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ray951
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« on: January 03, 2024, 13:14:39 » |
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According to the usually reliable Oxford Clarion on twitter https://x.com/OxfordClarion/status/1742528741627007417?s=20 GWR▸ have asked permission to start an Oxford to Bristol sevice from Spetember 14th 2024. Service will start as 2 trains a day on a Saturday calling at Radley, Culham, Appleford, Didcot, Swindon, Chippenham and Bath. Operated by Class 802 trains. |
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« Last Edit: August 26, 2024, 10:51:54 by grahame »
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Richard Fairhurst
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« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2024, 13:22:40 » |
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That's fantastic news. Let's hope it's the start of a fuller service.
Even as someone who used the old Thames/FGW▸ service when it ran, I have been genuinely surprised several times recently by the number of people you can see at Didcot making their way between Bristol trains and Oxford Turbos.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2024, 13:28:07 » |
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Hmmmmm, thought there was no spare rolling stock?
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bobm
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« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2024, 14:18:33 » |
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Guess that is why it is September, following the end of the peak summer services to places like Newquay and Pembroke Dock.
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Oxonhutch
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« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2024, 15:37:32 » |
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I wonder as to why the Didcot call. Didcot is already well served to Bristol and Oxford and using the West Curve would save considerable time and a reversal.
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grahame
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« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2024, 15:42:04 » |
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I wonder as to why the Didcot call. Didcot is already well served to Bristol and Oxford and using the West Curve would save considerable time and a reversal.
I expect time will tell. With planned calls at intermediate stations between Didcot and Oxford (but not, I note, between Bath and Bristol) I'm guessing in might be taking the path and contractual service needs of those stations. Releasing a turbo ... |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Electric train
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« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2024, 16:16:59 » |
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I wonder as to why the Didcot call. Didcot is already well served to Bristol and Oxford and using the West Curve would save considerable time and a reversal.
I expect time will tell. With planned calls at intermediate stations between Didcot and Oxford (but not, I note, between Bath and Bristol) I'm guessing in might be taking the path and contractual service needs of those stations. Releasing a turbo ... That might be diagrammed Banbury Didcot, the Oxford Bristol service filling the void while the Oxford Banbury is ran .......................... just a wild outta box thought |
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
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Sulis John
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« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2024, 16:19:56 » |
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I wonder as to why the Didcot call. Didcot is already well served to Bristol and Oxford and using the West Curve would save considerable time and a reversal.
May well have to do with pathing - but also either provides an extra service between Oxford and Didcot or is simply running in the path of an existing one. |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2024, 16:34:57 » |
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My bet is that is running in place of the turbo, to release the other one still in the Saturday timetable. The OXF» -BAN service could also be run by an IET▸ if they chose to.
Meanwhile the Didcot call maybe either a) to complete those OXF-DID▸ service calls, and/or b) to wait time somewhere in order to wait a suitable path.
GWR▸ will have between presented with a budget cut for next financial year & this may be one way of finding some of that - by releasing that turbo.
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Richard Fairhurst
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« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2024, 16:57:40 » |
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I'm sure you're right that it's replacing a Turbo service - you wouldn't stop at Appleford otherwise! So the Didcot call supplies connections to/from the Thames Valley local stations.
Interested to see (in the Clarion's second tweet) that GWR▸ are citing "consistent country-end overcrowding experienced on Bristol–London Paddington services".
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grahame
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« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2024, 18:47:40 » |
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Interested to see (in the Clarion's second tweet) that GWR▸ are citing "consistent country-end overcrowding experienced on Bristol–London Paddington services".
Indeed. When you think about it, hardly a shock. At the start of 2020, plans were for 4 trains an hour from Bristol Temple Meads to London (Paddington). But that's been cut back to 2. I know that Bath and Chippenham still only had two an hour to London, but those Pesky Bristol to London people are filling the trains. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2024, 10:53:23 » |
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The OXF» -BAN service could also be run by an IET▸ if they chose to.
They could…but a TM▸ would need to be provided (with the associated route learning cost). |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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rogerw
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« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2024, 15:26:30 » |
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I like to travel. It lets me feel I'm getting somewhere.
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grahame
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« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2024, 15:50:40 » |
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Yep, and Tom has sent me an email to let me know. Really interesting development and I'll be making full local comment later. This is a flow that I know has very great potential; I used the service in the past so I'm not totally green on it. But it also needs to work today as sentimentality won't pay for it. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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ChrisB
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« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2024, 16:35:21 » |
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Only one of those it seems will call at Didcot - the one that states that it does - otherwise the others would too.
So on its own, it won't release a turbo.
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