Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[willc]

Well, they haven't quite managed to burn their way through ^60m just yet. There's not a lot happening now because... not a lot is meant to be happening now.

Dropping of new rails, sleepers and ballast ahead of tracklaying was never meant to happen until early 2010 anyway and they are still finalising the signalling plans.

A new timetable is slated for May 2011. According to the new Cotswold & Malvern Line News, the CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) has held some initial discussions with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) about what shape that timetable might take. Apparently FGW's ideas go "a considerable way towards an hourly service, as least as far as Moreton-in-Marsh".

But the CLPG says there is not much by way of journey time improvements indicated at this stage. They have made suggestions as to ways to plug timetable gaps and also reducing timings. They are also pressing for more stops at Shipton and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Anyone with suggestions for service improvements is invited to contact CLPG vice-chairman John Ellis. His email is ellis.consultant@virgin.net

[ChrisB]

What's this about the fares being cheap at Worcester? If anyone from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reads this, then they'll raise them!

Cheap compared to other parts of the network.

Indeed, you can be sure that once completed, FGW will want to see the Cotswold Line on a similar pence per mile that the Bristol commuters are paying.

[Mookiemoo]

What's this about the fares being cheap at Worcester? If anyone from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reads this, then they'll raise them!

Cheap compared to other parts of the network.

Indeed, you can be sure that once completed, FGW will want to see the Cotswold Line on a similar pence per mile that the Bristol commuters are paying.

But are we talking Bristol suburban commuters or Bristol to London............because I dont think that even with the increased reliability, you could compare Bristol Templemeads to London (102 miles as crow flies) in terms of journey - about 1 hr 45 minutes to Worcester to London (98-100 miles as crow flies) at about 2 hr 30 minutes.

But we've already been told there will be no return to express worcester to London services therefore they cannot charge the same as on the western mainline.  The journey will be more reliable yes but it will still be akin to a commute to oxford or suburban commute.

People think i'm mad to commute Worcester to Reading/London but no one thinks the same of a Bristol commuter - yet the distances are the same(ish). used to have much closer journey times as well.

So I guess the point of this is...........they can increase the fares and we should expect them to however if they try to mimic the mainline fares, not sure how many people will suck that one up until joruney times fall

[ChrisB]

Skip stopping in the peaks might be a way to speed things up, especially idf they run more than one an hour after redoubling.

As as been noted, timetables are only in the very initial stages, and there's a lot more work to be done. But yes, fares will rise.....be grateful for the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+1% being applied now to every peak fare, and not a basket average.

[super tm]

What's this about the fares being cheap at Worcester? If anyone from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reads this, then they'll raise them!

Cheap compared to other parts of the network.

Indeed, you can be sure that once completed, FGW will want to see the Cotswold Line on a similar pence per mile that the Bristol commuters are paying.

But are we talking Bristol suburban commuters or Bristol to London............because I dont think that even with the increased reliability, you could compare Bristol Templemeads to London (102 miles as crow flies) in terms of journey - about 1 hr 45 minutes to Worcester to London (98-100 miles as crow flies) at about 2 hr 30 minutes.

But we've already been told there will be no return to express worcester to London services therefore they cannot charge the same as on the western mainline.  The journey will be more reliable yes but it will still be akin to a commute to oxford or suburban commute.

People think i'm mad to commute Worcester to Reading/London but no one thinks the same of a Bristol commuter - yet the distances are the same(ish). used to have much closer journey times as well.

So I guess the point of this is...........they can increase the fares and we should expect them to however if they try to mimic the mainline fares, not sure how many people will suck that one up until joruney times fall

They cant increase the fares.  It is one of the quirks of privatisation.  As the Anytime fare from Worcester is a DAY return fare it was considered a commuter fares at privatisation so was protected.  It can only increase by RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) +1% a year even after redoubling.  It just so happened the Bristol to London fare was an OPEN fare and was not protected.  That is why it has increased so much.

[Btline]

The fares on the Cotswold should definitely NOT increase!

Shame the new timetable can't come in next December - it's a long time to wait to May, and they won't be able to change it much anyway!

[Mookiemoo]

What's this about the fares being cheap at Worcester? If anyone from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reads this, then they'll raise them!

Cheap compared to other parts of the network.

Indeed, you can be sure that once completed, FGW will want to see the Cotswold Line on a similar pence per mile that the Bristol commuters are paying.

But are we talking Bristol suburban commuters or Bristol to London............because I dont think that even with the increased reliability, you could compare Bristol Templemeads to London (102 miles as crow flies) in terms of journey - about 1 hr 45 minutes to Worcester to London (98-100 miles as crow flies) at about 2 hr 30 minutes.

But we've already been told there will be no return to express worcester to London services therefore they cannot charge the same as on the western mainline.  The journey will be more reliable yes but it will still be akin to a commute to oxford or suburban commute.

People think i'm mad to commute Worcester to Reading/London but no one thinks the same of a Bristol commuter - yet the distances are the same(ish). used to have much closer journey times as well.

So I guess the point of this is...........they can increase the fares and we should expect them to however if they try to mimic the mainline fares, not sure how many people will suck that one up until joruney times fall

They cant increase the fares.  It is one of the quirks of privatisation.  As the Anytime fare from Worcester is a DAY return fare it was considered a commuter fares at privatisation so was protected.  It can only increase by RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) +1% a year even after redoubling.  It just so happened the Bristol to London fare was an OPEN fare and was not protected.  That is why it has increased so much.

Is that right?

I can get an anytim open where the out is valid for five days and the return for one month?e

[ChrisB]

In Standard Class?

It's only Standard ticvkets that are protected. They can charge what they like for 1st Class....

[Lee]

A new timetable is slated for May 2011. According to the new Cotswold & Malvern Line News, the CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) has held some initial discussions with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) about what shape that timetable might take. Apparently FGW's ideas go "a considerable way towards an hourly service, as least as far as Moreton-in-Marsh".

But the CLPG says there is not much by way of journey time improvements indicated at this stage. They have made suggestions as to ways to plug timetable gaps and also reducing timings. They are also pressing for more stops at Shipton and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Anyone with suggestions for service improvements is invited to contact CLPG vice-chairman John Ellis. His email is ellis.consultant@virgin.net

It will be interesting to see what does happen timetable-wise, as the RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) says the following:

Oxford to Worcester

Following a review of this service and its current calling pattern, it was agreed that due to the minimal benefits that could be achieved from removing stops, the service should remain as it currently is.

The RUS recommends a frequent review of the requirements and usage, particularly following the completion of the redoubling of the Cotswold line and any impact from this in line with IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) service developments.

The RUS recommends a continual review of existing timetables as an ongoing measure. This forms part of the Joint Timetable Improvement Group with Network Rail and First Great Western. This should include a review of the timetable for the Oxford to Worcester services following the implementation of the Cotswold line redoubling scheme during CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014), in view of the emerging changes to the service provision expected to be introduced with the Intercity Express Programme (IEP)

[ChrisB]

There's also the Chiltern swervice from Water Eaton to Marylebone from 2012, that is likely to attract some commuters away.....especially from the Eastern end..

[willc]

Chris, I assume you mean 2013, as the original 2012 aspiration for Oxford-Marylebone was ditched some time ago.

Further evidence that Cotswold Line preparatory work is still continuing, seven Network Rail vans and pick-ups parked outside one of the hotels in Moreton-in-Marsh this evening - unless they have given each of the local track maintenance gang their own vehicles.

RE^▸ (Religious Education) the timetable, there was never likely to be that much by way of drastic changes initially, largely because the thrust of the project is to improve reliability and punctuality - and because of the rolling stock situation.

If there had been 40-odd extra DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) vehicles for the Thames Valley fleet, which were likely to include a good number with interiors designed with medium-distance services in mind, things might have been a bit different but with the likelihood of nothing but the existing fleet of Turbos and HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) available until wires start going up, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have little scope to do anything radical to the timetable for a number of years, just a bit of tidying up of the intervals between peak services and plugging off-peak gaps as best they can.

The mention of more workings at least as far as Moreton suggests this is likely to be achieved by getting more work out of stock that would otherwise be sitting in the sidings at Oxford between duties, rather like the 09.29 from Moreton which starts running next week, which I'm guessing will be the stock off the 6.57 from London, due at Oxford at 8.42, just in time for the ecs to head on to the single line once the Cathedrals Express has cleared it. Shame the timings are so tight to get the stock to Moreton and turned round that it can't run with passengers on board out of Oxford and call at say Hanborough and Charlbury en route.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Worcester News:

Extra train for capital commuters

Commuters to London face an easier journey as an additional train is being introduced under annual changes.

The additional train will be added between Moreton-in-Marsh and Oxford to help create more space for customers on the popular 8.52am Great Malvern to Paddington service.

It is one of many changes added to a new timetable this year, which comes into effect on Sunday.

Service provider, First Great Western is urging customers to pick up a pocket timetable to check their journeys under the changes.

Staff with the provider have been familiarising themselves with the various changes so they are in the best possible position to help customers get used to the changes that affect them.

Over the past year, First Great Western customers have seen the best performance ever on the network, with 92.4 per cent of services arriving at their destination on time, a five per cent increase on last year.

The December changes are designed to improve this even more.

[stebbo]

Yes, and I've joined in the Kemble to Swindon debate.
 
Of course, I'd like to see the Cotswold redoubling completed to Worcester and Oxford but I think I was one of the early ones to suggest that redoubling between Evesham and Charlbury was a good first stage (though now I think about it, Pershore to Long Hanborough would have been better... A good spot of public works in the current recession).

And I am honest enough to say I'm back on the Cotswold line. Cheltenham Station carpark closes when there's a race meeting on - bloody disgraceful - so I had to go to Evesham and I found a reliable service at half the price and it's slightly quicker to Evesham from my home at 6 o'clock in the morning. So I'll eat humble pie.

Other people at my workplace seem to be favouring the Cotswold line too.

[IndustryInsider]

Well, they haven't quite managed to burn their way through ^60m just yet. There's not a lot happening now because... not a lot is meant to be happening now.

Had a bit of a chat with one of the more senior permanent way chaps based down in Worcester today, and he was also saying that the project was already in a bit of trouble both financially and timescale wise. That doesn't surprise me to be honest.

[Btline]