More bad news for travellers between Salisbury and Exeter

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

There is currently a severe speed restriction between Gillingham (Dorset) and Tisbury which is expected to remain in force at least until the end of the month. Speaking to a TM^‡(resolve) on an Up service earlier today, apparently the reason for the speed restriction is that the soil beneath the track at one location is so dry it is crumbling and becoming unstable. Only a prolongued spell of rain will improve the situation.

He also suggested - and this is only hearsay - that SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) is likely to re-introduce the emergency timetable comprising a two-hourly service, with all services terminating at Salisbury.

Not good!

[JayMac]

Just one thing after another on this line. Network Rail Wessex and SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) need to get their acts together.

[IndustryInsider]

A lot of routes are suffering with this as a result of the prolonged drought.  Most are just giving a lively ride but lots of TSR^▸ (Temporary Speed Restriction)’s are now in place and keeping to time is becoming more and more difficult.

[JayMac]

I don't doubt there are lots of similar issues network wide.

It's the time taken to fix them, particulary on secondary routes (although this line is primary for me!) that I take issue with. Desiccation of earthwork assets is hardly a new phenomenon for Network Rail to deal with.

[bradshaw]

Email from SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) to SERUG and circulated to members advising of changes to the Waterloo to Exeter service for the next few weeks

   To SERUG

We are writing to advise you that unfortunately South Western Railway
(SWR) will need to introduce a revised temporary timetable on the West
of England line from the start of September (currently expected to be
5th September), due to a speed restriction on the line in the Tisbury
area in addition to the existing one in the Crewkerne area.

The key points to note are:

   *

Services between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction will continue to run on
an hourly basis to / from London Waterloo but with some journey times
extended and timings at intermediate stations altered
   *

There will continue to be through services between Exeter and London
Waterloo but these will only run every two hours instead of the normal
hourly service (in effect one train every two hours will extend from
Yeovil Junction to / from Exeter)
   *

Journey times between Salisbury and Exeter will also unfortunately be
extended by around an hour

   *

A detailed timetable will be published as soon as possible but requires
review and approval from Network Rail. We will let you know more details
as soon as we can.
   *

The length of the temporary timetable is still to be confirmed but is
expected to continue into October subject to future weather conditions
and Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) being able to carry out mitigation measures.

You may have already seen a stakeholder message from Network Rail
earlier today explaining the problem behind the speed restriction in the
Tisbury area. One of the embankments upon which the track runs is built
on clay and has experienced significant movement and shrinkage due to
the exceptional weather conditions. This in turn has caused problems
with the track.

The speed restriction on this lengthy single line section causes
significant issues for the timetable which you may have experienced in
recent weeks. Unfortunately, this has led to quite lengthy delays on
many services with some station calls needing to be modified as a
result. SWR and NR have decided to introduce the temporary timetable to
provide greater certainty to stakeholders and customers and improve the
reliability of the service.

We will provide more details during the week beginning 29th August
including a more detailed explanation behind the new timetable, a
communications plan (which we will need the support of stakeholders to
help maximise awareness) and information on how we plan to manage
capacity on the available services, particularly recognising the start
of the new school and college terms. There will also be further
information on how the new timetable will be integrated with the
existing planned engineering blockade between Axminster and Pinhoe later
in September

Please accept our apologies for the disruption this will cause. We will
work closely with NR to answer any queries you have in the meantime but
otherwise will provide further information to you as soon as possible.

[PhilWakely]

Yet more to add to the argument for adding a dynamic loop in the Whimple area.

[TaplowGreen]

I don't doubt there are lots of similar issues network wide.

It's the time taken to fix them, particulary on secondary routes (although this line is primary for me!) that I take issue with. Desiccation of earthwork assets is hardly a new phenomenon for Network Rail to deal with.

As the late Roy Castle was wont to say, Dessication's what you need.

[PhilWakely]

Email from SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) to SERUG and circulated to members advising of changes to the Waterloo to Exeter service for the next few weeks

   To SERUG

We are writing to advise you that unfortunately South Western Railway
(SWR) will need to introduce a revised temporary timetable on the West
of England line from the start of September (currently expected to be
5th September), due to a speed restriction on the line in the Tisbury
area in addition to the existing one in the Crewkerne area.

The key points to note are:

   * Services between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction will continue to run on
an hourly basis to / from London Waterloo but with some journey times
extended and timings at intermediate stations altered

   * There will continue to be through services between Exeter and London
Waterloo but these will only run every two hours instead of the normal
hourly service (in effect one train every two hours will extend from
Yeovil Junction to / from Exeter)

   * Journey times between Salisbury and Exeter will also unfortunately be
extended by around an hour

<snip>

Now that SWR has a depot and stabling point at Yeovil Junction and also has the use of the refuelling point at Exeter St Davids, surely they have enough spare, serviceable units to run a shuttle service between Exeter and Axminster in the paths vacated by those services terminating at Yeovil Junction?

[ChrisB]

Do they gave a crew signing on point at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)

[bradshaw]

Most services cross another at Tisbury loop, with the down service booked to stop there for the up to pass. With the latter being delayed by the speed restriction the down will always be delayed leaving and the encur further delay as it passes over that section.

The proposed 1hr increase in the time to Exeter will also soak up additional units and crew so there may not be much to spare.

[grahame]

Here are what looks like a typical down and up service running from Friday.   Down train left Salisbury pretty much on time, but got held at Tisbury Loop waiting for an up train, and left Tisbury 14 minutes late.  Still 14 late when it got to Honiton, but it had to wait here for half an hour for the train coming the other way, and dragged into Exeter three quarters of an hour late. Up train left Exeter just 3 minutes late, but was 21 late by the time it got to Salisbury - it looks as if the priority is given in the up direction as apart from 5 minutes in the platform at Tisbury it looks like odd minutes dropped all along.

Every cloud has a sliver lining - good to see a 10 minute connection off the Cardiff - Portsmouth train onto the Exeter - Waterloo train at Salisbury.  Is there a lesson for the timetablers there?   Could it be done in the other direction too??

[PhilWakely]

Do they gave a crew signing on point at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)

Yes.

[JayMac]

The emergency timetable will be published on 5th September.

[grahame]

A report from a regular traveller from West Wilts to Clapham Junction - good journey up from Trowbridge - change at Salisbury, fairly fast connection into a delayed train up from Exeter.   Every cloud, silver lining 

[bradshaw]

Apparently, Paul Clifton recorded a piece on Friday which will be transmitted tomorrow
https://twitter.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1564250262751117312?s=21&t=dSS_J8e4IzvqTOmetIv-lQ