2023 - Train update and amendment log - Swindon <-> Westbury

[whole diary]

[brooklea]

And unhelpfully, the live departures for Melksham (link at top of page) are still showing the 13:40 to Westbury expected at 13:46 (this at 13:54), whilst the train is sitting at Bathampton Junction 

[brooklea]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will no longer call at Melksham.
It is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

Left Westbury 26 minutes late.

Alterations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Melksham and Trowbridge fewer trains are able to run on the line. Disruption is expected until 16:30 26/06.
Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham may be delayed or diverted.
Additional Information
We apologise for any delay to your journey.

Services can currently run only in the direction from Chippenham to Westbury (inc Melksham). However, trains cannot run in the direction from Westbury to Chippenham (Melksham not served on these services).

We will provide an update as soon as we are able to do so.

[grahame]

And unhelpfully, the live departures for Melksham (link at top of page) are still showing the 13:40 to Westbury expected at 13:46 (this at 13:54), whilst the train is sitting at Bathampton Junction 

At the bus meeting I was at in Trowbridge this morning (I went by bus!), talk was of the importance of accurate information ....

[TaplowGreen]

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

[bobm]

Problems on the single line again today.

The 07:45 from Westbury was diverted and did not call at Melksham.

Pilot working has now been set up but the 08:45 from Swindon was delayed by nearly an hour while that was put in place.  It left Swindon 15 minutes late, was half an hour late at Chippenham and then an hour behind time at Bradford Junction.

[grahame]

Problems on the single line again today.

And problem again today.  It feels there's something on most days ...

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to trespassers on the railway earlier today.

[grahame]

2

0:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be starting late from Westbury and is expected to be 15 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

[grahame]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 has been delayed at Westbury and is now 37 minutes late.
This is due to this train being late from the depot.

.....similar delay advised on the return trip.

[bobm]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Getting familiar isn't it?

[Phil]

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08 has been delayed at Westbury and is now 37 minutes late.
This is due to this train being late from the depot.

.....similar delay advised on the return trip.

I got caught up in this. Arrived at WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) in time to get the 14:19 to Mkm, only to see it was cancelled because the driver failed to show up. Despite valiant efforts on the part of platform staff to find me and 2 others a taxi to Melksham, it was school run time and no taxis were to be had. We were assured the 16:23 would run on time. 16:23:30 came and I could see the train still sat away in the distance in the yard at Westbury showing red running lights (they probably have another name, but you know what I mean - the ones that turn white when it's good to go). In the far opposite distance a figure in an orange jacket ambled towards the distant loco - a driver! Half an hour later it trundled into Platform 1 to the accompaniment of an ironic round of applause from some now fractious would-be passengers. By 5:19 I was on my way back to Melksham, a mere three hours after arriving at Westbury station.

[bobm]

…and Delay Repay doesn’t even start to cover it.

[grahame]

I got caught up in this. Arrived at WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) in time to get the 14:19 to Mkm, only to see it was cancelled because the driver failed to show up. Despite valiant efforts on the part of platform staff to find me and 2 others a taxi to Melksham, it was school run time and no taxis were to be had. We were assured the 16:23 would run on time. 16:23:30 came and I could see the train still sat away in the distance in the yard at Westbury showing red running lights (they probably have another name, but you know what I mean - the ones that turn white when it's good to go). In the far opposite distance a figure in an orange jacket ambled towards the distant loco - a driver! Half an hour later it trundled into Platform 1 to the accompaniment of an ironic round of applause from some now fractious would-be passengers. By 5:19 I was on my way back to Melksham, a mere three hours after arriving at Westbury station.

A very interesting illustration of how things can go wrong and the effect of cancelling a single service on a line with an already poor service.

The staff at Westbury have to (and do) make valiant efforts far too often and full credit to them for this.  However, they [don't/can't] offer practical alternatives which would have got you home quicker.  Such an important topic I have split it off into a separate thread at http://www.passenger.chat/27635

The other answer to shorter delays in the case of a cancellation is, of course, to run the service at the hourly frequency it should be and not at the poor level it's currently running at.  But then, is there any precedent for asking for a better and more appropriate service, and actually getting it?

[bobm]

22:12 Swindon to Westbury due 22:54 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

22:12 Swindon to Westbury due 22:54

22:12 Swindon to Westbury due 22:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.


......sorry just noticed that's already been posted!