Recent content by sparks2000

Apologies for the poor camera angle - I was surprised to see the old Caledonian MK3 Sleeper carriages at Highley Link to Video of old carriages hauled by Britannia 70000 at Highley

I was told: “UK students will be excluded from the free interail ticket DiscoverEU programme.” Was that true and does the reversal correct that too?

Perhaps when these tickets were introduced there was concern about how easy they are to alter with intent to commit fraud. Printing the ticket makes it easier for the ticket staff to retain the ticket as evidence of fraud. Virgin at about the same time were using m-tickets that had to be...

I was definitely awakened at Yeovil - I put a pin in my phone map so that I could see where I was at the time of the wake up. I was soon asleep again. It did seem that after the engine noise awoke me the journey was no fun after that. Being attached directly to the loco is bad thing :-)

I was on the Night Riviera on Sunday 18th/Mon19th. We left Paddington in Coach G at the rear of the train. There may have been a coach H. I can't be sure due to memory fault caused by wine. The locomotive Tintagel Castle was at the rear of the train as we boarded (I assume it brought the train...

Hi, I made a booking to travel to Penzance on the sleeper. That is an open ticket but it was purchased as a sleeper fare so I am not sure exactly what ticket type it is. Best guess is "Twin cabin shared use". For the return journey I have an advance ticket. The tickets were made on the same...

Newnham Bridge on the former Tenbury Wells line is still in pretty good shape. It was used as a garden centre for many years and came up for sale recently. Now it is derelict. The village has had a lot of development so I assume unless listed the station will go. I googled for photos and found...

I was at Smethwick Galton bridge waiting for the Wolverhampton to Walsall service and whilst waiting I saw two trains take the Galton junction from Birmingham new street towards Smethwick west/Stourbridge. I can't see these trains on real time trains. I wondered what these trains were. Any help?

Hi, I had an ALR and left it at home not realising until at the station. I still had to travel so I purchased walk up tickets at the station, for the connecting journey and the return. Would I have any way to recover the extra expense? Insurance would probably cover it but that's not usually...

The Virgin Trains service 10h00 Birmingham New Street to London Euston ran into problems with seat reservations. Many passengers were holding reservations expecting to be on a Voyager that has now been replaced by a Pendolino. The Train Manager decided to declassify the train and the first...

That is the taxpayer - extra costs to taxpayers - or the economy as tax is used to support the system rather than awarding to a less "competitive" but ultimately better bid.

I love curry and may even try this option next time i have a later afternoon vua Euston but is it fair to take such aromatic food onto the train?

Hi, I purchased what I hope is an All Lines Rover 7 days and the "Available" is "FREEDOM OF BRITAIN 7 DAY". It was the same price as the ticket I expected but the "Available" wording is not something I am used to. Is this just better marketing as a tourist ticket or do I have some variant...

It is Saturday evening and I have just learnt that I have to go from Sandwell & Dudley to Heathrow arrive 4pm Monday and then back to Sandwell (SAD). SAD to Manchester on Tuesday arrive 8am, returning SAD late evening and back Manchester on Wednesday same times - back to SAD on Wednesday...

Chiltern Mainline does not run Wolverhampton to Coventry Chiltern runs Kidderminster to London Marylebone via Birmingham Moor Street & Banbury.