on last Friday, I watched as the 08:59 from Brighton called at Westbury (11:40 due, 11:45 actual) and half a dozen passengers transferred onto the 11:47 (actual leave tme 11:49) headed for Chippenham. A handful of others joined the train, and I suspect it picked up some more at Trowbridge.
on Tuesday of the previous week, I had caught the 11:40 bus (left ar 11:45) from Trowbridge to Chippenhma with just two fellow passengers. The connecting train from Brighton was due in at 11:48 ... next Rail Replacement bus at 14:10.
For passengers and for the areas served, providing the total journey including connections is key. For a Community Rail Partneship, charged with encouraging passengers on local services, broken connections from "the main line" are heartbreaking; for the occasional day or even week, we can live with it ... for as many days as it's happening this year, it's going to set us back an age, an dit's worthwhile continuing to press for some small tunings that can make a big difference.
Passengers and the area served are not the only ones effected by engineering rescheudes. They are very expensive for the trai operator to provide, advertise and staff - and for that reason it's cost effective to try to provide a service that meets the franchise committment, rather that replicates the journey needs. And I wonder too if part of the reason for the lack of timetables and an encourgament to people to check on line is to avoid marketing services and getting too many new passengers - just provide for the regulars and those who have to travel, and supress leisure demand.
It's a serious allegation that the
TOC▸ does not want encourage use of its services. Not TransWilts specific, but
From
https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/slough2018Customers travelling between Swindon and Reading, and Swindon and London Paddington on Saturday 5 May and Monday 7 May should only travel if absolutely necessary. Services on Sunday 6 May will operate as advertised.
After considerable negotiation and pushing, "via Melksham" tickets are now accepted on the longer routing via Bath that takes longer during engineering works. Thank you GWR▸ ; a welcome concession. Having the buses connect, and the same level of service and connections from a passenger viewpoint that you usually do would be welcome, as would timetables online and at stations so that people can travel without have to research online or by phone ahead!
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