From next Monday ...

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Some random highlights and dark corners

Services:
* Cardiff <-> Portsmouth up from every 2 hours to every hour
* Taunton <-> Bristol extended to Cardiff and up from every 2 hours to every hour
* Cheltenham <-> Swindon every 2 hours extended to Paddington and running every hour
* Weymouth <-> Westbury remains at three round trips per day

Stations:
* Heyford gets services back - each way in each peak only
* Dilton Marsh adds trains at 07:42 and 20:05 to the 23:23 all to / via Bristol, nothing the other way
* Exton services unchanged - gap from 09:01 to 16:02 in services to Exeter (wonder if there's a "via Exmouth" easement)

I have had some feedback via TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) already, and invites to feed in to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for tweaking ... take a look at what's on offer at your / station line on Real Time Trains or journey planners - or at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/18MayTimetables.pdf - and feedback via message to me or here by close of business Thurdsday (14th) and I will correlate feedback.  Probably too late to change next week, but for the following week ... tiny changes that may make a massive difference, perhaps?

[ray951]

Interesting that you mentioned easements as I have checked Didcot to Oxford services and they are staying hourly.

But from next week the National Rail website says you can go via Reading at XX:27 (except for 08:27), although it takes 45 minutes and costs £26 (£16 Offpeak) instead of £7 (£6.90) could that be an easement?

Answering my own question, surely if it is an easement the price should be the same?

Looking at Oxford - Didcot services they are still hourly and they also have the go via Reading option at XX:16 although cost is £16 off peak (no peak fare) with £11.60 advance fare available.

I am hoping the data in the jouney planner isn't complete as the above is a mess.

I also find it odd that the direct Didcot - Oxford services are hourly Mon- Fri but half-hourly on Saturday and Sunday.

[grahame]

Interesting that you mentioned easements as I have checked Didcot to Oxford services and they are staying hourly.

But from next week the National Rail website says you can go via Reading at XX:27 (except for 08:27), although it takes 45 minutes and costs £26 (£16 Offpeak) instead of £7 (£6.90) could that be an easement?

The x32 bus also leaves from Didcot Station forecourt at xx:27 during the day (peaks vary) and takes 39 minutes into the centre of Oxford.  If the thinking is joined up, you will also be offered this on the journey planner and tickets will be interchangeable.  Is it too much to hope that things are joined up?

[didcotdean]

The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website is pricing Didcot-Reading-Oxford at the same price as Didcot-Oxford, ie £7 anytime single, £7.70 anytime day return, £6.90 off-peak single, £7 off-peak day return. Which does suggest an easement.