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Journey by Journey / Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West / Re: New Oxford - Bristol Service Starting Sept 14th 2024
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on: Yesterday at 09:57:51
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For those who used the service on Saturday just gone, what was the day return fare Oxford to Bristol. Off Peak adult day return £32.10 according to real time trains, or £21.15 with a senior railcard. Price with a senior railcard rises to £21.35 for next Saturday. Asking the question again,
A foot note IF its the same set bringing Oxford fans to Ashton Gate is the same set, could it take the football followers to Parson Street. So therefore would be cheaper to shunt towards Ashton Halt or go all the way to Weston and then return?
Thought I answered that - normally same set, I think - though it does shunt to Stoke Gifford for the two hours it's back in the Bristol area. |
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Journey by Journey / Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West / Re: New Oxford - Bristol Service Starting Sept 14th 2024
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on: Yesterday at 09:43:57
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Not all football followers want to be in the pubs,
some may have mobility issues and would welcome the chance to have a no change of trains option. ... and those with mobility issues might like to go to the pub too! I was struck at the "Didcot Dance" on Saturday when I returned on the earlier train to watch the 30 people transferring off the local from Oxford onto the Didcot to Bristol express to see them struggling up the stairs - heavy cases, pushchairs and young children, and in once case what I can only guess was a cello. And some not-so-mobile themselves struggling with the stairs. I don't think there's a lift to that platform? But it is possible to do it on the level (or rather slopes not steps) by going out of the barbered area, around the outside of the station, and entering again at the barrier set which faces towards the western car parks. I did not take a look at the signage to see how well signposted that option is, nor follow it round to see for myself - so an update from knowledgable members (correcting me as appropriate) would be appreciated. |
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Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
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on: Yesterday at 09:32:52
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08:57 London Paddington to Paignton due 12:39
08:57 London Paddington to Paignton due 12:39 has been cancelled.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident. There is an irony in that the mid morning round trip from Westbury to Swindon and back has been cancelled to make way for prioritised services such as this one, which is then cancelled. My understanding is that the incident is between Swindon and Didcot, not on the TransWilts line, but I will stand back and say ironic but understandable as we don't know what the incident is. My words would be stronger if the cancellation was due to a lack of train crew or rolling stock. Edit - to add that the incident is a person hit by train - gawd I wish we could reduce the instances of this! |
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Journey by Journey / Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West / Re: New Oxford - Bristol Service Starting Sept 14th 2024
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on: September 16, 2024, 16:17:05
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Will not be able to advantage of the Saturday service/s,
not sure if any one would be willing to make the four trips and see if maybe they will use the same set for all four trips.
Not sure of the prices for the round trips,quite willing to contribute to the fare/s if any one is willing to undertake the four trips. Thank you, but no need - the diagram has been published and it follows the marketing information in conforming it's a single 5 car IET▸ making both return trips. A footnote that Oxford United will be playing at Bristol City.
So numbers MIGHT be higher than what would be expected on a first (Satur)day
A foot note IF its the same set bringing Oxford fans to Ashton Gate is the same
could it take the football followers to Parson Street.
So therefore would be cheaper to shunt towards Ashton Halt or go all the way to Weston and then return? Is that next Saturday? Certainly a direct Oxford to Bristol train is one to promote if it ties in with match times, but at the moment it's an expermental service and I suspect will get fans to Bristol, but not home again. Come next season (ah, but won't Bristol City be in a division higher that Oxford by then?) it'll all be GBR▸ and the network will be manageable as a whole, so the Marylebone to Oxford service will be extendable to Swindon, with alternate trains onward to Weston-super-mare and Weymouth. Numerous benefits such as bringing Swindon a train service within England's Heartland STB, bringing Trowbridge through trains to London (do you realise it's the closest county town to London without any through trains from thetre?), and doing away with the "Didcot Dance". With some trains calling a the three stations between Oxford and Didcot and some trains reversing there, it saves the shuttle train and gives Radley, Culham and Appleford regular through trains to London once again. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: WWRUG - 18th September 2024 - Bethesda Church Hall, Trowbridge
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on: September 16, 2024, 15:56:03
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We are in the final throws of sorting out the talk title ...
I rather hope, grahame, that you are in the 'final throes', not final throws.  While I would like to attend that meeting, from Nailsea & Backwell, I'm concerned at the apparent lack of any reliable return GWR▸ journey.  CfN  According to GWR, return trains at 21:18, 22:18 and 22:51 all have connection at Bristol Temple Meads to your home station. Journey time 1 hour +- 6 minutes. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: WWRUG - 18th September 2024 - Bethesda Church Hall, Trowbridge
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on: September 16, 2024, 09:12:56
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A reminder too, there’s engineering work on the TransWilts this week.
Sorry, Bob - I had to come in with a second follow up as a pedant ... There are NOT engineering works on the TransWilts line. There are engineering works on the Berks and Hants line between Westbury and Reading, and GWR▸ and NR» together have chosen - reasonably - to send West Country expresses though the TransWilts line, but not so reasonably withdrawing the services they are contracted to run in favour of buses which as you'll note run at very different times to the trains. There IS a train at 21:11 from Trowbridge, 21:20 Melksham, 21:30 Chippenham, 21:43 at Swindon ... with just the small problem that it doesn't actually stop except of course at the important place of Swindon ... GWR and NR could so easily have saved themselves the bus at 22:22 ... |
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: WWRUG - 18th September 2024 - Bethesda Church Hall, Trowbridge
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on: September 16, 2024, 09:01:39
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A reminder too, there’s engineering work on the TransWilts this week. Although you can get TO the meeting by train from the Swindon direction, most services are replaced by buses.
Rather than the 21:22 direct train (21:32 Melksham, 21:41 Chippenham, 21:58 Swindon) at a single fare of £9.40, GWR▸ are offering a train at 21:18, with a change at Bath Spa to Chippenham at 22:27 and Swindon at 22:40 at a fare of £18.90 (that's right - 40 minutes later into Swindon and twice the price). There is also a bus at 22:22 for Melksham passengers, getting there at 22:37. It carries on to Chippenham at 22:57 where there's a train connection on to Swindon, 23:20 arrival - and using that service the £9.40 fare is available. I have already had five regular attendees at the WWRUG» meeting making alternative plans which do not involve travelling with GWR - either coming by car, or giving the evening a miss - which rather shows that the "Rail replacement" services offered are not a suitable substitute as far as passengers are concerned. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: 11th October 2024 - Travelwatch Southwest general meeting, Taunton
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on: September 16, 2024, 08:45:54
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A lot of water has flowed under the bridge with regard to TravelWatch SouthWest in the last six weeks since I wrote "Hold the date", and the water continues to flow. The TWSW» date has been in their calendar with several excellent speakers lined up for a while, and is also the date that GWR▸ have chosen for their central region timetable meeting. Oops - except that in an example of partnership and innovation, GWR and TWSW have come together to combine the events on that day - 11th October 2024. Makes utter sense.
Physical meeting to be held in Taunton, and arranged to work well with train times for those arriving and later leaving in all directions. Venue will be within a very short distance of the station.
If you are on the TWSW list of members or associates you should be hearing over the next 10 days or so. If you are in any doubt and would like to attend to represent your group or community or specialist interest, please let me know; I am well positioned to officially spring you an invite.
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: GWR - Eight years old today
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on: September 16, 2024, 07:00:34
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Looking back on the original question posed by Graham
"What has been achieved under the GWR▸ branding, and what has failed?"
- can anyone provide a list of the achievements?
In amongst the horror of the current unreliable service issues, there are / have been a number of good steps too. Starting very locally, I look to the all day, every day service we have timetabled, with trains which have sufficient capacity and are safe. Looking further afield, Okehampton, Portway Parkway and others are achievements, as are service frequency increases down to the tip of Cornwall and other improvements such as Cheltenham Spa services via the Stroud Vallley now mostly running to London. We have seen new trains coming online on the main line services which are electric for some of their distance. How much of this is because of the rebranding? I don't know the answer to that; there is some pride and a great deal of promotion in the brand which has, in the extraordinarily and unplanned events of recent years - I'm thinking Covid especially - been a flag around which people have been able to rally with pride. We joked at the famous five adverts when they started - I will admit - but they and the green and the GWR have become synonymous with train travel in our area, and in hindsight I comment the people at GWR - FGW▸ as it was know when the planning was made - for their decision to go with the new brand. |
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Journey by Journey / Portsmouth to Cardiff / Cancellations on forgotten main line
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on: September 15, 2024, 16:33:18
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Cancellations to services between Southampton Central and Bristol Temple Meads
Due to a shortage of train crew between Southampton Central and Bristol Temple Meads fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running through these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the delay to your journey today. Due to a shortage of train crew, fewer trains are able to run between Southampton Central and Bristol Temple Meads via Salisbury and Westbury.
Customers are advised to seek alternative routes where available. We are requesting road transport to run between Southampton Central and Bath Spa, this has not yet been confirmed. Once this is confirmed, it is likely to be very limited.
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Customers travelling between Cardiff / Bristol and the South Coast are advised to travel via Reading using Cross Country services between Reading and Southampton Central. Tickets will be accepted on this route at no extra cost.
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South Western Railway are accepting GWR▸ tickets at no extra cost via any reasonable route.
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For more information, please speak to a member of staff or trigger a help point located at platform level. Our social media team are also contactable on X (Twitter), via @GWRHelp between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, tweet us @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:15/09/2024 15:58 Conspicuous by its absence is an explanation of why they are short or train crew |
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