Cotswold Line - 2018 cancellation and amendments log

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

The enormous point that you are missing, is that Hopwood is 100% on point and accountable for explaining the situation openly and honestly to his customers and outlining the steps that he is taking to recover the situation with whichever stakeholders are necessary.

The very fact that you are having to speculate via the list above, demonstrates that he and his organisation are totally failing in this most basic of leadership functions - effective communication.

I am not even sure I can blame that on him or even GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) as there seems to be an agreement in the railway industry not to pass blame about. Presumably this is because the various parties have to work together somehow.  However, the lack of transparency seems to be the result. It is not personal it is systemic in the railway industry. 

I don't think the resignation of an MD will change that. 

I'm sorry but the suggestion that the Managing Director of an organisation is not ultimately accountable for communication with its customers is ridiculous.

 It's not a question of "blame", it's keeping people informed.....people who spend thousands of £ both directly & indirectly to make his business profitable, and to subsidise his enormous salary which right now he seems to be struggling to justify.

At best GWR customers are being treated with indifference, at worst contempt. This is indicative of deep seated organisational culture and leadership issues.

[charles_uk]

10:45 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 13:29 will be started from Oxford.
It will no longer call at Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

and the outward running terminated at Oxford.

And a late one just announced:

12:22 London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh due 14:00 will be terminated at Oxford.
It will no longer call at Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.
Last Updated:03/02/2018 12:45

with the return 14:50 also starting from Oxford.

(and later edit to add further crop)

15:20 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:01 will be terminated at Oxford.
It will no longer call at Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Honeybourne, Evesham, Pershore, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link and Great Malvern.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

16:35 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:26 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
It will no longer call at Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford, Reading, Slough and London Paddington.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 8. First class not available.

17:22 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 19:44 will be terminated at Oxford.
It will no longer call at Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Honeybourne, Evesham, Pershore, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

18:35 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:25 will be started from Oxford.
It will no longer call at Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

20:04 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 22:31 will be started from Oxford.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

Whatever problems GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have, there is no sign of any improvement. Customers are paying for a service. GWR are failing to provide it. Worse, there is no acknowledgement, explanation, or apology.

[didcotdean]

I intend if possible to ask some questions regarding the disintegration of the Cotswold Line services at the next GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Customer Panel meeting, which is being held in Didcot on Tuesday. I am by no means a regular user of this part of GWR, but I can say I am currently put off using it at all through the large and regular number of cancellations for various reasons.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Facilities on the 14:32 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:05.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5 from Oxford.
Last Updated:04/02/2018 17:03

Facilities on the 18:42 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill due 21:11.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5 to Oxford.
Last Updated:04/02/2018 17:03

[Witham Bobby]

Things seem to be running a bit more to plan today.  This has popped up, though
 

13:55 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 16:27
13:55 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 16:27 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to a fault with barriers at a level crossing.
Last Updated:05/02/2018 13:52

There's always something 

[Witham Bobby]

Wrote too soon

16:21 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:26
16:21 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:26 has been cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed.
Last Updated:05/02/2018 16:37

15:14 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29
15:14 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29 has been delayed at Worcester Foregate Street and is now 19 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.

15:51 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 17:59
15:51 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 17:59 will no longer call at Evesham, Moreton-in-Marsh and Charlbury.
It has been previously delayed, has been further delayed at Worcester Shrub Hill and is now 24 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.

[Worcester_Passenger]

The return working of the 16:21 from Paddington to Great Malvern had been cancelled, but now

19:42 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:31 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Reading.
This is due to a safety inspection on a train.
Last Updated:05/02/2018 17:30

[Witham Bobby]

The return working of the 16:21 from Paddington to Great Malvern had been cancelled, but now

19:42 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:31 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Reading.
This is due to a safety inspection on a train.
Last Updated:05/02/2018 17:30

"Reinstated" ??  Not for a passenger from, say, Evesham, it's not been reinstated.

I suppose it's entertaining to see what excuses are given for these non-performances.  The outward train cancelled because of traincrew being delayed but the return not running for most of it's journey because of a safety inspection.  Very creative.  Straight from la-la land.

[didcotdean]

Well I did raise at the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Customer Panel Meeting this evening the issue of the reliability (or lack of it) currently on the Cotswolds in particular the amount of total cancellations and short running arising from staff or train availability.

The core reason given is not much more than what has already been discussed here, viz training of staff for IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) particularly at Worcester. As the staff are trained the issue should be progressively reduced and gone within 2 months or so. Etc Etc.

I did strongly advise that customers deserved some high level public explanation and reassurance, and just leaving the cancellations to pile up day after day without one builds up severe reputational damage.  Whether this advice is taken up remains to be seen.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Thank you for trying.

[Witham Bobby]

The song remains the same ...

 

20:22 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 22:57
20:22 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 22:57 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 17 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.
Last Updated:06/02/2018 20:41

20:59 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 23:36
20:59 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 23:36 will be terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at Slough and London Paddington.
This is due to damage to the overhead electric wires.
Last Updated:06/02/2018 22:03

The line has become more an excuse, than a public service

[Worcester_Passenger]

Today : 15:52 Paddington - Moreton 16 late.

16:21 Paddington - Great Malvern operated as 3-car instead of 5.

17:22 Paddington - Hereford 25 late at Hereford.

18:22 Paddington - Hereford 22 late at Hereford.

[didcotdean]

Should have mentioned above that looking at the map of where the Customer Panel members live, that there are relatively few on it along the Cotswold Line. Three around the Hereford and Worcester area, but only one between Worcester and Oxford.

Apply here https://www.gwr.com/help-and-support/customer-panel

[1st fan]

The return working of the 16:21 from Paddington to Great Malvern had been cancelled, but now

19:42 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:31 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Reading.
This is due to a safety inspection on a train.
Last Updated:05/02/2018 17:30

"Reinstated" ??  Not for a passenger from, say, Evesham, it's not been reinstated.

I suppose it's entertaining to see what excuses are given for these non-performances.  The outward train cancelled because of traincrew being delayed but the return not running for most of it's journey because of a safety inspection.  Very creative.  Straight from la-la land.

I quite like the words "on a train" as opposed to "on this train". The way it's written doesn't even mean the train that was due to be used on that service. It could be a train in Cornwall for all I know that was never intended to work the service. Brilliant use of the English language.

[grahame]

I quite like the words "on a train" as opposed to "on this train". The way it's written doesn't even mean the train that was due to be used on that service.

Wording is standard and can apply to a different train ... for example if something is pulled up on a running line for a safety check and train(s) behind can't get through / have to turn back short.   Agreed it remains a cancellation as far as stations not served are concerned.