(ask a stupid question day) - Why not put up the actual timetable?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

2. Why not publish the actual timetable here, rather than having people have to look for another source - especially at a station where the mobile signal can be weak.

[froome]

Agreed, and many of us don't have smart phones to access other sources. I have noticed this habit of posting these type of posters at stations a lot recently and get really frustrated by them.

[ChrisB]

Have you let GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) know - otherwise they'll continue to think everyone has got a smartphone.

[grahame]

Have you let GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) know - otherwise they'll continue to think everyone has got a smartphone.

Yes and I've shouted it too ...Yes.

[didcotdean]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have started to put flyers into stations which just say.

"Looking for a timetable?

"Visit GWR.com/timetables"

(Plus a QR^▸ (QR Code - Quick Response code) code).

[froome]

Have you let GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) know - otherwise they'll continue to think everyone has got a smartphone.

Surely GWR don't need to be told this? It must be pretty obvious that not everyone has this sort of access.

A printed timetable of currently running services must be a basic bit of information for every station. Though I have found myself in one or two stations where I couldn't even find a timetable anywhere.

Which does make me wonder whether we are heading towards a print-free station environment, where all information is expected to be provided digitally.

[Bmblbzzz]

I presume, though without any particular evidence, that posters saying "amended timetable" can be easily and cheaply printed in their hundreds and put up well in advance, regardless of what the actual timetable turns out to be; and that the actual timetable might not be finalised till too late to put up specific information.

As for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) knowing not everyone has a smartphone (or credit or a signal or charge), of course they know this but do they know if the numbers are significant? For GWR's definition of significant, of course.

[bobm]

It isn’t just a case of having a phone.  A signal is not always guaranteed.  Indeed I have struggled to get connected  at Melksham Station before now.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, an intelligent TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) would have surveyed their stations for mobile reception & thus be able to vary their disruption notices to suit, wouldn't they...Just aa database is all that's needed

[Zoe]

Didn't the lack of amended timetables start around 2006 when the new franchise started?  Certainly in the early 2000s FGW^▸ (First Great Western) used to publish booklets every week but then around 2006 these were discontinued and the advise was "Use the online journey planner" which back then would not have been as readily available to anyone not sitting at a computer.  I'm not sure if posters were put up at stations or not though.

[eightonedee]

By comparison to the attached poster, seen today at Guildford Grahame's is a mine of useful information.

Some not stupid questions-

How often will they run?
When do they start from Reading?
Where will they stop en route and at what times?
When will they arrive at Guildford?
When will trains leave Guildford?
Where will they stop en route and at what times?
When will they arrive at Gatwick?
(and repeat the questions in reverse order for the return journey)

[grahame]

Today, current:

06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04
06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Further Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service.

Would be better:

06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04
06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Further Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service which leaves Looe at 07:46.

Or best:

We have enough train crew to run a full train service from Looe to Liskeard today and every day

[bobm]

Would be better:

06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04
06:38 Looe to Liskeard due 07:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Further Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service which leaves Looe at 07:46.

Ah but that then commits them to running the 07:46.   

[broadgage]

It isn’t just a case of having a phone.  A signal is not always guaranteed.  Indeed I have struggled to get connected  at Melksham Station before now.

Indeed, and also the chances of getting connected are partly dependant on the number of other users trying to connect.

At times of disruption it is likely that mobile connection will be especially problematic due to the greater demand.

[CyclingSid]

Intelligent TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company), all too often seems a contradiction in terms