The Bristol Railway Archive

Paul G wrote:I Booked on Tuesday 28th August about 9PM

Well at least that's beginning to make it look a bit more "kosher"

Paul G wrote:I Booked on Tuesday 28th August about 9PM

I booked Monday about 2pmish & declined. Ah dont you just love it!

I booked not long after Jules posted, again all tickets on 9.05 gone.
Ah well guess I will wash my hair instead.

Makes you wonder if they should have opted for longer trains to meet what must have been a heavy demand. Hopefully not too many tickets have been allocated to the corporate element!!!!!!

However, I bet it is considered a very succesful marketing stunt by FGW.
Presumably they now have the names, phone number, email and postal address of many people and all for the cost of a one page web site.
I do hope that they don't start sending spam/junk mail/ crank calls out utilising this information

carpetcone wrote:However, I bet it is considered a very succesful marketing stunt by FGW.
Presumably they now have the names, phone number, email and postal address of many people and all for the cost of a one page web site.
I do hope that they don't start sending spam/junk mail/ crank calls out utilising this information

You might be making a very valid point here.

Unfortunately .....

Something like this would make a lot of sense, seeing that FGW, not exactly well-known for their philanthropic qualities, were "giving away" train rides. Perhaps we have stumbled onto the true cost of the "free lunch"

I applied on Saturday (Sept 1) and also opted for the 09.05 departure, reasoning that there might be more room on it because out-of-town travellers might consider it too early.

I was at my computer at 2:52 this afternoon when the message from Ms Vicky Cropper arrived, informing me that "Unfortunately the 09.05 service was very popular and all the tickets have now been taken."

I responded, asking "Are there any spaces available on any other services?" and she promptly replied "I'm afraid we only have very limited availability on the 16.08 service. "

I asked if I could book one ticket for that and received a positive answer "IÆm writing to confirm that youÆve been successful in your bid for tickets on the 16.08 service from Bristol Temple Meads along the Portbury Branch, departing from Platform 8. "

Just goes to show - charge what the traffic will bear or your trains are going to end up totally swamped with passengers. Let's hope FGW don't take this as a lesson in economics!

I suspect apart from the obvious good publicity, they are doing this as Bristol - Portishead is part of their franchise renewal document. They want to up the ante ...

Saw the thread on here sunday morning and applied for 11.08, got the email
knockback this afternoon, but it included a phone number for a rather stressed lady, who only had two tickets left out of the 500, so we are on the 16.08 . West somerset railway saturday and now this. Manor on the front would be icing on the cake.

First Group have added an extra carriage, so some of you out there might still go to Portishead.

Check your emails.

Just had my email as mow said...going on the 9.05 train now,platform 8 after my first request was turned down. J.R.

yep also had confirmation for the 9.05..... Happy days..

Your all very lucky I have had no email for the extra ones

andy hole wrote:Your all very lucky I have had no email for the extra ones

You're not alone - neither did I

I wonder if the extra unit is available all day or did they over subscribe by so much that even extra seats were not enough. Its funny but I saw no mention of a particular line run choice when applying. just got 9.05 But I am gratefull to get seats and time was well suited.