What do you get when you cross...

[whole diary]

[Graz]

...50 or so dopey passengers at Bath Spa, and a 2-car local Great Malvern train arriving 4 minutes before a slightly late HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is due?



== claustrophobic conditions in both carriages
== People like me finding it very difficult to leave the train at Oldfield Park/ Keynsham
== People finding it difficult to board the train at those stations
== Both trains arriving EVEN LATER because it's taking people so long to depart and board at Bath Spa, Oldfield Park and Keynsham

A solution? To announce to all passengers at Bath Spa, if they're going to Bristol Temple Meads, not to board the local service but to wait just 4 more minutes for the HST! I'm sure they'd get there the same time anyway- but by all boarding the local train they effectively make both trains even later.

[Timmer]

It shouldn't have to be this way if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had enough rolling stock but because they don't, I encourage passengers who are travelling Bath-Bristol to use the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services to free up the local two car stock for passengers travelling from Wilts/further south, Oldfield Park and Keynsham.

FGW have put posters up at stations showing what rolling stock operates on peak services between Bath-Bristol and vice versa.

[Graz]

It shouldn't have to be this way if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had enough rolling stock but because they don't, I encourage passengers who are travelling Bath-Bristol to use the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services to free up the local two car stock for passengers travelling from Wilts/further south, Oldfield Park and Keynsham.

FGW have put posters up at stations showing what rolling stock operates on peak services between Bath-Bristol and vice versa.

The problem in this case though was that train is never normally that busy and a 2-car usually suffices, with about 20 or so getting on at Bath Spa leaving the seats about 80% or so full, and no-one standing. The problem as I see it is people going to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) will just take the first train that arrives at Platform 1 and assume it gets to Bristol the quickest, not giving the slightest thought about people boarding/leaving at Oldfield Park/Keynsham or even whether they can all fit on the train in the first place  . So a delayed HST usually means chaos for the local trains, especially at peak.

I definitely agree with you though, I think all Bristol TM passengers should use HSTs at Bath Spa, in the peak... reinforced by station announcements should one be delayed!

[Jez]

This sort of thing happens in Cardiff often. When the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) service to Swansea is late the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) service to West Wales often arrives before it and everyone gets onto that train for stations like Bridgend and Neath , even if it isnt going to depart until after the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) has been and gone.

[Jim]

Or the passengers could of used their brains and worked it out!

[Jez]

They dont always. When the Portsmouth train terminates at Cardiff and everyone is waiting for the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Swansea which is due about 5 minutes later everyone tries to get on that train even though they clearly announce this train is terminating.  People just see a train arrive on Platform 3 and assume it is going West from Cardiff.

[tramway]

Same scenario every night at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)), vitually anyone for Bath catches the first train out, which is usually the XX22 Portsmouth so this is absolutley packed. Never thinking the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) leaves just a few minutes later and probably waits for the Portsmouth train to clear Bath.

But FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have only themselves to blame really as passengers have been taught that you must get the first train as there is no gurantee that the next one will turn up, it^s the same at Filton. Infrequent travellers are easily spotted as they stand and stare at the screen muttering to themselves when there are delays showing, regulars advise them ^get the first train to BTM and sort it out there^. Which for me is normally watching the departure screen in Weatherspoons.

We all have mental contigency plans in the event of problems

[Lee]

Same scenario every night at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)), vitually anyone for Bath catches the first train out, which is usually the XX22 Portsmouth so this is absolutley packed. Never thinking the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) leaves just a few minutes later and probably waits for the Portsmouth train to clear Bath.

I remember when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) made an attempt to address this....
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1112.msg5755#msg5755

[devon_metro]

Thing with Bristol - the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) are sat there waiting for departure so you can go and sit down for 8 minutes!

[tramway]

Graz

You didn't mention what time it was, I don't suppose thirdratewestern was on the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train)

http://thirdratewestern.blogspot.com/2007/10/746-to-bristol.html

[Lee]

Graz

You didn't mention what time it was, I don't suppose thirdratewestern was on the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train)

http://thirdratewestern.blogspot.com/2007/10/746-to-bristol.html

thirdratewestern is a forum member (miniman) so hopefully he can answer that.

[devon_metro]

I'm fairly mythed as to which unit he refers to 

0748 From Weymouth to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) calling OLF+KYN
0800 From Paddington to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) calling KYN (His HST^▸ (High Speed Train))
0805 From Warminster to GMV calling OLF+KYN

Anybody care to shed any light, all of which were roughly on time today

[Graz]

Graz

You didn't mention what time it was, I don't suppose thirdratewestern was on the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train)

http://thirdratewestern.blogspot.com/2007/10/746-to-bristol.html

Nah, I was on the 17:28 Warminster - Great Malvern which is my usual train (Due to leave 18:07 at Bath Spa- was about 7 mins late that day). Difficult to see in that photo, but it was dark outside!

I was thinking that they should have made an announcement at Bath Spa along the lines of...

"To avoid overcrowding, would all passengers for Bristol Temple Meads only please do NOT board the next train but wait for the following High Speed train, the delayed 1800 to Taunton, which is due to arrive in approximately 4 minutes. Please only board the next train if you are travelling to Oldfield Park, Keynsham, Filton Abbey Wood or stations to Great Malvern. Again please passengers for Bristol Temple Meads do not board the next train but wait 4 minutes for the following service. Thank you"

[Steve44]

They Do something similar to this in Oxford on a sunday i've noticed a few times.  They "advise" customers for London Paddington to board the xx05 local stopping services and change at Reading rather than boarding (what used to be xx38 but is now all over the show around that time) due to overcrowding. 

[miniman]

Graz

You didn't mention what time it was, I don't suppose thirdratewestern was on the following HST^▸ (High Speed Train)

http://thirdratewestern.blogspot.com/2007/10/746-to-bristol.html

thirdratewestern is a forum member (miniman) so hopefully he can answer that.

No but this is what my ranting was all about really. I guess my point was that it would be preferable to hold the stopping services (e.g. at Bathampton Junction) and let the HST in front of them. Then people who don't want to go to Keynsham / Oldfield Park can hop on the HST, and it doesn't get held up any further behind the stopping train. Doesn't seem like rocket science to me. I got scuppered again recently down at Fareham where the Portsmouth-Cardiff train was let out in front of the Southern service I was on - I wanted to get on the Ports-Card train, but of course we got into Southampton Central a few minutes after it had left, and had to wait an hour for the next one.

In that situation I can kind of understand - why should FGW^▸ (First Great Western) / Southern care about each others customers? But at Bath, everyone is an FGW customer in the morning so why do they do stupid things that piss everyone off!?