Great Western Coffee Shop

The 1338 Westbury to Bristol Parkway is not running at all between Christmas and Tues 4th Jan. No mention of this at all anywhere in published literature, on stations or on FGW's website. I found this out the hard way today when I pitched up at Westbury, hoping to catch this service so I could tick off the Rhubarb curve in my Rail Atlas.

Initial reason given to me by staff at Westbury for the non-running of this service was because of the Reading blockade! No, really. That was the reason I was given.  ::)

A phone call to FGW Customer Services and I got a patient explanation that no such train exists. I really wanted to shout, "try a fupping printed timetable instead of your useless computer", but I bit my tongue as it's not the CS guy's fault the 1338 is mising from all systems. The CS Advisor then called someone on my behalf and I was called back with a full explanation as to why the service was not running. FGW decided that they would pull the service to make better use of rolling stock and staff, during the holiday period. This was a decision taken way in advance, so the 1338 WSB-BPW was never booked into various train planning or stock/staff rostering systems. Consequently it doesn't show on Journey Planners or LDBs. Most importantly from FGW's point of view the non-running of the service doesn't count toward cancellation statistics. And that last point is what makes me just a little angry.

Anyone, like me, who relies on paper timetables or timetable posters at stations (I don't have internet or smartphone on the move) is left in the dark. There are not even notes in the timetables against this service saying it will not run on certain dates.

I am disappointed that FGW feel they can get away with removing a service from the schedule altogether for operational convenience. At least have the decency to flag it up as a cancellation, or provide footnote information in printed timetables explaining that it will not run on certain dates. If FGW can provide a footnote saying it does not call at Bristol Temple Meads; then another saying, 'will not run on 27th-31st Dec 2010 and 3rd Jan 2011', is hardly difficult is it?

It's been a while since I had a rant (I think!) on here, and this should be my last one for 2010.  :D

FGW have done a good job of providing information regarding services that go through Reading over the Christmas/New Year period but not so much information regards other services namely 'West' services. With my knowledge of previous years I know that a Saturday service operates on Bank Holidays but I couldn't tell you what services are running the other three days of this week. I assume a normal Monday-Friday service with a few early morning/afternoon peak trains not running?

This service always causes some confusion .... from pocket timetable no. 25:

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/1338.jpg)

And the footnotes?


M   Please note that this train does not call at Bristol Temple Meads
br   Change at Bristol Temple Meads
 ;D

The previous timetable problem was solved by taking the train off permanently ... very rare to get a chance to us the loop northbound these days.