Great Western Coffee Shop

Oh dear


Oh dear

And from my journey earlier [I am now at Reading, train awaiting time!] ...

10 on 17:30 arrival into Melksham and 4 more joined; none left.  3 left at Chippenham, rest carried on to Swindon and most (?) connected into Paddington train.

2 arrived at Melksham station on foot, 1 in a taxi (ouch! that was expensive; Lisa not feeling well and far to much luggage to walk from home), and 1 "Kiss and RIde".

One of the folks is coming back on the 06:12 in the morning, and wondered to the conductor why he couldn't get a day return as he's going to be in Swindon for much less than a day.

The CCTV that was to be installed "in January" isn't there, and the help point is having communications problems yet again.  It says they're working to fix it, but attempts to do so permanently seem to be very VERY ineffective!

Thanks, C-f-N and Bobm for posting in the moderator's area ... I hadn't noticed this but rather I think it's a good idea to expose these issues to Rail and Local Government members who are in the CRP area.

I note that the Looe branch in closed due to flooding and that is the ONLY other set of cancellations anywhere in the South West this evening.  I do hope that the final transWilts round trip of the day isn't going to be first on the "Kill List" ...

Presumably the taxis from Chippenham would await the next arrival from Swindon, so I can see why it wouldn't be to published train times. But I would have thought the northbound services would have been.

A difficult one for the operator. If they are staff short at Westbury do they cancel the Swindon service, with maybe 10 -20 people likely to be on board, but no alternative rail service within a sensible time, or a more heavily used route, where more people may be affected, but the time to the next service is more reasonable. 

Melksham station CCTV has electrical and IT installation issues, apparently, so we are now talking Summer 2014 for that and the ticket machine, which is affected by the same issues.

The preparatory work (putting the pole up etc) is due for completion very soon though, so I'm told.

Ah ... do you know if the help point (which often says "we're having communication issues and are working to fix them") will become more reliable at that time too?

My understanding is that the connecting technology used by help points is quite separate from that used by cctv and ticket vending machines, unfortunately.

Any improvement in one does not necessarily mean any change to the others - but hopefully the ongoing work on providing generally improved electrical and internet connectivity at Melksham station (and indeed other stations!) will assist the various engineers and technicians in resolving these issues?

(As an aside, while the Scheidt & Bachmann ticket vending machines at Nailsea & Backwell are sometimes kaputt, the customer information screens on the platforms are working perfectly - and vice versa.  ::) )

I hope it's not too serious a problem with the Melksham Help Point/CIS.

When the one at my local station needed replacing (this was due to vandalism and not faults however) it took 6 months to source it from Switzerland. And at a cost of around ^12,000.

Help point was working fine today, fwiw

3 on at MKM for the 09:15 train, one left at Trowbridge & two (incl. myself) changed and went further south. Quite a few college students already on the train I noticed when it arrived at MKM

A few problems on the TransWilts this evening.

The 17:39 from Cheltenham (18:44 from Swindon) was delayed by over 50 minutes.  Owing to traincrew problems it was coupled to the unit which came in from Westbury on the 18:32 TransWilts service.  This then left at 19:43 - leaving no unit behind to form the 20:12 from Swindon to Westbury via Westbury.  This was therefore cancelled.

Also this evening, the 1736 ex Swindon left promptly.  Errr, so what, you might ask. Well, the 1630 from Paddington arrived around 2 minutes later, hence any passengers for the TransWilts were well shafted. Pax for Trowbridge and Westbury were told to get back on and travel via Bath Spa, but no mention for what those bound for Melksham should do. If they waited for the 1844 then they would have been around 2 hrs late by the time they left Swindon (or indeed Chippenham).

Appreciate there's a lot to challenge FGW at the moment, but maybe another example of where rules took precedence over common sense.

Which when you think about it makes even less sense as the HST would have been following the TransWilts train on yellows all the way to Thingley...which is why, no doubt, it was 10 late at Swindon and 14 down by Chippenham.

Agree bobm, although the only thing I think of is that if the TW service had been held to follow the 1730 to Highbridge, it would then have held up the 1741 to Swansea as far as Thingley Junction. So probably a case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" for those making the decisions. 

True - except the Swansea was already knackered by being sent via Box after the closure of the line via Hullavington.  It ended up being 52 minutes late at Bristol Parkway.

Indeed, not helped by the 50mph restriction between Box and Keynsham that's been in place for 2 days now, because of flooding. So maybe the signallers felt to run the Westbury service ahead of it (including a call at Chippenham) was worse than letting the Westbury out on time and inconveniencing anyone connecting at Swindon.

It only goes to show, those making the decisions have a lot of things to consider, not all of which regular passengers can see.   

Given the problems elsewhere it seems almost churlish to report these

Tree on the line at Trowbridge.

Delayed the 17:36 from Swindon by 21 minutes between Melksham and Trowbridge
18:32 from Westbury to Swindon cancelled

Although not officially cancelled yet, the 20:12 from Swindon to Westbury is also likely not to run as the unit is in Westbury!

The 18:50 from Swindon (17:39 from Cheltenham Spa) did run and was 17 late at Trowbridge.

Early reports suggest a road traffic accident is affecting the Melksham single line.

This morning ...

07:32    Westbury (Wilts)   Departed
11 mins late      
07:38    Trowbridge   Departed
13 mins late      
07:48    Melksham   No report
07:59    Chippenham   Departed
13 mins late      
08:18    Swindon (Wilts)   08:29
11 mins late

Incoming unit from Bristol attached to a later train than usual.

Three trips on the TransWilts today...

12:47 from Swindon
11 leaving Swindon, 3 off at Chippenham, 3 on, 3 off at Melksham, none on, 7 off at Trowbridge (including me), 4 or possibly 5 on.

16:15 from Westbury
8 on at Westbury, 1 off at Trowbridge, 3 on, 4 off at Melksham, 2 on (both travelling to London), 3 off at Chippenham, 3 on

18:50 from Swindon
Two car train so hard to count - but there were five off and 2 on at Melksham.

Oh dear - NOT a good day!

Is it just me or do I sense that any early management attention to the service and trying to ensure reliability has now fallen away.

Just to put it in context three trips from Swindon to Cheltenham yesterday (Sat)  (16:14, 20:00 and 21:20) were also cancelled due to lack of traincrew.    There was road replacement and the through HSTs from London at 17:15 and 19:15 did run.

Also noted from real time trains

Of little comfort to those north of Westbury, but another unit was used to run the train from Westbury to Southampton Central leaving at 07:01.

Saturday, 15th March

13:48 Melksham to Chippenham.  13 passengers into Melksham; 4 off, 1 on making 14 passengers using the Trowbridge - Chippenham section. 4 or 5 off at Chippenham.

14:53 Chippenham to Melksham. 14 passengers from Chippenham to Melksham; 3 off, 1 on making 15 passengers using Chippenham - Trowbridge section. 6 of the passengers from Chippenham actually joined the train there.

Weather - bright, sunny late winter day.  Notable that all Melksham passengers walked to / from station.   Arriving 3 were headed for Beechfield House, for Peacocks, and for the Assembly Hall.    Conductor has been working the single car services all morning; this was his last trip and "very much the quietest"; that's very much what I would have guessed as people have gone out for the day and aren't yet coming back.

Further ...

18:03 Melksham to Trowbridge. 16 on into Melksham, 4 off and 1 on.  17 passengers on the Chippenham - Trowbridge section

18:47 arrival in Melksham from Trowbridge.  16 on into Melksham again, 9 off and 8 on (!). 24 passengers on Trowbridge - Chippenham section

Predominantly younger people travelling this evening.

Other reports (from other users who can count / friends met on the train ;) )
11:47 Melksham to Chippenham = 7 on into Melksham +5 - 0 = 12 passengers on Trowbridge - Chippenham section
08:37 Melksham to Chippenham = 10 on into Melksham + 15 - 0 = 25 passengers on Trowbridge - Chippenham section

Noted that conductor looking to sell and check tickets of people joining at Trowbridge on the 18:38 from Trowbridge only just got through the train as it arrived at Melksham.  And note numbers getting on at Melksham. 

That's 15 on at Melksham on the 0837, just to clarify?

Yes, it is.   10 from Trowbridge rose to 25 from Melksham on the train.

Now re-instated...

However later in the day..

Good job we didn't finish the meeting in time ...

And I understand that there were 12 people on it into Melksham ... 1 off and 2 on ... making a total of 14 people using the Trowbridge - Chippenham section.   Whether it's valid to log that as a usage figure I don't know ... cancelling a train so that passenger go off and make other arrangements, then re-instating it and saying "look how empty this is" reminds me of the sort of tricks with statistics that were used in the olden days to manipulate results.    I am NOT saying that there was any dark motive here - just that I don't know whether it's valid to include the figures in our stats.

Certainly recordable. 09:02 Melksham to Westbury (approx 7 late due to an HST sent through ahead of it still being on the single line) - 1 off and 10 on at Melksham - left with 27 on board.   Which makes 28 people using the train on the Chippenham - Trowbridge section..

16:32 Westbury to Melksham.   12 passengers Trownbridge to Melksham, where 5 got off and 3 more got on making a total of 15 passengers using the train on the Trowbridge - Chippenham section.

Just for the record the train was cancelled and then re-instated in the space of nine minutes, of course how many people saw it in that "cancelled" period we will never know.

Given a previous observations this month of 15 boarding the 0822 at Melksham, only 2 getting on might suggest that some were put off. Unless of course it was the 15 that for some reason was unusual.

Though it's interesting that earlier this month there were twice as many passengers on the 1632 Westbury to Melksham as were seen today, so there does appear to be quite a lot of volatility in Saturday loadings.

Reported here for logging purposes - a very reliable source (retired railwayman, now very active in signalling on a preserved railway ... very much an accurate counter, I would say!)


I make that 63 users on the Chippenham - Trowbridge section.

From Journeycheck

The 19:32 from Westbury to Cheltenham Spa was 43 mins late into Chippenham after being trapped on the single line when the 18:30 from London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare ran into mechanical problems at Thingley.

Edited to add: 19:32 then terminated at Gloucester due to late running, with the return working - the 22:01 Cheltenham Spa to Gloucester also cancelled.

Although realtime trains shows the 1830 clearing Thingley at 2020 (and at Bathampton by 2025), yet the 1932 didn't pass Thingley until 2040.  Puzzled as to why there would be a further 20 minute delay.

Engineering train having problems getting into Westbury yard.

In the past, mind you, that would have been cancelled ... so we have moved forward.   And the extra 6 minutes delay was almost undoubtedly caused by another train that wasn't there last year.

Err ... odd one ...

It is because of this


So the single line is blocked....

0822 from Westbury has suffered a loss of air...

The 08:36 has gone via Bathampton Junction and was 21 minutes late at Trowbridge (having left Swindon four late).

Meanwhile the 08:22 from Westbury has left Melksham 55 minutes later after a fitter travelled out to it to make repairs.

Oh dear ... just six passengers on the 10:48 this morning when it arrived from Trowbridge.  2 got off, 2 more got on making 8 users on the Trowbridge - Chippenham section ... may be one or two more as I was counting through the windows.   Weather windy, overcast, cold and heavy rain showers; more like a winter day that May, and that was reflected in the loadings.   Last weekend of winter train service, last Sunday it was bustituted and it was a bank holiday and next Sunday the summer service starts.

P.S. - Conductor says he's been on the run since Thursday and it's been pretty busy ...

After last Thursday's problems, it seems the gremlins have struck again this week..

A busy day for me ..
09:15 at Melksham to Westbury -3 +5 -> 9  = 12/8
14:14 from Westbury 10 on arrival from TRO -2 +3 = 13/5
"Quiet all around due to half term week" say crew; I can vouch for that business wise.
16:31 at Melksham -14 +3 -> 21 = 35/17 then -16 +5 at CPM
17:36 from Swindon left with 46 on. -6+10@CPM -5+0@MKM 55/5
18:38 from Trowbridge 12 from TRO +1 -0 @MKM 13/1
19:09 from CPM - between 25 and 30 on train / -6 +2 @ MKM

10:08 Westbury to Warminster carried 2 passengers - me + 1 other
10:23 back left WMN with 6+me and picked up 5 at DMH
"The similar trip at around 3pm is busy with school traffic - otherwise it's a quiet set of services" say crew.

Old reports from 3/5 ...
07:48 at Melksham -12 + 10 -> 72 = 84/22
09:02 at Melksham +25
Old report from 19/5
18:48 at Melksham -5 +2; 2 caught bus

Unusual one.  Cancelled because the driver was needed to take another unit to Castle Cary to help with a failed train.

The root cause is always given en though it may not appear to be the direct cause.

Unusual movement at Chippenham tonight. The 1852 Swindon to Westbury (SWT CL 158) departed at the same time as the CL153 operating the TW service today did. However,   the TW service was also heading west, and they ran parallel towards Thingley Jn. "We do like to race them sometimes said one of the platform staff".  Appears the 153 was declared a failure at Chippenham and was on its way back to the depot for some TLC, but it certainly made for an unusual movement, which I wish I'd recorded.

26 on the 1852 leaving SWI, and around 22 leaving Chippenham, although difficult to confirm having left the train.

It was an unusual failure.

The heating jammed on in the cab and could not be turned off.  It must have been bad to prevent the service going forward to Swindon.  The return journey would, of course, use the other cab and I assume the heating controls are different for each end.

Hopefully taxis were provided for those planning to use the 20:12.

Tonight's 18:32 Westbury to Swindon and 20:12 return cancelled again this evening.  Different unit from yesterday but again the cab heater is stuck on.

Jeeze!   Same driver??

Tonight ... Cancelled

At around 17:05 the two later trains were re-instated.

Not a cab heater fault this time, but a sickly engine.

Severe delay on the 18:32 Westbury to Swindon tonight due to "congestion at Westbury".

Left 37 minutes late and currently 54 late between Chippenham and Swindon.  Should arrive just in time to work the 20:12 return working.  (It is also just a few minutes ahead of the 19:32 from Westbury....)

Indeed. Travelling in the other direction the 1852 from SWI left just as the 1830 to Taunton arrived, thus denying passengers from east of Swindon their connection.  So the HST trundled slowly into Chippenham losing about 5 mins in the process. And then we waited whilst the 1852 was held at Thingley Jn for a late running HST from Castle Cary to come off the branch, losing a further 10 mins in the process, thus 15 mins delay and several pax needing taxis according to the TM. All could have been avoided if the 1830 had been given priority on leaving Swindon.  (Oh, and the following PAD to BRI, also lost 9 mins because of the hold up.)

By the time the 1852 was ready to enter the branch to head south, the 1832 was more or less waiting at the other end.  So it was held at Bradford Jn which duly resulted in delays to 3 further trains heading towards Bath Spa.

Of course, the day was unusual in terms of traffic on the TW branch, but it does show how not having the facility to hold a train off the main line can cause considerable delays.

Indeed it has been an usual few days for traffic on the TW.

We have discussed it before - but it isn't always a case of waiting for a train to come off the single line in the opposite direction which causes hold ups.  A diverted HST I was on yesterday from Westbury was held at Bradford Junction for nearly 10 minutes while we waited for the Melksham train in front to clear Thingley Junction.

By the time we reached Thingley we were then behind another HST, which in turn was following the slower running 153.

An intermediate signal on the branch would help matters.

If things are running as planned, then the capacity of the Transwilts is enough to get around 36 trains through during a day - lets say 16 x HST, 16 x 15x and 4 x freight.  Been done on a diversion day before, with nothing more that 4 or 5 minutes late.  But it's hard to timetable, and liable to blow up in someone's face if anything turns up more than a few minutes after it should.

Without full redoubling, double junctions at Thingley and Bradford, with sufficient space to allow a train to wait for the single line or wait for a mainline gap without blocking the main line / blocking the branch would be helpful.  But I think double junctions are out of favour and in effect would be designed as  a passing loop just on the branch?

An intermediate signal would cut the headway from around 16 minutes to 9 between trains - but would all trains then need to slow down in case the had to stop in the middle / it would need to be done 3 aspect from the ends.

More radically, why hold up that HST at Trowbridge - why not use the wasted 10 minutes to add Melksham and Chippenham stops as well as the Trowbridge one ...

No solutions, just ideas.  Now that we've proven that a service is useful, we can suggest  that these things that may be needed for toughening are looked at and - at the least - protected.

Couldn't you just have a colour light distant?

You could have a two aspect stop signal in the middle, there'd be a two aspect distant signal in front of it (as John R says). So no need to slow trains down on a clear run.

If a distant signal shows a green, then the stop signal will also show a green.
If a distant signal shows a yellow, then the stop signal will show a red (unless it then clears to a green once the train has passed the distant signal).

Does that make sense?

Are there rules about the maximum distance between a distant and a main signal?

On the basis you can't have two trains heading in opposite directions on the single line, the only time an intermediate signal is going to be at danger is if a train is already heading away from a following train in the same direction.  You could therefore have the junction signal showing a single yellow at the entrance to the single line instead of the current green.

There are already distants on the single line for the junction signals.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/melksig.jpg)

The junction signal for Thingley is SN11 and, top right, you can see the distant - marked 11R.  The route has been set for a train to come off the single line as a train to Bristol has just cleared the junction.

I would have thought that would run the risk of the driver forgetting given the length of time before he/she encounters the intermediate signal (which is I suspect what you are thinking about). And it wouldn't really be a distant but a third aspect as the signal protects its own section. All a distant signal does is give an indication of the next signal ahead as Network SouthEast has described.

With mechanical signalling it's more intuitive as they are a different colour, but to the casual observer one colour light signal looks much like another.

Am I right in thinking that the bidirectional signalling on the main line between Bristol and Swindon via Box uses distants rather than three aspect working?

Playing "catchup" and putting these logs here rather than in public as there are metrics that could lead to the identification of individuals

2nd July, 15:14 from Swindon
11 from Swindon
-1 +9 at Chippenham
-6 +2 at Melksham
-7 +0 at Trowbridge
21/8
I have some interesting notes / metrics ...
153368
2 cycles CPM to TRO
5 schoolchildren (2 with the cycles)
One topless chap, and two who looked like train spotters
Couple of blokes talking about upcoming court case they / mates are in
Report of lovely countryside and nice breeze in the train
No ticket checks / TM not seen.

10th July, 06:12 from Swindon
7 from Swindon
-1 +2 at Chippenham
-1 +6 at Melksham
-6 +13 and a bike at Trowbridge
14/7

Last night / 9th July ... times at Melksham
15:53 +6 -4 -> 25  29/10
16:30 +4 -5, 18 thru 27/9
18:03 +4 -12 -> 52 64/16
18:48 +2 -3 -> 9 12/5
19:18 +4 -6, 26 thru 36/10
I was at the station primarily to recruit walkers for the carnical parade on saturday / at least ensure that regular commuters knew about it and can join us if they wish, so the numbers on / through are counted as best I could and may not be exact - there may have been babes, people in loo, etc, that I missed.  I had hoped to count the later trains too, but an admin task on the forum dealing with a post that was alledged to be "inaccurate, outdated and defamatory. I believe that [the post] is now also unlawful, in breach of Data Protection Laws" had to be dealt with ...

Also the 15:14 from Swindon to Westbury terminated at Chippenham - presumably due to the same train fault.

Let's hope the train is fixed up at the Swindon end and the 17:36 runs ... not a good start to the week;  lost most of last Saturday's services at Melkasham to engineering diversions, one on Monday to a points failure at Bradford-on-Avon, and two so far today to a train problem ...

According to RealTimeTrains the unit has run empty from Chippenham to Westbury so I am not hopeful - but you never know.

Spoke too soon!   ;D

16:15 now reinstated - but the 17:11 Westbury to Warminster now cancelled due to a train fault.   ;)

Shouldn't say it, but ...


Any chance that the unit's on the TransWilts.   17:36 Swindon to Westbury is usually busier than the 17:11 Westbury to Warminster - though I do note that the 17:28 from Warminster is short-running too, and that gets busier.

I am guessing it is.  The 16:15 was predicted to be a 25 minute late start and is now likely to be 40 late - which will make it tight for the return at 17:36.

EDIT

Will now be 45 late and terminate at Chippenham.

ANOTHER EDIT(!)

Left 40 late but will run through to Swindon with the 17:36 due to return about 10 late.

About 17 minutes late in the end by Melksham, and well loaded.  Report going up on public board in a few minutes.

Signalling problems mean platforms 2 & 3 at Swindon out of use.  The incoming Transwilts service (07:32 ex-Westbury) was terminated at Chippenham.

Would it be too much to ask to hold the 1730 to Taunton for 6 minutes so that everyone expecting to catch the 1736 could be accommodated as far as Chippenham for onward road transport.  Oh sorry, silly me, that would cost money, so we'll delay passengers for another 25 mins instead.

Especially as the 17:30 is actually the 17:32 in the working timetable...and it is booked to wait at Bristol Temple Meads for six minutes....

Problems at Thingley Junction following thunderstorms.

The 05:17 Gloucester to Southampton service will not run between Swindon and Westbury.

Could well be more cancellations

Last round trip of the day now cancelled



No mention of road replacement - although I would hope there is.

FGW Twitter account says road replacement transport is being provided.

Today's 14:14 Westbury to Swindon and 15:14 return were both cancelled due to no driver.

I was on the 14:00 from Paddington, which provides the connection into the 15:14.  As we arrived at Swindon the Train Manager announced the cancellation of the 15:14 and advised customers for Melksham to stay on to Chippenham where a taxi would be provided.  Those for Trowbridge and Westbury to stay on to Bath.

Also heard a woman being given similar advice at the gateline.

Following two services cancelled as well


No mention of road transport...

Update - both now re-instated.

Some signal trouble causing delays this morning. Less than ten minutes it seems and yet first two services of the day are skipping Melksham :(

Apparently, the problem started much earlier this morning. First attempt at fix failed as replacement cable was of insufficient length.

Not ideal when there are CRP passenger counts and surveys on the line today.

0732 WSB-SWI may run as booked with a pilotman.

All my eggs are in the proverbial 07.32 basket and so far looking okay..

Both the 06:12 off Swindon and the 07:04 off Westbury ran via Bathampton ... just 3 minutes to reverse on the 06:12 at Bathampton (good going!) and 18 passengers on from Chippenham.   Melksham customers had got out at Chippenham.  Arrived about 15 minutes late into Westbury. 

Saw you on the 07:32, TeaStew .. bit of a nightmare to count / survey as it was standing took only (3 or 4 in each lobby amount!) and conductor unable to reach everyone to sell tickets due to lack of time.    Yes, pilot man from Trowbridge to Chippenham and that continue on next train(s) ... I'm on a real now, back on 13:13 at Melksham and will see how it's going!

Given the (relatively) short delay before the second northbound train, hopefully most passengers to/from Melksham still travelled, but on the later train. In which case it might not be that difficult to estimate what the figures would have been (especially if those alighting at Trowbridge and Chippenham travelling on to Melksham were recorded as such).

Good to see that a pilot man was used, to prevent full cancellation of the Melksham service this morning.  Let's hope for a trouble free day tomorrow.

11 off and 18 on!   I remember those figures ...train was "pretty busy" but I forget actual numbers which are on papers elsewhere at present.  17:36 [15 late] off Swindon loaded to 77 south from Chippenham, so I don't hunk many took to their cars for the day

Can confirm that figure. I was there with Graham.

Badly paraphrasing Brian Hanrahan... We counted 'em all on, and we counted 'em all off again.  ;D

I was out counting other services on the route over the weekend, getting quite busy from time to time - Although like grahame, I don't hunk many either  ;D

Anecdotally I can say that a few did travel later as I recognised some people on the platform. More than half the "regulars" though were not there.

[edit: by which I mean, about four or five.]

From Journeycheck


 ???

Amazing ... and, of course, the TransWilts service is the ONLY cancellation anywhere in the South West again.

11:41 cancelled ... next train 14:56

According to Real Time Trains, service from Westbury arrived a few minutes ago in Swindon, and will be running empty back to Westbury - The decision to do this was taken at 1104, which is when the service was at Chippenham.

Reason given on RTT is "disorder"

..and it is now running back empty - having left at 11:30.

What on earth happened??   

One can only but speculate....

Interesting to note that if it had been just a week earlier, TWCRP volunteers would have been counting and surveying those very passengers...

I guess the guard could have been shaken up or need some sort of attention. Or the unit damaged?

All fell apart last night ...


19:18 and 19:46 did not call - trains redirected via Bathampton Junction, and ran approx 10 late thereafter.


Not sure if 16:30 call happened ... 2M12 left Westbury 15 late (at 16:30), droppend a further 16 minutes between Bradford and Thingley (did it run via Bathampton?) and got to Swindon at 17:31.

17:36 Swindon to Westury DID run ... 6 late from Swindon, 12 late by Westbury.  44 on from Melksham, where 15 had left and 5 joined the service - 59/20

15:14 Swindon to Westbury lost 17 minutes alomg the way - mostly bewteen Dauntsey and Thingley, probablay because they were working out if it could go via Melksham.

From earlier in the day, the 08:49 Swindon to Westbury set off 5 minutes late but was right time by Westbury.  Melksham was -5 +5 -> 10  15/10 for stats

Do you realise that we've gone a whole fortnight with the signalling working ... and indeed the problem today is a signal that fell over onto the track at Newbury ... so having important "class 1" trains diverted along the TransWilts and "class 2" stuff being chucked off.

Covered elsewhere on this forum: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14689.0

The situation this morning at Melksham was pretty dreadful. I rarely get angry with rail setbacks and today wasn't an exception for me - but it did seem pretty bad from what I saw.

I arrived off the rail link bus at about 07.05. Alarm bells rang immediately as there was a group of people around the information screen which was blaring hold music into the foggy light industrial environ. The bus usually delivers the first people for the 07.20 - most of the people there had been waiting for the 06.38. There was a young couple/parent with a pram and child who may have been there since then too.

The screen simply said delayed for every train. There was a man who seemed pretty peeved who had tried using the information button. I witnessed three calls which always seemed to stall at the "I know what is wrong, the previous people told me that - but what is being done about it?" stage - leading to "please hold" before being cut off after a minute.

People simply wanted to know whether there was any other form of transport coming at all as many had no other means of getting to their destination, it was wait in the cold for something, anything, or go home.

One call did suggest that people should get the 55 bus and that tickets would be valid. But there was no answer to where to go to get said bus. And those of us without a ticket would presumably buy one and then..?

Some people who had come by car gave lifts to others to Chippenham - as it turned out that would have been fine for my connection, the 0744 CPM -> BRI left at 0746 according to Real Time Trains, but all the calls had told us that trains on that line were badly affected too so many people stayed. I would have gone if my girlfriend had not been de-icing the car at that moment to come and get me.

When I left the station at about 0740 it was displayed that the 0638 was now due at 0757. About 6 people and the frost remained on the platform.

I am not really looking for any response to this, I just thought that while we can all imagine a large delay and cancellations on a cold morning, having some of the extra details really makes it real.

There was clearly a very big problem up until lunchtime today.   And the tragedy is that it's not the first time - lessons should have been learned:

a) It would appear that the infrastructure / Signalling provided by Network Rail is not fit for the purpose required of FGW, which is to operate 99% plus of trains without cancellation

b) In the event of disruption, information needs to be provided on a better basis.  We can all understand "we're working on it / don't yet know" for a short while, but boards that just say "delayed" and phone systems that cut off in the middle don't help.

I wasn't personally there this morning - I travelled yesterday to the site I'm working on this week, and thank goodness I didn't try by train this morning, as I would have been late and subject to punitive compensation clauses in my contract, with a room full of students and no tutor.  But I HAVE seen such problems in the past, I know what it feels like ... and I know that with careful use of Twitter and a mobile phone, it's possible to find out what's going on.

It shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to have signals that work for 99.5% of the time

It shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to provide alternative information when things do go wrong - after all, the rail operators get enough practise  ;D

Sadly this afternoon the problems have continued.

The signalling is now working, but the 153 due to work the 14:14 from Westbury and return from Swindon at 15:14 is languishing in the sidings at Westbury with an engine fault.

Fun and games right now with signals and broken freight. Taxis en route! More on this later!

From First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Came too late to save the 20:12 Swindon to Westbury, which was cancelled.

A rail head treatment train failed between Bradford on Avon and Avoncliff.

The backlog of trains at Westbury was a sight to be seen.

I will try to be brief as there is quite a bit of detail. The situation at Trowbridge at 18.30-19.00 was interesting though, bad things and good.

The 18.38 TRO - MKM train arrived at about 18.43 having been delayed by late-running train to Cardiff. At that point it was announced that it wasn't stopping at MKM. I knew this a moment before as I was online [got my phone back!] but there was nothing until the annoucement as the train pulled in - being No.2 on the board until pretty much the same time meant no indication that it was going straight to CPM.

5 of us I think waiting at TRO to go to MKM asked the guard what was going on - she went to speak to the driver.. phonecalls later we knew that signal trouble meant the train had intended to go up via Bathampton etc but in the meantime a freight train had broken down on that line - so no MKM or anywhere else.

More phonecalls from the guard got us two taxis.. they arrived at about 19.35, into MKM at about 19.50. About 7 of us I think.

The really nice aspect was the response from the driver and guard who were fantastic. Driver got clearance to return to Westbury at about 19.15 but refused to leave until he knew the taxis had arrived as he didn't want to leave us at an unmanned station in the cold. Both members of staff were just brilliant, checking we were all okay, explaining what was happening etc. [Tried to notice name badges but hard to read, think the guard was Elaine..?]

Got home about 20.10, 70 minutes later than usual, cold and tired but not feeling bitter about the situation. Four of us going TRO-MKM are pretty regular MKM-BRI commuters and had unfortunately been hanging about on Monday morning too. Although not necessarily happy I think the care that was shown really improved the mood with the others compared with Monday.

I'm sure if you write to FGW with your praise of how the staff handled the situation, detailing the time and date of the service involved, the praise will filter down to the relevant staff.

And another one bites the dust ...

And another two


Once again, the only two trains cancelled anywhere in FGW territory.  Wouldn't you think it would be better to cancel one service on a much more frequently run service that one where there's over 2 hours to the next train?

Losing the 0732 should always be completely unacceptable except where it it is completely unavoidable.

People need to be able to rely on the key peak trains otherwise the overall outlook for the service is bleak - I hope a strongly worded complaint is winging its way to FGW, as the time has come for a "zero tolerance" approach to be adopted.

The current operational rational in these circumstances cannot be allowed to continue and must be challenged.

I have emailed a strong challenge ... and ...

  :-\

Presumably the conductor missing as the train ran as ECS

The 0733 Westbury-Swindon has gone again, signalling problems this time...

Same again please Graham in terms of complaint - one of very few cancellations today.

08:49 gone too

Can you let me know what the response to your earlier challenge was, as well as their response to the challenge you put in today is please - I need to assess whether this needs to go higher in order to be nipped in the bud.

Looks like this morning may have turned out to have had a very sensible solution. However, it didn't sort out the return train.

As I travelled in to work (along the busway in Cambridge!) this a.m., I was composing something of an "enough is enough" type email - however, with the way it had panned out when I got back online, I THINK the response can be more measured and provide a positive hook not a negative hit.

We DO need reliability for 2015.  Only yesterday, I got a comment that "I don't use the train because I cannot rely on it.  We also need assurance of continuation of services and connections throughout the year with only positive changes.

Can we find out what information was provided to passengers at Melksham this morning? If the help point just shows "cancelled" for the Swindon train then many people would have wandered off... and was the diverted service that called at MKM shown on the display?

Cynical answer: It probably said "This help point is out of action" which it's been doing far too much recently.

We have access to the current display via http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/rendercis.asp?file=303426.xml but no history, and I wasn't online and watching while this was going on, so I can't help with what it was programmed to say.

Signalling problems south of Westbury affecting the 07:04 this morning.  That's the one which forms the connection into the 07:58 at Swindon.  There are, of course, other trains to London, but that one doesn't call at Reading and is usually quieter.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/mkmcis.png)

Making the local paper too ...

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/headlines/11675338._/?

Little late on this one.

Both 14:14 Westbury to Swindon and 15:14 Swindon to Westbury cancelled.

The unit booked to work today had problems earlier while forming the 09:48 from Westbury and came to a stand at Dauntsey, causing the diversion of one service from Bristol via Hullavington.

Sad to see the 7.47 from Melksham to Swindon cancelled this evening due to lack of crew. Next train at 7.48 - sounds acceptable until you realise that's 7.48 on Saturday morning - 60 hours and 1 minute later!

Understand that the cab heater at one end has failed.

09:48 from Westbury and 10:47 return both cancelled due to a bridge strike between Westbury and Trowbridge.

Although not showing on Journeycheck - the station screens at Swindon show the 14:15 ex Westbury and 15:14 ex Swindon are cancelled due to a points failure to the west of Swindon station.

18:52 from Swindon, 8.1.2015  Just 22 on into Melksham, 3 off 1 on = 23/4

"Been quiet all week" says regular / "People not all back yet".  Hope that's it, rather than people trying to use it and finding it not running last week!  (17:36 back to 17:22, 18:52 not running, meaning that people turning up at Swindon station at 17:30 had until 20:12 for the next train.  Not clever IMHO).

Not a good morning.. the 09:48 from Westbury failed just outside Swindon Station.

Now the 10:47 and 12:47 Swindon to Westbury and the 11:47 Westbury to Swindon have all been cancelled.

Edited to update:  According to RTT the 09:48 arrived in Swindon 73 minutes late and the 10:47 did eventually run - leaving at 12:01 (74 minutes late).

14:14 Westbury to Swindon due 15:03
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a vehicle striking a bridge.
Last Updated :29/01/2015 14:17

From the public part of the forum


After a break from rail travel I started again this morning. I had meant to mention this cancellation and the following returning 0915 on here but it has been a busy morning. I heard "on the ground" that these cancellations were due to one driver being scheduled to drive two trains at the same time - TransWilts and also one "to Bristol" [maybe 0738 WSB - GMV].

No mention on the info screen about taxis when I was there for the 0720 but screen was working perfectly..!

That was a carefully calculated choice ... but thank you for following up in this area as there's a limit to what's good to say widely.



Oh dear  :-\ ... There are other trains into Bristol from Westbury - several an hour - but a gap of around 2 and a half hours into Swindon.   I thought we had got away from being "first to be cancelled", and also that we had the station display screen set up to provide further text where appropriate ...

Could be "one of those days" on TransWilts this evening. All shows on time as far as I can see atm but there is news of a bridge strike between Trowbridge and Westbury :)

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/91785.aspx

Tonight's cancel list on journey check

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:21
18:18 Warminster to Westbury due 18:28
18:32 Westbury to Swindon due 19:23

"Bridge strike at Trowbridge" ... perhaps it should run just to Melksham in such a circumstance?

Yep! Updates on journey planner after my train had left BRI. Currently en route to Trowbridge (maybe). Luckily can switch at Bath and go to Chippenham to pray that the 19.09 runs?

Or at least get stuck at a staffed station.

Reduced to 0 mph on the Transwilts - nothing from 15:14 to (hopefully) 18:52 from Swindon and from 16:15 to (hopefully) 19:32 .  Stations like B-o-A seem to still have a [pretty] full service.

And another has gone


I thought that 20:12 was quite a long time after 18:45, but ...


And noting some classic "doublespeak" ...

"reduced speed" - not running at all
"revised" - cancelled

Well I am on that 19.09 out of Chippenham. (Enjoying the flexibility of the TransWilts that allows me to change routes if necessary.)

Slightly galling to see what looked suspiciously like a 153 race through Chippenham from the Swindon direction around 18.45.. would that be the train that should have run the various cancelled services?

Bearing in mind that the unit swaps at 18:20 at Trowbridge, I suspect the ex 17:36 was nearly out of fuel, and a decision was taken to send it direct to Bristol.  Whether that's CANCELLED FOR OPERATION CONVENINENCE as happens in South Hampshire on SWTrains,  ;D or whether it was a pragmatic decision to avoid the train running out of fuel in the morning ...

Well, I am home and no more than 30 minutes later than usual.. So all things considered I am pretty happy, could easily have been worse.

Some final things to mention before I leave this forum in peace for the evening.. Information courtesy of our watcher at Melksham in the evening peak: the rail link bus driver.

Apparently two large taxis brought people down from Chippenham who would have got the first bus. 8 I think he said. Taxis went on to Trowbridge with some other passengers. However one chap came up from Trowbridge in a taxi, self-funded in the region of ^17...

If it had worked as diagrammed would only be on it's second day.   They can usually run about two and half/three days depending on mileage.    It's not really a hectic day shuttling between Westbury and Swindon with gaps in between trains.   It ran from Swindon to Westbury empty.

A round trip cancelled due to signalling problems.

10:47 ex Swindon
11:47 ex Westbury

UPDATE: 11:47 now reinstated.

Yes, although live departure board still shows the service running ... and journey check now says "this train will run as scheduled" (changed in the last few minutes)

..and RTT says the 10:47 was cancelled due "to an error being made"?

And now ...

Friday the 13th strikes.

16:15 Westbury to Swindon
17:36 Swindon to Westbury

both cancelled due to a fault on the unit.

Err .. it may be on the "service update" list ... but it looks awfully like a cancellation as far as the TransWilts is concerned!

This is because the preceding service (1630 PAD to TAU) was diverted via MKM due to signalling problems.  The 1700 thus overtook it between CPM and BTH!

From Journeycheck

Been in a, not too interesting, meeting tonight, so hard to follow what was going on.

There was a problem with the signalling and points at Bradford North junction.  For a time nothing could run through the area, not only TransWilts but also services to and from Weymouth and the Cardiff/Portsmouths.  The 17:36 from Swindon was sent back to Melksham from the junction for a time while the problem was sorted.

Meanwhile the 18:36 to Swindon and the return working were both cancelled and the 18:52 (the service from Cheltenham) was cancelled at Swindon.

All this led to a 7 car train (150/1, 150/9, 2 car 158) being coupled up at Westbury to get the stock and staff where they needed to be.

The 09:10 Swindon to Westbury and the 11:14 Westbury to Swindon are both cancelled "owing to congestion caused by earlier delays".

Seems they have fallen victim to the engineering work which is diverting High Speed Services from South Wales and Cheltenham from Swindon to Reading via Chippenham and the TransWilts line and then the Berks & Hants.  One train from London to South Wales is over three hours late at present.

Taxis being provided to/from Melksham from Chippenham/Trowbridge.

Oh f***.  I'm on the 12:36 change at Trowbridge, Bristol, Stafford, Crewe, Chester and Holyhead for a 23:45 arrival in Dublin.

Well that (the 12:10 ex SWI) could still run - given the unit is still at Swindon.

Well - it ran.  -0 +4 -> 28    28/4.   Apparently failed freight and failed HST at Swindon and line closed for engineering ... they attached the TransWilts 153 to the Cheltenham and gave it a trip up there.    If only I had know - just departing Cheltenham myself now, via Trowbridge and BRI!

14:14 Westbury to Swindon and 15:14 Swindon to Westbury cancelled after a bridge strike at Yarnton (between Westbury and Trowbridge).

Coming to this thread a bit late - it seems that the effect of a bridge strike on the main Portmsouth - Cardiff line (the segment the TransWilts shares) is one Portsmouth - Cardiff train being turned around at Newport (leaving a gap of perhaps 20 minutes between those cities) and a TransWilts round trip being cancelled completely, leaving a gap from 12:47 to 17:36 off Swindon.

I stand corrected ... additional changes

Problem with the unit on the TransWilts.

The 09:48 from Westbury failed just outside Swindon station and finally arrived nearly half an hour late - resulting in the cancellation of the 10:47 from Swindon to Westbury.

UPDATE at 11:20:  Seems the 09:48 hasn't *quite* arrived at Swindon.  It has come to a stand blocking the lines to and from Kemble.

UPDATE at 12:15:  Passengers evacuated and walked the 25 yards onto the station platform; train now moved and Kemble lines re-opened.

However the 11:47 from Westbury also cancelled.

A couple of red lines on the diagram at the top of these pages - but I wasn't worried because they were at a different angle to the usual Westbury <-> Swindon lines.

Silly me:


and the headline:


I guess "reduced speed" means 0 m.p.h. in the case of the TransWilts.  Always reluctant to admit cancellations in the headline!

I suspect that the "signalling problems" may not have been entirely unconnected with the signalling works that have been going on between Chippenham and Swindon today ...  ;)

A very frustrating start to the working week.

Due to a combination of signalling problems and a points failure at Wootton Bassett the TW service is unlikely to start before 09:48 at the earliest.

All cancelled

06:12 Swindon to Westbury
07:04 Westbury to Swindon
07:33 Westbury to Swindon
08:49 Swindon to Westbury

To add to the frustration the 06:33 from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington was reversed at Chippenham and sent down the single line to Westbury to reach the Berks & Hants line.  Not surprisingly it didn't stop at Melksham.

Oh what a morning .... Bobm and I were supposed to be starting passenger counts this morning ...

At about 20 past 7, the 07:33 from Westbury was stlll shown as running so I went down to Melksham Station to start on that.   Of course (we now know) it got cancelled, and that was a announcement made so late that even if people had checked before they left home, they hadn't got the news.

Interesting study in what happened / how people proceeded.   Some who had driven (or been driven) to the station drove on - and with care sharing to help others out too.   Some simply turned around and are taking the day off work - "can't make it".   Others said not quite that - "will work from home today".   Final group left by taxi at about 10 past 8.

There's little point (I don't think) in counting passengers this evening - the car park has 2 cars there when I would have expected over 12, which gives some clue that the return commuter trains won't be "normal" today. And, sadly, one person trying out the service to see if it worked for him and coming to the conclusion that it's not without its problems.

Similar story with the 06:12.  It was running when I left home to walk to the station in the rain but the decision to terminate it at Swindon rather than run through was taken at 05:52 as I discovered when I got there!

It was one of those mornings for me. Got up far too late to catch the rail link bus so got a lift to the station - train was cancelled so off to Bradford-on-Avon for me. Almost waited at Melksham as the next wasn't cancelled at that point. It is Monday morning, no time for coffee, raining hard and my shoe has a hole. It is also my birthday.

On the plus side I almost lost a ^5 note but somebody noticed it drop and handed it back to me. It is on the radiator.

I'm on that 08:33 ... counts to follow / learning about disruption loadings!   I was going to Melksham to pick it up the other way ... but it pulled in as I arrived at the station.  Now creeping into Chippenham with 2 passengers + myself.

This question will answer itself shortly, but did they find a spare unit to run this service, or is it the one destined to operate the 09:48 from Westbury to Swindon?  If it is the latter then that is going to have a late start now because of the delays.

Update: Indeed it did answer itself.  09:48 left 16 minutes late at 10:04 and is due to arrive in Swindon at 10:45 - just in time to form the 10:47 back again!

The 05:17 from Gloucester (06:12 ex Swindon) running 17 minutes late after over-running engineering work in the Gloucester area.

Means it will miss the connection with the Paddington train at Westbury.

Not a good Sunday on the TransWilts with four cancellations due to a shortage of drivers.

14:35 from Westbury
15:28 from Swindon
18:37 from Westbury
19:53 from Swindon

And ironically the only Sunday all summer (?) not to be effected by engineering works!

The 05:17 from Gloucester (06:12 from Swindon) is stranded just north of Swindon after apparently hitting an abandoned bicycle on the line.

The following 06:30 from Cheltenham to London Paddington is being diverted from Gloucester to avoid the problem.

Taxis turned up at Melksham at 07:15 for Trowbridge and Westbury (train had been due at 06:38) ... by which time all but 1 people had found alternatives.   Arrivving in Swindon off the 07:48, there's a 158 with "do not move" in the bay, and our 153 333 terminated at platform 3.

06:12 was officially cancelled just before 07:30.  The unit was moved around 07:45 into Swindon.

The 07:48 was delayed leaving for the second part of its journey towards Kemble while waiting for crew coming in on a service trapped behind the failed 06:12.

Led to a bit of congestion to the west of Swindon, with the following TransWilts held at Rushey Platt for a while behind an HST waiting for a platform.

From Swindon Advertiser (http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/13349868.UPDATE__Railway_line_clear_after_obstruction_causes_delays_between_Kemble_and_Swindon/)

Anything to do with the weather? ...

Yes. Wrong type of sun.


'loosing' (http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/blog/english-mistakes/loose-vs-lose/)  ::)

Hopefully now it is a bit cooler (for the moment) they will be able to loose their power on the rails of the TransWilts!


"Track circuit failure" near Trowbridge about 0640 this morning does not seem to have caused any problems for anything via Melksham.

After two days with no trains, not a good start to the planned resumption.

All cancelled

07:32 Westbury to Swindon
08:36 Swindon to Westbury
09:30 Westbury to Swindon
10:36 Swindon to Westbury

Due to lack of a guard.

And that lack of a guard is down to the industrial action overtime ban.

Even the Gloucester train (08:37) turned up as a bus, though I THINK the train may have run anyway.  Hope no-one was counting passengers and makes decisions based on the few joining, having mopped them up with a bus!

It appears it did

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P03261/2015/07/11/advanced

Thought it probably did, but a bus in hand is worth a two car train in the bus!

I note that FGW is reporting major disruptions across the network on its home page. Turns out to be the TransWilts cancellations + animals on the line in Carmarthenshire.  Good to see that the TransWilts is now considered such a key route that disruption is regarded as "major".  ;D

I would rather the trains ran, of course ... 15:06 ex Westbury now lost ...

I caught the minibus that ran just before the only train this morning (the driver of the minibus assuring us he had checked in and the train was NOT running), accompanied by a bloke using the train for the first time as a try-out - usually drives.  Said he was disappointed, and I suspect we're lost another convert and potential dozen journeys a year or so.  Pity.

Did this bus start at Melksham then or further back, as if it had been further  back it would have left those stations early?

It was at the station about 12 minutes before the train was due (which was when I arrived there on foot) - waiting empty so although the driver was a bit confusing, we can assume it started there.  However, it left 3 minutes before the train was due (and that after me suggesting to the driver he should wait for train time, and several other people arriving!) but I don't think we missed anyone as we dove up Station approach.

I was hearing from others that some of the rail replacement bus drivers tend to pull into the turning circle and not check the platform even if the cancellation is last minute.   One regular was telling me how hopping mad she was at missing the bus the other week ...

Think this is the first one since the Portsmouth services have been running to Swindon.

I did notice one other a few days back, caused by an issue a long way south as I recall ...

Here we go:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16091.msg181076#msg181076

I stand corrected - a problem between Swindon and Chippenham

16:33 Westbury to Swindon due 17:22
This train has been delayed at Melksham and is now 10 minutes late.
This train will be terminated at Chippenham.
This train will no longer call at Swindon.
This is due to a fault on this train.

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

A problem with the doors on the 153 apparently.

Today's 16:15 Westbury to Swindon is nearly 40 minutes later after being "delayed by a late running freight train".

Well yes, said freight train arrived at Westbury for a driver change with the back end still foul of the junction - but there was no driver immediately available so the station area was effectively blocked.  Also affected West of England services and those between Cardiff and Portsmouth.

A nice big delay minutes bill should be sent to DBS.

But it will just be rolled into the complex Schedule 8 formula (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCsQFjABahUKEwin64ir-vbHAhUqndsKHRQQD0E&url=http%3A%2F%2Forr.gov.uk%2F__data%2Fassets%2Fpdf_file%2F0005%2F17618%2Ftrack-access-guidance-performance-regime.pdf&usg=AFQjCNHpvs3C4jstUtop2hvaKnbLfeDwBQ&sig2=Hb1Owbj0r8nC834fyPVVzw) and DBS will likely not take a financial hit for this individual incident.

I arrived in Trowbridge from Melksham to catch the 16:16 to Cardiff, various changes to Lancaster where I was due at about 9 p.m.   It was 40 minutes late of so from Trowbridge, sat outside Temple Meads and pulled in at 17:29 which meant I missed the 17:30.    Now expecting to be in Lancaster at around 23:30 rather than just before 21:00. Frankly a bit p***ed off.

Ameliorated just slightly by full refund though?

It does beg the question - what is the procedure where crew are relieved en route.  Is the incoming driver supposed to wait with the train to handover to the replacement?  However, if they stay and no replacement arrives what is the scope for moving the train?  Where could it go to be out of the way?  I assume if the problem had been flagged up early enough the train could have been "put inside" earlier and the disruption avoided.  The human element will always confound the best of plans.

Hmmm ... maybe, if I go through that.   The reason for me leaving at 15:53 was to get to Lancaster at a reasonable hour; I've not been hugely well and I have another heavy day tomorrow. If I had wanted to arrive over 2 hours later, I would probably have started my journey 2 hours later - I considered it, but ruled it out on health and practicality grounds. Gawd knows how I'll be tomorrow now - and I thought I had allowed plenty of connection time!

Not really a TW cancellation or issue per se but related-ish and maybe not worthy of its own thread. Still, this is quite a long one...:

Background: If planning a journey from BRI to MKM on a weekday afternoon an option that comes up is the 1749 departure - change at TRO for 1838 there. The 1749 from BRI is the 1640 GCR->WEY and has a nice 14min wait at BRI before carrying on. Having used this service a lot I know that if there is a delay at BRI then it is not worth it as the connection at TRO is 8 mins and with all the stops on the way a few minutes late departure easily misses.

When the trains in that direction are running late it isn't uncommon for the first one to run non-stop to Bath and then on - my assumption has been to clear the mainline for the 1800 HST to Paddington. The intermediate traffic made up on the next train - 1804.

However yesterday something curious happened: the 1749 left 9 or 10 mins late a minute or so before the HST, stopped just outside BRI and waited for the HST to overtake and then ran as normal to Bath. It then ran non-stop to TRO requiring a reasonable exodus at Bath - intermediate traffic made up on the following 1804 .

I was going to BOA so changed at Bath so I do not know how it panned out at TRO, realtimetrains suggests it arrived at 1837, as too did the TransWilts which apparently left at 1839. Impossible to say without being there but the connection may have been made by people ready for it. If it did not make it the timing is still much closer than I have experienced leaving BRI so late.

My thoughts/questions then - was this a deliberate attempt to make the trains connect or is there some other signalling timing I am overlooking? Usually the icing on the cake is being held up into TRO while the TransWilts clears Bradford Junction so I do not know. I do not know but assume Bradford-Melksham flow is not huge.

My own conclusion (sadly) is that this is probably one of those one off decisions by a different combination of staff in a unique circumstance that only resembles what I have seen before and I am only rationalising it to something I want to see -  clever decision making to preserve connections (especially for Melksham).

I seem to have rambled on so will stop there! It was certainly a different journey on a differently named TOC.

11:47 Westbury to Swindon
12:47 Swindon to Frome started from Westbury at 13:32

Both cancelled because of a problem with a train at Chippenham.

Edited to add the 12:47 was only part cancelled.

From Journeycheck

Is that the invisible ticket office?

To say nothing of the alleged plurality of TVMs at Melksham.

Troubles to a few trains this morning due to "failure of lineside equipment" near Westbury around 7.

0704 to Cheltenham left there 21minutes late and this seems to have been the worst delay. Temperature related rather than something in more pieces than it should be?

14:04 Frome to Swindon cancelled from Westbury northbound and 15:12 Swindon to Westbury also a non runner due to a lack of drivers.

I caught the 15:12 yesterday and it was well used for a mid afternoon service, including a number of schoolchildren travelling from Chippenham to Melksham.

Problems at Bradford Junction causing problems for TransWilts services, and others, this morning.

The first southbound service, the 05:17 from Gloucester was held at Swindon for over an hour before being cancelled.  The set is now going back to Cheltenham Spa in the path of the 07:04 from Westbury - which now starts Swindon.  Meanwhile a unit is picking up the 05:17's path to Southampton from Westbury, albeit with a 35 minute late start.

The 07:33 from Westbury and the 08:49 from Swindon both cancelled.

Points have now been secured in one position - to allow trains from Trowbridge to reach Bradford-on-Avon so the Melksham line is inaccessible.

09:48 Westbury to Swindon and 10:47 Swindon to Westbury now also cancelled.

Seem to have a lot of trouble with our infrastructure - perhaps we're the "New Thames Valley"!!

Next round trip cancelled now. First southbound train of the day could be the 15:12!

This week, due to the Bath-Bristol closure, there is a handily timed 07:18 service from Swindon to Westbury which then continues to Portsmouth Harbour.  Only this morning it is cancelled between Swindon and Westbury due to train crew shortages.  :(

07:18 cancelled again this morning. This time because the incoming train from Salisbury was terminated at Westbury. It had been delayed by an early running freight train and then a points problem at Eastleigh en route from the depot.

Not the best start to the new timetable.

Over-running engineering work means the 08:30 Westbury to Swindon and 09:26 return are both cancelled.

Thank goodness we did NOT do a big Weymouth launch (GWR had asked us to / postponed marketing to next weekend as also busitution today on Heart of Wessex)

Not been a good day on the TransWilts due to a broken down train at Chippenham and then the TW unit itself developing a fault.

09:48 Westbury to Swindon arrived 52 late
10:47 Swindon to Westbury left 47 late
11:47 Westbury to Swindon cancelled
12:20 Westbury to Swindon ran as booked
12:47 Swindon to Frome started at Westbury
13:19 Swindon to Westbury ran as booked
14:04 Frome to Swindon ran but arrived 6 late
15:12 Swindon to Westbury cancelled due to fault on the train.  (not sure what has happened to the 153 - it has disappeared from the opentimetrains map.

At least the extra lunchtime train filled what would otherwise have been a large gap.

Another frustrating Sunday morning on the TransWilts....

08:30 Westbury to Swindon
09:29 Swindon to Westbury

Both cancelled due to a train fault.

I sometimes wonder why bother.  It feels like we're back to "always the first cancellations".   For crying out loud - that's a 2 car unit that couples to the Weymouth at Westbury on the way back.  Get the 153 out 1 cycle early ... rather that disappoint all the traffic we've encouraged from Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to the seaside!

I guess today's a typical midweek autumn day ... and I happened to be at the station early, when the 06:38 to Southampton (06:12 off Swindon) called.

Ten passengers joined, one left the train, and it left with somewhere around 25 passengers on board.  From observation, each of the joining passengers was travelling on his / her own rather than in groups; I spoke with two (unscientific sample - people who I know / knew) and both were headed all the way to Southampton - one to the city, and the other to the airport.

For anyone reading this post and looking for a context, this train - the 05:19 ex Gloucester, 06:12 from Swindon is one of the original two that was running prior to December 2013, and up to that time typically left Swindon with one passenger, picking up perhaps another 1 or 2 at Chippenham and maybe one at Melksham.   It's now a part of the day to day livelihood of dozens of people, and I'm pretty sure that the increased numbers are because there are now new opportunities for passengers starting their day at 06:38 in a southbound direction to get back home prior to 19:48 which used to be the only return time.

I have noticed the growth on that train over the three years from the surveys I have done and the occasional real journeys I have made to get to Salisbury.

It is deceptive - it doesn't look a busy train because it is almost always a two coach 150.

Even busier this morning - 12 on and 4 off the 06:38 and it didn't look like vast open spaces - even though it was a 150/1 with 3 + 2 seating.    I didn't go through and count as I was - err - making arranements to double back and pick up my laptop which I had accidentally left at home.   So I can also tell that a lot more got on at 06:48 at Trowbridge, and that the 07:10 from there also had a lot of people on it - with about 7 off at Melksham and uncounted numbers on;  that was a 158 2 car and thank goodness - had it been a 1 car it would have been crushed.   Speaking with a regular gent who's used the service for 11 years, he was talking about how hugely different it is now, and how it's been changing - getting busier - on a continual basis since the service improved.  Apparently the 15:12 off Swindon is now getting so full as to be uncomfortable.

Again - 'the last train is too early'.  And again - ' we can afford to live in Melksham and the train's what makes it possible for us to do so'.

The 07:10 just arrived at Trowbridge.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/0710_ex_tro.jpg)

Well - I couldn't count that lot.   It does show the vital importance to the TransWilts of traffic through from Trowbridge to Chippenham and Swindon.

That in itself is a sign of progress - three years ago back doubling back by train would have taken a very long time.  But then I guess three years ago you wouldn't have forgotten your laptop either.  ;D

Paradoxically, two of the original trains!  But next one would have been just before 7 in the evening!

20:06 off Swindon last night ...19 off Chippenham. -12 +7 at Melksham. 26/19
"The train's quieter on a Friday" according to train manager, but actually that wasn't shabby.

I had upgraded my Superoffpeak ticket to Offpeak at Paddington (had expected to be later and having to take a taxi)  and ticket clerk at Paddington had asked "is there a service this late". And "far better than it used to be" and "lots of people still don't know there's a train to Melksham".  That last significant - we still have work to do, we still have traffic to gain!

I think all the Paddington Berks and Hants services are being diverted via the TransWilts, so no huge surprise here.  Roll on the day we have a longer platform at Melksham and the solution is to stop the diverted trains rather than taxis  ;D

For newcomers to the "TransWilts members" area ... we do kinda accept that with the importance of our line (!) as a diversionary route, and with key interfaces with major busy lines at both ends and a long section of single track, it's one of the more difficult local(ish) services to run robustly!

In amongst the chaos of yesterday and today (so far) one train has run ... the 05:17 from Gloucester which called at Melksham at 06:38 on its way to Southampton ...5 off and 14 on at Melksham, an estimate of between 25 and 30 on when it left there (too much luggage to walk through the 2 cars and count!).   So between 30/19 and 35/19.

Don't know why I'm posting these positive numbers in the TransWilts Members area as it's good news, but have probably bored people who don't use the TransWilts silly with logs about the events at Bradford Junction and resulting lack of trains.

Dilton Marsh at 07:04 ...  none off and just one on  :(

Not really counting (seeing someone off at Melksham Station) but was that really 12 off and 9 on on the 14:40ish to Westbury yesterday?  In contrast, as I walked back through town there were a couple of sadly empty buses.   That's not the full story, of course ... there could have been a huge crowd waiting for each of those buses at the next stop!

Potential problems on the TransWilts this morning after track problems between Trowbridge and Westbury.

Two broken rails are reported after a freight train passed through early this morning.

Currently the first southbound service is being held at Swindon and is currently 50 minutes late and the first northbound has been held at Westbury.

First southbound now cancelled at Swindon and the unit will go back down the Kemble line as a continuation of the 07:04 from Westbury which is cancelled between Westbury and Swindon. 

07:33 from Westbury cancelled as well.

Obviously going to take a while to fix.

All TransWilts services in both directions now cancelled up to and including the 11:47 from Westbury.

And extended by three hours.    The Swindon to Frome train at lunchtime wasn't cancelled - just became a Westbury to Frome train ...

If it's the Trowbridge to Westbury line that's shut, I wonder why the 07:34 off Westbury could't have run this morning leaving the 153 to shuttle back and forth Melksham to Swindon ... Trowbridge to Melksham segment provided by the x34 bus which runs every 30 minutes in the morning.

Does the signalling permit reversals at Melksham - I know there are no signals at the station itself - or would such a move require special arrangements?

TransWiits service resumed (or should that be started) with the 16:21 Westbury to Swindon.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/wsb1621.jpg)

It is allowed and indeed you may find it becoming a much more regular event at some point in the future.

Saw the 17:36 Swindon to Westbury depart tonight.  As has frequently been reported it is normally the busiest train of the day on the TransWilts with every seat usually taken.  Tonight it left with 39 on board.  Hardly surprising after the cancellation of this morning's rush hour trains into Swindon on the route.

However it does make the point that the timetable is just that - a collection of trains - and when we look at a particular train there is always the need to be mindful of the effect any change (negative or positive) will have on other services as most people travelling will be returning at some point.  If you deny them the outward journey they won't be there to make the return!

I'm not sure how much of it's just today ... where the trains were suspended until mid afternoon ... or whether there's an element of some people getting sick and tired of problems and finding other ways to travel again.  It's the third day in three weeks when there's been no viable service.  And an effective cancellation rate of 14% is 10 times what it should be!

I'm currently on the 18:15 from Paddington to Swansea, which pulled out of Paddington after 18:45, hoping to connect with the 20:06 off Swindon.  We're told there are signalling problems and things look to be up the swanny; goodness knows if we'll make the connection, but I would be very surprised is passengers on the advertised connection train from Paddington at 19:00 actually make it.

Tomorrow morning - I'm on one of the peak trains to Swindon (cynic in me says "if it runs") and I'll see what the mood and numbers are like.

I see you made the connection then, with a bonus train on the through line at Swindon as well.

I presume it was a Class 800 (IEP)?  Would have just made Grahame's day if it had been the unit for the TransWilts.

Does Graham know something that us mere mortals don't?  ;)

There are always discussions and ideas floating around.

Saw it there ... have some pics.

20:06 was 12 off Swindon; -4 +8 @ CPM.   Could be worse - considering no trains at all until the 16:21 from Westbury today, and late running of Paddington means that passengers from there on the 18:45 (Swansea), 18:48 (Cheltenham Spa) and 19:00 (Bristol) will all have missed their connections.

11 off and 2 on at Melksham - 18/13

07:20 from Melksham to Swindon this a.m. ... +28 -3 at Melksham, with 88 passengers on the train onward to Chippenham. Qute a few off and even more on at Chippenham ... 91/31

Hearing feedback on how yesterday (when everything went pear shaped!) was handled on the ground.  Very poor reports of customer service on the help point instructing people to catch the "Stagecoach Bus" which was stated to be the alternative, and a refusal to lay on taxis or anything else.

Small issue - there is no Stagecoach bus service within 4 miles of Melksham Station.

From Trowbridge, advise was to use the 49 bus (yes, that is Stagecoach) to Swindon but it follows a completely different route to the railway.

Cross ticketing arrangements were in place on the 272 into Bath from Melksham - but for passengers to other TransWilts stations, nearly an hour on the bus to Bath followed by a train to Chippenham for what should have been a 10 minute journey was a poor substitute, and for Trowbridge (also 10 minutes by train) it would have been a further bus from Bath making for a 2 hour journey. I didn't find anyone who used these bus alternatives from Melksham - several people paid £4 for the direct bus to Chippenham which was NOT accepting train tickets ...

And this evening - about 135 in the 153 at 17:36 from Swindon ... estimate 70 off and 25 on at Chippenham, leaving 90 on the train. 38 off and 9 on at Melksham ... 99/47 and a sea of people and cars swilling around in the dark just outside the station gate.  The chap at the bus stop assured me he knew no bus was due and indeed a lift turned up for him.   

Numbers off Swindon swollen by the late running of the 16:30 from Paddington, so it was Swindon to Chippenham passenger's next train.   Numbers off Chippenham reduced by the late running of the 16:30 from Paddington, a there are usually people making the connection onto the 17:36 and it didn't connect.

From Journeycheck


The next available service is the 16:48.....

So just within the hour  ;) ...

There seem to be a lot of cancellations on Swindon - Cheltenham today and a number of services turning back at Gloucster due to "train crew shortage".  In times gone by, the decision might have been to pull off the TransWilts service ...

The performance over the last month has been far from brilliant, with most issues being attributable away from GWR - points and signals failure (Network Rail), track damaged by freight train (the freight operator), weather (God, or Network Rail for failing to provide a robust infrastructure that will stand up to the rainwater).   This one, however, looks like it's in GWR's lap; looks like they're multiple crews down today.

Traffic is remarkably robust; at the tail end of my journey yesterday, I caught the 18:48 from Swindon ... around 40 on the train, just under 20 off and 2 on at Melksham - call that 42/20 - but sentiment remains positive and traffic growing - "it's got busier even since I started using it in the summer" one commuter told me last night.

Until we have a metro type frequency, we cannot be complacent about cancellations, though.

Actually a wait of 1 hr 42 minutes... ;)

There are extra trains between Bristol and Bath in connection with the Christmas Market - but I suspect they are being crewed by Bristol based staff so I doubt that is the reason for the cancellations we can see.

I blame my jet lag ... gear will be engaged properly tomorrow!

Thankfully the gear would seem to have been properly engaged when you landed Grahame  ;).

Looks like chaos at Bath due to a signalling failure.  What a morning for that to happen given the additional Christmas Market passengers!

One of my correspondents suggested that the signalling failure was due (directly or indirectly) to vandalism ... others have reported that the 09:48 off Melksham was so busy that it was full and standing from there, and then left passengers behind at Chippenham - attached picture (not sure if that's before or after chippenham) looks to be - on past form for counting - somewhere between 130 and 140 passengers on board.

I have posted a public thread on the Bath topic - whilst I really don't want to start negative thoughts on a one-off incident, it is important for the passenger's view to be present.  I may also be asking about contingency planning and whether it now needs to be updated in view of higher incidence between Chippenham and Bristol.    Something like diverting Portsmouth to Cardiff trains to Swindon, for connections via Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads,  Newport and Cardiff.  As long as the diverted trains all call at Melksham and Chippenham,  they can replace the TransWilts local service; worked so well during TPODs that I've got customers wanting it as a permanent change, but I don't suppose it would go down well in B-o-A or Bath!

Looked like a fourth platform at Westbury would have made things considerably easier for the signaller earlier today.  At one time there was a queue of three trains waiting to come from the Warminster direction and two from the Trowbridge direction.

And here we go again!


+25 -2 at Melksham at 07:19 / left with around 80 on the train. 82/27

Reports that "some people" have been using the train to commute but have given up due to poor reliability.  Kiss-and-ride drivers tending to wait at Melksham to make sure the train really does show up ...

A 153 has failed at Westbury so another has been pressed into service to run the 07:33 and 08:49 return.

To get things back on course a third unit is on its way down from Bristol to form the 09:48 to Swindon but with another late start.

09:48 Westbury to Swindon and 10:47 return cancelled.

Gather there were two 153s at Westbury - but there were faults on both of them.

A bus shaped 1135 from Chippenham to Westbury today, 29/01/2017

Chippenham 18
Melksham -4/+3 17
Trowbridge -8/+4 13

That's 21/7.  Knowing that a switch from train to buses looses most of the traffic, that's truly astonishing for a January Sunday morning!

I tried looking back through this thread to see if we had comparable figures for a Sunday morning in the past but after eight pages realised it's not that easy.

Have we anything to compare today's numbers to?

We have few bus figures .. and frankly few Sunday morning figures for the first couple of dead months of the year. Except that they're not dead months.   Dropped off someone for the 15:39 to Westbury on Friday and i ... think ... he got a seat  ;D

Axle counter failure at Thingley Junction means the cancellation of the 16:21 Westbury to Swindon and (deep breath) the 17:36 from Swindon to Westbury.

Road Replacement should be in place.

18:32 Westbury to Swindon and 20:06 return now cancelled too.

Yeah ... a delay of a few minutes on other trains .... and canning 4 TransWilts runs ...

Smacks of "operational convenience" as the through train to / from Cheltenham Spa seem to be getting through perfectly well!

Long Facebook exchange with lady who's son was due to catch the 18:38 Trowbridge to Melksham and was told by the customer services to wait for the service an hour later.  Not a happy bunny ... and really kids of the age that they're coming back for a parent pickup are probably not the best people to systemically abandon at Trowbridge Station for an hour (partly from the viewpoint that customer service probably wants to avoid a livid parent ...)

Been trying to work out what has been going on however it looks like OpenTrainTimes has had some problems with its feed as it froze for nearly an hour.

It seems the problem is on the axle counters which allow trains to come off the single line and cross to the London bound line at Thingley East.  It was planned that the 19:32 from Westbury to Cheltenham Spa would run on the down line (ie the wrong one) all the way to Wootton Bassett Junction before crossing over - but I can't tell if that is what happened.

Changes to the through services to and from Cheltenham following the incident at Frampton Mansell crossing. However the 20:06 Swindon to Westbury diverted via Bathampton and thus avoiding Melksham due to signalling problems on the single line. Road replacement from Chippenham.

Been watching this unfold on OpenTrainTimes when I should really have been working.

The 07:04 from Westbury was held at Thingley East to allow a late running train from Bristol go in front.  However it seems they couldn't swing the points to allow the train from Westbury to cross over to the up line and so had to run it into platform 1 at Chippenham.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/thi1.png)

It then carried on "wrong line" using the reversible signals towards Wootton Bassett - meanwhile the 06:30 from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads was diverted at WB to run via Hullavington missing out Chippenham, Bath Spa and Keynsham

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/thi2.png)

The train from Westbury finally regaining the right line at WB - just ahead of another train from Bristol.   The Westbury train continues to Cheltenham and is currently 18 minutes late.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/thi3.png)

Very interesting to see that ... the points at Thingley and at Bradford seem incredibly unreliable.

Wonder why the following train - busiest of the day - had to be cancelled rather than turning back at Chippenham ... would understand if it had run back empty to WSB as the 08:49 ex SWI isn't exactly heaving.

Only a guess but it seems everything is running through Platform 1 at Chippenham at the moment so there might not have been the capacity to turn one there at the moment.

Noting the lack of ticket acceptance on x31 Chippenham to Bath or x34 Chippenham to Trowbridge

P.S. The 55 at nearly 90 minutes is not really a reasonable route from Swindon to Chippenham  ;)

Looks like there was a gap from 06:42 to 09:15 in services from Chippenham to Bath ... the 07:44, 08:17 and 08:42 all failing to call.  That would have been fun!

Always nice to see an extra coach.

Looks like this evening's inbound service to SWI only made it as far as CPM, resulting in a relatively short notice cancellation of the 1736. 

What happened to the passengers for the 1736, a heavily loaded train.   Do you know please ?

Passengers to Melksham - road transport from Chippenham.  Passengers to Trowbridge and Westbury - sent via Bath, but via Melksham tickets accepted.   Passengers from Melksham - don't know yet; not been wonderful for them in the past, but this has been flagged up.

In the (quite understandable) absence of a 'dislike' button on the Coffee Shop forum, I'm now going to say that I really do 'dislike' this treatment of passengers:


Not good, for one of your weekday peak services, Great Western Railway.  >:(

Cancellation of the 17:36 is unclever in the extreme.  The damage done by a cancellation is in proportion to the number of passengers effected and is magnified by the lack of a further service any time soon thereafter, forcing alternative route or mode changes and significant delay.  Abhorrent.

BUT it can / does / will happen, and indeed there's a history of it.   There's no magic switch that I know of to remove every cancellation and pragmatically there's much more attention given to TransWilts services and to / from West Wilts from Swindon and Chippenham now that there ever was before, and various eyes are being kept open to help ensure it becomes as rare as possible.

I don't know what the failure was yesterday, but it looks like the problem occurred very late in the day, as the train was on its way up to Swindon, and I don't know what the alternative was if indeed it was truly unserviceable / unfixable.   There would have been a unit in the bay at Swindon that could have left at 17:36 for Westbury, assuming crew with hours and route knowledge available, but that would be robbing Peter to pay Paul / cancelling the Swindon to Cheltenham service at (?) 17:54.

The 1530 ex PAD was held at Thingley for it to cross over in front of us, but it didn't. Eventually we went ahead and saw it waiting on the branch.  It would appear that when they realised it would have to terminate they had to let the London bound service ahead of it before it could come into CPM.  (Not clever as that would mean a further 30 min wait for pax, but maybe operationally that was the only option.) 

So it does appear as though it was a very late call to terminate it at CPM, and I can only surmise that it was absolutely necessary.  Unfortunate, but I'm not sure what else can be done in that situation, and other than a question mark over provision for those waiting at MKM, it does appear as though the contingency arrangements were put into place. 

Systems say problem with train, so apparently unit defective

I know it's engineering changes biased, but delighted at things this week and noting


and on Wednesday evening (when Bath as open) 2 car train on 20:09 Swindon to Westbury, with just over 30 on board on departure.

A failed freight train on the single line means the 08:49 Swindon to Westbury is diverting via Bathampton Junction and missing Melksham.

Last night, it was the 18:32 from Westbury and the 20:06 back that were cancelled (two different stories as to why!)

Today, it's the 11:47 from Westbury and 12:47 back from Swindon ... (crew shortage)

12:20 Westbury to Swindon
13:19 Swindon to Westbury

Both cancelled due to a train fault.

Only one day in the last five with no last minute cancellations (i.e. on the day) at Melksham. And on that fifth day it was because they were all cancelled well ahead of time in favour of buses!  >:(

Just when you thought a shortage of train crew wasn't going to be a problem today....

16:20 Westbury to Swindon
17:18 Swindon to Westbury
18:39 Westbury to Swindon
19:55 Swindon to Westbury

all cancelled.