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grahame
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« on: July 25, 2022, 11:25:47 pm » |
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From a correspondent in Dilton Marsh (by email, reproduced with permission):
Just a quick update on the abysmal service we are having to endure on a daily basis: short formations, overcrowding and air conditioning that generally doesn’t work.
I’m sure I remember GWR▸ stating that withdrawal of the Brightons would enable them to run the 5 coach trains we are supposed to have on the Portsmouth to Cardiff line. Since their withdrawal, I have seen the short formations of 2 and 3 coaches become more prevalent with yesterday morning being nothing short of a disgrace.
As usual on a Sunday I caught the 1052 from Dilton Marsh to Keynsham to visit my mum. It turned up a few minutes late as an already overcrowded 3 car. I managed to get on as did the other Dilton Marsh passengers and while there were no seats, I was able to move into the carriage away from the numerous suitcases blocking the doorways because there was nowhere else for them to go. A number of passengers got off at Dilton Marsh. I did ask if they actually wanted Dilton Marsh as they were laden with suitcases. Their English was poor and I don’t think they understood me. As we started moving they looked at the station sign and moved back towards the train but as the guard was by the front door he wouldn’t have seen them and as we were already moving, there was nothing he could have safely done anyway. Why can’t the automatic announcements give out Dilton Marsh, rather than when the door opens at Dilton Marsh state, “This is Westbury” with the monitors “confirming” this?
Also on this train, it was so overcrowded that people were left behind including a wheelchair at Bradford on Avon due to not only there being no room on the train for it but it was physically impossible for the guard to get to the cupboard which stored the ramp. This isn’t the only train that is regularly short formation. While the 1105 is a welcome addition at Dilton Marsh to replace the old 1111 from Westbury, it is only ever a 3 car with standing room only. This is the train that connects with the cruise ships so it is vital with no 1111 relief it is a 5 car.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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froome
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« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2022, 09:13:50 am » |
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We visited friends on Sunday who are only occasional train users. They told us that they had recently used the Cardiff to Portsmouth service to travel to Southampton, and then on by SWR» to Poole to catch a ferry to the Channel Isles. Their journeys there and back match all the comments made in this correspondents ones, and they specifically mentioned the issue of the cruise passengers pretty much swamping Southampton Central's platforms to the point that when the train our friends had hoped to catch back towards Cardiff came in, they couldn't get on, and they had to wait an hour for a similarly overcrowded train to arrive to squeeze onto. They did also note with surprise how different the SWR trains were, where there was plenty of space and none of the issues highlighted here about the GWR▸ service.
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2022, 03:32:58 pm » |
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From another local correspondent - another day, another train, a similar problem Yet again I have to complain about this train. It arrived in Salisbury with only 2 carriages. Mid morning Friday, holiday time, lovely weather, everyone taking advantage of the sun. Mothers with buggies, holiday makers with large suitcases, day trippers.
I had to stand in the vestibule for 45 minutes from Salisbury to Bradford on Avon. At [xx] years of age I did not appreciate this.
When we reached Bradford 4 people had to get out so I could get off. Eleven people were left on the platform because there was just no room. One passenger [snip] ...
Absolute disgrace. Do the words "forward planning" exist in GWR▸ ? |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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GBM
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« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2022, 06:53:49 am » |
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As so often seen in journeycheck "More trains than usual needing repairs"!
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Personal opinion only. Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)  |
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Timmer
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« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2022, 07:06:13 am » |
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There's a 2 car 165 doing the rounds again on the CDF» -PMH line today.
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grahame
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« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2022, 08:15:14 am » |
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There's a 2 car 165 doing the rounds again on the CDF» -PMH line today.
On its own? No parent?? |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Timmer
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« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2022, 08:26:16 am » |
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There's a 2 car 165 doing the rounds again on the CDF» -PMH line today.
On its own? No parent?? On its own: 0803 BRI» -PMH 1023 PMH-CDF 1430 CDF-PMH 1824 PMH-CDF 2230 CDF-BRI |
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2022, 09:43:41 am » |
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There's a 2 car 165 doing the rounds again on the CDF» -PMH line today.
On its own? No parent?? On its own: 0803 BRI» -PMH 1023 PMH-CDF 1430 CDF-PMH 1824 PMH-CDF 2230 CDF-BRI Thank you - interesting to note it's not flagged up as a short form on journey check ... |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2022, 10:01:53 am » |
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It’s booked for a 3-car 166. Is it possible that the night staff that do entries for journeycheck were on strike last night, so some entries have been missed? It’s also quite possible that it’s just another journeycheck inaccuracy.
Either way, it’s good that the much more accurate data on realtimetrains can be used to find out such things.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Timmer
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« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2022, 10:34:25 am » |
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It’s booked for a 3-car 166. Is it possible that the night staff that do entries for journeycheck were on strike last night, so some entries have been missed? It’s also quite possible that it’s just another journeycheck inaccuracy.
Either way, it’s good that the much more accurate data on realtimetrains can be used to find out such things.
RTT» was where I found out that there was a diagram down as a 2 car 165. Coming up on departure boards as such as well. |
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Clan Line
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« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2022, 01:45:20 pm » |
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For the last few weeks I have been helping out in an allotment alongside the railway line at Warminster - at various times of day. From my totally unscientific observations 5 car trains are very rare. Out of curiosity I had a quick look at RTT» .
Last Monday, out of 32 Cardiff/Portsmouth trains just 6 were 5 cars.
Today (Sunday) out of 29 Cardiff/Portsmouth trains 18 were 5 cars.
This seems to tell me something - but I am not quite sure what ...............
Be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
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Clan Line
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« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2022, 09:54:56 am » |
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Be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
According to RTT» : this Monday 12 trains are shown to be 5 cars. Double last Monday - but a third down on yesterday. |
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Clan Line
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« Reply #12 on: August 02, 2022, 09:55:45 am » |
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9 today !
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grahame
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« Reply #13 on: August 02, 2022, 10:36:01 am » |
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Please remind me when the 19 x 769 units have been promised to come into service to release turbos from the North Downs line and to bring trains in our area up to the appropriate length.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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eXPassenger
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« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2022, 11:43:13 am » |
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Please remind me when the 19 x 769 units have been promised to come into service to release turbos from the North Downs line and to bring trains in our area up to the appropriate length.
Shortly after the first commercial fusion reactor starts up. |
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