IMPORTANT! 0710 Bristol - Pad

[whole diary]

[Jim]

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGW%20-%20372.pdf

Not running when Newquay direct runs

[Timmer]

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGW%20-%20372.pdf

Not running when Newquay direct runs

What a laugh, this service NEVER runs anyway so no difference really. Love the wording that says that this was always a planned ammendement that was never published. Wonder if anyone ever turned up at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI))/Parkway hoping to catch this service? Oh well its officially now...it ain't running at all during the summer.

[martyjon]

Does that mean the 06:00 Swansea - London Paddington will now be stopping daily at Didcot which it usually does when the 07:10 Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington is cancelled or is FGW^▸ (First Great Western) giving the two fingers to commuters from Bristol Parkway to Didcot YET AGAIN.

[grahame]

I have asked about the 07:10 off Bristol before, as it seems to have one of the worst records of any train (along with the 05:29 Gloucester / 06:19 Swindon to Westbury, and the other three services on that line).

The answer I was given is that it's an extra train over and above the contract requirement, and so it's the first to be cancelled if any of the 125s isn't available for service as expected.  The answer went on to tell me of plenty of other trains available for the passengers when it's cancelled (that reason does NOT apply, though, to a cancellation of the 06:19 Swindon - Westbury, where the next train does not run until 18:42)

If the 07:10 has been cancelled on average (say) once a week because it uses the "last drop squeezed from the depot", will the direct Newquay have a similar record, will cancellations be spread more evenly, or are trains less prone to fail in the very best of summer weather?

[Timmer]

If the 07:10 has been cancelled on average (say) once a week because it uses the "last drop squeezed from the depot", will the direct Newquay have a similar record, will cancellations be spread more evenly, or are trains less prone to fail in the very best of summer weather?

This service is very much on trial this summer and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have really been promoting this service with some very attractive fares from London. If it doesn't get the passenger usage I can see it being dropped from next summer if FGW can put a case to Dft. As for how many it times it gets cancelled remains to be seen because its a scheduled service to Plymouth that runs throughout the year extended to Newquay in the summer. It could be that if things aren't running to plan it is more like to get terminated short of its destination rather than cancelled.

[simonw]

Hi, I noticed ,

If the 07:10 has been cancelled on average (say) once a week because it uses the "last drop squeezed from the depot", will the direct Newquay have a similar record, will cancellations be spread more evenly, or are trains less prone to fail in the very best of summer weather?

This train has probably been cancelled 4 out of 5 days a week. This is no exaggeration.

I regularly get the 06:56 or 07:30 service from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), and everyday I see the word CANCELLED on the electronic noticeboard for this train.

Interestingly, if an extra sevice is running from LPD to Newquay, will it be as reliable as the 0710 from BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to LPD? If so, is there is any point in running this service?

[Timmer]

This train has probably been cancelled 4 out of 5 days a week. This is no exaggeration.

I regularly get the 06:56 or 07:30 service from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), and everyday I see the word CANCELLED on the electronic noticeboard for this train.

That is pretty much spot on, it hardly ever runs.

[Jim]

The Newquay I belive will have this set stabled in London overnight, thus meaning there is no spare set for morning Cheltenham (0610 I belive) so that will be more likely to cancelation, unless they re-wirte the whole not to be canxed scripts

[Lee]

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGW%20-%20372.pdf

Not running when Newquay direct runs

Ive checked back and , believe it or not , this is exactly what Jacobs recommended.

[g4mby]

This train has probably been cancelled 4 out of 5 days a week. This is no exaggeration.

I regularly get the 06:56 or 07:30 service from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), and everyday I see the word CANCELLED on the electronic noticeboard for this train.

That is pretty much spot on, it hardly ever runs.

...and has caused much amusement amongst my fellow commuters. Can't have done FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s image any good though. Has this train now been taken out of the timetable? It doesn't seem to run and it's no longer shown as cancelled.

[grahame]

Has this train now been taken out of the timetable? It doesn't seem to run and it's no longer shown as cancelled.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are not required to run it in July of August according to the service level agreement.   It was "an error" that it was left in certain timetables for that period; the train set is needed for the high summer Newquay service from Paddington.

Expect it back in September.

First are asking the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) if the can vary their committment from December and instead of running an extra train from Bristol to London between 07:00 and 07:30, they want to run an extra train between 06:30 and 07:30,  but without the current contract requirement for it to call at Parkway.  In other words, they want to run a train that's routed via Bath leaving Bristol in the half hour before 07:00

[simonw]

Another crazy idea from FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) is more important that BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) for taking people to London in the morning. It needs the extra capacity.

If FGW want to run the train they should consider BPW-BTM-Bath-Chippenham-Swindon-Reading-London; it is not uncommon for 200+ passengers to get each train at BPW between 06:30-8:00.

[martyjon]

It seems that the 0540 Cheltenham Spa - London Paddington has taken the place of the 0710 Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington as the prime candidate for cancellation in the mornings. Must please those punters who regularly use this service.

[Jim]

It used to be the spare set for that or the 0610 (can't remember) so 1 of them will indeed now face regular cancellation

[martyjon]

There were many dozen happy punters at Bristol Parkway this morning, 18/07/2007. The 0731 departure was running late and had its stop at Bristol Parkway 'pulled' and would run through to Paddington non stop. Many of these passengers are ones that were inconvenienced by the constant cancellation of the 07.10 BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and then the withdrawal of the service so the PAD - NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) service coulf operate, now this. Next Paddington departure was at 0801 and it was inevitable that this would be standing room only. Well done FGW^▸ (First Great Western), living up to your unofficial name THE FARCE GROUP.