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

[whole diary]

[Bob_Blakey]

This may very well have been raised before but, if so, I don't think a refresher would do any harm; is the ongoing absolutely appalling, and largely useless, level of service through Melksham entirely due to a reliance on rest day working and/or overtime or is there something else at play here? Also are the frequent cancellations primarily due to a 'shortage' of drivers, guards or a combination of the two?

[grahame]

Today is ... a mess.   Comment to follow on conclusion of service. 

No comment, but questions.  How are we supposed to market and use this service? Do GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) care?



We are (rightly) told not to consider a single day in isolation, but rather look at the trend.  Here from ontime trains is their weekend history report for Melksham form the last 6, 3 and 1 month



"Performance" figure (however that is calculated) getting worse. Cancellations - which are key - getting worse. Averaged over 6 months, an already awful 13% (and remember there will not be another along 20 minutes later at Melksham!) over 3 months that's up to 20%.  And over the last 4 weeks - the busy summer holidays - no fewer than 27% that 's more than 1 in 4 trains is not run. 

[TaplowGreen]

It is indeed shockingly poor Graham, almost unbelievably so, however sadly if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ever did care they will be caring even less now knowing that their franchise will be ending.

There is little, if any incentive or motivation for improvement, in fact if anything things are likely to deteriorate further as they get closer to the finish line.

It used to be that Sunday services were reliably unreliable with mass cancellations on particular routes, now this happens on Saturdays as well and it's increasingly bleeding into weekdays too.

Hopefully GBR^▸ (Great British Railways), and "nationalisation" will improve things for the customer, however as we know from this forum at least, no-one, expert or otherwise, seems able to articulate how or if this will happen.

[grahame]

It is indeed shockingly poor Graham, almost unbelievably so, however sadly if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ever did care they will be caring even less now knowing that their franchise will be ending.

There is little, if any incentive or motivation for improvement, in fact if anything things are likely to deteriorate further as they get closer to the finish line.

Yes, I agree - and the question comes to me "how can we encourage GWR to provide a half decent service?"  Circumstances conspire to come together in a lack of interest, and I feel there's a fine line between being a critical friend which we have tried to do, and being so critical that someone says "blow this for a lark - we're gone next year anyway" and completely give up, or spitefully concentrates the cancellations on the lines that complain the most.  I don't have an answer to that and if anyone does I would love to hear it.

Looking back at Saturday service a couple of years ago, we had two extra round trips - in the morning and mid afternoon, and at timetable consultation time we agreed to forego these for a thinner but more reliable service.  I feel we have been short changed - we in the community kept our side of the bargain in selling the loss of service to our passengers, but GWR have not kept their side.

Weekend are  / had become as busy as weekdays.  These services being culled - 10 trains out of 14 yesterday - are vital to our community.   

[IndustryInsider]

Hopefully GBR^▸ (Great British Railways), and "nationalisation" will improve things for the customer, however as we know from this forum at least, no-one, expert or otherwise, seems able to articulate how or if this will happen.

Different government, same basic premise:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60cb29dde90e0743ae8c29c1/gbr-williams-shapps-plan-for-rail.pdf

[grahame]

15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59

15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be delayed at Melksham.
This is due to trespassers on the railway.

[grahame]

15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38

15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be terminated at Swindon.
It will no longer call at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[bobm]

Probably worth noting that despite widespread problems elsewhere over the weekend there was only one cancellation and one short run (starting Westbury vice Frome) on the TransWilts over the two days.

[TaplowGreen]

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be terminated at Gloucester.

It will no longer call at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse and Cheltenham Spa.

It is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

[TaplowGreen]

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

[grahame]

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

Alterations to services between Newbury and Westbury
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Westbury all lines are closed.
Train services running through these stations will be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 19:00 30/08.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.

We will update this message with more information when we have it.

Widespread problem, or has the local train been cancelled so that the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) can run fast through ... (?)

[bobm]

Power problems at Hungerford.

Some diverted, others - including the 16:03 London Paddington to Penzance - cancelled.

[grahame]

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham and is now expected to be 16 minutes late.
This is due to congestion.

[grahame]

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

Facilities on the 06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 2.