Great Western Coffee Shop

Is now online and includes details of FGW over this part of the line:

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_romseylink.htm

The rest of SWT's timetables will be available from Monday November 12th.

My thanks to one of our readers for letting me know that this new service timetable is now available.

Thanks Timmer! Now all that's needed is a decent Westbury - Salisbury service to compliment these extra trains, as Westbury is a major interchange for Trowbridge, Yeovil/Frome, Taunton, Newbury, Reading/London, Bath/Bristol and Melksham/Chippenham/Swindon. It is a pinch point at the moment as there are 2 tph from Bristol to Westbury and 2 tph from Salisbury southwards but only generally 1 tph from Westbury to Salisbury (Portsmouth-Cardiff, often overcrowded). To me, the best idea to me would be a service from Swindon to Salisbury providing connections to and from Westbury.

Looking through this timetable , there is no doubt that it provides a fantastic improvement in the train service provided to Dean and Mottisfont & Dunbridge stations in terms of the number of services , the frequency , and the timings.

Considering that their train service , according to the original Greater Western franchise specification and draft FGW December 2006 timetable , was set to all but disappear , passengers and campaigners from that part of the world can feel truly proud of what they have acheived.

Its a big turnaround for these two stations to have a frequent service with newly refurbed 158s.

You highlight one of the big problems on this route Graz and thats the service provided between Westbury and Salisbury which is one of a number of big overcrowding issues on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route. Whats more frustrating that come the December TT change, FGW will start operating a service between Westbury and Warminister, which could start at Swindon, but not continuing onto Salisbury which could easily connect with SWTs new service to Romsey and Southampton.

The reason they can't do this....yes you've guessed it folks - not enough rolling stock as there is more than enough demand to fill these trains.