George Lane Bridge Wyre Piddle

[whole diary]

[TonyN]

Your intrepid reporter has been out today to look at the bridge that is to be replaced in May.


This picture is looking south twards the villege centre. One of the problems is that the wall on the west side is leaning in.


Another one is the beams are badley rusted.

[Bmblbzzz]

It's hardly pretty but there's something quite satisfying about that bridge (apart from the state it's in); it's a railway bridge over a muddy minor road that looks exactly like a railway bridge over a muddy minor road. 

[TonyN]

Walked out that way Yesterday the 26th of April and the contractors have just statrted preparing the site for their compound.

[bleeder4]

I travelled on the line today for the first time in several months and I discovered there is a speed restriction north of Evesham, just a short distance past where the single track begins. Is this bridge replacement the cause of it or is that something else?

[IndustryInsider]

That’s due to the condition of the track over Charlton level crossing, so not related to bridge works.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Over many, many years, there's just been too much piddle against the west brick wall, and too much piddle from toilets on the trains travelling above.

That's why wyre now having to replace that bridge.

CfN. 

[TonyN]

Your Intrepid reporter has walked 12 miles today to bring the Coffee shop up to date on the works in progress between Evesham and Pershore.

First of all the main Job at George lane Wyre Piddle. The new bridge has been lifted into place by a massive King lifting crane. Now they have to rebuild the embankments this will require 40,000 tons of stone I am told.

Then a distant view of the crane also showing the temporary road constructed to site.

The second job is rebuilding or replacing the small span on the Evesham side of the river Avon bridge at Fladbury. The main bridge was replaced in the 50s/60s but this small span that allows the farmer to access the fields beyond the bridge was left at that time.

A view of the Fladbury job from the road bridge in Fladbury village west of the Avon.

There is also an RRV^▸ (Road Rail Vehicle) access point at the site of Fladbury Station west of the road bridge.

A smaller job is Trackbed repairs at Sidings lane crossing Charlton.

There is a temporary access road from Sidings lane to the river bridge site.

After all this walking your reporter had to adjourn to the Gardeners arms in Charlton for Sausage and chips. All I need to do now is find out how to submit my lunch expenses claim to the Coffee shop.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Your Intrepid reporter has walked 12 miles today to bring the Coffee shop up to date on the works in progress between Evesham and Pershore.

Your 12-mile walk was probably faster than the RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) route via Honeybourne. I applaud GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for their new scenic tour of the Cotswolds, but it would be nice if some Honeybourne passengers actually used it so that the rest of us felt better about the detour inflicted on us...

[bleeder4]

I just wish GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) was running more of the direct services from Worcester via the Golden Valley line. Currently we have 2 early morning and 1 late evening. It is possible to travel both ways direct from Worcester to Paddington avoiding the RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) but it would be a long day. I assume lack of drivers with route awareness is the reason why?

[grahame]

I just wish GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) was running more of the direct services from Worcester via the Golden Valley line. Currently we have 2 early morning and 1 late evening. It is possible to travel both ways direct from Worcester to Paddington avoiding the RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) but it would be a long day. I assume lack of drivers with route awareness is the reason why?

What are connections like from London - Cheltenham Spa trains into Bristol - Gloucester - Worcester trains, and vice versa? Aren't there "via Evesham" prices which might put people off the more expensive "Any Permitted"?

[bleeder4]

What are connections like from London - Cheltenham Spa trains into Bristol - Gloucester - Worcester trains, and vice versa? Aren't there "via Evesham" prices which might put people off the more expensive "Any Permitted"?

My assumption is that "Via Evesham" tickets from Worcester are being accepted on the direct trains via the Golden Valley line for the duration of the line blockade. It would be a pretty poor show from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) if that wasn't the case!

[grahame]

What are connections like from London - Cheltenham Spa trains into Bristol - Gloucester - Worcester trains, and vice versa? Aren't there "via Evesham" prices which might put people off the more expensive "Any Permitted"?

My assumption is that "Via Evesham" tickets from Worcester are being accepted on the direct trains via the Golden Valley line for the duration of the line blockade. It would be a pretty poor show from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) if that wasn't the case!

for Friday this week ... from GWR's ticket sale web site:
Anytime Single 06:24 WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains), 09:24 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) - £106.10 (via New Street and Euston)
Anytime Day Single 07:30 WOS, 09:59 PAD - £94.80 (direct train via Kemble)
Anytime Day Single 08:04 WOS, 11:24 PAD - £45.80 (bus and then train via Evesham)

At the time of writing, Advance fares on offer at £44.80 on the direct train via Kemble, and at £44.10 on bus-train via Evesham

Whether Revenue Protection and/or Train Manager would sanction you for using a "via Evesham" ticket and pursue the matter right through the system is doubtful;  it really wouldn't look good in the papers ... but technically you would be travelling without a valid ticket for the route you were taking.

[Oxonhutch]

Whether Revenue Protection and/or Train Manager would sanction you for using a "via Evesham" ticket and pursue the matter right through the system is doubtful;  it really wouldn't look good in the papers ... but technically you would be travelling without a valid ticket for the route you were taking.

From the Man in Seat 61 on routeing and tickets:-

But don't worry, under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage you're entitled to travel on a different route from the one shown on your ticket (assuming it's not a train-specific Advance ticket, of course) on payment of a 'change of route' excess fare.  This is the difference, if any, between the fare paid for the original route and the cheapest walk-up ticket valid for the train & route now being taken.

So I don't think technically one is ticketless. Same as travelling on a peak train with an off-peak ticket.

[jamestheredengine]

It looks like there isn't an any permitted fare from Worcester Stns to London Terminals. The choice seems to be:

• via Evesham (SOR £91.60)
• WMR & LNR Only (ADT £105.00)
• Via H Wyc & Birm (SOR £127.20)
• Evesham/Stroud (SOR £189.60)
• via Birmingham (SOR £206.20)

Does this mean that it's forbidden to go one way via Birmingham and the other via Evesham/Stroud?

[grahame]

Does this mean that it's forbidden to go one way via Birmingham and the other via Evesham/Stroud?

No - it means you need to buy single tickets each way rather than a return. On most (all?) of the fares quoted, the SOR is twice the SOS anyway.

So I don't think technically one is ticketless. Same as travelling on a peak train with an off-peak ticket.

Agreed - liable to be charged a significant amount - as I read it, not just the difference in fares but a whole new fare?