Southern route for FGW hst's

[whole diary]

[Southernman]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) are running an hourly service (albeit one is out of the normal regular interval) with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) operating a service every 2 hours (or so). The insertion of the Yeovil Junction stops is down to a confusion between the various parties I understand. SWT always thought stops were being made and FGW didnt! Interesting that one train is being looped and then passed by two trains following each other in the opposite direction at times! I dont think many more trains would be fitted in somehow!

With regard to the Axminster loop I believe that the a forthcoming resignalling will provide greater capacity on the line and then we may see the reason for the provision of so much signalling!

[JayMac]

Thanks for that information Southernman, and a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum. 

[Timmer]

The insertion of the Yeovil Junction stops is down to a confusion between the various parties I understand. SWT^▸ (South West Trains) always thought stops were being made and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) didnt!

This would never have happened in the days of British Rail  And at least a revised timetable would have been published, which incidently is available in the NRT^▸ (Network Rail Telecoms) for Sunday services whilst diversions via Yeovil are taking place between now and the end of March (Table 135). How accurate it will be now to what actually runs tomorrow is another question.

And we are told by FGW to consult the online journey planner even when that doesn't provide accurate information because they and some other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) cannot be bothered to publish revised timetables at times of engineering works. Should be mandatory IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion). If TOCs like SWT and East Coast can do it why can't others?

[vacman]

apparently the Yeovil PM and JN stops were put into the WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) for operational purpouses but somehow showed as passenger stops, hence the junction stops being "added" at the 11th hour.

[smokey]

Am I right in thinking Yeovil PM to JN is worked by a Token?

Be very interesting to see anything go between Junction and Pen Mill without stopping.

[bobm]

Perhaps I'm old fashioned but I always preferred the booklets FGW^▸ (First Great Western) did for engineering work rather than the reliance on the on-line planner.  Somehow it was more definite and substantial than an on-line guide which you can't take around with you.  Think they won special praise for their booklets at one point.  I know economics comes into it - but even so.

[Timmer]

Think they won special praise for their booklets at one point.  I know economics comes into it - but even so.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) did win praise for them and yes economics do come into it but that shouldn't stop them from publishing a revised timetable online so it can be printed out if you require. SWT^▸ (South West Trains) and East Coast are a good example of what can be done if you can be bothered.

FGW appear to even be economising on the info provided on their Timetable alterations and engineering works page. For example info provided for this weekends work and next weekend. Same work taking place:
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=720

Saturday 19 February LONDON PADDINGTON / BRISTOL TO WEST OF ENGLAND

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February 2011 the railway line between Taunton and Tiverton Parkway will be closed due to track improvement work.

As a result a revised timetable will be in operation between London Paddington / Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton / Exeter?St Davids / Paignton / Plymouth / Penzance.

The following is a summary of the changes.

Customers are advised to check journey times before travelling as services over the whole route are subject to change.
 
A limited through train services will operate between London Paddington and Penzance (in both directions). These trains will be diverted between Castle Cary and Exeter St Davids to run via Honiton with extended journey times. These trains will not call at Taunton or Tiverton Parkway.
 
A revised train services will be running between London Paddington and Taunton.
 
A revised train services will be running between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton.
 
A revised train services will be running between Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth via Exeter St Davids.
 
Replacement buses will be running between Taunton and Tiverton Parkway. Some bus services will be extended to run to / from Exeter St Davids.

Customers travelling on these routes are advised to check journey times before travelling as your journey times will have changed.

Saturday 26 February LONDON PADDINGTON TO THE WEST OF ENGLAND

Line closed Taunton to Tiverton Parkway with buses replacing trains. London Paddington to West of England services diverted with extended journey times

This page hasn't been updated for a couple of weeks now and only shows alterations to Friday 4th of March only with only the briefest of summaries for each piece of work taking place which is pretty poor when there are TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) who have information on forthcoming engineering taking place in May! Come on FGW sort it out. You encourage customers to obtain information about timetable alterations and engineering work from your website so its time to improve this part of your website.

FGW do many things well but provision of providing information is pretty lacking at times and needs to be improved.

[grahame]

08:03 Penzance to London Paddington due 15:05

This train has been revised.It will call additionally at: Honiton and Yeovil Junction.It will no longer call at: Chard Jn. S.B.This is due to an unusually large passenger flow. Last Updated: 20/02/2011 08:08

When's the next service to Chard Jn then 

[eightf48544]

just a thought what happens if someone gets on at Honiton or Yeovil Junction with a Waterloo ticket?

[Brucey]

just a thought what happens if someone gets on at Honiton or Yeovil Junction with a Waterloo ticket?

A walk-up ticket would be to London Terminals, so valid to Paddington also.

An advance ticket would be different - presumably the passenger would be considered ticketless as they aren't on the booked train.

[Timmer]

just a thought what happens if someone gets on at Honiton or Yeovil Junction with a Waterloo ticket?

Because WoE services will be so rammed this weekend because of the reduced frequency of services, the chances that they will even see ticket inspection will be pretty slim.

[old original]

Instructions were issued that during these weekend works, walk-on tickets routed "Taunton" would be valid on SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to Waterloo and "Honiton" routed ones would be valid on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services to Paddington.

No easements on Advance tickets though

[paul7575]

There's routeing easements for this regular event in the current ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) routeing guide list:

"10004 - During engineering works on days when trains which normally run via Taunton are diverted via Honiton, Yeovil Pen Mill and Castle Cary, tickets routed Taunton may be used on the diverted services. This easement applies in both directions."

"30069 - From stations Exeter St Davids to Crewkerne (inclusive) tickets routed Woking, AP Woking, AP Woking London, Salisbury, Honiton, AP Honiton and AP London Honiton may travel via Reading on Great Western services during engineering works."

The latter might be an anachronism, because SWT^▸ (South West Trains)'s almost normal service is running.  Should cover most potential arguments you might have with a guard though...   

Doesn't help with Advance fares of course - for those you still need to be on the correct service.

Paul

 

[bobm]

08:03 Penzance to London Paddington due 15:05

This train has been revised.It will call additionally at: Honiton and Yeovil Junction.It will no longer call at: Chard Jn. S.B.This is due to an unusually large passenger flow. Last Updated: 20/02/2011 08:08

When's the next service to Chard Jn then 

Looks like the signalman at Chard is out of luck today!

14:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 20:42
This train has been revised.It will call additionally at: Honiton and Yeovil Junction.It will no longer call at: Chard Jn. S.B.This is due to an unusually large passenger flow.


Last Updated: 20/02/2011 13:18

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

is the old passing loop still serviceable ?