Pewsey station - facilities, services / fares, incidents and user group - merged posts

[whole diary]

[BandHcommuter]

I can understand why some users of Pewsey station, situated as it is right in the middle of Wiltshire, might be under the impression that their station is within the scope of TransWilts CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) - to the uninitiated it might not be obvious that the nomenclature of "TransWilts" does not include the east-west line of route from Bedwyn to Westbury As it happens, although there is no user group, there certainly used to be some influential individual users/lobbyists, but I am not sure what the situation is now.

As for Pewsey itself, I have had interesting conversations with Trevor in the ticket office (who has worked there since the 1960s) who confirms that the main line train service and passenger numbers have grown massively in the last 30 years or so. Even before the car park was extended some years ago, it had become a very popular railhead enabling long-distance commuting for the areas of Marlborough and Devizes. I know a number of other Berks and Hants commuters from the same towns who still prefer to railhead to Bedwyn and Hungerford (even Andover) because the peak fares are cheaper and the service is more frequent. I agree that a more even off-peak service pattern would be desirable, and this appears to be an objective in the future timetable aspirations. I am not sure whether a business case could be made for a significant further overall increase in service provision.

[BandHcommuter]

One further thought. The off-peak service at Pewsey, whilst a bit patchy, has some very attractive journey times, being served as it is by calls in long-distance services between London and Plymouth/Cornwall. The same applies to Westbury. It is possible that journey times in both directions will be extended if, in the future, these stations are served only by a Berks and Hants "stopper".

[IndustryInsider]

With the turnback loop at Bedwyn being extended that might be an opportunity missed though

I'm sure I saw a previous discussion somewhere on here that that isn't needed, as it can accommodate a 5 car unit in it's current form?

Definitely not, only three car Turbo length at the moment, not 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).  Means modifications to a foot crossing, but otherwise a fairly simple job.

[ChrisB]

there certainly used to be some influential individual users/lobbyists, but I am not sure what the situation is now.

Well, Mr Chris Irwin still travels from there, and I believe he's an ex-head of TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website).....

[grahame]

I can understand why some users of Pewsey station, situated as it is right in the middle of Wiltshire, might be under the impression that their station is within the scope of TransWilts CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) - to the uninitiated it might not be obvious that the nomenclature of "TransWilts" does not include the east-west line of route from Bedwyn to Westbury As it happens, although there is no user group, there certainly used to be some influential individual users/lobbyists, but I am not sure what the situation is now.

The designated service and the line of running - what the CRP "looks after" is indeed Swindon to Westbury with some onward journeys to Salisbury. Ironically, if you draw a line direct from Swindon to Salisbury (1 and 2 on the map) you go through Pewsey (3 on the map).



Our umbrella company - TransWilts CIC^▸ (Community Interest Company ) - is constituted to cover journeys "to from and within" Wiltshire, so at this outer level we do have an interest and concerns for passengers at other stations - Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff, Dean, Bedwyn, Tisbury, and (yes) Pewsey. Economic borders aren't as sharply defined as local government ones, and we have an eye open for Frome too.   

Ironically bearing in mind the original message that I responded to on Facebook, the station we "worry" about the most in this outer level is Pewsey.   There are six stations on the West of England main line between the Wiltshire border and Taunton, and you would be hard pressed to find a more diverse bunch!   Four have Community Rail services with one even having two, which look out for connections as well as their own services. Of the remaining two, one has a very effective and well established user group and community ... and then there's Pewsey ...

[Thatcham Crossing]

Means modifications to a foot crossing

Indeed, I've been across there (walking the bike) and the footpath is pretty-much right behind the buffers of the turnback siding. It still looks long enough for something more than 3 coaches to me, but I'm not the expert ;-)

[grahame]

Means modifications to a foot crossing

Indeed, I've been across there (walking the bike) and the footpath is pretty-much right behind the buffers of the turnback siding. It still looks long enough for something more than 3 coaches to me, but I'm not the expert ;-)

Remember that IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) coaches are longer too
3 x 23 = 69 metres
5 x 26 = 130 metres
and there will be a certain clearance need off the main line too with other trains whistling by at speed.  This in not the old Holborn Viaduct where at 8 car EPB in platform 1 had to be virtually touching the buffers to clear the points into platform 4. Intermediate platforms 2 and 3 had been eliminated as "too short" - originating from the days that inbound London trains divide at Herne Hill with portions for the City and the West End.

http://johnlaw.railfan.net/jlphoto.cgi?hv83.jpg

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/h/holborn_viaduct/index8.shtml

[Thatcham Crossing]

I looked at the Sectional, and it doesn't say how long the siding is.

By sight, I'd say it's at least 100m, so hopefully not too much work needed. A 3 coach Turbo looks to fit on it with quite a bit of room to spare.

[stuving]

I looked at the Sectional, and it doesn't say how long the siding is.

By sight, I'd say it's at least 100m, so hopefully not too much work needed. A 3 coach Turbo looks to fit on it with quite a bit of room to spare.

On Google Earth, it's clearly long enough - about 140m. But that would mean diesel trains standing, and starting up, right behind houses. If it's considered usable only by 70 m trains it must be to avoid that. In which case it has to have 45 m added at the buffer end, even if railway land is there to make it even longer at the switch end.

[IndustryInsider]

By sight, I'd say it's at least 100m, so hopefully not too much work needed. A 3 coach Turbo looks to fit on it with quite a bit of room to spare.

On Google Earth, it's clearly long enough - about 140m. But that would mean diesel trains standing, and starting up, right behind houses. If it's considered usable only by 70 m trains it must be to avoid that. In which case it has to have 45 m added at the buffer end, even if railway land is there to make it even longer at the switch end.

Yes, the siding itself right up to the buffers from the Ground Position Signal is about 135m, but of course there is standage required from the buffers and to be 'in clear' and have a decent view of that Ground Position Signal also reduces that 135m, so I would hazard a guess the maximum usable length is 120m at the absolute maximum.  Currently no walking route, hence the 3-car Turbo maximum, though to correct what I said previously a 4-car would fit and perhaps even a 5-car Turbo might just squeeze in.  Definitely not long enough for a 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).   

I would imagine when it is lengthened it will be brought up to more modern standards (at great cost of course!), possibly with an elevated GPS (to provide a better view to the driver), TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) grids, and better buffer stop protection.

[bobm]

When I passed on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) earlier this week here appeared to a group of workers clearing trees near the end of the current turnback.

[hoover50]

Saw this on Facebook:

Attention - PEWSEY rail users. Meeting on Friday, 6th April 2018 at 19:00 at the Bouverie Hall - potential set up of user group, feedback from (and look forward to) changes relating to engineering works, 2019 services, etc. All Welcome. Being sponsored by TransWIlts. This is an early message for YOU to hold the date in your diary ... agenda to follow before Easter.

Pewsey is the only Wiltshire station without a rail partnership or user group and sometimes that means that community to train operator communication is lacking. An opportunity for the community to talk, and we (at TransWilts) have links in to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

Edited to add to diary - grahame

[grahame]

Notice / Flyer at http://atrebatia.info/pewseyusers.pdf . 19:00, Bouverie Hall, Pewsey, Friday 6th April 2018.

Agenda topics:
* What's happening to Pewsey's train services this month? This year?
* How did rail replacement work in March, and how will it work in other weeks?
* What's happening to Pewsey's train services next year? Next Decade?
* How do the wishes / needs of the Pewsey community get taken into account?

[grahame]

Testing image addition

From this morning ... finding out from Pewsey commuters how the last set of bustitution went, promoting the meeting for Friday evening, and chatting with a former Rail Minister as she waited for a train. I have here apologies for being prior-engaged, but her blessing and support, for Friday.

[grahame]

Agenda ...

19:00 Intro, welcome, agenda for the evening - Graham; intros
19:10 Who are TransWilts - Paul Johnson
19:25 Who's who at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and 2018 projects and possessions - Rob Thomas
19:40 What about a user group?  The options - Graham Ellis with room discussion
20:00 vote / decisions on how we go forward
20:15 Open forum / panel / wider questions (e.g. 2019 timetables, fares)