Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

I totally agree, willc. Just offering up the advice for those of us, in the Bristol area, who do want to take a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) into Waterloo. 

[eightf48544]

But Paul raised the point in the context of SWT^▸ (South West Trains)'s clear advice to Bristol passengers, which was to use FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s services from Bristol during the period affected, ie, don't bother trying to travel route Salisbury from the Bristol area at this time.

This business of fares is getting way out of hand. Here we have a major junction closed for period and they can't even work out a sensible fare structure to get people to/from London and Bristol/Wales/West.

It seems to me that should be a special set of fares from all FGW stations West of Reading to London  valid on any train or combination of trains that takes you to/from a London terminus.

They should be considerably cheaper than present anytime fares to compensate for the longer journey times and extra changes.

This should also apply to other thread re Chiltern diverting via Didcot.

[willc]

It might sound like a nice idea but you do say "a sensible fare structure" then suggest something that would only add further complication. Don't forget that in the middle of it all, the line through Reading does reopen for New Year's Eve, so would you then revert to normal fares for the day?

And Chiltern need to find the money from somewhere to pay FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for the use of its trains during closures (it's their project, not Network Rail's). Not that there is any consistent pattern to those closures, so a sensible fare structure is the last thing you would end up with. The following scenarios can all apply, with all sorts of journey times, depending on the circumstances. Chiltern trains divert to Oxford or Didcot from Banbury, passengers are advised to use XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) to get to Oxford, trains serving Oxfordshire and the West Midlands are diverted via Aylesbury with a reverse at Princes Risborough, plus all sort of bus/train routings, depending on which parts of the line are closed.

In all this, by far the most important thing is to keep people on trains, whatever the route or journey time or fare, rather than putting them into buses, which surveys consistently show is something people dislike. And FGW and Chiltern seem to be doing their level best to achieve that (assisted by SWT^▸ (South West Trains) in the case of the Waterloo diversions).

[eightf48544]

It might sound like a nice idea but you do say "a sensible fare structure" then suggest something that would only add further complication. Don't forget that in the middle of it all, the line through Reading does reopen for New Year's Eve, so would you then revert to normal fares for the day.

What I should have said is one fare somewhere between the Advanced and Offpeak should be offered for any applicable journey for the whole of the disruption no matter what route or time of day. It would apply on New Year's Eve, with it being free after midnight.

And Chiltern need to find the money from somewhere to pay FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for the use of its trains during closures (it's their project, not Network Rail's).

That's just bean counting, due to stupid way railways are organised and  funded.

Not that there is any consistent pattern to those closures, so a sensible fare structure is the last thing you would end up with.

To my mind it doesn't matter what the pattern of closures are if the effect is that you cannot make a journey you would normally be able to make without being diverted, extra changes, longer journey times  or worse still put on buses then the same cheaper fare can apply for all such disrupted journeys.

In all this, by far the most important thing is to keep people on trains, whatever the route or journey time or fare, rather than putting them into buses, which surveys consistently show is something people dislike. And FGW and Chiltern seem to be doing their level best to achieve that (assisted by SWT^▸ (South West Trains) in the case of the Waterloo diversions).

Couldn't agree more so why not let them travel cheaply to compensate them for their loyalty.



Edited to remove response from quoted post. bignosemac

[willc]

So when the operators' costs are substantially increased through extra mileage, hire of buses, etc, you think they should cut the revenue they are generating? Never mind that the disruption is likely to put off some potential custom anyway? It all has to be paid for somehow and I don't think the Government is going to be offering to help just now.

The majority of this work is taking place at times when travel is on off-peak (I am using the term generally, in the way it used to be understood by sane and sensible people, not the dubious way the rail industry now employs it) or advance fares anyway.

[XPT]

I'm still trying to work out what to do for my trip to London and back especially for these diverstions.   Shame about there being only a limited number of services which offer the cheap advance fares.   

If I get the 1130 from Bristol Temple Meads, I can get a ^10 single.   Scheduled to arrive in London Paddington 1437.  I could then possibly get the 1526(albeit at a cost of ^28 single) from London Waterloo to Westbury, but I think this could be cutting it fine a bit whether I'll be able to get there in time.  Getting the 1626 may be a safer option.  But the thing is then it will be practically dark at that time and with the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) ultra bright carriage lighting as it is nowadays, I won't be able to see a thing of the diverted route the train is taking!

Alternatively I could take the journey the other way around, Bristol-Westbury, Westbury-London Waterloo-Paddington-Bristol.  And be able to get a ^10 single on one of the afternoon services from London Paddington.  Thing is though if I get on at Westbury, these services will originate from either Plymouth or Penzance.  So I might not get the convenience of having a window seat and facing the direction of travel, as there'll be plenty of people allready on those trains! I see though there is a good value fare of just ^9.50 on the 0718 service from Westbury.   Though this would involve a walk of about an hour and 20 minutes to Temple Meads that morning.  To get the 0605 service to Westbury, arriving there at 0641.  But if that service gets cancelled that would ruin that plan.  The next train is at 0640 and scheduled to arrive Westbury at 0716, just TWO minutes before the 0718 to London Waterloo which is cutting it fine a little!

Is there likely to be many people travelling between the West Country/Bristol and London on the 27th and 28th December?

[ChrisB]

Yes, but not that early!

[ChrisB]

Me? I think I'm going to start at Oxford to Padd, Waterloo to Westbury to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Oxford....

[XPT]

Finally decided what I'm going to do, and just about to book up.  On Tuesday 28th, I will get the 0601 service from Bristol Parkway-London Paddington. Fare just ^10 single. This will be a service from Swansea, but even then I shoudn't think there'd be too many passengers onboard at that early hour on a Bank Holiday!  So should easily get a window seat. At that time it will be pitch black outside, but at around 7:30ish, just around the time the train reaches Banbury daylight will start breaking allowing me to see the diverted route we're taking.  The 1 hour 50 minute non-stop journey after Oxford will be particularly interesting.

Upon arrival in London at 0907, I'll then just have a bit of a ride somewhere in the London area.  Maybe just a trip up to Harrow & Wealdestone and back on the Bakerloo line 1972 stock.  Then to Waterloo for the 1233 service to Westbury.  Upon arrival in Westbury there will be a short wait for my onward train back to Bristol.  Fare ^24.50.

That's ^34.50 for the total return fare to London with FGW^▸ (First Great Western).  I certainly see that as not too bad atall, especially as it's two special *possibly*
once in a lifetime journeys.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Good luck with that, XPT - and please do post some pictures here! 

[JayMac]

I'm hoping to do Taunton to Waterloo on the 27th then back to Bristol via Banbury. 27th being the day I can escape from the family after Christmas!

Not making too many confirmed plans until nearer the time as life at the moment seems to be getting in the way of 'messing about on trains'. 

[IndustryInsider]

Meanwhile, there's still absolutely no sign of any physical works at Banbury connected with this turnback provision for platforms 1 and 2.  Only five months to go, so I would expect things to start happening imminently, or it'll be a rush job!

Two shiny signal posts have now appeared at the south end of platforms one and two.  Covered up, but from the counter-weights already fitted it looks like they're going to be semaphore signals - I wonder how many brand new semaphore signals get installed these days!

[ChrisB]

Definitely semaphore, debate rages as to which type though!

[inspector_blakey]

*fingers crossed, hoping for upper quadrants to upset the Brunel posse*

[eightf48544]

Apparently there is rule as to whether a new semaphore is upper or lower quadrant. It is apparently  determined by counting the number of existing signals of each type and providing the type in the majority.