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Recent content by stanpotts

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    Things that used to be commonplace in the workplace

    I work in the software industry - until earlier this year my place of work had a "library" - a long rack of library shelving packed full of reference manuals, mostly for long obsolete software and operating systems. I was able to "save" a few of the more useful volumes recently as the shelving...
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    27th January - Plan B easing - observations and usage

    Yes, we (the volunteers/organisers) were all in agreement afterwards that come next year we really, really, don't want to have anything to do with masks or checking testing results again! If nothing else it adds another layer of admin to what is already a very complex day.
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    27th January - Plan B easing - observations and usage

    A small world! I was helping run UniBrass on Saturday (you probably walked past me several times, I was the one attempting to keep order on stage). I don't think we were going to please everybody - I wasn't involved in writing the rules about testing but I was aware that there was a balance...
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    Calling all software developers / programmers on this forum

    I've been a software developer for 5 years, mostly systems programming in safety related industries, including rail. Never worked with fare data.
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    Paris Metro Advice

    I travelled to Paris in the summer last year and bought a Navigo Easy card from Gare du Nord (the queue wasn't terrible, about 5 minutes), they will also pre-load the card with a carnet or day ticket if you wish, so saving you an additional visit to the ticket machine. It can hold a quantity of...
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    Remaining GWR HST Diagrams

    I went to watch the proceedings of 1A24 calling at Bath Spa. An announcement was made along the lines of "After 43 years of service, this is the very last HST to London Paddington", which I thought was a very nice touch.
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    Best place for a pint within view of a railway station/line?

    Graze in Bath is at one end of Platform 2 at Bath Spa. Quite nice to sit out in their garden/terrace and keep an eye on the goings on at the station. They also have a smaller balcony on the other side of the building that looks over Dorchester Street. Unfortunately, it is rather expensive, but...
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    Delay Repay - Missed Connection

    Just a quick update from me -- I've now had a response from VTEC, and I've been given rail travel vouchers for 25% of my whole journey, with a note apologising for the delay due to a high volume of claims (although nothing about my initial rejection). Thanks to all for your advice.
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    Delay Repay - Missed Connection

    To add in my own experience with VTEC recently, and to seek some advice, I have this tale: Travelling from York to Bath Spa a couple of weekends ago, I was booked on a VTEC service from York to Doncaster, then Cross Country down to Bristol Temple Meads, before the final hop with GWR to Bath Spa...
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    VTEC / Northern Advance on strike day

    This seems ridiculous! I was quite surprised when I was checking my own journey that no buses etc. were being put on, even for a busy service like Leeds <-> Skipton. I've read several accounts of Northern refusing to pay for pre-booked travel affected by the strike. How are they able to get...
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    VTEC / Northern Advance on strike day

    D'oh! I don't live in Bingley anymore (I was visiting family), so was surprised to find a lot of service numbers have had a shuffle. I've mis-remembered the new one! You're quite right that it still leaves you effectively paying for the same journey twice -- this wasn't applicable in my case...
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    VTEC / Northern Advance on strike day

    If you can get as far as Leeds, could you take the 76 (was 760) bus back to Keighley? It's not ideal, but won't leave you badly out of pocket (it's £5 to Bingley, so presumably a few quid more?). I ended up doing this during the last strike action in late August after arriving in Leeds long...
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    Railways in Pop Culture

    Thought of a couple more from Spitting Image: The "Britain's Railway (but not for long)" sketch/poem (amusingly predicting 'Virgin Rail') https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFcBRHC9MV0 And a short segment about traffic cones (?!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-aWWkMHiBo
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    Railways in Pop Culture

    Not much, but from The Who's double album Quadrophenia, the final track on the first disk "I've Had Enough" ends with the sound of a diesel locomotive giving a blow on the horn before rushing by. The first track on the second disk "5:15" then starts with the ambient noise of a station and a slam...
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    Breaking a journey over multiple days

    Thanks for that, I'll PM you once I've emailed GWR.

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