Draft IEP Timetables Dec18/Jan19

[whole diary]

[WSW Frome]

Has anyone seen a draft timetable for the West Country IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) services to commence, I believe, in Dec18/Jan19? I am especially interested in the semi-fast services to EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains), including calls at WSB^» (Westbury - next trains).

[ChrisB]

Several, but owing to the negotiations over muzzled/unmuzzled bimodes, another iteration is underway. In other words, there are no currently proposed timetables

[bobm]

The versions I have seen have been on condition they are not circulated further, partly due no doubt to the reasons mentioned by ChrisB above.  Frustrating but not uncommon in these days of commercial sensitivity.

[WSW Frome]

Is anyone able to comment on the general pattern proposed?

Such as hourly - Paddington, Reading, Newbury, Westbury, Castle Cary, Taunton, Tiverton PW^▸ (Permanent Way), Exeter SD. Plus perhaps Pewsey and/or Frome calls every two hours. Differences may apply in the peaks with additional Berks and Hants calls??

All speculation on my part based on speculation I have previously read - but it might be useful to know where we are heading! West or East perhaps!

[grahame]

Is anyone able to comment on the general pattern proposed?

Such as hourly - Paddington, Reading, Newbury, Westbury, Castle Cary, Taunton, Tiverton PW^▸ (Permanent Way), Exeter SD. Plus perhaps Pewsey and/or Frome calls every two hours. Differences may apply in the peaks with additional Berks and Hants calls??

All speculation on my part based on speculation I have previously read - but it might be useful to know where we are heading! West or East perhaps!

Hourly Paddington - Reading - Taunton - Tiverton - Exeter - Newton Abbott - etc (to and via Plymouth)

Every 2 hours Paddington - Reading - Theale - Newbury - Stations to Pewsey - Westbury - Castle Cary - Taunton - Exeter (some extensions, Paignton and / or Plymouth)

Also Paddington - Reading - key stations via Newbury to Bedwyn to make services to Bedwyn hourly overall.

[WSW Frome]

No doubt still many iterations to go before a final plan emerges.

However, no surprise that I am disappointed to see no mention so far of Frome calls in the semi-fasts. The planning of this major change could represent a golden opportunity to put Frome more firmly back on the inter-city map. So I do hope the powers that be have not simply dismissed the idea as impractical, but will give the matter further thought so that at least "some" semis do call throughout the day.

I had pondered that the ideal calls could be in the quiet hour when the Weymouth's do not typically run. However, this is confounded by the (probable) requirement for a reasonable connection in to and out of the Weymouth services at Westbury mainly to serve Bruton (and Frome!). This is another example of the many compromises that appear in timetable planning.

There has not been much comment around Frome about this pending change (early days) but I do expect that louder voices will appear for Frome calls once the framework becomes more widely known. High powers that be please note the latent demand. 

 

[ChrisB]

Need to get request in fast - with reasoned argument preferably evidenced. They are SO behind that material changes won't be welcomed/even possible once they are settled....so get talking now!

[grahame]

There has not been much comment around Frome about this pending change (early days) but I do expect that louder voices will appear for Frome calls once the framework becomes more widely known. High powers that be please note the latent demand.

There is scope for significant input for 2019 during this Autumn.  Not sure where to start.

Frome is a Heart of Wessex CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) station and they have been polled for inputs, as have Wiltshire Council, on both the principles of timetable design at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18459.0 and a separate sheet of flows (direct and connections) that the community wants to protect / nurture. The nature of the beast looks like the timetable planners will be putting the the main artery services at clock face (perhaps not quite so regular as you might expect, though) and then seeing how the secondary main lines and then the rest can fit round them.  Suggest you talk with Heart of Wessex, or if you're on the station CRP team of theirs, bring it up.

Frome also is treated as an honorary member of the West Wilts Rail User Group.  Are you on their committee?  Do you know any committee members?  Regular meetings tend to be single talks of interest, so it's unlikely on historic form that that'll hold a special meeting / discuss it at  public meeting - but you could ask.  In any case, they have a meeting (19:00 tomorrow evening, Civic Hall, Warminster)

Frome is not a TransWilts Station ... except that we do have a through service to / from Swindon each day, a number of commuters between Frome and Melksham / Chippenham / Swindon, special "via Melksham" fares, and economically it has far closer ties with Wiltshire and Trowbridge than with Somerset and Taunton.  So the TransWilts team feel a "duty of care" for our mutual good, and that's extended to some crosswork behind the scenes.

WSW Frome - are you a member of a group that's a TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) member?  There will be a thread there on the 2018/19 timetable, and also the pre-consultation and consultation as to what goes into the next greater western franchise.   You should also be involving your local passenger transport authority - Somerset County Council - and ensuring they know your views.

I'm aware "Frome Rail Users" on Facebook - are you linked with that - and know the FAVbug bus group / co-ordination might be rather useful if not already under way.

With my TWSW hat on, I feel fairly well informed on the jigsaw pieces for the 2018 timetable (potentially some big changes), 2019 timetable (other big changes for sure) and for the timetable in the next franchise.   Happy to talk them through with you before or after tomorrow's WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) meeting if you're there / introduce yourself (if I don't already know the face behind the name here!) or to talk them through at another date.   At present it's like planning for a wedding - knowing who has to be there, who you would like there in addition, and having to work out the seating - but not publishing early ideas because elements will upset people, and they'll change anyway.

[WSW Frome]

Thanks Grahame - I plan to be in Warminster tonight so we (and others?) can chat after the meeting.

[grahame]

Thanks Grahame - I plan to be in Warminster tonight so we (and others?) can chat after the meeting.

I won't be in a rush to get back home as the last train from Warminster that connects to Melksham is at 19:01. On past form, we'll be kicked out of the Civic Centre at the end of the meeting, but there are a couple of places that serve excellent soft drinks (as well as alcohol) on the main street, where much effective post-meeting business has been conducted on prior occasions!

[Kernow Otter]

Would love to see a 3x daily PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to PNZ service (5+5 IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)) targeting Devon and Cornwall passengers travelling to and from London.  In an ideal world this would run fast to EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) before splitting, with the front unit running fast again to PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains) then all stations to PNZ, and the rear unit stopping all stations to PLY.  This pattern would reverse for the Up service.

Yes this does not serve those trying to get to the intermediate stations between EXD and PAD, but would be a service for the residents of Devon and Cornwall and not commuters or those further up the line who already have more choice of services to and from the capital.

[ChrisB]

Isn't the suggestion for the fast PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)/PNZ services to do exactly that?

[grahame]

Isn't the suggestion for the fast PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)/PNZ services to do exactly that?

Not exactly ... but recognisably close in stopping pattern.   Extra stops east of Devon in the hourly service are only at Taunton and Reading.  And not just 3 a day but hourly. 

[Adelante_CCT]

Not exactly ... but recognisably close in stopping pattern.   Extra stops east of Devon in the hourly service are only at Taunton and Reading.  And not just 3 a day but hourly. 

Aren't the hourly 'fast' ones also stopping at Tiverton, with the two-hourly semi-fasts from Paddington to Exeter missing out Tiverton?

[grahame]

Not exactly ... but recognisably close in stopping pattern.   Extra stops east of Devon in the hourly service are only at Taunton and Reading.  And not just 3 a day but hourly. 

Aren't the hourly 'fast' ones also stopping at Tiverton, with the two-hourly semi-fasts from Paddington to Exeter missing out Tiverton?

Yes.  I said "East of Devon" and the previous correspondence was talking about giving Devon and Cornwall fast services to London.  Tiverton is in Devon.