Severn Tunnel Action Group Call For Better Connections From Bath

[whole diary]

[Jim]

Muppets who managed to get their peak hour service restored to half hourly much quicker than most other campaigns have achieved any results - and from a standing start too. Let's try and keep positive relations with groups that broadly want to achieve the same aims as we do.

They may well want to, but they don't get my vote looking at things in a impractical way.

Yes, I agree they should get something to happen, I think they should get the 18.38 Bath-Cardiff stopping at the Tunnel, that way you've got both sides happier, BUT it does get on my wick when they insist on catching the train with the longest connection time at Bristol and claim it is "The Connection"

Moving to a different line - a service where everyone is agreed that the current service is totally inappropriate ... Swindon to Melksham.   Let me compare 3 journeys as offered by the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) web site / phone enquiry team .... for a departure at 17:45 or just thereafter.

See Grahme, you campaign gets my support, because your not trying to seek something un-reasonable, and your being as flexiable as posiable about your journey, realisitcally.

Not trying to suggest that STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group)'s aims are to the contary, but I think they could become slightly more flexiable.

However, one thing thaat STAG have NOT commented on to my knowledge, is the hourly service on Sundays, which I belive is a huge improvment to the previous FGW offering

[Lee]

Between 1735 (when peak direct Bath - STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) services end) and 2135 (when evening direct Bath - STJ services resume) I could only find the following from December 2007.

Via Newport :

1835 Bath Spa - Newport arrive 1925 - 45 minute wait then change into 2010 Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 2021. Overall journey time 1 hour 46 minutes.

1937 Bath Spa - Newport arrive 2023 - 51 minute wait then change into 2114 Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 2124. Overall journey time 1 hour 47 minutes.

2035 Bath Spa - Newport arrive 2128 - 49 minute wait then change into 2217 Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 2233. Overall journey time 1 hour 58 minutes.

Compared with a direct Bath - STJ journey time of around 40 minutes , there would appear to be no contest.

Lets try via Bristol Temple Meads (mininum connection time 10 minutes) :

1900 Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads arrive 1915 - 10 minute wait then change into 1925 Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 1947. Overall journey time 47 minutes.

1937 Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads arrive 1949 - 30 minute wait then change into 2019 Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 2046. Overall journey time 1 hour 9 minutes.

2035 Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads arrive 2050 - 29 minute wait then change into 2119 Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Tunnel Junction arrive 2148. Overall journey time 1 hour 13 minutes.

Better , but still not great. You could change at Filton Abbey Wood if you wished on the latter 2 journeys , but the wait would be about the same , with nowhere to get a cuppa......

Whatever your feelings towards STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group) (and I detect a little animosity among some members) dont forget that Bath - STJ direct services are being reduced from 18 westbound and 17 eastbound to 5 westbound and 6 eastbound on Monday - Fridays. They feel that such a large cut gives them a legitimate grievance.

That's enough from me anyway. I refer you to the quote below (Jim , I know nobody's blaming me for posting the press release) :

For more info or to give STAG your comments on the above press release , contact them at info@saveseverntunnel.co.uk

They will be more than happy to answer your queries.

[grahame]

This topic is currently locked - it's getting a little heated, with much of the heat from the oxyacetelene torch being turned on the messenger.   As there are few of the people who are directly effected by the specific journey here, can I suggest this carries on via the STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group) links provided.

[Lee]

I think what annoyed me about this was that STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group) have been very active in publicising this forum for us (see their link page below.)
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/links.htm

I have noticed that we havent attracted as many "South Wales local journeys" members as one would expect. Whilst everyone on the forum has a right to disagree with what's written , I do wonder what the effect on a STAG member clicking on the link and finding the group he / she supports being described as "muppets" is.

That said , I probably take things a little too personally when my friends are criticised , and I apologise for that.