December consultation response

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Dedicate to campaigning to retain an appropriate "TransWilts" passenger train service ... Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury - Dilton Marsh - Warminster - Salisbury ... and to other services too

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May 23, 2012, 09:00:24 AM

Recommended service - hourly, according to the GWRUS. Let's work towards that service and towards ensuring all services are used.

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First Great Western are proposing a number of changes to the Service Level Committment - i.e. the government spec to which they operate - and have asked for consultation responses to their proposals. In general, I have noted thet they are requesting a slowing of some services (e.g. Paddington to Plymouth by 10 minutes, Oxford to Worcester by even longer) and major changes in the Bristol area to allow them to re-jig the cross city services. They are NOT proposing that the F5 specification ("TransWilts") be changed.

Inputs are requested by RUSSELL EVANS, who is the "Head of Performance and Planning" at FGW in Swindon, and his email address is given as russell.evans@firstgroup.com . Note these are NOT timetable consultations, but consultations on the framework in which timetables are drawn up. Full request can be downloaded from a link at:
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/issues.htm

Here's my response .... and please feel free to email your views to Mr Evans, and to the County Council and the Depratment for transport too!

Consultation response on changes to First Great Western SLC from December 2007

Dear Mr Evans

I understand that you are co-ordinating consultation responses with regards to proposed changes in the First Great Western SLC from December 2007, as set down in Glenda Lamont's letter of 22nd June.

BACKGROUND

The current service that First Great Western are providing on the TransWilts line from Swindon to Westbury and Salisbury is failing to fulfill the needs of travellers on that corridor, linking the five largest towns in Wiltshire - Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Melksham. Traveller numbers had risen by over 10% per annum, compound, until last December, but a reduction of some 60% of service and an SLC that leaves the remaining services running at inappropriate times has lead to a loss of over 90% of traffic. The lack of trains - for example, the gap in services from Swindon from 06:19 to 18:42 - is causing severly extended journeys for many travellers (Swindon to Trowbridge - 35 minutes by train, 95 minutes by direct "express" bus) and historic data shows that the service is highly effected by the number and timing of services.

I understand that First Great Western are now using some trains which take a little longer from point to point, and that they feel unable to offer additional services on this route without explicit clearance from the SLC. I therefor propose the following to replace Section F5.

CHANGE PROPOSAL

Four services to be provided each day from Westbury to Swindon and return, calling at Trowbridge, Melksham, and Chippenham in each case. On Monday to Saturday, one service to arrive in Swindon between 08:15 and 08:45, and one service to leave Swindon between 17:15 and 17:45. Services to be allowed up to 50 minutes for the journey between Westbury and Swindon, with one exception of 55 minutes allowed.

Additional services may be run to provided from Swindon to Westbury, Frome or Salisbury to provide a service at up to 2 hourly intervals. These services to be allowed up to 55 minutes between Swindon and Westbury.

All of these services may be linked with Westbury - Salisbury - Southampton, Westbury - Weymouth and Swindon - Gloucester and Cheltenmham services.

COMMENT

I believe that the above SLC change would, if the services were provided to the full, provide an appropriate train service on this route for 2008. With the adjustments to the service in the minimum specification above, you would see a substantive increase in average passenger numbers per train.

The SLC described above is compatabile with each of the following, each of which I understand has been progressed in some depth.

a) Existing service retained, plus an extra service from Salisbury at around 07:10 and an extra service from Salisbury at around 16:10, returning from Swindon about 80 minutes later (using the train currently running on to Southampton which will be duplicated by the new South West Trains service)

b) A shuttle train running every 2 hours throughout the day (with one three hour gap) between Swindon and Westbury / Frome

c) A shuttle train running every 3 hours between Swindon and Salisbury.

The appropriatness of other proposed changes to the SLC is beyond the scope of comment of this email, which reflects the views of the "Save the Train" campaign for an appropriate TransWilts train service.

I understand that you will be copying responses (including this one) to the Department for Transport, and that they may be copies and published further. Please feel free to include my contact details with such copies, and note that I would be happy to clarify any points if needed.

I look forward, hopefully, to seeing an appropriate amendment to this section of the SLC along the lines we have been discussing with the DfT and FGW since late last year, and thus the return of a more appropriate service from this coming December.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Ellis
Well House Consultants, 404 The Spa, Melksham, Wilts
http://www.wellho.net graham@wellho.net
+44 (0) 1225 708225 (phone) +44 (0) 1225 707126 (fax)

Here's mine :

Dear Mr Evans ,

I understand that you are co-ordinating consultation responses with regards to proposed changes in the First Great Western SLC from December 2007 , as set down in Glenda Lamont's letter of 22nd June.

I would like to suggest further SLC changes , in order to secure an appropriate level of service for Dilton Marsh , Melksham & Pilning stations , and also to take into account the agreement reached by Bristol City Council and First Great Western to provide a 40 min frequency service on the Severn Beach Line from December 2007. My proposed changes are listed below :

F2a - CARDIFF CENTRAL - BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS.

3 Limited Stops

3.1 Pilning

On Mondays to Saturdays , two services in each direction shall call. On Mondays to Fridays , one of these shall arrive at Bristol Temple Meads between 0800 and 0900 , and another shall depart from Bristol Temple Meads between 1700 and 1800.

F3 WESTBURY – SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL.

Services may be joined to those specified in Route F2b (Bristol Temple Meads - Westbury) and Route F5 (Westbury - Swindon).

3 Limited Stops

Stops specified in this section may be provided by services specified in Route F1 (Cardiff Central –Portsmouth Harbour)

3.1 Dilton Marsh (remove if all call on Sunday)

(a) On Mondays to Fridays between 0600 and 2359 , ten services in each direction shall call at a maximum interval of three hours.

(b) On Saturdays between 0600 and 2359 , ten services in each direction shall call at a maximum interval of three hours.

(c) On Sundays , four services in each direction shall call.

F5 WESTBURY – SWINDON.

1 Route Definition

1.1 Services shall be provided between Westbury and Swindon calling at Chippenham , Melksham and Trowbridge.

1.2 Services may be joined to services specified in Route A4 (Swindon - Cheltenham) , Route F3 (Westbury - Southampton Central) and Route F4 (Westbury – Weymouth).

2 Frequency

2.1 Daily

(a) Between and including the Early and Late Services , four services from Westbury shall be provided. On Mondays to Saturdays , one service shall arrive at Swindon between 0815 and 0845.

(b) Between and including the Early and Late Services, four services from Swindon shall be provided. On Mondays to Saturdays , one service shall depart between 1715 and 1745.

(c) Additional services may be run in each direction to provide a service at up to 2 hourly intervals.

3 Maximum Journey Times

Services specified in paragraphs 2.1 (a) and 2.1 (b) to be allowed up to 50 minutes for the journey in each direction , with one exception of 55 minutes allowed. Services specified in paragraph 2.1 (c) to be allowed up to 55 minutes in each direction.

G5 BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS – SEVERN BEACH.

1 Route Definition

Services shall be provided between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach calling at St Andrews Road , Avonmouth , Shirehampton , Sea Mills , Clifton Down , Redland , Montpelier , Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.

2 Frequency

2.1 Mondays to Fridays

(a) Between and including the Early and Late Services , 25 services shall be provided from Bristol Temple Meads at 40 minute intervals. Before 0740 and after 1740 , intervals of up to 1 hour 40 minutes may apply.

(b) Between and including the Early and Late Services , 25 services shall be provided from Severn Beach at 40 minute intervals. Before 0740 and after 1740 , intervals of up to 1 hour 40 minutes may apply.

(c) One service in each direction may be provided after the Late Service.

(d) Services between 0800 and 1800 may be provided by means of a Connection at Avonmouth and during these hours the service between Avonmouth and Severn Beach may be provided by road transport.

(e) Provision of the services specified in this paragraph 2.1 is dependent on an agreed funding contribution towards the costs of one train diagram by Bristol City Council. Should such a contribution not be provided , paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the current G5 specification (plus derogations , if any) shall be substituted , and the paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 detailed below shall be null and void.

2.2 Saturdays

(a) Between and including the Early and Late Services , 16 services shall be provided from Bristol Temple Meads at hourly intervals. One interval of up to 2 hours 10 minutes is permitted.

(b) Between and including the Early and Late Services , 16 services shall be provided from Severn Beach at hourly intervals. One interval of up to 1 hours 30 minutes is permitted.

(c) One service in each direction may be provided after the Late Service.

2.3 Sundays

No service required.

Yours sincerely ,

Lee Fletcher
Campaign Against New Beeching Report (CANBER)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517

I'm sure that the press will have a field day when they pick up on extended journey times of that magnitude - though of course that only states the length of time the slowest train should take, it'll be quite easy for the hacks to word it so that it looks like all trains are taking much longer! The Cotswold Line one in an interesting example, as HST's aren't really particularly well suited to the route in terms of acceleration and making use of their top speed (apart from a 100mph stretch from Wolvercote to Ascott and 95mph on a section between Evesham and Norton Junc., a Turbo can bowl along there at the same speed!). However, their seating capacity will be much needed on some of the busier trains.

To gain any real improvement in timekeeping, there desperately needs to be major enhancement works on the Cotswold Line. After years of silence, Network Rail are finally looking into the possibility of upgrading signalling, installing passing loops, increasing linespeeds and re-doubling sections of the track. http://www.clpg.co.uk/news%20doubling.htm A Shrub Hill to Oxford time of 1 hour would be achievable by my reckoning with just some of these measures in place.

Another point is the large number of Adelantes/Turbos which currently terminate at Great Malvern and turn-back at Malvern Wells. Anything longer than a Adelante would not fit between the turn-back shunting signal and the section signal for Malvern Wells and the line on to Ledbury. So, unless there is some form of change to the infrastructure/operating procedures a HST would have to wait until the long section to Ledbury has been cleared by the previous train - which might give more delay headaches on occasions. I'm sure the powers that be are aware of this though! Undecided

I wish you well with your aspirations on levels of service in the Melksham and Severn Beach areas.

In response to Mr Industry Insider, I grew up in Malvern, living on the side of the Malvern Hills with a view of the railway line between Malvern Wells signal box and the Colwall tunnel.

When the mid-morning "Cotswold & Malverns Express " from Paddington terminated at Malvern, it "turned around", on that stretch of track - the single line - between the signal box and the tunnel, so it didn't go to Ledbury. That would have been in the late 80's and through the 90's I guess.

Tomorrow I'll write with fastest timings on the Cotswold Line acheived by HST's in the 1980's compared to today's trains. I'm sure some of you will remember the 43 minutes allowed for HST's non-stop from Paddington to Oxford!!

Yes, Steve - I too remember that train. But that was just once a day and when demands for paths were less. I wasn't saying that the trains will have to go to Ledbury, just that in order to pass the section signal at Malvern Wells the section to Ledbury had to be 'clear', unless there is some kind of special 'local instruction'? I'd be intested to know?

I have been on an Oxford-Paddington Adelante train in the recent past that did the trip in just over 47 minutes (after leaving Oxford late) and that included stops at Reading and Slough! The trains are still well capable, it's just that too many other trains often get in the way nowadays!

Just for interest, in the current timetable, the fastest journey from Oxford to Worcester Shrub Hill is 1 hr 10 minutes and in the opposite direction, 1 hour 8 minutes.

Even in 1978, the fastest journey from Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford was 1 hour 9 minutes!

In 1998, the fastest Oxford Worcester SH took 1 hour 2 minutes, and the fastest Worcester SH to Oxford journey was JUST 57 minutes.

In fairness the fastest trains did not call at Pershore, Honeybourne or Hanborough in 1978 and 1998.

And in 2008, the trains can be allowed to take even longer on the route!

Here is the Severn Tunnel Action Group response , which includes the Pilning commuter service option (link below.)
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/TR133%20Severn%20Tunnel%20Action%20Group%20Response%20to%20Changes%20to%20FGW%20Service%20Level%20Commitment.doc

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