One less HST stopping at Maidenhead from August 10th - pm?

[whole diary]

[James]

Same can be said for Turbo's, but i find it hard that you say there's a lack of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s when in fact the 1948 service is run with one of those, so please explain to me why there would be no spare HST's for the 1948?

[grahame]

James - there are no spare Adelantes at that time of day. Or HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)

... but i find it hard that you say there's a lack of HST's when in fact the 1948 service is run with one of those, so please explain to me why there would be no spare HST's for the 1948?

Good question .. I asked it in reply #26 and didn't get an answer.   I'm guessing the answer is one of
* they're taking advantage of the engineering works to have an extra train serviced when it's not needed
* we have nowhere to turn it around.  There are platform / path issues
* it wouldn't take many passengers and we would make a loss on it
* it doesn't work out for crew rotas
* too complicated to work out
* because I say so
* I don't know
* all of the above

[johoare]

James - there are no spare Adelantes at that time of day. Or HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)

... but i find it hard that you say there's a lack of HST's when in fact the 1948 service is run with one of those, so please explain to me why there would be no spare HST's for the 1948?

Good question .. I asked it in reply #26 and didn't get an answer.   I'm guessing the answer is one of
* they're taking advantage of the engineering works to have an extra train serviced when it's not needed
* we have nowhere to turn it around.  There are platform / path issues
* it wouldn't take many passengers and we would make a loss on it
* it doesn't work out for crew rotas
* too complicated to work out
* because I say so
* I don't know
* all of the above

Or put more simply... as it's FGW^▸ (First Great Western) after all.. They really can't be bothered.. If they are bothered to reply  at least.. I'll let you know

[IndustryInsider]

It's an interesting one, the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) stables overnight in Worcester, which might explain why running it as far as Swindon would have been awkward, but I agree with Jo, Nick and James in this instance that cancelling it completely is a pretty poor show.

[James]

Cannot be sure grahame, but whatever the answer is a replacement service is needed now, or poor FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will get a headache from the media  

[ellendune]

Cannot be sure grahame, but whatever the answer is a replacement service is needed now, or poor FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will get a headache from the media  

Let us remember that it is August and, judging by my evening return journey today, numbers of travellers are significantly reduced.  Presumably FGW have taken a judgement that this reduction will be enough that there is not a significant problem. They may be right or they may be wrong.  We will only really find out next Monday evening. 

[johoare]

I've seen no reduction in passengers in the school holidays.. Will wait to hear what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) don't do with interest

[IndustryInsider]

Well there is a reduction during the summer holidays - my unscientific eye would say about 20% less passengers than during, say, a week in February.  But then that might make many trains just full rather than intolerably full, so the removal of an entire train doesn't necessarily make for good customer service.

[ChrisB]

But the entire train doesn't alight at Maidenhead....

[James]

Yes i agreed with that point Chris, but that doesn't give a valid reason to get rid of the vital 1948.
From my know experience, witnessing by eye a medium to large group of people deboard at Maidenhead at 2006 if on time that is, so really again i have to say a replacement is needed. Now surely of all people like yourself Chris should understand this by now, if not come to Maidenhead at around 2005 and see for yourself, i think you will be amazed.
Lets be sensable since Maidenhead has recorded passenger numbers of nearly over 4 million people journeys, so its really silly whats being withdrawal.

[johoare]

Thanks james.. Chrisb.. have you tried it..go on...?

[johoare]

Now I've not had a good hunt around. But considering this starts next week for three weeks.. Has anyone seen any warnings/information?

[James]

No problem jo.
Apparently NickB has seen something on Platform 3 at Maidenhead but i think its information relating to something else. Oh dear looks like Monday evening is going to be a warzone at Paddington...

[IndustryInsider]

I think warzone is stretching it a little, but I bet there will be a few confused and annoyed punters.  Perhaps we should have given Jo and Nick a big sign to carry when they were on Maidenhead station over the last few weeks to try and spread the word if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) aren't prepared to do a proper job!

I don't get to see the 19:48ex PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) at Maidenhead very often, so can't be absolutely sure of the numbers travelling in the 'quieter' summer holiday weeks, though I did see the previous fast 19:18ex PAD arrive at Maidenhead last night and at a rough guess about 100-120 people alighted, so I can't see the 19:48 attracting too many less than that.

[James]

I agree, and i wonder how many people would have been happy with the change? Not many i presume
I have been on the 1948 before last August and a lot of people have deboarded and looked miserable even when the service runs...
So u dont win, oh well thats life