'Train operator to reduce its service between Worcester and Gloucester'

[whole diary]

[bambam]

Perhaps they are going to take over the Gloucester-Worcester section of the route, which would be a shame. 

[anthony215]

Seems like they are looking at the possibility of running a 2 hourly service from kidderminster - Worcester- Gloucester (Hopefully they will time the services to connect with the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains which start from/terminate at Gloucester)

They dont seem to have put a bid to the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) yet even though the rumours say it it's supposed to be starting from december.



If it does come off, it would make it easier for people from Cardiff to visit Worcester, Kidderminster etc as at the moment  you have to travel via Hereford and can be waiting for up to 50 minutes for a connecting train

[willc]

On the basis of the entirely speculative posts elsewhere, I really can't see how you can suggest it "seems like" LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) are doing anything.

Having walked away two years ago, on the basis that the traffic wasn't there (in large part because neither they, nor FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to this day, saw fit to provide trains in the morning peak to make commuting practical), why on earth LM would be interested in returning beats me, especially when the new West Midlands RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) has just poured a very large bucket of cold water all over the idea of beefing up Worcester-Cheltenham-Gloucester services.

[JayMac]

I, too am sceptical. Although loadings on the 2 hourly FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services have noticeably increased in recent years. Perhaps LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) have decided that an ORCATs raid is again worthwhile.....

[Lee]

What rough figures would you put on this "noticeable increase", bignosemac?

[paul7575]

On the basis of the entirely speculative posts elsewhere, I really can't see how you can suggest it "seems like" LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) are doing anything.

Appearance of a 170 could be nothing more than giving that unit a high speed test post repair and that happened to be a suitable available path. 

Units going off their normal patch is commonplace for all sorts of non-passenger reasons;  e.g. I don't think anyone assumed SN were taking over the Weymouth route just because a Gatwick Express 460 turned up there a while ago.  That turned out to be a regenerative braking trial and there was a useful gradient in the area...

Paul

[JayMac]

What rough figures would you put on this "noticeable increase", bignosemac?

Well, I've not been keeping an accurate tally (!) and it's not easy to compare one day with another because of the different rolling stock the route gets (150, 158 2 or 3 car, 153, 150+158, 150+153, 158+153, 153+153....), so I can't really put a figure on it. A recent chat with a conductor was on the topic of loadings. He said that the route could probably do with being hourly.

Anecdotally, it's getting harder and harder to bag a forward facing window airline seat on the 0852 from Bristol Parkway!

Actually thinking about it, maybe LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) doing an ORCATs raid is not a very likely idea. Fares on the route between Gloucester and Worcester are quite cheap. Although why they continue to be set by CrossCountry is a bit of a mystery.....

[ChrisB]

The only other option i can think of is that are they training some new drivers for the late night  fridays only Biirmingham - Gloucester service.

That's quite possible

[willc]

Not only possible, apparently that's exactly what was going on.

[bambam]

Not only possible, apparently that's exactly what was going on.

How do you know?

[ChrisB]

He's a journalist - probably asked their Press office! D'oh!

[bambam]

He's a journalist - probably asked their Press office! D'oh!

How am I supposed to know he is a journalist?

Yes I could look at all his posts on this forum, but that'd be creepy and a waste of time.

[ChrisB]

It's really not a big deal to click into his profile & look at recent posts - takes less than a minute.

[IndustryInsider]

Apologies for ChrisB's usual bluntness, bambam.   

[ChrisB]

I don't need anyone to be my apologist, thanks.....