I'm sure there's a reason somewhere but I struggle to understand why there isn't more investment in regional airports across the UK as opposed to spending a fortune on Heathrow. Relatives in Scotland often have to come to London/South East for flights as none in Scotland. That seems bad on many levels.

Wouldn't moving some of these flights to the regions then free up capacity?

 
See also a previous topic, which Coffee Shop forum member Kernow Otter reminded me about:


CfN. 

 

 

 
Electrify it...

 
In the interests of clarity, I have now amended the original heading of this topic - which I started, in all good faith. 

 
Any chance that you might rename it so searches do locate it?

 

It took even me a while, but I have now found it for you, Kernow Otter: see https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15910.0

That topic was originally specific to Wetherspoons at railway stations, but it did indeed expand to cover 'public houses near the railways' generally.

CfN.

 
From the BBC:

 
(I should confess, first, that I had a sneak preview trip to Dawlish a couple of weeks ago. This is relevant to some of the comments).
The journey experience
For both outward journeys, and one of the return journeys, I made use of the Torbay Express, which provides a through journey from Westbury to Dawlish and v.v. Having a relatively uninterrupted journey is an improved experience (even for someone comfortable with changing trains).

Most services ran well. The down train on Wednesday was 30+ late, after the set was swapped at Reading. Frankly, I'm surprised that there was something available for the swap. It was 9-for-9 and the new unit managed to have the seat reservation information.

It took a while for Mrs T and I to find a table with decent window alignment where both seats were free for the entirety of the journey we were making. We managed (with a bit of help from no-shows) but the effort, and the generality of restricted views caused by bodywork pillars or seat backs takes the shine off what should be a quality railway experience.

The IET seats were adequate for the journey we were making.

On neither of the down journeys did the catering trolley appear. On one of the up journeys (this was from Plymouth, not the Torbay Express) the trolley was for some reason static, manned by a friendly and apologetic chap. On the other up journey, the trolley hadn't made it through the train by Westbury. Is one trolley really sufficient for a 9 car train? It's fair to say that the simple enjoyment of a coffee as we looked out of the window would have made the experience less bland.

 
Thanks for this thread.

 
After the traditional disrupted journey to TWSW, delay repay failed at the first attempt, which it would do as that one needs the Mark 1 human eyeball on it. (It has to be said that eyeballs were rolling at the sequence of events at Bristol Temple Meads. Additionally, the station has Network Rail QR code links to a feedback survey for their stations - I completed the survey and then found that the 'Submit' button wouldn't...)

The disruption being down to the 9:45 2 x 4 Voyager set, half of which arrived sick and all of which arrived ten minutes late. Various quick fixes didn't work, and after passengers had been asked to join the front half, all were further asked to join the 10:45 that had by then arrived on Platform 10. However, no working lift to Platform 10, which might have prompted the decision to run the front four of the 09:45 on to Plymouth ahead of the 10.45. Surprisingly despite a great many standing passengers, a few seats were to be found.

The return journey through a busy Bristol Temple Meads: by chance the ~4 carriage 16:49 in the Westbury direction was departing from platform 15, which isn't split into two sections - which made for a contrasting experience to the 'Ascend the stairs and hike off to extremities of the station' approach that we'd enjoyed (twice) in the morning - said 16:49 to be found at the top of the stairs.

 
It was delayed eight minutes waiting for a diverted service to Plymouth to clear the single line.  However it made up time and was only one minute late into Swindon.

 
No xcountry trains from Paignton today or London trains. Apparently engineering works elsewhere.

 

 
Answering a member's enquiry - worth a public writeup - To start a new topic on the Coffee Shop

1. Ensure you are registered as a member, and logged in (that's know to be the situation from my questioner)

2. Go to the top of the older site
   https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php
(you can link to that by clicking on the coffee shop logo on the top at https://www.passenger.chat/ or any of our other multitude of top level domains)

3. Select the board you want to post in by clicking on it (it's name) in the list.  For exampple, "South Western services" which will take you to
   https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?board=42.0
(there is no need for you to know the board number!)

4. Select the "New Topic" button, and Robert's your parent's brother!  Button may not be obvious - highlighted in yellow here:



New (event) subjects can also be started from the calendar by clicking on the date in the calendar, and new polls can be started via the "Add new Poll" button just to the right of the "New Topic" button in the graphic just above.

Off topic: New subjects cannot be started by guests - you have to register first. Free, easy, but we need your forum agreement - start at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?action=register

 
I spoke with Andrew A from SWR yesterday on this topic ... and whilst he knew of the operational reason that the trains aren't joining up while the embankments are dry, he wasn't aware of the booking systems not offering the journey that used to be a thorough train.  He pointed out that anyone on an open ticket could usually make the journey / connection just as before, but had no answer to the point that with the booking system not offering it, people outside a knoweledgeable core would not even know of the option.  He noted it and is "going away to look at it"; whether that's more than a look that's not followed up even with feedback to us remains to be seen.

 
Google's assistant tells me


Came up for my "on this day", but with a "~" in front of it which is my flag for an approximate date.  Never done a trail (not thrilled with getting myself inebriated) but I will grab the odd pint at The Railway, The Rose and Crown or the Queen's Tap while awaiting my train.  With an improvement to our local trains up to an appropriate level for the line, there might be a negative effect on business at these places.

 
...Dawlish.

I cheated slightly, as the visit was rather longer than a day trip; more like 50 hours.

Boxes ticked:
Convenient station.
Modest traffic - and a zebra crossing in the right place.
Short walk to nice B&B
Plenty of food options for daytime and evening
Walked along coast from Teignmouth to Dawlish
Starcross-Exmouth ferry - seabirds and a seal.
Friendly people
Some interesting independent shops

Downsides:
Current works related to separating storm water from sewage (not as bad as it sounds)
Signs of the typical seaside downturn in fortunes,

Overall, a very enjoyable break  (with weather almost miraculously better than the forecast). Some lessons, though, relevant to other threads on this forum, including town centres, Torbay and  various rail, including catering. More to follow.

 
Salisbury was the runner-up. The winner was...

 

I am sure you are thinking of an additional pair of lines for anyone wanting to go from Old Oak Common tp Solihull

 
So the problem is a lack of capacity on the WCML.  I wonder how the number of available paths could be increased?

 
From National Rail

Route(s) affected
Trains between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Maidenhead / Reading, and also between Shenfield and London Paddington / Heathrow Terminal 5

Description
A fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway means some lines are blocked. As a result, there will be a reduced frequency of services between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading and trains may be delayed by up to 20 minutes.

Disruption is expected until 16:30.

 

Gives them room to be negotiated down during the planning arguments ??