Failed train at Upwey/Saturday nightmare return journey

[whole diary]

[James158]

On Saturday me and my mum went to Weymouth. We caught the 09:17 loco hauled service from Keynsham which was very enjoyable but had no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff onboard to collect fares. so, for the majority a free journey. Only 1 member of staff from EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) who had to control the doors. No announcements were made and no revenue collection all the way to Weymouth.

The 16:08 Weymouth to Great Malvern service terminated at Upwey due to a fault with the front engine involving a class 150. This resulted in 50 passengers being stranded on the platform while the train went back to Weymouth Jersey Sidings to fully rectify the problem.

The stranded passengers had to wait for the 16:55 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service which had to make an additional stop at Upwey to pick up all these passengers. This service didn't depart Weymouth until 17:25. The next service from Weymouth at 17:28 didn't depart Weymouth until 18:10. So they were waiting on the platform for approx 1hr 20mins for the next train.

The train we caught was the 20:21 from Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads (3 coach class 158) which departed late due to the late arrival of the 20:08 from Gloucester which arrived at 20:18. Our train slowly made its way into the platform. The platform was packed with loud drunks smoking on the platform and even BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) were present on the station. The moment the train doors opened everybody rushed on board like sheep. We were the last on but we still managed to get a comfortable seat. There was 3 guards on the train. 1 was controlling the doors and the other 2 was revenue collecting which took some considerable amount of time to complete. 1 of the guards told us that the 20:21 on a Saturday is the worst train on the whole network as it is extremely busy, noisy and has to have BTP present on it, she also said that it is even worse than the 23:11 from BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to Frome on a Saturday. The majority of passengers alighted at Yeovil Pen Mill with BTP also in attendance there.

The driver told me that there is now a 40mph speed limit between Castle Cary and Dorchester West.

We arrived into Bristol Temple Meads 20mins late at 23:06. We will definately not be coming back on the 20:21 service on a Saturday again.

[Timmer]

Yes the last train out of Weymouth on a Saturday night has quite a reputation as you found out and is best avoided.

[grahame]

On Saturday me and my mum went to Weymouth. We caught the 09:17 loco hauled service from Keynsham which was very enjoyable but had no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff onboard to collect fares. so, for the majority a free journey.

My Emphasis in your quote.

My understanding of this service is that it runs from Bristol Temple Meads, which has ticket sales and access control to the platforms, and calls at a series of stations in a "Penalty Fare" area, where you are required to buy your ticket before you board the train.   There's a machine at Keynsham, a ticket office at Bath and barrier control, ticket offices at Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge and Westbury ... all of which should (?) be open at the time the train left.

Now ... it's possible that a proportion of passengers might try to get on the train via various wheezes through which they don't pay the fare / proper fare and I would agree with you if you had suggested that those passenger would in the circumstances have got away without paying.  But I would have been utterly amazed if that was the majority, or even a significant proportion, until you told us. Do you know something that I don't, perhaps?

[inspector_blakey]

No machines at Keynsham anymore, haven't been for some time. It is still a penalty fares station because there's a "ticket office" (member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff in a shed with an Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) machine) during weekday morning peak hours, during which time passengers must purchase tickets before joining.

But most of most of the stations on the way (Wey...?) from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Weymouth where large volumes of passengers are likely to be joining (Bristol, bath Spa, Trowbridge, Westbury etc etc) are staffed with open ticket offices at that time on a Saturday morning, so the loss of revenue probably wasn't too great.

If one were being scrupulously honest in the situation described I guess you'd go to the ticket office at Weymouth on your way out of the station and ask for a return from Keynsham.

[grahame]

Huge revenue loss with people on day trips (not!) when I look at it even further.   Keynsham to Weymouth, off peak day return, 14.70.   Weymouth to Keynsham, off peak day single, 14.60 if you get there free but need a ticket to get back.  You have to love the fare system!

[James158]

Yes the last train out of Weymouth on a Saturday night has quite a reputation as you found out and is best avoided.

Yes. We will avoid it in future. It is just not worth it.

[Timmer]

No machines at Keynsham anymore

The one at Oldfield Park hasn't been replaced either though it's shelter remains so maybe it will reappear one day. Not that it was ever convenient to use if you were heading to Weymouth as the the machine was on platform 1.

[James158]

No machines at Keynsham anymore

The one at Oldfield Park hasn't been replaced either though it's shelter remains so maybe it will reappear one day. Not that it was ever convenient to use if you were heading to Weymouth as the the machine was on platform 1.

Yes. I noticed that the ticket machine at Oldfield Park has disapeared. Perhaps it was vandalised, along with the Keynsham ticket machine.

[Timmer]

Yes. I noticed that the ticket machine at Oldfield Park has disapeared. Perhaps it was vandalised, along with the Keynsham ticket machine.

It was for its money box.

[smithy]

On Saturday me and my mum went to Weymouth. We caught the 09:17 loco hauled service from Keynsham which was very enjoyable but had no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff onboard to collect fares. so, for the majority a free journey. Only 1 member of staff from EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) who had to control the doors. No announcements were made and no revenue collection all the way to Weymouth.

The 16:08 Weymouth to Great Malvern service terminated at Upwey due to a fault with the front engine involving a class 150. This resulted in 50 passengers being stranded on the platform while the train went back to Weymouth Jersey Sidings to fully rectify the problem.

The stranded passengers had to wait for the 16:55 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service which had to make an additional stop at Upwey to pick up all these passengers. This service didn't depart Weymouth until 17:25. The next service from Weymouth at 17:28 didn't depart Weymouth until 18:10. So they were waiting on the platform for approx 1hr 20mins for the next train.

The train we caught was the 20:21 from Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads (3 coach class 158) which departed late due to the late arrival of the 20:08 from Gloucester which arrived at 20:18. Our train slowly made its way into the platform. The platform was packed with loud drunks and passengers smoking on the platform and even BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) were present on the platform. The moment the train doors opened everybody rushed on board like sheep. We were the last on but we still managed to get a comfortable seat. There was 3 guards on the train. 1 was controlling the doors and the other 2 was revenue collecting which took some considerable amount of time to complete. The lady guard told us that the 20:21 on a Saturday is the worst train on the whole network as it is extremely busy, noisy and has to have BTP present on it, she also said that it is even worse than the 23:11 from BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to Frome on a Saturday. The majority of passengers alighted at Yeovil Pen Mill with BTP also in attendance there.

The driver told me that there is now a 40mph speed limit between Castle Cary and Dorchester West.

We arrived into Bristol Temple Meads 20mins late at 23:06. We will definately not be coming back on the 20:21 service on a Saturday again.

150243 and 153318 coupled up only 318 powering so not enough power to negotiate all the banks en-route,eventually made it to westbury sidings,presumably with another set on the formation to gain extra power?