Chippenham-London service - what's it really like?

[whole diary]

[Phil]

The one significantly major flaw with Chippenham is that there is no disabled access to trains, so if you are in any way mobility impaired, then forget it and move somewhere else.

Are you sure? If you go to the booking office side of the station, the staff will take you across the track at the barrow crossing at the west end of the platforms. At least, they used to...

They still will. I witnessed the very undignified sight of staff helping two extremely elderly people to shuffle the 200 yards or so down the unused platform, across the tracks, and back up again to the first class section of the "up" platform, in the rain, a few weeks ago, amidst much tutting and shaking of heads from the other waiting passengers.

It was more like 1978 than 2008. Like I said, if you are in any way mobility impaired - forget Chippenham.

[miniman]

They still will. I witnessed the very undignified sight of staff helping two extremely elderly people to shuffle the 200 yards or so down the unused platform, across the tracks, and back up again to the first class section of the "up" platform, in the rain, a few weeks ago, amidst much tutting and shaking of heads from the other waiting passengers.

It was more like 1978 than 2008. Like I said, if you are in any way mobility impaired - forget Chippenham.

I fail to see the problem

Chippenham is on the list for lifts to be added (but not for a few years), and in the meantime, it's not a major hassle to cross the track. Certainly better than having no mobility-impaired access full stop, isn't it?

[devon_metro]

Indeed, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are gradually improving mobility, Taunton and Westbury have been fitted with lifts since the franchise started, no doubt other places too.

[Jane]

Thanks everyone for your comments - they're very helpful.  It sounds as though the service isn't too bad, but I'm horrified at the fares!     I need to sit down and do a few sums to work out whether I can afford it! 

Jane

[Chris from Nailsea]

Well, I'm glad I was proved right, in predicting that our members would be able to help out, Jane!

It would be great if you could let us know what you decide, too: if you're looking at specific journeys or fares (including quite legitimate splitting), I'm sure we can offer further suggestions.

Good luck, C. 

[John R]

Thanks everyone for your comments - they're very helpful.  It sounds as though the service isn't too bad, but I'm horrified at the fares!     I need to sit down and do a few sums to work out whether I can afford it! 

Jane

At the suggestion of a very helpful contributor to this forum, I split my Nailsea to Swindon season at Chippenham and saved myself around 5% (^250).  So it's worth trying the various permutations.

[devon_metro]

Thanks everyone for your comments - they're very helpful.  It sounds as though the service isn't too bad, but I'm horrified at the fares!     I need to sit down and do a few sums to work out whether I can afford it! 

Jane

At the suggestion of a very helpful contributor to this forum, I split my Nailsea to Swindon season at Chippenham and saved myself around 5% (^250).  So it's worth trying the various permutations.

What do you do when Box tunnel is shut and everything goes via Hullavington out of interest?

[John R]

Good point. I would show both my tickets, and if a TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) insisted in selling me a new ticket I would reluctantly do so. If it was a scheduled service diverted then I very much doubt they would. (Indeed they were diverting via Hullavington last week and Bristol to Chippenham passengers were being told to travel to Swindon and then travel back from there, in which case my ticket was valid.) 

Even if I did have to buy a new ticket, it would have to happen a lot of times in a year for me to be worse off. And most days my ticket isn't checked anyway, but that's another story.