2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury

[whole diary]

[grahame]

A new thread for 2024 - last year's remains at http://www.passenger.chat/27048

The service between Swindon and Westbury is not the easiest to run operationally, and when something goes wrong the very thin timetable means considerable disruption to customer journeys.  The purpose of this thread is to provide a running log of issues so that we can see, look back, learn.  Sadly, I do not expect to see a miracle instant improvement to 100% running to timetable, but I am optimistic and hope that we'll be able to use and promote the service far better in 2024 without fear of things going wrong.

[grahame]

We start the year with flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - off "our" line but with lots of trains diverted through Chippenham. JourneyCheck assures us that "No station will go without a service." which is a relief as looking back the TransWilts service has often been withdrawn when the line is used for diversions.  Today, it is NOT the single track section that's carrying extra trains and I would anticipate just minor delays as our trains weave around South Wales expresses.

We do have our first alteration of the year ...

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Gloucester.
It will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Should I log this and it's not altering the running between Westbury and Swindon?  ... Yes, I am continuing to take as the "standard" to log changes on all through services along the line, even where the changes are north of Swindon or South and West of Westbury, as they effect through passengers.  In this case, on a Bank Holiday with everyone with a hangover except working railway staff, I don't expect (m)any people from Wiltshire will be inconvenienced.

[grahame]

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

[grahame]

20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58
 
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

[TaplowGreen]

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be started from Swindon.
It will no longer call at Westbury, Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

[grahame]

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

[TaplowGreen]

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to a fault on this train.

[TaplowGreen]

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 has been cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16
22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

[a-driver]

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20 has been cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

I assume IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) still can’t stop at Melksham because it’s not in the train database?

Time they added it, regardless of the huge cost to amend the database.

[grahame]

and more ...

 

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:20
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16

22:30 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to flooding.

Interesting, the 17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury and the 20:06 Westbury to (?) Chetlenham Spa still running as I write. Perhaps that will change

[grahame]

I assume IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) still can’t stop at Melksham because it’s not in the train database?

Time they added it, regardless of the huge cost to amend the database.

Ah yes ...

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Reading
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Westbury and Reading some lines towards Reading are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 19:00 04/01.

Westbury <-> Swindon service decimated due to flooding ... somewhere else!    We're still bottom of the pile here in Melksham when it comes to serving us in 2024.   Not asking "why" - just pointing it out. 

I like what they do elsewhere:

Customer Advice
Due to flooding on the railway near Chipping Sodbury, the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway is shut.

Therefore our trains running from South Wales and London Paddington are being diverted, and will add approximately 40 minutes to your journey. No station will go without a service.

[bobm]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Westbury and Swindon fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.

Due to flooding on the line between Reading, Newbury and Westbury, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) long distance West Country services are being diverted on the line though Melksham.
As a consequence, GWR local services between Swindon and Westbury and return are suspended.

Passengers from Westbury and Trowbridge are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Chippenham and Swindon.
Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury.
Passengers from Melksham are advised to please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. This will enable us to get suitable replacement transport to you as quickly as possible.
Passengers from Westbury or Trowbridge for Melksham should travel to Trowbridge and await rail replacement transport for Melksham.
Passengers from Swindon for Melksham should travel to Chippenham on the next available service and then await rail replacement transport for Melksham.

[bobm]

..and now running out of options.   Lines closed Didcot to Reading after a diverted West of England service has reporting hitting someone at Pangbourne.