| 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by grahame at 17:21, 5th September 2026 |     |
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1999846046359
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:13, 5th September 2026 | |
I have registered - it's free, and fairly easy to do (that qualified comment is only due to Eventbrite, not TWSW).
The venue, at Firepool Centre, Taunton, is very easy to find: it's just a slight slope down from Taunton station and a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing of Trenchard Way. If anyone does need assistance with mobility access, that can be arranged - please do just let us know. The venue itself is very modern, all on the ground floor, with the appropriate facilities.
I look forward to meeting some of our Coffee Shop members (and indeed guests).
CfN.
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by ChrisB at 09:48, 6th September 2026 | |
I shall be there, in my electric powerchair....
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by grahame at 10:22, 6th September 2026 | |
I shall be there, in my electric powerchair.... 
And I'm sure we can get you all charged up during the day - both electrically and about socially necessary bus services!
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by grahame at 17:13, 2nd October 2026 | |
Agenda
10:30 Arrivals
11:00 Welcome: Chair & Secretary, TWSW
11:10 Keynote
11:25 What could public transport do for us? Chair of the Interim Growth Board for Marlcombe
11:55 Getting around better: what infrastructure and commercial approach will deliver this? Strategy & Business Development Director, SWR
12:20 Operator Panel Conversation
12:40 Lunch
13:20 Welcome Back
13:25 Did you know? (AKA Just a Minute)
13:35 Managing Director reviews the way XC is meeting passenger needs: Managing Director, CrossCountry
14:10 Socially necessary local services, Swindon Working Group
14:50 Open-floor discussion
15:15 Close
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by grahame at 06:46, 6th October 2026 | |
Agenda with more detail:
TravelWatch SouthWests’ General Meeting in Taunton this Friday 9th October
Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation, Trenchard Way Taunton TA1 1FH
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1999846046359 or contact admin@travelwatchsouthwest.org
Free coaches provided along routes from the SW, S and NE of the region. See below:
Agenda
10:30 Doors Open
A opportunity for networking with alongside hot drinks and snacks
11:00 Welcome, Introductions, and Headlines
11:10 Keynote
11:25 What could public transport do for us?
Ian Piper MBE, Chair of the Interim Growth Board for Marlcombe
11:55 Getting around better: SWR progress enable since nationalisation
Oliver Richards, Strategy & Business Development Director, SWR
12:20 Game-changers in Public Transport network experience
Panel Conversation
12:40 Lunch & Networking
13:20 Opportunity Knocks
Could we be tapping-into existing networks better – an opportunity to raise awareness of sustainable connections which are not being fully used.
13:25 Did you know? A slot for sharing matters of concern and congratulations
13:35 Crosscountry (XC) and Meeting Passenger Needs
Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director, CrossCountry
14:10 Socially Necessary Local Bus services
Swindon SNLS Working Group
14:50 Open-floor discussion
15:15 Close
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1999846046359
A reminder that there are FREE coach routes for attendees. Approximate routes are shown on the map below.
If you want to travel on the free coaches, you must let us know which route you need to use. The coaches start from Bournemouth, Swindon and Truro and can pick-up on route.
COACH PLACES CAN BE BOOKED WHEN YOU REGISTER OR BY CONTACTING us at admin@travelwatchsouthwest.org
Food and drink will be provided. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
We hope to see you there.
Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation, Trenchard Way Taunton TA1 1FH
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1999846046359 or contact admin@travelwatchsouthwest.org
Free coaches provided along routes from the SW, S and NE of the region. See below:
Agenda
10:30 Doors Open
A opportunity for networking with alongside hot drinks and snacks
11:00 Welcome, Introductions, and Headlines
11:10 Keynote
11:25 What could public transport do for us?
Ian Piper MBE, Chair of the Interim Growth Board for Marlcombe
11:55 Getting around better: SWR progress enable since nationalisation
Oliver Richards, Strategy & Business Development Director, SWR
12:20 Game-changers in Public Transport network experience
Panel Conversation
12:40 Lunch & Networking
13:20 Opportunity Knocks
Could we be tapping-into existing networks better – an opportunity to raise awareness of sustainable connections which are not being fully used.
13:25 Did you know? A slot for sharing matters of concern and congratulations
13:35 Crosscountry (XC) and Meeting Passenger Needs
Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director, CrossCountry
14:10 Socially Necessary Local Bus services
Swindon SNLS Working Group
14:50 Open-floor discussion
15:15 Close
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1999846046359
A reminder that there are FREE coach routes for attendees. Approximate routes are shown on the map below.
If you want to travel on the free coaches, you must let us know which route you need to use. The coaches start from Bournemouth, Swindon and Truro and can pick-up on route.
COACH PLACES CAN BE BOOKED WHEN YOU REGISTER OR BY CONTACTING us at admin@travelwatchsouthwest.org
Food and drink will be provided. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
We hope to see you there.
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by Mark A at 13:03, 6th October 2026 | |
If anyone's attending who is equipped to sign me up as a member of the WWRUG I'd be grateful.
Mark
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by grahame at 15:06, 6th October 2026 | |
If anyone's attending who is equipped to sign me up as a member of the WWRUG I'd be grateful.
Mark
Mark
Message sent
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by Mark A at 14:10, 10th October 2026 | |
After the traditional disrupted journey to TWSW, delay repay failed at the first attempt, which it would do as that one needs the Mark 1 human eyeball on it. (It has to be said that eyeballs were rolling at the sequence of events at Bristol Temple Meads. Additionally, the station has Network Rail QR code links to a feedback survey for their stations - I completed the survey and then found that the 'Submit' button wouldn't...)
The disruption being down to the 9:45 2 x 4 Voyager set, half of which arrived sick and all of which arrived ten minutes late. Various quick fixes didn't work, and after passengers had been asked to join the front half, all were further asked to join the 10:45 that had by then arrived on Platform 10. However, no working lift to Platform 10, which might have prompted the decision to run the front four of the 09:45 on to Plymouth ahead of the 10.45. Surprisingly despite a great many standing passengers, a few seats were to be found.
The return journey through a busy Bristol Temple Meads: by chance the ~4 carriage 16:49 in the Westbury direction was departing from platform 15, which isn't split into two sections - which made for a contrasting experience to the 'Ascend the stairs and hike off to extremities of the station' approach that we'd enjoyed (twice) in the morning - said 16:49 to be found at the top of the stairs.
| Re: 9th October 2026 - TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton Posted by Mark A at 17:36, 12th October 2026 | |
As for the TWSW meeting, it was a bit of a diamond-mine in terms of points made that I could take away and use (positively...) We're very lucky that its organisers are on this planet.
