Hello Everyone,

Having had a look at the new summer timetable for services around Exeter, there are certainly a number of positives which can be taken.

The one which caught my attention the most is that they have removed from the timetable the weekday 16:30 service between EXC & BNP.  When FGW originally implemented this service into the December 2006 timetable, it invoked criticism from commuters and also students at Exeter College, who had to leave A-level classes early to get home at a sensible time.
The new timetable sees the 16:20 service from EXM run through to BNP, departing from EXC at 16:49. A negative that can be pointed out though is that this new service does not connect with a PGN train, with a stopping service running from EXD at 16:53.

Other changes see the 10:29 BNP-EXC service, retimed to depart at 10:32 and running through as an all stations service to EXM. Also the current 09:04 EXC-BNP no longer operates. This is to be replaced with a through service from EXM, departing at 08:50, and calling at EXC at 09:17. This means that there will no longer be the direct service between EXM and PNZ.

However connections between Crosscountry services and Avocet Line trains continue to be poor in the southbound direction. And in addition the 08:23, 11:23, 12:23, 14:23 & 17:23 services from EXD towards the North no longer have the excellent six minute connection that was previously provided off the all stations service from EXM. FGW have for some reason have added an additional four minutes to the journey time between EXC and EXD. 

Another consequence of this is that the current 14:14 train from EXC to BNP will terminate at EXD in the new timetable at 14:23, with a train departing for Barnstaple just four minutes later. Officially that is a connection which cannot be made.

Connections between Exmouth services and Paddington trains generally remain the same, so poor connectivity when travelling from London/ Reading towards Exmouth in the evenings, with a 36min wait off the 18:03 service from PAD, and a 29min wait off the 19:03 train.

If to sum up the new timetable in a few phrases, then I would say that a number of problems have been solved, with the introduction of new diagrams, but FGW has created itself more problems with its slack timings, particularly on the all stations services between EXM and EXD.

With Regards,
Alex.B

Hello, Alexander, and welcome to the Coffee Shop!

Thanks for your detailed assessment of the summer timetable, as it affects fellow passengers in your particular area.

The addition of more 'slack' in the FGW timetable seems to be a general concern, based on posts in other topics, as well as this one?

 

Fair comment, d_m - I was thinking more of related topics, ... about the Cotswold line, for example?

It seems to me that the lack of certainty about what class of train may actually run a service means that those poor souls designing the timetable have to assume it may be the slowest - and they therefore have to draw up a timetable accordingly?

 

I'm not disagreeing with you  I just wonder where 142s turn up, to mess up those 'simple traction predictions?' 

Have to dissagree there, 142's are actually pretty nippy on accelaration and stopping, MUCH quicker than a 153!

I think walking is nearly as fast as a 153!

normally the main reason for losing time with a 142 is down to door faults, which are now a lot less regular, due to good maintenance at Exeter.

And we know why that is!
Some idiot was 'playing' with them.
Pressing the open button but holding them shut.
Trying to keep them open when the Guard had shut them.
Opening one leaf at a time.
Shutting them on people.