Arrived a bit early here.  Had a stroll past the floating walkway just as the works team opened it up.  I'm now officially the second member of the general public to us it...beaten by a couple of metres by a lady who turned out to be a lecturer at the new campus.
There's a bit of a bun fight going on in the campus building right now but the speaking to the events team and security,, I was told I was welcome to have a look around after 16.00.  Might even do that


Edit to add that the events team and security chap may have slightly over enthused regarding access to the uni campus building after 16.00 today.  Turns out we the great unwashed are not allowed in until tomorrow.  Pity, there seemed to be some glasses of fizz unsullied by human lips still in there!

 
Dear Paddy, and through Bob


and that was the highlight and headline of my post.



The explanations very much appreciated, thank you.  They eloquently highlight some of the issues faced with using Melksham Station.  We, who live in Melksham, are very familiar with these and that's why paseenger numbers here are so low per head of population, and "we don't use it because" is so often heard. Let's be working together so we can overcome many or most of these issues in joint and full support of the TransWilts line and other trains and buses.

P.S. I would guesstimate that less that 1 in 20 of my own train journeys this year have been to or from Melksham - many have been connections far, far away and that network is crucial, amd some have been by bus where the train service hasn't worked.

 
Sorry, but I won't be there after all.  I had to go out this morning and my return has been / is being significantly delayed (not train related).

CfN. 

 
This from the chair of TransWilts, Paddy Bradley.

As Chair of Transwilts I would like to thank you for mentioning our project.   Although it is covered in the link you provided, to be clear this was organised by TransWilts in conjunction with GWR.
 
To respond to the points you raised
o   We wanted a through train without the need to change at Bristol Temple Meads.  There is one train after the morning peak suitable for a day trip which provides that and there is not a viable connection from Melksham into it.
o   We wanted to be able to book reserved seats to keep the group together, this is not possible from Melksham or many of the connections from it.
o   We wanted a staffed station to assist with boarding.
o   To reach Weston-super-Mare at a similar time from Melksham it would have involved a change at Trowbridge (no lifts) or Westbury and again at Bristol and the same on the return.
o   As to reaching the station.  Few, if any, of the people who came on the trip live within walking distance of Melksham station, so once in a car it made sense to come to Chippenham.
o   There were no issues at Chippenham station.  Those who felt they could use the stairs went with one TW member and those who preferred the lift went with another and met on the platform.
 
It is worth noting we did take other members of the café on a rail experience day earlier in the year.   This was from Melksham and saw them travel to both Westbury and Swindon by train while playing bingo and learning about train travel and platform safety on the way.
 

 
This won't help - if it's the one I'm thinking of it gets clobbered quite regularly

Delays to services between Reading and London Paddington

Following a road vehicle colliding with a bridge between Reading and London Paddington the line has now reopened.
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until 12:30 07/09.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened??
-
Weve been informed that a vehicle has struck a bridge in the Burnham area. The bridge will have to be examined to make sure its safe and any debris cleared.

 

Like Paignton, most of the damage was done by firefighters trying to find the seat of the fire and prevent it's spread. If there's no fuel, ie wood, then it cannot spread. I don't know if insurance assessors take that into account.

 
Connected to the lineside fire which was designated vandalism last night.

Able to use Elizabeth Line for local stations & GWR are running IETs on diesel power across the affected area.

 
Maybe the local user group could ex[plain this to the cafe?

 
Can confirm.  Had a lovely evening on the Cheltenham Fryer on Saturday 5th, with 2807 providing the motive power.  Lovely 1st Class treat for our friends who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary a few weeks back.  2807 was already 71 years old when they married, and had been in Barry scrapyard for 13 years at that time

 
A fuller explanation has now been published.  This feels like it might take longer than today to resolve.  Does anyone have a view/info on how long this suspension to Reading might last for?

Due to vandalism of railway equipment between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Following an incident on Saturday, where some electrical distribution equipment was damaged in a fire, there are some significant effects on train services as a result. Until repairs have been effected, it will not be possible to operate the full timetable of our electric trains between London Paddington and Reading owing to the demands this would otherwise place on the electrical distribution system.

Our High Speed / Inercity Express Train services will, in the main, continue to operate as scheduled. They are able to operate on diesel power through the affected area which would not have any effect on the loading of the electrical supply.

Train services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at local stations via Pangbourne) will only operate between Didcot Parkway and Reading in both directions. Passengers to or from stations to London Paddington will be required to change trains at Reading. Note that this will particularly impact on those customers travelling to / from Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough who may use, at no additional cost, Elizabeth line services between Reading and London Paddington. Note that at Paddington the Elizabeth line services call at platforms A and B which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 of the main terminal station. If you are travelling to or from Slough, Maidenhead or Twyford your ticket will be accepted for travel via Reading, if this provides a faster journey to or from London Paddington

 
A better map from the BBC

 
Yep. All those pesky firefighters with their foam and water, messing up the electrics. 

 
The Melksham News reports Melksham's Shine Friendship Cafe took the train to Weston-super-mare in August - "For many it was their first trip on a train, and it is hoped it will give them the confidence to make more journeys in the future."

https://melkshamnews.com/day-trip-to-the-seaside-for-friendship-cafe/

Delighted at this introduction of people to rail:


But I wonder how they got to Chippenham Station.  The group pictured indicates some mobility issues, and Chippenham Station is far from straightforward from the station forecourt to the platform for those who have difficulties with stairs. Apart from Sundays and early mornings, the bus from Melksham does not serve Chippenham Station. 

I confess that whilst I am delighted with the Melksham group being introduced to the train, I do wonder if it could have been done at their local (Melksham) station.  We have flat access to the platform and we have trains that don't need assistance booked ahead, and which puts them on the platform at Chippenham with a change to the train west that does NOT involve stairs, lifts, barriers, and finding transport to get them to that station from Melksham.

 
The GWSR is also back in steam, judging from the whistles that I heard from the locomotive heading north from Cheltenham Racecourse station on Saturday 5 September.

 

 

They prefer motorhomes these days (occasionally invisible however!)

 
Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to vandalism of railway equipment between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

.......Saturday’s fire now attributed to vandalism.

 
And to conclude - the final answer - No. 9 - is Cosenza in Italy.   An amazingly quiet station when I was there in the middle of the day on 23rd June.  Services arrive from the west coast of Italy about every hour - and from the east coast a handful of times each day, and a narrow gauge railway heads off south through mountains - at present (like so much in Italy, it seems) truncated due to the condition of the track. A single carriage railcar sat and waited, then set off, and I'm thinking more staff than passengers on it.  Further exploration in future years, and perhaps when it's not so hot.

 
Over 100 service updates this morning ...


Looks like all Didcot and Newbury services to Paddington are being cut short at Reading.

No "line updates",as yet - but then it *is* the middle of the night, so that may come.   No alternatives suggested, and no indication as to whether it's trains. track or signalling that's been vandalised.  No doubt we will learn in due course.

 
Just giving this particular topic a gentle 'bump'.

We really would be pleased to welcome any of you new members to the Coffee Shop forum joining in any of our discussions, just by posting out there.

I started doing that, nearly 20 years ago - and look where that's got me 

Chris from Nailsea. 

 

Cough, splutter, from me. 

 
There was a similar closure on the Far North Line in June (ish). IIRC they just didn't serve Altnabreac or Scotscalder during that period. Looking at RTT for November it looks like it's the same for Rannoch and Corrour. Other stations off the most obvious road route appear to be served by separate local buses connecting at Fort William.

 

It's not always as clear cut as that. We often faced this problem where I worked in a different industry but you have to weigh up the impact of the supplier going bust, losing key staff etc against continuing to support them. In my instance in the broadcast industry there were instances where we chose not to enforce the contract to the letter as it would put the supplier out of business and the loss of several years work. Even where we owned the IP getting a new supplier up to speed would be time consuming, expensive and increase the risk. It was an approach that was new to me but it could make sense and in some instances really helped on collaborative working.

Admittedly though the Scottish Government does not have a great record on ferries.

 

Selective door opening and good, wide internal signposting and and passing through in new trains may be the solution. Even at stations like Baker Street this happens already, so having to walk though at places like Freshford should not be an issue. 

 

Isn't there a road from Rannoch Station (at least) - across long coach (or taxi) ride to the Highland main line?

 
See https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6572.msg379244#msg379244

 
An update, from the BBC:

 

It will be interesting to see how they cope with Rannoch and Corrour. Russian 6x6s perhaps?

 

Having wasted huge sums of money lengthening platforms to take the rarely seen 5 car trains, how long before they start work on 6 car platforms ??

 



Would you pay the builder/plumber or whatever, in full, in advance, for an uncompleted extension, conservatory, bathroom if he told you he was in financial difficulties ? But there - CalMac is owned by the Scottish Government, so it is only the tax payers' money they are throwing away - and when it comes to ship building contracts they are THE experts.