Great Western Coffee Shop

Now twice an hour from Reading.  Fast (well, reasonably so) and not subject to this sort of problem ..

From The BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg660p0l91eo)


Indeed take public transport ALL the way - don't park at stations either!  http://www.passenger.chat/apcoa

We catch the local bus from outside our home - pity it does not go to the local station but it DOES go (daytime, Monday to Saturday) to Bath Spa Station, where a nice man (not being sexist, but I can't recall any ladies on the staff) helps us get the correct ticket, a lift takes us up to the platform, and we are even offered help boarding the train these days.    Allowing plenty of time ... if it's Gatport (change at Reading), or Southampton (for the port) and it's a leaisurly and easy run.   Or catch the A4 bus across the road into Bristol Airport.

For the absence of doubt, I fly very little these days - 24 counties in the first half of 2024, with just one flight whenI was time constrained.  But I HAVE taken multiple people to Gatwick and helped with checkin procedures.

Might not be so good with the amount of crew shortages recently.

Exactly. Reliability on this line is terrible.

Really?

Although it's now over two years since I retired from being a commuter along this line, I've not noticed it being particularly prominent among all the news of problems.

Compared to Swindon - Westbury, or North Cotswolds, I expect it looks a paragon of reliability - although sadly those a very low bars to exceed.

Some data:

Over the last 6 months, Gomshall has been the 1464th best perrormig station - down 549 places with 4% cancellations. If a train is cancelled, the next one will be along in an hour, or 30 minutes if a stop order is added.

Over the last 6 months, Melksham has been the 1900th best performing station - up 98 places with 7% cancellations. If a train is cancelled, the next one will be along about 2 hours later.

Over the last 6 months, Evesham has been the 2560th best performing stations - down 73 places with 5% cancelled. If a train is cancelled, next one is typically an hour later.

The ranking is based not only on percentage cancelledm but also on delays. At Evesam, 55% are on time, at Melksham 71% are on time and at Gomshall 77% are on time.

Source on-time trains, with a midline station selected to ensure reasonable comparable data.

The North Downs line has slipped ... but cancellation are roughly half of what they are at my home station of Melksham and the wait when one does not run is only a quarter of the time if another train coming through is stopped instead.  By all means be unhappy with the North Downs line and how it has slipped, but don't for a moment think you are now worse served than some of these other places ....

All trains cancelled. First full weekend of the summer holidays. What a great advert for the railway.

Cancellations to services between Reading and Gatwick Airport

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Gatwick Airport all lines are blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 14:45 27/07.

Customer Advice
We're sorry ALL TRAINS are CANCELLED on the North Downs Line until further notice due to multiple signal faults at Guildford.

All lines reopened shortly after your post.

Yes good to see that disruption doesn't seem to have lasted beyond the time advertised.

Best take another route today...

Cancellations to services between Reading and Gatwick Airport

Due to a shortage of train crew between Reading and Gatwick Airport fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Due to train and crew shortages some services between Reading to Gatwick Airport will be cancelled.
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According to this poster I saw at Swindon last week, you can catch a lovely IET from Reading to Gatwick. ::)

(https://i.postimg.cc/tgRy6LZt/IMG-20240727-151640.jpg)

I expect Broadgage will be on that one, we know how much he loves IETs - the ideal start for his annual fortnight partying in Benidorm, flying from Gatwick!  ;)

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=28678.msg345942#msg345942 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=28678.msg345942#msg345942)

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11558.msg344235#msg344235 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11558.msg344235#msg344235)

Not looking like a great option today either - all cancelled;

07:20 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 08:55
09:00 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 10:28
10:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 12:25
12:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 13:57
14:24 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 15:55
15:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 17:28
17:49 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 19:25
19:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 20:57
21:36 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 23:12
23:22 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 00:43

Not good, but only one cancellation every three and a half hours in each direction, one in every seven. Presumably not enough Turbos or crews available.

Agreed.

One in seven passengers hits a cancellation, which puts them back 30 minutes, so the average passenger is delayed by 4.28 minutes.   

Interesting to do the same calculation for my local line ...

Cancellations to services between Gatwick Airport and Reading

Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Gatwick Airport and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 19:00 08/11.

Customer Advice
Apologies to customers, some of our trains have broken down and we don't have enough trains in our GWR fleet to operate a full service on the North Downs Line. Therefore some trains will be cancelled.

We obviously see the text in italic a fair bit, but I think that's the first time I've seen the part in bold. I reckon we could just use the bit in bold from now on as the part in italic is trotted out so much as to be implausible.

Someone will have to explain to me why more trains needing repairs, means all trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

Are they all suddenly not certified for normal speed, it is not like they are substituting with a slower train.   

I also don't like reference to all lines, is that all England, all UK, or simply a badly worded that route only.

Surely if it is due to we have flattened some wheels why not say so, or explain why they can't swap in some good ones (have insufficient spares) and although it happens every year, explain why never bought extra wheel lathe (having sufficient serviceable trains in not a priority), or whatever the reason is.

It's badly worded - in fact awfully worded.

There are two classes of turbo trains - the 165 and the 166, and the top speed in 75 mph and 90 mph I believe, so - yes - it is quite possible that a trains timed for a 90 mph unit which needs repair (or is overdue maintenance and cannot be used until that happens) is getting replaced by one with a 75 mph limit.   Perhaps others "in the know" can confirm this?

According to Wikipedia, all GWR Turbos are rated at 90mph. Although since I retired two years ago I no longer travel the North Downs daily, generally around Reading and the Thames Valley I only see 165s (when I look/notice - to be fair, not often! I'm grateful that most of my journeys are on Electrostars). I think most 166s "went west", but no doubt more westerly based colleagues will confirm.

Cancellations to services between Reading and Gatwick Airport

Due to a shortage of train crew between Reading and Gatwick Airport fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day
.
Customer Advice
Due to train crew shortages throughout the day, a number of train services operating between Reading - Gatwick Airport (both directions) have been cancelled/ altered.