Winter Timetables now online

[whole diary]

[Worcester_Passenger]

The blobs mean "Cycle Reservations Compulsory". You didn't miss the explanation, because it was left out of the Worcester to Paddington timetable. However it's meaning is covered in other FGW^▸ (First Great Western) timetables, not much help though, I know.

Thanks for that. Relieved to find it wasn't down to my inability to read the small print.

[didcotdean]

According to an explanation on twitter, it was to ease the flow of trains through Reading. Apparently it was causing congestion. No indication of whether the stop will be reinstated after Reading is complete.

The twitterati complaints seemed to be either from people who got on the train expecting it to stop at RDG^‡(resolve), or that its removal would grossly overcrowd all the other trains to RDG.
Trains not stopping at Reading always seemed to confuse some. Back in the days when I was a PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) commuter the sight of people getting up to get off at Reading on the then 18:15 only to see it travel slowly through was a regular occurrence.

A 30 minute service RDG-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) I would have thought about appropriate for the number travelling at that time.

There are actually 6 trains per hour after 17:00 and 18:00 including the stoppers (and 7 between 19:00-20:00). There is a hole though between 17:56 and 18:20.

[mjones]

As the 1826 overtakes the 1820 it is effectively a half hour gap. Regarding ChrisB's comment that this seems appropriate, the problem is that when people have planned their travel around an existing service pattern then the baseline for what is appropriate is the service they are used to, not a far less good service provided to somewhere with similar population somewhere else. This is particularly the case if your commute involves a change at Reading, a relatively short rail commute can suddenly become 10/15 minutes longer either end of the day, which adds up, and will shift the balance towards car travel for some people. That said, I fully understand that trying to run the normal service around a re-build on this scale is terribly difficult and there will inevitably be some inconvenience for users. I must say I can't wait until P10 is completed, as the number of missed connections in the morning while queuing outside the station for P11 is getting rather depressing this time of year!

[Timmer]

Good to see FGW^▸ (First Great Western) advertising their Network timetable in various railway related publications.

[grahame]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s Network book is again available from major stations at a cost of ^4.  Those who heard Ian Mundy's talk at the recent WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) talk were assured it would be easier to obtain over the counter after problems in the past, and this was certainly my experience at Swindon yesterday.  Whole transaction took less than a minute.

Printed timetable now being advertised at Swindon station (notice in the subway to the island platform).  However, as of yesterday they weren't in stock yet when I tried to buy one.  The lady suggested they would arrive today, but I'm not in Swindon  ... I expect I will be very soon!

[bobm]

I was told at Swindon last week (and this was later backed up on Facebook) that they would be at all major stations today (21st).

I understand some have, light-heartedly, tried to get a pro-rata refund on the three days they were unabe to use the book.... 

[grahame]

I was told at Swindon last week (and this was later backed up on Facebook) that they would be at all major stations today (21st).

I understand some have, light-heartedly, tried to get a pro-rata refund on the three days they were unabe to use the book.... 

Ah - I knew I had seen comment somewhere - thanks, Bob.   I got mislead by the big advert board telling me it was available!

[bobm]

Reports this morning that they are not yet available at Bristol Temple Meads or Taunton

[Southern Stag]

I'm glad they are still available. When I asked at Reading on Friday they were unsure if they were even still being produced.

[JayMac]

The Network Timetable book is still being produced, but the current run is who knows where. 'Twas I that asked in Bristol and Taunton today, to no avail. This was after I'd been told through social media channels that they would be at major stations from 21st May.

I was told at Taunton that the staff haven't received their version either. The public retail version is very similar to the staff one, so I assume they share a delivery run.

Someone is on the case on my behalf chasing up these Timetable books. I already have one pint in the bank because of the delay. 

[bobm]

You might be onto your second pint BNM - still no sign of the books at Swindon this morning.

[bobm]

The books are now available at Paddington and still ^4.

Apparently the staff still do not have their copies!

[Timmer]

The books are now available at Paddington and still ^4.

Do you pick these up from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) information desks or do you have to go to the ticket office? Thx

[bobm]

Ticket office - and only at selected stations. I'm still at Paddington so don't have the list to hand.

[ChrisB]

Suspect there's been a press problem. The Customer Panel have been sent copies, but mine has a staff cover, but no additional staff info contained within...it looks to me like a public copy within staff covers...