How to make a complete mess of train regulation...

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Having praised the efforts to lengthen the trains a few days ago, I experienced two of them on Sunday and sadly it wasn't pleasant.  Firstly I boarded yesterday's 13:42 Paddington to Moreton at Didcot returning from a weekend in Cardiff.  It was a 5-car Turbo but was so full I could hardly get on! It was running about 15 minutes late (as were a number of other trains) and in fairness the previous service may have been cancelled (see below).  Also, Chiltern held their 14:55 connection at Oxford for 15 minutes which was greatly appreciated I'm sure!  The queue to use the lift and staircase on platform 2 at Oxford took literally minutes to disperse!

Secondly, whilst I was at Oxford the 15:50 to Paddington rolled into the platform.  I believe it was booked to be a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and start at Moreton (probably formed off the 12:42 Paddington to Moreton, which I suspect was cancelled), but it was clearly an empty 3-car set from the sidings.  Despite the fact that nobody from the Cotswold Line was on it, and the connecting Chiltern train from Birmingham was cancelled so there were no passengers off of that, it still left 5 minutes late due to the sheer numbers boarding with absolutely no room left on board at all!  A few people decided to sit and wait it out for the 16:05 or 16:15 trains.

Whilst both trains were not exactly running quite as planned, it does demonstrate how on-the-edge things are on a Sunday, and if something goes wrong it quickly descends into farce.

[Timmer]

Whilst both trains were not exactly running quite as planned, it does demonstrate how on-the-edge things are on a Sunday, and if something goes wrong it quickly descends into farce.

It does as we have seen on the Cardiff-Portsmouth line on a Sunday when services are less frequesnt and sometimes end up short formed whilst empty rolling stock sits in the sidings at Westbury and Salisbury.

[readytostart]

The weekend was a nightmare with my XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services busy as they are anyway with Bournemouth and Southampton traffic, it definitely got cosy once Chiltern passengers and those travelling between Oxford and Worcester were added to the mix.

[inspector_blakey]

There does seem to be a prevailing mindset* that even if there is a reduced service running, it will somehow magically absorb all the punters without causing discomfort or inconvenience to anyone, honest...! Case in point, last time I was back home (mid-May) I travelled in an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) from DID^▸ (Didcot Parkway) to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) (replacement bus from Swindon). Seemed like services out of London heading to south Wales and Bristol were down to about one an hour, so predictably the train service was full and standing.

Things only got worse from Swindon, where there were not enough buses provided... I was "fortunate" to get on one of these vehicles only to discover that is was some horrendous conveyance designed to torment even Munchkins by forcing them to sit with their knees rounds their necks. I'm 6' 1" so would consider myself on the taller end of average but nothing freakish. This bus however properly took the p*ss - it was as much as I could do to sit sideways, so small was the seat pitch. Of course, a rather shorted gentleman but with a somewhat more ample frame ended up occupying the aisle seat, leaving me with the most uncomfortable "rail" journey I can remember in some time. It was a white-painted anonymous bus, and I didn't get make a note of the "legal" lettering to the right of the door, so sadly I can't name and shame the operator of that wretched vehicle.

_{*possibly in the minds of those whose job it would be to spend more money by providing some sort of a back-up service of they were not able to convince themselves that a service reduced to half its normal frequency may be getting a little cosy.}

[IndustryInsider]

I'm sure you could have upgraded to 1st Class on the bus if you'd wanted more leg room, Blakey. 

[JayMac]

I fear the only extra legroom available to blakey would've been in the seat at the front right. Not sure blakey has a PCV licence.......

[inspector_blakey]

True enough. But on reflection I could have provided a splendid commentary on the scenic highlights of Swindon, and M4 and north Bristol from the tour guide's jump seat...