Winter Timetables now online

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Great new summary timetable of services between Cardiff/Bristol and the South Coast
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TrainTimes/December%202013%20Timetables/TTC03a_Web.ashx

But such a shame that the Saturday and Sunday timetables of services in both directions are completely wrong showing all Cardiff-Portsmouth trains going via Weymouth and not Warminster in one direction and not stopping at Westbury in the other. Doesn't someone check these things before they go to print?

Anyone who has contacts with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) publications department want to let them know of this issue with this timetable? I cannot be bothered to use their 'contact us' service on their website to receive a standard templated reply three days later saying they endeavour to provide accurate information and thanks for letting us know.

(edit spelling and detail)

[Timmer]

Just spotted this on page 2 of Timetable Central 3 Cardiff and Bristol to the South Coast:

This timetable shows the full service from London Paddington and Swindon
to Cheltenham Spa, Bristol and South Wales, and services between Swindon
and Westbury.

Someone missed that at proof reading stage. Over reliance on using a template for this timetable but forgetting to change the text.

Whilst on the topic of Cardiff and Bristol. Now there is no timetable 28, which used to show all services that operated between Cardiff/Newport and Bristol, there now appears to be no single timetable that show all services unless I've missed something. You now need two timetables Central 3 and Central 4 to see all services. Need a summary timetable there me thinks.

Both these issues have now been fixed with an updated Timetable 3 posted on the website. Inside front cover now reads:

This timetable shows the full service from Cardiff Central, Swindon and Bristol to
Westbury, Salisbury and the South Coast.

Also on the inside front cover it addresses the issue of a complete timetable of services between Cardiff and Bristol and Bristol and Bath which use to make up timetable 28:

Travelling between Cardiff Central and Bristol?
In addition to the services shown in this timetable, we operate and hourly stopping
service between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads (see timetable Central 4)
and a half hourly High Speed Train service between Cardiff Central and Bristol
Parkway (see timetable Central 1). For more details please refer to Quick Card 9.

Travelling between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa?
See Quick Card 8 for details of services on this route.

[ChrisB]

Great new summary timetable of services between Cardiff/Bristol and the South Coast
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TrainTimes/December%202013%20Timetables/TTC03a_Web.ashx

But such a shame that the Saturday and Sunday timetables of services in both directions are completely wrong showing all Cardiff-Portsmouth trains going via Weymouth and not Warminster in one direction and not stopping at Westbury in the other. Doesn't someone check these things before they go to print?

Anyone who has contacts with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) publications department want to let them know of this issue with this timetable?

Done.

[ChrisB]

And response received.....

This is a problem with the online version - the printed version is correct.
I'll get the web file amended as soon as possible.

[bobm]

Thank you ChrisB for sorting that out.   

[Timmer]

Yes thanks Chris. It is a useful summary timetable so good it's being fixed.

Update: Here is the corrected timetable link: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TrainTimes/December%202013%20Timetables/TTC03a_Web_Amended.ashx

[rogerw]

All Line Timetable now also available on line http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx

[bobm]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s Network book is again available from major stations at a cost of ^4.  Those who heard Ian Mundy's talk at the recent WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) talk were assured it would be easier to obtain over the counter after problems in the past, and this was certainly my experience at Swindon yesterday.  Whole transaction took less than a minute.

Mention was also made at the meeting that those who could not get one as their nearest station did not stock it could buy it from Customer Services at ^4 plus postage.  I cannot see any mention of this on the website as yet.

However there are a number of amendments to the printed timetables.  The changes have, apparently, been made to the downloadable versions.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TrainTimes/December%202013%20Timetables/Errata%20DEC%202013.ashx

[ChrisB]

That's the benefit of downloadable TTs....:-)

[Worcester_Passenger]

What do the pink blobs at the top of certain columns mean?

[grahame]

What do the pink blobs at the top of certain columns mean?

They are cycle restrictions.

[mjones]

Does anyone know why, following the timetable change, the train that used to be the 1818 from Reading to Cheltenham no longer calls at Reading? I'm assuming it is related to delays caused by station rebuilding etc, but it is rather frustrating for those of us travelling between Reading and Didcot as there is now a half hour gap in services.  Yesterday evening I noticed it was still showing on the departure screens at Reading, I hope no-one had a nasty surprise as it went by without stopping!

[ChrisB]

According to an explanation on twitter, it was to ease the flow of trains through Reading. Apparently it was causing congestion. No indication of whether the stop will be reinstated after Reading is complete.

A 30 minute service RDG^‡(resolve)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) I would have thought about appropriate for the number travelling at that time.

[Worcester_Passenger]

What do the pink blobs at the top of certain columns mean?

They are cycle restrictions.

Thanks for that. Did I miss the explanation somewhere?

[Network SouthEast]

The blobs mean "Cycle Reservations Compulsory". You didn't miss the explanation, because it was left out of the Worcester to Paddington timetable. However it's meaning is covered in other FGW^▸ (First Great Western) timetables, not much help though, I know.