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Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala: 21st - 24th April 2022

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by WesternRegionHampshireman, Feb 15, 2022.

  1. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    The Mk3 coaches are normally stabled in the road alongside the carriage shed at Kidderminster when not in use, so are visible from all service trains. I would imagine all platforms will be needed at Bewdley for the gala.
     
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  2. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Quite often when it’s busy they will allow you to buy the tickets from the TTI on the train, I’ve done that in the past.
     
  3. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for that, looking at the timetable i would have thought all platforms would be needed at Bewdley

    Neil
     
  4. peckett

    peckett Member

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    Does any one know if the siding along side Eardington station is full, from top to bottom with wagons,it was this time last year .
     
  5. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    They should be/have been moved today.
    And having just checked the webcam, they have been.
     
  6. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    Not totally, some space opposite the platform.
     
  7. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    Cash only on train (well, for the foreseeable future).
     
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  8. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    That’s a good point glad you mentioned it.

    Almost feels strange after being conditioned for two years to not use cash by the government, thinking back I always use to have some on me. Now it’s quite rare and almost everything goes on the card/phone, so cash only on the train may of caught me out (although I did see the on train buffets were cash only atm).
     
  9. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    I believe there have been trials for card machines with the buffet but signal coverage is a bit poor at times in the Valley. Arley is particularly bad for a number of networks.
    I suspect if card machines are introduced, it will be on the buffets first with TTIs tagging onto those.
     
  10. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I believe we have recently invested in some card machines for our buffet cars that don't require signal at all times - they can queue the transaction until they find signal. I suppose it runs the risk of someone paying with a card with no money on it, but for the relatively low amounts of money involved I wouldn't have thought that a great risk.
     
  11. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    An email from the SVR this morning stated that you do still need to book in even if you have digital tickets.
    I've confirmed it with them: showing the confirmatory email or giving your name at the booking office is still necessary.

    I gather S15 no. 506 will be facing Bridgnorth.
     
  12. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    I would imagine you then get your wristband, we got ours posted as we’re starting at Highley Saturday. Does anyone know if the WTT will be available anywhere to download for this weekend? I know it has been in previous years,
    I much prefer it to the standard one! Thanks
     
  13. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    This rather defeats the object of booking in advance if you ask me. Pre-covid I never used to book for galas in advance except the Severn Valley to avoid the queues. Now it seems you have to queue whether you've bought a ticket or not! It's bad enough having to get up at half past stupid in the morning and drive 126 miles to get there!
     
  14. Colin Allcars

    Colin Allcars Member

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    Exactly. I have always pre booked tickets to avoid the queues at Kidderminster booking office. My train arrives half an hour prior to the first departure. If I’m stuck in the queue and the train is about to leave, I will jump on and get tickets later. Why didn’t they just post them as they usually do?
     
  15. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    It could be a separate queue for pre booked with a quick scan of your tickets followed by handing you a wrist band?
     
  16. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    This year I suggest they are concerned about the post.
    My wife has to go to Poole Hospital to sign a consent form on Friday for her operation as it was felt two weeks was not long enough for the hospital to send the letter, and for her to return it.
     
  17. Colin Allcars

    Colin Allcars Member

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    I agree re. the postal service. Had I booked earlier I would have requested tickets by post. a second queue for pre booked sounds like a good idea.
     
  18. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    Exactly. And it contradicts both the booking confirmation email email which says "Your Spring Steam Gala ticket", and the booking info. on the website. I can't see why it can't just be the ticket as, for instance at the GCR.
    It doesn't exactly encourage our enthusiasm, especially if we have check in to pick up an armband as if we are going for an operation!
     
  19. Herald

    Herald Member

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    The problem with any print at home or e-ticket is ensuring that whoever checks them can also cancel them in the central database to prevent users duplicating them. As mentioned earlier with poor mobile signals in the valley there is no way for TTI's to check if the paper ticket or mobile device presented has only been printed or presented by its original purchaser. A sophisticated system will hopefully know from the data whether the ticket has been duplicated from the location and times of its presentation. An armband or traditional ticket might be transferred between users but from the days of Edmondson railways have been building ever more sophisticated measures to reduce fare avoidance. I'll leave others to ponder the degree to which fare dodging is a problem on Heritage Railways.
     
  20. eggbert

    eggbert Member

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    Is Kidderminster platform accessible for photos or do you need a wristband?
     

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