Timetables from 14th May...

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

...now available on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website.

As we already knew, restrictions imposed by the Olympic Games means there are very few alterations from the current timetable.  Though one intriguing entry in the Cotswold Line timetable quotes the evening halts train as:

This train is subject to possible amendment from
14 September. Please check before travelling as
this information was unavailable at the time of
going to press.

Mid september was the date I heard for the full introduction of the Class 180 service, and that the halts train would be formed of a Class 180 coming through direct from Paddington as the 16:22 train.  There will, I'm sure, be a phased introduction on other Cotswold Line stations as of early summer.

[Btline]

How will a 180 stop at all the short platforms? Just open one door?

A 180 is wasted on the halts train - at least it's a through service from London though.

[IndustryInsider]

How will a 180 stop at all the short platforms? Just open one door?

That's right.  Just like it used to do on Saturday morning services a few years ago, or on occasions when there were problems meaning the 16:47 and 17:32 had to be combined into one train (which also used to happen occasionally with a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) - though the redoubling project means it's very rare now).

[IndustryInsider]

Mid september was the date I heard for the full introduction of the Class 180 service, and that the halts train would be formed of a Class 180 coming through direct from Paddington as the 16:22 train.  There will, I'm sure, be a phased introduction on other Cotswold Line stations as of early summer.

It appears that the 'Halts' train coming through from London has been shelved for now at least.  Journey planners show it starting at Didcot at 17:15 from the December timetable change.

[Southern Stag]

The 1522 Great Malvern-Oxford is re-extended to Didcot Parkway as well, having been cut back to Oxford previously.