2022 - TransWilts cancellations and amendments log

[whole diary]

[bobm]

It’s a train of fuel tankers bound for Theale which has failed at Crofton.  The loco from a Merehead Quarry freight is being used to clear the line and shift the train into Hungerford loop.

[GBM]

It’s a train of fuel tankers bound for Theale which has failed at Crofton.  The loco from a Merehead Quarry freight is being used to clear the line and shift the train into Hungerford loop.

Pushing from the rear by the look on OpenTrainTimes!
606D 2220 Robeston Sdgs to Theale Puma
149 minutes down at Bedwyn

[grahame]

07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

OK - so to be clear, it's not the train that was supposed to run this key train on the TransWilts that's broken down, but a train on another line.   Presumably, then, passenger trains that were supposed to be using that other line have been diverted via Westbury and Swindon and without stopping at the intermediate stations to provide service.

It's been pointed out before, but dual standards are at play here.   

* When GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cancel a semi-fast from Paddington via Taunton, they stop the West Country express at Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.

* When GWR cancel a Westbury - Swindon train, they FAIL to stop the Taunton or West Country train that's taking its place at Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham.

Populations ...

Pewsey - 3,600
Westbury - 15,000
Castle Cary - 2,000
Total - 20,600

Trowbridge - 46,000
Melksham - 25,000
Chippenham - 45,000
Total  - 116,000

[bobm]

I am not sure populations has much to do with it.  More a lack of infrastructure and technology.   Trowbridge and Chippenham are served by alternative services.  Melksham doesn't have an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) stop board and the trains are not programmed for a stop there.  Both are clearly achievable but with the railway as safety conscious as it is (thank goodness) it is not as straightforward as it perhaps could be.

What is going on at the moment is the drawing up of a cancellation/delay mitigation strategy.   This involves GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), Network Rail and TransWilts.   It will involve bespoke alerts so TW social media can be updated, better signposting at stations, re-briefing of control staff where there has been quite a bit of turnover and other measures too.

Don't have a precise timetable - things always seem to take longer in the summer with people on staggered holidays.  However it is in process.

[grahame]

I am not sure populations has much to do with it.  More a lack of infrastructure and technology.   Trowbridge and Chippenham are served by alternative services.  Melksham doesn't have an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) stop board and the trains are not programmed for a stop there.  Both are clearly achievable but with the railway as safety conscious as it is (thank goodness) it is not as straightforward as it perhaps could be.

Westbury and Castle Cary are also served by alternative services, of course, but still the expresses call there when the London trains are cancelled - perhaps that's the answer - that alternative trains are provided if a service to London, where the civil servants who run the railway, are based?

What is going on at the moment is the drawing up of a cancellation/delay mitigation strategy.   This involves GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), Network Rail and TransWilts.   It will involve bespoke alerts so TW social media can be updated, better signposting at stations, re-briefing of control staff where there has been quite a bit of turnover and other measures too.

Don't have a precise timetable - things always seem to take longer in the summer with people on staggered holidays.  However it is in process.

That is good to read  - I hope it is effective, rather than just window dressing. It leads to other questions such as
* Is what is being done going to reduce the number of cancellations and delays to industry standard levels in the first place?
* Where there are GWR or CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) staff are on other duties at stations, will they be alerted and offering proactive help too?
* Will people be directed to the local buses (and they accept the tickets) when things go wrong?
* Will stop boards be installed and IETs be able to stop after their next software update?
and if answers to those questions are positive, it might lead to a long overdue levelling up for the line.

and less positively
* Why has it taken so many years of problems to have a mitigation strategy?

[ChrisB]

A number of those requests are in the hands of Network Rail to program. So don't hold your breath.

[Timmer]

So don't hold your breath.

Never a truer word for all those who follow and support the railways.

[grahame]

09:35 Swindon to Westbury due 10:16

Facilities on the 09:35 Swindon to Westbury due 10:16.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

And others

[TaplowGreen]

14:05 Westbury to Swindon due 14:54
14:05 Westbury to Swindon due 14:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train guard being taken ill.

15:10 Swindon to Westbury due 15:56
15:10 Swindon to Westbury due 15:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to the train guard being taken ill.

[grahame]

19:40 Weymouth to Swindon due 21:59
22:08 Swindon to Westbury due 22:50

Facilities on the 22:08 Swindon to Westbury due 22:50.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

Decent time last Saturday train for the summer - sure it will cope at 2 cars on a wet pre-holiday day.

[grahame]

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today.

If you are at Swindon or Chippenham travelling to Trowbridge or Westbury you should travel on the 17:57 Bristol Temple Meads service from Swindon (18:09 from Chippenham) and change at Bath Spa for the 18:35 service towards Portsmouth Harbour which calls at Trowbridge (18:53) and Westbury (19:00).

If you are travelling to Melksham you should change at Chippenham and speak to station staff.

If you are at Melksham we will provide road transport to Trowbridge and Westbury from the station car park.

[grahame]

19:32 Swindon to Westbury due 20:14

19:32 Swindon to Westbury due 20:14 will be cancelled.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

[grahame]

18:24 Frome to Swindon due 19:17

18:24 Frome to Swindon due 19:17 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon.
It is being delayed at Frome.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

[TaplowGreen]

18:34 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.

This is due to a fault on this train.

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.

This is due to a fault on this train.

[grahame]

18:34 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.

This is due to a fault on this train.

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.

This is due to a fault on this train.

Interestingly, these were logged on journeycheck at 17:04.
At 18:15, a five car train called at Westbury on its way to Portsmouth
The 18:34 to Swindon (round trip) was cancelled

I expect there's a good reason the 2 set Portsmouth train could not have dropped a set.
At 18:15 off Westbury, 20:17 into PMH tonight.
Return working calls at Westbury at 22:12 so could pick uo that 2 car that had had a trip to Swindon.

Fly I ointment - it appears that the 5 car split at PMH with 2 cars going on depot. But this does (in SHRUG notation), read as "18:34 Westbury to Swindon cancelled for OPERATIONAL CONVENIENCE. 20:45 Swindon to Westbury cancelled for OPERATIONAL CONVENIENCE