Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 13:15 29 Mar 2024
* Delays at Dover as millions begin Easter getaway
- Attempted murder charge after man stabbed on train
- KFC Nigeria sorry after disabled diner refused service
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
13:21 Newbury to Bedwyn
13:48 Bedwyn to Newbury
14:12 Newbury to Bedwyn
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
14:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
12:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:10 Penzance to London Paddington
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
etc
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
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 29, 2024, 13:17:47 *
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
[153] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
[97] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[53] Travel for free on the m2 metrobus - Bristol - 4,5,6 April 202...
[41] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[38] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[37] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2]
  Print  
Author Topic: Cross Country overcrowding  (Read 9663 times)
Btline
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4782



View Profile
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2008, 19:08:23 »

Operation Princess did not increase frequencies on the Cherwell Valley route, nor on the extremities if the network.
Therefore, it was still halving of seat numbers.

And as for Voyagers - working well out of the box? Shocked Shocked Shocked Shocked
Have you been on one? I could draw up a huge list of thier faults (and if you search on this forum, you will find such a list!). Grin
They are the worst trains ever to set wheel in this country, and they should be scrapped asap and broken up with NONE PRESERVED.

And finally - there won't be many double Voyagers as 5 voyagers were sent to Virgin. Angry
Logged
willc
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2330


View Profile
« Reply #16 on: December 16, 2008, 19:37:34 »

Quote
Operation Princess did not increase frequencies on the Cherwell Valley route, nor on the extremities if the network.
Therefore, it was still halving of seat numbers.

Oh yes it did. Up from hourly to half-hourly between Birmingham and Reading - though on one particularly bad evening in autumn 2002, I saw three northbound Voyagers leave Oxford in the space of 15 minutes - so seat numbers per hour were and still are about the same.

I think the reference to Voyagers working out of the box was about their mechanical reliability, unlike a certain five-car 125mph DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) we could mention, not whether the passenger environment is any good or whether interior space was used efficiently by the designers.
Logged
Worcester_Passenger
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1704


View Profile
« Reply #17 on: December 17, 2008, 04:35:18 »

If anybody wants to see what a Voyager should really look like, I recommend a trip on one of the ones that Virgin West Coast have refurbished. The coach with the buffet in it has been converted into what they apparently call a 'hybrid' class, so that it can be used as First or standard. Goodness knows why you'd want more First class, but apparently they do. But on the Birmingham - Scotland services, these coaches are in use as standard. They feature 2+2 seating, all at tables, with the tables lining up with the windows. I don't know what the reduction in seat numbers looks like. And I didn't look carefully enough at the luggage space that's been provided. Why Virgin couldn't have had them like this from day one is a mystery.

One slight problem. In order to make this work, they've been running the coaches in the order A (First) D (Shop/hybrid) B-C-F (standard). But the conductor I spoke to said that was due to change, with the First becoming coach F.
Logged
eightf48544
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4574


View Profile Email
« Reply #18 on: December 17, 2008, 08:08:56 »

I understand that that the government have asked Network Rail if the the main Great Western main line to Bristol and Swansea could be wired up within a 5 year period.Network rails answer was they could do it in 3 years.If that is the case then an electrified GW (Great Western) main line would release valuable Refurbished HSTs (High Speed Train) for use on Crosscountry at some point.We await the outcome of the governments electrification study in the new year.
HSTs I believe have to be withdrawn from service by 2020 and with only a small potential IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.) order to replace the HSTs now on XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) it looks like we will be stuck with Voyagers for some time.

Why do the HSTs have to be withdrawn in 2020? They will only be arounf 40 years old on average. A Mark 3 ought to be able to do 60 years, Ok you can replace/re-engine (again!) the 43s but the coaches should still be able to carry on. Also unfortunately, because the accidents shouldn't have occurred,  they've actually been proved to be very crash worthy.
Logged
Zoe
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 746


View Profile
« Reply #19 on: December 17, 2008, 09:37:09 »

Why do the HSTs (High Speed Train) have to be withdrawn in 2020?
I believe it's at least in part due to environmental reasons.  There is an EU» (European Union - about) wide agreement to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #20 on: December 17, 2008, 09:43:29 »

Why do the HSTs (High Speed Train) have to be withdrawn in 2020?
I believe it's at least in part due to environmental reasons.  There is an EU» (European Union - about) wide agreement to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020.

As I understand it, there's a number of stock types that have to be withdrawn by a date in December 2019 ... to the HSTs, add the pacers and the heritage DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit).   I have heard [rumour] that there's also crush / safety rules with the pacers, and that fact that outward-opening, slam-door trains won't be allowed any more even with central door locking.

How things have changed - I remember being horrified when I was locked into a compartment on the Ffestiniog; now it's more discreet, but the norm.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10096


View Profile
« Reply #21 on: December 17, 2008, 11:17:47 »

Quote
Operation Princess did not increase frequencies on the Cherwell Valley route, nor on the extremities if the network.
Therefore, it was still halving of seat numbers.

Oh yes it did. Up from hourly to half-hourly between Birmingham and Reading - though on one particularly bad evening in autumn 2002, I saw three northbound Voyagers leave Oxford in the space of 15 minutes - so seat numbers per hour were and still are about the same.

I think the reference to Voyagers working out of the box was about their mechanical reliability, unlike a certain five-car 125mph DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) we could mention, not whether the passenger environment is any good or whether interior space was used efficiently by the designers.

Indeed. Thanks for clarifying that for me, Will. How many years were Adelante's being tested before finally (and very slowly) being released onto scheduled services?!
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) 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/
vacman
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2530


View Profile
« Reply #22 on: December 17, 2008, 11:19:43 »

Funny you should mention the Ffestiniog Graham, I felt quite uneasy when I sat in one of their compartment coaches and got locked in, what struck me though was what would happen in the event of a fire? the windows are so small that any normal person couldn't fit through them!
Logged
Super Guard
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1308


View Profile
« Reply #23 on: December 17, 2008, 11:23:40 »

In the South-West, delays are happening as XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have removed most if not all of their slack time at places like Birmingham/Bristol/North, whereas before they get to the SW reasonably on-time, they all seemed yesterday afternoon/evening to be 15-30 late.

I was also told by XC that there would be no scheduled double sets of voyagers to the SW, unless they had a 'spare' set on the day, where they would make a decision then to run it double.

Nice to see more HSTs (High Speed Train) with added capacity, but as normal, from what I saw yesterday evening there was a HST going north with not many on, whereas a 4 car voyager arrived going South crammed to the rafters.  They also have a policy of running the HSTs South during the morning and North during the afternoon/evening, so this situation looks unlikely to change.
Logged

Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own.  I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.

If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
Zoe
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 746


View Profile
« Reply #24 on: December 17, 2008, 11:41:06 »

I would always go via London now, if you book in advance you can get some quite cheap fares if you buy separate tickets from the West to London and then from London to the North.  This can however be a risky strategy as if for any reason the train into Paddington is delayed and you miss your train from Kings Cross then you would have to buy at least an off peak single if not at anytime single.  I would advise that you leave at least 2 hours between arrival at Paddington and departure from Kings Cross in case of this.
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 [2]
  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