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New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4887 Written by CliveD on Thursday, 19th April 2007 I have been given a copy of the provisional timetable for the Cardiff / Bristol / Bath / Westbury / Portsmouth / Weymouth effective from 20-May, and I have come across some nasty surprises with particular regard to the Weymouth line and services or rather lack of them on Saturday evenings which I thought I would highlight. With Regard to Frome and stations to Weymouth, weekday services in both directions are more or less the same as they are now except that the 0535 Weymouth will go through to Cardiff. However, it is on Saturdays where there is the sting in the tail particularly from the Bristol / Bath direction. They are the same as now up to the 1600 ex-Cardiff (1704 from Bristol) service including the ridiculous 3 hour gaps in the morning and afternoon. But, the very last service for stations to Weymouth on a summer Saturday will now leave Cardiff 2 hours earlier at 1700 (1804 from Bristol) instead of the current 1900, which still runs but terminates at Westbury!. This will also be the last train to Frome arriving at 1904, as the current late evening terminating trains arriving at 2157 (1950 ex-Cardiff) and 0002 (2158 ex-Cardiff) both of which are withdrawn completely! Not only that, the last train from Cardiff to Portsmouth is at 2030 (2122 Bristol), and the very last train from Bristol to Westbury will be3 the 2223 South West Trains service to Salisbury. From Weymouth however there is no change to the current except that the 1721 departs at 1749. On Sundays, until 9 September there now appears to be 2 trains to Weymouth in the morning (initial rumours had none and then only 1) leaving Westbury at 0900 and 1003 (0915 ex Bristol) and then nothing until 1415, 1830 (1742 Bristol) and 2138 (2049 Bristol). From Weymouth, departures are 1109 to Westbury, 1410, 1615, 1800 and 2003 all to Bristol. Whether these trains will be formed of more than 2 coaches remains to be seen; I am aware that at the moment FGW are not planning to strengthen any Weymouth services at all either on Saturday or Sunday. I haven't studied the timestable in great detail for elsewhere yet, although my general observation is that weekdays seem the same as they are now. But I did note there is only 1 train shown running from Swindon to Westbury on a Saturday departing at 2052. To me, this is further evidence that First Group have no interest in providing a decent service to the ex-Wessex lines, and that they are only concerned in the Inter-City and communter services to/from London rather than leisure travellers. Coupled with the fact that the ex-Transpennine Class 158 units currently trundling around are set to disappear to the Northern franchise from this December, the future continues to look bleak, and we've still got 9 years to go! Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4888 Written by Lee on Thursday, 19th April 2007 [quote author=CliveD link=topic=2043.msg4887#msg4887 date=1176973648]To me, this is further evidence that First Group have no interest in providing a decent service to the ex-Wessex lines, and that they are only concerned in the Inter-City and communter services to/from London rather than leisure travellers. Coupled with the fact that the ex-Transpennine Class 158 units currently trundling around are set to disappear to the Northern franchise from this December, the future continues to look bleak, and we've still got 9 years to go![/quote] Here are a couple of links related to this. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=243.msg590#msg590 http://forum.moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/index.php?topic=60.msg137#msg137 Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4890 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 19th April 2007 [quote author=CliveD link=topic=2043.msg4887#msg4887 date=1176973648] t studied the timestable in great detail for elsewhere yet, although my general observation is that weekdays seem the same as they are now. But I did note there is only 1 train shown running from Swindon to Westbury on a Saturday departing at 2052. [/quote] According to the online timetables, there's also a 15:19 getting in to Westbury at 16:02 .... little / no change from the presentg service, and I would EXPECT 2 trains as it's the government's minimum spec. Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4976 Written by CliveD on Tuesday, 24th April 2007 The new timetables from May are available to download from the FGW website. A quick glance at the Bristol Weymouth service shows that some of my original suspicsions concerning Saturday evenings are now unfounded i.e the last train to Weymouth from Bristol is now 2052 (1950 ex Cardiff), and Frome has its last train back arr at 0002. I will be studying with interest! Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4978 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 24th April 2007 May 2007 Timetable Links : Swindon - Westbury. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/Timetables/May%2007/Book%20E/swindon-westbury.pdf Bristol - Weymouth. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/Timetables/May%2007/Book%20E/bristol-weymouth.pdf Bristol Area including Portsmouth - Cardiff. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/Timetables/May%2007/Book%20E/bristol%20area.pdf Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4979 Written by Graz on Tuesday, 24th April 2007 I can't honestly see that many "improvements" at all, if any. I was wondering whether I was looking at the old timetable. - Still a 2 hr gap at Keynsham/Oldfield Park, despite promises to fill it. - Still horrendus gaps to Gloucester early morning, with just 1 peak FGW train. - Still no improvement to the Melksham service at all. the term 'I hate FGW' is starting to ring true to me :( Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4980 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 24th April 2007 A few days back, I wrote to FGW explaining how their current timetable had badly let us down in Melksham, describing our customer's requriement to arrive at around 09:00 from London and return at around 17:00. I welcomed Alison Forster's admisssions that they have let their customers down and that we would be seeing improvements, and I asked for details of those improvements as far as my customers are concerned. The reply tells me that they're posting me a new draft timetable from 20th May. As I've just seen that on line and I don't see how it improves things for us, I've just folled up with a request for clarification. Let you know if I hear! Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4994 Written by courgettelawn on Wednesday, 25th April 2007 Nothing of interest to note for my regular route between Salisbury and Southampton. Still can't get to Chippenham without a to-do at Bath. Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/4997 Written by tramway on Wednesday, 25th April 2007 Still the best part of an hour in and 40 mins back for me. ::) ::) ::) Who ever advised Don Foster to endorse more Freshford stops needs serious medical help.... Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/5136 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 8th May 2007 [quote author=Graz link=topic=2043.msg4979#msg4979 date=1177436417]I can't honestly see that many "improvements" at all, if any. I was wondering whether I was looking at the old timetable. - Still a 2 hr gap at Keynsham/Oldfield Park, despite promises to fill it. - Still horrendus gaps to Gloucester early morning, with just 1 peak FGW train. - Still no improvement to the Melksham service at all. the term 'I hate FGW' is starting to ring true to me :([/quote] Further comment from FOSBR : The "final" printed summer timetables (valid from Sunday 20 May) should have been available ON REQUEST from staffed stations from yesterday. Yesterday at Temple Meads, position was:- Table A from London - available on request Table B Devon & Cornwall - available on request. Table E Bristol area - not available: they were sent 2 lots of Table B ! There should be a new mini-timetable E6 Severn Beach to Bristol and Bath. The FOSBR stall at Redland Fayre, (Redland Green 1200 - 1630) on Monday will have some Bristol Area Table E ones which were sent direct to FOSBR. Mon - Fri the last train to Severn Beach & back is half an hour later (restoring a 36 minute connection from the 1930 from Paddington). Mon - Fri the Weston - Filton trains departing Temple Meads 1716 & 1816 call additionally at Stapleton Road. On Saturdays the 0735 from Temple Meads still runs "fast" to Clifton Down (slightly faster than stopping trains) but without a 3 minutes earlier arrival at Clifton Down footnote. Mon - Fri the first bus from Severn Beach to Avonmouth is five minutes earlier to give a more robust 10 (instead of 5) minutes connection with the train. Mon - Fri the train which arrives Temple Meads 1805 after calling at Stapleton Road & Lawrence Hill now starts at Worcs Shrub Hill (previously Filton). On Saturdays the 2022 from Severn Beach still has 12 minutes (instead of the usual 5) between Montpelier & Stapleton Road. On Sundays the first train to Weymouth (until 9 Sept) from Bristol arrives late morning (instead of current "winter" late afternoon) and follows the first Cardiff to Portsmouth train. Earlier Sunday Weymouth train (until 9 Sept) starts at Westbury but has no connection from Bristol. ---------------------------------------------------------- As usual there are some inconsistencies in the timetables e.g. the first Saturday train from Swansea to Paddington (via Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads & Bath):- Table A omits the stop at Bristol Temple Meads arr 0552 dep 0600. Table E fails to show a destination of London Paddington and from 15 Sept shows "cycles only carried with advance reservations". In Table E some trains terminate at Great Malvern but only return south from Worcester Shrub Hill (just like some Wessex trains initially pretended to be a different train company when returning from Great Malvern to Worcester Shrub Hill). In Table E the Northbound 0759 VT from Temple Meads to Newcastle fails to show that it starts from Cardiff (like it currently does) despite this being the main morning Severn Tunnel Junction train. CYCLES ON FGW TRAINS On most of the services to/from Portsmouth Harbour/Brighton/|Weymouth and Cardiff, cycles are only carried with advance reservations (according to the timetable header). This will affect most of the "local" Bristol to Bath trains. However, on most of the High Speed services between Bristol and Bath (Table A), cycle reservations are recommended but not compulsory. The Timetables still have an unhelpful blanket cycle clause "On non reservable services up to 2 cycles can be conveyed on a first come first served basis." Ominously, page 84 of Table A includes " On weekdays reservations must be made on trains which arrive into London Paddington between 0700 - 0744 and between 0946 - 1000 and also on those trains departing London Paddington between 1500 - 1629 and 1831 - 1900." " For safety reasons we have a cycle ban in place on many trains arriving London Paddington from 0745 - 0945 and on those departing London Paddington from 1630 - 1830. There are no such restrictions at weekend. " When the trains run to/from beyond Temple Meads in Table E (according to the timetable header) "Cycles not allowed". If this is rigorously enforced it may apply to local journeys miles away from Paddington e.g. between Bristol & Bath or Weston & Bristol. When a Trans Pennine Class 158 appeared on the Severn Beach line its"metal broom cupboard" side facing the central corridor had been stripped Re: New Timetable from 20-May - 2043/5157 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 9th May 2007 More on this from FOSBR : There are some inconsistencies in the new timetables. The first Saturday train from Swansea to Paddington (via Bristol Parkway,Bristol Temple Meads & Bath):- Table A P54 omits the stop at Bristol Temple Meads arr 0552, dep 0600. Table E P23 & P37 fails to show a destination of London Paddington and P37 incorrectly shows this train with a (red infilled circle) header " cycles only carried with advance reservations" (on a train arriving Paddington at weekend !). Table E Some trains terminate at Great Malvern but only return south from Worcester Shrub Hill (just like some Wessex trains initially pretended to be a different TOC when returning from Great Malvern to Worcester Shrub Hill). Later in the Wessex franchise & earlier in the current FGW franchise returning trains WERE SHOWN (either as a through train or in separate legs) regardless of internal railway accounting amongst TOCs. The current timetable shows some return journeys from Great Malvern to Worcester Shrub Hill as a separate leg. New timetables show:- P78 Great Malvern arr 0932 P13 Worcester Shrub Hill dep 1036 P80 Great Malvern arr 1136 P14 Worcester Shrub Hill dep 1236 P83 Great Malvern arr 1530 P18 Worcester Shrub Hill dep 1635 P85 Great Malvern arr 1732 P20 Worcester Shrub Hill dep 1836 *** Why have some return legs between Great Malvern & Worcester Shrub Hill (journey time approx 16 minutes) been totally omitted? *** Table E P79 the Northbound 0759 VT from Temple Meads to Newcastle fails to show that it starts from Cardiff (like it currently does) despite this being a major morning train from Wales including the much publicised Severn Tunnel Junction stop. link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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