Great Western Coffee Shop

Looks like four out of the eight sets on the service were short.   And wasn't something happening at Cardiff  ;)

I believe there was something on.  ;D ;D

Though my experience is that the services to Bristol TM are tolerable after a match (and you don't have to queue for ages). With any luck any pax for Newport were directed onto the shuttles that usually run to there.     

Between Bradford-on-Avon and Bath on one of today's remaining three car services:
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/boafull.jpg)

And more people wanted to join at Temple Meads
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/boa_btmload.jpg)

While still more were queueing to buy tickets in Bristol
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/boaq.jpg)

Anyone know why so many trains were short formed on the Cardiff-Portsmout line today...rugby related?

Train faults afaik.

some train faults but 2x3 cars split to 2 cars so 158749 can go to works for c4, 957 and 956 shortformed for a while probably a week to 10 days i would think

158748 was split last night and one half was formed on to 956 and the other half on 957 while 749 is away for c4 work.

I was on this train between Bradford-on-Avon and Bath and can confirm it was well and truly rammed with some passengers unable to get on at Bradford. Nothing new I know for the people of BOA on a Sunday when services are short formed.

I was fortunate enough to know it was only a two car job and that you stand a better chance of getting on at the front. To FGW's credit it was mentioned on the PIS that it would be a two car train service but I doubt many took much notice of this fact.

Which leads me to say to FGW/Dft...Isn't it time to plug this crazy two hour gap* between services on the Portsmouth-Cardiff line? The current Sunday timetable on this line goes back to Wales and West days and times have changed as more people travel on a Sunday morning than they used to. Even it this train had been the scheduled 3-car 158 it would have been full with some having to stand.

*Not helped by SWT moving their morning Waterloo to Bristol service to later in the day that used to run in between this two hour gap between Salisbury and Bristol + a Westbury to Swindon service ran as well at lunchtime.

does that mean "not long enough" ?   ;D

Further to my last (rather light hearted) post.................

yesterday, I had the misfortune to travel from Warminster to Newport and back - not a pleasant experience for many on the trains on this route.

First thing I have learnt:- "This is due to an earlier train fault." actually means "we have reverted to our immediate post franchise award "service" of 2 car trains !"

The 1001 to Cardiff was a 2 car 158; by Westbury people were standing, by Bradford I am not sure that everyone even managed to get on.  The so-called trolley service never moved, even after Bristol when the aisle was clear.
At one stage the guard made an announcement regarding seat reservations which he concluded by saying: "those of you without reservations will have to manage as best you can" - what a stupid, crass, utterly pointless thing to say !There are times when it is better to say nothing !
Mind you, that was better than on Wednesday when the same train was a 2 car 153 with people jam packed down the aisle as it left Warminster.
My train back from Newport (1444) did have 3 cars, but it looked really grubby, both inside and out. After Temple Meads it was packed, with people still standing when I left at Warminster.
Every FGW train (DMU) I saw yesterday (apart from my return one) was only 2 cars.

I have just walked down to the town through the station, the 1408 to Portsmouth was just leaving - 2 cars (yet again) ; couldn't see how many people. As I went over the foot bridge the SWT service from Waterloo came in - immaculate, even the roof was shining clean !!  I did notice (unusually) that there were a fair number of people waiting for this train - couldn't/wouldn't get on the FGW 1401 ?

Yet again, FGW is penalising its passengers by trying to run its operation on this route on a very thin shoe string ! I shudder to think what the peak time trains are like at the moment.

Westbury to Paddington tomorrow for me - HST ? 2 car 158/153 ?

On Radio 4's "Thought For The Day" a few days back, the lady doing the thought commented on the change from "Passenger" to "Customer" in railway speak. She pointed out that "passenger" had connotations of actually going somewhere, whereas a "customer" just handed over their money - how very true !

Unfortunately, this is something that people who regularly use this service have had to get used to.  In my ideal world, the Portsmouth to Cardiff would be run as 4 coaches minimum, possibly more at busier times.  Or alternatively more regular services (e.g. every half hour) instead of the current hourly service.

The problems always occur around the same places: Bristol, Bath, Westbury, Salisbury and Southampton.  The extent varies depending on which day/time, but as I always catch the same time train, it is very obvious where overcrowding happens and I'm pretty sure it could easily be fixed with either: a. more rolling stock or b. timetable adjustments.

Quite simply there isn't enough stock for FGW to be able to maintain the fleet to an adequate level. As such trains have to be taken out of service during the day to maintain them. Blame the hopeless government for cancelling the DMU order, even though the 172 production line is open, as we all know electrification will never happen.

There is of course then also the issues of people jumping in front of trains which takes them out of service etc

I think if you look hard enough there is spare stock available, if there is a will to use it and pay for it.  Witness the procurement of an additional train to cross the Workington gap after the flood.

For example, most of Cross Country's HSTs are stood down at the moment, SWT's 158s are much less intensively used that FGWs, there is loco-hauled stock available for hire, there is a Class 180 standing idle at the back of Bounds Green depot every time I pass.

The problem is that hiring additional stock costs money and thus hurts First Group's profits, which are no doubt already down because of the decline in First Class travel with the recession and the cost of the remedial action to prevent them losing the franchise.  There needs to be an incentive in franchise agreements to avoid significant overcrowding, particularly outside of peak hours.  For example, there could be a financial penalty if overcrowding occurs beyond a particular threshold, which would make it worth while hiring in extra stock and improve the service for passengers.

I think I've found your train ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/longtrain.jpg)

(Public domain picture - details (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:121032_x_Departing_Cardiff_Queen_Street.JPG). But still a "Thank you" to the photographer, Peter Skuce)

More seriously - yes, it is more profitable (or perhaps it makes less of a loss against subsidy)  to carry 260 people in a 2 coach 158 than 260 people in a three coach 158. Certain commercial decisions not too far from Westbury were (a handful of years back) took into consideration the fact that people would accept overcrowding, and longer and indirect journeys too, without too much fuss.

Sorry to say this, old chap, but I have more than a sneaking feeling that the "reasons" you quote are being taken advantage of by FGW, and used as "excuses", very much along the lines of Deltic and Grahame's later posts.
It is all to easy for FGW to blame the "government", "dft", "them" or whoever, rather than accept the responsibility itself. 

Perhaps the franchises should include penalties based on the number of standing passengers - we can dream !

It was a great shame the government's ^300m DMU project was cancelled because of future electrification which may never happen. Would have solved a lot of overcrowding issues in the West by cascading the 158 fleet to other routes and given the Cardiff-Portsmouth line the decent stock it deserves for a long distance route.

We are increasingly seeing what a short sighted decision this was with services running full when three car and leaving passengers behind when 2 car.

it wouldn't even be too difficult to extend the 172 order as the production line is currently open! Barmy decision.

Exactly, its still not too late.

Looks like there are 4 diagrams running short formed today.

i think there is 3 short formed today because only 7 out of 10 3 cars are out to play,2 are stopped 798&956 and 2 are split back as 2 cars temporarily for repairs 951&952.

i also think the cancelling of dmu order is a joke the cardiff-pompey line is in desperate need of new stock ideally 4 cars.especially considering electrification may never happen due to recession and the need for government to cut costs not to mention a change in government in a few months might mean a change in thinking/priorities

The idea that the DMU project was part of a plan to kick start the economy during the recession seems to have been completely forgotten about - but as discussed at the time, the long term nature of the project didn't reflect that aim anyway...

Paul

The 1730 was running short formed with 2 carriages - not sure which others were - think the 1830 was 3 carriages. There was also no catering on the 1730 according to the station announcements.

Seriously, does anyone know if Passenger Focus has any real concern at all about this?    What is this Quango actually doing about overcrowding on Cardiff -Portsmouth? Their useless last newsletter in December seemed full of comgratulating FGW for its improvements.   Perhaps they should have their next management meeting at Bradford on Avon.   

Passenger Focus's position is that they are financed by the DfT and ensure that the DfT's franchise specification is met. I don't know the answer as to whether or not they have serious concerns, but I would suspect that the answer hinges on whether the step back up from 2 to 3 coaches per train became a formal part of the franchise agreement, or if it was a looser agreement or promise made under separate cover, which would then put it outside their remit as I understand it.