|
Pages: [1]
|
 |
|
 Author
|
Topic: 7.02 from Westbury to Cheltenham (Read 4384 times)
|
|
Ruthg
|
I've regularly been getting the morning train from Westbury to Swindon, but unfortunately I sometimes have problems connecting to it from Frome. I leave Frome at 06.47 and expect to arrive at Westbury with about 6 minutes to spare, but on more than one occasion we have pulled in late and it pulls out just as we arrive or step off the train.
Yesterday it happened again and a fellow commuter complained to a Westbury Station staff member who said no one told us you were coming (that old excuse). It's so annoying, they know people from Frome use this service so it's frustrating to say the least.
I notice there aren't many people getting on at Melksham these days and who can blame them, although just before Christmas there was one morning when about 11 got on. Encouragingly more people are now using it at Chippenham, I suppose as they've gradually become aware of it. I was quite worried in December when only 1 or 2 were getting on but it has picked up, so hopefully it will continue to do so.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
Thanks, Ruth .. the numbers at Melksham have been pretty poor. Hardly surprising when the train commute day has been extended by 90 minutes, with no "via Bath" option such as you have.
It has been suggested that the new timing is designed to fail and allow complete withdrawl of the direct Westbury to Swidnon service, with perhaps the excpetion of the Sunday trains so that a closure procedure doesn't have to be followed. However, I've been assured that's not the case and the timing is as it is because the same train has to suit school children on the Stroud Valley line, and the timing for them is regarded as being more important as they have a labour MP.
The real, serious solution is to invest in a proper service that's so good that even the directors of First, should they happen to live in Frome and work in Swindon, would be proud to use it, delighted to speak on the train to their customers, and not travel in fear or being lynched.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Sion Bretton
|
I got on the 7.17 at Melksham on Friday 12/1/07.
1 got off & 3 got on at Melksham, there were 31 people on the train. A number of off a Chippenham as the board at Trowbridge but got onto wrong train, they throught it was going to Bath/Bristol not Cheltenham via Melksham & Chippenham.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
Now there is something else I had not thought of - the 07:02 from Westbury, change at Chippenham for a more comfortable ride to Bath and Bristol. Perhaps we should suggest it to the "More train, less Strain" folks
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Ruthg
|
Another thing that really bugs me about the 7.02 from Westbury to Cheltenham is that FGW can't seem to decide what time it actually leaves Westbury. If you do an enquiry on their website it says 7.00, if you look at the digital display boards at Westbury it also says 7.00 and yet the paper timetable and PDF say 7.02 and that's the time it does leave.
Not only this but the train leaves from platform 1, where the train to Southampton can often be found at the same time. There was one occasion when only one train was stood on the platform and a conductor got on the train saying I'm going to Cheltenham and the driver said well I'm going to Southampton. As a consequence of this confused FGW staff were seen to be making calls on their mobile phones to find out which direction the train was heading. As you can imagine it didn't inspire confidence.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graz
|
I got on the 7.17 at Melksham on Friday 12/1/07.
1 got off & 3 got on at Melksham, there were 31 people on the train. A number of off a Chippenham as the board at Trowbridge but got onto wrong train, they throught it was going to Bath/Bristol not Cheltenham via Melksham & Chippenham.
I mentioned this to Lee- the public address system at Trowbridge is awful. Monitors are OK, but the one on the Bristol platform is inside the ticket office making it tough to be seen and noticed. Also, the announcements are barely audible as there is just one speaker on the Bristol bound platform. Now there is something else I had not thought of - the 07:02 from Westbury, change at Chippenham for a more comfortable ride to Bath and Bristol. Perhaps we should suggest it to the "More train, less Strain" folks This may be something to seriously investigate, not only for this train but others. If passengers for Bath were unable to board at Westbury and Trowbridge, or did not want to travel on a packed service, a slightly longer- but much more comfortable way would be via Melksham with a change at Chippenham. There are two obstacles I can see that may get in the way: 1) Ticket price may be higher for travelling this route rather than the direct one, 2) Letting people know about this. the PA system issue may be a problem- if people heard "Change at Chippenham for Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, to avoid overcrowding", this could be a simple and effective solution as Trowbridge isn't manned all the time. Another thing that really bugs me about the 7.02 from Westbury to Cheltenham is that FGW can't seem to decide what time it actually leaves Westbury. If you do an enquiry on their website it says 7.00, if you look at the digital display boards at Westbury it also says 7.00 and yet the paper timetable and PDF say 7.02 and that's the time it does leave.
Not only this but the train leaves from platform 1, where the train to Southampton can often be found at the same time. There was one occasion when only one train was stood on the platform and a conductor got on the train saying I'm going to Cheltenham and the driver said well I'm going to Southampton. As a consequence of this confused FGW staff were seen to be making calls on their mobile phones to find out which direction the train was heading. As you can imagine it didn't inspire confidence. FGW certainly aren't the most organised company, and this shows it. The Cheltenham train should leave on another free platform, assuming there is one, to avoid this confusion. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Lee
|
I mentioned this to Lee- the public address system at Trowbridge is awful. Monitors are OK, but the one on the Bristol platform is inside the ticket office making it tough to be seen and noticed. Also, the announcements are barely audible as there is just one speaker on the Bristol bound platform. I have checked this (& mentioned it to others) , and the PA system is truly awful. An example of a possible FGW "gesture of commitment." ? They could improve this particular problem without having to run it by the DfT..... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Lee
|
Thanks, Ruth .. the numbers at Melksham have been pretty poor. Hardly surprising when the train commute day has been extended by 90 minutes, with no "via Bath" option such as you have.
It has been suggested that the new timing is designed to fail and allow complete withdrawl of the direct Westbury to Swidnon service, with perhaps the excpetion of the Sunday trains so that a closure procedure doesn't have to be followed. However, I've been assured that's not the case and the timing is as it is because the same train has to suit school children on the Stroud Valley line, and the timing for them is regarded as being more important as they have a labour MP.
The real, serious solution is to invest in a proper service that's so good that even the directors of First, should they happen to live in Frome and work in Swindon, would be proud to use it, delighted to speak on the train to their customers, and not travel in fear or being lynched. The quote below is relevant , but rather critical of FGW , I fear. The original Draft Timetable showed the morning train into Swindon arriving at 0803. Between then and 12 May 2006 this was changed to 0744. Finally , between 12 May 2006 and July 2006 this was changed again to 0750. I asked for the real reasons behind this - a bit of honesty - and I'm delighted to have received and answer from Andrew Griffiths. He writes.
As a quick glance at the timetable will show, we've had to resource the Melksham service using the Stroud Valley unit - which is why the timings can't me moved as we all would like. With two sections of single line and a busy mainline in between pathing is very constrained. The timings have been moved significantly TWICE |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Street
|
Another thing that really bugs me about the 7.02 from Westbury to Cheltenham is that FGW can't seem to decide what time it actually leaves Westbury. If you do an enquiry on their website it says 7.00, if you look at the digital display boards at Westbury it also says 7.00 and yet the paper timetable and PDF say 7.02 and that's the time it does leave. I also noticed this on the FGW timetable, which one is right? Last Monday my 16:02 Cheltenham - Taunton ACTUALLY RAN and the train dispatcher guy made the train leave at 16:00 - again are they actually organised or does this person still think he is in pre-December 2006 timetable mode... The 0702 Westbury-Cheltenham argument... The fact that they had to come up with so many alterations to the train times booklets when they first came out... http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=780.msg2265#msg2265AND the fact that there have been new services introduced... http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1016.msg2833#msg2833AND the fact that they have had to suspend an entire week's worth of Liskeard - Looe and St. Ive's - St. Erth along with the Par - Newquay line closure (although this was not FGW's fault) PLUS other daily cancellations for the last 2 weeks due to stock shortages... http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=941.msg2776#msg2776makes me agree with Graz I think... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Ruthg
|
I finally got a reply to my email to FGW about what time the 07:00 or 07:02 was supposed to leave Westbury. This is the reply I got after 2 weeks - "I regret we do not hold full fares and timetable information in this office. However railway timetables and fares can be accessed through the National Rail Enquiries website on www.nationalrail.co.uk. You can also receive fares and timetable information on the telephone, on 08457 484950.
I hope this information helps and I trust that you will enjoy your trip."I was livid when I received this back, it's dealt with me as though I just had a general enquiry about times out of Westbury, when in fact I was quite clear about discrepancies in timetables. Anyway I've replied telling them it hasn't answered my original enquiry and that I'm pretty certain it's not National Rail Enquiries I need to speak to. I wait expectantly... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
Ah ... I know that feeling. A "polititian's answer" as I used to call it - one that answers a different question to the one asked and for which the person replying has a good answer, even if it isn't relevant. Although I've gained a lot more respect for some of the polititians through this whole business and I might need to come up with a new term. I have a couple of interesting initiatives coming up over the next couple of weeks - we may get an answer. And, Ruth, at least you didn't get "The connection is not held because it's not into the last train of the day - a later service is available" .... but reading back, I'm not sure if you asked that question either  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
James
|
I've regularly been getting the morning train from Westbury to Swindon, but unfortunately I sometimes have problems connecting to it from Frome. I leave Frome at 06.47 and expect to arrive at Westbury with about 6 minutes to spare, but on more than one occasion we have pulled in late and it pulls out just as we arrive or step off the train.
Yesterday it happened again and a fellow commuter complained to a Westbury Station staff member who said no one told us you were coming (that old excuse). It's so annoying, they know people from Frome use this service so it's frustrating to say the least.
I notice there aren't many people getting on at Melksham these days and who can blame them, although just before Christmas there was one morning when about 11 got on. Encouragingly more people are now using it at Chippenham, I suppose as they've gradually become aware of it. I was quite worried in December when only 1 or 2 were getting on but it has picked up, so hopefully it will continue to do so.
May I ask who the "member of staff" was? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Regards
James - Full on Pacer Fan
|
|
|
|
Ruthg
|
Sorry, I can't remember who it was but it's not the first time I've heard that excuse anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Ruthg
|
Finally after about 2 months and 3 emails trying to get a sensible answer, I have one - FGW have confirmed that the train is timetabled to leave Westbury at 07:00 (I've been told it was one of the timetable amendments that was made after they printed the booklets).
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
Finally after about 2 months and 3 emails trying to get a sensible answer, I have one - FGW have confirmed that the train is timetabled to leave Westbury at 07:00 (I've been told it was one of the timetable amendments that was made after they printed the booklets).
That's VERY interesting ... because I thought that there was a maximum schedule of 49 minutes allowed for the service. I'm in Cambridge at the moment - no easy way to check - but they could be out of spec. Technicallity really - last time we grumbled they were out of spec ("one train must arrive in Swindon between 8 and 8:30"), they simply changed the spec  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1]
|
|
|
 |
