TweetI have known about the Man in Seat Sixty-One website for a while now, being a train travel aficionado, particularly when abroad. The site is an emporium of information, not just on train travel across the world, but on other novel ways of getting to, from and around the most distant lands, including ferries and [...]
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Chippenham to Salisbury – even slower
TweetIt’s been a while since I’ve made this journey on the train, and definitely not since my little survey of train journey times between Salisbury and Chippenham. And incidentally the price has gone up to £17.50 for a Saver Return. The journey time from Salisbury to Chippenham via Bath Spa (no direct services at all) [...]
Take the pledge
TweetThere now seems to be more than a glimmer of hope that from December 2008 we may get something close to an appropriate TransWilts service between Salisbury and Swindon (via Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham). It has been very difficult to gauge exactly how much car traffic cross-Wilts travel causes, especially by commuters, parents and shoppers [...]
Finally DfT speak out against FGW
TweetThis month, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly gave a salutary warning to First Great Western on their performance and value for money to customers (passengers). The company will have to spend £29 million to, among other things, increase stock, increase compensation to passengers, and a basic requirement of a franchise: to run their trains on time. [...]
Discount food at stations
TweetIf you find yourself waiting for your train at a station fortunate enough to have a food outlet, you may be interested in a BiTE discount card which apparently will give you 20% off food and drinks from outlets like Pumkin, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King and Upper Crust among others. I have just sent off [...]
Shame on FGW: old problems still persist
TweetI have so much backlog to go through for updates on local train issues I thought I would kick-off with a disappointment and share my frustration at both my outward and return journey on Saturday 13th October, travelling from Salisbury to Bristol. Out. Took the 10.40 to Bristol Temple Meads. Surely a ‘peak’ service considering [...]
Access all areas? South to north Wiltshire by rail
TweetIn my effort to campaign for better public transport links between south and north Wiltshire I have not as yet looked in great detail at actual services provided by rail, their cost, convenience and duration (bus to come). I feel it is important to express the problems with current service in this way as for [...]
Network Rail and Freedom of Information
TweetAn e-petition to 10 Downing Street is requesting that Network Rail be designated a public authority so that people may request information from it under the Freedom of Information Act At the moment it is very difficult to request certain details about the running of the railways from Network Rail owing to technicalities in the [...]
Train company threatens legal action
TweetAwaiting the 0830 Salisbury to Southampton service yesterday (13/08/07) my eye fell upon the front page story of The Times which reported the threatened legal action by First Group against the rail watchdog London TravelWatch. This is the story as reported by the BBC and here are some letters written in response to The Times [...]
A single Wiltshire
TweetIn her infinite knowledge and wisdom, Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State who decrees on such matters decided to approve Wiltshire County Council’s bid to become a unitary authority, abolishing the five districts of Wiltshire. Apparently they put foward a very good case. I’m sure of course having been in teh job less than a [...]
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