Exactly. Reliability on this line is terrible.
Really?
Although it's now over two years since I retired from being a commuter along this line, I've not noticed it being particularly prominent among all the news of problems.
Compared to Swindon - Westbury, or North Cotswolds, I expect it looks a paragon of reliability - although sadly those a very low bars to exceed.
Some data:
Over the last 6 months, Gomshall has been the 1464th best perrormig station - down 549 places with 4% cancellations. If a train is cancelled, the next one will be along in an hour, or 30 minutes if a stop order is added.
Over the last 6 months, Melksham has been the 1900th best performing station - up 98 places with 7% cancellations. If a train is cancelled, the next one will be along about 2 hours later.
Over the last 6 months, Evesham has been the 2560th best performing stations - down 73 places with 5% cancelled. If a train is cancelled, next one is typically an hour later.
The ranking is based not only on percentage cancelledm but also on delays. At Evesam, 55% are on time, at Melksham 71% are on time and at Gomshall 77% are on time.
Source on-time trains, with a midline station selected to ensure reasonable comparable data.
The North Downs line has slipped ... but cancellation are roughly half of what they are at my home station of Melksham and the wait when one does not run is only a quarter of the time if another train coming through is stopped instead. By all means be unhappy with the North Downs line and how it has slipped, but don't for a moment think you are now worse served than some of these other places ....
