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Title: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 01, 2024, 03:40:32 A new thread for 2024 - last year's remains at http://www.passenger.chat/27048
The service between Swindon and Westbury is not the easiest to run operationally, and when something goes wrong the very thin timetable means considerable disruption to customer journeys. The purpose of this thread is to provide a running log of issues so that we can see, look back, learn. Sadly, I do not expect to see a miracle instant improvement to 100% running to timetable, but I am optimistic and hope that we'll be able to use and promote the service far better in 2024 without fear of things going wrong. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 01, 2024, 03:51:50 We start the year with flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - off "our" line but with lots of trains diverted through Chippenham. JourneyCheck assures us that "No station will go without a service." which is a relief as looking back the TransWilts service has often been withdrawn when the line is used for diversions. Today, it is NOT the single track section that's carrying extra trains and I would anticipate just minor delays as our trains weave around South Wales expresses.
We do have our first alteration of the year ... Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Gloucester. It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Should I log this and it's not altering the running between Westbury and Swindon? ... Yes, I am continuing to take as the "standard" to log changes on all through services along the line, even where the changes are north of Swindon or South and West of Westbury, as they effect through passengers. In this case, on a Bank Holiday with everyone with a hangover except working railway staff, I don't expect (m)any people from Wiltshire will be inconvenienced. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 01, 2024, 07:37:28 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 01, 2024, 15:50:56 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 02, 2024, 20:08:20 Quote 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 02, 2024, 20:22:34 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be started from Swindon. It will no longer call at Westbury, Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 03, 2024, 04:18:39 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be cancelled. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 03, 2024, 17:30:02 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 03, 2024, 20:10:27 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be starting late from Westbury. This is due to a fault on this train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 04, 2024, 17:59:02 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 has been cancelled. This is due to flooding. 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: a-driver on January 04, 2024, 18:02:48 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 has been cancelled. This is due to flooding. 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. I assume IETs still can’t stop at Melksham because it’s not in the train database? Time they added it, regardless of the huge cost to amend the database. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 04, 2024, 18:05:03 and more ...
Quote 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Interesting, the 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury and the 20:06 Westbury to (?) Chetlenham Spa still running as I write. Perhaps that will change Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 04, 2024, 18:08:56 I assume IETs still can’t stop at Melksham because it’s not in the train database? Time they added it, regardless of the huge cost to amend the database. Ah yes ... Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Reading Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Westbury and Reading some lines towards Reading are blocked. Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 19:00 04/01. Westbury <-> Swindon service decimated due to flooding ... somewhere else! We're still bottom of the pile here in Melksham when it comes to serving us in 2024. Not asking "why" - just pointing it out. I like what they do elsewhere: Quote Customer Advice Due to flooding on the railway near Chipping Sodbury, the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway is shut. Therefore our trains running from South Wales and London Paddington are being diverted, and will add approximately 40 minutes to your journey. No station will go without a service. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 04, 2024, 18:20:05 Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run. Train services running through these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Customer Advice We apologise for the disruption to your journey today. Due to flooding on the line between Reading, Newbury and Westbury, GWR long distance West Country services are being diverted on the line though Melksham. As a consequence, GWR local services between Swindon and Westbury and return are suspended. Passengers from Westbury and Trowbridge are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Chippenham and Swindon. Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury. Passengers from Melksham are advised to please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. This will enable us to get suitable replacement transport to you as quickly as possible. Passengers from Westbury or Trowbridge for Melksham should travel to Trowbridge and await rail replacement transport for Melksham. Passengers from Swindon for Melksham should travel to Chippenham on the next available service and then await rail replacement transport for Melksham. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 04, 2024, 18:36:18 ..and now running out of options. Lines closed Didcot to Reading after a diverted West of England service has reporting hitting someone at Pangbourne.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 04, 2024, 19:22:10 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: jamestheredengine on January 04, 2024, 19:31:23 I assume IETs still can’t stop at Melksham because it’s not in the train database? Time they added it, regardless of the huge cost to amend the database. Ah yes ... Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Reading Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Westbury and Reading some lines towards Reading are blocked. Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 19:00 04/01. Westbury <-> Swindon service decimated due to flooding ... somewhere else! We're still bottom of the pile here in Melksham when it comes to serving us in 2024. Not asking "why" - just pointing it out. I like what they do elsewhere: Quote Customer Advice Due to flooding on the railway near Chipping Sodbury, the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway is shut. Therefore our trains running from South Wales and London Paddington are being diverted, and will add approximately 40 minutes to your journey. No station will go without a service. But really the worst bit is the whole pretense that Chipping Sodbury somehow mightn't be wet later -- I'm okay with the evening trains being half an hour out from normal, but let's have an emergency timetable that they can run to, rather than having to keep an eye out in case something is suddenly magically sent right at Wootton Bassett and effectively runs half an hour early. If it dries up, then that's when 10pm decisions about tomorrow are an appropriate decision-making strategy. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 05, 2024, 11:09:35 Situation as at 11:00 this morning - only one passenger train has run in either direction along the TransWilts; the 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton called at Melksham three quarters of an hour late at 07:20, eventually terminating short at Salisbury, and the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street (which lost an hour at Westbury) called at Melksham 68 minutes late at 08:28, eventually terminating short at Gloucester 74 minutes late (info from RTT).
Everything else cancelled so far; 07:45 Westbury - Swindon, 08:45 Swindon - Westbury, 09:46 Westbury - Swindon, 11:05 Swindon - Westbury, 12:17 Westbury - Swindon, 13:15 Swindon - Westbury. Journeycheck messages finally started filtering through for the 09:46 cancellation, but the earlier two cancellations appeared to go un-noted. B&H still shut east of Westbury and between Castle Cary and Taunton, so no West of England passenger services diverting via Melksham, although stone trains likely to be diverting via the TransWilts to reach London. Also, with the ongoing flooding at Chipping Sodbury, the line via Box is being used by diverted South Wales and West of England services as well as London to Bristol services which have been reduced to an hourly service. The unit from yesterday’s TransWilts service appears to still be sat in the bay platform at Swindon, where it’s been since it arrived at 17:08 on Thursday afternoon. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 05, 2024, 11:16:16 What a mess! Thank you for that analysis.
Journey check just reporting, as you say, a tiny part of that ... Quote 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 05, 2024, 13:43:17 Quote An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 13:45 Chippenham to Westbury due 14:28. Additional Information: Please check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for the replacement road transport at the designated stop. The coach company is Chandlers Coach Travel. The scheduled calling pattern follows: Hide Calling Pattern Due Station 13:45 Chippenham 14:01 Melksham 14:16 Trowbridge 14:28 Westbury Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 05, 2024, 15:10:36 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 has been cancelled. This is due to flooding. 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 05, 2024, 15:11:25 Quote 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Rather curiously, the 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury and the 20:06 Westbury to Chelteham pa and not shown as cancelled or part running Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 05, 2024, 15:44:14 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11
22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 05, 2024, 17:55:49 Quote 18:37 from Westbury 20:13 from Swindon 21:16 from Westbury 22:30 from Swindon All re-instated at 17:40 Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 05, 2024, 20:40:24 Quote 18:37 from Westbury 20:13 from Swindon 21:16 from Westbury 22:30 from Swindon All re-instated at 17:40 but Quote 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 has been cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Not a day after and around all the storms that I would choose to rely on a train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 01:54:04 Quote Sat, 6 January 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28 Sat, 6 January 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 Sat, 6 January 09:52 Westbury to Swindon due 10:36 Sat, 6 January 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:48 Sat, 6 January 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01 Sat, 6 January 13:13 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55 Sat, 6 January 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 Sat, 6 January 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:57 Sat, 6 January 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 Sat, 6 January 17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 Sat, 6 January 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 Sat, 6 January 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 Sat, 6 January 20:08 Westbury to Swindon due 20:54 Sat, 6 January 21:10 Swindon to Westbury due 21:52 21:10 Swindon to Westbury due 21:52 will be cancelled. This is due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 02:00:29 Quote Cancellations to services between Reading and Taunton Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Reading and Taunton the line is closed. Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or diverted via Bristol Temple Meads. Pewsey will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Customer Advice We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Can you tell me more about the incident? We are currently experiencing significant disruption on the network owing to flooding in multiple areas. Customers are advised to please TRAVEL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO CHECK YOUR JOURNEY BEFORE YOU TRAVEL. More information will follow as we have it. What are my alternatives? We appreciate that this will have disrupted your travel plans, especially those on Advance purchase tickets, please note that you will be able to use your ticket on a later train today. Our West of England services, where running, will divert from Reading/Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads. This diversion will add additional time onto your journey. A minimal rail replacement service will be operating between the following stations: Newbury and Bedwyn Taunton and Castle Cary Local bus ticket acceptance is in place on Jet Black buses between Newbury and Reading. Passengers travelling to Pewsey, please travel to Swindon, and make contact with station staff; onwards road transport will then be provided. Passengers travelling from Pewsey, please use the Customer Help Point. If you require any further assistance or information please speak to a member of Train Crew or Station Staff. Alternatively please use station help points where provided. Check before you travel You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquires real time Journey Planner Additional Information Need to get in touch? We're here to help 7 days a week on X (Twitter) @GWRHelp Further Information An update will follow within the next 2 hours. If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay What about Melksham? Apparently abandoned without any alternative ... Line looks OPEN without any closures on OpenTrainTimes map Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 06, 2024, 07:37:49 Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon
Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines. Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Customer Advice Due to ongoing issues with flood water affecting large swathes of the railway, our Westbury to Swindon service, via Melksham, is suspended until further notice. Customers travelling between Westbury, Chippenham and Swindon can travel via Bath Spa where connections are available. For customers using Melksham station, we are working to resource alternative means of transport to provide a service. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: JayMac on January 06, 2024, 07:40:26 Services between Paddington and the south west are being diverted via Melksham. Local services are cancelled to avoid congestion on the single line. From internal sources at 0730:
Quote Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines. Impact: Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Customer Advice: Due to ongoing issues with flood water affecting large swathes of the railway, our Westbury to Swindon service, via Melksham, is suspended until further notice. Customers travelling between Westbury, Chippenham and Swindon can travel via Bath Spa where connections are available. For customers using Melksham station, we are working to resource alternative means of transport to provide a service. Further Information: An update will follow within the next 2 hours. Internal Information: UPDATES: Train crew please be aware: Although the Melksham route is NOT flooded, it is having to be used for diverted 1AXX/1CXX services, as well as freight, therefore, it has been decided not to run the 2MXX services. Update 1 (05:00): Road transport requested between Westbury and Swindon. Not yet confirmed. TRAIN PLAN: 1AXX/1CXX being diverted due to flooding between Westbury and Newbury. To prevent congestion, all 2MXX services are cancelled. PRIORITISED PLAN & MILESTONES: Currently being assessed. ROAD TRANSPORT CONTINGENCY: Road transport has been requested. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 07:55:42 Why the **** are they not using the through IET services to provide calls?
Yes, I know the official excuses ... Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Timmer on January 06, 2024, 08:01:31 Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines. That needs rewording. There is NO flooding between Westbury and Swindon*. This line is now being used for SW services which are no longer going via Bristol. Normal half hourly Bristol to London services resumed along with South Wales services diverted but now no longer stopping at Bath Spa.Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. GWR should be more clear and say why there are no Tranwilts services. *On the railway line at least. Flooding elsewhere in Wiltshire. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 12:37:20 Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines. That needs rewording. There is NO flooding between Westbury and Swindon*. This line is now being used for SW services which are no longer going via Bristol. Normal half hourly Bristol to London services resumed along with South Wales services diverted but now no longer stopping at Bath Spa.Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. GWR should be more clear and say why there are no Tranwilts services. *On the railway line at least. Flooding elsewhere in Wiltshire. GWR have scored in my view 2 stars out of 5 in terms of how they are handing this in Melksham +* They get one star for their honesty in admitting the whole service is cancelled rather than pretending thoughtout the day. +* They get another star for providing a minibus instead -* They do NOT get credit for failing to stop the trains that are going through. If they have added Pilning and Avoncliff to places IETs can stop, why the heck not Melksham? -* They do NOT get credit for charging £18 single from Swindon to Westbury online today. I know that they will accept "via Melksham" tickets via Bath in these circumstances (£10.50 on the 06:11 "peak" train, £9 for all the rest of the direct service), but public information and charges should reflect that and not be reliant on people knowing a ticket that is not available -* It's all very well having replacement buses, but nothing at the station tells you their times. I wait to hear that hardly anyone is using them - because hardy anyone knows about when and where they are, and advise to ask at the Help Point, given online, means they expect you to go to the station and likely have something of a wait. Not a star - but a pedanticisim When the departure board says "cancelled", why does it then list "calling at" stations. Surely the whole point is that it is NOT calling at ... (http://www.wellho.net/pix/mkmflood1.jpg) "No trains through Melksham today due to flooding". Funny (peculiar) - looks like a train to me! (http://www.wellho.net/pix/mkmflood2.jpg) Edit - to add regular direct fare information Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: eightonedee on January 06, 2024, 13:42:45 Quote Not a star - but a pedanticisim When the departure board says "cancelled", why does it then list "calling at" stations. Surely the whole point is that it is NOT calling at ... To be fair Grahame, there will be people turning up looking for a train to the other intermediate trains, so I think it is correct to list them (albeit perhaps headed "this would have been the train for....."). Otherwise I heartily endorse your comments! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 14:03:24 Quote Not a star - but a pedanticisim When the departure board says "cancelled", why does it then list "calling at" stations. Surely the whole point is that it is NOT calling at ... To be fair Grahame, there will be people turning up looking for a train to the other intermediate trains, so I think it is correct to list them (albeit perhaps headed "this would have been the train for....."). Otherwise I heartily endorse your comments! Hence not s star either way, but a pedanticism. I would agree "would have called at" or "no longer calling at". When the water is receded, the panic is over and we can look back at lessons, there are things to be take up with GWR, Network Rail, the DfT and our MP and candidates for next time. In the wide game of things, so much could be done without breaking an arm, a leg, or the bank! 18.7% of households in my ward don't have their own vehicle - for sure, that's below the 23.5% average for England but lookin across to the next ward it's just 8.1% ... but it's still nearly a quarter who rely on the bus, train, taxis and perhaps lifts. http://grahamellis.uk/blog1099.html . Perhaps a good thing to ask our MP and candidates about. It's not uncommon for our line to be used for South West diversions and it costs them 20 minutes anyway when the Berks and Hants between Reading and Westbury is closed. Logic is to allow them to take another 15 minutes and call at intermediate stations (they have to slow right down anyway to go round the corner at Melksham) and update the departure board overnight to reflect it. Cheaper than providing buses? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 06, 2024, 16:15:09 I don't disagree that Melksham should have a service (and as you have pointed out, road replacement has been arranged), but wouldn't stopping fast services in the way that you suggest simply create the congestion that suspending the Transwilts is intended to avoid?
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 16:32:21 I don't disagree that Melksham should have a service (and as you have pointed out, road replacement has been arranged), but wouldn't stopping fast services in the way that you suggest simply create the congestion that suspending the Transwilts is intended to avoid? No ;D ;D - and there's a precedent when the Portsmouth - Cardiff service becomes a Portsmouth - Swindon service. So it's not exactly rocket science research! Obviously, road replacement would be useful if its times were published. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 06, 2024, 16:45:17 I don't disagree that Melksham should have a service (and as you have pointed out, road replacement has been arranged), but wouldn't stopping fast services in the way that you suggest simply create the congestion that suspending the Transwilts is intended to avoid? No ;D ;D - and there's a precedent when the Portsmouth - Cardiff service becomes a Portsmouth - Swindon service. So it's not exactly rocket science research! Obviously, road replacement would be useful if its times were published. Sorry, hadn't done any research, it was just a question. Agreed GWR should certainly publish times of road replacement. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 06, 2024, 19:40:50 No ;D ;D - and there's a precedent when the Portsmouth - Cardiff service becomes a Portsmouth - Swindon service. So it's not exactly rocket science research! Obviously, road replacement would be useful if its times were published. Sorry, hadn't done any research, it was just a question. Agreed GWR should certainly publish times of road replacement. Good questions - worth re-iterating the answers from yonks back and doing a sanity check that the answer still hold water, though I'm not sure if "holding water" is the correct way to say if got today. Smiley (previously) added to lighten the answer. Removing a round trip local train saved GWR / NR about 40 minutes of single line availability in a 2 hour period and two awkward flat junction transitions, and two "line turnarounds". Then adding in a Melksham stop would cost 8 of those single line minutes and not add back any awkward flat junction transitions, nor those line turnarounds. The extra minutes would slow the whole journey to the South West by a few minutes, possibly even meaning that an extra IET was needed - but then 3 IETs are not running of days of diversion via Melksham because the trains that are normally nonstop Reading to Taunton are run as semifast anyway and take the place of the also-canned 3 or 4 unit Taunton / Exeter / Paignton service. Sorry to get so technical - lived this stuff for years. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 06, 2024, 20:40:23 Perhaps I’m missing a solution that is blindingly obvious to others here, but to me it seems that stopping diverted IETs at Melksham must have potential to add congestion to the system.
The TransWilts service is, by and large, operated by a single train so it cannot delay itself whilst occupying the single line. But once you start diverting multiple trains in both directions, there’s potential for trains to present at both ends of the single line simultaneously, forcing one to wait, and thus delaying everything else caught behind it. Were you to be planning and timetabling these diversions, as would be the case for Portsmouth to Cardiff becoming Portsmouth to Swindon for engineering works, you’d create a plan which avoided more than one train needing to occupy the single line at a time, but ad-hoc diversions for unscheduled line blockages would have to fit as best they can around the rest of the service. (The irony of this statement, when the solution is to take out the TransWilts services, is not lost on me, but I can sort-of understand why it is as it is). I guess that other arguments against using diverted trains to substitute for the TransWilts may be that the regular service is so sparse that the diverted trains are unlikely to match well with the published timetable, so intending passengers will still be turning up at the station at the scheduled times, and requiring some form of alternative transport provision. In addition, if the diverted trains are truly substituting for the TransWilts you are looking at additional stops at Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Westbury, as well as Melksham, which is going to eat up more line capacity. That’s not to say I don’t think diverted IETs should stop at Melksham, but it is ‘complicated’. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 07, 2024, 08:12:28 Perhaps I’m missing a solution that is blindingly obvious to others here, but to me it seems that stopping diverted IETs at Melksham must have potential to add congestion to the system. The TransWilts service is, by and large, operated by a single train so it cannot delay itself whilst occupying the single line. But once you start diverting multiple trains in both directions, there’s potential for trains to present at both ends of the single line simultaneously, forcing one to wait, and thus delaying everything else caught behind it. Were you to be planning and timetabling these diversions, as would be the case for Portsmouth to Cardiff becoming Portsmouth to Swindon for engineering works, you’d create a plan which avoided more than one train needing to occupy the single line at a time, but ad-hoc diversions for unscheduled line blockages would have to fit as best they can around the rest of the service. (The irony of this statement, when the solution is to take out the TransWilts services, is not lost on me, but I can sort-of understand why it is as it is). I guess that other arguments against using diverted trains to substitute for the TransWilts may be that the regular service is so sparse that the diverted trains are unlikely to match well with the published timetable, so intending passengers will still be turning up at the station at the scheduled times, and requiring some form of alternative transport provision. In addition, if the diverted trains are truly substituting for the TransWilts you are looking at additional stops at Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Westbury, as well as Melksham, which is going to eat up more line capacity. That’s not to say I don’t think diverted IETs should stop at Melksham, but it is ‘complicated’. Thanks - that's sort of what I was getting at, but you have a much finer grasp of the detail! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 07, 2024, 08:23:43 It's complex (you're right). "Reductio ad absurdum" and adding any train and any stop adds to congestion. With trains turning up at unscheduled intervals at both ends of the single track, yes, you'll want to get them through as quickly as possible - but that was not quite my suggestion. Like there are two-track plans for London to Reading, and an almost routine plan of what to do in the event of Swindon to Parkway being closed, so there should be an almost routine plan (perhaps there is?) for closures between Reading and Westbury.
Diverted trains typically/often call at Swindon (for bus to Pewsey) and at Westbury; extra stops at Chippenham and Trowbridge have happened at times and are on the double track. Only the Melksham stop is within the bottleneck. In the long term, the proper solutions are: 1. Make the railway fit for use in all weathers, not just the "fair weather railway" it feels like at times these days. 2. Redouble (most of) the line from Chippenham to Trowbridge so that the bottle neck is eased; look at examples of the Cornish main line where there are 2 trains an hour each way including some very long distance stuff (Edinburgh and even a service from Aberdeen) and the same number again Falmouth shuttles using a short stretch too. It's all a matter of scale. Logic when the Berks and Hants is closed east of Westbury may be to extend a London -> Bristol and beyond service to the South West every 2 hours, and run a London -> Exeter service every 2 hours via Westbury. I would, happily, justify the changed train times at Melksham in these circumstances; for though passengers I would ask for direct tickets to be openly sold as if the normal routes were being taken. Looking not only at "via Melksham" tickets where internet prices were doubled yesterday, but also "via Newbury". P.S. Putting a number on things - a Melksham stop on alternate IETs would add 4 minutes per cycle; removing the local train saves 40 minutes per cycle. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 07, 2024, 10:16:55 I know "no news is good news" but ...
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/nnign1.jpg) Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 07, 2024, 12:42:16 Quote 10:58 Weymouth to Chippenham due 13:17 10:58 Weymouth to Chippenham due 13:17 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Quote 14:00 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:57 14:00 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:57 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 08, 2024, 09:25:34 A bright and sunny morning here in Melksham, and a hope that the new week will bring us a reliable, running train service.
I'm noting that GWR are adding extra stops into express services to overcome shortages / cancellations caused by infrastructure problems. May I commend them on this, and ask that they extent this practise elsewhere in the - hopefully rare - event of local service cancellation due to infrastructure problems. Quote 08:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 13:29 08:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 13:29 will call additionally at Newbury. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 11, 2024, 06:58:45 Quote 06:13 Bristol Parkway to Westbury due 07:28 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 Facilities on the 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11. Disabled toilet facilities are not available. This is due to a fault on this train. Edit - adding in the working that brings the shuttle train onto the line in the morning. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 15, 2024, 10:46:04 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to a points failure. Delighted that this is the first post in a few days, and it's an event short of a cancellation of curtailment Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 15, 2024, 11:41:43 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to a points failure. Delighted that this is the first post in a few days, and it's an event short of a cancellation of curtailment Up train delayed by about 10 minutes at Wootton Bassett then 18 late into Swindon; return service left just 9 minutes late and has recovered a couple of minutes along the way. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 15, 2024, 18:40:37 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to a points failure. Delighted that this is the first post in a few days, and it's an event short of a cancellation of curtailment I guess that says a lot about expectations currently? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 16, 2024, 07:48:37 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be terminated at Salisbury. It will no longer call at Romsey and Southampton Central. It is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. The 05:51 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour, due to leave Westbury at 06:41, didn't leave until 07:04- that'a 9 minutes AFTER the Gloucester to Southampton train was due to set off. The curtailed train, due off Westbury at 06:55, left half an hour late. In the opposite direction, the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester via Swindon, due off Westbury at 07:05, didn't leave until 07:27, I suspect waiting for crew off the late arrival from Gloucester which lost a lot of time on the approach to Westbury - I suspect waiting for a platform. The 07:45 Westbury to Swindon left on time, but got delayed waiting for the single line and has just arrived at Melksham 15 minute late. Such knock-on delays are not untypical - just a good opportunity to write it up this morning. I don't know what caused the late departure from Bristol which lead to this whole series of consequential delays, which were aided and abetted by the stretching of resources in the planned operation. I would think that once the Portsmouth Express was late, the decisions and changes made were the best the control crew could do with the tools provided. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 16, 2024, 08:24:44 Completing the story ...
Quote 08:23 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads due 10:28 08:23 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads due 10:28 will be started from Salisbury. It will no longer call at Southampton Central and Romsey. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. Yep, that was inevitable with the Gloucester to Southampton train that forms it terminating at Salisbury Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 17, 2024, 16:20:21 Quote 13:55 Paignton to London Paddington due 17:09 will be started from Exeter St Davids and diverted between Westbury and Reading. It will no longer call at Paignton, Torquay, Torre, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish and Hungerford. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 30 minutes late. This is due to a fault on this train. Not sure what train fault would force such a diversion? Plenty of room today - no knock-on delay to local service. Now between Chippenham and Swindon Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Timmer on January 17, 2024, 20:39:52 Not sure what train fault would force such a diversion? I’m curious as to why as well.Only thought I had was one or more engines were down so to get the train to the wires as soon as possible. But not a lot to be gained by routing via Chippenham rather than getting to the juice at Newbury. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 17, 2024, 22:11:58 Not sure what train fault would force such a diversion? I’m curious as to why as well.Only thought I had was one or more engines were down so to get the train to the wires as soon as possible. But not a lot to be gained by routing via Chippenham rather than getting to the juice at Newbury. Intererstingly though, it lost no time at all prior to Exeter, and took only 10 minutes longer than scheduled Westbury to Paddington. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 18, 2024, 11:40:06 Quote 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 18, 2024, 19:18:50 Quote 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 Facilities on the 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2. No problem Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 19, 2024, 10:19:25 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 has been cancelled. This is due to a fault on this train. Additional Information If you are travelling from Melksham please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. Customers with tickets routed via Melksham may travel via Bath Spa. Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault on this train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 19, 2024, 10:23:23 No problem But this IS - service gap from 07:47 to 12:17 in services from Westbury to Swindon Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 Alternative offered scheduled to arrive into Swindon at 11:09 - 35 minutes late09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 has been cancelled. This is due to a fault on this train. Additional Information If you are travelling from Melksham please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. Customers with tickets routed via Melksham may travel via Bath Spa. and from 08:45 to 13:15 from Swindon to Westbury. Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault on this train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 19, 2024, 11:28:58 But this IS - service gap from 07:47 to 12:17 in services from Westbury to Swindon. You assume the 12:17 runs, and you may be correct... Quote 10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:52 Facilities on the 10:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 13:52. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5 from Westbury. Further Information If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay Last Updated:19/01/2024 10:42 Due Station Status 10:30 Cardiff Central 10:30 10:44 Newport South Wales 10:44 11:09 Filton Abbey Wood 11:09 11:24 Bristol Temple Meads 11:24 11:38 Bath Spa 11:38 11:50 Bradford-On-Avon 11:50 11:57 Trowbridge 11:57 12:05 Westbury 12:05 Good job the Portsmouth train was five carriages when it left Cardiff - easier to spare two in that scenario, but it would not be so clever taking half the train (two cars off a four car set) to cover for a train fault elsewhere. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 20, 2024, 19:04:13 Quote 18:33 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 will be cancelled. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. Would that be a local emergency ... or the one between Reading and Paddington? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 21, 2024, 09:54:21 Quote 10:58 Weymouth to Swindon due 13:24 13:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 15:57 Facilities on the 13:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 15:57. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3. On a winter Sunday ... with a severe weather warming ... 2 carriages should be plenty Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 21, 2024, 18:23:11 Just to note the service survived unscathed today despite a track circuit failure meaning pilot working was needed until lunchtime.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 11:16:34 Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: GBM on January 24, 2024, 11:50:11 Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway. Cancellations to services between Reading and Westbury Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Reading and Westbury all lines are blocked. Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or diverted between Reading and Westbury. Disruption is expected until 13:00 24/01. Customer Advice - We've received reports of an incident involving a loss of life in the Hungerford area. Subsequently all lines are on stop. However - rare? movement happening here 08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05 08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05 was diverted from Westbury and will be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads. It will no longer call at Pewsey, Newbury, Reading and London Paddington but will call additionally at Trowbridge, Bradford-On-Avon and Bath Spa. It has been delayed previously and is now 19 minutes late from Westbury. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway. So, it travelled to Westbury, then still in service to Bristol with Paddington passengers still onboard? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Timmer on January 24, 2024, 12:21:53 So, it travelled to Westbury, then still in service to Bristol with Paddington passengers still onboard? I would imagine London bound passengers were encouraged to change at Bath Spa for the half hourly Paddington services.Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 12:23:05 Quote We've received reports of an incident involving a loss of life in the Hungerford area. Subsequently all lines are on stop. Initial impact on our service will entail some services in the affected area being held at stations until further notice and some long-distance London Paddington - Plymouth / Penzance services diverting via Swindon (both directions). Some of these trains may call additionally at Swindon for our Pewsey customers (road transport Swindon - Pewsey both directions). Our thoughts with those involved, and once again the line through Melksham comes to the rescue. Like Pewsey, Melksham loses its trains when something goes wrong on the Berks and Hants between Reading and Westbury. I note the difference in how GWR treats these two stations when diversions are in place. For Pewsey, trains make extra calls at Swindon and a taxi service is provided to and from Pewsey For Melksham, the trains do not make extra calls. No taxi service would be needed. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: ReWind on January 24, 2024, 12:33:17 The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic. Congestion either side of the branch now;
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 24, 2024, 12:45:18 The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic. Congestion either side of the branch now; Indeed. It’s not really coping at all.12:17 Westbury to Swindon has run via Bradford on Avon. An Up IET waiting at Bradford Junction. Meanwhile a Down IET and Down Stone train waiting at Thingley Junction, and just for good measure, a Cross-Country for Edinburgh waiting at Trowbridge. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 13:15:33 The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic. Congestion either side of the branch now; Indeed. It’s not really coping at all.Two tracks NOW! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 15:07:49 Two tracks NOW! Quote 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to congestion. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on January 24, 2024, 15:47:00 Quote 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to congestion. 13:15 Swindon to Westbury also diverted via Bathampton Junction (therefore not calling Melksham) and arrived at Westbury 42 minutes late. The 14:19 Westbury to Swindon left at 14:42, so a creditably quick turnaround. It should be possible for the TransWilts to be back on time again for the 16:23 from Westbury…. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 18:18:57 It should be possible for the TransWilts to be back on time again for the 16:23 from Westbury…. Indeed ... and here we go again Quote 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 18:32:05 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 is being delayed at Gloucester. This is due to a broken down train earlier today. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 18:39:15 I bring you a further example of good practise that should be emulated for Melksham when the Westbury to Swindon service is suspended to make way for longer distance trains, as it was earlier today.
Quote Customer Advice Due to a problem currently being investigated, we are unfortunately having to suspend our Newbury to Bedwyn shuttle service until at least 19:30. However, the stations served will continue to see a service on our longer distance Frome and Plymouth trains, so there won't be a long gap between trains. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 24, 2024, 18:50:23 I bring you a further example of good practise that should be emulated for Melksham when the Westbury to Swindon service is suspended to make way for longer distance trains, as it was earlier today. Quote Customer Advice Due to a problem currently being investigated, we are unfortunately having to suspend our Newbury to Bedwyn shuttle service until at least 19:30. However, the stations served will continue to see a service on our longer distance Frome and Plymouth trains, so there won't be a long gap between trains. To be fair, alternative transport has been arranged.... Further Information We're sorry for the disruption to your journey. A taxi has been arranged leaving Westbury at 19:05 calling at Trowbridge (19:17), Melksham (19:30) and Chippenham (19:46 arrival). The taxi company is Bath Taxis. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 24, 2024, 19:11:02 To be fair, alternative transport has been arranged.... Further Information We're sorry for the disruption to your journey. A taxi has been arranged leaving Westbury at 19:05 calling at Trowbridge (19:17), Melksham (19:30) and Chippenham (19:46 arrival). The taxi company is Bath Taxis. That may be an addition ... Quote Last Updated:24/01/2024 18:45 ... again being fair to GWR, they have a moving situation. I don't know whether the taxi was shown before that update, but it is timed after the original post was made and indeed after the train should have left.Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 25, 2024, 08:53:03 The Melksham branch struggling to cope ... Looking back at yesterday, here is the whole service of trains making passenger calls at Melksham or supposed to: (http://www.wellho.net/pix/pie20240124.jpg) (http://www.wellho.net/pix/rtt20240124.jpg) Inadequate provision to cope with the day to day routine issues. On a perfect day it works but yesterday we had a train failure, a lack of crew, and a closure of another line sending main line expresses through Melksham. The infrastructure of the line does go wrong from time to time, but that was not the case yesterday. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on January 25, 2024, 12:59:37 Although of little consolation for those waiting at Melksham, the need to divert long distance trains through there was not, for once, infrastructure issues. There was an incident at Hungerford where a person was found on the line and it was not immediately clear what the circumstances were.
That being said, it was the latest in a long line of issues which does have a cumulative effect on people's patience and perception. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 25, 2024, 13:59:51 Although of little consolation for those waiting at Melksham, the need to divert long distance trains through there was not, for once, infrastructure issues. There was an incident at Hungerford where a person was found on the line and it was not immediately clear what the circumstances were. That being said, it was the latest in a long line of issues which does have a cumulative effect on people's patience and perception. Indeed - I almost (sorry, Bobm) agree. But yet it was an infrastructure issue - of another line not being available for some reason when it should have been - that lead to 3 of the cancellations and 2 of the very late services. There is an infrastructure solution available to these issues - "2 tracks now" (or perhaps long dynamic loops and intermediate signalling - experts know which would be best); it does not sort out the lack of staff to drive and/or manage the trains, nor the train breakdowns. I find it a really difficult call to know whether or not to highlight issues in things like that pie chart. On one hand, such diagrams may remind people at the DfT, WC, GWR, NR, the CRP, Transport Focus, TWSW, etc that there are major issues at least once a week. But on the other hand, it builds up a reputation for unreliability which discourage people. My difficulty would be solved is the rail folks delivered 98% of the service they are supposed to ... Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 29, 2024, 09:26:20 Quote 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 29, 2024, 13:43:12 Reading the earlier cancellation notice - updated at 08:57, unchanged at 13:35
Quote 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Further Information If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay Last Updated:29/01/2024 08:57 No useful information about any alternative provision. Is this because "Industrial Action" is one of the reasons that a TOC does not have an obligation to look after its customers when things go pear shaped? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on January 29, 2024, 17:53:23 Tue, 30 January 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07
30/01/24 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 30, 2024, 06:42:21 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster. This is due to a points failure. Both of this morning cancellations are on the TransWilts "extension" south from Westbury rather than on the core section. Although many passengers leave and join these trains at Westbury, there is also substantial traffic that remains on the train there. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on January 31, 2024, 04:58:39 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be delayed between Chippenham and Westbury and is expected to be 5 minutes late. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be delayed between Westbury and Swindon and is expected to be 5 minutes late. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on February 01, 2024, 05:39:48 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on February 01, 2024, 15:33:49 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to a problem currently under investigation Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 02, 2024, 07:30:25 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Gloucester. It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Logged only because it's one of the TransWilts services. THROUGH traffic from south of Chippenham to north of Cheltenham Spa is pretty thin, with huge changeovers along the way at Swindon, Stroud (on this service), Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 02, 2024, 09:25:05 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Further Information If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay No alternatives suggested. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on February 02, 2024, 16:48:34 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to a points failure. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 04, 2024, 11:34:50 Quote 10:55 Westbury to Swindon due 11:37 Facilities on the 10:55 Westbury to Swindon due 11:37. Service full and standing from Trowbridge. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 05, 2024, 08:16:35 Today's total passenger train services at Westbury
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/wsb_20240205.jpg) Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on February 05, 2024, 08:30:36 Depressing, but although sparse it is more than some areas are getting.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 07, 2024, 10:55:39 Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to a broken down train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: IndustryInsider on February 07, 2024, 16:51:24 10L departure and 7L arrival. Due to a freight train failure.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on February 08, 2024, 11:27:49 Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Swindon and Chippenham the line towards Bath Spa is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:30 08/02. Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham may be cancelled or delayed. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on February 08, 2024, 22:06:08 Seems appropriate to mention this here as it involves the TransWilts line...
Quote 20:24 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 23:58 will be diverted between Westbury and Bath Spa. It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon but will call additionally at Chippenham, Oldfield Park and Keynsham. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 15 minutes late. This is due to a tree blocking the railway. Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Bath Spa Due to a tree blocking the railway between Westbury and Bath Spa the line is blocked. Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 23:45 08/02. Appears to be a XC ECS stopped between Bradford on Avon and Avoncliff. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 16, 2024, 06:31:26 Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on February 16, 2024, 09:48:01 Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 16, 2024, 12:15:54 Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Good ... pity to have scared off people commuting to Swindon on the 07:20 and 08:00 from Melksham who usually come home on this and are sadly (but wisely) in the habit of checking in the morning ... Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 16, 2024, 17:36:16 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 21, 2024, 11:33:28 Quote ]11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault on this train. Additional Information Sorry for the disruption to your journey today. >Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury. Depart Swindon at 11:22, Chippenham at 11:35, arriving at Bath Spa at 11:47. Change there for the 11:59 GWR service to Salisbury, arriving at Trowbridge at 12:20 and Westbury at 12:28. >Passengers For Melksham: please await and board the 11:22 GWR departure from Swindon for Weston super Mare. Get off the train at Chippenham and change there for replacement taxis to Melksham. Please check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for the replacement road transport at the designated stop. >Passengers from Melksham: Replacement road transport has been arranged to run in lieu of part of this train service to Trowbridge and Westbury. Please check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for the replacement road transport at the designated stop. The replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 22, 2024, 06:07:14 Quote 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 Facilities on the 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2. Last Updated:22/02/2024 04:00 Following trains too ... no problem with that ... Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 23, 2024, 16:01:17 Quote 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 crew.20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on February 24, 2024, 13:11:15 12:06 Westbury to Swindon due 12:57
12:06 Westbury to Swindon due 12:57 has been cancelled. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. 13:00 Swindon to Westbury due 13:43 13:00 Swindon to Westbury due 13:43 will be cancelled. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 24, 2024, 16:48:27 12:06 Westbury to Swindon due 12:57 12:06 Westbury to Swindon due 12:57 has been cancelled. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. 13:00 Swindon to Westbury due 13:43 13:00 Swindon to Westbury due 13:43 will be cancelled. This is due to a late running train being in front of this one. Darned IETs - not even the courtesy to stop - big gap left! :D ;D Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 24, 2024, 19:36:01 Quote 19:31 Swindon to Westbury due 20:12 19:31 Swindon to Westbury due 20:12 will be cancelled. This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on February 25, 2024, 09:40:06 Quote 10:52 Westbury to Swindon due 11:35 10:52 Westbury to Swindon due 11:35 will be starting late from Westbury and is expected to be 10 minutes late. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 01, 2024, 09:14:37 Quote 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham. This is due to congestion. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 01, 2024, 09:40:06 Quote 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham. This is due to congestion. The 07:44 Whatley Quarry to Oxford running just under 20 minutes late. The 08:45 passenger service reported above was held at Thingley Junction and proceeded 20 minutes late as well. The London to Bristol express got stuck behing and is nearly quarter of an hour late. It was a delight to see so much freight in my recent journeys on the continent - including using single track lines. Plenty of loops, and with freight trains waiting for passenger services which are very rarely delayed at relatively numerous loops. Freight is necessary and makes a huge difference to the economics of the railway as a whole, sharing infrastructure costs for the benefit of both. Electrify Chippenham - Westbury - the quarries and add a couple of loops between Chippenham and Trowbridge, flexibly signalled, and you're starting to solve the problems. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: brooklea on March 03, 2024, 08:44:37 Additional TransWilts travel opportunity this morning...
Quote 07:52 London Paddington to Plymouth due 11:24 will be diverted between Reading and Westbury. It will no longer call at Newbury and Pewsey but will call additionally at Swindon. It has been previously delayed, is being further delayed between Reading and Westbury and is now expected to be 26 minutes late. This is due to a points failure. The 08:52 Paddington to Plymouth is also shown as diverting between Reading and Westbury but, as that one’s not booked to call at Pewsey, it appears it’ll be running through Swindon non-stop. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 03, 2024, 08:52:43 Mon, 4 March 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07
04/03/24 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be started from Swindon. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble. This is due to engineering works not being finished on time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on March 03, 2024, 15:01:07 Looks like there is some last minute engineering work on the Golden Valley. Tonight's final Swindon to Cheltenham trip has been replaced by a bus according to Journeycheck.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 03, 2024, 15:12:25 Looks like there is some last minute engineering work on the Golden Valley. Tonight's final Swindon to Cheltenham trip has been replaced by a bus according to Journeycheck. Yep, I think so - though it says "engineering works not finished on time" in the earlier report. I'm inclined to agree with you bobm - with the nearest standard code having been applied even if only 85% right. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 04, 2024, 07:02:08 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill. It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to an obstruction on the track. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 04, 2024, 13:05:58 This thread is a sad log of things going wrong - but we sometimes forget just how much things go right. A real pleasure to bring you the latest for weeks as logged by recent time trains, Melksham to Swindon
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/mkm2swi_20240404.jpg) Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 05, 2024, 19:26:15 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 has been delayed between Gloucester and Stonehouse and is now 20 minutes late. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 07, 2024, 06:11:53 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 07/03/24 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be started from Swindon. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble. This is due to engineering works not being finished on time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 07, 2024, 06:40:08 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 Facilities on the 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5. Remarkable that it should have been scheduled as 5 carriages in the first place! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 08, 2024, 05:39:56 Quote 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 Facilities on the 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11. Disabled toilet facilities are not available. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 08, 2024, 09:23:21 Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to a late running freight train at Melksham the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 11:00 08/03. Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham may be cancelled, delayed or revised. 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will no longer call at Melksham. It will be delayed at Melksham and is expected to be 5 minutes late. This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one. 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one. 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one. 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be diverted between Trowbridge and Chippenham. It will no longer call at Melksham. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: IndustryInsider on March 08, 2024, 09:43:20 6A16 a failure?
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: hoover50 on March 08, 2024, 13:28:54 6A16 a failure? Someone on the WNXX forum has said that dragging brakes caused wheelflats on one or more wagons. It now appears to have moved off as 6Z16 back to Westbury. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 08, 2024, 13:56:21 Quote 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will now run as scheduled. Disabled toilet facilities are not available. "Will now run as scheduled" suggests to be that like the earlier services, these two were announce to customers as not calling at Melksham ... Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 08, 2024, 16:15:27 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be starting late from Gloucester and is expected to be 3 minutes late. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. All the reasons are out today ;-) ... I suspect 3 minutes will soon be made up! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on March 08, 2024, 19:11:08 6A16 a failure? Someone on the WNXX forum has said that dragging brakes caused wheelflats on one or more wagons. It now appears to have moved off as 6Z16 back to Westbury. Was reported by staff as it thumped through Trowbridge. Was rescued by a loco from Whatley Quarry and dragged back at 15mph. Investigations suggest a wagon brake had been left on. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on March 10, 2024, 07:51:05 Quote 08:10 Warminster to Swindon due 09:02 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Warminster and Dilton Marsh. This is due to engineering works not being finished on time. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 08:58:42 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill. It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 09:59:29 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 10:22:40 Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham Due to a fault with the signalling system between Castle Cary and Westbury all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:30 12/03. Train services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham may be cancelled. Customer Advice Rail replacement transport is being requested. Additional Information We apologise for the disruption to your journey today. Further Information If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 12, 2024, 14:24:36 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled. This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 16:39:29 Quote 17:53 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:53 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 16:40:49 Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to congestion. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 12, 2024, 17:23:51 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 12, 2024, 17:27:20 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Is that the same signalling fault that we were hearing about this morning ... that seems to have been cleared up on other lines many hours ago now? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 13, 2024, 08:27:14 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 13, 2024, 12:35:39 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 14, 2024, 12:57:00 Quote 17:53 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury. This is due to a shortage of train crew. This train is a professional truant! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 15, 2024, 11:36:16 Quote 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 is being delayed at Chippenham. This is due to a fault on this train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 20, 2024, 07:31:01 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2. I thought that service was supposed to be 3 carriages anyway - it certainly used to be. During covid but when schools were somewhat open, this was the most overcrowded train on GWR, with a heaviest load from Kemble to Stroud. It remains a very busy train - here it is calling at Swindon a couple of weeks ago (http://www.wellho.net/pix/t14_05.jpg) Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 20, 2024, 19:23:12 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 was terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 has been cancelled. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be started from Swindon. It will no longer call at Westbury, Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: JayMac on March 20, 2024, 20:40:33 The incident concerned was a person hit by train at Trowbridge station. Sadly fatal.
The train involved was Network Rail's HST New Measurement Train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 20, 2024, 22:42:33 Also 17:36 Swindon to Westbury terminated at Melksham. Train manager didn't know plans as the incident had only happened minutes earlier. There was also a manager from GWR on the train ... I was headed for the WWRUG AGM and as there were 2 experts there I quietly asked home and grabbed the car as I'm the meeting co-ordinator; good crew at WWRUG and the hall was open and indeed the speaker (thank you Roger) had arrived ...
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 23, 2024, 06:24:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. 17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 23, 2024, 06:36:37 Guess which line has been singled out for cancellations because there aren'e enough staff to run the trains.
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/canx20240323.jpg) Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. So that's no northbound train service AT ALL at Melksham from 14:35 to 20:35 and no southbound service from 15:39 to 21:35. For any readers who don't know it, Melksham is a town with a population of around 28,000 - so that's larger that Westbury, or Warminster, or Bradford-on-Avon ... imagine the fuss if there were a six hour gap in trains at any one of those because there were no staff available! No alternative arrangements suggested, but "delay repay" mentioned. That really doesn't get you there and is no excuse. It's also a long winded system to use. On Wednesday at 17:53, I bought a return ticket from Melksham to Westbury, from the ticket machine, in a transaction that took a minute or two. My intent was to travel on the 18:03 train, expected at 18:11. The train turned up at about that time, but was then cancelled (reasons understandable) and in view of the lack of an immediate alternative being advised (again understandable) I walked/ran the 20 minutes home and made the journey by car, as I had responsibilities in Trowbridge and there were at least three GWR staff present at Melksham to resolve issues for perhaps 30 or 40 passengers who were Trowbridge bound (passenger count note - a further 20 to 30 escaped the problem because Melksham was there intended destination). On Thursday, I started the process of getting a refund. Eight online screens, including a requirement to enter a new credit card details because of Mastercard problems or get a cheque in the post, and a requirement to cut, photograph on a white background and upload the ticket. I have yet to complete the process as I didn't have scissors or blank paper to hand or the time - and even then I think I saw the words that GWR will "consider" the request ... all seems very unbalanced; very quick to take my money, but a very complex procedure that I am required to go through to get it back when they failed to deliver the service I had purchased. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 23, 2024, 06:43:08 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. [etc] Many thanks for posting that series ... the help in logging is appreciated, and helps magnify the very real issues which effect people who rely on the service. I was following up with a more detailed comment as you posted ... and rather exceptionally completed the post even when the system indicated that there was another post. I am rather unhappy with GWR still being short staffed, and when they are choosing to basically close a part of their network for six hours. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 23, 2024, 08:56:46 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. [etc] Many thanks for posting that series ... the help in logging is appreciated, and helps magnify the very real issues which effect people who rely on the service. I was following up with a more detailed comment as you posted ... and rather exceptionally completed the post even when the system indicated that there was another post. I am rather unhappy with GWR still being short staffed, and when they are choosing to basically close a part of their network for six hours. It's the start of the school Easter holiday season (most schools finish on Thursday) so I would imagine that the number of GWR staff who have been allowed to take annual leave means that the usual service can't be sustained (not for the first time). Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: GBM on March 24, 2024, 06:45:02 10:46 Westbury to Swindon due 11:34
10:46 Westbury to Swindon due 11:34 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. 11:42 Swindon to Westbury due 12:23 11:42 Swindon to Westbury due 12:23 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: GBM on March 24, 2024, 06:47:54 Between Warminster/Westbury/Trowbridge and Chippenham/Swindon via Melksham
Planned engineering work will take place between Warminster/Westbury/Trowbridge and Chippenham/Swindon via Melksham from 07:15, Sunday 24 March 2024 to 14:45, Sunday 24 March 2024. Some lines will be blocked. Additional Information * The 0810 Warminster to Swindon will not run. A replacement bus will run EARLIER as follows: Warminster 0728 - Dilton Marsh 0743 - Westbury 0753 - Trowbridge 0811 - Melksham 0826 - Chippenham 0846. A connecting rail service will depart Chippenham at 0926 to Swindon 0938 * The 0912 Swindon to Westbury will not run. A replacement bus will run as follows: Chippenham 0928 - Melksham 0948 - Trowbridge 1003 - Westbury 1018. A connecting rail service will depart Swindon at 0902 to Chippenham 0913 * The 1058 (departing 1132) Weymouth to Swindon will terminate Chippenham at 1340. A connecting rail service will depart Chippenham at 1426 to Swindon 1438 * The 1342 Swindon to Westbury will start from Chippenham at 1357. A connecting rail service will depart Swindon at 1329 to Chippenham 1339 Last Updated:05/02/2024 13:17 Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 24, 2024, 09:38:19 What a morning
* The 0810 Warminster to Swindon will not run. A replacement bus will run EARLIER as follows: Warminster 0728 - Dilton Marsh 0743 - Westbury 0753 - Trowbridge 0811 - Melksham 0826 - Chippenham 0846. A connecting rail service will depart Chippenham at 0926 to Swindon 0938 * The 1058 (departing 1132) Weymouth to Swindon will terminate Chippenham at 1340. A connecting rail service will depart Chippenham at 1426 to Swindon 1438 10:46 Westbury to Swindon due 11:34 10:46 Westbury to Swindon due 11:34 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. I understand buses are "needed" to replace trains at times but this looks like poor passenger planning (with 40 to 46 minute waits at Chippenham) and the remaining train cancelled on the day. There has been an ongoing issue with rail replacement buses arriving at Chippenham from Westbury with a L-O-N-G wait for the train onward to Swindon. Grumbles to appropriate authorities have resulted in improvements for a few months, but we then seem to slip back into long waits. On a regular Sunday - 08:36 from Melksham, 09:02 into Swindon - 26 minutes. Today - 08:26 from Melksham, 09:38 into Swindon - 70 minutes. That's an extra 44 minutes and yet the extra time in transit is just 10 minutes. Edit to correct Melksham departure time Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 25, 2024, 06:44:06 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 28, 2024, 10:13:24 Quote 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon all lines are closed. Train services running through these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 14:00 28/03. Customer Advice Due to flooding accros the railway network this morning, we need to reutilise the Melksham line for other purposes. As a result trains between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham are suspended until further notice. Customers travelling between Westbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Swindon can use our trains towards Cardiff Central and Gloucester, changing at Bath Spa for onward connections. Road transport is in place for customers travelling to and from Melksham. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 28, 2024, 10:26:36 Quote Due to flooding accros the railway network this morning, we need to reutilise the Melksham line for other purposes. As a result trains between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham are suspended until further notice. Nice bit of honesty there ... don't mind occasional borrowing of resources, but it's not occasional!Quote Customers travelling between Westbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Swindon can use our trains towards Cardiff Central and Gloucester, changing at Bath Spa for onward connections. And if they book online, they'll be charged £18.90 (single, Westbury to Swindon) for the next few hours rather than £9.40 ... I have just taken a look and the agreed easement is not in place.Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 28, 2024, 17:20:27 Quote Due to flooding accros the railway network this morning, we need to reutilise the Melksham line for other purposes. As a result trains between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham are suspended until further notice. Nice bit of honesty there ... don't mind occasional borrowing of resources, but it's not occasional!Quote Customers travelling between Westbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Swindon can use our trains towards Cardiff Central and Gloucester, changing at Bath Spa for onward connections. And if they book online, they'll be charged £18.90 (single, Westbury to Swindon) for the next few hours rather than £9.40 ... I have just taken a look and the agreed easement is not in place.Could be some more TransWilts cancellations on the way............... Route(s) affected between Newbury and Westbury Description Heavy rain flooding the railway between Newbury and Westbury is causing disruption to journeys between these stations. Services may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. We anticipate disruption will continue until the end of the day. Customer Advice Flood water has been reported on the line between Newbury and Westbury. The line towards London Paddington has a 5mph speed restriction whilst currently the line towards the West Country is shut. Where possible trains will divert around the problem via Melksham and Swindon. This will add additional time onto journeys. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 28, 2024, 17:21:48 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Bob_Blakey on March 28, 2024, 17:59:20 According to NR - and Traksy! - the B&H line is now closed in both directions between Westbury & Bedwyn. Paddington-bound 1A88 & 1A89 have been diverted via Melksham. The 1C86 PNZ service is now heading back east after being held in the Woodborough area for quite some time.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Mark A on March 28, 2024, 20:33:43 According to NR - and Traksy! - the B&H line is now closed in both directions between Westbury & Bedwyn. Paddington-bound 1A88 & 1A89 have been diverted via Melksham. The 1C86 PNZ service is now heading back east after being held in the Woodborough area for quite some time. Can't recall the last time that section closed owing to flooding. This year's Devizes to Westminster canoe race (setting off tomorrow) sounds as though it will be hairy for some. Mark Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on March 28, 2024, 21:47:57 …and that’s before someone mentions E.coli in the water.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Trowres on March 28, 2024, 23:27:19 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. The Paddington-Plymouth, 1C89, cleared the Melksham single line by 18:14, at which time the Swindon-Westbury train hadn't passed Thingley Junction. The single line remained clear for quite some time after this, so the train could have used its proper route and deposited passengers requiring Melksham at the proper location. Instead it (2M30) delayed the following 1C24 Padd-Bristol at Bathampton, albeit only for four minutes. A hard call for Control when there was not much time to sort out many simultaneous problems. Sorting out the capacity problems can be done at a much more leisurely pace, can't it. :'( Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: GBM on March 29, 2024, 05:50:33 Cancellations to services between Newbury and Westbury
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Newbury and Westbury all lines are closed. Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. All lines between Newbury and Westbury are currently shut. Where possible trains will divert around the problem via Melksham and Swindon. This will add additional time onto journeys. Replacement Road Transport has been requested between Newbury - Bedwyn and Pewsey to Swindon. However, due to low availability in the local area, this may not be available or extremely limited. So. Anticipated cancellations of all local services, and West Country services diverted but not stopping. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 29, 2024, 06:52:30 Going to be an interesting day.
A number of these about: Quote 08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05 will be diverted between Westbury and Reading. It will no longer call at Pewsey and Newbury but will call additionally at Swindon. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 26 minutes late. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. In my view, probably a correct decision to make the extra call on some services and to offer a shuttle service of road vehicles (if they can find them and the drivers) to make the Pewsey connection; Newbury passengers can double back at Reading. Having said that for Pewsey, I note that the major flows at Pewsey are to London (over half the passengers), Reading and Newbury, and there are other trains from Chelteham, Cardiff, Bristol and beyond which already provide a frequent Swindon to Reading and London service which lessens the need so make the extra call. The biggest flow to/from points west at Pewsey was Westbury - just 8% of passenger at Pewsey last year. Alternative travel provision, and at an immediate cost on the day it happens to the rail industry, is absolutely correct and what we expect. For Pewsey, it might be the Swindon call which will slow down through passengers a bit. If and when local trains are cancelled to allow expresses to run through, selected extra stops should be added ... as a generality following the Pewsey / Swindon Example. My figures for Pewsey come from http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/flows.html?stn=3062&limit=50&sortby=4 and I am fully aware that this is ticket data and not journeys made. I am aware of split ticketing travel in the area which may boost numbers between Pewsey and Newbury, and between Pewsey and Westbury which in fact are parts of longer journeys, some of which start or end at Pewsey and some of which do not. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 29, 2024, 09:09:13 Going to be an interesting day. A number of these about: Quote 08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05 will be diverted between Westbury and Reading. It will no longer call at Pewsey and Newbury but will call additionally at Swindon. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 26 minutes late. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. In my view, probably a correct decision to make the extra call on some services and to offer a shuttle service of road vehicles (if they can find them and the drivers) to make the Pewsey connection; Newbury passengers can double back at Reading. Having said that for Pewsey, I note that the major flows at Pewsey are to London (over half the passengers), Reading and Newbury, and there are other trains from Chelteham, Cardiff, Bristol and beyond which already provide a frequent Swindon to Reading and London service which lessens the need so make the extra call. The biggest flow to/from points west at Pewsey was Westbury - just 8% of passenger at Pewsey last year. Alternative travel provision, and at an immediate cost on the day it happens to the rail industry, is absolutely correct and what we expect. For Pewsey, it might be the Swindon call which will slow down through passengers a bit. If and when local trains are cancelled to allow expresses to run through, selected extra stops should be added ... as a generality following the Pewsey / Swindon Example. My figures for Pewsey come from http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/flows.html?stn=3062&limit=50&sortby=4 and I am fully aware that this is ticket data and not journeys made. I am aware of split ticketing travel in the area which may boost numbers between Pewsey and Newbury, and between Pewsey and Westbury which in fact are parts of longer journeys, some of which start or end at Pewsey and some of which do not. Also of course worth remembering that at times such as this (Maundy Thursday/Good Friday), services are subject to extreme levels of overcrowding even under normal circumstances so adding extra stops might jeopardise safety as well as timekeeping where diversions take place. For example I read elsewhere that the 0803 service to Penzance left Paddington full and standing this morning (reservations not loaded either). That's not a pleasant prospect for anyone seeking to board at scheduled intermediate stations, never mind adding on extras. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 29, 2024, 09:36:28 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34
11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 - all cancelled due to flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 29, 2024, 11:11:47 - all cancelled due to flooding. "due to flooding" of a different line, right - all part of this: Quote We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today. Due to heavy rain flooding the railway yesterday between Newbury and Westbury, the line is currently closed. The flood water has now subsided, however there has been significant damage to the railway infrastructure so Network Rail need to keep the line closed in order to make the railway safe. This disruption is expected to last until the end of the day. Our high speed trains between London Paddington and the South West of England will divert between Reading and Taunton. This will add additional delay to your journey. We are currently unable to run any trains between Bedwyn and Newbury, we have 8 seater taxis running between Newbury and Bedwyn which are also calling at Kintbury and Hungerford. For customers at Pewsey, we have taxis running up to Swindon where rail connections are available. BUT Journey Check does say Quote Due to flooding on the railway, the line between Swindon and Westbury is shut to passenger traffic. so does that mean that they are NOT diverting (long distance) passenger traffic through Melksham? Is GWR's online ticket sales engine is offering only double price fares between Westbury/Trowbridge and Chippenham/Swindon? I have very poor connectivity today and can't take a look. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: a-driver on March 29, 2024, 12:18:20 09:46 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:11 - all cancelled due to flooding. Those cancellations are largely unnecessary. GWR removed a lot of route knowledge from its HSS drivers preventing diversions via Bristol, and the GWR drivers operating that route have zero diversionary route knowledge. This issue highlights how out of touch with reality the decision making within the company has become. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Trowres on March 29, 2024, 12:21:01 Is GWR's online ticket sales engine is offering only double price fares between Westbury/Trowbridge and Chippenham/Swindon? I have very poor connectivity today and can't take a look. gwr.com is currently offering only the via Bath fare, except for the 18:37 WSB-SWI which presumably is the only train after the current time that hasn't (yet?) been cancelled. Checking on nationalrail, it says the 18:37 has been cancelled. Journeycheck/greatwesternrailway agrees. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 29, 2024, 12:28:29 From GWR Twitter......
"Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon, this line is closed. Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Please check your journey at gwr.com/check. Disruption is expected until the end of the day." Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: JayMac on March 29, 2024, 12:58:12 From GWR Twitter...... "Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon, this line is closed. Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Please check your journey at gwr.com/check. Disruption is expected until the end of the day." Which, as we all know, isn't really true. That tweet shoud say something along the lines of: "Due to flooding elsewhere we are using the line via Melksham to divert our services to and from the west country. Consequently we've had to cancel the local services between Westbury and Swindon due to capacity constraints on the single line." Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: AMLAG on March 29, 2024, 14:34:54 “Those Westbury/Swindon cancellations are largely unnecessary. GWR removed a lot of route knowledge from its HSS▸ drivers preventing diversions via Bristol, and the GWR drivers operating that route have zero diversionary route knowledge. This issue highlights how out of touch with reality the decision making within the company has become.” This certainly hits the nail on the head. Such important operational policy decisions, in this case on restricting diversionary route knowledge, seem now way above the heads of the Managers of TOCs/GWR and are dictated by the Government’s enlarged Dept. for Transport; no doubt heavily watched over by HM Treasury. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 29, 2024, 15:26:59 From GWR Twitter...... "Due to flooding between Westbury and Swindon, this line is closed. Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Please check your journey at gwr.com/check. Disruption is expected until the end of the day." Which, as we all know, isn't really true. That tweet shoud say something along the lines of: "Due to flooding elsewhere we are using the line via Melksham to divert our services to and from the west country. Consequently we've had to cancel the local services between Westbury and Swindon due to capacity constraints on the single line." I'm shocked...............I'm sure you wouldn't wish to suggest that GWR would be anything other than 100% honest with their valued and respected customers? ;) Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Timmer on March 29, 2024, 16:55:54 Even the BBC are reporting the line between Westbury and Swindon is closed:
Westbury to Swindon railway line closed due to flooding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-68693214 Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Trowres on March 29, 2024, 17:23:32 I'm shocked...............I'm sure you wouldn't wish to suggest that GWR would be anything other than 100% honest with their valued and respected customers? ;) Journeycheck/greatwesternrailway: Quote 17:03 St Ives to St Erth due 17:14 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. One service each way lost due to flooding? Or would you rather believe RTT: Quote This service was cancelled due to a planning error (TA). Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: IndustryInsider on March 29, 2024, 17:39:00 I'm shocked...............I'm sure you wouldn't wish to suggest that GWR would be anything other than 100% honest with their valued and respected customers? ;) Journeycheck/greatwesternrailway: Quote 17:03 St Ives to St Erth due 17:14 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. One service each way lost due to flooding? Or would you rather believe RTT: Quote This service was cancelled due to a planning error (TA). Depends how far you want to trace back a delay? The TM for that round trip from St. Erth to St. Ives travels on 1A96, the 16:15 from Penzance which was 32 minutes late arriving at St. Erth, so if it had run it would have been with at least a 10 minute delay. The 16:15 from Penzance was delayed by late arrival of the inward working from London, which was delayed by the flooding. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Trowres on March 29, 2024, 18:22:53 Thanks, II for that insight into the complexity of staff rostering.
I guess that calling it a planning error could be justified as the late running of the inbound train from Paddington would have been predictable from about 13:15. Time sufficient to organise a taxi for the crew? However, the recent posts of the thread have been to draw attention to the reasons given to the public and their less-than-credible nature sometimes. Communication of delays has for a long time been something flagged for "must do better". Please don't take this as personal criticism. I value your input to the forum. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 29, 2024, 20:13:05 Signals now.....apparently... .
Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon Due to a fault with the signalling system between Westbury and Swindon all lines are blocked. Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Trowres on March 29, 2024, 20:32:23 Quote Network Rail advise that a signalling problem has now blocked the railway between Swindon and Westbury. GWR long distance services between London and the Westcountry and vice versa, had been diverting on this route but cannot now use this route. Services will now divert on a different alternative route, which will further extend journey times. Does that mean pilots to provide the route knowledge via Bristol? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 30, 2024, 05:26:26 From GWR Twitter...... "[snip] Disruption is expected until the end of the day." Not sure what's happening today either Quote 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28 08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 09:52 Westbury to Swindon due 10:36 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:48 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01 13:13 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55 13:13 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. If that is an indiction that the trains WILL be running but may get held back to allow the passage of a long distance train over the single line section, it makes sense. Reading the JourneyCheck Line Update, I am somewhat less optimistic Quote Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon Following a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Westbury and Swindon the line has now reopened. Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services have been cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Customer Advice Apologies for the disruption to your journey today. Network Rail advise that a signalling problem had blocked the railway between Swindon and Westbury. This has now been rectified and services are returning to normal. In addition, due to flooding elsewhere on the railway, local GWR services between Swindon and Westbury have been cancelled. >Passengers from Westbury and Trowbridge are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Chippenham and Swindon. >Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury. >Passengers to/from Melksham:-Road transport has been arranged to shuttle between Chippenham and Westbury via Melksham and Trowbridge and vice versa. Please check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for the replacement road transport at the designated stop. The replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: IndustryInsider on March 30, 2024, 05:31:31 Thanks, II for that insight into the complexity of staff rostering. I guess that calling it a planning error could be justified as the late running of the inbound train from Paddington would have been predictable from about 13:15. Time sufficient to organise a taxi for the crew? However, the recent posts of the thread have been to draw attention to the reasons given to the public and their less-than-credible nature sometimes. Communication of delays has for a long time been something flagged for "must do better". Please don't take this as personal criticism. I value your input to the forum. I quite agree, and no personal criticism taken - it’s nice to have the opportunity to help explain sometimes. To be fair to GWR the level of detail in explaining disruption in layman’s terms has become much better over the last year or so. As a forum our collective knowledge is better than most of the passengers that GWR provides for, and I think we need to remember that when deciding what the best way of explaining a delay is that is sufficient for most people to understand. That being said, there are examples when I think they have got that balance wrong. The TM yesterday booked on duty to travel on that train so I don’t know how long a taxi might take to St. Erth but it might not have been in time for the train that ended up being cancelled anyway? It’s also quite possible that nobody realised it might be an issue due to the general levels of disruption and a small team trying to oversee it all from within control. Local supervisors in days gone by would have been more likely to notice it. When things go wrong, there are several things that now make it worse:
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2024, 07:29:40 07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28 will now run as scheduled. ...............along with the others where delays were suggested initially. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: fintan_stack on March 30, 2024, 09:02:23 Don't post here very often but a staff member has just told me that the branch is re-suspended UFN after dislodged ballast was found by the checking train.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2024, 09:15:17 Don't post here very often but a staff member has just told me that the branch is re-suspended UFN after dislodged ballast was found by the checking train. I spoke too soon! All cancelled due to "urgent repairs to the railway" 09:52 Westbury to Swindon due 10:36 11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:48 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01 13:13 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:57 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18 18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:26 20:08 Westbury to Swindon due 20:54 21:10 Swindon to Westbury due 21:52 Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on March 30, 2024, 10:43:04 All now re-instated. Staff have been to site between Melksham and Bradford Junction and carried out repairs. There were initially delays in finding staff, such have been the demands on permanent way staff over the last few days.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: a-driver on March 30, 2024, 12:23:45 I'm shocked...............I'm sure you wouldn't wish to suggest that GWR would be anything other than 100% honest with their valued and respected customers? ;) Journeycheck/greatwesternrailway: Quote 17:03 St Ives to St Erth due 17:14 will be cancelled. This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway. One service each way lost due to flooding? Or would you rather believe RTT: Quote This service was cancelled due to a planning error (TA). Depends how far you want to trace back a delay? The TM for that round trip from St. Erth to St. Ives travels on 1A96, the 16:15 from Penzance which was 32 minutes late arriving at St. Erth, so if it had run it would have been with at least a 10 minute delay. The 16:15 from Penzance was delayed by late arrival of the inward working from London, which was delayed by the flooding. A lot is also down to how delays and cancellations are coded and recorded in the system, the cause of delay or cancellation is taken from that attribution code. You have no option to manually enter a Freeform or custom delay cause. It has to go under a code. The Melksham services are coded under the root cause of the problem, flooding. There is no attribution code to state “cancelled to allow other services to run”. It’s generally advisable to stick to one cause of delay or cancellation, normally the root cause, rather than issues a series of different messages which can lead to confusion and an accusation of it being made up! When you stick to the root cause it paints a more accurate picture of how many delay minutes have been caused by that incident. The great advantage of X is it provides an opportunity to explain delays/cancellations in more detail. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2024, 12:35:16 All now re-instated. Staff have been to site between Melksham and Bradford Junction and carried out repairs. There were initially delays in finding staff, such have been the demands on permanent way staff over the last few days. Looks like most (if not all) have been cancelled again, according to Journeycheck & National Rail. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: Mark A on March 30, 2024, 12:56:35 Even the BBC are reporting the line between Westbury and Swindon is closed: Westbury to Swindon railway line closed due to flooding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-68693214 Statements from the railway of the sort "The Westbury to Swindon railway line is closed ..." aren't very helpful as there's no such thing, the messaging would be better if it related to the train service rather than the route run by the service. The use of "Both lines are blocked" is another puzzler, and wouldn't it be good to retire the orphan phrase "More trains than usual needing repairs" unless its qualified by the cause e.g. "The weekend's weather damaged many of our trains and therefore more than usual need repairs." Much of this messaging often comes across as 'The railways are generally crap' which isn't the case. Perhaps GWR needs an internal discussion, reset its style of communicating and improve this at a stroke. A good example: Network Rail Scotland's messaging on the Easter break, even if it uses the mysterious "Improve your railway", starts by emphasising the positive. From Twitter: "The vast majority of Scotland's Railway isn't affected by our #EasterRailWorks this year, but if you travel from Glasgow Central or on the West Coast Main Line, check your journey - we're spending £12.6 million to improve your railway." Mark Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on March 30, 2024, 15:56:39 Latest message on GWR Twitter (about 1530)
Due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Westbury and Swindon, fewer trains are able to run on the line. Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on March 31, 2024, 15:28:25 Awful connection where I am (not on the mainland of Europe at the moment) but I can get Journey check which says:
Quote 14:52 Westbury to Swindon due 15:35 14:52 Westbury to Swindon due 15:35 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 01, 2024, 05:07:33 Awful connection where I am (not on the mainland of Europe at the moment) but I can get Journey check which says: Quote 14:52 Westbury to Swindon due 15:35 14:52 Westbury to Swindon due 15:35 is being delayed at Westbury. This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption. Started 23 minutes late, 13 minutes late on the return journey - glad it ran. Yet another little example, perhaps, of staff scheduling being done to the "n-th degree" of refinement which works well until something disturbs the planned pattern, and then the ripple effects spread far and wide. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 01, 2024, 16:01:37 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: GBM on April 03, 2024, 10:29:14 Delays to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to flooding at Melksham trains have to run at reduced speed. Disruption is expected until 11:15 03/04. Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham may be delayed. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 03, 2024, 17:38:21 Quote Thu, 4 April 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 Thu, 4 April 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 04/04/24 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 04, 2024, 12:17:59 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to a fault on this train. 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 04, 2024, 16:18:26 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury. It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to a fault on this train. Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 05, 2024, 09:39:04 Quote 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 is being delayed at Ashchurch For Tewkesbury. This is due to a points failure. Technically a disruption to one of the trains that's scheduled / travelled our line, though I suspect that the number of passengers from south of Swindon to north of Cheltenham Spa on board was/is limited. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 05, 2024, 17:36:29 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 05, 2024, 18:46:24 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be cancelled. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 06, 2024, 04:04:07 Due to industrial action, the only trains scheduled to run today are:
Services at 07:45 and 16:23 from Westbury to Swindon Services at 08:45 and 17:35 from Swindon to Westbury All 4 trains calling intermediately at Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham at which they are the only passenger trains scheduled to call today. Complete timetable for Westbury: 07:45 to Swindon (starts here) 08:10 to Salisbury (from Castle Cary) (09:26 arrival from Swindon) 10:57 to Frome (from Salisbury) 11:43 to Southampton Central (from Frome) 16:23 to Swindon (starts here) (18:18 arrival from Swindon) 19:58 to Yeovil Junction (from Salisbury) 23:12 to Salisbury (starts here) Complete timetable for Swindon: (08:28 arrival from Westbury) 08:45 to Westbury (17:08 arrival from Westbury) 17:35 to Westbury Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 06, 2024, 06:40:48 Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon
Due to the train driver being taken ill between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run. Train services running through these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 09:30 06/04. Customer Advice - Please be advised the driver booked to work the following services has fallen ill this morning resulting in their cancellations: - - 07:45 Westbury to Swindon - CANCELLED. - 08:45 Swindon to Westbury - CANCELLED. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on April 06, 2024, 07:21:37 I wonder when Melksham last had more planned departures than Swindon?
I say planned - the first of the two round trips has been cancelled. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 06, 2024, 07:27:36 I wonder when Melksham last had more planned departures than Swindon? I say planned - the first of the two round trips has been cancelled. It may still be the case that actually happens - if this afternoon train runs. Not really anything to celebrate for Melksham - the service today has been reduced to useless, and it's another own goal by the rail industry as a whole. This is not the thread, though, to look at our archaic system of industrial relations. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on April 06, 2024, 12:18:12 Please be advised the driver booked to work the following services has fallen ill this morning resulting in their cancellations: - - 07:45 Westbury to Swindon - CANCELLED. - 08:45 Swindon to Westbury - CANCELLED. Personal opinion, but I sincerely hope the driver did fall ill - and was not intimidated into not booking on. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 06, 2024, 12:24:18 Please be advised the driver booked to work the following services has fallen ill this morning resulting in their cancellations: - - 07:45 Westbury to Swindon - CANCELLED. - 08:45 Swindon to Westbury - CANCELLED. Personal opinion, but I sincerely hope the driver did fall ill - and was not intimidated into not booking on. I did wonder. Some of the long serving staff at Westbury talk of how memories have not faded (nor attitudes totally changed) between those who joined previous strikes and those who did not. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: IndustryInsider on April 06, 2024, 12:31:15 It would most likely have been a driver manager who was allocated to work it, so they wouldn't be an ASLEF member.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: bobm on April 06, 2024, 14:22:42 Just to note, road replacement transport was arranged for this morning's cancellations.
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 07, 2024, 08:08:54 Quote 08:10 Warminster to Swindon due 09:02 08:10 Warminster to Swindon due 09:02 will be starting late from Warminster. This is due to this train being late from the depot. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 07, 2024, 08:48:13 Quote 08:10 Warminster to Swindon due 09:02 08:10 Warminster to Swindon due 09:02 will be starting late from Warminster. This is due to this train being late from the depot. 09:12 Swindon to Westbury due 09:53 09:12 Swindon to Westbury due 09:53 will be starting late from Swindon. This is due to this train being late from the depot Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 08, 2024, 18:46:09 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Quote 19:35 Westbury to Salisbury due 20:06 An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 19:35 Westbury to Salisbury due 20:06. Quote 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be started from Swindon. It will no longer call at Westbury, Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 08, 2024, 18:55:57 Early warning.....
Tue, 9 April 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 09/04/24 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham, Swindon, Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to industrial action. Tue, 9 April 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 09/04/24 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury. This is due to industrial action. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 10, 2024, 13:46:42 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled. This is due to a member of on-train staff being taken ill. 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a member of on-train staff being taken ill. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 11, 2024, 12:23:27 Quote 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled. This is due to a fault with the signalling system. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 11, 2024, 17:54:20 Quote 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be starting late from Gloucester and is expected to be 8 minutes late. This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2 to Westbury. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 19, 2024, 07:20:16 Quote 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be terminated at Westbury. It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central. This is due to a broken down train. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 21, 2024, 12:46:18 Now this is a curious one ...
Quote 11:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 14:01 11:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 14:01 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham but will call additionally at Bath Spa. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late. This is due to overcrowding. ... overcrowding where?? Diverted trains normally reverse at Bathampton - the fact this is going on into Bath Spa suggests to me that the diversion might be to relieve crowding to / from Bath - I hope I am wrong in that because it seems (err) rather naughty to pull a Melksham service for the purpose of providing an extra (relief) train on another line. I note that JourneyCheck doesn't / didn't at the time I read it offer any advice for customers about alternative provision to and from Melksham. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 21, 2024, 13:10:51 Now this is a curious one ... Quote 11:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 14:01 11:42 Swindon to Weymouth due 14:01 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge. It will no longer call at Melksham but will call additionally at Bath Spa. It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late. This is due to overcrowding. ... overcrowding where?? Diverted trains normally reverse at Bathampton - the fact this is going on into Bath Spa suggests to me that the diversion might be to relieve crowding to / from Bath - I hope I am wrong in that because it seems (err) rather naughty to pull a Melksham service for the purpose of providing an extra (relief) train on another line. I note that JourneyCheck doesn't / didn't at the time I read it offer any advice for customers about alternative provision to and from Melksham. Not overcrowding - but I notice that trains from London via Swindon and Chippenham to Bath and Bristol have been seriously delayed by some sort of blockage near London. So I suspect that running the train that should have served Melksham via Bath allowed passenger who had accumulated at Swindon and Chippenham to get there, and with a change of trains to Bristol. If that is what happened - silly question - why could passengers at Swindon and Chippenham headed for Bath and Bristol simply not have been asked to change at Trowbridge? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: TaplowGreen on April 22, 2024, 12:18:11 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 22, 2024, 13:57:07 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be cancelled. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge. Err ... Quote Cancellations to services between Bath Spa and Westbury Following a road vehicle colliding with a bridge earlier today between Bath Spa and Freshford all lines have now reopened. Disruption is expected until 14:00 22/04. Train services between Bath Spa and Westbury are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed. .... trains between Swindon and Westbury don't even go to Bath Spa or Freshford nor share any on the line between !! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: ChrisB on April 22, 2024, 13:59:59 Prevented an ecs movement prior to service?
Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 22, 2024, 14:10:02 Prevented an ecs movement prior to service? Maybe - or marooned crew? - or other trains being diverted up the single line and reversed at Chippenham? - or a "copycat" bridge strike by another vehicle on another bridge? Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: rogerw on April 22, 2024, 14:54:33 11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:52 was diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge and will be terminated at Fratton.
It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour but will call additionally at Chippenham and Melksham. It has been previously delayed and is now 41 minutes late from Westbury. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 23, 2024, 16:51:33 Quote 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 will no longer call at Melksham. It is being delayed between Trowbridge and Chippenham. This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge. Second day running. Second day that the bridge was on a different line but disrupted the service though Melksham! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 23, 2024, 17:19:46 I was answering a question on an online forum, asking about the connection as Zidani Most off the train from Budapest for passengers headed for Zagreb, which I used recently. On that occasion, the train from Budapest was running a few minutes late and I was concerned at whether the connection (10 minutes scheduled) would actually "make". It was very clear from the train manager that we should not worry, and I can understand that the staff at Zidani Most would not want to be landed with a load of disgruntled passenger there waiting for the next train. Yeah, we were a bit late ... but the Zagreb train had not left - it did so a couple of minutes after we arrived from Budapest.
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/zmwait.jpg) This afternoon, the 15:14 from Swindon to Westbury left Melksham 13 minutes late (delayed by a diverted train due to a bridge hit on the Berks and Hants) ... and it arrived into Westbury at 16:06. Any chance or the 16:03 Portsmouth train waiting for the connection? You must be joking - it left just 2 and a bit minutes before the train from Swindon arrived and I note from Real Time Trains it was 2 minutes ahead of itself at Wylye ... nice one! Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 23, 2024, 17:21:33 Quote 18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled. This is due to a shortage of train crew. Title: Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury Post by: grahame on April 28, 2024, 10:42:17 Quote 11:32 Weymouth to Chippenham due 13:40 13:57 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:57 Facilities on the 13:57 Chippenham to Weymouth due 15:57. This is due to a fault on this train. Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |