Great Western Coffee Shop

Great Western Coffee Shop

Re: Castle Cary station - services, incidents, facilities, car parking and awards (merged topic)

In "Heart of Wessex" [377361/618/19]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:09, 23rd July 2026

Fair comment, noted: posts now moved and merged. CfN.

Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377360/32275/1]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:57, 23rd July 2026

After much more head scratching, I think we're back in Poland, for 8. Wroclaw.

Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377359/32275/1]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:30, 23rd July 2026

I only just managed to stop myself from posting 'Cue stuving' here.

Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377357/32275/1]
Posted by stuving at 22:20, 23rd July 2026

Both 3 and 5 look like the HSB - seen last time in Wernigerode Bahnhofsplatz - which is where both of these are too, I think.

Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377356/32275/1]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:11, 23rd July 2026

Lest it be thought that I have 'inside information' here, I don't.

The printed itinerary which grahame gave me tells me where he is now - not where he was when he took those pictures.

After two mugs of coffee and two slices of chocolate cake to give my brain some energy, I can offer the following:

1. A hybrid train, somewhere in Poland. Sorry, that's the closest I can offer.

2. Vienenburg station, Lower Saxony.

Other members of the Coffee Shop forum, familiar with Europe, will do far better than me on this one.

Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377353/32275/1]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:52, 23rd July 2026

Hmmm ...

Very kindly, grahame gave me a printed sheet of A4 detailing their itinerary for their 'grand tour' of Europe.

I'm still struggling - but will hopefully offer a couple of suggestions here, when I've mulled them over with a mug of coffee and slices of chocolate cake.

Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues

In "Introductions and chat" [377351/32275/1]
Posted by grahame at 20:26, 23rd July 2026

Lisa and I have travelled through former East Germany and are now beyond. No detailed log as I might do for UK journeys, but we have seen platform changes, delays, crowding, and a train terminated short and having to rush over tp another. These things are not unique to the UK, and the number of incidents I could report is such that I can be sure they're not as unusual over here as might be wished either.

Would anyone care to hazard a guess - or perhaps more than a guess at any of these? Bearing in mind they are a bit specialised, please feel free to identify several if you can

1.

Re: Severn Valley Railway - public (not tourist) service trial

In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377348/32267/28]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:07, 23rd July 2026

A few subsequent posts here, which refer specifically to the Minehead Branch line, have been split off and merged with an ongoing discussion, at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2688.msg377316#msg377316

Nothing has been deleted - just merged, in the interests of continuity and clarity, for ease of future reference.

Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion

In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377347/18525/10]
Posted by JohnM at 19:46, 23rd July 2026
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea

: JohnM

So I'm now in an Uber

It was only £9 with some sort of promo, which I can afford.

I've looked at the receipt, and the full price would have been £16.32; £6 promo (not sure what for) and £1.38 "promotions and adjustments" which might include some of the 10% credit I get from train ticket purchases. If I'd had to pay the full price I'd have hung around for the Salisbury train.

I did tip the nice driver £2, which will come out of the £5 Delay Repay.

Re: West Somerset Railway - Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, to Minehead

In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [377346/2688/47]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:36, 23rd July 2026

I have 'moved and merged' a few more posts here, as they all relate to this specific topic.

Taunton to Minehead

In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [377345/2688/47]
Posted by Bob_Blakey at 19:02, 23rd July 2026

Questions: Was there ever an additional running line on the north side of the present infrastructure west of Taunton which, if reinstated, would allow WSR services to run to & from the mothballed / abandoned station platform without getting in the way of 'GBR' trains.

And if 'Yes' are there any other impediments to reinstatement apart from the obvious cost, the footbridge over Trenchard Way and what looks like signalling cabinets?

Or, if regular Taunton <> Minehead services ever returned would fitting WSR trains with AWS and/or TPWS equipment suffice?

Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion

In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377344/18525/10]
Posted by JohnM at 18:30, 23rd July 2026
Already liked by Chris from Nailsea

Well as expected I missed the connection. Oh well I thought, at least they'll offer me a taxi...

Nope - the helpful and apologetic member of station staff explained that the delay now has to be more than 2 hours, and the Salisbury service is 7.00.

So I'm now in an Uber

It was only £9 with some sort of promo, which I can afford.

EDIT: and the Uber/taxi saves me the 1.6 mile walk from the station to home. Although I got the Uber driver to drop me off about half a mile early so I could get at least some of the expected exercise (yes I'm a bit obsessive).

Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion

In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377343/18525/10]
Posted by grahame at 18:19, 23rd July 2026

: Chris from Nailsea

That is just rubbish service for the passengers wanting to connect to Melksham - and all for the sake of a couple of minutes on a delayed service?

Headline performance stats are operationally slanted. No element I'm aware of to consider total journey time for people who have changes along the way. There ARE a few services that get held in the event of late running, and my impression is that it' better than it used to be.

Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion

In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377342/18525/10]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:06, 23rd July 2026

That is just rubbish service for the passengers wanting to connect to Melksham - and all for the sake of a couple of minutes on a delayed service?

Re: Paddington <-> Bristol: service updates and amendments - ongoing discussion

In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [377341/18525/10]
Posted by JohnM at 17:51, 23rd July 2026

Trespassers on the railway somewhere between Bath and Chippenham I guess; I'm on the 17:12 Bristol-Oxford and we're stopped just after leaving Bath. And very annoyingly we've just been overtaken by the 17:29 Bristol-Paddington, which means our ETA at Chippenham is now 1 minute after the 18:00 Chippenham-Melksham departs

MOVED: New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary

In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377340/32272/5]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:07, 23rd July 2026

This topic has been moved to Heart of Wessex and merged with an existing topic there - with thanks to Coffee Shop forum member 'bradshaw' for posting.

https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=618.msg377333#msg377333

Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [377339/231/28]
Posted by John D at 16:38, 23rd July 2026

New DfT press release regarding reopening to Portishead

First time I have seen journey duration (says 25 mins to Bristol Temple Meads

Also says in time, service will run to Bristol Brabazon and Aviva Arena (doesn't mention Henbury)

More than 50,000 people in North Somerset are a step closer to getting train services back after more than 60 years, as work begins to restore the railway line to Portishead.

The government has invested over £63 million to reconnect Portishead and Pill to the railway network, making journeys quicker, easier and more reliable while supporting jobs, housing and investment across the region.

With services due to begin in 2028, passengers will be able to travel directly between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes – less than half the time journeys can take by car during rush hour traffic.

The line will provide an hourly service between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads, calling at Pill, Parson Street and Bedminster, improving connections, unlocking housing and employment opportunities and creating an estimated £43 million of economic growth for the region each year.

In time, the restored railway line will eventually connect through to Bristol Brabazon – one of the UK’s largest new communities – and the new Aviva Arena, giving residents and visitors fast, easy access to the region’s biggest music, sport and entertainment events.

But does suggest opening is sometime in 2028

The west is moving out of the slow lane, and it is great that Rail Minister Lord Hendy could join us today to see firsthand how we are improving transport across our region. I look forward to hopefully welcoming him back as one of the first passengers when services begin in 2028!

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-stations-faster-journeys-and-better-connections-as-works-begin-to-restore-portishead-line-for-the-first-time-in-60-years

Re: Bus fare cap - ongoing developments and discussion

In "Buses and other ways to travel" [377338/26638/5]
Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:08, 23rd July 2026

Others making the point here about the cost of rail travel and the need for it to be reduced............I don't suppose anyone is holding their breath!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/brits-all-make-1-train-plea-after-andy-burnham-announces-2-bus-cap/ar-AA28wdsk?ocid=socialshare

Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026

In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377337/31355/51]
Posted by Mark A at 14:55, 23rd July 2026

Fast forward to late July and, drying soils throwing issues at Network Rail in East Anglia for starters. The press release has two photos.

Mark

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/service-changes-as-anglia-soil-dries-out-in-the-heat

Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed

In "South Western services" [377336/25368/42]
Posted by Mark A at 14:50, 23rd July 2026

Yup, about 80,000. Also, five (or if you're generous, six) railway lines and a host of bus services converge there, but somehow it's missing through trains to London and also, arguably, Bristol.

It could though be in a class of its own, as through history, Shrewsbury has perhaps lost through services to as many London terminals as many of us can count on the fingers of one hand. I count Paddington, Euston (twice?), Marylebone, and, er, Waterloo. There's a quiz question in there somewhere....

Mark

Re: New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary

In "Heart of Wessex" [377335/618/19]
Posted by GBM at 14:31, 23rd July 2026

Note to Mods - thread already running
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=618.msg374566#msg374566

Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed

In "South Western services" [377334/25368/42]
Posted by ChrisB at 14:18, 23rd July 2026
Already liked by Mark A

Shrewsbury - and its bigger than Trowbridge I believe

New bus service Glastonbury to Castle Cary

In "Heart of Wessex" [377333/618/19]
Posted by bradshaw at 14:00, 23rd July 2026

A new experimental service starts in August linking Glastonbury with Castle Cary station, with connections from Somerton/Langport at Keinton Mandeville.
Details below

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/news/new-trial-rail-link-bus-to-launch-in-august/

Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed

In "South Western services" [377332/25368/42]
Posted by Mark A at 13:47, 23rd July 2026

Thinking of English county towns and their rail services, I can't think of one with no station at all & the great majority have through trains to London. Some, e.g. Lincoln, have regained these trains relatively recently. Trowbridge is an outlier - the shift has been in the opposite direction - its residents and the seat of local government pretty unfortunate to lose the daytime links to and from Waterloo.

With no trains to London (save for the one below and that runs Mondays to Fridays only) Trowbridge shares that distinction with Oakham in Rutland and Appleby in Westmoreland. The other forty five or so all have through services to the capital.

Here's Realtimetrains data for that sole before-six-am and therefore peak time GWR Mondays to Fridays through service.

Mark

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W77150/2026-12-23

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