2021 - TransWilts cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[grahame]

06:35 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03
07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Further Information

Customers travelling from unstaffed stations are requested to make use of the Customer Help Point systems available, or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers travelling, and their intended destinations. This will enable us to get suitable road replacement transport to customers as quickly as possible.

So that's both "peak" services - the ones that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have registered as key services (of which there are just three a day) - 07:20, 07:50 and 18:01 at Melksham) cancelled, and just a "phone for help" alternative on offer.  Northbound gap, 05:33 to 10:02, southbound 06:36 to 11:31

I appreciate this is the first day of a "work from home if possible" phase but, really, no better way to spend out crew than to cancel the two successive main trains? 

[brooklea]

The Salisbury to Cheltenham was started late from Westbury at 0730, so has ended up almost (not quite, I grant) running in the pathway of the 0737 Westbury - Swindon.

[brooklea]

0946 Westbury - Swindon
1106 Swindon - Westbury

Both cancelled due to train crew being delayed.

[grahame]

The Salisbury to Cheltenham was started late from Westbury at 0730, so has ended up almost (not quite, I grant) running in the pathway of the 0737 Westbury - Swindon.

I was asked (FB) about the cancellations - Covid or new timetable? - pointing out the gap from the 05:33 through to lunch time.

The 06:35 from Salisbury (07:05 from Westbury) was re-instated from Westbury to Cheltenham Spa but nearly half an hour late.  But when yiou tell people that a service is cancelled and then run it .... it's only one cheer not three as far as customers are concerned,   Agree it's a mess this morning - I expect the blame will be Covid as the reliability has not been good in recent days either.   Mind you, under the new timetable GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) need to find extra staff for the Severn Beach Line, and also for their additional evening train from Bristol to Frome (previous run by SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) to Salisbury).

[grahame]

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56
14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[bobm]

All four now re-instated.

[brooklea]

All four now re-instated.

But unfortunately 1217 Westbury to Swindon diverted, not calling at Melksham. Signalling fault on the single line.

[TaplowGreen]

All four now re-instated.

But unfortunately 1217 Westbury to Swindon diverted, not calling at Melksham. Signalling fault on the single line.

The later services missing out Melksham too.

[brooklea]

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56
14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

All four ran, but only the 1416 Westbury to Swindon went via Melksham.

1625 Westbury to Swindon has gone via Melksham, but delayed after Trowbridge.

1736 Swindon to Westbury
1834 Westbury to Swindon
Both showing as cancelled presently.

[Phil]

What's going on at Westbury? Not only the Transwilts services cancelled but loads of others too. And yet according to the website there's a good service across the network....

[grahame]

16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Passengers from Westbury and Trowbridge are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Chippenham and Swindon.
Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury.
Passengers from Melksham are advised to please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. This will enable us to get suitable replacement transport to you as quickly as possible.
Passengers from Westbury or Trowbridge for Melksham should contact station staff for onward road transport.
Passengers from Swindon for Melksham should travel to Chippenham on the next available service and then liaise with station staff for onwards road transport to Melksham.

[grahame]

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.

Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury.

That will make for an arrival into Westbury at 18:57 (if a tight connection "makes" at Bath) or 19:04.

In these circumstances, a "via Melksham" ticket (£8.20 for the cancelled train) should be accepted via Bath Spa - for which an "any permitted" single ticket on the train you are being redirected to would cost £16.40; I assume this arrangement is still in place, though it seems to have slipped off the customer information and passenger need to know.

[grahame]

18:34 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Additional Information

Customers at Swindon should travel on the 20:57 Bristol Temple Meads service and change at Chippenham.

Replacement road transport has been requested to run in lieu of this train service from Chippenham to Westbury, calling at Melksham and Trowbridge. Please check the stations Onward Travel Information poster 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.

Customers with tickets routed via Melksham may travel via Bath Spa if they wish.

Noting the routing dispensation - wasn't there (still isn't) on the earlier services, but I can't imagine GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) getting upset with anyone who travels via the alternative route because they've not provided the train that's in the timetable!   Of course, whether they sell walk up tickets at "via Melksham" fares to people who are diverted via Bath is another matter.

[grahame]

Noting the routing dispensation - wasn't there (still isn't) on the earlier services, but I can't imagine GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) getting upset with anyone who travels via the alternative route because they've not provided the train that's in the timetable!   Of course, whether they sell walk up tickets at "via Melksham" fares to people who are diverted via Bath is another matter.

Nope - they'll tell you your "via Melksham" ticket will be accepted, but charge you twice that amount if you buy off the web site.

[jamestheredengine]

I'm currently looking forward to what I fully expect to happen on Christmas Eve. I've already bought my rather dear First Class Advance from Neath to Melksham (and a comparatively bargainous Standard Anytime Single from Melksham to Frome). 0640 from Neath, 0845 from Swindon. What could possibly go wrong?  Worst comes to the worst, I get diverted to Bath (and phone for a lift, rather than any more messing around) and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) somehow work out how to excess me for staying in First between Chippenham and Bath after they cancel the 0845.