Strengthening of Weymouth Trains

[whole diary]

[whistleblower]

It came up on another thread that traincrews have been informed in writing that Weymouth services will not be strengthened this summer.  That would suggest that First communicate with frontline staff and that is a bit unrealistic!

All we've had is copies of the diagrams for the timetable changes from mid-May to mid-July and they certainly don't show any planned strengthening - at least for Westbury crewed trains.  Perhaps there will be some for the summer holidays.  If not, I shall have my letter of resignation in my pocket to fax to control and the taxi fare home in my pocket

I had a conversation with a senior control manager in January and as an ex-Wessex man he said he was seriously worried about First's lack of planning for the summer timetable stress points.  I was recently in a position to pass on my concerns at Director level about the Weymouth and Portsmouth-Cardiff summer peaks.  I pointed out that Wessex had been forced to heavily strengthen these services in the past and their experience should not be ignored or we will have very serious problems.  My comments were taken seriously and noted, but whether or not it is too late we shall have to see.

I'd forgotten Glastonbury - but that will be the next big problem that Wessex had learnt to cope with but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) probably hasn't considered

[Jim]

It came up on another thread that traincrews have been informed in writing that Weymouth services will not be strengthened this summer.  That would suggest that First communicate with frontline staff and that is a bit unrealistic!

All we've had is copies of the diagrams for the timetable changes from mid-May to mid-July and they certainly don't show any planned strengthening - at least for Westbury crewed trains.  Perhaps there will be some for the summer holidays.  If not, I shall have my letter of resignation in my pocket to fax to control and the taxi fare home in my pocket

I had a conversation with a senior control manager in January and as an ex-Wessex man he said he was seriously worried about First's lack of planning for the summer timetable stress points.  I was recently in a position to pass on my concerns at Director level about the Weymouth and Portsmouth-Cardiff summer peaks.  I pointed out that Wessex had been forced to heavily strengthen these services in the past and their experience should not be ignored or we will have very serious problems.  My comments were taken seriously and noted, but whether or not it is too late we shall have to see.

I'd forgotten Glastonbury - but that will be the next big problem that Wessex had learnt to cope with but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) probably hasn't considered

Westbury crew only have 2 Weymouth turns now IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), maybee even 1!

The 1 that springs to mind is 1704 Bristol (1600 from Cardiff) - Weymouth & 1959 Weymouth Westbury (To Bristol)

Saturdays they have a 0653 Westbury Weymouth but I don't know what happens on the end of that

[whistleblower]

This Easter weekend will give us a tast of what's in store for Weymouth.  Thursday evening was very busy, apparently and coaches had to be used to strengthen the two car 1721.  Yesterday - Good Friday was a lovely day, if a bit chilly for the beach.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had prepared an amended diagram to use a four-car for the 1721 but due to coupling problems at Westbury it didn't happen.  At least they had the foresight to pre-order coaches so the two-car 1721 left full and standing and they used two coaches for back-up.  The 1958 was very quiet.  The SWT^▸ (South West Trains) staff at Weymouth are very concerned and have made representations to FGW saying that they can't cope with shortformed services.  It's not fair on them to be left with hundreds of angry and abusive passengers that are not even theirs!

[Jim]

This Easter weekend will give us a tast of what's in store for Weymouth.  Thursday evening was very busy, apparently and coaches had to be used to strengthen the two car 1721.  Yesterday - Good Friday was a lovely day, if a bit chilly for the beach.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had prepared an amended diagram to use a four-car for the 1721 but due to coupling problems at Westbury it didn't happen.  At least they had the foresight to pre-order coaches so the two-car 1721 left full and standing and they used two coaches for back-up.  The 1958 was very quiet.  The SWT^▸ (South West Trains) staff at Weymouth are very concerned and have made representations to FGW saying that they can't cope with shortformed services.  It's not fair on them to be left with hundreds of angry and abusive passengers that are not even theirs!

The only thing I saw on the 1958 (when I got on it at Westbury was half a beech on the floor O and a few passengers!

[grahame]

This Easter weekend will give us a taste of what's in store for Weymouth. 

I understand that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are planning to stregthen the Cornish branch lines this summer by deferring refurbishment work on units until after the height of summer - allowing (for example) a 4 car train rather than a single coach on the St Ives line.  I'm not sure if those extra resources are all being put into Cornwall where the local authorities seem to work well with First, or whether some will make it onto the Weymouth line which runs through areas such as Wiltshire, where the County Council seems to be more interested in building new roads that using the rail resources it's already got.

[Jim]

^Bad example there, Looe can only take 2 coaches

[grahame]

^Bad example there, Looe can only take 2 coaches

My post seems to have been mis-understood on several counts (email and here).   I'm not suggesting that the Looe line would of could be strengthened to the same extent as St Ives, nor that the St Ives doesn't need 4 coaches - it utterly DOES in the summer, I understand.

I contended that summer strengthening is need down in Cornwall, and also elsewhere - Weymouth comes to mind.  I was asking if there were enough extra resources being generated by maintainance being deferred to cover the whole seasonal extra need.

[Scooby]

Indeed Looe can only take two cars, but a 153 seemed to cope last summer, and this summer FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are putting back the hourly service (which was removed in December) so it wont need strengthening. St.Ives will NEED to be 4 cars or chaos will ensure.

Wessex have always hired in two extra 2 car units for the summer peak (off CT). Surely FGW could do the same off Central or maybe even Arriva? If not Cotswold Rail (who already do alot of work for FGW moving power cars to Loughborough for MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) fittment) could more than likely provide a loco hauled rake for the Weymouths??? Or theres always the stored 153/158 at Eastleigh??

[Jim]

Indeed Looe can only take two cars, but a 153 seemed to cope last summer, and this summer FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are putting back the hourly service (which was removed in December) so it wont need strengthening. St.Ives will NEED to be 4 cars or chaos will ensure.

Wessex have always hired in two extra 2 car units for the summer peak (off CT). Surely FGW could do the same off Central or maybe even Arriva? If not Cotswold Rail (who already do alot of work for FGW moving power cars to Loughborough for MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) fittment) could more than likely provide a loco hauled rake for the Weymouths??? Or theres always the stored 153/158 at Eastleigh??

Loco Haulage I would doubt, even though I would love it to happen, as chances are they would need to trian most the drivers on the loco, if they use in house drivers, as much as I would love it to happen, I doubt it

I don't thinmk they ever hired 2 CT 158's  during the summer, the 1's that we had last year had been on hire for 6 months, the only reason they went was vbecuase Nat Ex wanted them back.

Yes, St Ives does need 4 car, along with Newquay for all the IroningSurf boards!

Portsmouth - Cardiff NEEDS 3 CAR ALL YEAR, but it did seem to cope with 3 car last year

[Scooby]

Loco Haulage I would doubt, even though I would love it to happen, as chances are they would need to trian most the drivers on the loco, if they use in house drivers, as much as I would love it to happen, I doubt it

 You may have to stop doubting!! Look out for 'proper' trains in the peak 9 weeks.

[Jim]

Loco Haulage I would doubt, even though I would love it to happen, as chances are they would need to trian most the drivers on the loco, if they use in house drivers, as much as I would love it to happen, I doubt it

 You may have to stop doubting!! Look out for 'proper' trains in the peak 9 weeks.

I have my hopes, but m doubts are bigger! But they will need to do something!

[peterswest]

Sorry to come in on this subject , but there is a real possibility , not just rumour , that there will be loco hauled trains between Bristol and Weymouth for nine weeks of the summer service. They are in the advanced planning stages to run a train a day , 7 days a week between Bristol and Weymouth using 47's and coaching stock ! If it happens it happens, if it doesn't , it wasn't through lack of trying !!


pete

[Jim]

Sorry to come in on this subject , but there is a real possibility , not just rumour , that there will be loco hauled trains between Bristol and Weymouth for nine weeks of the summer service. They are in the advanced planning stages to run a train a day , 7 days a week between Bristol and Weymouth using 47's and coaching stock ! If it happens it happens, if it doesn't , it wasn't through lack of trying !!


pete

Fair enough. It wasn't that I didn't belive Scooby, but I just didn't seem the likelyhood off it, but it would seem as though you may be right, as it is not the 1st time I have heard this now. Look forowrd to the confirmatiion though

Cheers

James

[devon_metro]

Why not hire some Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) and use a fGW class 57! There are plenty spare.

[Jim]

Why not hire some Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) and use a fGW class 57! There are plenty spare.

1 spare