2018 cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[grahame]

.......I wasn't being entirely serious Graham, but I am sure that your scrutiny keeps them on their toes! 

Totally understood ... but what an excellent hook you provided for me to keep TransWilts' passengers on the radar!

[grahame]

Alterations to services between Westbury and Melksham

Due to severe weather between Westbury and Melksham the line is disrupted.
Train services running through these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice

The line between Swindon and Westbury is currently closed due to the continued poor weather conditions. We are unable to run a train service because of the weather, we will also be unable to use taxis or buses. Road conditions will not be safe for road transport to be used as an alternative and we advise you not to travel on these routes.

Further Information
An update will follow within the next 5 hours.
Last Updated:04/03/2018 11:08

Gobsmacked.  No remaining evidence of severe weather.  Buses and taxis that are NOT on rail replacement duty running perfectly   

[grahame]

And a public Facebook post says

So annoying isnt it same as with this snow that’s disappeared yet they’re still not using the line today and won’t say on tomorrow yet either! Which isn’t helpful when my daughter catches the 7.05 train!! GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) won’t even answer my question about whether she can go via Bath instead with her season ticket!

[Timmer]

There does come a point after a major weather event where you can’t but help it’s being used as an excuse not to run a service for operational convenience. I can’t think that any train crew who sign on a Westbury or Bristol due to work today had any difficulties getting to work.

[grahame]

There does come a point after a major weather event where you can’t but help it’s being used as an excuse not to run a service for operational convenience. I can’t think that any train crew who sign on a Westbury or Bristol due to work today had any difficulties getting to work.

Customers getting pretty fed up here as they don't understand (neither do I) what the problem is.

I have asked what the problems are on Twitter and so have others ... they seem to be so busy today that they're selectively replying. I tried calling GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) customer support - option 4 - but all it does is put you back to the main menu and offer the same options again ... tried National Rail and the lady there assured me that the 06:36 Melksham to Westbury is scheduled and will run tomorrow.  I came away with the right words, but an uneasy feeling that the information may not be certain.  I would have felt far better if there had been a few extra words like "the line has been closed due to bad weather but will be re-opened by that time"  rather than asking me to repeat "Melksham" three times.

[grahame]

Reply on Twitter:

"Hello. Staff are currently clearing platforms from snow and ice. No confirmation on whether the lines will be open tomorrow just yet but we will post information here on Twitter on this as soon as we can. Natalie"

I can tell them that Melksham station is clear (been there!) and all the others are open for other trains ... so should be OK, right?

[grahame]

Posted a few minutes ago

Delays to services between Westbury and Melksham
Following severe weather earlier between Westbury and Melksham the line will be reopened shortly.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:04/03/2018 21:47

Weather today has been AOK.   Don't understand what the problem was with running a train service ....

[bobm]

I agree.  Better get some sleep just in case the 06:10 runs.   

[RA]

Posted a few minutes ago

Delays to services between Westbury and Melksham
Following severe weather earlier between Westbury and Melksham the line will be reopened shortly.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:04/03/2018 21:47

Weather today has been AOK.   Don't understand what the problem was with running a train service ....

I believe there was a shortage of trancrew yesterday following the disruption. Staff getting in to work wasn't the problem. It was staff returning home following the disruption. I am told there were crews stranded in Bristol, Yeovil, Salisbury and even Poole (trying to return from Weymouth) for one and even two nights with some crews who booked on for duty on Thursday afternoon not getting home until Saturday evening. Understandably, those affected then declined to work the Sunday. Whether the Melksham service was pulled to keep other routes staffed I do not know, however it would explain why the weather was the reason given for the cancellations.

[grahame]

Posted a few minutes ago

Delays to services between Westbury and Melksham
Following severe weather earlier between Westbury and Melksham the line will be reopened shortly.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:04/03/2018 21:47

Weather today has been AOK.   Don't understand what the problem was with running a train service ....

I believe there was a shortage of trancrew yesterday following the disruption.  ....

I could believe that - indeed it's what I would have guessed.   Except we were told "We are unable to run a train service because of the weather, we will also be unable to use taxis or buses. Road conditions will not be safe for road transport to be used as an alternative" and that does not fit with displaced train crew message.

We've had a visitor here in Melksham today ... he arrived at Westbury by train late yesterday and took a taxi to Melksham, which does make me wonder just how sensitive GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s road transport is 

[grahame]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
Facilities on the 07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

NOT a problem ...

We have "HQ^▸ (Headquarters)" - ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) representative - with us this afternoon.   At least she's likely to see that things don't run purrrrfecly!

06:10 off Swindon as a 2 car 158.   Looking at the Westbury sidings, I'm guessing a 150/2 for the 07:33.   Handing out leaflets about next week's replacement of trains by buses during the day.

[grahame]

07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:33 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

08:49 Swindon to Westbury due 09:42
08:49 Swindon to Westbury due 09:42 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

Only the busiest up train of the day ... that's the 07:49 off Melksham, next train 10:04.

[bobm]

..and the next pair...

09:48 Westbury to Swindon due 10:33

09:48 Westbury to Swindon due 10:33 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:31

10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:31 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

No crew but for a different reason

[grahame]

..and the next pair...

09:48 Westbury to Swindon due 10:33

09:48 Westbury to Swindon due 10:33 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:31

10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:31 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

No crew but for a different reason

Geeze! ....

[grahame]

..and the next pair...

Geeze! ....

So that's no train calling from 07:19 until 12:06 ... with the "blame game" of delay attribution putting assigning the issue in each case to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ...

Trying not to take this personally this morning - however, 'm on my way from Swansea to Melksham ... thank goodness I spotted BobM's post just as my train approached Cardiff as that's allowed me to connect back into the Portsmouth train and I can get the bus from Bath.