2020 - TransWilts cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[bobm]

[grahame]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon

Due to a shortage of train crew between Westbury and Swindon the line is blocked.

Train services running through these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice

Rail replacement coaches have been arranged to operate in both directions between Westbury and Swindon.
Journey times will be significantly extended, and the coaches will be unable to keep to the train timetable therefore station departures will be later than advertised.

Please allow extra time for your journey today. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Please wait at the designated rail replacement bus stop.

Not sure how that blocks the line ... freight trains still showing up on Real Time Trains 

BUT good to see we have buses running rather than just telling people they can get their money back.

[bobm]

15:00 Westbury to Swindon due 15:48

15:00 Westbury to Swindon due 15:48 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Additional Information
Replacement road transport has been arranged to run in lieu of this train service. Please check station signs and wait for the replacement road transport at the designated stop. The replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop.

Similarly

16:02 Swindon to Westbury due 16:43

18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:24

19:34 Swindon to Westbury due 20:16

[bobm]

19:15 Westbury to Swindon due 20:04

An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 19:15

Westbury to Swindon due 20:04.

19:15   Westbury   
19:21   Trowbridge   
19:31   Melksham   
19:45   Chippenham   
20:04   Swindon   

[grahame]

Timetabled:
From WSB^» (Westbury - next trains)   07:37   08:35   10:05   12:05   14:07   15:00   16:34   18:35
From SWI^» (Swindon - next trains)   08:45   11:05   13:03   15:05   16:02   17:34   19:34   21:07

Today:
From WSB   07:37   08:35   10:05   12:05   14:07   16:34    19:15 (extra)
From SWI   08:45   11:05   13:03   15:05   17:34   21:07
Frankly, not all that bad - had it been timetabled like that a week ahead, fair enough
Delighted that the 17:34 and 21:07 from Swindon both ran
19:15 from Westbury is an extra. There is usually and ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) to Swindon for the 21:07 and it really should take passengers!

Which leads me to look at the SATURDAY TransWilts service. Although the other days of the week are now sensible, Saturday remains quirky with features which - at best - I say are "for historic reasons", and it feels inefficient to have empties running up and down to fulfill it, with multiple trains "out" at the same time.

Why not:
From WSB   07:37   09:45   12:05   14:07   16:52   19:08   20:48
From SWI   08:34   11:03   13:03   15:05   17:45   19:58   21:48
* Connections at Westbury to make days out possible to Southampton, to Weymouth, to Exeter
* Late(r) trains back from both ends of the line
* Maintains key trains and flows
* One train all day (and indeed one service LESS than specified - add as 22:38 / 23:28 round trip if you like!)

[bobm]

13:41 Swindon to Dorchester West due 15:40

13:41 Swindon to Dorchester West due 15:40 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, Yeovil Pen Mill, Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole, Maiden Newton and Dorchester West.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[bobm]

Looks like Saturday?s additional train was a positioning move to get the stock to Swindon for this morning?s first service to Melksham.    Unit berthed overnight in platform 2.

[brooklea]

13:41 Swindon to Dorchester West due 15:40

13:41 Swindon to Dorchester West due 15:40 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, Yeovil Pen Mill, Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole, Maiden Newton and Dorchester West.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Just for the record, this train ran through to Dorchester West as scheduled (it was reinstated just before 1000 on Sunday morning)

[brooklea]

Looks like Saturday?s additional train was a positioning move to get the stock to Swindon for this morning?s first service to Melksham.    Unit berthed overnight in platform 2.

The additional 1915 Westbury to Swindon passenger service on Saturday came about by dividing a Portsmouth - Cardiff train at Westbury to provide the rolling stock (the train to Cardiff would normally divide at Bristol Temple Meads, with one set running empty to Swindon to form the 2107 Swindon - Westbury).

There was a separate empty stock move from Bristol to Swindon, which stabled overnight in the bay platform, to form the first train to Westbury on Sunday.

[grahame]

Just for the record, this train ran through to Dorchester West as scheduled (it was reinstated just before 1000 on Sunday morning)

Thanks for that ... update (and re-instatement) very much appreciated.  I can't help wondering what proportion of people make other plans when a cancellation or short run is announced and then aren't aware, or stick with their new plans, when the train is re-instated.

I'll characterise this through service from Swindon to Weymouth (usually) as two services joined up at Westbury with little through traffic - there would be through traffic if it was the 09:12 off Swindon that carried on to Weymouth, or if most services were joined up in this way.  Traffic on each of the sections is important though, with the train filling what would otherwise be a massive gap.

[grahame]

Fri, 18 December 16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
Fri, 18 December 17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
Fri, 18 December 18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
Fri, 18 December 20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26

18/12/20 16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Replacement road transport is being arranged to run in place of this service between Westbury and Chippenham. Customers with tickets routed via Melksham may also travel via Bath Spa.

[bobm]

Good News!

16:25 ex-Westbury and 17:36 ex-Swindon both re-instated.

[grahame]

Good News!

16:25 ex-Westbury and 17:36 ex-Swindon both re-instated.

Good news indeed ... I did a Melksham 'station check' just over an hour ago (litter pick, etc!) and watched the 15:39 (previous train) call.  Around 30 people using it (estimate) ... 6 off and 4 on (those to figures accurate) and around 20 going through.  Not heaving, but not bad for an off peak train on a damp and blowy Friday afternoon in winter.   Also good that the station board was showing the next two trains back, but confirming the 18:55 cancelled [still]

[bobm]

14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01

14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:55

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:55 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:20
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:20 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.