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Recent content by lightning76

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    An extremely speculative new rail line

    I look forward to it!
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    An extremely speculative new rail line

    To allow trains from Oxford to Swindon without blocking the main line, in accordance with the OPs objectives. Ideally both would happen anyway.
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    An extremely speculative new rail line

    In the event that the money for such a scheme was suddenly found hanging on a magic tree, it would be better deployed on 1. A light rail link from Oxford to Eynsham and Witney 2. Grade separation of Didcot West Junction and quadrupling from there to Swindon. 3. A decent bus service from...
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    School Bus Drivers

    Do you get on with kids? If not, this isn't the job for you. You will remember being at school. There were teachers you respected. Yes, sir. No, miss. You did what you were told. Then there were teachers where everybody played up. Which are you? I've been on the buses 26 years. I don't mind...
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    Stagecoach West - Fleet News & Discussion

    Not really. There used to be one. It was a PITA to operate. At the end in 2014, it had 4 buses and 10 drivers. The buses needed to come off revenue earning service in Swindon to go to depot to be washed and fuelled. The drivers were paid to do that, sitting at the depot watching the wash do...
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    Stagecoach West - Fleet News & Discussion

    CDO dead mileage can of course be used to improve a service. You are right that it can be easily done. And there are routes where the times of schools and colleges are convenient for this. But not the 51, there's no point. The buses get to the college about 0845, so too late to go anywhere else...
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    Stagecoach West - Fleet News & Discussion

    I have followed this thread with interest as I used to work for Stagecoach West. I cannot comment on FoD or Monmouth matters as I am not well acquainted with those areas, but I do know the Swindon and Cirencester area very well. There is little demand for additional services between Swindon and...
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    Good places between Swindon and Bristol parkway ?

    That bridge was closed off when I walked from Blagrove to Mannington a couple of weeks ago. Not sure for how long, I didn't stop to read the notice.
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    London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

    I travelled 1st on the southbound "Chieftain" last Sunday, all the way. Apparently there was some issue with catering supplies, so after our bacon roll and coffee leaving Inverness, nothing else came until Berwick. Then it was a sandwich, more tea and coffee, and finally the wine. After...
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    Rail fares which are poor value compared to bus

    Surprised Swindon to Oxford hasn't been mentioned. A popular journey, the bus runs every 20 mins (normally) and costs £7.50 return. The train journey requires a change at Didcot. An anytime day return is £49.60.
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    Stagecoach Group (Group-wide matters)

    The explainer to staff says that it is a national decision to "temporarily" turn the WiFi off. It will remain on Megabus, Citylink and Oxford Tube as well as "some additional services in some regions".
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    Stagecoach West - Fleet News & Discussion

    It appears to work empty to Weston, then a couple of round trips to Severn Beach Lidl, then back to depot, then to the Centre to run a return trip to Amazon.
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    An MP wants your views: How would you rate your experience of using Great Western Railway?

    As a former regular user of GWR, I found the performance generally to be more than acceptable. The vast majority of journeys I made passed without a hitch, and when disruption was encountered GWR and its staff generally responded as well as they could in the circumstances. Unfortunately I no...
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    Stagecoach - Swindon - Trainee Bus Driver

    Generally drivers do a week of approximately similar shifts, but different duties, so the precise times do vary somewhat. Training hours are more fixed AIUI, the trainers seem to congregate at the depot from about 0730. After passing the test, new drivers will work with a mentor for a few weeks...

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