I twigged on to these possibilities some years ago and have been using coastal stations to explore various stretches of the South, South West and South Wales coastlines as well as increasing lengths of the Essex coast more recently.
Still got plenty more in the "planning" stage.

 
I've on occasion not been asked for my railcard when having my ticket checked on the train although I mostly present the ticket and card together.
A few times, for reasons unknown, my ticket hasn't opened the barrier at stations, causing the staff, after a quick check, to let me through but never asking for me to produce my railcard.

Incidentally, on a number of on-train ticket checks, the revenue protection/train managers have smilingly referred to it as my "young persons railcard"!

 

That's an interesting point, Mark.

In my previous employment - driving grocery delivery vans for Waitrose - it was a contractual requirement that I carried my photo ID driving licence with me at all times. 

 

 

 

I can't recall having been asked for a railcard at a barrier, ever. Train managers especially more recently will usually check for one and the thing they like to be able to see is the expiry date. Without a photo id, mind, a railcard is a bit loose, nevertheless, some train managers have a number of warm expressions up their sleeves ready for deployment. I wish I could recall the best I've heard but my memory's not what it was. :-)

"...supporting my belief that I don't look anything like old enough to have one "

From your writing style I was holding a belief that you were about 24. (Not holding that belief in a derogatory way I hasten to add...)

Mark

 

Ah, the driving licence. It could be said that it way too much personal info on it - some people do not like carrying it on them for that reason. Paired with house keys, a photocard driving licence drives a coach and horses through two-factor authentication.

Mark

 
How does the South Devon Railway relate to the Devon Valley Railway 

 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402333272418551/

 
Someone at the Department for Transport will have completely lost the plot by now. 

 
Using Tesco Clubcard points, a railcard can be purchased for £15 rather than the usual £30  . Two years ago it was only £10 

 
Last year, I registered for my first Senior Railcard - despite having actually qualified for one, several years before. 

I have used it on my recent train tickets, without any challenge: there is no photo ID on the Railcard, but I suspect that my increasingly greying hair leads railway staff to think, 'yes, he's an old git'. 

Nevertheless, I keep my Senior Railcard in my wallet, next to my Driving Licence - which does have photo ID - just in case I am ever challenged. 

 
I've recently had the misfortune to become old enough to qualify for one of these, and have been making use of it. I had been looking forward to being challenged at the ticket barriers and on board, supporting my belief that I don't look anything like old enough to have one But so far that hasn't happened.

I've heard guards ask for young persons to show their 16-25 card; is it assumed that seniors are honest? And in fact do ticket barriers give any indication that a ticket has been purchased using a senior railcard? I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary when I pass through.

 

Yes, thanks - those look like the pre-engineering work times. I've been commuting between Melksham and Bristol by train (mostly) for over 5 years now.


Well... it was possible if both trains were on time, even with the pedestrian bridge crossing; I managed it a few times (although the 07:21 is my usual)


Yep, although it means leaving the house 45 mins earlier so I don't do it often.

 

I knew I had it in words somewhere ... from the front page at https://www.greatwesternrailway.info ...

 

Here is the official set of connections from Melksham to Bristol Temple Meads once the trains are running again



Onto that official timing I have added in red:
The 07:21 will get you to Bristol at 08:03 if you manage a short connection at Chippenham (33 minutes faster)
The 09:10 will get you to Bristol at 09:53 if you manage a short connection at Trowbridge  (36 minuted faster)

We have asked GWR about a one minute change on the 07:21's connection and even though it was shown to work during engineering changes, we have been denied the change because it would delay more important flows by 1 minute.   The 09:10's connection is more problematic needing a couple of minutes change to a train which would upset things on congested lines.

GWR do listen - and that green time I have added to the diagram is an example of that.  The 06:32 used to run a couple of minutes later and just failed to connect at Trowbridge.   The journey is now shorter, giving you a 20 minute gain into Bristol.

 

Yes - I meant to mention that, and it is definitely a drawback. But I'm an early bird, and would be very happy (and surprised ) if the 07:21 train was brought forward enough to make catching the 07:11 at Chippenham reasonably likely, or at least make the 07:34 a safe bet instead of what is currently an outside chance (the official connection is the 08:09).

 

Indeed - though it's not the first time we have noted these trains reversing at Bristol Parkway, is it?

 
To be fair, BPW is taking fewer trains than normal today. My son is en route to Cornwall this morning, and their Leeds - Plymouth train was (we assume) diverted via Severn Tunnel, skipping BPW.

 
New yellow warnings issujed for some of our area tonight & tomorrow morning & Wednesday now too

 

We should really look to getting the train service RIGHT - running, and suffiicinlty on time to make connections.

I note that the bus at 06:50 these weeks is half an hour earlier from Melksham than the normal 07:21 train ... that's an extra 30 minutes on your day.

 

The stopper from Bristol Temple Meads via Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road and Ashley Down peters out at Filton Abbey Wood - one stations short of the potential interchange with express services to Swansea, London, Birmingham and beyond.   And yet - when push comes to shove, guess what - it can run up to that interchange at Bristol Parkway.

 
From journeycheck
Cancellations to services between Newton Abbot and Paignton
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newton Abbot and Paignton the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 13:00 06/01.
Customer Advice
A coach service will run between Newton Abbot and Paignton via all stations.

My bolding.

Sidenote - this is now Devon delays 2025, or maybe just remove the 2024 part?
Second sidenote.
Tried a search for Devon delays and received this

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So the system knew there were various variations on those words, but wouldn't give me access to any of them.
Back to the 'my posts' section and find one of my earlier posts.  Long winded, but quicker than using the forum seach thing.

 
Monday January 6

Some of last night's cancellations have consequences for this morning's trains:

1P11 0516 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington
RTT :

 
I thought I'd try the replacement Melksham-Chippenham 0650 bus this morning instead of the Faresaver 271 bus service. And I'm converted

It was a couple of minutes late, and made an unscheduled stop shortly after turning onto the A350 to let out the couple of lads who had thought they were going to Trowbridge (scheduled for 0701)

But it still got to Chippenham over 5 minutes early, which meant I could catch the 0711 Penzance service instead of the 0734 Weston I was expecting to wait for (and would normally catch, if lucky). And the nice and comfy Beeline coach was virtually empty, unlike the packed 271.

Any chance the engineering work will overrun?