Gosh I’d forgotten about that.   Dug up some memories. 

 

Everybody talk about... pop muzik?

 

 
Taunton, Melksham, Blaenau Festiniog

 
And today ... probably quite easy 

 
I'd be inclined to go with the retailer for the initial financial claim, but also raise it with TfW from POV of fixing the underlying issue – either the published information is wrong or the bus operator wasn't applying the rules correctly.

 

Surely you'd need to take up with GWR as Graham suggests, given that's from whom the ticket was purchased?

For example I tend to purchase tickets from the LNER website for GWR services as it's a better, more user friendly website and it generally matches my preferences in areas such as seat reservations - if I have to make a claim for delay repay, I go back to LNER as it's from them that I've purchased the ticket, not GWR.

 
This ticket is promoted by TfW and their website clearly states that it is valid on "All TrawsCymru services (Excluding T7, T12, X43, 460)". Clearly they are advertising something which is not being delivered. I would take the matter up with TfW and claim a refund of the bus fares you were forced to pay.

 
Raise it with TfW perhaps?

Mark

 

Except the map shows the T8, and it's a TransCymru service not in the excluded list ...

Fun!

I'm sure the drivers were correct.  I should probably ask my sales outlet - GWR - as I stated I wanted to go to Ruthin on the ticket and what I was sold was not valid for that 

 
https://tfw.wales/ways-to-travel/rail/ticket-types/rovers-and-rangers/explore-wales seems to be fairly comprehensive. The 'Our bus partners' section shows the following:

Here is a list of the bus operators in Wales that will accept the 'Explore Wales Pass':

    Arriva Wales
    Cardiff Bus
    First Cymru
    Stagecoach South Wales
    All TrawsCymru services (Excluding T7, T12, X43, 460)

so it appears the M&H Coaches drivers were correct.

If this mirrors the situation in Devon bus services which are run on an entirely commercial basis i.e. without Local Authority support cannot be required to accept 'discounted' tickets. I could not find any information regarding this issue on the M&H Coaches website.

 

Grand theory (and I know I am following up an old post).    We used the T8 yesterday - or tried to - on an "Explore Wales" ticket purchased at Bath Spa Station on Friday.   The sales blurb said we could, the chap there sold it to us for use on trains and buses, but we were denied its use on the T8 service - once each way - by different drivers.  According to one of them, it is (now?) only valid on buses run by Arriva ... and this service is run by M&H Coaches.



I am - disinclined - to complain.   Both bus drivers were very nice about it, and the rides out and back from Chester into Wales were good, but it was a challenge that we felt we should not have faced, and being told that our tickets weren't acceptable when we had paid quite a bit for them ...

So - if I were to raise this, who would it be with?   M&H Coaches who refused the tickets?  TfW who put out the misleading information and map?  Arriva because they have the concession for TransCymru services and may have subcontracted this route?  GWR who sold me the ticket and I stated to the booking clerk that we needed to get to Chester and then on to the bus part of the pass?

Lisa and I are relatively hardened to the challenges of public transport travel, but various challenges yesterday on getting the T8 (not showing on bus stops, for example, running late ... not accepting the tickets we had chosen to include use of that bus) must, surely, put off the timid newcomer. 

 

Yeah ... thanks ... we had planned around that  .    Will post follows ups as they happen.

 
*Breathes sigh of contentment*

Mark

 
Delays to services between Newbury and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 18:00 14/02.

Customer Advice
Apologies to customers, due to a fault with the signalling system in the Thatcham area trains on eastbound line have to run at a reduced speed thus incurring delays.

Some semi-fast trains between Newbury and Reading will be cancelled, but all stations will still receive a train service.

 
A reminder if you are coming back through Bath Spa.   The lift from Platform 2 is out of use until next month.

https://transwilts.org/2026/02/04/lift-works-at-bath-spa/

 
Part of the apparent discrepancy may be down to a change of route.   After leaving Taunton it was scheduled to go via Box and Swindon but instead went up the Berks & Hants line.

When it passed Cogload Junction it was 194 minutes late.  By the time it got back on route west of Reading it had reigned that in to 157 minutes late. 

As the service was replaced by a five car IET at Taunton, it also saved 20 minutes with the Reading stop as it didn't pause to attach the second loco to the rear.

 

Yes, and yes

 

A rude awakening indeed!

 
I hope that they were all l;eft in their cabins until the IET was ready & waiting at TAU?

 
It seems that the train was declared a failure at Taunton where it had arrived at 01.38. An 802 IET was sent from Exeter to continue the service leaving Taunton at 05.05.

 

That's a result of timing the run at a sedate pace to allow sleep. Of course, once late, the train can & does go faster & catch up.

I'm sure it was 200 late when that warning was posted - why would it not be?
Lumo even post that their delays can be caught up further down/up the line.....

 
or did come back with 175002 and not mentioned.
An interesting signal problem is how. On London Underground signalling; as the points cannot be guaranteed, because a train is occupying the approach section, to be locked they would have to be scotched and clipped and hand signalled into the platform or the trains moved towards Liskard past signal LD20, the points on the branch scotched and clipped then the normal signal interlocking can take effect and the trains moved onto the main line.

 

Was this bought at Bath Spa? Did they issue the coupon with it, to record the days you travel?

Mark

 

"Only" 2 hours late 

 

Ah, that's Newport. The police dog that was less than ok was on the footbridge at Waterloo, I'm sure all the police dogs in Wales are lovely. This from Dyfed police's web site.

https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/police-forces/dyfed-powys-police/areas/about-us/about-us/dog-section/

Mark

 

Goodness - how the information system is so wonderful at getting it wrong.   Due into Paddington at 05:07, actually in at 07:04 - only 117 late - and for many passengers, I suspect that's a far better arrival time anyway.  And - question - how does delay/repay work with the sleeper - fare, berth fees, ...

 
Melksham (station) to collect the gent who's house sitting, Bus to Bath, train to Temple Meads, train to Newport, train to Chester.  All on time.   We made a connection that wasn't at Temple Meads - arrived at 15, left 6 minutes later from 3 and with a mobility aid that meant lifts not stairs too.   Arrived at 1 into Newport (not common?) and headed up north from 3.   Loved the 197 on what was classified as "Standard Plus".

Love the whole atmosphere / friendliness of public transport travel - both the Bath to Bristol local and and Marches line service too ... oh, and the bus.  Bit of a randomness about that; personally helped by being a frequent traveller in our very local area and so knowing a lot of people.

Tickets - Melksham to Severn Tunnel Junction then on to an Explore Wales 4 or 8, which wasn't easily found by the ticket clerk, and we nearly ended up with an Explore SOUTH Wales.  Relatively expensive for what we are doing but it gives us the flexibility.  "On the Buses" today.

 
21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:07

13/02/26 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:07 is being delayed at Taunton and is now expected to be 200 minutes late.

This is due to a fault on this train.

 
Proactive rather than reactive maintenance it would seem. Bravo.