Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 08:35 19 Mar 2024
- Potholes leave nations' roads at 'breaking point'
- The US Navy's relentless battle against Houthi attacks
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 tomorrow - WWRUG AGM
23/03/24 - Trains restart - Minehead
02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber

No 'On This Day' events reported for 19th Mar

Train RunningCancelled
06:30 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
08:18 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
08:43 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
08:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
09:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
10:41 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
Short Run
06:18 Yeovil Pen Mill to Filton Abbey Wood
07:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
07:24 Taunton to London Paddington
07:25 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington
07:28 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
08:32 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
PollsOpen and recent polls
Open to 25/03 16:00 Easter Escape - to where?
Closed 2024-03-16 Should our rail network go cashless
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 19, 2024, 08:36:02 *
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
[159] A daily picture from my recent travels
[78] Where would you recommend for an Easter Escape?
[68] More travels ... more looking at how others do it ...
[66] M25 motorway issue: a most illuminating Twitter thread.
[55] Briefing on forthcoming changes - from GWR on 14.3.2024
[35] Europeran Rail Timetable
 
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 ... 30 31 [32] 33 34
  Print  
Author Topic: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed  (Read 74363 times)
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #465 on: June 28, 2022, 17:28:24 »

South Western Railway's web site on the topic of Wimbledon tennis championships.

They don't seem to be going as far as organising that additional trains call at Wimbledon to ease and encourage travel from further afield. Not sure the extent to which that was done in the past, but it *was* done, and very recently.

Mark


https://www.southwesternrailway.com/destinations-and-offers/sights-and-attractions/trains-to-wimbledon-tennis-championship
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40648



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #466 on: June 28, 2022, 17:52:51 »

South Western Railway's web site on the topic of Wimbledon tennis championships.

They don't seem to be going as far as organising that additional trains call at Wimbledon to ease and encourage travel from further afield. Not sure the extent to which that was done in the past, but it *was* done, and very recently.

Mark


https://www.southwesternrailway.com/destinations-and-offers/sights-and-attractions/trains-to-wimbledon-tennis-championship


Granted there are no through trains from Bristol, Bath, Bradford-on-Avon or Trowbridge to Wimbledon this fortnight, but there are extra calls - I took a look on Saturday:

Arrivals from beyond Basingstoke (Weymouth, Yeovil Junction, etc) at 05:49, 10:32, 11:06, 11:32, 12:06, 12:09 and 12:32

Returning at 18:03, 18:20, 18:33 and throughout the evening until 23:51
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #467 on: June 28, 2022, 20:12:58 »

So they do, thanks for this. Be good to mention that on the event promotion page on the SWR» (South Western Railway - about) web site, I'll drop 'em a line.

The services include e.g. Exeter at 07:25 arriving Wimbledon at 10:32 so 3 hours 7 minutes. And, currently 9 advance singles for tomorrow available at £37.80, (cf offpeak return at £95:40, mind...)

Return trip mostly involves a change at Woking, but there is a through train from Wimbledon to Exeter at 20:33 with similar AP fares, which is thoughtful.

Mark
Logged
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #468 on: June 28, 2022, 20:50:50 »

Carrying on with the theme of bespoke train services for events, here's Iansvisits on the 2022 Imberbus day.

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the-surreal-experience-that-is-imberbus-returns-in-august-55660/

for ticket suggestions from London, he's reduced to suggesting split ticketing the fare at Salisbury.

No enhanced train service to this, but there's a through train at 08:50 from Waterloo. Nothing in the opposite direction though apart from, if the light is right, the ghost of the old service from Bristol which presumably passed Warminster at a rather useful 5 o'clock(ish).

Looking at return trains, the fares are a bit all over the place - and into the evening, there's a couple of traditional looong connection times at Salisbury - with near three hour travel times, while the last train of the day involves a connection via Bath.

Mark

Logged
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5314


View Profile
« Reply #469 on: June 28, 2022, 22:46:52 »

South Western Railway's web site on the topic of Wimbledon tennis championships.

They don't seem to be going as far as organising that additional trains call at Wimbledon to ease and encourage travel from further afield. Not sure the extent to which that was done in the past, but it *was* done, and very recently.

Mark


https://www.southwesternrailway.com/destinations-and-offers/sights-and-attractions/trains-to-wimbledon-tennis-championship


Granted there are no through trains from Bristol, Bath, Bradford-on-Avon or Trowbridge to Wimbledon this fortnight, but there are extra calls - I took a look on Saturday:

Arrivals from beyond Basingstoke (Weymouth, Yeovil Junction, etc) at 05:49, 10:32, 11:06, 11:32, 12:06, 12:09 and 12:32

Returning at 18:03, 18:20, 18:33 and throughout the evening until 23:51
I just did a drill down into RTT» (Real Time Trains - website) for a summary of this evenings (28/6) services, if you select passenger calls only, and subsequently calling at Woking, you get this:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:WIM/to/gb-nr:WOK/2022-06-28/2142?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=wtt&toc=SW
AIUI (as I understand it) all the calls at P7 are tennis extras, as P7 is normally locked off to passengers.   It seems typical for the Wimbledon fortnight.  A similar exercise in the morning would involve looking for calls on P6.
Logged
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #470 on: July 06, 2022, 12:18:47 »

Andrew Murrison has resigned from a government post, here's his letter.

https://twitter.com/AWMurrison/status/1544385269138350081

(He's the Conservative MP (Member of Parliament) for South West Wiltshire. Circa 2004, when the Waterloo trains were previously threatened at a change of franchise, he did much to ensure the well used service was retained. Fast forward to the recent campaign, was it the case that he was supportive but with the current DfT» (Department for Transport - about) decision makers found he had no influence on the issue?)

Michelle Donelan, the MP for Chippenham has been appointed Secretary of State for Education. A fair percentage of her constituents signed Graham's lovely petition in support of the service, just trying to recall exactly what percentage... ah, here it is: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598397

Mark

Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40648



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #471 on: July 06, 2022, 13:51:26 »

Andrew Murrison has resigned from a government post, here's his letter.

We have gotten to know Andrew well over the years and he's certainly been a good friend on the public transport side - an unassuming man who you could quite easily pass on Westbury station, and I feel that he's put his principles ahead of his career or his popularity with his colleagues and ministers at times. His support at the tail of last year was notably strong and genuine - he really asked the questions with a view to getting concrete local consideration and change, going rather beyond just meeting with ministers to let us know he had put our case. 

I don't always agree with Andrew's views but I have a repect for him. Sad to see him resign, but in the funny world of politics and the Conservative party ...
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
JayMac
Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 18887



View Profile
« Reply #472 on: July 06, 2022, 15:11:48 »

Michelle Donelan, the MP (Member of Parliament) for Chippenham has been appointed Secretary of State for Education.

It's surprising that there are Tory MPs out there prepared to join a sinking ship.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
GBM
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1454


View Profile Email
« Reply #473 on: July 07, 2022, 07:24:54 »

Our local (Conservative) M.P has recently spoken against the Prime Minister.
Prior to that, he's kept his personal views quiet, only speaking about current agenda issues.
He's the only Cornish one to do so.
Steve Double has said as he's a Whip, he's supporting the party line.
George Eustice has said he's remaining in post.
The other three MP (Member of Parliament)'s haven't said anything.

I know, I know, politics will divide us and this is nothing to do with Waterloo to Bristol
Logged

Personal opinion only.  Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)
JayMac
Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 18887



View Profile
« Reply #474 on: July 07, 2022, 10:46:05 »

Michelle Donelan, the MP (Member of Parliament) for Chippenham has been appointed Secretary of State for Education.

It's surprising that there are Tory MPs out there prepared to join a sinking ship.

She's resigned. That has to be a record for the shortest tenure as a minister of state.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6432


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #475 on: July 09, 2022, 16:53:35 »

Michelle Donelan, the MP (Member of Parliament) for Chippenham has been appointed Secretary of State for Education.

It's surprising that there are Tory MPs out there prepared to join a sinking ship.

She's resigned. That has to be a record for the shortest tenure as a minister of state.

36 hours, with a payoff of £17,000. Although she left without making any big mistakes, like Sam Allardyce, the only England manager never to lose a game.
Logged

Now, please!
oldshire
Transport Scholar
Jr. Member
******
Posts: 13


View Profile Email
« Reply #476 on: July 09, 2022, 19:52:24 »

It's very sweet of her to give her payout to charity but the money belongs to the taxpayer!
Logged
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #477 on: July 21, 2022, 13:52:12 »

South Western Railway has published its 2022-23 business plan. Among other things, changes arising from the December '22 timetable consultation have been put back 'till is it May '23.

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/about-us/our-plan

(No sign of them reinstating the chunk of the December '21 timetable change on which they didn't consult of course...)

Mark
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40648



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #478 on: July 22, 2022, 08:52:52 »

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/about-us/our-plan

(No sign of them reinstating the chunk of the December '21 timetable change on which they didn't consult of course...)

No direct reference.   But I hope that

Quote
We will modernise and simplify the customer offer, taking into account the full end to end journey experience to improve our customers’ on-train and at station experience.
means that clockface connections at Salisbury will be sorted out

Quote
We will deliver a punctual and reliable train service that meets the needs of our customers through matching capacity to demand
means that demand from WECA» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and West Wiltshire will be met with punctual and reliable trains

Quote
We will maximise and sustain the recovery and growth of our own and whole industry revenues following the pandemic
means, again, that they will look for growth

Sadly, most the quotes above are sandwiched with weasel words and phrases ... and I could find some very negative things that could be done within the plan's apparently positive design.   I note that the ultimate way to simplify something is to withdraw it, and one approach to raising revenue is to increase the price - directly or by limiting the usefulness of lower priced options.





Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #479 on: August 06, 2022, 11:41:05 »


From the GWR (Great Western Railway) Customer and Stakeholder report 2021/22 published August 2022, grateful to one Chris Irwin for this:

"It was, therefore, of regret that GWR seemed unable to find ways of ameliorating the very poor connection times for passengers at Salisbury from Bristol, Bath and west Wiltshire to the southern home counties and London Waterloo caused by SWR» (South Western Railway - about)’s withdrawal of through service between Waterloo, Salisbury, and Bristol."

It would have been lovely if it had been a bit of a theme from everyone though. Mark Hopwood in his introduction states, quite correctly:

"Rail is not about trains, it is about connecting people and places and we do that best when we work together"

With regards to current Bristol - Waterloo service provision, that report is a case of 'Talk the talk' at a time that they need to get down and fix something that, starting with the arrival of the new SWR franchise, the industry conspicuously broke.

Mark

Logged
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 ... 30 31 [32] 33 34
  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