Recent content by alastair

Ah thanks, understood, it did seem a bit unlikely that it would be accepted on the bus.

Thanks for highlighting this. I was recently looking at fares from Totnes to Porthmadog and was somewhat surprised to be offered a fare via Blaenau with a bus connection to Porthmadog, but this explains it! I hope the driver of the Blaenau/Porthmadog bus has been briefed.

Interestingly, Vintage Trains seem to have found another path departing Shrewsbury 0815 for their Aberystwyth trip on 5 Sep.

Nobody gets free alcohol in XC first class, it's not part of the food and drink offer.

Don't forget RTC also run a substantial progamme of multi-day tours (using mainly scheduled trains and including hotels) both in UK and abroad. I suspect these may be far more profitable than the one day UK railtours?

that would surely be down to the TOC, nothing to do with UKR?

There are actually 3 new level crossings on the Rother Valley reconstructed route. One of them is across the A21 (London-Hastings road) which is very much a major trunk road and is managed by National Highways.

Just to update that the Crediton/Barnstaple line finally reopened this morning.

I can understand all the multiple problems outlined on this thread, but just with staff training, given that 175's have been shuttling back and forward between Plymouth and N Abbot/Exeter off and on (including stopping, opening/close doors etc at places like Totnes) since last September (5...

I know this is different to the point you are making, but to tell anyone on the Cambrian line to "buy on board" seems very poor advice (provided you have a smartphone) given that the TFW app sells advances up to a few minutes before departure. To take an example at random ...

Many thanks for your detailed reply, much appreciated.

In the latest Rail magazine (Issue 1052 dated 7 Jan, page 8) the normally well-informed Paul Clifton states: I was under the impression that the line had been resignalled around 2012/3 with control being from Basingstoke ROC. If I'm correct, why would resignalling be required again after a...

I can understand your cynicism but I think in this case it's possibly misplaced, on all previous VT trips advertised as unassisted (to Carlisle and Plymouth), that has meant no diesel on the back and the diesel running light a few blocks in front of or behind the train.

Thanks very much both for confirmation. very grateful.

That kind of thing is not unusual for many longer journeys on Cross Country due to the prevalence of split ticketing. Another good reason for opting for E-tickets (provided you have a smart phone).