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)

[Timmer]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Warminster

Due to a shortage of train crew between Westbury and Warminster fewer trains are able to run on all lines.

Train services running through these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice

We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today. Due to a shortage of train crew, we won't be able to run as many trains between Westbury and Warminster as we would like. Planned engineering works are taking place between Warminster and Southampton Central so we already have rail replacement buses running between these stations. We may not be able to run trains to Warminster to meet with the rail replacement buses.

The best way to complete your journey if you're travelling between South Wales / Bristol / Bath and Southampton Central is to take the next available train to Reading. You can then change there for services towards Southampton Central or towards South Wales / Bristol / Bath depending on which direction you're travelling in. Don't worry, your tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on these routes.

To travel between Reading and Southampton Central, you will need to either use direct Cross Country services or GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services between Reading and Basingstoke and then South Western Railway services between Basingstoke and Southampton Central. Your tickets will also be accepted on these services at no extra cost.

If you are travelling between South Wales / Bristol / Bath and Portsmouth, you should also travel via Reading. If you're travelling from South Wales / Bristol / Bath towards Portsmouth, you should take the first available train to Reading. You should then change at Reading for trains to Guildford. You should then change again at Guildford for South Western Railway services towards Portsmouth. If travelling in the other direction, you should take the first available South Western Railway service to Guildford and change there for trains towards Reading. You should then change at Reading for trains towards South Wales / Bristol / Bath. Don't worry, your tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on these routes.

[grahame]

Extend the bus to Westbury if the trains not running?   Or is that too much like common sense?

[nickswift99]

Might not be possible due to driver hours and route knowledge. I do wonder how many passengers this would impact and whether a taxi might be a better option

[grahame]

Might not be possible due to driver hours and route knowledge. I do wonder how many passengers this would impact and whether a taxi might be a better option

Does route knowledge apply to bus drivers?   I can recall before the days of SatNav helping rail replacement bus drivers find the way.

[bobm]

It has not been unknown for a rail replacement bus to hit a low bridge so while not mandated it might be prudent to ensure drivers know the route before being thrown in to cover extra journeys. 

[GBM]

Might not be possible due to driver hours and route knowledge. I do wonder how many passengers this would impact and whether a taxi might be a better option

Does route knowledge apply to bus drivers?   I can recall before the days of SatNav helping rail replacement bus drivers find the way.

Oh yes, route knowledge is imperative.
In training, it was always said "If you don't know a route, you don't drive it".
Invariably we did, but if anything happened, you were automatically at fault.
On rail replacement, drivers can be drafted in from many distant areas, and totally unfamiliar with local routes.