2020 - TransWilts cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Here’s the culprit.

The overnight train from Penzance failed at Chippenham and had to be rescued by the loco which would have met it at Reading.

Seen here passing Swindon nearly three hours late.

[grahame]

Here’s the culprit.

The overnight train from Penzance failed at Chippenham and had to be rescued by the loco which would have met it at Reading.

Seen here passing Swindon nearly three hours late.

Ironic that I'm giving a short talk today where this is relevant.  May I use the picture(with credit?) please?

[bobm]

Of course. If you do need a higher quality version let me know. 

On topic:  The return service from Swindon to Westbury is running 25 minutes late - but it IS running.

[grahame]

Of course. If you do need a higher quality version let me know. 

On topic:  The return service from Swindon to Westbury is running 25 minutes late - but it IS running.

Thanks ... 'just' a small image but what a classic illustration of how trains that have nothing to do with the residents in the area get in the way of local trains.

[grahame]

06:37 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 08:44
07:04 London Paddington to Paignton due 10:15
08:04 London Paddington to Penzance due 13:07

07:04 London Paddington to Paignton due 10:15 will be diverted between Reading and Taunton.
It will no longer call at Newbury and Pewsey.
This is due to engineering works not being finished on time

Effect on local services not yet known ... but it looks like some main line services from London to the West Country are coming through that fine-fettled but low-capacity section between Chippenham and Trowbridge.

[grahame]

Effect on local services not yet known ... but it looks like some main line services from London to the West Country are coming through that fine-fettled but low-capacity section between Chippenham and Trowbridge.

07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to engineering works not being finished on time.

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:25
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34
11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:46

It feels like other trains getting in the way is becoming a daily occurrence!

[grahame]

Delays to services between Chippenham and Swindon
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Chippenham and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 12:00 14/08.
Further Information
Owing to problems with the signalling system in the Chippenham area a reduced frequency of train service will operate to and from Chippenham and Bath Spa.
If you hold a valid single, return, or weekly ticket, you will be able to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/DelayRepay

Looks like alternate London <-> Bristol services missing out Chippenham and Bath Spa so I'm guessing single line working from Royal Wootton Bassett to Thingley.  No reports on JourneyCheck of any delays to TransWilts services which is a pleasant change from what I would have expected to see. And when they're about they'll give extra Chippenham to Swindon service about the hourly anyway.

[bobm]

Service thinned out with some Bristol/London trains going via Hullavington along with freight were possible.

Remaining ones sharing the westbound line between Thingley and Wootton Bassett junctions.

Now if there was only reversible signalling on the Berks & Hants route there would be far fewer diversions via Melksham.

[grahame]

Delays to services between Chippenham and Swindon
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 12:00 14/08.

Ongoing ...

Alterations to services between Chippenham and Swindon
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Chippenham and Swindon fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes or diverted. Disruption is expected until 15:00 14/08.

At least the way the diversions are being routed with alternate London - Bristol and vice versa trains missing out Chippenham and Bath Spa, there's always going to be a train within the hour.

[grahame]

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55 has been delayed at Swindon and is now 29 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today.
Disabled toilet facilities are not available.

[grahame]

NOT a delay - a reminder (just one of many occasions) of when Melksham is on the main line to and from the West Country

16:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 21:40
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 21:40 will be diverted between Westbury and Reading.
It will no longer call at Pewsey and Newbury.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 10 minutes late.
This is due to a broken down train.

[bobm]

Not sure I follow that.  It was fractionally early at Westbury but 23 minutes late at Reading. 

[grahame]

Not sure I follow that.  It was fractionally early at Westbury but 23 minutes late at Reading. 

I'm looking at it from the viewpoint of the local trains

[bobm]

But it passed through Melksham around 20:40 so I can’t see it delayed anything else?

[grahame]

But it passed through Melksham around 20:40 so I can’t see it delayed anything else?

It had been a long day ... poor wording on my part of an unusual post on this thread.  Unusual not because diversions are unusual (it's already happened on a number of days this month - I think this is the 4th) but because I chose to record it here as an example.

No TransWilts trains were delayed or cancelled by this diversion of a Penzance to Paddington train from Westbury via Swindon, including over the single line railway from Bradford Junction to Thingley Junction.   

I estimate the diverted train passed through the station of Melksham at 20:38, and in the gap between the 18:55 call of the final Westbury to Swindon and the 21:10 final Swindon to Westbury.  No delay. Even with an extra southbound call at 19:15 and an extra 19:50 northbound call, currently suspended because of a continued thinning out of services because of Coronavirus, there would have been no delays.  Freight trains passed through at 19:32 and 20:06 - again, no operational conflict in the area.

The 16:15 Penzance to Paddington was on time at Westbury, but 23 minutes late at Reading due to being diverted, and missed out calls at Pewsey and Newbury.  That's around 10 to 15 minutes more delay picked up than would have happened on a run totally free of other trains, and I suspect it had to wait to be threaded through Thingley, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Foxhall and Didcot ... or got caught behind one of those freight trains that was around.