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Author Topic: Daytime Traffic on the TransWilts  (Read 232625 times)
Cynthia
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« Reply #135 on: March 05, 2015, 07:40:06 »

The 17:36 ex Swindon is indeed being reported back as "full and standing" on a regular basis, and cries of "can we have another carriage" are to be heard.

The immediate answer, I'm afraid has to be "there's nothing spare at the moment" and/or "adding an extra carriage for just  10 / 20 / 25 / 50 minutes per day is hard to justify financially" 

Is no-one asking the question 'why?' Shocked

It's not as though the passenger numbers suddenly jumped beyond those anticipated; there has been a heartening increase in footfall since the improved TransWilts service began.  It must seem a bit of a smack in the face for the new passengers, to expect to tolerate being conveyed in discomfort.  How long will it be before they get fed up with doing sardine impressions, and revert to other modes of transport?




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 14:54:36 by Chris from Nailsea » Logged

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phile
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« Reply #136 on: March 05, 2015, 12:32:15 »

The 17:36 ex Swindon is indeed being reported back as "full and standing" on a regular basis, and cries of "can we have another carriage" are to be heard.

The immediate answer, I'm afraid has to be "there's nothing spare at the moment" and/or "adding an extra carriage for just  10 / 20 / 25 / 50 minutes per day is hard to justify financially"

Is no-one asking the question 'why?' Shocked

It's not as though the passenger numbers suddenly jumped beyond those anticipated; there has been a heartening increase in footfall since the improved TransWilts service began.  It must seem a bit of a smack in the face for the new passengers, to expect to tolerate being conveyed in discomfort.  How long will it be before they get fed up with doing sardine impressions, and revert to other modes of transport?

Perhaps they already know that there is no spare stock available anywhere.




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 15:00:28 by Chris from Nailsea » Logged
grahame
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« Reply #137 on: March 05, 2015, 15:02:00 »

The 17:36 ex Swindon is indeed being reported back as "full and standing" on a regular basis, and cries of "can we have another carriage" are to be heard.

The immediate answer, I'm afraid has to be "there's nothing spare at the moment" and/or "adding an extra carriage for just  10 / 20 / 25 / 50 minutes per day is hard to justify financially" 

Is no-one asking the question 'why?' Shocked

It's not as though the passenger numbers suddenly jumped beyond those anticipated; there has been a heartening increase in footfall since the improved TransWilts service began.  It must seem a bit of a smack in the face for the new passengers, to expect to tolerate being conveyed in discomfort.  How long will it be before they get fed up with doing sardine impressions, and revert to other modes of transport?

I can tell you - somewhat - as to "why".

The TransWilts was cut back in 1966 to a daily train service, and the intermediate stations closed ... and that daily train service dropped to a summer saturday (only) service a couple of years later.   One of the intermediate stations was re-opened about 20 years later, with a service that limped along with various trials and tribulations, with a service from 2006 described as "providing a peak commuter service to Swindon from West Wiltshire" but in practise carrying an average of less than 10 passengers per train.   The line had become, frankly, the example to be held up as an example of a hopeless case, and there was extreme scepticism as to whether the trial service would bring in sufficient passengers to reach targets in year 1 of 45,000, in year 3 of 108,000 or in year 5 of 120,000.   

With 120,000 journeys a year,  you're looking at an average of 23 passengers per train, and so (the thought went) even if targets are reached, there will be plenty of space.  Of course, some services will be busier than others, but "even if a train is 3 times as busy as the fifth year forecast, there will be seats for everyone".

We are starting to see a realisation that passenger number are reaching the sorts of numbers that the optimists amongst us expected, rather than just the targets which were set, but there are no short term fixes - rather we need to look forward with a 2020 vision to retaining the service beyond the end of the current trial next year, and making it appropriate to the traffic that will wish to travel in 5 years time and beyond.
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grahame
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« Reply #138 on: March 16, 2015, 09:08:45 »

Sunday 15th Match - Rail Replacement Bus - circa 19:00 between Melksham and Trowbridge - observed with approx 15 on board. (Considering RR services have historically carried much less than a third of the original numbers of the equivalent train, that represenst around 50 people)

Monday 16th March.  07:20 Melksham Rail Link Bus
+3 people on at start of Route (Melksham Oak)
+2 @ The Pilot
+1 @ Snowberry Lane
+1 @ CranesBill
+1 @ Skylark
+3 @ St Andrews Church
+4 @ Pig and Whistle
+1 @ Forest Road
====> 16 people on Bus
-2 @ Lowborne / Buds
-1 @ The Bear
-13 @ Railway Station

07:48 trains to Swindon
6 off and 32 on at Melksham -> 78 (84/38)
(-about 20, + 17 at Chippenham)
Conductor had insufficient time to go through whole coach to sell tickets.
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John R
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« Reply #139 on: March 16, 2015, 11:23:18 »


07:48 trains to Swindon
6 off and 32 on at Melksham -> 78 (84/38)
(-about 20, + 17 at Chippenham)
Conductor had insufficient time to go through whole coach to sell tickets.

I'd suggest that these numbers bear out my thoughts in mid Feb after the count on a Friday.  Numbers are indeed growing at around 1 per week, and a goodly proportion of these are from Melksham (and encouragingly are using the bus).  I'm guessing that around 20 to 25 can comfortably stand for the 10 mins to and from Chippenham, so around the timetable change in December we could start to get some serious complaints about overcrowding, maybe earlier on the return journey.  Not sure what the answer is given the lack of available stock, although SWT (South West Trains) seems to have lots of 159s coming free for additional services...
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Lee
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« Reply #140 on: March 17, 2015, 07:40:00 »

Given that the Melksham Rail Link bus appears to be performing at the very top end in terms of passenger numbers in comparison to similar services elsewhere, will the extremely short-sighted decision to withdraw it in the near future now be reversed?

It would be a terrible shame if the all-too-familiar "sorry, but decision already made, so nothing we can do" attitude were to prevail in this case.

From what I can see, the body of opinion expressed not only by those within the CRP (Community Rail Partnership), but also from the more progressive factions within Wiltshire Council and FGW (First Great Western), who together always maintained that Rail Link Bus passenger numbers would take time to build up as people gradually made decisions to take jobs based on the journey opportunities that it provides, are on the verge of being entirely vindicated.
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« Reply #141 on: March 17, 2015, 20:37:05 »

This evening ... 38 passengers off Chippenham on the 18:52 from Swindon, 9 off and 2 on at Melksham 40/11

3 onto the bus ... but the drive tells me 13 (Thirteen) on the bus earlier, and that it's really taking off.  Let's see tomorrow morning too.
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« Reply #142 on: March 18, 2015, 07:56:08 »

06:38 at Melksham this morning ... 4 off, 9 on -> 20 24/13

Heavy ons / offs at Trowbridge (where the Gloucester train started just as we came to a final halt) and at Westbury (where it provides a good London connection)

24 on train from Westbury +2,-0 @ Dilton Marsh (school traffic both)
Warminster -15 + 35 (estimates)

Rails at Warminster MOD depot would suggest occasional use, but sidings empty today.
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TeaStew
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« Reply #143 on: April 16, 2015, 11:41:55 »

So... not posted here in a while, sorry about this:

DATE        MKM» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) arr
27/01         18.48      6    -5+1

17/02         18.48    30  -16+3

16/03         18.48    12    -6+1
17/03         18.48      9    -6+3
24/03         18.48    10    -4+0
30/03         18.48    13    -4+1
31/03         18.48    10    -5+1

01/04         The previous train on my connecting route was delayed so I carried on to WSB» (Westbury - next trains) to pick up my usual TW train there...! WSB[18.32] 11   -2+5 at TRO» (Trowbridge - next trains)[18.38] =14 to MKM[18.48] where -5+0


14/04         18.48    11    -3+4
15/04         19.19    23    -9+0
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John R
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« Reply #144 on: April 28, 2015, 22:26:01 »

2012 Swindon to Westbury - left Chippenham with 9 on board this evening.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #145 on: May 15, 2015, 20:02:14 »

I see as of the new timetable one transwilts round trip has been extended to Frome

"1247 Swindon to Westbury and 1414 Westbury to Swindon will both be extended to/from Frome."
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grahame
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« Reply #146 on: May 15, 2015, 23:05:27 »

I see as of the new timetable one transwilts round trip has been extended to Frome

"1247 Swindon to Westbury and 1414 Westbury to Swindon will both be extended to/from Frome."

Indeed ... takes advantage of a TransWilts layover to fill one of the holes in services to Frome, and good in that it starts to integrate "the TransWilts trial service" with other services around them.   

It would be rather nice if the 07:33 from Westbury started back at Frome too - first run of the day, comes in the middle of the 1 hour gap from Frome in the morning peak (07:04 to 08:02). However, that timing may conflict with the SWT (South West Trains) proposals for a Yeovil to Waterloo via Westbury.    Also the 17:36 from Swindon to continue to Frome.  Don't be fooled into thinking that train has too tight a turn around at Westbury, as it's the point at which the 153s are swapped and there are two at Westbury at once, and two drivers ... just a conductor short.    Not only would these give Frome a direc commuter run to and for Swindon, but also extra connections breaking up the hour gaps t / from Bath and Bristol in the peak, with a Westbury change.
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phile
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« Reply #147 on: May 16, 2015, 11:11:22 »

People seem to have the impression that the 17 36 ex Swindon unit comes out of the working on arrival at Westbury to changeover.
However, Real Time Trains show it is booked to arrive in Platform 2 and the 18 32 to Swindon departs from Platform 2 indicating this is what the unit does.   The unit attached to the 16 30 Cardiff to Portsmouth Hbr is booked to go to the sidings to stable.   This unit, I believe, starts off the working the next day and the 18 32 unit on returning at 20 13 attaches to Bristol later.
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grahame
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« Reply #148 on: May 16, 2015, 11:24:59 »

People seem to have the impression that the 17 36 ex Swindon unit comes out of the working on arrival at Westbury to changeover.

However, Real Time Trains show it is booked to arrive in Platform 2 and the 18 32 to Swindon departs from Platform 2 indicating this is what the unit does. 

Ah - whenever I've been there at Westbury the 17:36 has arrived into platform 2, and the 18:32 has departed from Platform 1 a few minutes later.   The 18:32 has been waiting when the train from Swindon has arrived and the conductor has made a very sharp transfer via the subway, especially if the 17:36 has been delayed.

Perhaps the method of operation changes with the new timetable on Monday, or perhaps the occasions that I've been there (such as various counts where I have run under with the conductor) have been exceptional days.
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phile
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« Reply #149 on: May 16, 2015, 17:04:37 »

Diagrams are broken all the time for one reason or another.   The same working is shown for the new Timetable also.
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