2018 cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

Alterations to services between Chippenham and Swindon
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Chippenham and Swindon all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or diverted. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

19:57 Swindon to Westbury held up at present ...

It's currently 'sandwiched'  between 1C26 and 1C27. Looks like 1C27 is about to reverse towards Swindon.

https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/swindon

Looks like 1C27 reversed to RWB and going through on the less flooded up line!

Well trying to has not moved for a while!

[tomL]

Looks like its gotten worse. Back to Swindon for road replacement to Bath and Chippenham (and through to Westbury, I assume).

[ellendune]

2M16 is now back in Platform 2 at Swindon

1C27 is moving back towards Swindon

1C26 has not moved yet

[grahame]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway earlier today.

Looks like they left the train in the bay at Swindon last night and that it's more OPERATIONALLY CONVENIENT to cancel a service rather than send it back down attached to the 06:10 this morning. Shame.

[grahame]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway earlier today.

Looks like they left the train in the bay at Swindon last night and that it's more OPERATIONALLY CONVENIENT to cancel a service rather than send it back down attached to the 06:10 this morning. Shame.

I'm now noting that all the class 1 (first class) long distance trains that got caught up appear to be working AOK this morning, but our class 2 (second class) train (the peak one of the day - 07:49 at Melksham, next train 10:04) was cancelled.  I expect  all possible means of running it were looked into including:
* Diverting last night via Parkway and the Rhubarb loop when the one via Chippenham was impassible
* Running it down early this morning
* Attaching it to the 06:10 off Swindon to be at Westbury in time
* Using another train - maybe short forming a Bristol to allow the Swindon peak train to run

[martyjon]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway earlier today.

I share your frustrations, Grahame, more importantly WAS road replacement transport provided 

[grahame]

I share your frustrations, Grahame, more importantly WAS road replacement transport provided 

Good question - I don't [yet] know ... I may well hear at some point.

Many passengers who use that service are regulars, and about a quarter of them drive to the station and park. Alas, cancellation of this train has not been an unusual occurrence, so many have backup plans and some are thoughtful and also able to offer lifts. 

Further, they are quite able to argue the toss with the person on the help point if (s)he is a tosser and tells them that because the Trowbridge to Swindon train is cancelled, they should walk to the nearest bus stop on the Trowbidge to Swindon bus and use that - which would be good advise if it wasn't a 2.5 mile walk! Other advise of "wait for the next train" not very good either for this service!

Westbury and Trowbridge passengers will be advised to go via Bath Spa and it's normal for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to accept "via Melksham" tickets via Bath in this circumstance.  Those with cycles hate the diversion, as they're then required to get a cycle reservation, one leg becoming a high speed service!

[grahame]

12:47 Swindon to Frome due 13:41
12:47 Swindon to Frome due 13:41 has been previously delayed, is being further delayed at Chippenham and is now expected to be 24 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

NOT a big problem ... relieved to see the blue line on our map is a delay rather than anything else.   I suspect the signalling system got a bit wet yesterday!!

[RA]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to heavy rain flooding the railway earlier today.

Looks like they left the train in the bay at Swindon last night and that it's more OPERATIONALLY CONVENIENT to cancel a service rather than send it back down attached to the 06:10 this morning. Shame.

If there were any spare drivers available at Gloucester or Westbury, something like that might have been possible, but I am not sure that there was. Platform 2 is too short to accommodate 2x 2 car sets so just running straight in to platform 2 and attaching would not be possible. The set would also have required mobilising (starting up and building up air) and preparing for service, which requires a driver to check the train systems (such as doors, lights, horn and safety systems) are functioning correctly and then leave a certificate in the cab to confirm this has taken place. This takes 20 minutes for a two car set. As it was, the driver for the 07:33 service from Westbury was sent up on the 07:04 service to Swindon to prepare the set for the return working (just as well that they are scheduled to book on for duty before the 07:04 departed). Unfortunately the guard is scheduled to book on for duty after the 07:04 service has departed. I understand that a guard was taken from another duty and sent from Gloucester to Swindon to restart the service with the 08:49 departure from Swindon. It is just a shame that it was the busiest northbound service that was lost.

[grahame]

If there were any spare drivers available at Gloucester or Westbury, something like that might have been possible, but I am not sure that there was. ....

Yeah ... I suspect not, and there will be good reasons why none of the other suggestions would work either 

Much of it comes down to lack of "buffer" resource at time that things go wrong.   Where those times are exceptional, it's prudent to run a tight ship, but at times recently it's felt that the exception is when things are all working right.

Interesting to note your comment about the conductor not clocking on until after the 07:04 had left, and the way that was successfully turned around - THANK YOU to whoever made the plans.   I do muse in comparing to what we occasionally did when we needed earlier staffing at the hotel - a guest checks in and asked for early breakfast, and a quick text / email to the morning person "can you come in 30 minutes earlier".  Saved a lot of faffing about re-organising rotas - worked well for everyone. I suppose that's the sort of thing you can do in a private business ...

[grahame]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 has been cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Further Information
Due to a fault on this train the Melksham single line is closed. Customers for Melksham are requested to change at Trowbridge / Chippenham for taxi replacement. Customers at Melksham are requested to wait for Taxis, which will convey them to Westbury (via Trowbridge) and Chippenham for onward rail travel.
Customers for all other stations are requested to circulate via Bath Spa and wait for the next available service
Last Updated:06/02/2018 07:40

08:49 Swindon to Westbury due 09:42
08:49 Swindon to Westbury due 09:42 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Further Information
Due to a fault on this train the Melksham single line is closed. Customers for Melksham are requested to change at Trowbridge / Chippenham for taxi replacement. Customers at Melksham are requested to wait for Taxis, which will convey them to Westbury (via Trowbridge) and Chippenham for onward rail travel.
Customers for all other stations are requested to circulate via Bath Spa and wait for the next available service
Last Updated:06/02/2018 07:40

[TaplowGreen]

...........Turbo trouble already?

[grahame]

...........Turbo trouble already?

No details ... I headed out on the 06:36 this morning.  It would be amazing if there weren't a few teething troubles - but I emphasise a few.   We are holding our breath having heard all the reports from The Beach, but are slightly re-assured since the structure of the TransWilts stops isn't so intense!    Platform time and noticeably gentle approaches are being compensated by better running on the stretches between stations.

[grahame]

I got my laptop out at Westbury - just arrived on the infamous 15:28 from Warminster - at there's a thick blue streak on the top map for the TransWilts 

15:18 Swindon to Westbury due 16:01
Facilities on the 15:18 Swindon to Westbury due 16:01.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.


16:21 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04
Facilities on the 16:21 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
Facilities on the 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

These are things we can live with ... not a problem, though I expect  few comments (but no-one really upset) on the 17:36.

[TaplowGreen]

I got my laptop out at Westbury - just arrived on the infamous 15:28 from Warminster - at there's a thick blue streak on the top map for the TransWilts 

15:18 Swindon to Westbury due 16:01
Facilities on the 15:18 Swindon to Westbury due 16:01.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.


16:21 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04
Facilities on the 16:21 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
Facilities on the 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

These are things we can live with ... not a problem, though I expect  few comments (but no-one really upset) on the 17:36.

I hope you don't have to get used to hearing that excuse as frequently as those of us on LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley)!