2018 cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

"@GWRHelp - what advise for Swindon Town fans from Trowbridge and Melksham travelling to the home game today?"

I can see there's cancellations due to crew being ill. There will be staff at Swindon so passengers will have to go to the station as normal and speak to staff upon arrival. They will be best placed to look into alternatives and assist. Nat

Get a taxi, send the bill to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) quoting the relevant legislation.

What is the legislation ? reference(s) please.

I believe it's the Consumer Rights Act.

[grahame]

Replying to @transwilts
If they are travelling from Melksham to Swindon then the 0838 ran and the service at 1148 is also expected to run. One after that will be at 1348 and that's also expected to run. There is a Customer Help Point at Melksham if help is needed.

Looks like two services now re-instated.

And one cancelled again

11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20
11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident.

[bobm]

12:36 Swindon to Westbury due 13:20 will be started from Chippenham.

It will no longer call at Swindon.

This is due to this train being late from the depot.

[phile]

Replying to @transwilts
If they are travelling from Melksham to Swindon then the 0838 ran and the service at 1148 is also expected to run. One after that will be at 1348 and that's also expected to run. There is a Customer Help Point at Melksham if help is needed.

Looks like two services now re-instated.

And one cancelled again

11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20
11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident.

Is this police presence due to a protest by passengers protesting about the lack of travelling advice ? 

[grahame]

13:32 Westbury to Swindon due 14:20

13:32 Westbury to Swindon due 14:20 will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled.

14:36 Swindon to Westbury due 15:20

14:36 Swindon to Westbury due 15:20 will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled.

and gone again

13:32 Westbury to Swindon due 14:20
13:32 Westbury to Swindon due 14:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train conductor being taken ill.

14:36 Swindon to Westbury due 15:20
14:36 Swindon to Westbury due 15:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train conductor being taken ill.

[Timmer]

How can you rely on a service that’s cancelled then reinstated then cancelled again? Simple answer...you can’t and that’s a shame.

[IndustryInsider]

A manager was found to run it, hence the reinstatement, then it was discovered they didn’t have route knowledge for a required diversionary route so it was cancelled again.

[grahame]

How can you rely on a service that’s cancelled then reinstated then cancelled again? Simple answer...you can’t and that’s a shame.

A manager was found to run it, hence the reinstatement, then it was discovered they didn’t have route knowledge for a required diversionary route so it was cancelled again.

Today's goings on show ... regrettably ... serious systemic flaws.    You expect and can forgive things going wrong occasionally, but this is reply number 480 in a thread that started at the beginning of the year - that's about 2 posts per day - just about cancellations and amendments on a line which basically has one train pootling up and down all day, with just a couple of other through services.

[TaplowGreen]

Shambolic.

Is there any reason why that train can't be DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))?

[grahame]

Shambolic.

Is there any reason why that train can't be DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))?

Where I have seen DOO in use there have been mirrors and cameras that are missing all along the line, and fare collection systems which give nearly everyone an opportunity to purchase before they travel.  I suspect there are signalling, communication, staff contract and other issues too which you and me as passengers would not be aware of. It is very frustrating to loose the service as we have in effect done today for the lack of either of the two staff scheduled to operate it through sickness, or lack of route knowledge, or because of a passenger disturbance, or a train late from the depot (yes, all of those today!), but I would not see an on train staff reduction as a door that is (or should be at present) to be pushed to see if it will open.

[TaplowGreen]

Shambolic.

Is there any reason why that train can't be DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))?

Where I have seen DOO in use there have been mirrors and cameras that are missing all along the line, and fare collection systems which give nearly everyone an opportunity to purchase before they travel.  I suspect there are signalling, communication, staff contract and other issues too which you and me as passengers would not be aware of. It is very frustrating to loose the service as we have in effect done today for the lack of either of the two staff scheduled to operate it through sickness, or lack of route knowledge, or because of a passenger disturbance, or a train late from the depot (yes, all of those today!), but I would not see an on train staff reduction as a door that is (or should be at present) to be pushed to see if it will open.

I suspect the bruvvers would object too?...……...that being the case, it's even more incumbent on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to have a robust standby/contingency plan in place...….no doubt there are some very happy taxi drivers today! (but not so many happy Swindon fans!) 

[grahame]

To remind any rail industry readers of the very real effect on passenger journeys of things like today ...

Customer @GWRHelp my cheap day out to Swindon has doubled in cost due to the last minute cancellation of the Westbury train. @transwilts no improvement. Now going via Bath.

That train cancelled as well. No crew again?

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Hello, sorry to see this. Which service were you intending to travel on please? Your ticket is valid on the next available service if there is a cancellation. Natalie

Customer Sat at TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains). No trains at all coming as they are all in WSB^» (Westbury - next trains). Next train at 12.15 will have the passengers of 3 trains on it. Am going to Bath to get to Swindon. Tickets already twice the price. See why I'm not happy?!

GWR Thank you. Sorry for the cancellation. This is due to police dealing with an incident. You can claim a full abandoned journey refund on your unused ticket from your point of purchase. Natalie

1. "Next available train" not much good for a day out if you've gone for the 08:36 but the next train isn't until 12:36.

2. If the direct train is cancelled, "via Melksham" tickets should be accepted via Bath Spa.  Have this promise from GWR and indeed it's in as an easement during engineering.   They need to tell their tickets sales staff, twitterers, and TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and not just keep the "concession" a secret!

[phile]

Replying to @transwilts
If they are travelling from Melksham to Swindon then the 0838 ran and the service at 1148 is also expected to run. One after that will be at 1348 and that's also expected to run. There is a Customer Help Point at Melksham if help is needed.

Looks like two services now re-instated.

And one cancelled again

11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20
11:32 Westbury to Swindon due 12:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident.

I'm just wondering if anybody used the Help Point and, if so, what would they have been told.   How, by using this means, would a means of travelling straight away be available.   GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have been quoting that taxis would be available to convey  passengers from Melksham but I have read on Twitter tonight that the taxi company wont do it now because GWR haven't paid their bills.   How much substance there is in this, I don't know.

[grahame]

I'm just wondering if anybody used the Help Point and, if so, what would they have been told.   How, by using this means, would a means of travelling straight away be available.   GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have been quoting that taxis would be available to convey  passengers from Melksham but I have read on Twitter tonight that the taxi company wont do it now because GWR haven't paid their bills.   How much substance there is in this, I don't know.

The morning trains on a Saturday have been loading well - 99 passengers on the 08:36 off Swindon the other week, and that afternoon the trains were cancelled.   At first the help point suggested waiting for the next train, but when we grumble about that being 2 hours they ordered up taxis ad three of them arrived in about 20 minutes. 

Most taxi drivers are in that business because they prefer a job that pays straight away without the need to claim and wait (even for the shortest period) and account.  And that's the opposite of the way big companies work, so there's often just a small pool available.

[TaplowGreen]

19:41 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:28


19:41 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:28 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.