When the first Rail Replacement bus doesn't arrive in time for work

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The first train Sunday train from Westbury / Trowbridge / Melksham to Swindon is (or was) contracted to arrive by 09:30 - it's been something of a campaign over the years to ge the train or a replacement bus to run all year, but it's built up to being a well used train including people who work in Swindon on Sunday. Big thanks in the past to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for maintain the journey for key people in the past.



Sadly, in what looks like a timetable planning oversite (but could be deeper), the train is running later today and then replaced by a bus from Chippenham - over an hour later than normal (and SLC^▸ (Service Level Commitment)) into Swindon. No good for a 10 a.m. work start.

What are the people who rely on this service supposed to do having stumbled across the change that puts it out of spec only yesterday?   I asked GWRHelp:

Working from 10:00 tomorrow in Swindon. Normal train from MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) - 09:02, SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) at 09:30 but tomorrow 09:26, SWI at 10:31. Too late - what alternative from WSB^» (Westbury - next trains)/TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains)/MKM are you providing?

Hi there - The first service tomorrow is a bus at 09:38 which arrives at 10:31, and I cannot see any earlier alternatives listed I'm afraid. Train times are updated and show when you search from each station here - https://gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey?from=MKM&to=SWI&departureTime=2021-06-06T0600&type=DepartAfter#jc-results… - Phil

Thank you, Phil. What do you suggest people who rely on the train do instead?

I don't have an alternative suggestion suggestion I'm afraid, but I will certainly feed this back to our planning teams for review - Phil

We can all appreciate that things go wrong on the day, but this is a pre-planned failure to provide a service to get people to work on time, as written in the contract.

We use the term "Rail Replacement Bus" but I suggest that this is not a proper replacement when it fails to provide for the passengers being un-trained.  Convenient operational thing to do, perhaps ... just doesn't provide what the passengers need, and the best GWR can come up with is to "pass it to planning teams for review" - no solution for the day.

[grahame]

Following up on my own post ...

Just after starting this thread, I visited a (public) Facebook page and read the following - quoting a senior manager at a bus company, with campaigner comment thereafter.

"Our customers (the passengers) are the most important part of the business.  Without passengers there is no business.  I believe you need to start with the passenger and work backwards from there, not the other way round."

That's why it is so imporant to keep bus users informed whether having correct timetables or information effecting bus routes (for example roadworks causing diversions) so the bus users (new, lapsed or current) can catch a bus.

[AMLAG]

If it is essential and unavoidable to be at work,in your case, at 1000 Sun, then suggest, as no suitable bustitute provided that meets the train operator's contractual conditions, that you use a taxi and submit a claim to, in this case, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for reimbursement without prejudice, less of course the rail fare payable for the journey.

[grahame]

If it is essential and unavoidable to be at work,in your case, at 1000 Sun, then suggest, as no suitable bustitute provided that meets the train operator's contractual conditions, that you use a taxi and submit a claim to, in this case, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for reimbursement without prejudice, less of course the rail fare payable for the journey.

Yes, I would agree with that advice - its actually what I said, but with an added caution that I was far from certain how the claim would be viewed when submitted.  My understanding from one of those involved is that the shift was able to be delayed by an hour, though "not ideal" and that a British understatement.

For the record from https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/267841.aspx

Engineering work is taking place in the Trowbridge area, closing various lines on Sunday morning.
As a result:
The 08:44 Westbury to Bath Spa service will depart later than normal.
The 08:48 Westbury to Swindon service will operate later than normal and will terminate at Chippenham. Road transport will operate from Chippenham to Swindon.
The 09:07 Westbury to Weymouth service will depart later than normal, operating later than normal throughout.
The 09:17 Bath Spa to Westbury service will not run and will be replaced by earlier road transport from Bath Spa to Westbury.
The 09:40 Swindon to Weymouth service will start from Chippenham at normal time. Rail connection Swindon-Chippenham.
The 09:53 Westbury to Bath Spa service will NOT run. Customers to travel by the above or later services.
The 11:03 Weymouth to Swindon service  will terminate Chippenham. Rail connections are available from Chippenham to Swindon.
The 13:41 Swindon to Weymouth will start from Chippenham. Rail connection from Swindon to Chippenham.

[ChrisB]

I would suggest that the claim would fail & would need to filed specially…I know timetables can be changed with notice. What isn’t clear is if the changed timetable then fails the current SLC^▸ (Service Level Commitment)….suggest you check during your next Stakeholder meeting or direct with Jane Jones…