Weymouth summer weekend services

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

There now appears to be confusion regarding the Saturday evening service from Weymouth. FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s TTs says it's 17.49 during the summer, the journey planner says 17.21 just like it has been in previous years. So if you are travelling from Weymouth on a Saturday evening beware as you may miss your train if you think it leaves at 17.49.

All in all I have a great deal of concern for the future of printed timetables as the ones FGW publish now tend to be riddled with errors and timings of some services are incorrect which is not good when people rely on them for when a service is meant to run. I'm not wanting to intentionally bash FGW on this but their timetables need to improve on their accuracy as this has slipped in the last year.

Update: FGW have now put up posters at stations informing customers that the 17.49 now leaves Weymouth at 17.21. Are train managers informing customers travelling on saturday services to Weymouth of the 'earlier' departure time as well?

The interesting thing about this error in timing was that in the main section of timetable 'E', it shows the right time from Frome onwards towards Bristol, but in the Weymouth to Cardiff timetable at the back of the book and in the pocket timetable shows the wrong time. Shame these things aren't spotted before they send it to print.

[grahame]

The interesting thing about this error in timing was that in the main section of timetable 'E', it shows the right time from Frome onwards towards Bristol, but in the Weymouth to Cardiff timetable at the back of the book and in the pocket timetable shows the wrong time. Shame these things aren't spotted before they send it to print.

I teach people about databases, including design and one of the key things is that data should only be held ONCE in a database to avoid inconsistencies in presentation. Perhaps I should ask someone if they need a course?

[Lee]

The Heart Of Wessex Rail Partnership have criticised FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on this and other matters (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/05/frustration_at_fgw_weymouthbri.html#more

Quote :

"The line needs more investment and more attention. We hope no more services are lost in the winter timetable."

[Timmer]

With just over a week to go before the extra Weymouth service on summer Saturdays, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have done b*****r all in advertising this service. Do they want people to use it? It's not showing up on the journey planner. Is it just going to be a plain relief service without any advertising?

[Jim]

Ah ha, someone else who has picked up on this problem!

[whistleblower]

Don't ask me!  I only work for them

We've heard nothing - as usual

[Timmer]

Ah ha, someone else who has picked up on this problem!

Yes indeed. Makes you begin to wonder is it really going to happen??

[Jim]

Rang up CS^» (Caledonian Sleeper - about) today (about the website, which was giving the GBRf home page!) and remembered just in time to ask, but the bloke didn't know anything either!

[Scooby]

oh its 101% happening, but if no one uses it it'll be a good reason not to do it next year!!

[Jim]

oh its 101% happening, but if no one uses it it'll be a good reason not to do it next year!!

So a bit like Soton stoppers then, run it 4 mins infront of a fast in to Westbury and you can have nobody on it, so they can scrap it

[Timmer]

oh its 101% happening, but if no one uses it it'll be a good reason not to do it next year!!

That's what I was thinking and thats concerning because how can people use it unless they know about it? Do you know why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) aren't promoting this service?

[martyjon]

Perhaps the Bath Chronicle and the Bristol Evening Post needs to be informed of this lack of advertising of this service by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) which is an opporunity to 'Blow their own trumpet' in view of all the critism that they have attracted since last December's timetable changes.

Not even a mention of it in a press release on their website either.

Incidently, for a few hours yesterday http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk was coming up with the home page of GBRailfreight, even their website can't escape the cock-ups.

[Lee]

So a bit like Soton stoppers then, run it 4 mins infront of a fast in to Westbury and you can have nobody on it, so they can scrap it

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) & FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had already agreed that the Southampton - Westbury "shuttle" service would only run until December 2007. The key question was what would replace it. This is explored in the link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=248.msg617#msg617

[Timmer]

Perhaps the Bath Chronicle and the Bristol Evening Post needs to be informed of this lack of advertising of this service by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) which is an opporunity to 'Blow their own trumpet' in view of all the critism that they have attracted since last December's timetable changes.

Not even a mention of it in a press release on their website either.

Incidently, for a few hours yesterday http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk was coming up with the home page of GBRailfreight, even their website can't escape the cock-ups.

I would be more confident to do that if this service appeared on the journey planner. Upto now it has not.

[grahame]

Perhaps the Bath Chronicle and the Bristol Evening Post needs to be informed of this lack of advertising of this service by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) which is an opporunity to 'Blow their own trumpet' in view of all the critism that they have attracted since last December's timetable changes.

Not even a mention of it in a press release on their website either.

Incidently, for a few hours yesterday http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk was coming up with the home page of GBRailfreight, even their website can't escape the cock-ups.

I would be more confident to do that if this service appeared on the journey planner. Upto now it has not.

It probably WOULD be a good idea to help with the publicity for this service.

You might like to know that I'm taking a group from Melksham to Weymouth on SUNDAY 5th August. We can't practically do Saturday without bussing both ways to / from Melksham STATION, but none the less First wrote to me and suggested Saturday, 4th as the "loco hauled train will be running" and telling me that they expect it to be much more comfortable ...  if you would like the exact wording of their text, source, date, etc, please email me - graham@wellho.net - and I can forward it; it provides evidence from First (at regional manager level) that the train will be running and should make you more confident in any press coverage request.