TfW's T1 bus between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth... I wonder how it interacts with that.

(Catching the T1 early in the new year, the impression was that the bus could run to time but with summer time traffic on the roads, would struggle.)

 
A quick Google search throws up the following

From National Rail website


From As an example, TfW has this

 
One of these services much eased travel related to the business I was running at the time - the need was for a post-eatery  straightforward way to return from Oxford to Clapham Junction and the train provided a magic carpet straight through at precisely the right time. When I used them, from memory, these services tended to be comfortably 50% occupancy. They were never seen to carry fresh air.

Also, I've aired the tale of the late afternoon service between Chatham and Oxford that was precisely timed to be maximally useful for both myself and the couple who used it from Dover as one leg of a Paris-Oxford journey and rendezvoused with me on the train after the call at Chatham.

Now, the same journey, for them, would involve Eurostar and then a transfer via I can't recall to the Elizabeth Line to Paddington, and in rather less time. That change empathises how much infrastructure has been built since the 1980s, but at the time there was something to be said for 'On at Dover, off at Oxford'.

 
That report is utter nonsense
They were working from 0530 when hot weather was forecast, and worked later into the night

 

Having looked up ORR requirements, rail replacement buses must be shown on station departure boards in real time, so even somewhere like Melksham would show them on departure displays (although appears the departure board is whatever is there, (even a manual chalked up one)

The buses must also show correct destination (or rail replacement), not blank destination.  Inside they have to have audio and visual announcements of the next stop, and if automatic announcements are not working then driver has to clearly use PA to announce approach to stops.   (This has only been a recent 100% requirement, as transition since 2023 Public Service Vehicles Assessable Information legislation has now ended)

Seems to be more of a grey area regarding real time (eg GPS based) location data and times displayed on arrival boards.  Currently appears to be more of an aspiration than an requirement.

 
15  High Street, Yetminster, just down from the White Hart. The home of the Yetties folk group in the 1960s!

 
Can you confirm my understanding here - as I understood it, a rail replacement bus is in effect a trin on the road, and if a GWR rail replacement bus gets held up, you can claim delay/repay in just the same way.

I am answering ...


My reply

 
Delays to services between Reading and London Paddington

Following trespassers on the railway between Reading and London Paddington some lines towards Reading bound high speed have now reopened.

Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until 12:15 12/10.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
Trespassers have been reported on the railway in the Ealing Broadway-London Paddington area.

 
I always remember it making some very slow progress around west London.

 
£4.50 for a return to Aberystwyth from Carmarthen. Tempting and supposedly in just under two hours which seems ambitious.

 

I seem to recall the ferry chap using a winding mechanism to raise the line from the river bed before crossing over to pick me up.  I guess this avoids the line causing an obstruction to river traffic when not in use.  He was busy performing his other role of mowing the grass bank when I arrived but spotted me straight away.

 

Odd mechanism for a ferry. From a boat, the line being somewhat invisible. *Sits on hands to avoid retelling the 'Encounter with a flow measuring station, during a flood, on the Thames.*

 

Oops!
Having lived there for perhaps 10 years, my first thought was Exeter!

 


6 Tavistock by the Canal

 

Very much what I thought, especially as I crossed it last year on a Pershore to Evesham walk.

 
Where on earth is 11? Keeps making me think Evesham, which is plain wrong.

*Edit* I'm double wrong. It *is* Evesham. Hampton Ferry.

 
And ...



Yes - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1664680711849593?locale=en_GB

 
To "complete" the picture - here's the path plan for 10 a.m to 5 p.m. today, no less than 25 paths offered.



Quite a number of those are alternatives - freight trains for which the final destination can vary, and a number are "Q" - runs as required. There is no way that 25 trains could get through in that time. 

The plans rather confirm the "pecking order" which has long distance passenger trains and freight given first and second priority, and service to the people who live along the line and support it being places third, and pushed off.

 
For completeness, the 06:29 to Southampton is replaced by a 06:10 bus (to Trowbridge, then there's a 06:33 train onwards).

I'm WFH today but on Wednesday will probably take the 08:09 train option (to Bristol via Chippenham).

 
5. Dartmouth

 
Further comment - a somewhat deeper level for the Coffee Shop.   The original post in this thread is shared as it was posted on local social media (sure, by me) a few minutes ago.

I remain unconvinced that GWR really have much care for our line or the passengers on it these days.  Words AND deeds.

They wrote to us and others on the 2nd October to let us know - yep, that was a Friday afternoon just before office staff would finished for the weekend, and invited questions.   A couple of queries submitted within hours - like asking why the regional trains (not the hyper fast expresses) aren't stop at the three stations along the line (buses provide a much slower service and cost the railways more!), and asking why the fares for journeys like Trowbridge to Swindon have been doubled for the week via the online booking system, even though there's supposed to be an easement in place for when direct trains are not running.   No reply, even now (10 days later).

To be fair, whilst GWR and NR invited questions - they didn't actually say they would acknowldege or answer them.   And they probably figure that the question will go away after 16th October anyway, so why go to the trouble and expense of actually answering?

Reproduced above ... the "Tiger" display for this morning for Melksham.   Good old optimism that the buses are expected "On Time".  Sometimes they are (based on previous experience) but typically they're anytime from 5 to 15 minutes late and to my knowledge there are no trackers on the buses.  Indeed, experience prepares us to see "On Time", the bus to not appear, the details to disappear off the departure board (worrying people waiting!) and then the bus to turn up a bit later.  Not customer friendly.

Also on the Tiger display - "Buses stop in the Station Car Park".  No, they don't.  We have reported this before. They stop at the Rail Replacemement bus stop on Station Approach.  The place is small enough for the buses to be obviously noticed, so no harm done - but why continue to pump out incorrect information like this?

 

I presume you'll be slipping one of these on?

https://es.pinterest.com/pin/861806078682945544/

 
From Melksham Transport User Group on Facebook


And part of a share commentary also includes a link to Tiger

 
https://flightfree.co.uk


I can't really take the challenge; habit already broken - not flown since 25th February 2024, and that only because I (morally committed) had to be back to vote in person at the Town Council the following day

 
In our area

Crewkerne Gazzette - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573032260391
Cornish News - https://www.facebook.com/groups/216265215554617

and further afield

Rotherham Bugle - https://www.facebook.com/RotherhamBugle
NewsThump - https://newsthump.com

Most seem to concentrate on social media outlets and several of the above have broken links even from their social media profiles - these sites seem to spring up from time to time but they don't always last. I did enjoy this - hot news from Rotherham:

 

Looking down from the top of the steps, I felt it was far more potential than actually welcoming just yet.

 
So far - these are identified, with the first responder credited in each case

4 Taunton - Chris from Nailsea
7 Needles (Isle of Wight) - johnneyw
8 Temple Footbridge (River Thames) - TonyN
9 Reading Town Centre - stuving
10 Bicester Village - chuffed
16 Chepstow - Red Squirrel

 
Actually, washed down with some baked beans, it was most enjoyable. 

 


Yes, I'd agree with both of you: 16 is on the River Wye at Chepstow.