New Timetable & Re-doubling follow on

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm guessing here that member Btline might be a tad cross about that. 

[Btline]

At last, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have realised that they need to achieve the magic 2 hour journey time to increase passengers.

Cutting stops on Worcester trains and then running an extra behind to pick up the stops - this is what they should be doing.

Just a shame they can't cut those pesky Hanborough stops too. But I suppose they are quacking in their boots at the prospect of Oxford Parkway and therefore will try to stem the loss here.

But good news.

[JayMac]

But I suppose they are quacking in their boots

 

[ChrisB]

Hanborough has one of the highest riderships on the line - why give that up for Worcesteer's few pax??

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Hanborough station has a catchment area within 10 miles of over 60,000 and that is ignoring those communities whose more natural station is Charlbury. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) would ignore that actual and potential rail travel market at its peril.
The new car park at Hanborough, offical capacity 191, is now used to virtual capacity after just 15 months since being opened and with travel by road along the A40 for the 13 miles between Witney and Oxford now taking about 90 minutes and getting longer every year as thousands of homes have been built in West Oxon over recent years and many more thousands likely to be approved in the currently being revised local plan with no significant road improvement it is no surprise to learn that plans are a foot to further increase Hanborough station's capacity with more frequent rail services so that Hanborough Station will probably be renamed West Oxfordshire Parkway!

[stebbo]

Come on BTLine, let's get stuck in on those pesky stops like Pershore, Hanborough and Reading. As you know, I agree with you but I had considered the battle lost. But what's this a train cutting out Kingham - my world is truly turned upside down?

I await the usual abuse.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Meanwhile: I'm sorry, but I just think this really needs re-posting :

But I suppose they are quacking in their boots

 

 

[Btline]

A good summary of the proposed timetable enhancements (and pros and cons) is here.
http://www.charlbury.info/files/1/NorthCotswolds.pdf
(not sure whether it differs to what is posted above as it is from mid 2014)

Overall, it looks very promising with a peak Kingham stop and several Pershore stops axed (as we have already discussed). There is also a planned 2 hour time service in the middle of the day.

Once Reading is re-built, I would hope a further 5 minutes could be cut from HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and 180 timings.
Once there is more stock, a few extra services extended to Charlbury or Morteon would be good, allowing more Hanborough and Kingham stops to be axed without affecting those stations.

Shame I don't use the line any more...

[ChrisB]

Discussions continue on the above early next month....

[Richard Fairhurst]

One thing missing from this set of improvements, and which I'd really like to see, is filling the other two-hour gap on Saturdays. That is, a train leaving Charlbury for Oxford at around 3pm - which would imply leaving Worcester at c. 2pm. Often we'd like to go to Oxford for a browse round the shops, a Choral Evensong and something to eat, but 2pm is a little too early and 4pm a little too late.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Often we'd like to go to Oxford for a browse round the shops, a Choral Evensong and something to eat, but 2pm is a little too early and 4pm a little too late.

I suddenly have a new vision of Exeter St David's, London St Pancras, Glasgow St Enoch and Venezia Santa Lucia.