Great Western Coffee Shop

Message from SWR for rail services from 1 June 2020

It looks like someone's got themselves confused by their own choice of wording there!

Still a reduced service on the W of E line and no services via Westbury

They're going to find all their driver's route knowledge through Westbury going out of date.

I would have thought the 'token' Salisbury to Bristol was run to get some of GWR's revenue, the same way the GWR runs to Brighton, for example you run 1 in ten trains and there fore get 1 pound in every ten in fare revenue, or have things changed now?
If so will SWR ever return these trains to Bristol?

They’ve been in the franchise agreement since 2007, so there’s no logical reason why they won’t recommence in due course.  I’m fairly sure SWR cannot unilaterally ignore them.

Paul

Under Emergency Measures, all income goes to the DfT and the TOCs are paid to operate the trains - so no ORCATs raids at the moment.

To "Joe Public", who operates the trains and which depot they come from is less than key; many passengers probably couldn't tell you who's train they're on as they travel from (say) Bath to Bristol - is it GWR, SWR or XC? If the Williams review is published and if changes are implemented, goodness knows what we end up with. I certainly hope that we retain a ticketing system where the normal ticket is valid on the next train - whoever's running it, and we don't have multiple operators competing with each other to the extent that each have their own sales channel selling only products for their own trains and the trains of anyone they choose to partner with.

Now ... the question I would be asking is "Will through trains from Bradford-on-Avon / Trowbridge / Warminster to London return".

I would love to see a clock face timetable on the main line via Bristol and Southampton, with minimum 2 trains per hour and well spaced on all sections, and calls at all stations at least hourly with good connections.  Here's the sort of thing in each hour
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sml_sb_20200530.jpg)

Logic of operation is for diagrams starting in the south to be SWR / Salisbury run, and diagrams starting in the north to be GWR / Bristol run.  Lots of caveats - how to get it to work northbound too to start with ... and whether to divide the train from Bristol at Salisbury with a portion on to Waterloo, or at Fareham with a portion on to Brighton.  Probably still start the Portsmouth train at Cardiff. Weymouth train to start at Avonmouth, Frome train to start at Portishead.  Flip the train from Swindon to re-route Salisbury - Romsey - Eastleigh - Southampton - Fawley.    Capacity interventions needed - dynamic loop between Thingley and Melksham (single lead junction at Thingley and double from there to Dunch Lane.  Also look at issues on Heart of Wessex where loops don't allow hourly,  capacity work at Westbury.   Sensible layovers at run ends also need a look, as do the nightmare of interaction with other services as these trains cross the main lines radiating out from London.

How far do you look ahead though?  Pull the Paddington train 4 minutes earlier and add a 12:08 stopper that after Bath carries on to Swindon.  That gives a near-20 minute metro service calling at St Annes Park, Keynsham, Saltford, Oldfield Park, and Bath Spa, hourly on to Corsham, Chippenham, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

According to RTT they do from 15th Jun.................we shall see !

Two SWR services now operating in each direction between Salisbury and Bristol.

Also one from Salisbury to Yeovil PM via Westbury but no return working (back via Sherborne)

There is a Q path this week Exeter to Castle Cary via Yeovil, GWR ecs. Is there some engineering work planned in the near future on the Western mail line or is it refreshing the route knowledge? As yet it has not been taken up.

From the forthcoming engineering page on GWR.com

According to RTT today - Oh no they don't !  All the Salisbury/Exeter trains are being diverted via Westbury - not a single SWR train calls at WMN until Sat - we shall see again !!

From NR possessions site, SOME SERVICES TO RUN VIA HONITON.

WORK DETAILS = TIVERTON TRACK RENWALS, WHITEBALL TUNNEL IF REQUIRED, 

TRAINS TO TERMINATE AT TAUNTON AND EXETER ST DAVIDS. BARNSTAPLE BRANCH UNAFFECTED.
RRS REQUIRED BETWEEN TAUNTON, TIVERTON AND EXETER ST DAVIDS.
 
FREIGHT RETIMED TO RUN VIA HONITON OVERNIGHT.

edit  the 28th September to 3rd October

Does that relate to late September?

From https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering

Oddly, I've just received an e-mail from SWR containing:

It doesn't mention any more recent or future date!

Incidentally, this seems to be the first one I have ever had from them - I'm not even sure where they got my address from.

RRS please?
Thank you

Educated guess - Rail Replacement Service (a.k.a. buses  ;D )

RRS.= Rail Replacement Service or Bus as it is otherwise known🤔

I notice that SWR has removed the hourly rail replacement bus service that served stations between Honiton and Exeter Central and is noe stopping their two-hourly Salisbury to Exeter Central services at those stations.

Probably fine for the most used early morning service, but the early evening 'peak' service (17:24 off Exeter Central) is now replaced by trains at 16:45 or 18:52.

Hardly an improvement in service from 5th July!