Additional Trains to Weymouth during the Olympic Weeks

[whole diary]

[John R]

A not so good start to the Cardiff Weymouth Olympic service - cancelled between Cardiff and Bristol. Wonder whether that has left many passengers stranded in Wales with no way to get to Weymouth at a sensible time - or did FGW^▸ (First Great Western) make alternative provision?

[LiskeardRich]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have got round the juice problem by  using additional 158/159 into Weymouth, I've read on other forums, but havent found any thing from SWT showing they are doing this. They have hired an additional unit in from EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about). Although rumours elsewhere suggest swt drivers are refusing to drive it, due to lack of a locking door behind the cab. These same rumours suggest it will now be sub hired for the daily FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hire from SWT.

[paul7575]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have got round the juice problem by using additional 158/159 into Weymouth, I've read on other forums, but havent found any thing from SWT showing they are doing this.

If SWT are using DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) to allow existing timetabled services to run in longer formations, rather than as extras, they wouldn't necessarily need to publicise it at all.  People might just turn up and find a 158/159 combo (up to 10 cars) replacing a single 444, and another service running as a 10 car 444.

Paul

[Louis94]

If SWT^▸ (South West Trains) are using DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) to allow existing timetabled services to run in longer formations, rather than as extras, they wouldn't necessarily need to publicise it at all.  People might just turn up and find a 158/159 combo (up to 10 cars) replacing a single 444, and another service running as a 10 car 444.

Paul

It is not possible for anything longer than 5 cars to run beyond Poole, even if the other 5 car 444 services are replaced. Yesterday a group of units went empty to Bournemouth from Salisbury ready for these services, it was formed of 10 carriages 2 159s and 2 158s I believe.

These are what the additional 158s and 159s are operating this morning:

158884 + 159102
5Z77   BomoCSD   09:50   Bomo   10:09      
2Z77   Bomo   10:15   Weymth   11:10
5Z78   Weymth   11:25   BomoCSD   12:14

158885 + 159105
5Z79   BomoCSD   10:45   Bomo   11:00      
2Z79   Bomo   11:10   Weymth   12:01      
5Z80   Weymth   12:19   BomoCSD   13:10

Evening work for the 158/159s has not yet been allocated yet.

[paul7575]

It is not possible for anything longer than 5 cars to run beyond Poole, even if the other 5 car 444 services are replaced. Yesterday a group of units went empty to Bournemouth from Salisbury ready for these services, it was formed of 10 carriages 2 159s and 2 158s I believe.

I thought SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have said otherwise, because NR^» (Network Rail - home page) had allowed the DC^▸ (Direct Current) system to be temporarily overloaded: 

However, as a result of the power supply on the line to Weymouth, which was electrified in the late 1980s and the single track section on part of the route, the number and length of trains that run on this route are limited. We have worked in partnership with Network Rail to enable the maximum number of trains to operate during the Games, and to enable key trains to be strengthened by drawing extra power for this limited period.

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/games-train-tickets.aspx#102383

Nonetheless, my hypothetical strengthened 10 car 444 would not necessarily have to run beyond Bournemouth.   Substituting any 5.444 with a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) still allows extra overall capacity on the line, because the displaced unit could allow for a 5 car service from Waterloo to Bournemouth to become a 10 car to Bournemouth, IYSWIM...

Paul

[dorsetbeachcomber]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 159/158 ran into Weymouth this morning from Bournemouth, lightly filled.  Train returned ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) to Bournemouth.

Spoke to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Area Operations Manager in Weymouth this morning who said that the FGW HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) programmed to leave Weymouth each evening as 2Z97 at 20.49 weekdays 20.53 Sundays will only run if numbers demand. He felt that passenger numbers may not be high enough today.

[dorsetbeachcomber]

8-car class 450 ran into Weymouth on the 07.35 from London Waterloo today, very well-filled.

[Btline]

Why on earth didn't they upgrade the power supply in the past 7 years?

[MrC]

Why on earth didn't they upgrade the power supply in the past 7 years?

Because it works well enough for normal demands plus known peaks such as Weymouth Carnival and Bournemouth airshow. Why waste ^millions for a few weeks of possible high demand during the Olympics when you can temporarily bring in other diesel traction (158/159 & 220/221) to bolster services?

Plus the recent Basing - Soton Docks OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) announcements probably mean 3rd rail is dead in the medium/longer term anyway.

[WSW Frome]

Interesting to see mention of 2Z49 as an extra HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) working. If  this really is/was a planned service how is the Great British Public supposed to know about it. No sign of any publicity that I can detect.

What are the inbound working arrangments??

[dorsetbeachcomber]

Interesting to see mention of 2Z49 as an extra HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) working. If  this really is/was a planned service how is the Great British Public supposed to know about it. No sign of any publicity that I can detect.

What are the inbound working arrangments??

This HST is programmed to arrive at Weymouth at 20.41 from St Philips Marsh Depot, but will only run at the discretion of the Operations Manager, who told me this morning he wasn't sure tonight, as numbers didn't seem to warrant it going into Weymouth this morning.

[dorsetbeachcomber]

The incoming service to Weymouth from Cardiff (actually Bristol today) was packed. It consists of 3 x 153 and 1 x150. Same back this evening.

[IndustryInsider]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s token offering of the day, an 18:38 Weymouth to Birmingham New Street service has been provided by a 4-Car Voyager.  They couldn't even be bothered rostering a 5-Car on it, let alone an 8/9/10 car.  I'm not sure whether that's due to the number of people down there today, or just because XC are a pretty lethargic and shoddy TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

[grahame]

The incoming service to Weymouth from Cardiff (actually Bristol today) was packed. It consists of 3 x 153 and 1 x150. Same back this evening.

Yeah ... could have fill that today from Swindon without the Olympics  .  Understandable decision not to run from Swindon / Chippenham / Melksham today. Pity it had to kill the whole season for us ...

[dorsetbeachcomber]

The down Weymouth HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) is definitely running this evening. Left Castle Cary 14 late at 19.40.