15.51 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

I think you misunderstand.  My posts on this matter have been about what could be achieved post-IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) timetables. 

Oh, ok. Post-IERP, the Adelantes appear to disappear. Word has it that all services would be bi-mode, other than the very first towards Worcester & this halts train - which are likely to be a 2car 165. So with a half-hour bimode at that time of day, I suspect the 165 will only go as far as Moreton maximum.

[IndustryInsider]

According to a twitter comment, the 10:42 from Paddington to Hereford this morning was only a 4 carriage turbo rather than a HST^▸ (High Speed Train). By Didcot it was so full that ~50 people were left on the platform.

Another Turbo replacing a HST diagram today, with the 05:20 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-GMV, 08:43 GMV-PAD, 11:50 PAD-OXF^» (Oxford - next trains), 15:01 OXF-PAD, 16:21 PAD-HFD^» (Hereford - next trains), and 20:20 HFD-PAD on diagram IW024 being replaced by a Turbo.  Not any old Turbo though as all the stops have not been pulled out and a whopping 2-Car train has been provided in the form of 165135.  I believe that is three out of the last four Saturdays when this diagram has been partly, or wholly, covered by a Turbo

The 08:43 GMV-PAD is usually full and standing when it arrives at Paddington when it's a HST, so it was of no surprise to find people having to stand from Moreton-In-Marsh onwards.  The situation would have been even worse had it not been for desperate pleas from the station staff at Oxford not to board it and wait for the 10:37 to Didcot for a connection to London.  That included a group of 100+ 'Education First' European students who swamp Oxford's trains every summer Saturday.  The Slough stop was also canned.

Whilst the other trains on this diagram might not be quite as busy, they will all have been cosy as a result, especially the 16:21 PAD-HFD.  Very, very disappointing FGW^▸ (First Great Western)!

[stebbo]

I was at a wedding in Malvern yesterday and at the meal I was sat next to the bride's uncle. He said he and his wife had come up from London to Great Malvern on Friday afternoon and the journey to Worcester was foul - coaches rammed, aircon not working (despite Friday's heat).

I asked what train he came on and he wasn't sure, so I asked if the service had 7, 5 or 3 coaches. 5 coaches he replied. Had he travelled at about 3.50 I asked. Yes, that was it he replied......................

[IndustryInsider]

According to a twitter comment, the 10:42 from Paddington to Hereford this morning was only a 4 carriage turbo rather than a HST^▸ (High Speed Train). By Didcot it was so full that ~50 people were left on the platform.

It was operated by a 3-car Turbo in the end.

Had a good look at this one today as it left London and it's no surprise a 3-Car Turbo would have been insufficient on the date in question.  A 2+7 HST (with six standard class carriages and one first class) was pretty packed in Standard Class and at a rough guess at least three dozen people were having to stand.  The First Class coach was about 75% full.  Summer tourists swell these trains with lots of people travelling to Slough (for Windsor) and Oxford in addition to the usual passengers which get close to filling it all over the year.

Makes my comments about making the summer standby set at Paddington a 5 or 6 car formation even more sensible in my mind in case of HST failures, and also makes comments about the additional standard class seats being provided at the expense of first class ones 'just so the Reading commuters can get a seat' as pretty ridiculous given similar loadings on other morning trains I witnessed today.

[ChrisB]

Excellent to see a full ticket check before Reading on this train today. Seems as though it may have been happening for a while as only one pax in my coach was excessed to Oxford, and I didn't see anyone else alight from around my coach doors.

It waa comfortably full on leaving Padd with a several now standing since leaving Reading

[Richard Fairhurst]

Reposted without comment from https://twitter.com/IsabelOakeshott ...

"Ok, so the no10 Tory team and a mob of Tory MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) has just descended on Charlbury. Apparently it's a Tory 'away day' this weekend..

"The PM's closest aides were on a hideously overcrowded and overheated @FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 4.50pm* Padd-Worcs Shrub Hill. It was disgusting experience."

* subsequently corrected to 3.50pm

[IndustryInsider]

This train, and the 08:26 WOF-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) (and associated workings), is a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) today, and presumably tomorrow.  Shame it's not a long term alteration!