Cotswold Line - 2018 cancellation and amendments log

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

I can't see the logic of cutting out some stops, on a train that isn't (yet) running late, on account of a shortage of drivers.

Driver needed back at Oxford as soon as possible apparently, though I can see no obvious reason why that should need to be the case!

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), into Oxford 7 minutes early. I do hope it was worthwhile.

Having done a bit of digging, it was because otherwise the driver would have been over their continuous driving hours had they made the usual stops.  Now, had the train been delayed and arrived late then those hours would of course be broken anyway, but it is different to deliberately roster a driver to break them - hence the removal of stops.

That will of course be of very little consolation to the affected passengers, but at least it makes sense.

[charles_uk]

05:47 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 08:15 has been cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Last Updated:12/03/2018 06:09


08:25 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 10:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

[charles_uk]

12:09 Hereford to London Paddington due 15:27 will be started from Ledbury and terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
It will no longer call at Hereford, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford, Reading, Slough and London Paddington.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

And an unusual stock formation for the Cotswold Line:

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 shortage of train drivers.
Will be formed of 10 coaches instead of 5 between Worcester Shrub Hill and London Paddington.
Additional Facilities Information
Only the front 5 coaches will be available for customer use.

[charles_uk]

And to complete the hat-trick:

15:20 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 17:58 will no longer call at Slough.
It is being delayed at London Paddington.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

And has now left Paddington 27 late. Is the usual 3 car Turbo short-formation which also has to deal with:

15:52 London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh due 17:26 will no longer call at Slough, Hanborough, Charlbury and Kingham.
It will be starting late from London Paddington and is expected to be 15 minutes late.

It's the drip drip effect that grinds you down.

[ray951]

Looks like the 15:20 Paddington to Great Malvern is being terminated at Oxford; currently running 23 late.
Sorry I was mistaken the following service has been cancelled from Oxford. Not sure how I delete the post.

Mark that you want to delete it, Ray951, as you have done and one of the admins will tidy up. Sadly, past incidents have meant that members aren't allowed to delete posts.  I won't go into the reasons and methods just in case there are any idiots who would do major damage.   I will give you and others a few hours to see this comment, then delete the post - Graham

[charles_uk]

Looks like the 15:20 Paddington to Great Malvern is being terminated at Oxford; currently running 23 late.
Sorry I was mistaken the following service has been cancelled from Oxford. Not sure how I delete the post.

Mark that you want to delete it, Ray951, as you have done and one of the admins will tidy up. Sadly, past incidents have meant that members aren't allowed to delete posts.  I won't go into the reasons and methods just in case there are any idiots who would do major damage.   I will give you and others a few hours to see this comment, then delete the post - Graham

Nothing wrong with the message. It was terminated at Oxford! I've gone to get a lift but someone has posted a picture on Twitter say is impossible to get on to the platform at the moment.

[brcw2]

Nothing wrong with the message. It was terminated at Oxford! I've gone to get a lift but someone has posted a picture on Twitter say is impossible to get on to the platform at the moment.

It was a little crowded on the platform - now three train loads of people on the 1725, which unsurprisingly took a little time to load. Going to be interesting for people trying to get to the right door for the shorter platforms with this many people standing.

[charles_uk]

And here come the first of today's offerings:

14:21 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 16:44 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Additional Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service.

Last Updated:13/03/2018 10:41


17:26 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 19:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[charles_uk]

And here come the first of today's offerings:

14:21 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 16:44 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Additional Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service.

The "next available train service" is going to be snug... a two coach Turbo.

[Adelante_CCT]

Personally I blame Taplow Green

This service was cancelled throughout due to an issue with the train crew (TG).

 

[charles_uk]

One of the regular GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) culls today:

16:22 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 19:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:14/03/2018 13:20

19:42 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 22:31 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

I wonder if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) may be better off issuing a bulletin each evening letting people know which trains WILL run each day so that people can plan, rather than this daily creeping death?

[charles_uk]

I wonder if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) may be better off issuing a bulletin each evening letting people know which trains WILL run each day so that people can plan, rather than this daily creeping death?

But that would mean GWR being on top of the situation, knowing what staff they had available where, and being able to make plans in advance. Monday's 15:22 Paddington to Great Malvern wasn't terminated at Oxford until 35 minutes after it was supposed to depart.

[charles_uk]

06:53 Worcester Foregate Street to Didcot Parkway due 08:23 will be started from Oxford.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Shipton, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Charlbury, Finstock, Combe and Hanborough.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

Last Updated:15/03/2018 05:26

09:21 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 11:31 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

12:00 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 14:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

Last Updated:15/03/2018 06:00

[charles_uk]

09:21 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 11:31 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

12:00 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 14:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

Last Updated:15/03/2018 06:00

08:23 update - above services "will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled. Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5. First class not available. Catering is not available."