2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury

[whole diary]

[grahame]

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:





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. 

[bobm]

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.

[grahame]

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^» (Department for Transport - about), WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)), GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), NR^» (Network Rail - home page), the CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership), Transport Focus, TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website), 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 ...

[grahame]

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.

[grahame]

Reading the earlier cancellation notice - updated at 08:57, unchanged at 13:35

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^▸ (Great Western Railway) 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^▸ (Train Operating Company) does not have an obligation to look after its customers when things go pear shaped?

[TaplowGreen]

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.

[grahame]

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.

[grahame]

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.

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.

[TaplowGreen]

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.

[TaplowGreen]

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

[grahame]

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.

[grahame]

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^▸ (Great Western Railway) train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay

No alternatives suggested.

[TaplowGreen]

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.

[grahame]

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.

[grahame]

Today's total passenger train services at Westbury