Cotswold Line journeys operated by Turbos - planned and HST substitutions

[whole diary]

[willc]

And today, it is the 1122 Paddington to Great Malvern which gets the Turbo treatment!

This was due to the failure this morning of the 0709 Oxford to Paddington service due to a faulty speedo in the leading power car.  The set was turned at Foxhall Jn., Didcot and ran empty to Old Oak Common.  Its diagram was then covered by a Turbo (i.e. 1122 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-GMV, 1434 GMV-PAD).  It was hoped to find a replacement HST^▸ (High Speed Train) for the 1750 PAD-WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) but not sure if this happened.

Didn't use the 17.50 tonight as I was working late but given that it features on the current running list of services affected by alterations above, looks likely the Turbo stayed on the duty for the rest of the day.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Replaced by a Turbo again today - Friday July 30

[Steve Bray]

So FGW^▸ (First Great Western) couldn't find a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to operate the 1551, but presumably they could to operate the 'additional' 1436 to Exeter St David's. It indicates where their priorities lie.

I travelled from Reading to Pershore yesterday (1321 ex Padd). There were a handful of standing pax leaving Oxford, though perhaps every seat might not have been filled. However with people travelling away for the weekend and carrying suitcases, holdalls etc, it isn't the most comfortable of journeys.

   

[inspector_blakey]

The simple fact is that there's no way any intercity services other than the Cotswold Line can be operated with Turbos, so for the Cotswold line if there's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) shortage then Turbo substitution is a viable option rather than the rest of the system where it'll be an outright cancellation. Not ideal but better than no service at all...?

Anyway, the current HST shortage (are we still two sets down...?) caused by the incidents at Long Rock and Lavington would not have been anticipated when the additional summer service to Exeter was being planned several months ago.

[bigdaz]

I'm afraid I'm with the locals on this one!

Looking at the frequency of service between London and the Cotsworlds compared to London and Wales / London and the West Country, I believe the impact of cancelling one of the westbound services would have less of an impact than "tubosing" the Cotswold route.

Here's another thought, and I know it would be extended journey times - but why not have a couple of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) timetabled from Cardiff via Hereford and Oxford to Paddington and return!  This would then no missed Welsh service whilst providing a service for the Cotswold line... or is this practical suggestion of mine far too naive?

[Oxman]

Still two HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) down. The one that hit the tree at Lavington and the one that hit the dangling catenary and got 25KVA through the electrics.

[willc]

viable option

In the particular case of the 15.51, no, it isn't, due to a series of specific reasons affecting passenger numbers, noted above. And while the schools are off at the moment, the pupils' places are taken by people visiting Oxford for the day while on holiday in the Cotswolds and Vale.

If you still don't believe me, Insider posted the following in the thread about yesterday's chaos:

Firstly, the 15:51 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) was once again a three car Turbo.  I managed to see it leaving Oxford 10 minutes late and at a quick glance I reckon about 80 people were being forced to stand.  It was in the platform for about 5 or so minutes trying to squeeze everyone on!

Eighty standing would mean that even with an Adelante there would still be at least 50 without seats and in Turbo terms it's absolutely rammed - dangerously so, I would say - never mind all the big bags that many people travelling out of London on Fridays seem to need for the weekend. Good job this particular overloaded Turbo didn't encounter "a bad track bump" at speed.

Just because reaching for a Turbo is a nice easy option for the control room doesn't mean it is one that they should always exercise (and I'm not doctrinaire about it, see my comments on the case of the 17.50, though those going to Maidenhead may well disagree).

I suggested above that the next time they did this, someone should travel from Swindon to see the results of their decision. Sadly, I don't expect there was anyone in the throng trying to squeeze on at Reading or Oxford. I wonder what the loading on that extra train to Exeter is like? Anyone know?

[Worcester_Passenger]

Perhaps the moral of all of this is to take a photo next time anyone's on one of these trains (or others that are heavily-laden).

[Btline]

No - because you'll be arrested under anti-terror laws and your camera will be confiscated and destroyed by the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

Or, to non Daily Mail readers, you won't.

[IndustryInsider]

The simple fact is that there's no way any intercity services other than the Cotswold Line can be operated with Turbos...

I'll stress as usual that it's 'cabin gossip' but there has been murmurings of HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) Drivers learning Turbos, so that the odd lightly loaded lunchtime train from Paddington to Bristol and return can be operated by a Turbo.  I doubt that'll go down too well if it's true!

[grahame]

No - because you'll be arrested under anti-terror laws and your camera will be confiscated and destroyed by the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

Or, to non Daily Mail readers, you won't.

Don't read the Mail ...

... here's the Paddington to Great Malvern train that called at Reading yesterday (Saturday) at 15:55





I'm pretty sure that the loadings are very different Monday to Friday - as it pulled out, I estimate that between 50% and 70% of the seats were taken ...

[willc]

I'm pretty sure that the loadings are very different Monday to Friday

Er, yes. Plus on Saturday you have an hourly sequence out of London from 13.21 to 18.21, all running to Worcester and most going beyond, not a 90-minute gap before the 15.51 (and with the preceding train only going as far as Moreton-in-Marsh), and then no through service for another 90 minutes, and no issue with peak-time ticket restrictions.

[devon_metro]

The simple fact is that there's no way any intercity services other than the Cotswold Line can be operated with Turbos...

I'll stress as usual that it's 'cabin gossip' but there has been murmurings of HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) Drivers learning Turbos, so that the odd lightly loaded lunchtime train from Paddington to Bristol and return can be operated by a Turbo.  I doubt that'll go down too well if it's true!

Would like to see a 90mph DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) keep to those timings.

[Steve Bray]

Well next weekend, the 'Big Chill' pop festival is taking place at Eastnor, near Malvern with 35,000 expected (I think), so those Friday trains on the Cotswold Line will be extra-busy.....

[Worcester_Passenger]

Travelled on the 09:17 from Shrub Hill to Paddington today (Sunday Aug 1).

A Turbo.

This one is into Paddington at 11:52. The next one is two hours later. No prizes then for deducing that there will be a certain amount of day out traffic on it.

And indeed, it's standing room only from Charlbury.

At Oxford, sense prevailed, and an extra 3-car unit was attached to the back of the train. But, in the infinite wisdom that characterises Oxford, this unit was only added after all the passengers waiting on the platform had got on. No announcement to the effect that "there's more room in the 3 coaches that we've just added at the back of this train".

Attached photo shows interior shot on departure from Oxford. Do I have to start posting these on WikiLeaks instead of here?

As a result of the engineering work at Reading ("only a limited number of platforms in use"), we formed an orderly queue to get into the station, stopping well outside at 11:07 and then stopping twice more before arriving in Reading at 11:24. The joys of a well-planned timetable...

By Slough, all the aisles were full as well as the vestibules.

No catering trolley, not that it could have got through the train after Charlbury.

Came back on the 17:42 from Paddington. Again no catering trolley. Again standing in the vestibules, but fortunately only as far as Oxford.

I normally avoid travelling on any train on Sunday, but this feels horribly as if it's typical of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on a Sunday.

[Note to moderators - perhaps this thread could be renamed as "Cotswold Line journeys operated by Turbos - planned and HST^▸ (High Speed Train) substitutions"?]