2+7 HST's

[whole diary]

[John R]

I appreciate the points that if you time the services at lower speeds then you have recovery time built in. That's self evident. However, it contributes to the position whereby services are significantly slower than 30 years ago. You could get from Padd to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) in 1hr 27min every hour during the day in 1978, and a commuter train did Padd to Chippenham in 59 minutes! Granted extra stops also contributes and the weight of 2+8 compared with the original 2+7.

Of the other former "inter-city" routes (ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line), WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about), even XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))), how many have suffered this degree of slowdown in that period? None. How many others deliberately time a core part of their route at less than maximum speed? I'm not aware of any. So what makes FGW^▸ (First Great Western) different?        

[smokey]

Of the other former "inter-city" routes (ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line), WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about), even XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))), how many have suffered this degree of slowdown in that period? None. How many others deliberately time a core part of their route at less than maximum speed? I'm not aware of any. So what makes FGW^▸ (First Great Western) different?        
[/quote]

Maybe just maybe it's that FGW are desperate to get their preformance figures up and compatible to other operators.

[devon_metro]

I dont personally blame FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for the recovery time. Trains often run late through Reading and also services starting before Bristol (Penzance, Plym, Paignton etc) are rarely on time, especially calling at shacks. Thus is means FGW pay less money to the government (don't get me started) as they already pay enough!

[swlines]

Of the other former "inter-city" routes (ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line), WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about), even XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))), how many have suffered this degree of slowdown in that period? None. How many others deliberately time a core part of their route at less than maximum speed? I'm not aware of any. So what makes FGW^▸ (First Great Western) different?        

Don't be so sure. ECML has significantly slowed down in recent years, as has the MML partially (gained back time with introduction of their class 222 Meridian fleet - same with XC).

The WCML is only speeding up because of the WCML upgrade program.

[woody]

Not STRICTLY true about pricing either though, yes it does come into it but most passengers tell me that they wouldn't mind paying higher fares for a more reliable service. If speed were that important then noone would ever travel from cornwall to Exeter!

Better tell that to the government in spain then whose aim is to have 10,000km (6,200 miles) of high-speed (nearly 220mph)track in Spain by 2020,meaning that 90% of the population will be no more than 30 miles from a station through which the train passes. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/02/spain.railtravel.
  Meanwhile on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) its definately the case of back to the future.

[Doctor Gideon Ceefax]

It's also slower as everything now stops at Reading and a lot more trains stop at Didcot. I don't think any services miss Reading out now, even the Bristolian now stops there.

Personally I'd axe the Heathrow Express, double the frequency of Connect, and use the fast lines to provide an improved commuter service to Reading and Didcot. It might then be possible for some of the longer distance trains to skip these stops. This of course will never happen.

Removing buffet cars from trains not only means less seating but less standing room as well, with no buffets that passengers can prop up on. Also the H vestibule is now needed by staff for the PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) and trolley storage as there is no buffet car, and hence some staff have banned passengers from standing there, because it now becomes the only place the staff can stand. The natural barrier between first and standard is also lost.

[Phil]

It's also slower as everything now stops at Reading and a lot more trains stop at Didcot. I don't think any services miss Reading out now, even the Bristolian now stops there.

Just out of interest, does anyone remember when Paddington trains to and from Bristol ceased stopping at Slough? I can distinctly remember a colleague commuting Chippenham-Slough back in the 80s, but can't remember it dropping off the timetable. Was it a sudden cessation, or a gradual loss of service (a bit like how Didcot used to be a regular stop for almost all trains, then became the exception rather than the rule)