Chiltern Mainline: Nice & Fast!

[whole diary]

[Btline]

It will most likely be a defensive driving policy/unfamiliarity of stock.

Yeah - hopefully it will improve with time. Those Warwick Parkway commuters were itching to get off!

Btw - before each stop, the guard sensibly told passengers how to open the doors, and to close them behind. As a result, there have been none of the chaotic scenes as on the Cotswold line when 180s were binned, with passengers leaving doors open and not knowing how to get off. As a result, dwells were pretty good.

[stebbo]

Am I sure I read this right - passengers can't work out how to open a door?

[Btline]

Am I sure I read this right - passengers can't work out how to open a door?

With passengers not used to Mark 3 rolling stock - you'd be surprised.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. 

Visitors from the USA (just for example: visitors from anywhere else in the World are equally welcome!) are not necessarily familiar with the door opening procedure on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at Bath Spa.

A few months ago, having boarded the train, with dispatchers already slamming the doors shut, I noted an American couple with several suitcases in the adjoining vestibule, frantically scrabbling on the inside of the door for a handle release.  Seeing their plight, I promptly shoved down the droplight, reached out and opened the door and jumped down onto the platform, with a cheery "Welcome to Bath!"

The grateful couple (who would otherwise have been overcarried to Bristol Temple Meads, and been left with a bad impression of the British railway system) thanked me (albeit hurriedly!) as I got back on board and slammed the door shut behind me.

Moral of the story: Accepting that we do have such 'old style' railway stock, with slam doors, please make allowances for those who are not familiar with such procedures. 

[Ollie]

I have seen people press the "Door Unlocked" light.

[inspector_blakey]

Moral of the story: Accepting that we do have such 'old style' railway stock, with slam doors, please make allowances for those who are not familiar with such procedures. 

I understand the sentiment, but there is a sticker posted on the door giving very clear opening instructions which is as big as it can be given the space constraints. Station dwell times are often fairly tight and platform staff are quite rightly keen to ensure trains are despatched smartly so that they don't have delay minutes attributed to them. I find it difficult to see how much more of an allowance can be made.

Incidentally, there is a definite cultural difference between America and the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) in terms of station dwell times - very, very relaxed in the US to the extent that people often don't even start getting out of their seat and collecting their luggage until the train has stopped at their station, and the staff are generally in no hurry to move things along either. They're not even equipped with whistles...

[ChrisB]

Ditto the SWiss. But us Brits have to be as quick as possible. It's silly, really.

[TerminalJunkie]

To:  Chiltern Railways

We, the undersigned, are long-suffering commuters of Chiltern Railways who wish to strongly protest against the restructuring of the timetable. We require prompt action by the rail company to address our concerns.

[...]

[ChrisB]

Stuttering along at 21 signatures over 4 days now - but Chiltern do have a serious problem in their heartland timetable (PRR^▸ (Princes Risborough) and south of). Services reduced, but with insufficient seats for the number wishing to catch patrticular high-peak trains.

I've no problem with reducing the number of trains, but they've got to give everyone wanting to travel a seat. Ak=lso, GCR^» (Gloucester - next trains) is now less than 20 minutes into LOndon, so Chiltern think standing is now ok....!

[Btline]

It'll get sorted in December. They just need to move stock around and change some stopping patterns south of Banbury.

Remember, they now have the Mark 3 sets and several 172s. There is enough stock.

[ChrisB]

December??? You've got to be joking!...? Questions will get asked in Parliament (MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) use the service!) if it's not sorted by the end of this month.

Also, final close on the December TT is only a matter of a couple of weeks away anyway. Their problem is that stock can't get any longer on the few trains in the high peak hour as they are already full-length for the platforms. While supplying 3000 extra seats in the peaks, what they've missed is corectly estimating the numbers arriving for the few trains they are running in the high-peak.

I've asked the question, but I think they are at full stock usage in the peaks, so, no, there are no suitable units spare - and in any case, they can't be added to the trains that are seriously overcrowded for the reason already alluded to.

They've a Meet the Manager tomorrow when I hope to get some clue as to their initial solution - but it won't be easy. There are spare Mk3 coaches, but not in any state for passenger use.....and overnight staorage might be difficult at short notice anyway.

It'll get sorted in December. They just need to move stock around and change some stopping patterns south of Banbury.

Like where, pray? Without delaying their precious Mainline timings?.....THe other trains are all full already. I really don't see how you can blithly say that, without commuting to see how they are running pax-wise.

Remember, they now have the Mark 3 sets and several 172s. There is enough stock.

Another statement without suitable knowledge! the 8car 172 fleet is already out in use, and has been since the last TT. 165007 is out of use since the cow incident (bet you didn't know that either?). There are no extra loco+coach stock ready for service - indeed, one set is away having power-doors fitted (did you know that?).

Please don't maker such silly, didactic statements without having suitable knowledge at your fingertips.

[devon_metro]

Ah but ChrisB, you seem to be forgetting that AXED stops means an improved timetable... 

[ChrisB]

That seems to be Chiltern's thinking! Others of course, may & do vary...

[Btline]

The AXED stops on "Mainline" trains are not Gerrards Cross, Becons etc. Of course, you don't mention the Mainline services that have additional stops in the morning peak for the benefit of the aforementioned stations.

I know the fleet is being used. What I was saying is that stock levels have increased recently with the extra carriages, and that that will help.

I'm sure a solution can be found. You say that the trains that don't stop are already packed and yet you also say the current trains are packed. Umm, so how will that work? And how did it work before. I doubt they have the stock or paths for extra services.

[ChrisB]

The AXED stops on "Mainline" trains are not Gerrards Cross, Becons etc. Of course, you don't mention the Mainline services that have additional stops in the morning peak for the benefit of the aforementioned stations.

You don't read, do you? No one said there were AXED stops on Mainline services. I said these were already full. AS are, IN THE HIGH PEAK, the heartland services, so NO EXTRA stops can be put in Mainline trains to serve the heartlands BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY FULL.

I know the fleet is being used. What I was saying is that stock levels have increased recently with the extra carriages, and that that will help.

Not if Chiltern are already utilising them, which they are, pretty much.

I'm sure a solution can be found. You say that the trains that don't stop are already packed and yet you also say the current (yes, stopping) trains are packed. Umm, so how will that work?

Exactly. My point. And Chiltern's problem.

And how did it work before.

More, shorter trains. At times that people wanted to travel.

I doubt they have the stock or paths for extra services.

I thought you said there was an EASY solution? :-)

There may well be a path or two. One reason I can see for AXED paths is to make room for the forthcoming Oxford services - they may well have made allowance for their introduction in this TT as it's supposedly the last big change before their introduction. If so, then they'll have to nick one or more back to cure the current problem & recast again in a year or so for Oxford....

If this is the case, then a path is found - they just need the stock. THey may have to AXE one of the later shoulder-peaks to get the stock.