Severn Beach Line; trains, performance, tickets and usage

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Who from the railway industry has ducked responsibility and said it's up to the passenger travelling to get an earlier train?

I've cited an attitude, not a statement. There is a difference.

One is implicit, the other is explicit.

Thanks for clarifying that.  Your post read, to me at least, as if that's what had actually been said.

[IndustryInsider]

I think you're missing the point - journey numbers have indeed more than doubled but you're confusing two issues -  reliability, capacity, cleanliness, customer service etc have nowhere near kept pace - the usage of something increasing doesn't necessarily indicate that it's the "best" option, for a large number of people it has been, and remains, the only option...

I certainly agree with that part of your post in respect of journeys increasing into London being driven by people being prepared to sacrifice more of their day commuting because of being effectively priced out of living anywhere near central London.  The train is indeed usually the only realistic choice.

However, long distance and rural routes have also seen very large increases at off-peak times (indeed IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they were two markets that still grew in the last set of results when South East commuter journeys fell back) often in places where the population has risen very little if at all. They are journeys where there are usually other options available.

There are also massive success stories even within London such as London Overground which gets ever more popular and busy all day.

It's quite a complicated picture as usual.

[DaveHarries]

I have been on the Severn Beach line a few times since these Class 166s came in. Despite the teething problems I find these trains to be better than the 'Sardine class' (class 150) units that were used previously. I believe they are to start using more 166s on services around Bristol later this year: anyone know what route(s) will be next to see them and when?

Dave

[grahame]

... anyone know what route(s) will be next to see them and when?

Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-mare local trains are scheduled to be next, I believe, in the early autumn. Mind you, what happens and when have been known to change.

[johnneyw]

Still some trouble with the Turbos today. The 08.50 Redland to Temple Meads was running about 20 mins late and seemed to be having a knock on effect on later services. Scuppered my planned day out as I would have missed my connecting service.

This makes well over half the Severn Beach Line services I've caught this month moderately or very late. Well paid GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) top management haven't been justifying their pay packet on this shambles.

[johnneyw]

Another delay on the 1603 from Temple Meads today. Looked like no driver available on time. Finally set off dunno how many mins late but probably about 10 to 15. Never had anything like this amont of consistent delays with the pre Turbos. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) claims that they were getting on top of the problems seem not to be evidence based from my experience. I wonder how they define getting on top of a problem.

[TaplowGreen]

Struggling all day today................

Alterations to services between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach


Due to a fault on this train between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach:
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

[bobm]

One unit broke down and was swapped.  The other was reported to be on "low power"

[johnneyw]

Have these Turbos always been this unreliable or have they just not got the shelf life of the Sprinters (or even Pacers)?

[grahame]

Have these Turbos always been this unreliable or have they just not got the shelf life of the Sprinters (or even Pacers)?

They're now based a depot that's learning kit way into the class, and that may explain the initial low availability.

[IndustryInsider]

Familiarity does indeed help a lot when learning to fix the minor faults fast.

[bobm]

I'm not sure how many sets Bristol has so far - it's either three or four - which doesn't give much wriggle room.

[johnneyw]

Pity one or two experienced maintenance staff weren't seconded to depot to help with the transition but I can appreciate that this is easier said than done.

[WelshBluebird]

Sounds like I got lucky on my trip tonight then, over to Shirehampton and back. Got a turbo on the way out, noticed the old first class section is still there and much more comfortable than the rest of what looked like 3x2 seating. I assume they are planning on removing the first class section at some point? And got a bog  standard 150 in the way back. No delays thankfully either.

[initiation]

Saw a 3x166 turbo set heading north through Yatton about 1345 this afternoon. I heard they are going to be eventually used on the Weston to B.Parkway services, is that still right? Any provisional dates for transition?