Gloucester to Bristol rail users to have extra service from May 2010

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

It probably is busier at holiday times -- but either way, once it's been replaced by the DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) cascade, surely the LHS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Stock) could be trialled elsewhere if DafT really want to try and sort out overcrowding.

A bit optimistic aren't you?  I think recent experience of DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) suggests the day enough 150s are in use is the same day the LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) will disappear for good...

Paul

[anthony215]

Personally even when they have the class 150's  i dont think there is enough trains to strengthen peak hour workings. I did speak to someone i know who works for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)  about the westbury - swindon train.

 I was told that the  problem is that they may have some stock to perhaps operate a off peak service on this route  but not enough to operate a peak hour service.

As with the  Westbury - Bristol route i personally think there should be a train along that route every 20 minutes, so maybe the loco hauled sets should be kept on the Cardiff - Taunton service while the extra class 150's are deployed on Gloucester - Westbury/Weymouth services.

[vacman]

I thought those MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) muppets had gracefully dropped of the face of the earth!

[moonrakerz]

I must confess to finding myself rather bemused by some of the comments on this thread (in particular), and others.

I have remarked previously about when negative comment about some aspect of the rail service is met with a barrage of posts which seem to do nothing but try and defend the train operators.

This thread seems to have degenerated into a "lets get MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain)" excercise. What have they said that has so incensed some of the subsequent posters ?

"it seems that despite record profits made by First Group...................... we still find ourselves with a train service that is not really fit for purpose.
All we want is something that is punctual, reliable, affordable and, of course, comfortable.
The sitting down situation has become ludicrous in some parts. I came out of London the other day on a train, which incidentally is probably about 25 years old, and the train was packed. It's not as though you are paying ^2.50 - the price of a return ticket to London if you travel at peak times is ^154. And for that I want a taxi, frankly! Never mind just a seat, which I didn't get.
I'm fed up with these crocodile tears we get from First Great Western............ fact, a service that is back-sliding again to the bad old days of 2007."

Yes there probably is a factual error in there - if it was an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) he was referring to it is probably over 30 years old, not 25 !

I, as a mere passenger, agree wholeheartedly with these comments!  If they are produced by a "rent-a-quote" mob , good luck to them, at least they get some publicity.
I will use the "apologist" word again - as some of the comments here seem to be purely that. I grow tired of reading, basically, the same old thing every time, along the lines of: "it's not our fault there isn't enough rolling stock, it's DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s so there's no point in complaining about it".

At least MTLS gets some publicity for their cause - I can't remember seeing (regrettably !) this site getting a mention on the local TV news.

I have no connection with MTLS, I have no connection with the rail industry - as I said I am just a passenger who (like MTLS and MANY others) is getting sick and tired of paying good money to travel on old, clapped out, and often grossly overcrowded trains !

I await the usual responses.................... to prove my point.

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

At least MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) gets some publicity for their cause - I can't remember seeing (regrettably !) this site getting a mention on the local TV news.

One of the many differences between this discussion forum and the More Train Less Strain campaign, moonrakerz, is that they actively seek publicity for their campaign: we don't, for our friendly discussions here. 

Chris.

[Mookiemoo]

I personally like HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s

Can't see what the problem is........rather one of them than a turbostar, vomiter or pendo

[matt473]

Well I've always known this forum to be what passanger groups should be, somewher for passangers to voice their opinions and offer constructive criticism. Publicity is all well and good but forums like this matter more as no doubt those high up in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) frequently visit the forum to look around and try to alleviate what seem to be common problems. Just shouting about poor service will get the publicity but provides little help for the company in how they should try to rectify these problems

[devon_metro]

I grow tired of reading, basically, the same old thing every time, along the lines of: "it's not our fault there isn't enough rolling stock, it's DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s so there's no point in complaining about it".

You would prefer to be lied to through the teeth then?

[John R]

For one thing, I don't think fares have gone up 50% since 2007, although I am sure they could point to some fares that may have.

MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) did serve a useful purpose of highlighting the problems in 2007 in a more effective way than many of us thought possible (I know others disagree with that view, and probably not a debate to reopen.) But whilst that is my view of what they achieved then, I think they have now become a joke.

For example, complaining that services out of London are busy and they couldn't get a seat. Well. I'm sure that's the case on the majority of main lines out of London until the first significant setting down point in the evening peak, and is, unfortunately a fact of life. And it doesn't add to the debate, particularly to a news item about a modest improvement in the Bristol suburban area.

The problem is that whilst MTLS peddle inaccurate and misleading information to the media which is published, it does no good to the rail industry or its customers. I don't suppose for one moment they would ever publicise the dramatic increase in passengers on Bristol suburban services since 2007, and use that as justification for further increases in capacity in the region. That is, in my mind, the real issue here.

         

[moonrakerz]

I grow tired of reading, basically, the same old thing every time, along the lines of: "it's not our fault there isn't enough rolling stock, it's DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s so there's no point in complaining about it".

You would prefer to be lied to through the teeth then?

I have said before, the passengers point of contact is the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company), to tell him to complain to DfT, or the leasing company, or the track provider, or the caterer is just playing into the hands of those in the TOC who wish to lob any criticism into the "long grass".
If your car died, what would be your response be if the dealer you bought it from said, "sorry mate not my problem, it's fault of the guy who made the timing belt".

I am not suggesting that anyone IS, or MIGHT be, or SHOULD be telling lies - merely that a bit of well founded criticism of the TOCs (from some quarters) might do more to improve the rail service than sniping at another organisation who does at least seem to be getting their point in the news !

I personally like HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s

Can't see what the problem is........rather one of them than a turbostar, vomiter or pendo

Totally agree - best piece of UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail engineering since GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) built the "Castles" !

For example, complaining that services out of London are busy and they couldn't get a seat. Well. I'm sure that's the case on the majority of main lines out of London
 

Agree totally, I often come out of Waterloo when it's very busy - BUT, I really think that I am NOT being unreasonable to expect to get a seat from Warminster to Bath/Bristol on a train in the middle of the day ! or am I ?

When I complain/mention this, it does grate somewhat to get the stock reply "it's the fault of DfT", not the TOC ! (see earlier part of this post  )

our friendly discussions here. 

Chris.

"I thought those MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) muppets had gracefully dropped of the face of the earth!"

Can I think about that one ?   

[fatcontroller]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Frank Chambers - Travel Watch South West
"It's good to hear about the extra service in the morning from the end of May onwards but what Julian didn't tell you is that this train runs at the moment. It runs empty without a conductor and we've been lobbying very hard for them to re-roster their staff so that they can actually run that train service.
If you haven't got a conductor, or train manager, you can't run with passengers so this train runs as an "empty stock movement" in the morning and it goes through Cam and Dursley station empty.!"

Not quite true - set used to run empty from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) up to Bristol PW^▸ (Permanent Way) for 0725 Bristol PW - Westbury, the Guard used to travel from Gloucester to Bristol PW for this working. An additional train has been provided, however, to achieve this it mearly runs empty from Bristol TM to Gloucester at 06:00 in the morning.

_{Edited to disentangle quotes}

[asdfg]

Not quite true - set used to run empty from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) up to Bristol PW^▸ (Permanent Way) for 0725 Bristol PW - Westbury, the Guard used to travel from Gloucester to Bristol PW for this working. An additional train has been provided, however, to achieve this it mearly runs empty from Bristol TM to Gloucester at 06:00 in the morning.

Thank you for confirming this fatcontroller, that is exactly what I thought had really happened. There's been too much wrong information being posted both here and elsewhere about this service and how it came to be 

Unfortunately not too many people from Yate and Cam & Dursley are actually catching this train at the moment and most of the people that do are those that probably caught this train when it started at Bristol Parkway anyway.

[laird]

Maybe the answer for Yate and Cam & Dursley is to reduce the number of services passing during peak times without calling.

In the case of these two stations the options appear two fold:
Whenever fGW HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) pass these could be required to call using their selective door opening. At one time these passed with conductors and buffet staff on board potentially meaning little or no extra cost to increase the number of services to and from Cheltenham Spa.

Perhaps the stations could also be served by the Cross Country services where these are scheduled for four car voyagers (not many per day).


In the wider Great Western region maybe fGW could also look to introduce driver only operation on a limited basis, wherever the service is currently operated ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock).

[John R]

The unions wouldn't countenance that, even on services currently ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock). Their ongoing argument over passenger safety would be diluted if they agreed it on any services. They won't even agree to any extension in Scotland where the franchise agreement requires a second member of staff on the train at all times (albeit not operating the doors).

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) services only pass early in the morning and late at night (if I understand it correctly) operating positioning moves on Cheltenham services. So they would be not in peak time, and travelling in the opposite direction anyway (ie north out of Bristol in the morning.)

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) would be very unlikely to agree to slow their services down by calling at either station (although there was a precedent for a year at Yatton and Nailsea). And I would be inclined to agree with them. Mixing long distance services with commuter services is not ideal at the best of times, and four car voyagers have precious few standard class seats, so are pretty busy at any time of the day.
   

[JayMac]

In the wider Great Western region maybe fGW could also look to introduce driver only operation on a limited basis, wherever the service is currently operated ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock).

And how would the driver operate the doors and carry out despatch duties? Not totally sure, but I assume there are no suitable door controls in the cabs of 14x and 15x DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).