North Cotswold Line delays and cancellations - 2024

[whole diary]

[Worcester_Passenger]

Monday December 9 - final score

Up trains
1P02 05:23 Hereford to London Paddington (08:24) : cancelled throuout, ran empty as train 5P02.
1P18 07:13 Great Malvern to London Paddington (09:42) : cancelled throughout
1P24 09:55 Great Malvern to London Paddington (12:23) : held Didcot (+31), arrived +38.
1P34 15:17 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington (17:29) : cancelled throughout (train crew)
1P39 17:30 Worcester Foregate St to London Paddington (19:52) : held Shrub Hill (+29) and Charlbury (+44), arrived +37.
1P40 18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington (20:29) : started +11, held Charlbury (+26), arrived +21.
2E16 18:51 Evesham to Oxford (19:50) : held Charlbury (+23), arrived +18.
1P42 19:05 Great Malvern to London Paddington (21:26) : cancelled throughout.

Down trains
1W30 15:23 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street (17:47) : arrived +19
1W31 15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern (18:26) : cancelled after Shrub Hill (crew)
1W03 17:34 London Paddington to Hereford (20:25) : started +37, +58 at Shrub Hill, arrived +79.
1W36 18:57 London Paddington to Great Malvern (21:20) : cancelled throughout (crew)
1W45 22:51 London Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway (01:06) : cancelled throughout (crew)

[Worcester_Passenger]

Tuesday December 10

... was going well until

17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 20:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/12/2024 11:49

and (curiously)

20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 23:29 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:10/12/2024 11:49

[Witham Bobby]

18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 20:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 08:19

18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 04:02

Maybe there's time for one or both of these to be reinstated, yet?

Seems odd (to me) that the 1851 Evesham is cancelled, but there's no mention of a cancellation of the 1704 Didcot stopper that runs ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) on to Evesham as the 1812 Moreton in Marsh

[Worcester_Passenger]

And after a very good Wednesday December 11...

Thursday December 12

13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:25 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 10:05

Later : the stock of this service ran empty from Shrub Hill to Oxford and picked up service again there.

15:23 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 17:47 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 08:19

18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 20:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 08:19

17:04 Didcot Parkway to Moreton-In-Marsh due 18:10 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 04:02

18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 04:02

And later...

11:52 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:44 was terminated at Great Malvern.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 14:20

15:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29 will be started from Great Malvern.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Last Updated:12/12/2024 14:20

Later stiil

1P46 2056 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington was cancelled after Reading ("due to an issue with the train crew (TH)").

[Worcester_Passenger]

Friday December 13

Several evening cancellations, which may yet be restored:

15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/12/2024 04:59

17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 20:11 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/12/2024 05:00

22:51 London Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway Hl due 01:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/12/2024 05:03

19:05 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/12/2024 05:02

20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 23:29 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/12/2024 05:03

In the end, some were restored:

1W31 1552 London Paddington to Great Malvern ran OK
1W34 1757 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street was indeed cancelled, though the stock ran empty from Paddington to Shrub Hill.
1W45 2251 London Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway ran, though it was held at Oxford and arrived +25.

1P42 1905 Great Malvern to London Paddington ran OK
1P46 20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 23:29 was indeed started from Shrub Hill

1W21 1053 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill departed +16, was held at Wolvercote (+34) and arrived +35.
1P30 1316 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington departed +28 and arrived +19.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Saturday December 14

08:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 10:42 will no longer call at Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough and Oxford but will call additionally at Didcot Parkway.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:14/12/2024 08:53

Missing out Charlbury is most unusual.

18:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 21:13 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:14/12/2024 10:26

[ChrisB]

Saturday December 14

08:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 10:42 will no longer call at Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough and Oxford but will call additionally at Didcot Parkway.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:14/12/2024 08:53

Missing out Charlbury is most unusual.

Errr....I think this all means the train went via the Stroud Valley non-stop? Leaving Oxford out seems to indicate this to me.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Saturday December 14

08:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 10:42 will no longer call at Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough and Oxford but will call additionally at Didcot Parkway.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:14/12/2024 08:53

Missing out Charlbury is most unusual.

Errr....I think this all means the train went via the Stroud Valley non-stop? Leaving Oxford out seems to indicate this to me.

Looking at it on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C89556/2024-12-14/detailed#allox_id=0), there are times for the whole of the Worcester -Oxford - Didcot section.

[Richard Fairhurst]

It definitely went via the North Cotswolds and missed out stops after Evesham. I was planning to get it; had checked it had departed from Worcester on time; only to get a text message from a relative at 9.04 saying "have you seen the 9.27 is cancelled?". I frantically jumped onto the folding bike and made it down to the 9.09 10 seconds before the doors closed!

[Worcester_Passenger]

20:20 Hereford to London Paddington due 23:38 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:14/12/2024 13:03

In the end, this train was cancelled after Shrub Hill.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Sunday December 15

Oh dear...

08:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 11:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 00:19

13:11 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 15:30 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 00:29

13:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 16:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 01:21

But later:

13:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 16:27 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 06:38

13:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 16:27 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
It is being delayed at Worcester Shrub Hill and is now expected to be 45 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 14:54

15:31 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:30 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 01:24

11:24 - This has disappeared from JourneyCheck.

17:30 Hereford to London Paddington due 20:30 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 01:01

18:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:30 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 10:41

Later:

18:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:30 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to congestion.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 17:41

20:46 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 23:45 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 10:51

09:47 London Paddington to Hereford due 12:58 will be started from Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 01:15

10:45 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 13:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 00:23

11:45 London Paddington to Hereford due 15:03 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 01:19

11:27 : This has disappeared from JourneyCheck.

12:45 London Paddington to Hereford due 16:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 00:27

14:45 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 17:16 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 14:58

1W49 15:45 London Paddington to Great Malvern (18:16) departed +23, arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +28 and was cancelled thereafter.

17:45 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 20:15 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 10:29

19:45 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 22:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 10:41

20:45 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill due 23:01 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 10:51

21:45 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill due 23:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:15/12/2024 12:55

Last train from Paddington to beyond Oxford is now at 18:45 - three subsequent ones all cancelled. Which is Not Good for tomorrow's morning peak.

Any bus operator that failed to run in this way would have been brought in front of the Traffic Commissioner long ago.

The 'lost mileage' figure for the Oxford - Worcester - Hereford section is 657.3 miles out of 2013.8 (33%).

[Worcester_Passenger]

Monday December 16

My pessimism about the morning peak was mis-placed.

1P11 0516 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington ran OK (and was 9 cars).
1P02 0523 Hereford to London Paddington ran OK (and was 9 cars, formed from Sunday's 18:45 Paddington - Hereford).
But
1P16 0643 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington was reported on Journey Check as cancelled, where as RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) has it as cancelled from Oxford to Paddington (but RTT says it ran early from Shrub Hill to Oxford).

Meanwhile,

15:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:26 will be started from Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/12/2024 15:42

Later

17:34 London Paddington to Hereford due 20:25 will be started from Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/12/2024 17:27

[Witham Bobby]

Tuesday 17 December

Journeycheck giving a few hours notice.  I suppose this may change later

14:53 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 17:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:17/12/2024 08:29

17:26 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 19:52 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:17/12/2024 08:29

[Worcester_Passenger]

2E77 05:10 Oxford to Worcester Shrub Hill (06:15) was cancelled, though I can't imagine that many passengers were affected. The stock ran empty.

[Worcester_Passenger]

18:57 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 21:18 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
It has been delayed between London Paddington and Reading and is now 62 minutes late.
This is due to a points failure.
Last Updated:17/12/2024 20:29

Behind this, 1W05 19:53 London Paddington to Hereford was also delayed between Paddington and Reading, was held at Wolvercote (+32) and Ledbury and arrived +34.