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Topic: People's plans with the service as we knew it GONE (Read 1667 times)
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Graham Ellis
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What will people do as from Monday? These are all surmised from conversations I had with train users yesterday evening.
Sxxx will extend his journey time by 25 minutes each way and make a bus-train journey where he currently takes train-train. A crossplatform connection is transformed into a much more awkward one. Fare changes for the new route mean he'll be paying more for the service that will be worse for him.
Wxxx was on the 17:02 from Melksham yesterday, returning to London. It's a very occasional journey for him personally, but various colleagues of his make the journey and use this service from time to time. Next time one of them travels? Well - they're our customers and we'll probably give them a lift to Chippenham station, or have them get a taxi; the evening buses from Melkham don't to to Chippenham station and I am not suggesting to my customers that they drag suitcases the half mile transfer that recommended new route would involve.
Rxxx will set off earlier (06:47 from Frome, as against 07:20) and have to change at Westbury for Swindon. In the evening, the new train is just too late and the new journey home will involve a dogleg via Bath, with 6 flights of stairs and a poor connection.
Gxxx heard of the withdrawal for the first time on yesterday's train. An infrequent (but repeated) traveller from Chippenham to Westbury, with child and heavy baggage, she was too shocked to have any idea at all what she will do in the future. She DOES know the "Bath change" option and doesn't consider it practical.
Axxxxx is one of the Great Western staff. He won't be inconveninced by the change, as his job won't bring him into the area when there's no train.
Txxx can't drive. His wife will be driving up to collect him from work each day as there's no viable alternative in his case. He doesn't expect his new situation to remain like that for very long though ....
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Graham Ellis
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I met a gent this morning who actually tells me that the new service suits him. Apparently, he's on flexitime and the longer days he'll have in Swindon will allow him to work fewer of them. "More Fridays off" he said to me, grinning.
One swallow doesn't make a summer, but I really REALLY hope that there are lots more like him who will take to the train at the new time. The standard feeling is that many people are going to try travelling up on the new service and see how it works out for them with the earlier start, but they're making alternative evening plans without even trying it .... let's see what next week brings.
My First "hit" is Tuesday. An evening appointment in Swindon, which I could have done by train last week. This coming week? Probably the car; I've simply not got the time between the end of my working day and our business appointment (a reception for "Wilshire Business of the Year finalists, of which we are one) which starts at around 6 ... and that's one NOT to be late to!
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Nick Field
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Although they dont suit my Journey requirements I might wait until the Christmas hustle and bustle is out of the way and and try the new services in January of February just to see what the loadings are like and if I recognize any of the faces.
Ps Graham Good luck with the Wiltshire Business of the Year Final.
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