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James_H
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« Reply #330 on: April 19, 2009, 11:09:24 » |
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Also, does anyone know if the rail replacement bus service timetable is out yet?
I heard a few rumbles that there was going to be a shuttle to and from Hanborough and all the replacement buses would start/ terminate there but not sure if there's any truth in this...
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Btline
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« Reply #331 on: April 19, 2009, 19:45:02 » |
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When they extend the doubling down to Oxford, they will hopefully shut Finstock.
As for Combe - how about an accidental avalanche?
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stebbo
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« Reply #332 on: April 19, 2009, 21:10:31 » |
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I know I'll be unpopular for this, but why do Finstock, Come (and Shipton) continue to exist?
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Btline
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« Reply #333 on: April 19, 2009, 21:26:22 » |
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Shipton is actually used.
It's the others which need to go!
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RailCornwall
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« Reply #334 on: April 19, 2009, 23:27:25 » |
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It staggers me to find people actually advocating the closure of stations.
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John R
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« Reply #335 on: April 20, 2009, 03:37:05 » |
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The railway should not be fossilied. If they are in the middle of nowhere, serve no purpose, and closure would reduce costs and probably improve operational efficiency then closure may be the best option. Finstock and Combe could come into this category.
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James_H
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« Reply #336 on: April 20, 2009, 12:50:31 » |
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I sometimes ride the 06:53 from Oxford into Charlbury in the morning, go to the Co-op and then get the 07:48 stopper back to Hanborough... and the fact is that more often than not, it doesn't pick up any passengers at either stop. In particular, Combe station appears to be in the middle of nowhere... you don't seem to be able to even see the village...? And then, it's only a two minute ride from Combe to Hanborough...!
The thing is, if these were closed, the 07:48 from Charlbury towards Oxford would be off the single line earlier, which hopefully would allow a stop at Hanborough (where several hundred people work on two business parks) on the 08:00(ish) from Oxford to Worcester as it could then get onto the single line earlier.
Surely the main objective isn't to keep every station open, but to look at how best to maximise use of the railways...?
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devon_metro
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« Reply #337 on: April 20, 2009, 17:53:47 » |
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Why not just have the "halts" train stop there in the morning and evening peak?
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Btline
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« Reply #338 on: April 20, 2009, 21:22:03 » |
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It staggers me to find people actually advocating the closure of stations.
Why? If they are costing MUCH more than they earn. If passenger numbers are low even after years of being kept open. If there are nearby stations with better facilities and services. If they have NO social benefits ... ...they should be closed. We're not talking about shutting well used stations, only halts which should have gone ages ago. IN THE CASE OF COMBE and FINSTOCK, BEECHING GOT IT RIGHT! In the UK▸ we need to face it that new lines and stations need to be opened; but some are surplus to requirements. |
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willc
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« Reply #339 on: April 20, 2009, 23:35:47 » |
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Why not just have the "halts" train stop there in the morning and evening peak?
That's all that does stop at Combe, Finstock and Ascott-under-Wychwood.
I know I'll be unpopular for this, but why do Finstock, Come (and Shipton) continue to exist?
And you missed out Ascott-under-Wychwood, which I'm sure you didn't mean to. I explained previously that essentially because someone at BR▸ messed up their paperwork in 1994 Combe and Finstock escaped the axe. The Wychwoods station are worth saving, because Ascott is slap bang next to the village, while Shipton, despite its erratic service - and adding all of two or three minutes on to the journeys of people in a hurry from Hereford - serves a bigger community than Honeybourne and is 10 minutes' drive from Burford. James, Somewhere back up the thread, I posted that details of arrangements for the summer are meant to be be finalised by the end of this month, so it shouldn't be too long now before they are released by FGW▸ . I would be surprised if there is anything running past Oxford during the weeks already announced as full route closures. Hanborough's car park is hardly suitable as a bus station of the kind required over this period - it's a rather different scale of things from an occasional weekend closure. |
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« Last Edit: April 20, 2009, 23:59:38 by willc »
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James_H
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« Reply #340 on: April 21, 2009, 08:26:32 » |
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Devon_Metro, I mean from Oxford to Hanborough in the morning and then back from Hanborough to Oxford in the evening.
Will, thanks for that - must have missed your original post. I've seen mention once or twice of the replacement buses starting/ terminating at Hanborough, which as you say could be tricky if that turns out to be the plan...
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #341 on: April 22, 2009, 23:59:07 » |
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The latest information available from the FGW▸ website is at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3501 if that helps? |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Oxman
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« Reply #342 on: April 23, 2009, 20:06:57 » |
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For the three weeks that the entire line is closed, buses will run between Oxford and Worcester. There will be several buses for each departure from Oxford, with different calling patterns, so that some will be fast, for example, to Moreton. A similar pattern will operate in the opposite direction.
There will also be morning and evening peak buses between Evesham and Cheltenham, to connect with the diverted Hereford - Padd services.
For the three weeks that the line is closed between Moreton and Evesham, the intention is to run a near normal service between Moreton and Oxford/Padd, and a shuttle service between Evesham and Worcester, with connecting buses between Moreton and Evesham. Some buses will be extended through to Worcester, because the shuttle timings don't fit.
I also understand that the planned replacement of the last two evening weekday services by buses from September has been postponed until January.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #343 on: April 26, 2009, 09:28:56 » |
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I also understand that the planned replacement of the last two evening weekday services by buses from September has been postponed until January.
Good - still time for some common sense and for two buses to be procured, one fast to Moreton and the other covering intermediate stops. This was discussed in the 'New Timetables' thread at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4534.30 |
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To view my GWML▸ 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/ |
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bleeder4
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« Reply #344 on: April 30, 2009, 13:00:42 » |
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Hi all,
I thought I'd register here to ask for some advice.
I live in Evesham and I'm travelling to London on the morning of Saturday July 18th as I have a Eurostar to catch at 1330 from St Pancras.
Unfortunately, July 18th is the first day of the closure.
I know the details of the alternative transport haven't been finalised but I don't fancy sitting on a bus from Evesham to Oxford, with no sure time as to when I'll get to London, can't run the risk of being delayed too much.
Am I correct in thinking that my best bet is to head over to Cheltenham Spa and get a train to Paddington via Swindon?
I'll likely be getting a taxi from Evesham to my station of departure so want it to be as close to Evesham as possible.
Thanks for your time.
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