This afternoon on the TransWilts

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The 15:14 from Swindon developed a technical fault and had to be terminated at Chippenham    ... I understand it ran through empty to Westbury and, seeing the 16:15 flag up as cancelled we feared the worst - that the 17:36 from Swindon would be cancelled too.

However ... the train that arrives from Bristol Parkway into Westbury at 16:33 headed up to Swindon, formed a (15 minute late) 17:36 back - big THANK YOU to whoever arranged that.    I don't know how busy the delayed 16:15 was, but I have seen it load up to nearly 40 passengers;   I do know that 150219 when it pulled into Melksham had no fewer than 20 people get off onto the platform, and 4 got on; my estimate is that it left with between 50 and 55 on board (it gets harder to count quickly with more passengers around  )  so that's 72/24

I do appreciate that the set swap (should a 153 be called a "set" as it's a set of 1!) left the 17:11 Westbury to Warminster cancelled (gap, then, 17:01 to 17:55) and the 17:28 Warminster to Great Malvern starting from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) (due Bristol 18:28; next train due 18:49) ... and I sort-of apologise to the people who might have used that train.  In my experience, though, they are now far fewer that the TransWilts passengers, and by switching sets a gap was plugged in Swindon to Melksham / Trowbridge trains at the heart of the peak, for over 70 passengers who's next service was scheduled 76 minutes later.

Good decision ... I would (of course!) admit to a bias, but the passenger delay minutes saved was 5320 for the 17:36 and around 4800 for the 16:15 (longer gap, fewer passenger).  10,000 minutes is almost a week of people's time.

[Alan Pettitt]

Good to hear that things are not so inflexible as I had been led to believe... actually I'm rather impressed!

[bobm]

It also illustrates that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is damned if they do and damned if they don't. 

We have spoken on here often about information in times of disruption.

At various points the 16:15 from Westbury and the 17:35 from Swindon were shown as cancelled or part cancelled.  Useful advance information in both cases - but then both were re-instated.

It just goes to show you should keep looking at Journeycheck, particularly if a cancellation is announced well in advance.

[TeaStew]

I was worried when the 18.32 from Westbury today was showing as 12mins late at Trowbridge and slightly more concerned when there was the delay "creep" to 14 then 16 minutes. I was then pleasantly surprised when the train was twice the size - although space has never been an issue the days I have travelled on it. It was quite a lot busier today though: about twice the usual number alighting at Melksham - I assume this was the tail end of the earlier disruption?

Was not a long wait though really, and of course the rail link bus was waiting for us!

[grahame]

It was quite a lot busier today though: about twice the usual number alighting at Melksham - I assume this was the tail end of the earlier disruption?

Actually, I think it's because it's the school holidays / holiday season and we're finding that the TransWilts is busier rather than quieter during school breaks - significantly more leisure traffic than normal, and it's more than making up for and drop in the number of people going to work at this time of year.   The figure I have from a statistically insignificant amount of data is 20% more passengers - but I suspect the growth is not spread in proportion to the usual service loading and will be noticed more on services such as the 09:15, 10:04 and 18:48.

Part of the delay was the knock on effect (final catching up) of the 16:15 which ran even more delayed.   Added to by a freight going through (Melksham, southbound) at about 18:15 - it was probably supposed to follow the 17:36 off Swindon, but was actually sent in front.

In spite of the down train (17:36 ex Swindon) being late (and shown as cancelled at one point), that too was very busy - had it been the normal 1 car class 153, people would have been standing. 

Was not a long wait though really, and of course the rail link bus was waiting for us!

The beauty of the way that's organised is that it can and will wait.   I was at the station for the 18:03 (as you will have gathered) and that got to the point in busyness that I couldn't observe everything as much as I would have liked;  people really flowing off the train, good stream to the bus ...

[TeaStew]

Troubles this afternoon:

1832 Westbury to Swindon
"This service was cancelled throughout due to a power failure."

According to real time trains, and

"A signalling problem near to Melksham is disrupting services.  Trains are currently unable to call at Melksham and taxis will be provided.  Passengers should speak to staff.  This is expected to last until the end of service."

on national rail enquiries website.