Trowbridge to Newbury, daily commute

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

"Incredible disabled Newbury volunteer makes 90 mile public transport commute every day"

Though the form of public transport is not specified, we may assume that it's rail. No doubt Grahame off the top of his head can suggest timings and changes at stations. 

Peter looks a lovely man but I wonder if he's been entirely wise, given the effects that cerebral palsy can have on the immune system? (I'm using my Lyme-like symptoms to avoid some social interactions for which I have limited enthusiasm.)

[grahame]

Though the form of public transport is not specified, we may assume that it's rail. No doubt Grahame off the top of his head can suggest timings and changes at stations. 

Peter looks a lovely man but I wonder if he's been entirely wise, given the effects that cerebral palsy can have on the immune system? (I'm using my Lyme-like symptoms to avoid some social interactions for which I have limited enthusiasm.)

As quick as 47 minutes each way by train, with a change at Westbury.  About every 2 hours, no longer the 4 hour gaps we had prior to December 2019.  Plenty of trains Trowbridge - Westbury these days, so never much over the hour. 

The journey planner cautioned me when I tried it out for some trains that "This train is sold out for all or part of the journey. If you are looking to buy a ticket we request that you try an alternative service. If you have already got a ticket for this train, please make sure you have your reservation when you travel." but as both the trains in the connection are in the middle of their journeys, I don't 100% trust that it applies to the section of the journey Peter will be making.

Were he making the "Shorter" journey to Hungerford, I would have more concerns - it's just a 51 minute journey on the first (direct) train of the day, but he would get to Hungerford rather too early.  Thereafter some of the journeys are almost 2 and a half hours.  Hypothetical - not the journey he is making.

[grahame]

Should there be a Community Rail Partnership that includes the Berks and Hants to the west of Newbury?   I'm on various public mailing lists ...

TransWilts (www.transwilts.org a Community Rail Partnership who support the Swindon to Westbury service route) are keen to see a Community Rail Partnership (CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership)) for the Newbury to Westbury route representing the following stations: Kintbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn, Pewsey and the proposed Devizes Parkway. You can read more about CRPs at www.communityrail.org.uk

and

One of the aims of this CRP will be two get an all stops hourly Newbury to Westbury service.

I also note (from Bedwyn)

[names] agree with this aim but have made it clear that this must not affect our direct services to Reading and Paddington

The Berks and Hants has a real mixture of stations , services, objectives, potential markets along the way and for a very long time some sort of co-ordination makes huge sense. Personal thought - that the services heading out from Reading via Theale might be as follows in each hour:
1. Non-stop to Taunton (from London, continues to Plymouth and sometimes beyond)
2. Theale, Thatcham, Newbury and all stations to Taunton (from London, continues at least to Exeter)
3. All stations to Newbury
Additional service on the line each hour:
Westbury to Castle Cary (service usually from Bristol, carries on to Yeovil and usually Weymouth)

[Lee]

Should there be a Community Rail Partnership that includes the Berks and Hants to the west of Newbury?   I'm on various public mailing lists ...

TransWilts (www.transwilts.org a Community Rail Partnership who support the Swindon to Westbury service route) are keen to see a Community Rail Partnership (CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership)) for the Newbury to Westbury route representing the following stations: Kintbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn, Pewsey and the proposed Devizes Parkway. You can read more about CRPs at www.communityrail.org.uk

and

One of the aims of this CRP will be two get an all stops hourly Newbury to Westbury service.

I also note (from Bedwyn)

[names] agree with this aim but have made it clear that this must not affect our direct services to Reading and Paddington

The Berks and Hants has a real mixture of stations , services, objectives, potential markets along the way and for a very long time some sort of co-ordination makes huge sense. Personal thought - that the services heading out from Reading via Theale might be as follows in each hour:
1. Non-stop to Taunton (from London, continues to Plymouth and sometimes beyond)
2. Theale, Thatcham, Newbury and all stations to Taunton (from London, continues at least to Exeter)
3. All stations to Newbury
Additional service on the line each hour:
Westbury to Castle Cary (service usually from Bristol, carries on to Yeovil and usually Weymouth)

I note that this initiative appears to have come from the TransWilts CRP, even going so far as to set future service aspirations for the new organisation in advance of its creation  - Would the new CRP be a subsidiary of the TransWilts CRP, or would it be genuinely independent?

Looking at examples elsewhere, it seems more likely that long-standing existing user groups such as Bedwyn Trains would interact more effectively with the latter rather than with the former.