Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 11:55 29 Mar 2024
* Easter getaway begins with flood alerts in place
* Attempted murder charge after man stabbed on train
* KFC Nigeria sorry after disabled diner refused service
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:29 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
12:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
13:21 Newbury to Bedwyn
13:48 Bedwyn to Newbury
14:12 Newbury to Bedwyn
14:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
14:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
12:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:10 Penzance to London Paddington
10:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
etc
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 29, 2024, 11:58:42 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[124] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[53] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[49] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[48] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[43] Return of the BRUTE?
[30] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
  Print  
Author Topic: Timetable and other upcoming changes - overview (from GWR) last Monday  (Read 11625 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« on: February 28, 2019, 14:32:11 »

Overview summary from GWR (Great Western Railway) (Central Area) timetable meeting last Monday

These are the opening headlines from GWR

End of April - last HST (High Speed Train) to Bristol (London to Bristol full length ones?)
No HSTs from London from May (timetable change?)
Bedwyn service will require 4 units / 4 turbos release west. R&D on camera changes - aim is May, note aim not schedule - depends how the R&D goes.
Westbury Car Park - ready to go, just awaiting paperwork

May 2019 - one more Cheltenham - Paddington (service, round trip or diagram?)
Every half hour in Cornwall
More 2+4 HSTs from May, releasing units.

December 2019 - implementing SLC3 fundamentals - considerable main line speed ups
Have to retime other services
"Do our best on connections"
"Bid next month then see hot it fits with other TOCs (Train Operating Company) and freight"
"We have some key aspirations"

No proposals / consultations / draft timetables for weekends (happen without consultation?)
Things still not right "will be able to chip away" ... and at May 2020, etc

From the Bristol Area, SevernsideCRP made strong inputs and representations on some aspects. FoSBR» (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways - site) also present, as were WECA» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and various local authority representatives who - however - were more listening than commenting.  I will solicit a report / follow up on that

From the heart of Wessex area - note "heart" with a small h - Bristol to Portsmouth, Bristol to Swindon, Swindon to Westbury, Berks and Hants intermediate services included, many points (re)raised that had been raised at previous meeting on 18th July last. Active issues raised by myself and by TransWilts - BaNES and Wiltshire local authorities present, again more listening than commenting. I will follow up on these in the next 36 hours.

I understand there was an east timetable meeting a couple of weeks ago and there is also a west one in the cycle - not sure if that has happened or not.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12334


View Profile Email
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2019, 14:55:03 »

There was an East meeting a couple of weeks ago - but were asked not to go public on the offer - NR» (Network Rail - home page) may put the kibosh on any of the bid.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2019, 15:57:00 »

There was an East meeting a couple of weeks ago - but were asked not to go public on the offer - NR» (Network Rail - home page) may put the kibosh on any of the bid.

I was surprised that no such request was made at the Central meeting - but then feedback I hear from the East and about the plans there are much more positive than feedback in the middle area where we have some difficult decisions to make because the bid is not a step forwards, nor is in just changes that leave the quality alone.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
RichardB
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 958


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2019, 17:37:27 »

The West timetable meeting was at the end of last month, Graham.  There will be additional Cornish main line trains from May, but the full half hourly service won't come in until December.
Logged
eightonedee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1532



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2019, 22:14:49 »

Quote
There was an East meeting a couple of weeks ago - but were asked not to go public on the offer - NR» (Network Rail - home page) may put the kibosh on any of the bid.

Disappointing that they could not be open about this. Even if there were concerns about NR's attitude, it would have been nice to know what they have in mind, and also to have something we can hold NR to account for (or it least enquire why they cannot oblige) if it does not happen.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2019, 22:27:40 »

Quote
There was an East meeting a couple of weeks ago - but were asked not to go public on the offer - NR» (Network Rail - home page) may put the kibosh on any of the bid.

Disappointing that they could not be open about this. Even if there were concerns about NR's attitude, it would have been nice to know what they have in mind, and also to have something we can hold NR to account for (or it least enquire why they cannot oblige) if it does not happen.

We (the community "trustees") are put in a very difficult position where there are significant negative elements in the proposals - do we say nothing and brace for any problems, do we work quietly to see if we can get things tweaked to make them new service as good as we can through that route, do we quietly share our concerns with the MPs (Member of Parliament), do we [insert other option]. That's a conundrum I'm fighting with at the moment, and I know that I am not alone in having such a conundrum.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2019, 22:33:55 by grahame » Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Timmer
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6293


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2019, 06:28:54 »

Disappointing that they could not be open about this. Even if there were concerns about NR» (Network Rail - home page)'s attitude, it would have been nice to know what they have in mind, and also to have something we can hold NR to account for (or it least enquire why they cannot oblige) if it does not happen.
Totally agree, other franchises major timetable recasts have been made public well in advance to give a chance for the public, the people who actually use the services, chance to see what changes are coming and the chance to provide feedback.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12334


View Profile Email
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2019, 11:43:16 »

Graham -

The second option in your list is probably the current way to go. If you have access to a good timetable guru, that would help also. Those that understand the nuances of timetabling....
Logged
CMRail
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 400


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2019, 20:05:41 »

May 2019 - one more Cheltenham - Paddington (service, round trip or diagram?)

Let’s hope this is the 16:42 that was planned for May 2016!
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2019, 12:11:35 »

A cynic might suspect that the new shorter trains are here to stay, but that many of the additional services that were intended to offset the reduced capacity per train "cant be delivered for a few more years"
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2019, 12:44:33 »

Graham -

The second option in your list is probably the current way to go. If you have access to a good timetable guru, that would help also. Those that understand the nuances of timetabling....

That was certainly the way to go - and we went that way - last summer for the previous meeting on 18th July 2018.  Concerns were logged, but it seemed last Monday that they had been more used to help uncover which of the changes is likely to cause customers problems or disappointments, and which are likely to be accepted or even welcomed, rather than to make any positive changes.  Feels like we've wasted half a year and moved from "it's very early - these are draft" to "it's too late to do much.

There are some improvements for 2020 over 2019. Sadly in the Bristol and Wiltshire areas, they are outweighed by changes that are going to be real issues, and inflamed by the running of services which because of other changes will be carrying fresh air.

I remain in the difficult position outlined earlier
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2019, 13:01:02 »

A cynic might suspect that the new shorter trains are here to stay, but that many of the additional services that were intended to offset the reduced capacity per train "cant be delivered for a few more years"

Ear to the ground tells me that London express to Plymouth will be hourly from December,  London semifast to Exeter will be every 2 hours, services through Cornwall every half hour.  Not sure on exact percentages, but in each of those three cases it's a stepping up of the service.  Where there's a significant step up - as on the Cornish main line - with four trains over a period of 2 hours rather than two - I don't feel it's unreasonable for the new services to average shorter.  For example, if an 8 car plus a 3 car over 2 hours are replaced by a 5 car, 2 x 4 cars, and a 3 car it would look not unreasonable.   Of course if traffic grows because the service is so much better ...

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
jamestheredengine
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 301


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2019, 19:39:06 »

Any hope for getting Swansea up to 2tph in the pm peak? The current situation with short turns at Cardiff arriving at 1622 and 1723, where they'd be just about to be getting very busy indeed if they continued west, is absolutely ridiculous. That it currently goes up to 2tph after the pm peak is even more mad.
Logged

paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2019, 20:03:53 »

Any hope for getting Swansea up to 2tph in the pm peak? The current situation with short turns at Cardiff arriving at 1622 and 1723, where they'd be just about to be getting very busy indeed if they continued west, is absolutely ridiculous. That it currently goes up to 2tph after the pm peak is even more mad.
The 2015 GW (Great Western) stakeholder brief did show peak variations including 3 tph from/to South Wales in the peaks, of which Swansea gets the extra service.  How long these peak periods last, (am up and pm down), didn’t seem to be explicitly stated.   The other point of course, is that they’ll presumably be defining the peak from a Paddington perspective.

Paul
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2019, 00:39:04 »

Any hope for getting Swansea up to 2tph in the pm peak? The current situation with short turns at Cardiff arriving at 1622 and 1723, where they'd be just about to be getting very busy indeed if they continued west, is absolutely ridiculous. That it currently goes up to 2tph after the pm peak is even more mad.

The 16:22 goes back to London at 16:56 then forms the 19:30 to Weston-super-mare.  Send the 16:22 on to Swansea and you loose the really quiet (NOT!) Weston train - frequency off London dropping to / via Bristol earlier in the evening than it does at present.     2 p.m. on to Swansea (and at least one to Carmarthen?) caters for the important/lucrative London (to Wales) peak, and helps get stock back to Swansea depot for overnight servicing.

"Nothing to stop the Welsh Government contracting / franchising someone to run extra capacity from Cardiff to(ward) Swansea" you will be told ...followed by a cry of "ooze gonna pay4 it?" and "ow do we fill the train the rest of the day?".   Old problem of everything wants to be "peak length" at peak time; took us a while to get the 17:36 Swindon to Westbury extended beyond one carriage ... though no problem for years prior with such services as the 06:12 and 18:48.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page