New Timetable & Re-doubling follow on

[whole diary]

[Btline]

Removing that call would be very sensible.

[IndustryInsider]

Regarding the down 'Halts' train in the evening from Oxford, the new timetable says the train is subject to amendment from 14th September when it is planned to become an Adelante.

I understand that the amendment will mean that as a Class 180 it starts from Paddington at 16:15, calling at Maidenhead, Reading and Didcot Parkway before continuing as now from Oxford at 17:32. 

Presumably the 16:22ex Paddington HST^▸ (High Speed Train) will still run calling at Slough and Reading, but possibly then not at Didcot.  A possibility that it might become a Turbo as well I suppose?

If correct then it's an additional through service from London to the Cotswolds late afternoon (though not an especially fast one), additional capacity on the current 'Halts' train and a step up in comfort, as well as an additional fast service from London to Maidenhead.

[Southern Stag]

The complete FGW^▸ (First Great Western) timetable has it listed as a through train from September 17th.
London Paddington 16:12
Maidenhead 16:31
Reading 16:49
Didcot Parkway 17:15

The 16:22 from London currently leaves Reading at 16:52 and Didcot Parkway at 17:09, so possibly the Didcot call is dropped and the 16:12 is looped by the 16:22 at Didcot.

[IndustryInsider]

I did wonder about a 16:15 departure time as that would class with the Swansea train unless it was running 'relief' line (in which case it would clash with the 16:15 Greenford!), so a 16:12 departure would be more sensible, running on the 'main' until Maidenhead then crossing out of the way of the Swansea onto the 'relief' until at least Reading following the 15:42 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve) stopper (which leaves Maidenhead at 16:25 and arrives Reading at 16:44).

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

I was interested to read the above 3 comments regarding the substitution of an Adelante for the present 2-car evening CL stopper service from Oxford. First, I would like to know where the complete service timetable from 17 September can be seen. The reason I ask this is that I attended a meeting (as a user rep.) only 5 days ago with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff when various matters regarding the change were discussed. The meeting was advised of a plan to make the stopper from Oxford a through train from Paddington but it was made clear that no date for the change has been settled as there are a number of points  still to be ironed out, so such a change, if finally agreed, might not happen until later, (December? -my guess). The timing of a revised Paddington departure was discussed but the mentioned time does not tie in with the possible time given to the meeting. It seemed to me that the most likely change would be first to just change the 2-car Turbo for an Adelante with a possible London start coming later. In view of the various matters that need to be resolved, I do not think it would be appropriate to comment further as it would be mere speculation. Of course, it could be that minds have changed since the meeting last week!

However with regard to the suggested removal of Hanborough stops, I think this would be most unlikely. It would be more likely in my view that the few trains that currently do not stop at Hanborough could in the future call there when the timetable is next fully reviewed. The reason I say this is that it is understood that an announcement will be made shortly that a new 197 space car park will be built close to Hanborough station - (see http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9705225.Station_car_park_expansion_gains_approval/), giving Hanborough probably amongst the highest number of parking spaces of any CL station, especially when a further large car park is also under investigation to cope with the massive growth in people numbers using Hanborough station. We might even get a name change - Hanborough Parkway? to reflect that the Hanborough catchments area is very wide - again my speculation, not an offical view.

[IndustryInsider]

My source was a staff timetable briefing (produced over 5 days ago, but fairly recent).  Agreed that the date may well slip to December as the training/delivery of Class 180s is slipping a little and that it would make sense to introduce an Adelante to the 'Halts' train in the current timings.

Also, my comments regarding Hanborough's morning service were made last year, before the most welcome news of such a large car park expansion became much more than a pipe dream.  I would agree with 'CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about)'s comments that, if anything, an improved service should be offered when it gets built - though I'm sure the forum's resident Worcester Express Train Service Groups members (WETS) would disagree! 

[paul7575]

Is the Hanborough car park a pre-emptive strike against the new (but delayed) Water Eaton Parkway?

Paul

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

No direct connection with Watereaton Parkway, but if no increased car parking provision were to be made for stations such as Charlbury and Hanborough, Watereaton Parkway station would undoubtedly pick up much of the traffic growth expected over the coming years from the West Oxon area.

[Btline]

Is the Hanborough car park a pre-emptive strike against the new (but delayed) Water Eaton Parkway?

Probably, but I can't see why they're doing this. It's a big gamble. Passenger numbers may plummet once a Water Eaton Parkway with faster, more frequent, more reliable, more punctual and cheaper services with better rolling stock (free wifi and tables) starts.

Just my opinion.

IMO^▸ (in my opinion), a 180 is wasted on the halts train (unless there are no other Turbo services on the CL to replace, in which case it is sensible).

Absolutely delighted that even more services will be slowed down by a stop at Hanborough!

[Southern Stag]

I was interested to read the above 3 comments regarding the substitution of an Adelante for the present 2-car evening CL stopper service from Oxford. First, I would like to know where the complete service timetable from 17 September can be seen.

My information has come from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network timetable book, the one that can be bought at major stations for ^4.

[grahame]

Absolutely delighted that even more services will be slowed down by a stop at Hanborough!

Well - it's fifth out of 20 in traffic growth in percentage terms in the OX area over the last seven years, with only one other Cotswold line station doing better.  http://www.wellho.net/demo/railuse.php?place=OX

[Btline]

Maybe so, in an ideal world, the second Oxford fast would be extended to Charlbury or they'd be a local service to cover the Hanborough calls.

Slowing longer distance trains is suppressing demand in the West of the line or people seek faster services elsewhere (e.g. Warwick Parkway).

Going by that logic, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would stop everything at places like Didcot Parkway...

[Oxman]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the issue of bikes!

The down stopper, whilst currently only a two car turbo, usually has several bikes in each of its four vestibules. Adelantes can only carry six, three at each end, and only one end will be platformed at the smaller stations. Add to that the extra time needed to load/unload bikes from an Adelante and there may be trouble ahead........

[Richard Fairhurst]

Oxman - good point. There are currently posters at Cotswold Line stations advising that the down halts train can "only" carry eight bikes! And Adelante bike accommodation is a PITA^▸ (Pain in the A**e) - my one gripe with otherwise very comfortable trains.

Btline - if you go to Hanborough and see the number of cars parked up on the A4095 verge every day (to the exasperation of villagers) then you'll understand exactly why they're doing this. Similarly, it's not at all rare to see the "Sorry, car park full" board up at Charlbury.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

re Oxman's comment about bikes on the 2-car evening stopper - this was one of the main topics at the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) meeting I attended last week. There are a number of cyclists who take their bikes onto the train, some of whom use the Oxon halts. Unfortunately an Adelante will have only one of the the cycle storage compartments on the platforms of halts so that only 3 cycles can be taken to the halts (and Hanborough). FGW is trying to find a solution to this problem but each suggested solution seemed to raise further practical problems.