Train punctuality figures, from Network Rail

[whole diary]

[dog box]

looks like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) acheived over 90% for HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services during this period... A very bigWell done to all concerned  prehaps  now we can finaly put the First Late Western title out to grass.

[simonw]

One good month will not allow me to forget years of problems!

Also, punctuality figures are selectively chosen and therefore do not reflect the service you use. As Disraeli said ...

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

What I want is a clean, reliable train service. I still find it unacceptable that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are a bus company at weekends. For two-three years now, nearly every weekend BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) station has become a busy bus station with loads of bus's replacing trains due to work between

BPW - Newport
BPW - Swindon
BPW - Filton
BPW - Cheltenham

I still remember the day last autumn when a I bought a return ticket from BPW to Liverpool Lime Street, and on leaving the ticket office, I was told the train was replaced with a bus to Cheltenham, then a bus from Cheltenham to Birmingham New Street, and there where no return buses or from Birmingham after 18:00! The only thing that stopped me going ballistic after spending ^50 for 6hr bus/train journey was another guard suggesting that I went via Filton-Netwport-Chester. A life saver courtesy of Arriva Wales!
 

[vacman]

One good month will not allow me to forget years of problems!

Also, punctuality figures are selectively chosen and therefore do not reflect the service you use. As Disraeli said ...

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

What I want is a clean, reliable train service. I still find it unacceptable that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are a bus company at weekends. For two-three years now, nearly every weekend BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) station has become a busy bus station with loads of bus's replacing trains due to work between

BPW - Newport
BPW - Swindon
BPW - Filton
BPW - Cheltenham

I still remember the day last autumn when a I bought a return ticket from BPW to Liverpool Lime Street, and on leaving the ticket office, I was told the train was replaced with a bus to Cheltenham, then a bus from Cheltenham to Birmingham New Street, and there where no return buses or from Birmingham after 18:00! The only thing that stopped me going ballistic after spending ^50 for 6hr bus/train journey was another guard suggesting that I went via Filton-Netwport-Chester. A life saver courtesy of Arriva Wales!
 

Surely bustitution due to engineering works is down to Network Rail?

[Mookiemoo]

looks like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) acheived over 90% for HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services during this period... A very bigWell done to all concerned  prehaps  now we can finaly put the First Late Western title out to grass.

I know I didnt get a discount when I renewed

Problem is........... they have gone from everything 20 late (and on a two hour journey 20 minutes is nothing ) to most on time BUT the peak services being on time OR VERY late (on cotswolds)

 

[stebbo]

My trip from Swindon to Paddington ten days ago was on time - first time in about a year (I travel about 12 or 14 times a year). Pity I had to stand all the way because the previous train was cancelled. (Suppose that's why we were on time).

[Andy W]

How much of this is down to padding times?

Ten minute wait at Evesham, fifteen minute trip on to Moreton with another ten minute wait and so on.

If you add the thick end of half an hour to the journey then arriving on time is hardly anything to get complacent about. Yes it saves FGW^▸ (First Great Western) penalties but doesn't necessarily mean you get to your destination any more quickly.

Looks good but far from convinced the service is actually that much better. However I could be proved wrong, how many services have improved that have not had padding times introduced?

[Btline]

I think it is only the Cotswold Line that has "Chronic Padding-itus!" It gets worse each year. Let's hope the disease does not spread...

But I agree, it is disgraceful that half and hour could be axed from the overall journey time.

Then again, these days a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Voyager from Penzance to Dundee can depart an hour late and still arrive early!

[r james]

Why is there so much engineering work affecting Bristol Parkway at the weekends???

I definetly think that punctuality has improved, my experience from journeys from and to Bridgebnd seems ot suggest that things now run on time, for the first time in years!

[grahame]

Why is there so much engineering work affecting Bristol Parkway at the weekends???

Because it's trying to catch up with Chippenham and the TransWilts, where engineering works have been the norm 

[grahame]

I definetly think that punctuality has improved, my experience from journeys from and to Bridgebnd seems ot suggest that things now run on time, for the first time in years!

I am certainly noticing a dramatic reduction in the number of short term cancellations, trains missing out stops, and truncated routes with our running log. In January and February, it was common to see 4% or more of trains so effected, and I think a whole month went by without a single instance of operations being within specification.

Just a couple of minutes ago, I had a look and saw that 99.05% of trains were running to all their scheduled stations (we're now overrun with catering changes, but that's a different issue!) and I rejoice.   It might be good having an easy target in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to take potshots at, and it might encourage more traffic on our web site here, but at the end of the day I want them to do well in getting the issues sorted out. And, yes, there is a selfish element. I want them to feel confident that they can run a decent TransWilts service for us, starting this December, to everyone's mutual benefit

[John R]

Why is there so much engineering work affecting Bristol Parkway at the weekends???

I definetly think that punctuality has improved, my experience from journeys from and to Bridgebnd seems ot suggest that things now run on time, for the first time in years!

Engineering work in the Severn Tunnel which means London trains are diverted via Gloucester. Happens every year, and is just one of those things.

[dog box]

Severn tunnel is closed at weekends at the moment because NETWORK RAIL ,yes Network rail Not FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are replacing and installing new Cable trays.
And if anyone need to know FGW run Trains and Network rail repair and maintain infrastructure ....it quite simple really

[simonw]

Why is there so much engineering work affecting Bristol Parkway at the weekends???

I definetly think that punctuality has improved, my experience from journeys from and to Bridgebnd seems ot suggest that things now run on time, for the first time in years!

Because BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))/NR^» (Network Rail - home page) failed to do the work over the past 30 years!

Engineering work on Severn Tunnel, Chipping Sodbury Tunnel, Wotton Basset Junction, or any where between means no trains, but buses.
Engineering work between Cheltenham and Bristol TM^‡(resolve) or anywhere between means no trains but buses.

Finally, the route is a very busy commuter route, so it is easier to suspend/alter weekend services to do the work.

[vacman]

How much of this is down to padding times?

Ten minute wait at Evesham, fifteen minute trip on to Moreton with another ten minute wait and so on.

If you add the thick end of half an hour to the journey then arriving on time is hardly anything to get complacent about. Yes it saves FGW^▸ (First Great Western) penalties but doesn't necessarily mean you get to your destination any more quickly.

Looks good but far from convinced the service is actually that much better. However I could be proved wrong, how many services have improved that have not had padding times introduced?

It wont get you there quicker but at least you will know near enough what time you will arrive!

[Mookiemoo]

How much of this is down to padding times?

Ten minute wait at Evesham, fifteen minute trip on to Moreton with another ten minute wait and so on.

If you add the thick end of half an hour to the journey then arriving on time is hardly anything to get complacent about. Yes it saves FGW^▸ (First Great Western) penalties but doesn't necessarily mean you get to your destination any more quickly.

Looks good but far from convinced the service is actually that much better. However I could be proved wrong, how many services have improved that have not had padding times introduced?

It wont get you there quicker but at least you will know near enough what time you will arrive!

Not good enough

In 2004 - WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) took roughly 1 hour 50 minutes

(0630 arrived 0820ish)

PAD - WOS took about 2 hours

REturn journey (1824 arrived 2025ish)

NOW:

0632 arrives 0850 - 2 hours and 20 minutes and too late to get to the office
1821 arrive 2044 - 2 hours and 23 minutes

End result - no good to the commuter

The only possible commuter train is the 0545 from WOS - but given the night train get you in later that is LESS time at home so gets into the is it worth it category.  If you can afford 1st it is - if not, then its not.

REsult:

Increase in profit for london hotels
Decrease daly/more than once a week use from the Evesham/worcester area

Sorry - as a passenger I'd rather the hope of getting home in less than two hours and 1/2 a week being wrong than guaranteed up to half an hour sitting at stations waiting for departure time (and paying more for the privilege).

Of course, if FGW could sort out their operational issues then there would be no need to compromise.