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Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1973 Written by Lee on Friday, 17th November 2006 Passengers using Saltash station are dismayed that First Great Western has failed to preserve service levels at Saltash in the face of pressure from the Department for Transport (link below.) http://www.srug.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=2 Speaking for Saltash Rail Users Group (SRUG), Roger Creagh-Osborne(chair) said "The loss of the early dockyard train, the massive cuts in off peak services, and the cuts in useful services to the West of the county will all have the effect of forcing more people onto the roads. The fine words of the government on tackling climate change are totally undermined by the actions of their civil servants in DfT" Richard Bickford for SRUG added "We still have 23 trains each way passing through the station, many of these terminate or start locally and could make an extra stop with minimal effect on the timetable. By failing to provide a service that meets the needs of passengers FGW are loosing customers who it will be difficult to regain in the future." SRUG are organising a public meeting on 23rd November at 7pm in Saltash Guildhall (link below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=615.msg1858#msg1858 Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1980 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Saturday, 18th November 2006 Although this post isn't following up concerning Saltash, it may be pertinant to the case there ... please read on I was having a discussion last night concerning just why, with a population of around 24,000, with an excellent business case for a 2-hourly service in addition to the proposed marginal time service using the Stroud Valley unit, the TransWilts service seems to have been shrunk to an-viable alternative from December. One of the options suggested was that, with the emphasis on service punctuallit and reliability, it's better for the operator (First) to run minimal trains, and at quiet times only. Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1982 Written by Lee on Saturday, 18th November 2006 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=653.msg1980#msg1980 date=1163845506]I see mention of First main line and Virgin trains at Saltash and I know that the bridge (at least) is single track. Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1987 Written by Lee on Saturday, 18th November 2006 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=653.msg1980#msg1980 date=1163845506]Although this post isn't following up concerning Saltash, it may be pertinant to the case there ... please read on I was having a discussion last night concerning just why, with a population of around 24,000, with an excellent business case for a 2-hourly service in addition to the proposed marginal time service using the Stroud Valley unit, the TransWilts service seems to have been shrunk to an-viable alternative from December. One of the options suggested was that, with the emphasis on service punctuallit and reliability, it's better for the operator (First) to run minimal trains, and at quiet times only. Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1992 Written by Lee on Sunday, 19th November 2006 Here is a link to the London to Cheltenham Spa , Bristol & South Wales and Somerset December 2006 timetable. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/Timetables/December%202006/Book%20A%20REVISED%20(London,%20Cheltenham,%20Bristol,%20South%20Wales,%20Somerset).pdf The above timetable service pattern (excluding the Weston - Super - Mare / West Country / West Wales extensions) requires 23 "Inter - City" trains & 2 non "Inter - City" Stroud Valley Line units. As you can see , there are long turnarounds at Cardiff Central , Cheltenham Spa & Swansea. A more efficient service pattern would be as follows : London Paddington xx00 - Reading xx26 - Didcot Parkway xx41 - Swindon xx00 - Chippenham xx15 - Bath Spa xx31 - Bristol Temple Meads xx46. London Paddington xx15 - Reading xx41 - Swindon xx10 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx37 depart xx39 - Newport xx02 - Cardiff Central arrive xx18 depart xx19 - Bridgend xx39 - Port Talbot Parkway xx52 - Neath xx59 - Swansea xx13. London Paddington xx30 - Reading xx56 - Didcot Parkway xx11 - Swindon xx30 - Chippenham xx45 - Bath Spa xx01 - Bristol Temple Meads xx16. London Paddington xx45 - Reading xx11 - Swindon xx40 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx07 depart xx09 - Newport xx32 - Cardiff Central xx48. London Paddington xx48 - Reading xx16 - Swindon arrive xx47 depart xx52 - Kemble xx07 - Stroud xx23 - Stonehouse xx29 - Gloucester arrive xx45 depart xx51 - Cheltenham Spa xx01. Cardiff Central xx54 - Newport xx08 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx29 depart xx31 - Swindon arrive xx57 depart xx59 - Reading xx30 - London Paddington xx03. Bristol Temple Meads xx30 - Bath Spa arrive xx41 depart xx42 - Chippenham xx55 - Swindon arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Didcot Parkway xx28 - Reading xx44 - London Paddington xx15. Cheltenham Spa - xx15 - Gloucester arrive xx25 depart xx35 - Stonehouse xx48 - Stroud xx54 - Kemble xx08 - Swindon arrive xx22 depart xx23 - Reading xx56 - London Paddington xx26. Swansea xx30 - Neath xx40 - Port Talbot Parkway xx49 - Bridgend xx00 - Cardiff Central arrive xx22 depart xx24 - Newport xx38 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx59 depart xx01 - Swindon arrive xx27 depart xx29 - Reading xx00 - London Paddington xx33. Bristol Temple Meads xx00 - Bath Spa arrive xx11 depart xx12 - Chippenham xx25 - Swindon arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Didcot Parkway xx58 - Reading xx14 - London Paddington xx45. The above timetable would still require 23 "Inter - City" trains , but with a key difference. The London - Cheltenham Spa frequency would be increased from 2 - hourly to hourly , as recommended by Jacobs Consultancy in the Greater Western Franchise Replacement Outline Business Case Report (pages 61 & 62 of the link below.) http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_612538.pdf This would free up the 2 non "Inter - City" Stroud Valley Line units , thus enabling the following services to be operated : Westbury 0745 - Trowbridge 0751 - Melksham 0800 - Chippenham 0811 - Swindon arrive 0830 depart 0833 - Didcot Parkway arrive 0855 depart 0856 - Oxford arrive 0909 depart 0911 - Islip 0924 - Bicester Town 0937. Southampton Central 0837 - Romsey 0849 - Dunbridge 0854 - Dean 0900 - Salisbury arrive 0913 depart 0915 - Warminster 0935 - Dilton Marsh 0940 - Westbury arrive 0944 depart 0945 - Trowbridge 0951 - Melksham 1000 - Chippenham 1011 - Swindon arrive 1030 depart 1033 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1055 depart 1056 - Oxford arrive 1109 depart 1111 - Islip 1124 - Bicester Town 1137. Salisbury 1215 - Warminster 1235 - Dilton Marsh 1240 - Westbury arrive 1244 depart 1245 - Trowbridge 1251 - Melksham 1300 - Chippenham 1311 - Swindon arrive 1330 depart 1333 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1355 depart 1356 - Oxford arrive 1409 depart 1411 - Islip 1424 - Bicester Town 1437. Salisbury 1415 - Warminster 1435 - Dilton Marsh 1440 - Westbury arrive 1444 depart 1445 - Trowbridge 1451 - Melksham 1500 - Chippenham 1511 - Swindon arrive 1530 depart 1533 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1555 depart 1556 - Oxford arrive 1609 depart 1611 - Islip 1624 - Bicester Town 1637. Southampton Central 1737 - Romsey 1749 - Dunbridge 1754 - Dean 1800 - Salisbury arrive 1813 depart 1815 - Warminster 1835 - Dilton Marsh 1840 - Westbury arrive 1844 depart 1845 - Trowbridge 1851 - Melksham 1900 - Chippenham 1911 - Swindon arrive 1930 depart 1933 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1955 depart 1956 - Oxford arrive 2009 depart 2011 - Islip 2024 - Bicester Town 2037. Salisbury 1915 - Warminster 1935 - Dilton Marsh 1940 - Westbury arrive 1944 depart 1945 - Trowbridge 1951 - Melksham 2000 - Chippenham 2011 - Swindon arrive 2030 depart 2034 - Kemble 2048 - Stroud 2103 - Stonehouse 2108 - Gloucester arrive 2123 depart 2127 - Cheltenham Spa 2137. Westbury 2245 - Trowbridge 2251 - Melksham 2300 - Chippenham 2311 - Swindon arrive 2330 depart 2333 - Didcot Parkway arrive 2355 depart 2356 - Oxford 0009. Oxford 0545 - Didcot Parkway arrive 0556 depart 0557 - Swindon 0620 - Chippenham 0636 - Melksham 0647 - Trowbridge 0656 - Westbury arrive 0702 depart 0705 - Dilton Marsh 0708 - Warminster 0713 - Salisbury 0737 - Dean 0750 - Dunbridge 0756 - Romsey 0802 - Southampton Central 0815. Cheltenham Spa 0540 - Gloucester arrive 0553 depart 0600 - Stonehouse 0613 - Stroud 0619 - Kemble 0633 - Swindon arrive 0647 depart 0650 - Chippenham 0706 - Melksham 0717 - Trowbridge 0726 - Westbury 0732. Bicester Town 0942 - Islip 0954 - Oxford arrive 1008 depart 1010 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1021 depart 1022 - Swindon 1045 - Chippenham 1101 - Melksham 1112 - Trowbridge 1121 - Westbury 1127 - Dilton Marsh 1130 - Warminster 1135 - Salisbury 1156. Bicester Town 1142 - Islip 1154 - Oxford arrive 1208 depart 1210 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1221 depart 1222 - Swindon arrive 1245 depart 1255 - Chippenham 1311 - Melksham 1322 - Trowbridge 1331 - Westbury 1337 - Dilton Marsh 1340 - Warminster 1345 - Salisbury 1406. Bicester Town 1442 - Islip 1454 - Oxford arrive 1508 depart 1510 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1521 depart 1522 - Swindon 1545 - Chippenham 1601 - Melksham 1612 - Trowbridge 1621 - Westbury 1627 - Dilton Marsh 1630 - Warminster 1635 - Salisbury 1656 - Dean 1710 - Dunbridge 1716 - Romsey 1721 - Southampton Central 1732. Bicester Town 1642 - Islip 1654 - Oxford arrive 1708 depart 1710 - Didcot Parkway arrive 1721 depart 1722 - Swindon 1745 - Chippenham 1801 - Melksham 1812 - Trowbridge 1821 - Westbury 1827 - Dilton Marsh 1830 - Warminster 1835 - Salisbury 1856. Bicester Town 2042 - Islip 2054 - Oxford arrive 2108 depart 2110 - Didcot Parkway arrive 2121 depart 2122 - Swindon 2145 - Chippenham 2201 - Melksham 2212 - Trowbridge 2221 - Westbury 2227. NOTES 1) I have not , as yet , managed to ascertain how many extra freight trains are planned for the Southampton - Chippenham corridor. However , the above timings leave plenty of room for extra freight / passenger trains to be added in the future. 2) Weston - Super - Mare / West Country / West Wales extensions would still be possible using the extra stock already allocated for those services. 3) The above timings are compatible with the proposed Weymouth - Severn Beach & Portsmouth - Cardiff timetables contained within the link below. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=410.msg1215#msg1215 Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1995 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 19th November 2006 Yes, that looks excellent work, Lee. I understand that consultations for December 2007 are due to take place in the next month, so now would be an excellent time to put this to First and show them how they can get more services and income from their resources. P.S. Have you also released some resources in the Oxford area / Bicester service? Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/1996 Written by Sion Bretton on Sunday, 19th November 2006 Lee I like this timetable Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/2001 Written by Lee on Monday, 20th November 2006 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=653.msg1995#msg1995 date=1163967557]P.S. Have you also released some resources in the Oxford area / Bicester service? [/quote] It depends what you mean by "released" , Graham. [quote author=Lee link=topic=590.msg1765#msg1765 date=1162049531] [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=590.msg1763#msg1763 date=1162046906]Quote from Wikipedia:In addition First have been unable to obtain extra stock for local services, as the DfT is refusing to underwrite the additional leasing costs (as required under the franchise regime) after forcing the leasing companies to supply Pacers at a dramatically reduced rate for use on West Country branch lines. This is despite the failed attempt to operate Pacers on the sharply curved branches in the 1980s. It is likely that some Turbos will be put into store, having been displaced on longer runs by HSTs. I don't know the source / authority ... but is this suggesting that there's some spare trains of the type that form London - Oxford and London - Bedwyn services which are just going to be gathering dust next year? Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/2045 Written by Graz on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 A direct service to Oxford and Bicester from Westbury/Salisbury AND Bristol would be of fantastic benefit to the region, especially since no more trains would be nessecary. I can't emphasise enough how much good this would bring to the region: Bristol, Melksham, Bicester, Salisbury...even Oldfield Park! I'm almost certain these trains would be extremely popular, and I can't fault your timings at all Lee. This proposal should most definitely be put into place. Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/2063 Written by Lee on Saturday, 25th November 2006 Also , I would extend the 0842 & 1042 Bicester Town - Bristol Temple Meads services to , and start the 1145 & 1345 Bristol Temple Meads - Bicester Town services from Portishead by attaching / detaching them to / from the Gloucester - Portishead service proposed in the link below. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=673.msg2026#msg2026 Re: Saltash Rail Users Furious At Final Timetable Cuts For Dec 11th - 653/2148 Written by streety7 on Saturday, 2nd December 2006 Link to the proposed timetable message and PDF of typed up timetable [url]http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=731.msg2149#msg2149[/url] Let me know what you think... 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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