Great Western Coffee Shop

From FGW live updates:

Hmm.... and LDB shows that service as being cancelled at Kemble.  ???

Maybe FGW's Live Updates are now referring to the rail replacement service as "1 coach". Would be sort of correct if a (road) coach is laid on.  ;D

There were 2 coaches waiting at Swindon station forecourt this evening at around 1730.

Pretty sure we're talking a 153 instead of a 150, which would probably not be able to cope with the likely trade at 17.54 off Swindon, hence the road transport to help

The 21.54 from Swindon to Worcester is currently showing as formed of one coach instead of two on live updates

This is a fairly standard routine at Swindon to lay on coaches at for Kemble where a single 153 is substituted for the normal 150 on the 1754 to Cheltenham.

On most days the service is full and standing with a 150 so to head off the unwary the Kemble stop is "withdrawn" and as many Kemble bound folks as possible are diverted to the coaches especially off the connecting 1737 from Paddington (1645 To Swansea).  In the early days of the franchise a 153 often appeared and things naturally got a bit ugly when everyone tried to squeeze on with the result that many were left behind. I would suspect the high volume of first class ticket holders travelling to Kemble is enough for FGW to keep them sweet by provision of an immediate, if much slower alternative for the 12 mile trip!!

This evening the 153 was full and standing through to Stonehouse so the road coaches definitely did their job in absorbing some of the the Kemble bound passengers. The train itself stopped at Kemble as normal where the streetwise few who knew the routine and had avoided the coach ride got off!

Thank you for that response quedgeley2002, and a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum.  :)

I hope I'm not alone in being a little disappointed to discover that this is a somewhat regular occurrence with FGW having a well worn back-up plan involving replacement road transport should a 153 be diagrammed for this service.

The cynic in me sees this as a bit of a dodge by FGW. As long as pax get to their destination by whatever means the TOC lays on within 1 hour of the timetabled train service, then said TOC avoids the need to pay out charter compensation.  ::) And of course an advertised cancellation to Kemble is no such thing.

First. Transforming Travel my a*se.

Thank you for that detailed (and good-humoured) explanation, quedgeley2002 - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!  :)

It sounds like a right old nightmare of a journey, to be frank!  ::)

Not just this service, have seen it on others too - I actually think it's a good idea. It's better than missing a train due to overcrowding and having to wait an hour.

Errrr.....that isn't correct.

Charter compensation kicks in when you're an hour late - regardless of transport....

You misunderstand me. FGW (or any TOC) do not give out compensation when they fail to provide a train service. Unless the replacement transport arrives more than 1 hour late.

Also they are not penalised in any way when a service fails to call at an intermediate station. Or is short formed.

So, bung folks on a bus and skip Kemble. Well, tell folks that Kemble will be skipped....

Or is short formed.[/quote]

Correct there, though. Although if you are unable to board because it is full, and you travel on the next service, that counts against your original arrival time!