2018 cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[grahame]

05:17 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09
Facilities on the 05:17 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.
Last Updated:27/11/2018 06:20

Not an issue north of Warminster. Progressively busier as it becomes a peak train (into Southampton)

[grahame]

Time for a new platform at Swindon it seems, Time to fill in the old Platform 2, and build a new one opposite platform 1,Renumber that 2, And the new platform 1. There is enough room, also a track is in place, just needing two extra signals.

This would be a worthwile expense, As it would give Swindon 4 through Platforms, like Filton Abbey Wood.Just had a look at google maps and found that the east end of Swindon would need some slight remodeling, The west end just needs a crossover to the Kemble line, this would mean all the London to Cheltenham and back Trains would use the Platform especially if a half hourly was implemented. That frees up the other 3.

Swindon coped with an hourly service reversing at platforms 1 or 3 headed from the North East or Scotland to Plymouth (and vice versa) during the Filton Bank closure, and once the through Paddington to Cheltenham Spa service becomes hourly with the "west unit" train no longer sitting in the bay most of the time, the bay will be cleared to become the standard TransWilts platform again.

Far more useful, and much more simple, would be to relay the fourth track along the existing platform face at Westbury which becomes even more of a bottleneck if / when the hourly extra MetroWest services from Severn Beach or Avonmouth start running to there.  Platform already there ... no need for new platform or access subway / footbridge / slopes / lift as the Swindon suggestion would have.

[WelshBluebird]

Swindon coped with an hourly service reversing at platforms 1 or 3 headed from the North East or Scotland to Plymouth (and vice versa) during the Filton Bank closure, and once the through Paddington to Cheltenham Spa service becomes hourly with the "west unit" train no longer sitting in the bay most of the time, the bay will be cleared to become the standard TransWilts platform again.

The main problem with the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services at Swindon during the blockade was that, for at least the ones I noticed, they were timed to wait at Swindon for between 5 and 10 minutes. This caused delays to me twice during the last couple of weeks whilst my train had to wait for the platform to become available. Shouldn't matter if are talking about "normal" services through Swindon that don't hang around, but it does need to be thought about.

[Clan Line]

Far more useful, and much more simple, would be to relay the fourth track along the existing platform face at Westbury which becomes even more of a bottleneck if / when the hourly extra MetroWest services from Severn Beach or Avonmouth start running to there.  Platform already there ... no need for new platform or access subway / footbridge / slopes / lift as the Swindon suggestion would have.

It has been quoted as £10M to restore the old Platform 1 at Westbury to passenger use !! The idiots who did this should pay out of their pensions to do it ...................

[SandTEngineer]

I wonder if passive provision for Westbury Platform No.1 reinstatement has been made for in the upcoming total S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) renewal of the North Junction?  Thinking over, probably not......

[grahame]

I wonder if passive provision for Westbury Platform No.1 reinstatement has been made for in the upcoming total S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) renewal of the North Junction?  Thinking over, probably not......

I understand it has not been ... very very sore topic ... best not get me or the passenger community going on that subject.

[grahame]

I wonder if passive provision for Westbury Platform No.1 reinstatement has been made for in the upcoming total S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) renewal of the North Junction?  Thinking over, probably not......

I understand it has not been ... very very sore topic ... best not get me or the passenger community going on that subject.

Hang on ... couple of words got left out.  Should read

very very very very

[Timmer]

I wonder if passive provision for Westbury Platform No.1 reinstatement has been made for in the upcoming total S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) renewal of the North Junction?  Thinking over, probably not......

I understand it has not been ... very very sore topic ... best not get me or the passenger community going on that subject.

Yeah you’ll get me started as well  Closing Westbury for all that time over Christmas/New Year and reinstating the old platform 1 is not part of the work taking place. Pathetic, what a waste. Surely doing the work at the same time would reduce the 10 million price tag along with further disruption to passengers if and when it does happen. As I say, what a wasted opportunity.

[grahame]

10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:28
10:47 Swindon to Westbury due 11:28 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Melksham.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 6 minutes late.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Additional Information
Customers travelling from Melksham are requested to make use of the Customer Help Point available, or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.

[Reginald25]

Routing Chippenham to Trowbridge, presumably by Bath? Is this a routing that has been used much previously. At least the TransWilts service wasn't cancelled, but I wonder what the help desk did when called!

[grahame]

Routing Chippenham to Trowbridge, presumably by Bath? Is this a routing that has been used much previously. At least the TransWilts service wasn't cancelled, but I wonder what the help desk did when called!

It'll reverse at Bathampton Junction.

And "via Melksham" tickets WILL be accepted.

I was at Melksham Station for the 09:15 to Westbury / handful of people around and help point working.  I hope the help had a clear message on it.

From last night's Melksham Rail User Group meeting, in circumstances like this it would be excellent if there were a tannoy system on the platform (good place for one as no residential neighbours to grump at the noise), and it would / will be superb once we have the Melksham Station Hub opened (and volunteer staffed by MRUG^» (Melksham Rail User Group - site) on a daily basis).

[Dispatch Box]

Routing Chippenham to Trowbridge, presumably by Bath? Is this a routing that has been used much previously. At least the TransWilts service wasn't cancelled, but I wonder what the help desk did when called!

It'll reverse at Bathampton Junction.

And "via Melksham" tickets WILL be accepted.

I was at Melksham Station for the 09:15 to Westbury / handful of people around and help point working.  I hope the help had a clear message on it.

From last night's Melksham Rail User Group meeting, in circumstances like this it would be excellent if there were a tannoy system on the platform (good place for one as no residential neighbours to grump at the noise), and it would / will be superb once we have the Melksham Station Hub opened (and volunteer staffed by MRUG^» (Melksham Rail User Group - site) on a daily basis).

Its now a case for Two Track Now for Melksham, I notice on opentraintimes that it only has a single line and platform, I suppose the problem is that there would be the cost of an extra platform and footbridge and a shelter.

[bobm]

Routing Chippenham to Trowbridge, presumably by Bath? Is this a routing that has been used much previously. At least the TransWilts service wasn't cancelled, but I wonder what the help desk did when called!

It'll reverse at Bathampton Junction.

It looks like, after all, the train did call at Melksham as it was used to inspect the line.

[grahame]

Its now a case for Two Track Now for Melksham, I notice on opentraintimes that it only has a single line and platform, I suppose the problem is that there would be the cost of an extra platform and footbridge and a shelter.

Good question ... worthy of its own thread which I have just written (including background) at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20765.0

[grahame]

17:41 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central due 20:44
17:41 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central due 20:44 has been delayed between Chippenham and Trowbridge and is now 13 minutes late.
This is due to congestion.
Last Updated:30/11/2018 19:43

One has to ask then - why the $%^& was it dispatched on time from Swindon - missing by a couple of minutes the advertised connection from London and leaving someone (me, sorry, this i.e. personal) having to hang around for a train 80 minutes later.

For those who don't know "Train 2O00" ... it's scheduled to sit for 10 minutes at Westbury anyway ...