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grahame
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« on: May 06, 2017, 20:14:54 » |
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Going through loads of old papers, I found some timetables that are about 30 years old. Before you click on the link, ask yourself how many Paddington services you think Bedwyn, Pewsey and Westbury had each day. Then take a look at the timetable ... http://atrebatia.info/bandh1983to4.pdf |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2017, 23:52:30 » |
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A great example of how steady incremental increases over the years have massively improved frequencies.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2017, 00:57:31 » |
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Agreed. But back in the early 1980s, was there perhaps less of an expectation that anyone working in London would also choose to live in Pewsey - just for example?  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2017, 13:08:56 » |
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It's often the Sunday services that show best how travelling habits have driver service frequency improvements, such as the 8-fold increase in trains serving Hungerford in this example.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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grahame
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« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2017, 14:45:18 » |
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But back in the early 1980s, was there perhaps less of an expectation that anyone working in London would also choose to live in Pewsey - just for example?
The service was certainly "London facing" in those days - trains left (all to Paddington) at 07:04, 08:29, 09:59 and 19:14, return trains arriving at 11:39, 17:39, 19:04 and 19:39 ... those are Monday to Friday. A sprinkling of others running 1 dy per week. Logic suggests commuting to Reading, or a more genteel working day in London. An extra train Monday morning only to London, and Friday evening only from London, suggest weekly commuters. Interesting that extra trains ran via the Berks and Hants on Friday evening, isn't it? Can't imagine there would be any call for that these days  |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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grahame
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« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2017, 17:22:08 » |
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Can't help wondering how on earth they expected the Lavington service to attract passengers ... |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2017, 18:27:54 » |
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Maybe someone important in those days lived in or near Lavington?   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Zoe
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« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2017, 19:46:04 » |
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I wonder why Bedwyn was chosen as a terminus even back in the 1960s for some services from Reading. There really isn't much of note between Hungerford (except maybe Pewsey) and Westbury so it seems an odd place to turn back rather than either running on to Pewsey (which would have removed the need for intercity services to call there) or turning back at Hungerford (which would have then required intercity services to also call at Bedwyn). I wonder if it was chosen simply for operational convenience.
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2017, 19:49:40 » |
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I wonder why Bedwyn was chosen as a terminus even back in the 1960s for some services from Reading. There really isn't much of note between Hungerford (except maybe Pewsey) and Westbury so it seems an odd place to turn back rather than either running on to Pewsey (which would have removed the need for intercity services to call there) or turning back at Hungerford (which would have then required intercity services to also call at Bedwyn). I wonder if it was chosen simply for operational convenience.
I think Bedwyn was possibly chosen as the Up Siding was converted to a Bay Platform. Nowhere at Hungerford for trains to wait other than in the sidings. |
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grahame
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« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2017, 19:58:05 » |
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Here's an older timetable ...  |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2017, 20:18:36 » |
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Oh, for the days when there were trains stopping at Seend, Holt and Limpley Stoke ... |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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grahame
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« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2017, 20:35:02 » |
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Oh, for the days when there were trains stopping at Seend, Holt and Limpley Stoke ... Bathampton too - perfect for a park and ride |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2017, 20:43:23 » |
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Well, yes - but I was trying not to get too involved in current re-opening issues - or indeed going even further off-topic from the Kennet Valley. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2017, 10:13:39 » |
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Oh, for the days when there were trains stopping at Seend, Holt and Limpley Stoke ... I've used Limpley Stoke, it's not that ancient!  |
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
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