December Timetables

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Are now available to view on the excellent Railway Data website:
http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/gbr/

Quote from Danny Withington We've still got a long while until the start of the December timetables, so the usual caveats apply; some trains are likely missing and there'll be changes before the timetable goes live. But in the off chance that they can be of use, the first copies of the December timetables have been uploaded.

[Timmer]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) December timetables are now available:
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times

[Ralph Ayres]

I do wish GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) would include a summary of what has changed. After comparing old and new though I managed to confirm that an increase in frequency actually results in a worse service for me. TfL^» (Transport for London - about) are now running 4 trains an hour on the Great Western main line, but for much of the day 2 of these only go as far as Maidenhead and from W Drayton they replace a GWR service which went all the way to Reading and beyond. Frustratingly, at Maidenhead they only connect with the following Elizabeth line train which also called at W Drayton. If only Slough still had long distance services calling it wouldn't matter that Reading will be harder to reach.

As an aside I was surprised to see that all animals except assistance dogs are apparently banned from GWR rail replacement buses. Can any general dog or other small animal transporters confirm if this is actually applied in the real world? Seems a bit harsh. 

[ChrisB]

The dog query is because dogs are generally refused (other than assistance dogs that they have to carry) by the driver / company) without an additional deep clean bill for the removal of dog hair. This also applies on National Express coaches too I understand, for the same reason. Some people are allergic to dog hair.

As stated last time you mentioned Slough stops on fast Reading trains, these aren't being removed until May23, when TfL^» (Transport for London - about) will start running some fast trains inwards from Slough (which is the direction in demand, not Reading).

[JayMac]

Dogs on RRBs^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) are hit and miss. The general rule is "no" but ultimately it's up to the individual driver and/or company providing the buses.

With Finn, I plan around RRBs wherever possible. Taking alternative routes. My trip the past few days originally involved returning home from Great Yarmouth yesterday, 12/11/2022. The Anglian Mainline from Norwich to London Liverpool St had RRBs from Ingatestone to Newbury Park. My plan was to travel via Ely thence London Kings Cross instead. In the end I stayed an extra day in Great Yarmouth. Still took the alternative route though. Just for fun!

I have in the past been successful with Finn on RRBs. When station staff are faced with providing you with a taxi they're very good at persuading the RRB drivers to allow you on board. Had that power of persuasion work in my favour recently from Yeovil Junction to Templecombe.

YMMV^▸ (Your Method/Mileage May Vary).

[Ralph Ayres]

As stated last time you mentioned Slough stops on fast Reading trains...

Don't think that was me, or if it was then I didn't make myself clear!  I was thinking back to the days when some proper Inter-City trains called at Slough as a West London railhead, which saved having to travel all the way out to Reading on a local train.  Those local trains are now I suppose rather quicker than the old DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) were so it probably balances out.

[Timmer]

Don't think that was me, or if it was then I didn't make myself clear!  I was thinking back to the days when some proper Inter-City trains called at Slough as a West London railhead, which saved having to travel all the way out to Reading on a local train.  Those local trains are now I suppose rather quicker than the old DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) were so it probably balances out.

I remember them well when a good number of Bristol to London trains used to stop at Slough.

Also, whilst writing. Most semifast London - Exeter/Paignton/Plymouth services will now call at Hungerford from the start of the December timetable in addition to the trains that already stop there.