Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

This sort of cancellation/reinstatement** dance, when it involves the last train of the day, must do a disproportionate amount of damage to the confidence that intending travellers hold in the railway as a travel mode.

Mark

**Not yet reinstated, but let's see.

Now completely cancelled 

[TaplowGreen]

This sort of cancellation/reinstatement** dance, when it involves the last train of the day, must do a disproportionate amount of damage to the confidence that intending travellers hold in the railway as a travel mode.

Mark

**Not yet reinstated, but let's see.

Now completely cancelled 

 ..............cosy on the sleeper then?

[Mark A]

Indeed, it stayed cancelled and the National Rail site is suggesting the sleeper.

Mark

[ChrisB]

And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?

[Timmer]

And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?

The 2100 Paddington to Exeter made extra stops to cover stations between Reading and Taunton:

21:00 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 23:11 will be diverted between Pewsey and Castle Cary.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.

I have often wondered why this train doesn’t stop at these stations anyway to give Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary a later train from London. 2000 does seem a little early these days.

[grahame]

And all the intermediate stops to Plymouth?

The 2100 Paddington to Exeter made extra stops to cover stations between Reading and Taunton:

21:00 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 23:11 will be diverted between Pewsey and Castle Cary.
It will call additionally at Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to the train making extra stops because a train was cancelled.

I have often wondered why this train doesn’t stop at these stations anyway to give Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary a later train from London. 2000 does seem a little early these days.

Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue?  On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.

[Timmer]

Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue?  On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.

Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?

A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.

It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?

[grahame]

Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?

A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.

It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?

Exactly my point - just clarifying where the 9 O'clock (ish) stops the rest of the week. 

[a-driver]

Asking in context - isn't that a Sunday issue?  On Monday to Friday - 21:04 off Paddington to Plymouth making all three of these calls, and also later travel to Westbury available with a Swindon change (21:31 off Paddington) and even later via Bath Spa.

Not sure what you mean by a Sunday issue. Are you thinking about there being less demand because it’s a Sunday?

A few years ago, I’d have said yes. Now a lot more people travel on Sundays and later in the evening.

It stops at these stations Monday to Fridays, why not on Sundays?

To really answer that you would need to know how often that service runs on a Sunday's via the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury)