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 10/05/25 - BRTA Westbury
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Author Topic: Half term Havoc ?  (Read 8630 times)
Sleepy
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« on: May 22, 2023, 19:38:15 »

As next week is schools half term holidays and we have strikes taking place on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (also ASLEF» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) no overtime etc on Thursday) will services on Tuesday and Thursday be swamped or will travellers stay away / travel over Bank holiday weekend instead ?
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2023, 17:03:46 »

As next week is schools half term holidays and we have strikes taking place on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (also ASLEF» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) no overtime etc on Thursday) will services on Tuesday and Thursday be swamped or will travellers stay away / travel over Bank holiday weekend instead ?

.............this should go some way to answering your question!

That's a long, long way to be standing up...............

12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:08

12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:08 has been delayed at Reading and is now 11 minutes late.
This is due to overcrowding.

Service full and standing from Reading.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2023, 17:08:18 »

The return could be even worse if they all stay until next Sunday....
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2023, 17:40:51 »

The return could be even worse if they all stay until next Sunday....

Judging by reports it was by no means the only Westcountry service full and standing from Paddington/Reading - several short forms too didn't help...........and yes, strikes midweek and next weekend are going to make it pretty unpleasant coming back.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2023, 19:20:32 »

Sadly I can’t recommend train travel at the moment.  Lots of differing reasons, but the same shoddy outcome in a lot of cases.
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To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Electric train
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« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2023, 15:15:17 »

Add to this both the UK (United Kingdom) Border Force and the French equivalent have both had major IT failure causing delays at Dover (caused by the French IT system) and all the major airports (the UK Home Office system)
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
broadgage
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« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2023, 13:09:09 »

Sadly I can’t recommend train travel at the moment.  Lots of differing reasons, but the same shoddy outcome in a lot of cases.

Sadly I agree. I am generally pro-rail, mainly due to the environmental costs of flying and driving. However the present round of strikes are a strong disincentive to rail use.
The new shorter trains are another reason.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Sleepy
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« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2023, 13:35:18 »

Unsurprisingly some services from Paddington on Thursday showing as fully reserved
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GBM
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« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2023, 11:31:51 »

09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24
Facilities on the 09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24.
Service full and standing from Truro. (That early!)
Additional Facilities Information
No bike spaces available
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Personal opinion only.  Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)
ChrisB
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« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2023, 12:08:48 »

The return could be even worse if they all stay until next Sunday....
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2023, 14:48:58 »

09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24
Facilities on the 09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24.
Service full and standing from Truro. (That early!)
Additional Facilities Information
No bike spaces available

Nice day to stand up on a packed train for 4+ hours.....
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old original
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« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2023, 18:40:46 »

09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24
Facilities on the 09:18 Penzance to London Paddington due 14:24.
Service full and standing from Truro. (That early!)
Additional Facilities Information
No bike spaces available

Nice day to stand up on a packed train for 4+ hours.....

5 car to Plymouth then 10
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8 Billion people on a wet rock - of course we're not happy
Kernowman
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« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2023, 00:40:54 »

I did the 12.03 Paddington to Penzance throughout on Mon June 19th, It was a packed 9 car IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) which had no reservations showing (this seems to be a recurring problem?) so many people were unsure of where they could/couldn't sit, this wasn't helped by a total lack of announcements until after the train had left Paddington. The catering trolley gave up trying to get through due to bags & crowding etc and there were people standing as far as Totnes, eventually a static trolley (minus hot drinks) was provided after Plymouth, I ventured down around Bodmin Parkway and after climbing over bags etc I eventually reached the trolley, I would have probably eaten almost anything by then as I was so hungry. 
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2023, 17:01:19 »

I did the 12.03 Paddington to Penzance throughout on Mon June 19th, It was a packed 9 car IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) which had no reservations showing (this seems to be a recurring problem?) so many people were unsure of where they could/couldn't sit, this wasn't helped by a total lack of announcements until after the train had left Paddington. The catering trolley gave up trying to get through due to bags & crowding etc and there were people standing as far as Totnes, eventually a static trolley (minus hot drinks) was provided after Plymouth, I ventured down around Bodmin Parkway and after climbing over bags etc I eventually reached the trolley, I would have probably eaten almost anything by then as I was so hungry. 

Wasn't too good today either - must have been a real pleasure in this weather......... Tongue

12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:08

Facilities on the 12:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:08.

Service full and standing from London Paddington. First class is declassified.
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GBM
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« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2023, 12:33:43 »

Mods - please move as required - not the correct post to put this but..

Cancellations to services between Plymouth and Penzance
Due to a points failure between Plymouth and Penzance the line towards Penzance is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 13:15 24/06.
And
Cancellations to services between Gunnislake and Bere Alston
Due to a points failure between Gunnislake and Bere Alston the line towards Gunnislake is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 14:30 24/06.

Two excursions are Penzance bound today, having lost considerable time between Newton Abbot and Plymouth.
Also delays on service trains.
If the line is blocked between Plymouth and Penzance, why is delaying services from Newton?
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Personal opinion only.  Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)
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