Sharing for GWR and Network Rail

 

Up and down the country those of us with solar batteries and arrangement to balance the grid are on notice to sell electricity from the battery to the grid between 6 and 8pm tonight!

 
Up and down the country, the owners of gas-fired power stations will be sitting by the phone, willing it to ring...

Mark

 
Yup, eminently predictable and able to be planned for. A useful 'Teachable moment' for consumers close to the start of the era of electricity consumption pricing by the half hour, though.

Mark

 
A genuine question: where does this come back to bite GWR ?

- Shutting down the Didcot stoppers so that Twyford and Maidenhead passengers can only use Elizabeth Line services seems like a win/win as the services run with greater capacity and no pesky stops.
- Delay/Repay can’t be applied to cancelled services because ‘you can just take the Elizabeth Line’, whether that is true or not.
- the season ticket revenue is already banked

 
.................they just keep coming! 

Delays to services at Didcot Parkway

Due to a points failure at Didcot Parkway some lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 17:15 12/08.

Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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There has been a points failure in the Didcot Parkway area. A points failure is a fault with the movable pieces of track that enable trains to change tracks. This affects trains accessing Didcot Parkway from Oxford.

 
It seems to me the traditional act of turning up at a booking office or TVM straight before travelling is about buying a ticket.
But the app-based and web-based systems are about booking a journey.

It's not unusual to see someone buying a ticket on the train mentioning that they had tried to buy a ticket but it was 'too late'. I also see people worrying about catching their 'booked' train, when it turns out they have an Off-Peak Return or whatever; they just think because they bought 'in advance' and have an itinerary attached that it's 'one of those tickets'.

If the big idea is really to replace a significant proportion of the booking office purchases with app usage, the apps need to offer 'buy a ticket now', without messing around with the journey planner. They can pop up a 'not valid until XX' or 'check peak validity' warning when needed, just like a booking clerk can.

 

 
Chiltern have more than halved their service after 1100 tomorrow.

 
Chapter 4 is the concluding section of the travels covering Sofia to Istanbul but there will be a Chapter 5 (see later).

In some ways this is the highlight of the whole trip perhaps giving a vague impression of the (original) Orient Express but without the glamour or dining car! So I caught the tram from my hotel this time but still managed to alight one stop too early. Once again I walked through the whole network of subways. The train departs at 18.50, so I bought some basic supplies and loitered in the cool subway since I had plenty of time. The train initially comprised 3 x Turkish sleepers, 1 x Turkish couchette and Bulgarian seated coaches and we duly set off for the next 14 hours. The sleeper was the best quality on this trip, quite spacious with sink and even a cupboard with fridge. The fridge had a few basic snacks and a sealed cup of water! The compartment was in seat mode at the start, and one has to set up and make the bed later using a pack of clean sheets and a thick blanket. I once again fully paid for this trip at around £70 with single occupation. Turkish Railways do not allow sharing of sleepers with a stranger anyway and a first class ticket is required (eg if using Interrail).

The train stopped at many lampposts in Bulgaria eventually arriving at Dimitrovgrad (named after another Bulgarian Communist big boss). Here the other Turkish couchette from Bucharest was added and probably the seated coaches removed. We then move on to Svilengrad where, as this is a serious border, serious Bulgarian checks take place around midnight. Apparently the Bulgarians used to treat this gently with a simple passport inspection and stamp on the train. With the coming of EES everyone has to alight, form two queues alongside a cabin on the platform and go through the checks. EU citizens get the simple version, I had a politely delivered scan with fingerprints taken again. (Clearly we are a long way from Denmark!). Then one can get back on the train and relax for a while.

The more serious Turkish border inspections are no longer handled at the border station, but instead at Kapikule somewhat further on. The schedule states 01.20 to 03.00. The change seems to be because this station has been modernised and the two trains “pass” at similar timings. So all passengers must alight complete with luggage. Then a simple passport inspection and stamp, followed by a baggage inspection with X-ray. No X ray check this time because I suspect the machine was not working. A wait on the platform follows until all passengers have been inspected. Beware of midges in summer!  Then it is off to Istanbul Halkali arriving on time at 09.56 and I did get some sleep.
Halkali is a modern suburban station at the extremity of the newish Marmaray line linking across the Bosphorus. Regrettably the two classic stations on each side of the water are no longer in (major) rail usage. Naturally most of the trains into Asia leave from a similar modern suburban station on that side but there is at least one early morning high-speed service to Ankara from Halkali through the tunnel. No other sign of main line trains at Halkali.
 
After alighting the sleeper you need to go up to the concourse and buy an Istanbulkart from the machines (multi-lingual) to use the Marmaray and other public transport. It is an Oyster card equivalent and can be topped up as required. Best to use cash (400 lire is a good start) since some foreign bank cards appeared to have trouble. Marmaray trains are modern and frequent. I was staying centrally at Taksim Square which required one change on to the metro and a total journey of ?45 mins. Some of the metro station interchanges are very complex but I did manage to find the perfect exit first time, just opposite my 5* hotel, perfect for some R and R, after the travel stress. Good service with a room (upgraded) provided speedily even though I was well early. Great room, great views over the square and towards the Bosphorus. Taksim Square is the focus for political demos in Istanbul (and also a big tourist hub) so interesting to see the main monument barriered off and lines of empty police buses with water cannon also drawn up along one side. No protests during my stay just a cultural event around the monument!

Whilst the heat had abated slightly in Istanbul, high intensity tourism was not attractive with a pool at the hotel. However, I did venture out to Sultanahmet area with the Blue Mosque etc., explored the waterfront and took a ferry ride across the Bosphorus, as well as eating out. I made good use of the public transport networks using the Istanbulkart. Tram stops have barriers and there are several modern funiculars from the central city down to the waterfront. I had contemplated the typical Red Bus tour but the reviews on service level are not great and my one enquiry offered a departure in 45 mins only.

I flew back from Istanbul by Pegasus Airlines (a Turkish low-cost airline) as the only operator currently doing Istanbul to Bristol. This was from the Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). This is the second airport for the city located on the Asian side. Istanbul now has a new “main” airport to the north and both are accessible by rail/metro but both airports are quite a distance out. I travelled out by Marmaray and metro with a change on the Asian side. I was advised to leave at 08.00 for a flight at 11.55 and journey time was about 100 mins. Amazingly some rain during the morning. SAW is a large modern airport and very busy on a Saturday with domestic holiday traffic. I took a slow approach to the formalities including a checked bag but still completed all these within 30 mins to get airside. Shows it can be done with adequate staff and systems. The flight was good, reasonable legroom and about 80% full. I managed to move to an empty row of 3. I was able to pre-order from a selection of quality cold meals and seemingly the only person to do so. I had a chicken Caesar salad which was good. (Ryanair actually offer something similar through their app. Whilst the hot meals are not inspiring it does mean you get served first before the trolley service). Arrival in Bristol virtually on time, speedy luggage and with First working perfectly to transport me home with no hassle. (I rarely see customs at Bristol but this time there was a whole gang who picked out a guy immediately behind me – heart stopping moment!)

Chapter 5 to follow soon as a conclusion with Interrail advice and a hint of geography.

 
Northern rail have pre-emptively cancelled 226 services for Tomorrow, Thursday 13th August.

 
I have split off a couple of previous posts from another Coffee Shop forum topic, relating more particularly to the Grand Union Canal, so as to add this update here.

From the BBC:

 
I expect Falmouth to be busy as it's annual flying display is taking place at the same time as the eclipse. No Red Arrows this year but there are three separate display teams flying.
Truro - Falmouth branch half hour service extended to end of the day and FMT closed due the expected congestion

 

Thank you, CfN.

 
A sort of Führerbunker for Donald Trump, then?

CfN.

 
Would have been a problem if I wasn't going home early (via bus) to watch the eclipse

 

I very much doubt that there will be any serious consequences for electricity supply.
The eclipse has been known about for a long time, and any shortfall in generating capacity will be met by pumped storage generation, or by quick starting OCGT plant. Demand is reduced at this time of year if compared to winter.

 
... erm, Trowres: you may want to revise the date in this topic heading?

CfN. 

 
I recently watched one of those TV programmes following revenue protection officers (it featured Nottingham Trams and London Underground). You can see why officers get rather conditioned to not believing excuses.

However, ticket issuing systems are not perfect...

The scenario: the time is 11:32 on 12th August 2026 and you are trying to buy a ticket online for immediate travel Westbury to Exeter St Davids. It should be easy - the timetable says there's an 11:58 direct to Exeter. Let's start with the front-end gateway, National Rail:

Problem 1: the 11:58 is cancelled. Helpfully, you can click on an option to find alternatives "real time".
Wonderful: it shows the 10:48 to Torquay is running late and is expected WSB at 11:53; pretty close to the time of the cancelled train. You can make that!
Problem 2: National Rail says it is unable to find a valid fare. "Please replan your journey".

Let's try GWR instead:
Problem 3: The GWR website has a drop-down for time that only allows increments of 30 minutes. 11:30 is disallowed as in the past, so 12:00 has to do...
Problem 4: The train options given are all after 12:00 and the delayed train you are seeking isn't shown.
Problem 5: The "earlier" option does nothing.
Aha! brilliant idea... "arrive by" 15:00 is allowed, works, and shows the delayed train.
Problem 6: Trying to select the delayed service has no effect (clicking on later train options gives the fares).

Now YOU know the fares system and that you could select any later service with the right fare and just buy a ticket for that. But for the average traveller?

Maybe today the WSB ticket office was open, or the ticket machines working (I've been there when neither was available). If they were not, it would be an... interesting... experience to board the delayed train and try explaining to the revenue protection that it was not possible to buy a ticket before boarding. (For a start, it would be nigh-on impossible to replicate the problems).

[ The circumstances are referenced in https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=32355.0 ]

 
Succinct case for building HS2 phase 2 now: includes the perspective that the workforce for certain sorts of work on HS1 and also on Hinckley Point are coming to the end of that employment and their very real skills will not simply transfer to the remainder of the tasks on HS2 as that's of a different nature.

Mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxyFNvaVFw

 
On the opposite end of that see-saw, the eclipse lands bang in the middle of the evening peak: electricity generation vs consumption data is going to be... absorbing**.

Mark

** Varies by individual and also, various different values of 'Absorbing'.

 
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

 

...............and another one - Ladbroke Grove this morning, Southall this afternoon 

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 17:30 12/08.

Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Some axle counters, part of the signalling system, have stopped working in the Southall area. This is affecting all GWR services between London Paddington and Reading.

 
Now kicked out until 15.30 (so shortly to become ‘end of the day’)

 

The decline should not be that serious, as it is towards the end of day when solar power declines in any case.

 

Isn't that what he is trying to build under his "beautiful, beautiful ballroom" ?

 
Hey....at least you'll keep your local train paths if they can't find staff to divert trains!

 


I know, I know ... but don't you just wish that where there's a shortage of trains, the crew that would have driven them could be redeployed to where there's a shortage of staff.

Apparently, from a very recent discussion, one of the problems with closing the line at Limpley Stoke because os bridge hits is the problem that creates finding enough staff who actually know the diversion route via Melksham, Chippenham, Corsham and Box.  "Fair weather railway" planning has thinned out route knowledge such that dealing with the sorts of problems that happen too-often becomes difficult.

 
Perhaps Trump should have stayed in America, in deep bomb  resistant shelter, with plenty of guns.

 
This morning there was a track safety inspection on the down line between Lavington and Westbury. This trapped the Paddington-Newquay (1C99) that was eventually allowed on its way with a 72 minute delay.

The following train, the 0934 Paddington-Torquay (1C75) was turned back at Newbury and ran via Melksham (waiting briefly for the Swindon-Westbury service to clear the single line - a Weston train behind that being delayed by 9 minutes.

The 1036 Paddington-Exeter (1C77) was cancelled. By a bit of luck, the delay of the Torquay train  (also 72 minutes) resulted in its call at Westbury being around 12:00; just right for picking up passengers for the cancelled train (due WSB at 1158).

However, I noticed some interesting problems for would-be passenger aiming to buy tickets online. As this is a separate issue (though triggered by the disruption) I have put it in the fares thread: https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=32356.0

 
Ahead of the leading edge of technology, you have the bleeding edge ... ideas ahead of their time which fail in spite obe being innovative, and coming back many years later.

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co24902/bersey-electric-taxi-cab-taxis