Worcestershire Parkway Station project - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Will a bus need to be provided for a station that hasn’t opened?  I know it’s been in the journey planners and tickets sold, but surely if that was the case, road transport will need to be provided for every service now not calling?

[ChrisB]

Giving the impression that the train will no longer go ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) to Worcester sidings? Otherwise why not stay on the train, like they would do if terminating iat Parkway....

[JontyMort]

No chance - unless you mean it'll run ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) after journeying along the North Cots....my bet is Evesham with bus forward. The stock needs to end up in Worcester sidings for the following day

I meant they wouldn't run it at all. My guess is Evesham or Moreton-in-Marsh.

[JayMac]

Email being sent to customers who've already purchased tickets for 15th December onwards:

Dear GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Customer

I am writing regarding your recent ticket purchase with GWR for travel from/to Worcestershire Parkway in the coming weeks.

We are nearing the conclusion of the standard rigorous rail industry “Entry into Service” process where all the new equipment and facilities are tested and commissioned. This process is complex involving a wide range of stakeholders and it will not be possible to achieve the final sign-off for the station to become operational until early in the new year.

There has been a lot of hard work, from many agencies, to get everything ready. After careful consideration, and in agreement with Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Parkway will now open early in the New Year. We will confirm the specific date as soon as we can.

I’m sorry this will affect your plans to travel to/from the station this month. If you no longer wish to travel, you can obtain a full refund of your ticket by returning it to the place of purchase. If you still wish to travel, you can do so by boarding at the following stations instead of Worcestershire Parkway; Pershore, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link, Great Malvern, where your ticket will be accepted.

If you are unsure on how this will affect your journey our Customer Support team are available between 0600 and 2300, 7 days a week via 03457 000 125, or via Twitter @GWRHelp.

As soon as we confirm the date the station will open, we’ll update our dedicated webpage (www.gwr.com/worcestershireparkway), and I will drop you a quick email to let you know.

Yours sincerely

Jason Ness

Customer Relations General Manager

Great Western Railway

Still no press releases from stakeholders though...

[ChrisB]

At last, some press release must have come from somewhere as it's appeared on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) website

Worcestershire Parkway rail station delayed until 2020

The opening of England's newest railway station has been hit by fresh delays.

Trains were due to start calling at Worcestershire Parkway, near junction seven of the M5, this month.

But passengers will not be able to travel to or from the £22m station until "early next year".

The opening would be confirmed "as soon as possible," said Worcestershire County Council. When passengers can use it, it will become Worcester's third railway station.

n a joint statement issued with Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) on Tuesday, the local authority said "the best time for the new station to become fully operational is early next year".

An update on GWR's website said customers who had booked to travel from the new station before its opening could claim refunds or use tickets at alternative nearby stops.

Work on Worcestershire Parkway, which will join the North Cotswolds and Nottingham to Cardiff lines, started in 2018 after several years of delays.

Once operational, passengers will be able to travel from Worcester to London in less than two hours.

Not sure how opening a station makes the trains reach London in less than two hours?!! Sloppy journalism again

[Richard Fairhurst]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is now showing that the late night Worcestershire Parkway service will be bustituted from Oxford in the first week of the new timetable.

[johnneyw]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is now showing that the late night Worcestershire Parkway service will be bustituted from Oxford in the first week of the new timetable.

And to recreated the experience this Christmas:

Edit to note that serious collectors may wish to wait for the "Bristol Parkway" special limited edition complete with low bridge and bus with detachable top deck.

[ChrisB]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is now showing that the late night Worcestershire Parkway service will be bustituted from Oxford in the first week of the new timetable.

You'll note that there is engineering possesion that week late night & these buses are for the RRS. Both the 2150 from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and the 2200 from HFD^» (Hereford - next trains) are also buses between Worcester & Oxford.

RTT has that 2250 late night train showing to Pershore with the Parkway timing marked as "Service Stop Unadvertised" - so presumably running ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Pershore. No sign of any bus being laid on to Parkway or Worcester.

[Bmblbzzz]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is now showing that the late night Worcestershire Parkway service will be bustituted from Oxford in the first week of the new timetable.

You'll note that there is engineering possesion that week late night & these buses are for the RRS. Both the 2150 from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and the 2200 from HFD^» (Hereford - next trains) are also buses between Worcester & Oxford.

RTT has that 2250 late night train showing to Pershore with the Parkway timing marked as "Service Stop Unadvertised" - so presumably running ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Pershore. No sign of any bus being laid on to Parkway or Worcester.

Railroad station seems the only one applicable but I'm guessing it's actually something like "Rail Replacement Service"?

[ChrisB]

Rail Replacement Service - used by all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)

[TonyK]

Rail Replacement Service - used by all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)

Tactical Operations Centres, if you didn't know.

RRS isn't in the LOA.

[ChrisB]

Maybe someone ought to add it? As I say, used by all train companies

[Bmblbzzz]

If RRS and too many other TLAs^▸ (three letter acronym) are MIA from the LOA, it becomes OOU^▸ (out of use), which is bang OOO.

[TonyK]

Maybe someone ought to add it? As I say, used by all train companies

I rather hoped my comment would prompt someone to do that! I can't.

If RRS and too many other TLAs^▸ (three letter acronym) are MIA from the LOA, it becomes OOU^▸ (out of use), which is bang OOO.

ICAM! TTFN,

TK (Ex FT,N!)

[Red Squirrel]

Institut Catholique d'Arts et Métiers?

I remember asking my dad one happy Sunday afternoon what YTYTK stood for. I must have been twelve of thirteen.

'You're too young to know', he said, deadpan.
'Aw! Please tell me!' I replied.
You're too young to know', he repeated somewhat more forcefully, and walked away.