Short formed trains

[whole diary]

[grahame]

With dozens of new electric carriages running out from Paddington as far as Maidenhead, six turbo carriages are headed to the Bristol area to run West diagrams to Avonmouth and Severn Beach.   Does this mean that short formed trains (like all of those listed above for this evening) will be a thing of the past as from next Monday?   How about adding an extra carriage (just one, please) on the notoriously overcrowded peak services formed of a single class 153 carriage that are still part of The West operation?

[Adelante_CCT]

But......the 18:08 from Taunton...

Facilities on the 18:08 Taunton to Cardiff Central due 20:20.
Will be formed of 8 coaches instead of 3.
This is due to a fault on this train.

This service will be formed of a High Speed Train today consisting of 8 coaches

Likewise the 21:00 from Cardiff.

+ The Barnstaple/Exmouth entries are 4 coaches instead of 3

So not all bad.


However in answer to your question, maybe a reduction, but short forms probably not eliminated altogether

[bobm]

Suspect the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Cardiff is a by product of a complete loss of signalling at Cowley Bridge, just east of Exeter St Davids.

[Adelante_CCT]

Don't think so as it went down as the 16:00 from Cardiff, starting from TM^‡(resolve) at 16:53, thanks to the earlier failure of the 13:08 from Taunton.

[TJ]

Is this data source freely available? Not info that I have seen before but mist useful to me.

[grahame]

Is this data source freely available? Not info that I have seen before but mist useful to me.

https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/ was my source to start the thread, with interactive exploration from there.  There's a direct iink from Current Train Running in the top banner on this forum.

[grahame]

But......the 18:08 from Taunton...

Facilities on the 18:08 Taunton to Cardiff Central due 20:20.
Will be formed of 8 coaches instead of 3.
This is due to a fault on this train.

This service will be formed of a High Speed Train today consisting of 8 coaches

I know it's been said before, but "High Speed Train" feels like an advertising standards problem when the unit as currently configured can't keep time withe the schedule of a regular train.   People I speak with are amazed that a "High Speed Train" to Weymouth on a Saturday takes longer than a regular train.  And, yes, I know that the loss is mostly due to longer stops at the stations.

[LiskeardRich]

It's a top speed. Useless where the line speed doesn't allow.
Acceleration is considerably slower than a Sprinter, so frequent stops really slow it down. I will be interested to see the mini HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in service, that must be soon?

[John R]

It's a top speed. Useless where the line speed doesn't allow.
Acceleration is considerably slower than a Sprinter, so frequent stops really slow it down. I will be interested to see the mini HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in service, that must be soon?

September I believe. Much greater power to weight ratio and power doors should mean it can keep with Sprinter timings. 

[Adelante_CCT]

And, yes, I know that the loss is mostly due to longer stops at the stations

Yes, the quote I took off GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), had more info at the bottom, which included 'Can the last passenger to board or leave the train please close the door behind them to help speed up dwelling times', or something to that effect.

[DaveHarries]

Regards the ex Berkshire Class 165/166s coming to Bristol I heard from someone within GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) that there are 4x Class 166s at St. Philips Marsh ready to start on the Severn Beach line on Monday 3rd July as per GWR's website. Said contact informed me that they will be confined to the Severn Beach route.

Extra capacity for the 1803 to Avonmouth & Severn Beach at last!

Dave