Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 15:55 13 Feb 2025
 
- Brothers deny assaulting police at Manchester Airport
- Watch: Astronaut's view of Northern Lights from International Space Station
- Police catch motorists doing 90mph on 30mph roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 today - Rail Innovation Exhibition
15/02/25 - Special Bletchey to Bicester
20/02/25 - Integrated Transport Strategy
06/03/25 - Go-op Crowd Funding closes

On this day
13th Feb (1941)
First test firing of rail mounted gun - Elam Valley (link)

Train RunningCancelled
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
15:48 St Erth to St Ives
16:03 St Ives to St Erth
Short Run
15:25 Okehampton to Exeter Central
15:30 Warminster to Bristol Temple Meads
16:32 Exeter Central to Okehampton
Delayed
16:31 Barnstaple to Axminster
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
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
February 13, 2025, 16:06:28 *
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
[109] Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion
[100] Incident at Trowbridge station
[52] "Old Worse and Worse"
[38] The GWR Director Team
[34] Elizabeth line train speeding 20mph over limit left passengers...
[32] Cancellations on forgotten main line
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
  Home Help Search Calendar Login Register  
  Show Posts
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 7
1  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail replacement advise - Melksham - until 23rd January 2025 on: February 10, 2025, 14:52:14
BTW (by the way) I also asked Faresaver about the possibility of using one of their double deckers for the first 271 Melksham-Bath which I've been catching intermittently in my commute to Bristol, instead of the 100% train (or replacement bus) option. The single decker 271 is full before it reaches Bath which puts me off using it, and they do use a double for at least one service (1715 Bath-Melksham).

Just got a response from 'a director':

Quote
It is the case that the number of passengers travelling on this route has increased significantly as a result of the £2 fare cap, which has been running throughout 2024. It is difficult to make enhancements to services based on schemes which are of a short-term nature, such as the £2 fare scheme. This has now increased to £3 for 2025 and we will monitor usage levels over the coming weeks to ascertain if there is scope to increase the frequency of buses between Bath and Devizes.

We use double decks vehicles on certain days, such as when there are events in Bath which lead to increased usage, but again it is difficult to justify expenditure on new double deck vehicles costing £300,000 each, where schemes designed to encourage usage are only short-term schemes. We are encouraging local and central government to provide more concrete long-term funding plans to give operators the confidence to invest in larger vehicles and enhance the frequencies of services.

Got quite excited this morning walking to Melksham train station at about 7am when a double decker 271 passed me on its way to Bath. I contacted Faresaver to ask if this was a permanent change, but it was just a one-off apparently, something to do with weekend rugby Sad
2  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Uber credits on: February 05, 2025, 12:08:02
I know I have to use my Nationwide banking app to authorize the payment twice for each purchase. It had stopped doing that, but started again a week or 2 ago.
3  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Uber credits on: February 05, 2025, 06:25:22
I've found that it uses them automatically, no manual intervention required. Wasn't obvious though - hadn't noticed until I looked at my bank statement Smiley
4  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury on: January 27, 2025, 14:37:57
Celebration!    The trains are back and running again.
Woohoo - my 07:21 Melksham-Chippenham this morning was on time, and I was able to catch the 07:34 Weston service at Chippenham without 'sprinting' (I use the term loosely) across the platform. All those upgrades have worked Smiley
5  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Train departed 3 minutes earlier than scheduled on: January 15, 2025, 07:47:47
The stations I frequent (Bristol, Bath, Chippenham) have regular announcements warning that train doors may close 'up to 40 seconds before departure'. Is that standard, or does it depend on the station/operator?
6  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 14, 2025, 09:22:00
Faresaver are sending me a single fare voucher in the post, although perhaps I should ask for a return as compensation for all the trauma I've suffered Smiley (They also offered a bank transfer, but I said I didn't mind, and the voucher is their preferred option.)
7  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 14, 2025, 08:43:21
Oh I knew I was right, but unfortunately hadn't bothered to prepare anything to back up my request. In future I will have that nice picture ready on my phone to present to the driver - it's easier to read than the GWR (Great Western Railway) website text.
8  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 13, 2025, 17:29:05
Just had to buy a bus ticket on the 1715 Bath-Melksham 271 - driver wouldn't accept my Bristol-Melksham train ticket. Said it was only valid on the X34 Smiley

I've emailed Faresaver - they ('Natasha') have been very helpful so far.
9  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 08, 2025, 10:42:32
I'd be surprised if alcohol wasn't involved...
10  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: senior railcard on: January 08, 2025, 07:48:07
I've recently had the misfortune to become old enough to qualify for one of these, and have been making use of it. I had been looking forward to being challenged at the ticket barriers and on board, supporting my belief that I don't look anything like old enough to have one Smiley But so far that hasn't happened.

Phew - it's ok, just been asked to show it Smiley (on the Paddington-Weston)
11  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 08, 2025, 07:36:31
Means the 0734 Weston is going to be packed though...
Ha - actually it's not too bad, as it's in reverse formation so there's plenty of room at the back where first class would be normally Smiley
12  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 08, 2025, 07:26:43
The 0650 rep-bus was a bit later this morning and didn't make it to Chippenham in time to catch the 0711 Penzance service. No great loss however as the latter has been cancelled 'because of passengers causing a disturbance on the train' Shocked

Means the 0734 Weston is going to be packed though...
13  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / senior railcard on: January 06, 2025, 15:49:41
I've recently had the misfortune to become old enough to qualify for one of these, and have been making use of it. I had been looking forward to being challenged at the ticket barriers and on board, supporting my belief that I don't look anything like old enough to have one Smiley But so far that hasn't happened.

I've heard guards ask for young persons to show their 16-25 card; is it assumed that seniors are honest? And in fact do ticket barriers give any indication that a ticket has been purchased using a senior railcard? I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary when I pass through.
14  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 06, 2025, 13:27:27
Here is the official set of connections from Melksham to Bristol Temple Meads once the trains are running again

Onto that official timing I have added in red:

Yes, thanks - those look like the pre-engineering work times. I've been commuting between Melksham and Bristol by train (mostly) for over 5 years now.

Quote
The 06:32 used to run a couple of minutes later and just failed to connect at Trowbridge.

Well... it was possible if both trains were on time, even with the pedestrian bridge crossing; I managed it a few times Smiley (although the 07:21 is my usual)

Quote
The journey is now shorter, giving you a 20 minute gain into Bristol.

Yep, although it means leaving the house 45 mins earlier so I don't do it often.
15  Journey by Journey / TransWilts line / Re: Rail Replacement bus - OK, but I prefer the train. on: January 06, 2025, 11:30:35
I note that the bus at 06:50 these weeks is half an hour earlier from Melksham than the normal 07:21 train ... that's an extra 30 minutes on your day.

Yes - I meant to mention that, and it is definitely a drawback. But I'm an early bird, and would be very happy (and surprised Smiley ) if the 07:21 train was brought forward enough to make catching the 07:11 at Chippenham reasonably likely, or at least make the 07:34 a safe bet instead of what is currently an outside chance (the official connection is the 08:09).
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 7
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 via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page