18:33 London Paddington to Oxford - HST or Turbo - and alternative trains

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Do you mean the stock that formed that train went to?

[argg]

Thanks Inspector_Blakey.   Of course I do appreciate it is a huge logistical operation and money is an issue. And I acknowledge the point about HST^▸ (High Speed Train) working some local stations

In moments of selfishness we all naturally consider our journey to be the most important at the expense of others.  To illustrate the point whilst I share a lot of JoHoare's frustrations about the turbo fleet, personally I have no problem with losing the 18.33 as Twyford now is the first stop on the 18.47 Cheltenham Spa service which is generally easier to find a seat on as its not full of hundreds of pesky Maidenhead people! 

However in the interests of selflessness - Jo, if you're now able to leave earlier and can make the 17.33 Oxford HST - very pleasant, lots of spare seats.   It does make you wonder though that when they were looking to redeploy stock - comparing the usage of the 17.33 with the 18.33 Oxford services - they chose the more popular one to axe!

I also accept the point about the cost of season tickets being relatively reasonable.  But nearly ^1000 pa (and more without a season ticket) to part my car on a tatty piece of open space outside the station?  That is taking the proverbial. (yes, I know, not FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s responsibility)

[ChrisB]

I also accept the point about the cost of season tickets being relatively reasonable.  But nearly ^1000 pa (and more without a season ticket) to part my car on a tatty piece of open space outside the station?  That is taking the proverbial. (yes, I know, not FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s responsibility)

Hmmm - depends at which station car park you are parking at....they may well set the tariff!

[johoare]

However in the interests of selflessness - Jo, if you're now able to leave earlier and can make the 17.33 Oxford HST^▸ (High Speed Train) - very pleasant, lots of spare seats.   It does make you wonder though that when they were looking to redeploy stock - comparing the usage of the 17.33 with the 18.33 Oxford services - they chose the more popular one to axe!

Oh if only I could leave earlier I would.. But yes I agree.. removing the much more popular one of the two trains is very strange indeed..

[argg]

Hmmm - depends at which station car park you are parking at....they may well set the tariff!

Twyford - fairly sure it was ^600+ last year, ^900+ this year

[ChrisB]

I think that station car park fees are set by FGW^▸ (First Great Western)....

[BBM]

Hmmm - depends at which station car park you are parking at....they may well set the tariff!

Twyford - fairly sure it was ^600+ last year, ^900+ this year

It's currently ^980 for an annual car park ticket at Twyford. 

[argg]

Sounds about right and was at least a 40% increase on on the previous year.  Now almost a third of the cost of the rail season ticket - where's the justification of that?

(gone a bit off-topic, sorry)

[IndustryInsider]

Whoever sets the price, I believe I'm right in saying that there is absolutely no regulation of car park prices at all, so it really is a 'through the back door' way of getting more income.

[ChrisB]

Correct. A completely commercial decision.

[inspector_blakey]

Bonus points for anyone why can manage a segue that gets this thread back on topic...

[devon_metro]

It would be interesting to see if car park revenue has fallen, with fewer people choosing to use the train, as a result of the removal of the 1833 service from London?

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) live updates:

17:33 London Paddington to Oxford due 19:06
This train will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 8.
Last Updated: 01/09/2010 16:45

 

[Fish]

There are some rumours that 6 sets of Adelantes are to return for Oxford services.  It is believed that East Coast may no longer require them for services to Lincoln and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are to get them back into their fleet.  Hopefully, the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s can run through to Hereford with 180's for the shorter services.

[paul7575]

Can't be six, there are only the five ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) sets not accounted for (three are on hire to Northern).

I can't believe this rumour though, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were pretty keen to get rid of them before, they justified the purchase of all those spare HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) by First Group on the basis of allowing the 180s to go.  There'd be quite a few top managers having to retract earlier 180 ctiticism if this went ahead, I think...

Paul