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Great Western Coffee Shop
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: Advance fares - hardly the most robust offering
In "Fare's Fair" [374921/31978/4]
Posted by ChrisB at 15:38, 8th May 2026
 
Yes, this is so.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [374920/31359/18]
Posted by Mark A at 15:32, 8th May 2026
 
It is Limpley Stoke.

Awaiting a bridge examiner.

I'm suspecting that all these impacts are happening on the west side of this bridge. Driving that road this morning and thinking 'Bridge strike location coming up', the impression was that the associated signage isn't brilliant. No indication before the turn off the A36, then an advisory on the height restriction 3/4 mile ahead - said notice among others and in a busy part of the road immediately after the turn off the A36... and then nothing apart from a couple of 'Give way' signs before the bend in the road before the at that point invisible bridge itself, it being approached via and concealed by the left hand bend immediately before it. The signage has plenty of opportunity to hide in foliage / be inconspicuous in bright sunlight. None of which is an acceptable reason for driving into the bridge of course, even the road alignment is screaming 'Drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance you can see to be clear'.

Mark

Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets
In "Fare's Fair" [374919/31906/4]
Posted by rogerw at 15:28, 8th May 2026
 
My understanding is that this ceased many years ago. Well before COVID

Lewisham rail disaster - 4 December 1957
In "Railway History and related topics" [374918/32000/55]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:32, 8th May 2026
 
It's not an anniversary, or anything, other than a post I happened to stumble across on YouTube. However, we have referred to the sad incident previously elsewhere, here on the Coffee Shop forum.

This is a very good coverage of that tragic incident, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byf0V1oEUpM (37 minutes).

CfN.

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374917/31997/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:38, 8th May 2026
 
Definitely not Taunton.

Netherlands?

Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025
In "London to Kennet Valley" [374916/30033/8]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:32, 8th May 2026
Already liked by Witham Bobby
 
Thanks for that update here, hoover50.

CfN. 

Re: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025
In "London to Kennet Valley" [374915/30033/8]
Posted by hoover50 at 13:24, 8th May 2026
 
The RAIB have now published their report into this tragic incident.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69fc45508cc72d2f863ea57b/R052026_260507_Pewsey.pdf

Re: 13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374914/31999/26]
Posted by a-driver at 13:19, 8th May 2026
 
Staff have received the email and been told, 13 December 2026.

Re: 13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374913/31999/26]
Posted by Electric train at 13:17, 8th May 2026
 
Well, AI is mistaken in those dates dates quoted.

Core term expired 22 June 2025; contract end date not until 25 June 2028.

According to the TSSA Union's website....

According to the DfT press release on the Gov.UK website 26 Sept 2025 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-train-services-to-return-to-public-ownership-revealed-as-government-delivers-railways-reset
Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railways services are then expected to follow, with the Secretary of State of Transport due to make final decisions on when exactly this will happen in due course.

All passenger services operating under contracts with the department are expected to return to public ownership by the end of 2027 and will eventually be integrated into Great British Railways.


Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [374912/31359/18]
Posted by bobm at 13:16, 8th May 2026
 
The 12:17 from Westbury to Swindon ran and is now sat in the bay at Swindon awaiting its next working.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [374911/31359/18]
Posted by bobm at 13:13, 8th May 2026
 
It is Limpley Stoke.

Awaiting a bridge examiner.

Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026
In "TransWilts line" [374910/31359/18]
Posted by grahame at 13:12, 8th May 2026
 
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge.

The bridge strike is "in the Freshford area" which probably means at Limpley Stoke.

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374909/31997/30]
Posted by grahame at 13:08, 8th May 2026
 
Could try somewhere a bit more challenging


Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374908/31997/30]
Posted by Western Pathfinder at 12:55, 8th May 2026
 
That could be Rotterdam ,or anywhere but Home …

Re: Outage of Coffee Shop this afternoon, 7.5.2026
In "News, Help and Assistance" [374907/31996/29]
Posted by Fourbee at 12:27, 8th May 2026
 
It would appear that the company who hosts the server had been unable to collect their monthly fee ... don't know why, perhaps a glitch somewhere;
Bit of a long shot, but I know Halifax are changing their credit cards from Mastercard to Visa and any Continuous Payment Authorities may need updating with the new details. I believe if the card scheme stays the same (e.g. an expiring Visa card is replaced with another Visa card) companies can use Visa Updater (or the Mastercard equivalent) to get the new details (so not the case here).

Re: Advance fares - hardly the most robust offering
In "Fare's Fair" [374906/31978/4]
Posted by Fourbee at 12:14, 8th May 2026
 
The 16:39 from Melksham ran on time ... then an hour to wait in Swindon for the 18:04 to Paddington. Good job I am "robust" as at around 17:30 that flagged up as "delayed".  No indication why, no indication by how much ... and so a quick trip to the staffed counter where they told me it hadn't yet left Gloucester

Glasd they provided an answer to the meaning of "delayed" - train not moving yet towards destination & until it does, we are unable to work out an estimate of the amount of delay....just still getting later basically.
"delayed" can also go to "cancelled" of course , so if/when it starts moving. Personally I think "delayed" can impart a lot of false hope.

Re: 13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374905/31999/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 12:00, 8th May 2026
 
Well, AI is mistaken in those dates dates quoted.

Core term expired 22 June 2025; contract end date not until 25 June 2028.

According to the TSSA Union's website....

Re: 13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374904/31999/26]
Posted by JohnM at 11:52, 8th May 2026
 
AI says it is, so it must be true
The timing for Great Western Railway (GWR) returning to public ownership is based on the government's phased nationalization schedule under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024. 

While specific dates for later transitions can occasionally shift based on the exact end of franchise periods, the December 13, 2026 date aligns with the expected expiration of GWR's current contract.

Why this date?
* Contract Expiry: The government is bringing operators back into public hands as their existing private contracts expire to avoid paying compensation to the private firms. GWR's current agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT) is scheduled to conclude in late 2026. 
* The Three-Month Rollout: Since the 2024 Act, the government has been nationalizing roughly one operator every quarter. For example, South Western Railway transitioned in 2025, and West Midlands Trains followed in early 2026. 
* Autumn 2026 Window: Official projections and timelines from the DfT and major news trackers (such as The Guardian's nationalization tracker) place GWR in the "Autumn 2026" bracket, specifically targeting mid-December to coincide with the winter timetable change—a standard point for major administrative shifts in the rail industry. 

The final operator, CrossCountry, is currently projected to be the last to transition in late 2027.

Re: 13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374903/31999/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 11:38, 8th May 2026
 
Hmmm. Can't find any sign of it anywhere official

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374902/31997/30]
Posted by grahame at 11:16, 8th May 2026
 
That's the western end of Rotterdam Centraal, as seen by somebody still half asleep, or from a camera with a hazy memory.

Correct

On a train that could do with a visit to the carriage wash?

I think it was deeper than that - a curved window on the upper deck of a train, I suspect worn / fogged perspex.  The downstairs windows were much clearer


13th December 2026 - Great Western returns to public ownership
In "Across the West" [374901/31999/26]
Posted by grahame at 11:13, 8th May 2026
 
Initially from social media - I won't put this is "Rumour Mill" because it fits expectations

GW returns to public ownership on 13th December, announced this morning.

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374900/31997/30]
Posted by JayMac at 11:01, 8th May 2026
 
On a train that could do with a visit to the carriage wash?

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374899/31997/30]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:16, 8th May 2026
Already liked by JohnM
 
Well, it's definitely not Melksham. 

Re: Advance fares - hardly the most robust offering
In "Fare's Fair" [374898/31978/4]
Posted by JohnM at 10:14, 8th May 2026
 
Some of our regulars from Melksham are aware that if they want to get to London earlier than the 10:02 but not pay £££ for the 08:02, they should split at Chippenham,  and use part of their saving for a coffee at the Hungry Hare.
I'll try to remember that - thanks

Re: On tour, May 2026, Grahame
In "The Lighter Side" [374897/31997/30]
Posted by stuving at 09:53, 8th May 2026
Already liked by grahame
 
That's the western end of Rotterdam Centraal, as seen by somebody still half asleep, or from a camera with a hazy memory.

Re: Difficulty of booking international rail tickets
In "Fare's Fair" [374896/31906/4]
Posted by ChrisB at 09:36, 8th May 2026
 
An E* ticket to a Belgium station includes any local services for free doesn't it? So a Brussels ticket can be used for free to get to Antwerp? Or has that been stopped?

Re: Advance fares - hardly the most robust offering
In "Fare's Fair" [374895/31978/4]
Posted by ChrisB at 09:34, 8th May 2026
 
The 16:39 from Melksham ran on time ... then an hour to wait in Swindon for the 18:04 to Paddington. Good job I am "robust" as at around 17:30 that flagged up as "delayed".  No indication why, no indication by how much ... and so a quick trip to the staffed counter where they told me it hadn't yet left Gloucester

Glasd they provided an answer to the meaning of "delayed" - train not moving yet towards destination & until it does, we are unable to work out an estimate of the amount of delay....just still getting later basically.

Re: Mid Cornwall Metro - Newquay, St Austell, Truro & Falmouth
In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [374892/27102/25]
Posted by RailCornwall at 09:08, 8th May 2026
Already liked by Western Pathfinder
 
The article and recent testing seems to indicate that at least some MCM services are to be operated by 175s. Good move if so.

 
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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