Community passenger train along the Portbury branch

jules · Post by **jules** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:33 pm

Don't forget to take your cameras and post here please for those of us on foreign shores!

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 2:12 pm

I rather fear that photographic opportunities might be a bit restricted. My impression is that lineside tree growth is so thick that you'd be lucky to get more than a glimpse of the Avon Gorge from the train window.

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:02 am

Basicaly a green tunnel.
Does the train go into portbury then reverse or stop short does anyone know.

Paul G · Post by **Paul G** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:42 am

Trains Stop at Portbury Dock Stop Board Then reverse

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:53 pm

Anyone had their tickets yet ? mine came this morning.

Paul G · Post by **Paul G** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:17 pm

Just had email From first Great Western. It would appear there have been a number of issues with the tickets for the First Great Western Community Rail trains. Unfortunately when the data was transposed from the on line registration some of the information has been incorrectly recorded including the number of tickets you originally requested. Please accept my apologies for this inconvenience,

I can assure you that the number of tickets you originally requested will be honoured on the day. The tickets that you have received will get you through the gateline at Bristol Temple Meads on Saturday 29 September. Once you get to the station either myself or a colleague will be more than happy to take your details and make sure you get the correct number of seats on the correct train.

Once again I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

I look forward to seeing you on the 29th September.

Looks Like i will be Collecting the rest of my Tickets on the day at Temple Meads

chippy · Post by **chippy** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:36 pm

Mine came today (friday)

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:21 pm

Yes Paul I just found that message as well. Seems all seats will be honoured so thats a relief..

Paul G · Post by **Paul G** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:17 am

After all that, All my tickets arrived this morning (Saturday)

acook · Post by **acook** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:40 pm

Mine, too, just now.

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:06 pm

A friend has offered one of his two tickets for the 9:05 train. Therefore I now have a spare one for the 16:09.

I would be happy to pass it on to any member of this forum whose application was rejected. The first person to post a reply to this thread can have it

Then if they contact me privately with their address I can post it to them.

jolly47roger · Post by **jolly47roger** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:42 pm

When my Dad was in Ham Green hospital in 1960 this was a regular Sunday trip. Ham Green had its own halt with typical GWR 'pagoda' roofs. I recall there was a passing loop (always switched out on Sundays, I think) just where the line leaves the Avon opposite Sea Mills to break up the long section from Clifton Bridge to Pill.

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:39 pm

AndyK wrote:A friend has offered one of his two tickets for the 9:05 train. Therefore I now have a spare one for the 16:09.

I would be happy to pass it on to any member of this forum whose application was rejected. The first person to post a reply to this thread can have it

Then if they contact me privately with their address I can post it to them.

I'm happy to say my spare ticket has now been claimed

railwest · Post by **railwest** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:07 pm

I suppose that anyone who couldn't get a ticket could console themselves the thought that it wasn't really a 'true' train down the branch 'cos it wasn't going to Porstishead

But I wonder if this demand might lead FGW to think that it could be worth doing more often - and be a 'nice little earner' by charging?

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:36 pm

railwest wrote: But I wonder if this demand might lead FGW to think that it could be worth doing more often - and be a 'nice little earner' by charging?

I suppose that would depend on how much demand outstripped supply.

When you think about it, the whole things seems a little odd. FGW aren't exactly renowned for giving rail journeys away, and I would like to know their real motivation for doing it in the first place (that's not me dreaming up some "conspiracy theory" by the way, just me being curious).

Don't forget we have been told that FGW have decided to strengthen the capacity by finding an additional vehicle from somewhere, and this of course on a service where they'll make no money from the punters (unless they have in mind to send a tea and refreshments trolley along

)

But to get back to the point if you have, say, space for 600 and you get 650 applications, then that would probably be the end of the matter. If you have space for 600 but 2000 applied, that would be very different.