When is a cancellation not a cancellation?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

There are supposed to be 15 trains calling at Melksham today, and journey check reports 2 cancellations.  So that's 13 trains running, right.  No - wrong ... three have run so far, on line journey planners report four more expected to run, and two more "admitted" as cancellations and six more have just disappeared from the online planners.

08:00 to Swindon - left on time
09:10 to Weymouth - left on time
09:53 to Frome - left on time
16:51 to Swindon
18:09 to Westbury
21:34 to Swindon
22:37 to Westbury


10:08 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
11:20 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
12:23 to Swindon - showing as cancelled on JourneyCheck and at station
13:35 to Westbury - showing cancelled JourneyCheck, but running RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website)
14:23 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
15:38 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
18:51 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
20:09 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation

Come on, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - if you're not running the trains you're supposed, please have the good grace to inform your potential customers and not just quietly let disappear in the hope no-one will complain or notice.   

No alternative suggested on JourneyCheck ... are you (GWR) running buses on the part of the route not served by other trains?

Have you (GWR) made arrangements for rail tickets to be accepted on the x34 bus which runs from near Trowbridge station, passes the top of Station Approach in Melksham (but doesn't stop for quite a distance), and terminates at Chippenham bus station with only odd service to the railway station?

If you (GWR) are not providing alternatives, nor alternative advice, nor even telling us of your failure to provide the proper service, why not?

[TaplowGreen]

AIUI^▸ ('as I understand it') they don't run replacement buses during strikes, but does the same rule apply during "action short of a strike"?

[ChrisB]

....during industrial action as I understand it. o no replacement buses and an amended timetable was mentioned?

[grahame]

There are supposed to be 15 trains calling at Melksham today, and journey check reports 2 cancellations.  So that's 13 trains running, right.  No - wrong ... three have run so far, on line journey planners report four more expected to run, and two more "admitted" as cancellations and six more have just disappeared from the online planners.

08:00 to Swindon - left on time
09:10 to Weymouth - left on time
09:53 to Frome - left on time
16:51 to Swindon - now also cancelled on JourneyCheck
18:09 to Westbury - now also cancelled on JourneyCheck
21:34 to Swindon
22:37 to Westbury

10:08 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
11:20 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
12:23 to Swindon - showing as cancelled on JourneyCheck and at station
13:35 to Westbury - showing cancelled JourneyCheck, but running RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website)
14:23 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
15:38 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
18:51 to Swindon has disappeared from the timetable without explanation
20:09 to Westbury has disappeared from the timetable without explanation

....during industrial action as I understand it. o no replacement buses and an amended timetable was mentioned?

And being amended on the day on top of the amendments that may have been slipped in earlier.

Not very passenger friendly, is it?

[grahame]

Not very passenger friendly, is it?

Here is an example of more customer oriented information:

Cancellations to services between Par and Newquay

Due to a tree blocking the railway between Par and Newquay the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
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Update 16:52) - We're still awaiting confirmation from Transport for Cornwall that they'll allow our customers onto their local bus routes between Par/St Austell and Newquay.

-

Update (15:14) - Local bus ticket acceptance has been requested for Transport for Cornwall Routes 21, 22 & 25 to accept GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) rail tickets as an alternative. This is to be confirmed.

-

Update - (15:06) - Network Rail advise that the Newquay branch is suspended for the remainder of the day. GWR Customer Experience Manager currently in the process of arranging alternative travel arrangements.

-

Branch currently suspended due to fallen trees blocking the railway. Further information as soon as we have it.

See - GWR can keep the customers informed, though even here one has to wonder why it's taken nearly 2 hours when I would have thought that contingency plans could be in place for each line.

[GBM]

Guess the problem happened as bus managers don't work Sundays (or weekday evenings/nights)

I do wonder why Transport for Cornwall and Cornwall Council are unable to agree on a 'carte blanche' 24x7x365 agreement for rail ticket acceptance on service busses for branch lines in times of rail disruption.

[grahame]

Guess the problem happened as bus managers don't work Sundays (or weekday evenings/nights)

I do wonder why Transport for Cornwall and Cornwall Council are unable to agree on a 'carte blanche' 24x7x365 agreement for rail ticket acceptance on service busses for branch lines in times of rail disruption.

I wonder too - at least they tried.  Not even any effort as far as I can tell in Wiltshire - unless you can tell me otherwise. All too often, everyone here about on the railway, buses, government and quango seems to forget the customer.