick Airport via Guildford

Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Train services between Reading and Gatwick Airport via Guildford and Redhill may be cancelled.

Customer Advice

What has happened?

Some of the trains that operate between Reading and Gatwick Airport have developed faults which means we are not able to use them until repaired. This means some services, in both directions, between Reading and Gatwick Airport will be cancelled.

What are we doing about it?

Our maintenance team are working on the trains to get them back into service as soon as we can.

What are my options?

Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the Live Departure Boards or speak to a member of our station team.

Option 2: Your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, with the following operators, in both directions on these routes:

Elizabeth line services between London Paddington and Farringdon.
Thameslink services between Farringdon and Gatwick Airport.

South Western Railway services between Guildford and Clapham Junction.
Southern services between Clapham Junction and Gatwick Airport.

If you had intended to changing trains at Reading to catch a train towards Gatwick Airport, your ticket will be valid to continue on the train to London Paddington for travel via Farringdon.

Option 3: Replacement transport provided by us such as a buses, coaches or taxis, will not be provided as there are train services running. However, we will continue to monitor the need for this as the situation develops and provide updates here.

Option 4: Travel at a later time. You might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.

After all the recent promotion by GWR of taking the train to Gatwick airport from Reading, this is most unfortunate and highlights the need to get on with procuring new trains to replace the turbos.

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362006/30321/16]
Posted by grahame at 07:22, 7th June 2025
 
Last Saturday the Weymouth service was operated by 166 207.  I believe all the 166s are based at St Philip’s Marsh.

...

I have been suggesting a Weymouth trip ... however, weather forecast has got worse ... I will probably go to Melksham Station and make a last hour / minute / second choice there.  I have pictures of Weymouth in the wet already!

Re: 30 cancellations on the North Downs this morning
In "North Downs Line" [362005/30321/16]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:14, 7th June 2025
 
05:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 07:33
06:28 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 07:54
06:51 Reading to Redhill due 08:28
07:52 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 09:26
07:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 09:30
08:36 Redhill to Reading due 09:57
09:30 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 11:04
09:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 11:25
10:24 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 11:55
11:24 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 12:55
11:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 12:57
11:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 13:27
12:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 14:27
13:24 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 14:55
13:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 15:25
14:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 16:25
14:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 16:28
15:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 17:02
16:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 18:00
16:50 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 18:25
17:20 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 18:55
18:21 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 19:55
18:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 19:57
18:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 20:28
19:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 21:37
20:22 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 21:57
20:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 22:25
22:01 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 23:21
22:30 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 00:17
23:33 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 01:08

23:33 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 01:08 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

All train faults / More trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.  Is there some general problem? 

I'm not sure what the diagram is this summer of the Saturday Swindon to Weymouth train, but can anyone advise if the risk of it being cancelled tomorrow (I think it's been a Reading based unit in the past) is significant? 



Similar story today.

Re: First Group announce new open access service to Hereford
In "London to the Cotswolds" [362004/30323/14]
Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 22:43, 6th June 2025
 
The head of Open Access at FirstGroup posts to a Certain Other Forum and is adamant that there are Chinese walls between the DfT-contracted parts of First and the OA parts! Which I'm sure is true.

I think the point is rather that DfT mandated GWR to make savings; the little-used Cotswold through services to Hereford were an easy way to cut a lot of (effectively) dead mileage; and so it happened. Can't blame them at all for that.

But (Chinese walls notwithstanding) First's OA division will be very aware that the gains from Hereford itself are not that huge. Effectively this is a way of running OA services from Bristol Parkway to Paddington, with a little bit of extra revenue from Cwmbran, Abergavenny and Hereford.

Re: To Aachen and back- by train
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362003/30319/52]
Posted by Oxonhutch at 22:14, 6th June 2025
Already liked by eightonedee
 
I believe the town was acquired after the first significant disagreement, and German in that part of the country is the official one.

Re: Penleigh Park Level Crossing (Westbury Avoiding Line) Closure Application.
In "London to the West" [362002/30322/12]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:08, 6th June 2025
 
£5,000,000 pounds for a footbridge to replace the crossing

Eyewatering!

I hesitate to imagine how that cost is broken down, but it's not all going to be design, steelwork and labour

Ridiculous.  Someone mentioned it's a railway job, that's automatically an additional zero added!


Yep.  We've been quoted £1,000,000 for Network Rail to provide a disabled ramp at Nailsea & Backwell. 


Re: To Aachen and back- by train
In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [362001/30319/52]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:45, 6th June 2025
 
... and the on-train signs and announcements switched to Flemish.
I wonder if, when the train approaches the Belgian town of Eupen, the announcements all change to German.

Ahem.  "Don't mention the War", as Basil Fawlty said. 


Re: First Group announce new open access service to Hereford
In "London to the Cotswolds" [362000/30323/14]
Posted by ChrisB at 21:05, 6th June 2025
 
If the DfT request that GWR drop shared services with another TOC & the operator disagrees, of course they form an OA opportunity

Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
In "TransWilts line" [361999/29726/18]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:46, 6th June 2025
 
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will no longer call at Chippenham, Trowbridge and Dilton Marsh.
It will be starting late from Gloucester.
This is due to trespassers on the railway earlier today.

 
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.
 
Current Running
GWR trains from JourneyCheck
 
 
Code Updated 11th January 2025