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Journey by Journey / South Western services / Is any SWR train crew based at Exeter?
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on: December 06, 2023, 09:56:23 am
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Given the current challenges at Crewkerne Tunnel, I am surprised that SWR» did not run a shuttle service between Exeter St David's and Axminster (at least during Peak hours). I noticed on Tuesday that SWR had 5 units stabled at Exeter New Yard and 2 units in the bay platform at Exeter Central. Two of the 5 units were being fuelled when I passed through. Morning and evening services are generally very busy between Exeter and Axminster, yet no passenger services were run.
Is it because no crew is based at Exeter and staff would need to be taxied from Yeovil Junction?
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Journey by Journey / Portsmouth to Cardiff / Re: Ticket Office closures - Westbury area
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on: November 16, 2023, 10:30:21 am
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From Journeycheck Trowbridge: The ticket office, waiting room and toilets are currently closed. The ticket office, waiting room and toilets are currently closed. Last Updated:16/11/2023 02:00 Westbury: Ticket Office Closure The ticket office will be closed from 13:30 on 16/11/2023 until the end of the day at Westbury station. Last Updated:16/11/2023 02:00 Yeovil Pen Mill: Ticket Office Closure The ticket office will be closed from now until 13:20 at Yeovil Pen Mill station. Last Updated:16/11/2023 02:00 This is a sampling ... not a new situation. Sales of tickets at ticket offices WILL [continue to] be depressed if the ticket offices aren't actually open Staffing issues
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket Office Closure Consultation
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on: October 26, 2023, 09:10:25 am
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By email from GWR▸ * Digital First, Not Only: We have changed our proposals so that retail trained staff will have handheld sales devices to support self-service ticket machines. This means customers will still find every type of ticket they can get today at a station in the future and staff will be available to help with ticket advice if needed. In addition, we will upgrade our ticket machines to sell a wider variety of tickets and more tickets will become digitally available. Staff will also be able to help switch to buying digitally via our app or other options like pay-as-you-go/CPAY From a passenger viewpoint, I am relieved at the change that will allow hand held ticket service at stations - guessing (and can anyone confirm) that will be like the equipment train managers have? Misgivings remain - * What hours will staff actually be available - comparison to "today" is confusing as many ticket offices are on short hours or closed today * Will passengers, especially those with sensory or mobility issues, be able to find the roaming staff even if they know they are somewhere there * Having consulted and now changing plans, what consultation on these changes to the changes? Much of my criticism and cynicism comes down to a lack of trust. I am fearful of saying "that sounds better" because there have been so many broken promises by the rail industry. I awaken today to a cancellation of 2 out of 18 services at my local station due to a staff shortage - again. Been going on for years, with promises of fixes; passengers travel on services that run. The 17:36 Swindon to Melksham should have run 60 times in the last 12 weeks. It has run 54. The 18:44 should have run 60 times, but it has only run 49 - that an 82% performance. Get that over 95%, GWR (you aim for 98%) , and I'll be a little less cynical about other plans. The technology does not exist yet - unless it will be a simple pager carried by ex-ticket office staff
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Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon / Re: Storm Babet
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on: October 18, 2023, 05:55:43 pm
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With several IET▸ sets failing after being doused with seawater one has to wonder at the wisdom of continuing to send them through Dawlish. I believe this Albert Einstein quote is apposite:
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
Where is the good old HST▸ when you need it most? Oh, wait.....
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Journey by Journey / London to Swindon and Bristol / Re: Weekend strengthening proposed from December 2023
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on: October 06, 2023, 06:13:14 am
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..... and some outbound services become pickup only at Reading........
I cannot see that working in practice. All Friday afternoon trains from Paddington to the South West are supposedly 'pick up only' at Reading - even to the extent of leaving the Reading stop off the Paddington departure boards, yet invariably there is a large exodus of pax from these services at Reading.
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