Engineering Work Swindon area weekends of 22/23 and 29/30 March

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering

Track renewal work will affect trains between Didcot Parkway and Bristol Parkway or Chippenham.

Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads or Swansea will use an alternative route – not stopping at Didcot Parkway, Swindon or Chippenham.

Trains will still run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa, plus trains will run between Chippenham and Westbury or Frome.

Some trains will also be running between Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads on Saturdays only.

Replacement buses are planned between Swindon and:

Didcot Parkway
Reading (non-stop)
Bristol Parkway (weekend of 29/30 March only)
Chippenham (Saturday) or Bath Spa (Sunday)

Important to note

On Sundays a reduced train service will be running hourly between London Paddington and South Wales via Bristol Temple Meads.

Nothing unusual about this engineering work and its location. It’s the last paragraph that is of note with Bristol and South Wales services merged with no additional ‘peak hours’ Bristol to London services in the afternoon.

My guess is this is down to ongoing train crew issues with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) covering their back sides, something they did the last time work was taking place in the Swindon area merging both Bristol and South Wales services, but at the last minute.

Could be some very busy trains, particularly in the afternoon and evening.

However, the stop at Reading is set down only in the up direction and pick up only in the down direction with GWR running an hourly shuttle between Reading and Paddington. Sensible moves which may help a bit to mitigate the reduction in services.

[UstiImmigrunt]

I wonder if someone high up has noticed my comment at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29251.msg352532#msg352532

And realised the big problem that has developed over the last few years.

[Timmer]

I wonder if someone high up has noticed my comment at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29251.msg352532#msg352532

And realised the big problem that has developed over the last few years.

Indeed, and as the last paragraph pertains to this particular diversion to avoid the engineering works in the Swindon area, I’ve quoted it below:

As Paddington and Bristol HSS^▸ (High Speed Services)▸ drivers finish the ability to do short notice diversions via the B+H is drastically reduced. Out of all the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) depots only Exeter are capable of going Reading Newbury Westbury Bath. No other GWR depot signs between Bedwyn and Westbury.

So once again there is potential for passengers to face an overcrowded train because of the risk GWR don’t have enough crew on a Sunday who sign the Berks and Hants so they can only run one service an hour instead of two. The only plus I see in doing this is that there will be more certainty that this reduced timetabled service will actually run.

[Timmer]

https://www.gwr.com/sunday-disruption

Due to Network Rail planned engineering work we expect significant disruption to service this Sunday 23 March.

No trains will operate between London Paddington and Reading before 0920, and then only two tracks will be available for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express trains.

Further works along the mainline between Didcot Parkway and Swindon means GWR trains will need to use alternative routes to serve Bristol and South Wales all day.

Before 0920 services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to change for Elizabeth Line services to Ealing Broadway for the London Underground network.

After 0920 a significantly reduced, amended timetable will be in place for services between London and Bristol Temple Meads, and South Wales - operating on a diversionary route from Reading to Bath Spa, before continuing to Bristol Temple Meads; Bristol Parkway; Newport and Cardiff. 

Trains on this route are expected to be very busy, and journeys will take much longer. Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.  

We're sorry for the impact this will have on your journey. We advise customers to change plans if possible, to travel the day before or after, and to only travel on Sunday if absolutely necessary. 

To help customers, those who have already bought tickets on the route affected for Sunday 23 March will be able to use them on Saturday 22 March or Monday 24 March, or you can claim a full refund at GWR.com/Refunds, according to the usual terms and conditions of the ticket type.

The M4 is also closed between Bristol and Bath, which means bus replacement services cannot operate between Swindon and Bristol Parkway. Replacement buses will operate between Didcot Parkway and Swindon; Reading and Swindon; and Bath Spa and Swindon. After 0920 train shuttle services will operate between London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway.

An acknowledgement from GWR that the timetable for this coming Sunday isn’t enough or is what is timetabled could be subject to last minute cancellation?

Yet on a Saturday an hourly Bristol to London and South Wales to London service is able to operate via the same diverted route. So to me this looks like a Sunday shortage of train crew issue but this is not mentioned above, only about engineering work being the issue.

[grahame]

https://www.gwr.com/sunday-disruption

Due to Network Rail planned engineering work we expect significant disruption to service this Sunday 23 March. ...

[snip]

I was going to quote parts of that - but there are so many parts to quote and comments to make that is was hard to know where to start.

Engineering works DO need to be done. What strikes me is amazing is that alerts come so late in the day that people who have already booked for the Sunday are only now being altered alerted rather than having been cautioned at booking time,  and that "Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice." which suggests to me that the process might not have been thought out such that it will work for people who want to travel.


Edit note: Typo corrected, for clarity. CfN.

[PrestburyRoad]

Other factors are the imminent end of the financial year, and when NR^» (Network Rail - home page) staff may be available to do the engineering work.

I speculate that getting needed engineering work done at a time when funding and NR staff are available (and maybe GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staff less available) might be a compromise that has some merit.

[John D]

You do wonder if DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) actually monitor disruption and do any coordination of transport

Close main rail line to the west, and pick same weekend to close part of M4 near Bristol (and close M25 at junction 10)

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have put out media statement including
"The closure of M4 between Bath and Bristol will also affect the train operator’s ability to provide replacement bus transport, and there will be no buses between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.

Replacement buses will operate between Didcot Parkway and Swindon; Reading and Swindon; plus Bath Spa and Swindon. After 0920 train shuttle services will operate between London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway."

[Timmer]

Once again a warning for this coming Sunday 30th:

Due to Network Rail planned engineering work we expect significant disruption to service this Sunday 30 March. 

A significantly reduced, amended timetable will be in place for services between London and Bristol Temple Meads, and South Wales - operating on a diversionary route from Reading to Bath Spa, before continuing to Bristol Temple Meads; Bristol Parkway; Newport and Cardiff. 

Trains on this route are expected to be very busy, and journeys will take much longer. Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice. 

We're sorry for the impact this will have on your journey. We advise customers to change plans if possible, to travel the day before or after, and to only travel on Sunday if absolutely necessary. 

To help customers, those who have already bought tickets on the route affected for Sunday 30 March will be able to use them on Saturday 29 March or Monday 31 March, or you can claim a full refund at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/Refunds, according to the usual terms and conditions of the ticket type. 

Replacement buses will operate between Didcot Parkway and Swindon; Reading and Swindon; Swindon and Bristol Parkway, plus Bath Spa and Swindon.

Train shuttle services will operate between London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway. Trains will also run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa, and between Chippenham and Westbury and Frome.

Things were not good at all last Sunday with reports and pictures on social media of trains absolutely rammed and people being left behind. Journeycheck was also reporting trains as full and standing. Totally unacceptable.

[John D]

4th block of text "We're sorry for the impact ...."

Apology in the middle, so apology clearly not a priority

Of course they are referring to an event in the future, for which they have sold tickets, so should it be just a half hearted apology, or something meaningful like offer of 150% refunds, or alternative date of customers choosing (not their limited alternative date)