2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury

[whole diary]

[bobm]

7:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34

07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

But there is a charter train calling at Melksham just after 08:50 bound for Penzance.....

[Mark A]

Reminding me of being on a charter train and, covering for a hole in the timetable, it picked up passengers at Machynlleth and stations east.

Mark

[grahame]

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Swindon.
It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

"Just" one of the extensions lost ...

[grahame]

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Swindon.
It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

"Just" one of the extensions lost ...

and now completely gone ..

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

Sat, 27 July 19:32 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00

27/07/24 19:32 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

And how the **** are people who come to try the train for the first time in response to our promotions supposed to get home?



See (here)

[TaplowGreen]

07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:28 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

22:11 Swindon to Westbury due 22:54
22:11 Swindon to Westbury due 22:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

Sat, 27 July 19:32 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00

27/07/24 19:32 Weymouth to Swindon due 22:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

I am on this train  - was planned anyway ...

Train Manager advises 19:32 to group of 8 lads that it is still running - chat with me also shows it on her system. She suspects re-instated and is phoning control.  Note that I met people walking away from the station in Melksham / cancelled their trip to Weymouth because return train cancelled

At Melksham 5 off and 25 on, walked through train and had 32+40+37 in the carriages (rear to front) = 109 passengers.  [114/30] Guestimate that over half are taking day trips to Weymouth

"How do I get back to Melksham if return traun does not run" I asked train manager - "Ask station staff at Weymouth ..."

[Timmer]

Crazy to think that you are on the last direct service that gives the chance of a decent day out. Next direct train arrives into Weymouth at 14:27!

[grahame]

Crazy to think that you are on the last direct service that gives the chance of a decent day out. Next direct train arrives into Weymouth at 14:27!

(New) Train manager announcement just after we had left Westbury - lousy sound quality - I think tells people to return via Southampton if necessary. 

Lots on at Frome - perhaps half the seats taken now.

[Timmer]

(New) Train manager announcement just after we had left Westbury - lousy sound quality - I think tells people to return via Southampton if necessary. 

The next train, the 20:40 to Bristol currently down to only go as far Westbury arriving at 22:19. Key question will be whether they hold the 20:23 Portsmouth to Bristol Parkway due to leave Westbury at 22:14. Next train for Bristol after that is the 22:50.

[grahame]

Crazy to think that you are on the last direct service that gives the chance of a decent day out. Next direct train arrives into Weymouth at 14:27!

(New) Train manager announcement just after we had left Westbury - lousy sound quality - I think tells people to return via Southampton if necessary. 

Lots on at Frome - perhaps half the seats taken now.

And speaking with the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) who came through, he recons the 19:32 should be fine because they leave this train in the sidings all day but "check back at 17:30".

[grahame]

(New) Train manager announcement just after we had left Westbury - lousy sound quality - I think tells people to return via Southampton if necessary. 

The next train, the 20:40 to Bristol currently down to only go as far Westbury arriving at 22:19. Key question will be whether they hold the 20:23 Portsmouth to Bristol Parkway due to leave Westbury at 22:14. Next train for Bristol after that is the 22:50.

IF they hold that 22:14, people can go to Bath Spa for the last train to Chippenham and Swindon, and the last bus to Melksham (not that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) would know about the bus). 

[GBM]

She suspects re-instated and is phoning control. 

Would be interesting to have a Q&A session with a control manager.
What are their rules and remit.
Who decides to hold a train/who decides to cancel, etc

[IndustryInsider]

We did used to have someone from control posting here, ‘Incider’ I think?  He/she drifted away for the same reason most other industry employees have I expect.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Close: it was Coffee Shop forum member 'insider'.  He worked in Control and posted some brilliant background information in the early days of this forum.

However, he then moved into another role with a more 'legal' background, and decided it would no longer be appropriate to post on a public forum.

CfN.