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Although Andrew Griffiths was very reassuring that we were not in for further chaos when the new timetable came into effect early in December, by 18th Andrew Haines was writing another letter of apology describing the service as "simply not good enough".  He went on to tell us how committed FGW is to sorting these things out - something I'm sure we all look forward to.

But ... what IS the standard that should be set, and how long, realistically, should it be before it is achieved?   What proportion of the problems are caused by which reasons?  There are very hard items for us to specify, and performance is hard to monitor except based on official figures which (we suspect) don't tell the whole story.

Not a single train has run its full timetabled route through Melksham since before Christmas ... no engineering works on the "TransWilts" but apart from three services last Sunday which ran only to / from Chippenham, everything has been replaced by a bus.   So I've had a chance to write a slightly more wide ranging monitoring script:

http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/running.php (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/running.php)

Where you can keep track of service incidents in the last 48 hours.   I would expect to see around 12 to 24 trains reported as being "short workings" or "cancelled" on this report, as those figures represent 99.5% and 99% of trains running their full route.  That's the benchmark.  Here's the current report:

20071231   19:31 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:43   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   19:30 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 20:20   short working, staffing issues
20071231   19:11 Taunton to Cardiff Central due 21:24   short working, staffing issues
20071231   19:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Parkway due 20:03   short working, staffing issues
20071231   18:54 Great Malvern to Westbury due 21:36   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   18:43 Redhill to Reading due 20:20   skipping stop(s), rolling stock issues
20071231   18:34 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 19:19   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   18:26 Bicester Town to Oxford due 18:52   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20071231   18:15 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Parkway due 18:58   short working, staffing issues
20071231   18:00 Oxford to London Paddington due 19:12   shorter train, rolling stock issues
20071231   17:55 Oxford to Bicester Town due 18:21   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20071231   17:30 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 18:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   17:28 Warminster to Great Malvern due 20:37   -
20071231   17:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 20:41   short working
20071231   17:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 18:00   short working, staffing issues
20071231   17:11 Weymouth to Cheltenham Spa due 20:42   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   17:07 Marlow to Maidenhead due 17:29   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   17:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton due 19:01   short working, staffing issues
20071231   16:42 Maidenhead to Marlow due 17:05   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   16:42 Gloucester to Weymouth due 20:06   short working, staffing issues
20071231   16:34 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 17:50   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071231   16:32 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 17:17   short working, staffing issues
20071231   16:04 Reading to Redhill due 17:31   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   15:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 17:51   extra stop(s)
20071231   15:28 Warminster to Great Malvern due 18:40   short working, staffing issues
20071231   15:22 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 18:51   otherwise altered, staffing issues
20071231   15:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 15:59   short working, staffing issues
20071231   15:05 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:41   skipping stop(s), rolling stock issues
20071231   15:03 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 16:23   short working, staffing issues
20071231   15:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton due 17:00   short working, staffing issues
20071231   14:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Parkway due 14:58   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   13:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 13:59   short working, staffing issues
20071231   13:11 Weymouth to Gloucester due 16:31   short working, staffing issues
20071231   13:03 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 14:19   short working, infrastructure issues
20071231   12:55 Plymouth to London Paddington due 16:22   otherwise altered
20071231   12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth due 17:07   short working
20071231   12:18 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 12:46   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   12:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Parkway due 12:58   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   12:07 Taunton to Cardiff Central due 14:15   short working, staffing issues
20071231   11:58 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:11   otherwise altered
20071231   11:34 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 12:50   short working, infrastructure issues
20071231   11:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 11:59   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   10:53 Greenford to London Paddington due 11:18   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   10:32 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 11:17   short working, staffing issues
20071231   10:25 London Paddington to Greenford due 10:49   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   10:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 10:59   short working, staffing issues
20071231   10:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Parkway due 10:58   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   10:07 Taunton to Cardiff Central due 12:17   short working, staffing issues
20071231   09:55 Oxford to London Paddington due 11:30   skipping stop(s), rolling stock issues
20071231   09:53 Greenford to London Paddington due 10:21   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   09:30 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 10:20   short working, staffing issues
20071231   09:25 London Paddington to Greenford due 09:49   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   09:12 Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare due 09:59   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   08:51 Great Malvern to Westbury due 11:36   short working, staffing issues
20071231   08:42 Gloucester to Weymouth due 12:06   short working, staffing issues
20071231   08:36 Taunton to Bristol Parkway due 09:56   short working, staffing issues
20071231   08:35 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 09:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   08:25 Greenford to London Paddington due 08:50   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   08:11 Weymouth to Great Malvern due 12:29   short working
20071231   08:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton due 10:03   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20071231   07:55 London Paddington to Greenford due 08:19   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   07:32 Taunton to Bristol Parkway due 09:03   short working, staffing issues
20071231   07:30 London Paddington to Penzance due 13:21   extra stop(s)
20071231   07:30 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 08:23   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   07:25 Bristol Parkway to Westbury due 08:36   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   07:22 London Paddington to Plymouth due 11:19   otherwise altered
20071231   07:15 Gloucester to Great Malvern due 08:13   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071231   07:10 Weymouth to Gloucester due 10:31   short working, staffing issues
20071231   06:21 Gloucester to Taunton due 08:21   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   06:12 Salisbury to Gloucester due 08:32   short working, staffing issues
20071231   05:31 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 07:58   short working, staffing issues
20071231   05:30 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 06:15   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071231   05:05 Penzance to London Paddington due 10:02   extra stop(s)
20071231   04:58 Swansea to London Paddington due 08:01   short working, staffing issues
20071230   22:11 Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa due 22:23   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   22:07 Portsmouth Harbour to Westbury due 23:57   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   22:03 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 23:30   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   20:50 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth due 23:03   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   20:44 Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham Spa due 21:45   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   20:36 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:06   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   20:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 21:20   short working, staffing issues
20071230   20:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 23:50   short working, staffing issues
20071230   20:08 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 23:05   short working, staffing issues
20071230   20:07 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 21:35   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071230   19:55 Plymouth to London Paddington due 00:17   short working, staffing issues
20071230   19:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 20:16   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   19:09 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 23:26   skipping stop(s)
20071230   19:07 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 20:35   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   18:58 Marlow to Maidenhead due 19:19   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   18:57 Basingstoke to Reading due 19:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   18:44 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill due 20:15   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   18:40 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:09   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   18:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 19:20   short working, staffing issues
20071230   18:34 Maidenhead to Marlow due 18:55   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   18:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 19:19   short working, staffing issues
20071230   18:27 Reading to Basingstoke due 18:51   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   18:25 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 21:10   short working, staffing issues
20071230   18:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 21:38   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   18:03 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 19:30   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071230   17:58 Marlow to Maidenhead due 18:19   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   17:47 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:28   extra stop(s)
20071230   17:45 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 21:23   short working, staffing issues
20071230   17:42 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 20:26   skipping stop(s), infrastructure issues
20071230   17:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 18:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   17:34 Maidenhead to Marlow due 17:55   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   17:00 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 18:30   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   16:58 Marlow to Maidenhead due 17:19   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   16:44 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill due 18:30   short working, staffing issues
20071230   16:39 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:07   short working, bus/taxi running
20071230   16:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 17:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   16:34 Maidenhead to Marlow due 16:55   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   16:31 Kemble to Gloucester due 16:16   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   16:07 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 17:35   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071230   15:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 16:16   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   15:07 Gatwick Airport to Reading due 16:35   short working, staffing issues
20071230   14:57 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:22   short working, staffing issues
20071230   14:37 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 18:38   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   14:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 15:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   14:15 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 17:51   short working, staffing issues
20071230   13:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 14:16   short working, staffing issues
20071230   12:42 London Paddington to Hereford due 15:51   shorter train, staffing issues
20071230   12:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 13:16   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   11:57 Cheltenham Spa to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:01   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   11:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 12:20   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   11:18 London Paddington to Paignton due 14:40   short working, staffing issues
20071230   11:15 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:46   short working, staffing issues
20071230   11:08 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 14:08   skipping stop(s)
20071230   10:42 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:04   shorter train, staffing issues
20071230   10:37 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 14:38   short working, staffing issues
20071230   10:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 11:20   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   10:31 Kemble to Cheltenham Spa due 11:19   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   10:06 Cheltenham Spa to Taunton due 12:14   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   09:59 Swansea to London Paddington due 13:07   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071230   09:44 Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham Spa due 10:49   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   09:36 Cheltenham Spa to Kemble due 10:20   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   08:15 Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central due 10:37   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071230   07:59 Swansea to London Paddington due 11:07   short working, staffing issues
20071230   07:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance due 12:05   short working, staffing issues
20071230   00:07 Marlow to Maidenhead due 00:29   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   21:27 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads due 23:25   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   21:18 Great Malvern to Gloucester due 22:09   complete cancellation, staffing issues
20071229   19:57 Newquay to Par due 21:41   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   19:30 Oxford to Didcot Parkway due 19:47   complete cancellation
20071229   18:53 Greenford to London Paddington due 19:18   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   17:32 Plymouth to Newquay due 19:37   complete cancellation, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   17:29 Newton Abbot to Gunnislake due 19:02   short working, rolling stock issues
20071229   17:28 Warminster to Great Malvern due 20:38   short working, staffing issues
20071229   17:08 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:58   short working, staffing issues, bus/taxi running
20071229   16:54 Plymouth to London Paddington due 20:21   extra stop(s), rolling stock issues
20071229   16:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 19:40   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071229   15:54 Penzance to London Paddington due 21:28   extra stop(s), staffing issues
20071229   15:05 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:41   extra stop(s), rolling stock issues

And that's a running rate of 94.56% (132 trains cancelled or not calling at all scheduled stations). And that's an opimistic figure - it does NOT log trains cancelled ahead of time due to engineering works or other planned causes, nor trains that end up getting cancelled en-route.

From 12 years ago today ...


The forum was set up in some degree of frustration at issues such as these ... and so much has changed since, but yet so much seems to be the same (or similar) old issues.  I personally delight that passenger journeys have increase from around 1.2 billion per annum to around 1.8 billion across the UK. I delight that scheduled train calls at Melksham have risen from 26 to 119 (but now dropped back to 115) per week helping passenger numbers using the station rise from around 3,000 (estimated after ticketing distortion removed) to 75,000 per annum.

I am delighted that the forum has move from being something of a protesting thorn in the side of FGW to much more of a critical / candid friend, looking much more to partner in what (after all) are compatible aims between us whilst at the same time not afraid to speak what we feel about the current and continued performance and the issues which still (or now) leave much to be desired and much room for improvement.

Perhaps I will revisit this thread on 31st December 2031 and see how we're doing. We're well set to see some of the current issues - many systemic rather than GWR-alone ones, many brought on by the growth of the system, addressed - for we know what the issues are, we know a bit more about what we're talking about, and we have a setup in which at a rail industry (and also GWR) level I think we users of public transport are listened to a little bit more.

12 years from now, our world will have changed far more than in the last 12.   Resources and climate change need to be addressed as we cannot go on as we have been doing.  It seems to me that at times we're giving the need for these changes scant short term attention, whilst acknowledging the medium and long term need, and in the UK we're spending an absurd amount of time looking at the future of our relationship with our neighbours which WILL have an effect on our future in the next decade, but is but peanuts to the oak tree of our planet's overall health.