Recent content by Mark J

The 11:14 from Reading to Wolverhampton (why not Manc Piccadilly?) is surprisingly a double formation. Both sets have full and busy carriages and no one standing in aisles and vestibules for once! Why can't XC be like this more often. For once has been a pleasurable journey. Edit: The train...

Street view of it, plus the now hijacked car park for the works. https://maps.app.goo.gl/hq5cR5FDTUJoSVLn9

I am glad this was an April fools joke. From what I've found the LNER single leg pricing has not made things simpler and certainly not cheaper, if anything - more expensive! Which is what I feared would happen with single leg pricing.

Is there actually an age limit for the job. I mean, would someone in their mid 40's be considered as a Trainee Driver if they applied? Or would the TOC not consider that a good investment, for around 20 years of driving.

Do XC really need to serve Cardiff Central, an overcrowded station with only four main platforms. Surely the gap could be filled by TfW creating a Cardiff to Bristol service. TfW serve Cheltenham, Shrewsbury and Birmingham New St, however not Bristol TM.

That is what National Rail enquiries is quoting!

Well it got worse this evening. Reading was missed out entirely to make up lost time!

Currently at Reading. The 'delayed' 12:15 to Manchester Piccadilly is formed of four carriages and it appears First Class has been declassified already, as people appear to be standing up in there. Needless to say the rest of the train is like that too. An utterly hopeless service for Easter...

In Didcot, Hitchcock Way and a few houses around a road called Dirac Place are the biggest obstacles. However, there are also some obstacles in Compton, Upton, Hampstead Norreys, the M4 and in the northern fringes of Newbury. Not possible now, unless money was spent on demolishing a number of...

You missed the image of one of the Mercedes-Benz Fleet used on the 800/850 route. Has a leaky roof when it rains, roof is gaffer taped up and many of the seats at the rear are covered in water. Encountered this bus a few months back. Was utterly disgraceful. Talk about running a clapped out...

At current rate of progress, is the ETA 2030? :D

A shame the BBC didn't run that article through their 'fact checking' service. Then they would of clearly realised that was a load of old bull.

Too much of the route has been obliterated around the Newbury area, for the DNSR to reopen. Even the 'reopen the DNSR' Crayola group disbanded a few years ago, when it was realised the idea was a non-starter. If the DNSR was to be reopened, it should of happened in the early 90's, before the...

I can't see that pristine grey shutter remaining that way for long, in West Reading! 1711715898 ---- Passing through today.. Nice to see nothing has been done at Reading West to improve platform conditionsm For example, platform canopies. Although I do see the footbridge has been removed.

I wonder if these fares will be valid on GWR services from Reading to Waterloo, during the diversion period... After all, GWR services would be going via Staines. (Edit: If it does happen to be the case later in the year.)