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Coastway Will

@coastwaywill.me
1.9K followers 181 following 1.1K posts

First Class Host in Purple | Hastings Diesels and 225 Preservation Volunteer | Neurodiverse, Asexual, He/Him

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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 25/09/2026
After 8 days in a row at work, it's time for a well deserved long weekend with @pacerclara.insanity.tube ☺️ If you've never done the TfW Dining Train, what are you doing? It was absolutely divine as always! The best dining train we have in Britain by a long shot. 67017 wins as well 😁
A Class 67 train at Cardiff Central station A girl in a blue jumper and a boy in a yellow and blue shirt with meals on a train with a train station out the window A pair of Black Forest Trifles, one of them has cherries A view out the window of the river Usk and Newport
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 18/09/2026
Did some DLR trains with some bloke called Nick watch if you like trains innit
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 10/09/2026
Saw a post about Thameslink seats and happened to be in London Can confirm: the new design (right) is definitely better than the old. The second photo gives you an idea of just how much more padding there is The only issue is if you're a few feet taller than me, you might catch the headrest 😅
Two seats on display, the left has less padding than the right A close up of two seats, the nearer one doesn't have much padding in the middle but the far one had more padding and a headrest
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 09/09/2026
Stumbled upon a shiny new DLR train yesterday! They're very nice trains indeed, much more spacious than the trains they'll replace. Mind the acceleration and braking is a bit on the bumpy side, but I'm aware they're still tweaking and fine tuning bits and bobs
A B23 stock DLR train at Stratford International DLR station A B23 stock DLR train at Canning Town DLR station The interior of a B23 DLR train The wheelchair area of the B23 DLR train with two bays for chairs with red call for aid buttons
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 01/09/2026
After 12 days off to unwind, I'm back on the Iron Road once more Have a line up of Meridians at St Pancras at about 10am. These 125mph workhorses are here to stay for a while
A trio of Class 222 front noses viewed from the side at St Pancras
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 31/08/2026
Please be Stadler, please be Stadler, please be Stadler etc etc
The "Cmon do something" meme drawing with a Stadler FLIRT and ScotRail logo
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 30/08/2026
I've been making notes about the next timetable and it's hard to keep a straight face when Cross Country pull a Bournemouth to Glasgow out of nowhere www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n... With the 1027 from Plymouth going to Manchester, it's presumably a fun Stock Balance 😂
realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | Just a moment
Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 22/08/2026
What better way to use a Summer Saturday than doing the "Inter7City Circle" Edinburgh - Aberdeen - Inverness - Stirling with @pacerclara.insanity.tube all on I7C's before the clock starts counting down for good. Love these trains so much, even if they admittedly need to be in a retirement home! 😅
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RMT Union @rmtunion.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Further strike action called on East Midlands Railway RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) will take further 48-hour strike action starting from Sunday August 30 over ongoing safety concerns and major train faults. rmtunion.org/4qyBg2X
rmtunion.org
Further strike action called on East Midlands Railway
RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) will take further 48-hour strike action starting from Sunday August 30 over ongoing safety concerns and major train faults.
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 20/08/2026
Worked to London, worked back to Sheffield, now for 11 days off! 😍 Have a view of the future at St Pancras from last Sunday, three 810s lined up ready for duty. It'll be weird when this is the norm, but there's still a long way to go yet
Three Class 810 Aurora trains lined up at St Pancras train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 15/08/2026
No fires or disposable barbecues on the 2132 back home, everyone must've got the message
A Class 810 Aurora train at Sheffield train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 14/08/2026
Andy, it's okay, I'm not going to start a disposable barbecue on my train, chill out 😭
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 11/08/2026
"Please hold the line, the resource centre wishes to speak with you" Copped an easy London and back off spare today, Pioneer 101 as my train for the day. Not the most well behaved, but it did the job at least Despite everything, just plodding along day by day. What else can you do after all?
A Class 222 Meridian train at Sheffield train station at night
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RMT Union @rmtunion.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
😎 RMT picket line at Sheffield as members continue to take strike action to urge East Midlands Railway to take its fleet of faulty 810s out of service.
Group of East Midlands Railway workers gathered outdoors holding a banner demanding safety for Aurora trains.
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 06/08/2026
August throughout the years 🗓️ 2023: A GWR Castle at Newquay replacing an IET as far as Plymouth during a unit shortage 2022: 313201 "Big Blue" arrives into Littlehampton 2021: A 313 and 158 share island platforms 1 and 2 at Brighton 2020: 86639 passes Highbury and Islington
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 03/08/2026
2 months after my last visit, I've finally been back in Scotland with @pacerclara.insanity.tube again! 😊 Last week, we tried out Lumo's Meridian from Motherwell to Stirling, taking a 222 in Scotland felt very strange! The former First coaches are decent Seemingly empty after Motherwell though
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 25/07/2026
My 1000 to St Pancras was being held up on its way into Sheffield today, but I didn't mind because look how stunning it was! 😍 How I wished we could've pinched it for my ten o'clock! I need to find an excuse to do the 125 Group's set again
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 22/07/2026
Yesterday I visited Cambridge South What a fascinating new build! If I was still doing my A Level Photography, this would probably have ended up in there I really like it! I could've probably stayed another hour just taking photos of it all 😊
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RMT Union @rmtunion.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
RMT strike action over safety at East Midlands Railway RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) plan to take strike action on Saturday, August 1, and the following two Saturdays over growing safety concerns following the roll out of the 810 fleet. rmtunion.org/4fNq6mU
rmtunion.org
RMT strike action over safety at East Midlands Railway
RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) plan to take strike action on Saturday, August 1, and the following two Saturdays over growing safety concerns that the company has failed to address...
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 16/07/2026
Reasons to railway job cat 😺 Hope this helps
A white cat with grey patches and light blue eyes in a black travel cage on a table
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 08/07/2026
From factory to service I worked 810022 for the first time today after seeing it in Newton Aycliffe whilst it was still being manufactured. A fun full circle moment. It behaved brilliantly which was a bonus
A nearly complete Class 810 driving vehicle inside a factoryA Class 810 train and Class 222 train at London St Pancras train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 03/07/2026
Yesterday, I tried out the Railjet for the first time in First What an impressive train! 9 hours to Zurich from Vienna went by very quickly! Lovely staff, extraordinary views, excellent good and @pacerclara.insanity.tube's lovely company made it a brilliant journey ☺️
A Railjet train arriving into Vienna Hbf train station A plate with schnitzel and potatoes with a glass of water and cutlery on a large tray table The black leather first class seats inside the Railjet train with red headrests A hamlet of houses on green turf surrounded by mountains on two sides
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 01/07/2026
For those who say all trains in Europe are much better and on time, may I introduce you to my first ever Austrian train Expected arrival into Vienna, 3hrs late at gone half 1 in the morning after a different train failed on a single line I really haven't had luck on my side 🥲
A corridor of an Austrian train carriage
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 30/06/2026
It's amazing who you get to know and meet out there! Got to meet the wonderful @lorainedoesthings.bsky.social who drove my train to Utrecht Centraal from Amsterdam Centraal incredibly smoothly Dutch and British railways in one photo 😁
Lorraine, a 5ft 9 white lady with black hair and yellow high vis next to Will, 6ft white man with yellow and blue top in a train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 30/06/2026
785 minutes behind schedule, finally made it to Amsterdam 1 direct train ended up taking 6 different trains...... Great success 😭
A VIRM train at Amsterdam Central station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 30/06/2026
Hello from Amsterdam Centraal... or perhaps not Not the smoothest start to a European trip. Spent an extra night in London after the 1804 was cancelled yesterday only to be terminated short at Brussels on the first one this morning 🫠 Eurostar have been rather unhelpful too, fun and games hey
An e320 train at Bruxelles Midi train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 28/06/2026
It's @pacerclara.insanity.tube's birthday today! Go wish her many happy (off peak day) returns! 🎉
A man in a red and black flannel shirt and a girl in a yellow jumper on a DART train. Photo by Natt
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 25/06/2026
It's been a very weird week at work, we're still trying to process what unfolded last Friday. It's been a horrible time for many, though we're all supporting one another the best we can Thanks you all of you lot for the kind words to our colleagues involved in the incident ❤️
An empty first class carriage
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 21/06/2026
Shaun, you'll be sorely missed Nobody should ever go to work and not make it home Thinking of his partner, family and friends, as well as all my colleagues at St Pancras and the profound grief they will carry Green lights all the way ⚫⚫🟢⚫ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Tributes to driver killed in Bedford train crash
Shaun Burton's family say they are devastated, while a union leader calls his death "heartbreaking".
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 20/06/2026
Nearly 2 years later, I'm finally back volunteering on the @hastingsdiesels.co.uk DEMU again 🥹 The sounds, the smells, the lovely regulars, oh how brilliant it is to be back! I've missed this
A Class 201 DEMU train at Hastings train station
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RMT Union @rmtunion.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Eddie Dempsey general secretary RMT said: “We are devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died as a result of today’s crash between Luton and Bedford. The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the ASLEF trade union at this awful time.”
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 19/06/2026
Please, don't speculate or fabricate things on what's happened at Bedford. We're all trying to process what's happened and hoping our colleagues involved in the incident are okay and accounted for
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 14/06/2026
A weekend of Manton Mania Spent the weekend going via Melton Mowbray and Corby on Meridians. Here's two of my services during standing time at Wellingborough and Leicester Of all the diverts we do, Manton is my favourite, the view over Harringworth viaduct is simply stunning! 😁
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 09/06/2026
I've decided that after today, I don't like pantographs 😭 I refuse to elaborate
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 02/06/2026
I always feel like I'm being teased when my Meridian parks up on Platform 4 and there's a Eurostar next to me, but especially if that Eurostar has the fabled "3999" powercar 👀 A lucky puddle gave me this amazing photo during my turn around in London this evening 😁
A Eurostar TMST powercar at London St Pancras train station which is reflected with a puddle on the ground
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 01/06/2026
Oh hey Pride Month, we're back again! 🌈 It does feel a bit harder going into Pride Month this year. Things have continued to go backwards rather than forwards in regards to LGBTQIA+ rights, but especially the "T". There's so much more that needs to be done 1/3
A pride liveried Class 390 Pendolino train departing Stockport train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 30/05/2026
I was in London yesterday and by chance has the GBR 701 back to Waterloo 👀 Take the red off the intermediate coaches to be far less on the nose and it wouldn't be too bad of a livery. Looks better in the flesh than on the renders I do think it will be a bit boring when this is the norm though
A GBR liveried Class 701 train at Richmond train station A GBR liveried Class 701 train at London Waterloo train station The side of the GBR liveried Class 701 train which includes a red and white diagonal line on a dark blue base. A double arrow symbol with "GBR" underneath can be seen to the left of the cab doorThe branding on the side of the train which shows "Great British Railways | South Western" in white text on a light blue background
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 25/05/2026
Its been more than 2 years since I last worked the first train of the morning into St Pancras, but there I was this morning at 4:15am in the station and ready to work 😅 I've not missed the 3:30am alarms but equally, its nice to be back doing a mix of earlies and lates again
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 23/05/2026
If you had told me a couple of years ago that the trusty DEMU would make it to Scotland, I'd have laughed right back at you But there it is, tucked away in Edinburgh Waverley with an adventure to the Highlands. Utterly, utterly brilliant 🥹
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 19/05/2026
What do you mean today is 3 years since the last ever run of a Class 313 in passenger service? Still miss these absolute shitbox trains. The amount of weekends and school holidays spent racking up miles with the window down in the motor coach will stick with me Forever my favourite EMUs 🥺
A Class 313 train at Brighton train station A departure board showing the 2341 Seaford with the special message "313213 - The End ~ This is our final departure for the Class 313 fleet, serving the Coastway routes since 2010"A Class 313 train at Seaford train station during dusk A Class 313 train passing an abandoned platform
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 17/05/2026
I was back on the job this week, but with a slight twist 👀 As part of the 810 Training Programme, myself and a few other hosts and TMs were on a customer service day. We fed back about 810s and talked through many things customer service It was very good in fairness, my group were great fun too 😂
A miles statue outside a modern building with an artistic impression of a train A Class 810 train viewed from the side at Derby train station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 17/05/2026
Happy timetable change day to all those who celebrate 🥂 May your Newquays be hourly and your Readings stop at Vauxhall
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 11/05/2026
Berlin, you were simply fabulous for the whole weekend! I don't think I've ever warmed so much to a city much like it in all my experiences travelling ☺️ Whilst myself and @pacerclara.insanity.tube did see the odd tourist thing here and there, the public transport was VERY interesting 1/10
The TV Tower in Berlin on a cloudy day
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 07/05/2026
Finished the day with a pair of ICE 4s back to Berlin from Hamm What a fun day! You don't want to see how much I spent in the Bordrestaurants though 🫣 Back to leisurely Berlin things tomorrow
A pair of ICE 4 trains coupled together at Berlin main station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 07/05/2026
After getting an ICE-3 pair to Köln, I was lucky enough to get haulage from a 101 inside IC1 coaches, which is becoming ever rarer We even had the coach behind the loco... except it was taken out of service because it had no power 😭 Can't win every time you see
A DB 101 train and IC1 coaches at Köln main station
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 07/05/2026
I went on my first Swiss train! ECE 8 from Hannover to Frankfurt with a pair of Stadler SMILE units did the honours 😃 Ended up 30L into Frankfurt, the one way to make Swiss trains late is to simply run them in Germany 😂
A Stadler Smile train at Hannover main station A croissant, sandwich, glass of water and cup of tea on a tableA Stadler Smile train at Frankfurt main station A Stadler Smile train at Frankfurt main station seen form the opposite platform
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 07/05/2026
Hello from an ICE-T (should've been an ICE-L, oh dear) Bordrestaurant! Breakfast acquired for myself and @pacerclara.insanity.tube as we do a day around Germany on our Interrails Although we have First, the ordering system wasn't going through, but the Restaurant is always excellent on here ☺️
A table with tea, water, a bowl of bread and a croissant, and a porridge
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 07/05/2026
To my British followers back at home today, don't forget to vote today and bring your ID! Every vote counts! Signed, someone who didn't manage to sort their postal vote or a proxy out in time 🫠
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 06/05/2026
Guten Morgen Berlin! 😁 Hauptbahnhof is an unbelievably station, I love the criss-cross of the high and low levels combined with the brilliant architecture! Let's explore the city today
A new generation Traxx locomotive with sleeper coaches at Berlin Hbf
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Coastway Will @coastwaywill.me · 05/05/2026
Behold! A sleeper train! 🛏️ 2 hours late leaving Paris is not what we'd hoped for but nonetheless myself and @pacerclara.insanity.tube are on the way to Germany 🇩🇪 We've got a Private Couchette for us two branded as "Comfort Classic". The compartments on these are SO FUN ☺️
A Traxx 188 locomotive pulling sleeper carriages at Paris North train station
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