The Revival of South Central

Advantages: Much better than they used to be.
Disadvantages: Still a way to go.

...Well I know that this train company is still listed in Ciao as Connex South Central, but for the last year and a bit, this train service has changed hands. It is now run by a company called Govia, under the new name South Central. Having been in Brighton now in university for three years I have seen first hand how the train service has been running here. When I arrived, Connex was in charge down here and had a fairly bad reputation. With an open mind, I used this service on many occasions, on both the longer routes into London and to Gatwick Airport, in addition to the suburban routes to the university station at Falmer. However, after a few months I came to realise that Connex reputation was well deserved. Often late, cancellations were common place and overcrowding due to lack of available rolling stock. To make matters worse...

pumfster 08.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of South Central Railway

South-Central, now called 'Southern'

Advantages: it's better than walking in the rain
Disadvantages: Price, punctuality, reliability, lack of leg room, rude staff, early ticket-office closure....

......

ukpcdaz 08.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of South Central Railway

Central Trains

Advantages: Large network
Disadvantages: Sometimes a poor service

...Central Trains are their own worst enemy. They provide train services from Shrewsbury to Nottingham via Birmingham and also to East Anglia. They have provided train services for a long time. So how come they still have not got it right, yet? Central Trains is the cause of many phone calls to consumer radio programmes in the Midlands. And you often hear a spokesman or spokeswoman coming up with some explanation as to why they have managed to mess things up, again. One of the problems that face passengers of Central Trains is the fact that Central Trains seems unable to understand that, sometimes, people become ill and have to 'phone in sick. Of course, it would not be possible (sadly!) to go back to the days when spare staff would wait at strategic locations around the British Rail network, waiting to cover for colleagues who had...

Martinscholes 15.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of Central Trains

The Blue South - A Beautiful and Colourful Effort

Advantages: A lyrical and melodical masterpiece with hidden depth
Disadvantages: Dark and seedy themes may not suit all tastes

...INTRODUCTION It is beyond doubt ? in my mind at least ? that a good song is formed of that rare combination of melody and lyrics. In my view, a song that sounds good but has no lyrical depth has little staying power - melody appeals to the heart, but lyrics are what engage the brain. To belabour the point just one stage further, the melody attracts you, but the lyrics are what ultimately keep you interested. Indeed, it was the catchy melodies and compelling hooks that drew me to the music of the Beautiful South in the first place, but even after listening to their songs and albums countless times over the years, each listen is still rewarded with new discoveries, new nuances and new revelations. My favourite Beautiful South album (despite the regrettable name ? I am an Arsenal fan after all) is ?Blue Is The Colour?, released in...

Hishyeness 19.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Blue Is The Colour - Beautiful South (The)

South Devon Railway

Advantages: Nostalgic look back in time.Wonderful scenery, friendly Staff, Clean Trains.
Disadvantages: Short journey.

...We visited South Devon Railway for a day trip to Totnes on the steam train. Admission Prices: Return trip (single fares also available) Buckfastleigh - Totnes Littlehempston Adult £9.90 Senior Citizen £9.20 Child £5.90 (5 years - 14 years; under 5s FREE) Family £28.90 (two adults and two children) There is also FREE parking at Buckfastleigh for cars and coaches. We travelled from Totnes to Buckfastleigh to Totnes and it was just like going back in time. It was a thorougly enjoyable ride on a proper steam train. Taking in the wonderful scenery from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. We went in the summer and it was a fantastic journey beside the river Dart t. The trains are clean and comfortable, in my opinion much better than the trains of today. The children enjoyed the ride and the ability to get up and move...

livelylad 31.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of South Devon Railway Trust

Journey South

Advantages: Great voices, brothers are very easy on the eye!
Disadvantages: No original tracks

...This is the debut album from Andy and Cal also know as Journey South. Andy and Carl are brother who shot to fame on the X-Factor. They had been singing together for years and had spent all of their time touring the country playing small gigs and singing in pubs and clubs. All of their hard work paid off when they auditioned for the X-Factor and easily made it through to the live finals. Unfortunately the brothers did not win the show, much to my disapointment, but they did very well which lead to this album. There are 11 tracks on the CD which are:- The first time ever I saw your face Let it be Desperado The circle Nobody Knows I still haven't found what I'm looking for All of you Time after time It must have been love All that I am English Rose All 11 of the tracks are cover versions but they do sing them very well...

sewbizzie 24.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Journey South's Album

South Yorkshire's Best Kept Secret

Advantages: History/ Beauty
Disadvantages: Unambition/ Lack of vision, funding/ Very poorly managed

.... The massive, well preserved keep was added in the twelth century. Other additions were made in and around this time. By the fourteenth century a 'Warenne' died without issue which meant ownership passed to the Crown. But by 1537 the Castle was abandoned and in ruins. A survey records that the gates, barbican, walling structures and some of the keeps floors had collapsed. This ruinous state is probably why the castle was left alone in the Civil war and why it is so well preserved today. Most castles in that era were demolished to prevent them from being used. TODAY Doncaster Council own the land the Castle sits on but it falls upon English Heritage to upkeep it who in turn use the Ivanhoe Trust to manage the property. The castle is seen as a primary tourist spot in South Yorkshire and it sees 30,000 visitors a year. This Castle is one...

WormThatTurned 23.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Conisbrough Castle, South Yorkshire

The South Yorkshire Transport Museum

Advantages: Nostalgic, Historical
Disadvantages: Admission Charges, Limited Opening Hours

...The South Yorkshire Transport Museum can be found at Aldwarke, near Rotherham in South Yorkshire. Until recently this Transport Museum was located in the former Tinsley Tram Sheds between Sheffield and Rotherham. I visited here about 4 years ago and it was then called the Sheffield Bus Museum. Now it has relocated, it has been given a new name, the South Yorkshire Transport Museum. The former Sheffield Bus Museum first opened its doors to the Public ten years ago, in 1997. In December 2006 this Museum closed, re-opening at its present location a few weeks ago, in the Spring of 2007. This Museum has a collection of Trams and Buses that were once in use in Sheffield and the surrounding area. All of these have been fully restored and are in pristine condition. Almost all of them are also in full working order and when the weather is...

micksheff 29.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of The South Yorkshire Transport Museum

The History of South Tyneside

Advantages: Free entry, interesting, easy access
Disadvantages: None

...I first went to this museum with my sister when I was about 8 or 9 years old. When looking for something to do on Monday, I asked my friend, Emma, if she wanted to go here with me since I haven?t been for ages. My older sister, Joanne, lives in South Shields so we met her and my niece (23 months) at the museum on Monday morning. I got slightly lost getting to South Shields as I took the wrong turn at a roundabout, but as it was my furthest venture in my car on my own (about 25 miles) I was still quite pleased I found it without too much hassle! On arriving at South Shields I met my sister and followed her into the town centre, as I don?t know my way around South Shields. (The museum is signposted though) The entry into the museum is free and although we just spent about an hour and a half there (my sister was going to Uni. ? and I...

bluejules 20.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of South Shields Museum

Thomas at the South Devon Railway

Advantages: Very pretty, well located to combine with other attractions
Disadvantages: Expensive, lack of display space, no platform tickets available

...The South Devon Railway is, as the name suggests, a railway situated in South Devon, running steam trains from Totnes to Buckfastleigh. I visited with my family in May 2007, on a special ?Day Out with Thomas? weekend. There are three working stations on the line: Buckfastleigh, Staverton and Totnes Littlehempstone. If you are travelling by car, it?s best to head to Buckfastleigh station where there is extensive free parking just off the main A38 road from Plymouth to Exeter. There is some limited free parking at Staverton. At Totnes station there is no parking, although you can park at the Main Line (First Great Western) station or the dedicated Totnes Council car park, for both of which there is a (reasonably steep) charge, and a short walk to the station. If coming by train, a good feature of this heritage line is that, unlike many...

Ali1000 11.06.2007 (18.06.2007) · Read review
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Review of South Devon Railway Trust