'Normal' Service Levels

[whole diary]

[RailCornwall]

Since March we've seen operations severely cut back and then gradually added to. Broadcasters continue to say 'Operating to a reduced timetable', I consider myself to be an informed observer and find this term somewhat annoying, surely it should be 'Operating to changed timetables'.

I'm not aware that the Summer 2020 timetable ever got 'published' to the public in any form to be reduced from. Not withstanding this oddity can the professionals and more informed, than me observers, give some idea as to what level of timetable is in their opinion operating currently.

Looking from Cornwall the service pattern looks 'almost there' albeit with some changing at Plymouth to head to of from the east.

Thoughts?

[IndustryInsider]

It varies quite wildly across the network and indeed across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).  Tackley and Heyford still have only two trains a day each way for example, less than 20% of the normal service.  Oxford<>Didcot only at around 50% normal.  Cornwall (where there is more tourist demand) much more like a normal service, along with the Thames Valley branches.

Incidentally, today seems to be almost as busy as a normal Bank Holiday weekend Saturday on many routes.  Confidence in public transport is definitely returning.

[Surrey 455]

It varies quite wildly across the network and indeed across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).  Tackley and Heyford still have only two trains a day each way for example, less than 20% of the normal service.  Oxford<>Didcot only at around 50% normal.  Cornwall (where there is more tourist demand) much more like a normal service, along with the Thames Valley branches.

Incidentally, today seems to be almost as busy as a normal Bank Holiday weekend Saturday on many routes.  Confidence in public transport is definitely returning.

My trains are currently running once an hour (was half hourly). Going to work, passenger numbers seem to have stayed steady over the last few weeks. However the return journey seems to be getting busier, I'm starting to see people standing by the doors to avoid having to sit next to someone. My worry is that eventually someone will decide to sit next to me.

[TaplowGreen]

It varies quite wildly across the network and indeed across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).  Tackley and Heyford still have only two trains a day each way for example, less than 20% of the normal service.  Oxford<>Didcot only at around 50% normal.  Cornwall (where there is more tourist demand) much more like a normal service, along with the Thames Valley branches.

Incidentally, today seems to be almost as busy as a normal Bank Holiday weekend Saturday on many routes.  Confidence in public transport is definitely returning.

It's less a matter of confidence, more one of desire/necessity to use it that will dictate the future of the railway in the post COVID-19 World.

[IndustryInsider]

It varies quite wildly across the network and indeed across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).  Tackley and Heyford still have only two trains a day each way for example, less than 20% of the normal service.  Oxford<>Didcot only at around 50% normal.  Cornwall (where there is more tourist demand) much more like a normal service, along with the Thames Valley branches.

Incidentally, today seems to be almost as busy as a normal Bank Holiday weekend Saturday on many routes.  Confidence in public transport is definitely returning.

It's less a matter of confidence, more one of desire/necessity to use it that will dictate the future of the railway in the post COVID-19 World.

Well, whatever it is, it was leading to a surge of returning leisure passengers yesterday.  Great to see after months of surreality.

[TaplowGreen]

It varies quite wildly across the network and indeed across GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).  Tackley and Heyford still have only two trains a day each way for example, less than 20% of the normal service.  Oxford<>Didcot only at around 50% normal.  Cornwall (where there is more tourist demand) much more like a normal service, along with the Thames Valley branches.

Incidentally, today seems to be almost as busy as a normal Bank Holiday weekend Saturday on many routes.  Confidence in public transport is definitely returning.

It's less a matter of confidence, more one of desire/necessity to use it that will dictate the future of the railway in the post COVID-19 World.

Well, whatever it is, it was leading to a surge of returning leisure passengers yesterday.  Great to see after months of surreality.

Great - as long as it's a safe, socially distanced surge! 

[johnneyw]

This thread seems as good a place as anywhere to see if someone can help. A friend of mine is considering moving to Malvern but is concerned at the scarcity of direct services and the long waits on the indirect ones to Bristol (which is quite important to him and his wife). I've already mentioned that the Covid crisis would have had an impact on services but I wondering when these might return to something like normal and just how frequent direct services between Bristol and Malvern were, pre Covid?

[Wizard]

They were 1 train per 2 hours pre-covid, although there was at least an aspiration to increase it to hourly. There will be a few more direct trains returning next week and the week after.

[PhilWakely]

Looking forward to next Monday (7th September 2020)!

We, at Pinhoe (and all stations between Exeter Central and Honiton), had to put up with an hourly replacement bus service until July. It was then replaced by a two-hourly train service that was of absolutely no use to workers who finished between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

Finally, we are getting our [almost] 'proper' hourly service back. The only omissions being the two rush hour local Exeter to Honiton/Axminster services, which are not really required as things currently stand.

[johnneyw]

They were 1 train per 2 hours pre-covid, although there was at least an aspiration to increase it to hourly. There will be a few more direct trains returning next week and the week after.

Thank you Wizard, I've passed this on.

[grahame]

They were 1 train per 2 hours pre-covid, although there was at least an aspiration to increase it to hourly. There will be a few more direct trains returning next week and the week after.

Thank you Wizard, I've passed this on.

Direct trains, Great Malvern to Bristol are perhaps an interesting case of a series of services being initially joined up for operational purposes with limited through traffic - I seem to recall that the Central and the Wessex franchises were run by the same parent company, and timetables allowed the train from Cheltenham Spa to be extended to provide extras from Worcester to Malvern than the one from Birmingham. Saved a train / avoided the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train sitting in Worcester for a long time, and allowed a quick turn around at Malvern rather than terminating a train there with a longer layover, an no-where for it to lay over.  And with such a background (if I got that right), I am left wondering if through patterns could change in the future with relatively little consultation / consideration;  I'm not sure how many passengers there are through from Great Malvern or Malvern Link to Ashchurch and south thereof.  OK - just asking the question ... 

[Lee]

They were 1 train per 2 hours pre-covid, although there was at least an aspiration to increase it to hourly. There will be a few more direct trains returning next week and the week after.

Thank you Wizard, I've passed this on.

Direct trains, Great Malvern to Bristol are perhaps an interesting case of a series of services being initially joined up for operational purposes with limited through traffic - I seem to recall that the Central and the Wessex franchises were run by the same parent company, and timetables allowed the train from Cheltenham Spa to be extended to provide extras from Worcester to Malvern than the one from Birmingham. Saved a train / avoided the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train sitting in Worcester for a long time, and allowed a quick turn around at Malvern rather than terminating a train there with a longer layover, an no-where for it to lay over.  And with such a background (if I got that right), I am left wondering if through patterns could change in the future with relatively little consultation / consideration;  I'm not sure how many passengers there are through from Great Malvern or Malvern Link to Ashchurch and south thereof.  OK - just asking the question ... 

I do remember that the Great Malvern section was originally going to be chopped back in the dark days of the Draft Greater Western December 2006 Timetable. Enough people kicked up a stink back then to get it put back in, so definitely consultation and caution required for any future changes, especially given the feathers recently ruffled in Malvern by West Midland Railway Covid bustitution.

[TonyN]

This is another case of a journey where there would be much better options if Cross country stopped its Voyager services at Worcestershire parkway. For most of the day Great Malvern to Bristol and return could be done with just one change at Parkway and no messing about at Gloucester.

[IndustryInsider]

This is another case of a journey where there would be much better options if Cross country stopped its Voyager services at Worcestershire parkway. For most of the day Great Malvern to Bristol and return could be done with just one change at Parkway and no messing about at Gloucester.

I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised at how many people are using Worcestershire Parkway to interchange at (and using it in general).  Difficult to gauge how popular it is going to be, because it didn't have chance to get established and the virus alterations struck, but it looks promising.  Perhaps enough to persuade those that make the decisions to stop one of the two longer distance XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services that pass through?

[grahame]

Questions ... "What is the purpose of the Cross Country Franchise?" and "Who wants to travel long distance on a train that calls at all stations from Liverpool to Norwich except Shippea Hill?" and "Was Worcestershire Parkway paid for locally, so the prime benefit should be provided for residents and businesses in the area?" and "If you're retiming trains to connect at Worcsectershire Parkway, which direction connects with what, and what else do you disturb?" and "Are we worried about delays on one line resulting in missed connections and lots of compensation payments across to the other line?"

I'm not going to pretend to provide definite answers, but there you have some of the puzzle pieces when you work out what to stop when.   There are some very exciting journey / flow opportunities, but no way can they all be catered for.    How does Evesham to Birmingham compare with Evesham to Gloucester?  Can you make Worcester to Bristol work with just one change and using fast trains?    If it connects on the "outbound" journey is that any use if the rerun journey involves a l-o-n-g wait?   Are you going to provide Bromsgrove to Cheltenham Spa every hour? ....