Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Barriers to bus and tram travel - lessons from Florence In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [372917/31691/52] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:31, 1st March 2026 |      |
It's good to research local transport in advance of your trip
...
In the UK, do you just tap your debit card when you get on or do you have to state your destination? Depends on the town / city / bus company.
It's not just tourists that get confused.
...
In the UK, do you just tap your debit card when you get on or do you have to state your destination? Depends on the town / city / bus company.
It's not just tourists that get confused.
I do empathize with that.
As a senior citizen resident in North Somerset, I recently registered for a bus pass, with an online photograph for validation. When the card arrived, I looked more like Alec Guiness as Obi Wan Kenobi than me.
I then had to seek guidance from my daughter as to when and how I could use it from Nailsea, and from grahame as to when and how I could use it from Melksham. The whole 'tapping it in and out' requirement remains a mystery to me.
| Re: Barriers to bus and tram travel - lessons from Florence In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [372916/31691/52] Posted by Surrey 455 at 22:15, 1st March 2026 | |
It's good to research local transport in advance of your trip
In many (maybe all) German cities if you buy a one day ticket it needs to be validated before travel on the train (or once you get on the bus) and you may be able to use any door on the bus without showing your ticket to the driver.
In the UK, do you just tap your debit card when you get on or do you have to state your destination? Depends on the town / city / bus company.
It's not just tourists that get confused.
| Re: Cornish pasty - is it a proper one? Merged posts, ongoing light-hearted discussion In "Introductions and chat" [372915/31607/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:31, 1st March 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Pasty champions crowned - and they may surprise you
The championships saw nearly 100 competitive bakers and pasty companies compete
The winners of the first Global Pasty Championships have been crowned - and they may come as a surprise.
The contest saw nearly 100 bakers and pasty companies bring their lovingly crafted pasties to The Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell. But although pasties are synonymous with Cornwall, bakers from Bristol dominated the event, with bakers from the West Country city winning both individual titles and one of the two junior categories.
Vanessa Farr from Bristol, who took home the title in the Cornish pasty individual category, said: "I'm pleased to win this because I was up against professional bakers as well as amateurs, so this is a big one."
Fellow winners from the city included Max Baker, who won the alternative pasty individual category with a chicken in barbecue sauce pasty, and Finley, who triumphed in the alternative pasty junior category with a chicken fajita pasty.
And some participants for other events during Cornish Pasty Week travelled from a lot further than Bristol to take part.
Yuriko Shigyo made the trip from Tokyo in Japan to take part for the second time. "I really enjoyed returning to the crimping competition. The gardens here are so beautiful. I'm looking forward to coming again next year to enter the pasty contest," she said.
The competition was organised in partnership with the Cornish Pasty Association. Jason Jobling, chairman of the organisation, said: "The Global Pasty Championships has been a fantastic celebration of our national dish and a great way to bring a most memorable Cornish Pasty Week to a close."
The championships saw nearly 100 competitive bakers and pasty companies compete
The winners of the first Global Pasty Championships have been crowned - and they may come as a surprise.
The contest saw nearly 100 bakers and pasty companies bring their lovingly crafted pasties to The Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell. But although pasties are synonymous with Cornwall, bakers from Bristol dominated the event, with bakers from the West Country city winning both individual titles and one of the two junior categories.
Vanessa Farr from Bristol, who took home the title in the Cornish pasty individual category, said: "I'm pleased to win this because I was up against professional bakers as well as amateurs, so this is a big one."
Fellow winners from the city included Max Baker, who won the alternative pasty individual category with a chicken in barbecue sauce pasty, and Finley, who triumphed in the alternative pasty junior category with a chicken fajita pasty.
And some participants for other events during Cornish Pasty Week travelled from a lot further than Bristol to take part.
Yuriko Shigyo made the trip from Tokyo in Japan to take part for the second time. "I really enjoyed returning to the crimping competition. The gardens here are so beautiful. I'm looking forward to coming again next year to enter the pasty contest," she said.
The competition was organised in partnership with the Cornish Pasty Association. Jason Jobling, chairman of the organisation, said: "The Global Pasty Championships has been a fantastic celebration of our national dish and a great way to bring a most memorable Cornish Pasty Week to a close."
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [372912/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 19:14, 1st March 2026 | |
18:10 Castle Cary to Swindon due 19:34
19:43 Swindon to Westbury due 20:25
20:38 Westbury to Swindon due 21:23
21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16
Facilities on the 21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.
19:43 Swindon to Westbury due 20:25
20:38 Westbury to Swindon due 21:23
21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16
Facilities on the 21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.
| Re: TravelWatch SouthWest General Meeting, Friday 6 March 2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [372906/30742/34] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:49, 1st March 2026 | |
Just to confirm the details, the venue is the Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation, Trenchard Way, Taunton TA1 1FH.
From the down platform at Taunton railway station, go down Station Approach and the distinctive new building is directly across the A3087 Trenchard Way - there is a pedestrian crossing.
The meeting times are 10:30am to 3:15pm.
CfN.
| Re: Transport for Wales train fares to be frozen for a year, from 1 March 2026 In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [372905/31689/23] Posted by anthony215 at 16:38, 1st March 2026 | |
Wales might be freezing its rail fares, but for some parts of the Network it has temporarily retained old rolling stock too.
The class 398 tram-trains still not in use in the Cardiff area
A number of its new class 197 DMUs have never entered service, and a few others have been out of service for months because they have faults that are proving difficult to fix due to lack of spare parts. (and if can't get parts already, what will it be like in 30 years)
So in meantime, the aging class 150s, some class 153s (38-40 year old) and the class 158s and mk4 carriages (34-37 year old) continue in service.
From my occasional travels in South Wales it is also clear their train orders made 8 years ago (and which business case would have been formulated nearer 10 years ago), have rather too many 2car units which get crowded on certain services and desperately need lengthening to cope with current (and growing) passenger numbers
Overall good they are freezing fares, but TfW need a plan to handle the additional passengers their new trains (where they have been introduced) seem to be carrying.
The class 398 tram-trains still not in use in the Cardiff area
A number of its new class 197 DMUs have never entered service, and a few others have been out of service for months because they have faults that are proving difficult to fix due to lack of spare parts. (and if can't get parts already, what will it be like in 30 years)
So in meantime, the aging class 150s, some class 153s (38-40 year old) and the class 158s and mk4 carriages (34-37 year old) continue in service.
From my occasional travels in South Wales it is also clear their train orders made 8 years ago (and which business case would have been formulated nearer 10 years ago), have rather too many 2car units which get crowded on certain services and desperately need lengthening to cope with current (and growing) passenger numbers
Overall good they are freezing fares, but TfW need a plan to handle the additional passengers their new trains (where they have been introduced) seem to be carrying.
Driver training on the 398s to start april/may with the 1st 398 entering service in June although tfw only have a few of them which have completed fault free running.
756s should start on Rhymney entering to barry island services soon with 231s going on VOG
| Re: Travelling on invalid ticket - what should the operator do? In "Fare's Fair" [372904/31693/4] Posted by Mark A at 16:18, 1st March 2026 | |
The Melksham chap: rather too late in the day for Melksham's one National Express service to London (an early morning departure which also serves Trowbridge, fares look to be £9.50 - £20.00).
The air travel people: I don't know. It's no good validating the ticket and booking with the airline once it's purchased, by that time the purchase price is down the drain and the crook's over the hill and far away.
Mark
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [372902/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 14:35, 1st March 2026 | |
14:05 Frome to Swindon due 14:58
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38
16:43 Frome to Swindon due 17:34
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55
Facilities on the 17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55.
Toilet facilities are not available. Disabled toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38
16:43 Frome to Swindon due 17:34
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55
Facilities on the 17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55.
Toilet facilities are not available. Disabled toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: Why has the world's first hydrogen double-decker fleet failed? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372900/31681/5] Posted by Red Squirrel at 12:30, 1st March 2026 Already liked by eXPassenger | |
I think the answer to the question 'Why has the world's first hydrogen double-decker fleet failed?' is probably more obvious to scientists and engineers than it is to politicians: 'Because it was powered by hydrogen'.
| Travelling on invalid ticket - what should the operator do? In "Fare's Fair" [372898/31693/4] Posted by grahame at 12:20, 1st March 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c743d7vdwzyo
We found out we'd bought fake flights at check-in
Fake and incorrect tickets ... reminded me of the chap on Friday afternoon who was travelling from Trowbridge to London, but was detrained at Melksham because his ticket was not valid; he had been offered at "over £100" - I believe £129.30 - if he wanted to stay on the train.
I have no idea / we must consider whether the couple travelling to India, and / or the chap travelling to London, were knowingly trying to travel without the correct tickets, or whether there was no element of trying to buck the system and they were victims of fraud, or not knowing the rules, or naiveness or stupidity. But if they - at Heathrow and at Melksham, were victims, what can and should be done by the operator when the problem is identified?
Both stories have people, with their luggage, left high and dry with an option to pay again, at over twice what has already been paid, or be left in a state of some potential distress in a place they don't know. And in both cases [details redcated for mine] the "cannot travel" person / people could be evaluated to be potentially vulnerable.
| Passenger Growth - railway termini of the South West In "Across the West" [372897/31692/26] Posted by grahame at 11:54, 1st March 2026 | |
An interesting exercise to see how passenger numbers to GWR termini have grown from 2005 (blue) to2025 (red). Some branch lines have significant intermediate traffic, in one or two cases dwarfing the terminus. Others have very limited intermediate traffic. So the growth may be the thing to compare and not the absolute numbers
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [372896/31163/26] Posted by bobm at 11:29, 1st March 2026 | |
Bit more detail on Journeycheck.
The fire brigade have been responding to a fire at a train depot near London Paddington.
To allow the fire brigade to deal with the incident, power to the overhead electric wires which powers electric trains was switched off.
As a result, major disruption has occurred on this route this morning.
However, the fire has now been safely extinguished, and we are slowly starting to reintroduce the train service. However, delays and short notice cancellations should be expected as continue to restore the train service.
To allow the fire brigade to deal with the incident, power to the overhead electric wires which powers electric trains was switched off.
As a result, major disruption has occurred on this route this morning.
However, the fire has now been safely extinguished, and we are slowly starting to reintroduce the train service. However, delays and short notice cancellations should be expected as continue to restore the train service.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [372895/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 11:07, 1st March 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Following a fire next to the track between London Paddington and Reading all lines will be reopened shortly. Disruption is expected until 11:30 01/03.
Train services between London Paddington and Reading will be cancelled or delayed.
| Barriers to bus and tram travel - lessons from Florence In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [372894/31691/52] Posted by grahame at 10:28, 1st March 2026 | |
Barriers to bus and tram travel - lessons from Florence, from Facebook
Taking the Bus or Tram in Florence? Please Don't Make These Mistakes.
Florence's public transport is run by Autolinee Toscane (AT). Buses and trams. One company, one system.
It's cheap, it works, and it can save you hours of walking in the heat. But every week, tourists get fined, miss their stop, or waste money — because nobody explained the rules before they got on.
I'm Italian. I've watched people argue with inspectors, buy the wrong ticket, and stand at bus stops without signaling — wondering why the bus drove past them.
Florence's public transport is run by Autolinee Toscane (AT). Buses and trams. One company, one system.
It's cheap, it works, and it can save you hours of walking in the heat. But every week, tourists get fined, miss their stop, or waste money — because nobody explained the rules before they got on.
I'm Italian. I've watched people argue with inspectors, buy the wrong ticket, and stand at bus stops without signaling — wondering why the bus drove past them.
The whole post goes into details of each point - here is a management summary - the headlines
1. Not Buying Your Ticket BEFORE You Get On
2. Forgetting to Validate Your Ticket
3. Not Knowing How Long Your Ticket Lasts
4. Not Signaling the Bus to Stop
5. Boarding from the Wrong Door
6. Thinking the Tram and the Bus Are Different Systems
7. Carrying Too Much Luggage
8. Assuming Children Always Ride Free
9. Ignoring Inspectors or Not Keeping Your Ticket
10. Not Using the Bus to Reach Places Tourists Walk To
Lots of lessons here ... helping overcome misunderstandings and making public transport easier to use - for tourists and locals alike!
Image is in Public Domain (?) - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Florence_-_Bus_line_D_of_ATAF_%28Breda,_no._1505%29.jpg
| Re: Transport for Wales train fares to be frozen for a year, from 1 March 2026 In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [372893/31689/23] Posted by John D at 07:50, 1st March 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Wales might be freezing its rail fares, but for some parts of the Network it has temporarily retained old rolling stock too.
The class 398 tram-trains still not in use in the Cardiff area
A number of its new class 197 DMUs have never entered service, and a few others have been out of service for months because they have faults that are proving difficult to fix due to lack of spare parts. (and if can't get parts already, what will it be like in 30 years)
So in meantime, the aging class 150s, some class 153s (38-40 year old) and the class 158s and mk4 carriages (34-37 year old) continue in service.
From my occasional travels in South Wales it is also clear their train orders made 8 years ago (and which business case would have been formulated nearer 10 years ago), have rather too many 2car units which get crowded on certain services and desperately need lengthening to cope with current (and growing) passenger numbers
Overall good they are freezing fares, but TfW need a plan to handle the additional passengers their new trains (where they have been introduced) seem to be carrying.
| Re: Sharp Brewery's Doom Bar from Rock, Cornwall? Apparently not! In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [372892/15849/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 00:02, 1st March 2026 | |
Only in this day and age could a brewer call itself a "Beverage Company" 
Yes - but you are referring to a brewing organisation in the USA / Canada, where the King's English is sadly becoming the language of the past.
| Re: Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - merged posts In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [372890/9998/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:08, 28th February 2026 | |
An example of, "Any publicity is good publicity" (accredited to P T Barnum) ?
| Re: Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - merged posts In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [372888/9998/31] Posted by JayMac at 22:46, 28th February 2026 | |
I recently donated to an appeal to purchase an RNLI Hovercraft and became a member. The appeal was set up after comments from Nigel Farge suggested, wrongly, that the RNLI had become Border Force's taxi service. A load of bollocks, but then again, that's what usually comes out of the mouth of the MD of Reform UK Limited. When he first lied about the RNLI, donations went up 3000%.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/buy-a-new-rnli-hovercraft-called-the-flying-farage
More recently we had flag shagging, roundabout painting, knuckle draggers who've swallowed the bullsh*t from fascist politicians and rabble rousers that the RNLI should exclude certain groups from their life-saving at sea mission. Protesting on that flawed premise from Nige and others that the RNLI has become an 'illegal immigrant taxi service.'
Those protests by groups calling themselves Bournemouth Patriots and Poole Patriots outside the RNLI headquarters in Poole recently saw donations actually increase again on the back of these right wing scum protesting. Thankfully, while vocal, they are a minority. They were outnumbered three to one by RNLI supporters at the recent protest.
So, keep up the good work RNLI.
And keep up the good work fascist scum. Your protests have effected zero change in the RNLI's mission, except a positive one to their bank account.
https://rnli.org/support-us/become-a-member/join#contact-details
