How I absolutely did NOT want this thread to start the year ...

 

No problem ...

 

 
Cancellations to services between Melksham and Trowbridge


Due to a broken down train between Melksham and Trowbridge the line is blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 07:30 07/01.

 

 

What was that about "delays until 07:30" ... so far first train at Melksham will be 10:01 today.


Better than nothing ... and I'm noting SWINDON and Westbury rather than Chippenham ... not sure where the train has sat down (guessing a freight?) as there seem to be mainline issues though Chippenham too.

 
A story of the two Ms this morning - Maidenhead and Melksham!

 
Freight train failed between Melksham and Thingley around 3am.

 

More promising ... looks like it's on the move ...


That replaces a cancellation, and the return trip cancellation has been removed from JourneyCheck

 

 

Looks like it's fixed quicker than they expected ... saying "all lines have now re-opened"

I am told that the 09:51 from Trowbridge got turned back on the approach to Chippenham and came back to Melksham where everyone was transferred to a bus.   In the unusual circumstances today, probably a good call.

 
Sorry I've been posting in the wrong place, didn't realise new year meant new log! 

 

Utterly no problem ... I remember the line from Pirates of the Caribbean - "Not a set of rules - more a set of guidelines"; starting a fresh thread at a logical breakpoint (year end) is a fresh start.  Couple of less usual occurrences this morning / we'll always get the occasional one.   If we just have enough drivers and train managers for 2020, it will be a magnitude better than it has been, and authoritative sources (but ones who do sometimes seem to wear rose tinted spectacles) suggest that training new crews in 2019 was towards the 2020 timetable, and crew issues prior to 15th December were because of staffing balanced for new service, but still trying to run old service.    Benefit of doubt to GWR at the moment - New Year issues have not been crew.

 
Looks like it was an unstable embankment at the bridge in Lowden Hill, Chippenham.

 

21 minutes late into Salisbury, but only 9 minutes late on leaving there as it's got an (unnecessary) 12 minute wait there.  No connections missed.

Interesting to note this is train "2O20" - train twenty twenty  - a running number with a ring to it!

07:44 from Salisbury today ... to be followed by at SWR train at 07:50!  It does load well especially from Romsey, but I have to ask whether it might carry more passengers overall if it formed an 07:40 Salisbury to Swindon train, arriving there at 08:50 and returning to Westbury to take over the 09:45 to Swindon, with the TransWilts shuttle half an hour earlier extended to Warminster to take over the return working of 2O20 to Great Malvern.

 

Perfectly fine prior to Swindon (until we fill the second carriage  ); likely to be very busy from Swindon, but then this was only a 2 car until recently.

 


The 06:36 Melksham to Southampton has always been one of the more reliable trains, but that's the second cancellation already this year.  No more of a flag than "one to watch" at the moment.  A train that had a history of underuse when the following train was not until 19:18, it has developed a loyal, if quieter than other trains, user base.

 

Unit now comes off Westbury to work additional 2M09 whereas came off Glo-ucester previously

 

Indeed yet ... which is a good reason to flag it up as "one to watch" ... it switches from being a key lever in the whole train-pattern machine to a service which is off to one side, and has few knock on operational effects if it doesn't run from Swindon to Westbury.  Of course, passengers joining at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge are just as badly effected by its cancellation whether it's a key operational lever or "merely" a service that's provided to help people travel.

That 2M09 you mention - the 05:17 Westbury to Swindon - was a train that I - I will admit - have anticipated being hard to get up in passenger numbers even into double figures.    I may have been unduly pessimistic there - a report this morning tells me that there were ten passengers on it when it arrived in Swindon.   Good - especially as we know that traffic takes some time to grow when a new service is added.

Now that we have an early up train at Melksham - 05:33 to Swindon - please can we have a corresponding and balancing late night train back?   There appear to be three trains terminating at Westbury after 9 p.m. and only one restarting ... so the train resources is there to add a round trip.  And as an educated guess, I would be suggest that a 23:15 off Swindon might be significantly busier that the 05:17 off Westbury.

 

Makes sense ... Salisbury to Portsmouth running via Eastleigh this morning, and perhaps SWR "Romsey 6" running as "Romsey 5" - Salisbury, Dean, Mottisfont, Romsey, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh and stations to Southampton Central.

 
Later revised to terminate at Romsey.

 

 

 
Although Journeycheck hasn't caught up yet, it seems from looking at OpenTrainTimes that the 11:05 will in fact start from Chippenham (which makes sense given the incoming working terminated there).

 

I thought it was just the next line up that as flooded - or is Dauntsey Bank giving problems as well?

They could really do with a "bay" reinstated at Chippenham - platform face is there and even with "wrong" line running from Thingley East.  As is stands, southbound gap (from Chippenham) from 08:59 to 13:29.


[Stop Press]


Phew(ish) . Hope they've found somewhere for it to wait.

 
The 08:44 was delayed while the driver reported the water levels were rising.

The down line is now closed with services using the reversible up line.

This means the Westbury service can wait at platform 1 at Chippenham as it is effectively a siding from there to Thingley as the down line is closed from Wootton Bassett Junction to Chippenham.

 
Looking at OTT maps the down line is now closed between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham.  So only one line open out of four west of WB Junction.  That means the Melksham train can wait at Chippenham, but presumably the closure is causing chaos with the main line services.

Edit: bobm beat me to it whilst I was posting!

 
Particularly for South Wales services.  They are being diverted via Box because of the flooding on the usual route.  They are then being further delayed snaking through the single line section between Wootton Bassett and Thingley. 

The 08:48 from London Paddington to Swansea left Swindon 43 minutes late and is expected to be nearly 90 minutes late by the time it gets to Bristol Parkway.

Swindon Station's three through platforms are all occupied by westbound services.

 

An interesting mess ... from my comfortable armchair today  , I wonder if South Wales services that haven't yet got west of Reading or east of Bath Spa should go via the Berks and Hants ... South Wales to / from Swindon passengers changing at Bath Spa.   Or via Kemble and Gloucester?

 
Fortunately it has just re-opened, with a queue of three trains lining up to use it.

 
It now looks like the flooding at Dauntsey has subsided and the down line re-opened.   As a result the Westbury train which had been laying over at Chippenham has left 22 minutes early to clear the line.

 

But showing "on time" for Melksham on Tiger ... as displayed on the platform.

 

Perhaps just sitting out of the way on the branch while the cavalcade of IETs passes!

 
Looks suspiciously like it may have started on time from Melksham in the end.

 
Depends who you ask...

 

But does running a walk-up passenger train 22 minutes early count as running that train?

 

Edit to add ... no more than 3 minutes late in the end ...

 

 
Delayed by a Westbury to Bescot engineering train which left 15 minutes late.  Also delayed the following Westbury to Gloucester service which was held at Trowbridge until the Swindon service had left Bradford Junction

 
From Facebook


Trains replaced by buses, planned well ahead - OK, we understand.

First train is busy with Sunday regulars to work - 08:11 from Warminster to Swindon and was replaced by a bus on the first Sunday (and is shown as replaced by a bus next Sunday).   Yet no replacement today.   The mind boggles - why on earth not?

 

 

Arrived at Swindon to catch this ... let's see how alternative works.

 

The Class 150 scheduled to work the service from Gloucester failed.  Part of a Portsmouth-Cardiff service detached at Westbury to form the curtailed service south from there.

 

Train, Swindon to Chippenham.  Wait for 19:06 (no taxi before to gather everyone) the a taxi chit.  Five minute wait for a taxi and four of us crammed in to Melksham - there not much different from 10 minutes late there.  Taxi drive told us that some of his colleagues don't like the chits because they have to wait to the end of the following month to be paid.  I suspect our driver doesn't like them either, and probably doesn't like what I suspect are very thin tips from these passengers.

Didn't think 150s were supposed to be around these parts any longer?

 
Oh they are still around. Saw three last weekend working 2 diagrams on the Cardiff-Portsmouth line. A 150/0-150/2 and 150/2-158 (3 car) combinations, so both sets maintaining the offered 5 carriage service in place of a 165/166. I know out of those three combinations which I prefer.

The 158s aren’t done with Cardiff-Portsmouth yet but you’d be fortunate to travel on one now.

 

Yep, the 09:09 Melksham to Westbury was a 3 car 166 this morning ... rather than for the 09:47 back, it carried on to Weymouth and 150001 which arrived on the Bristol to Weymouth service took over the diagram.  75 mph unit on what's now supposedly a service run with 90 mph stock, but the new stock does seem to have time in hand. Welcome back the "old girl" 150 prototype to the TransWilts.

 

3 carriages all day ... classic case of "oh sh**" when I saw the map at the top of these pages ... moving to "oh - no problem" when I read the reports.

There was a 3 car on Friday on the 14:17 from Westbury.   And a very worried passenger looking for the Swindon train convinced that this unit was headed for Reading because of what it said on the side:



The chap concerned expected to see a display by the door telling him where the train was going.   And naming trains after places risks confusion!

 
January 2020 summary - from a MELKSHAM PASSENGER perspective, as analysed off industry feeds:

307 train services on time
55 bus services - no record of timing. All planned ahead for engineering
96 trains just a bit late (< 5 minutes)
37 trains signifanly late
10 trains cancelled
1 service arrived 20 minutes early and left on time
1 service not scheduled at all

Total of 507 services.
10 to 12 cancelled (1.97% to 2.37% cancellation rate)
(for 12, I have counted a train 20 minutes early as cancelled)
(for 12, I have counted a failure to schedue a service as cancelled)
ppm of 90.3% assuming buses were on time

cancellation reasons:
6 - fault or broken down train
2 - person ht by train
1 - urgent repair to bridge
1 - flooding on the line
1 - reason not logged
1 - probably a scheduling error

None of the significant delayes were huge. Some reasons, longest delay quoted
a late running freight train (8 minutes)
a passenger being taken ill on a train (10 minutes)
congestion (10 minutes)
a fault with the signalling system (10 minutes)
a fault with barriers at a level crossing (8 minutes)
heavy rain flooding the railway (21 minutes)
damage to the overhead electric wires (13 minutes)
a broken down train (15 minutes)

---

An excellent month - 9 out of 10 service near as damn it on time, passenger let down (no service) just 1 journey in 50.  Others may compare to their own lines and think this is just average, but for us it's a massive improvement.

 

 
21:07 Swindon to Westbury due 21:49


21:07 Swindon to Westbury due 21:49 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

 

Indeed - thanks.  We were both posting at the same time;   I was being slow, as I had something to say ...

Oh great - here we go again. 

The importance of last / late(r) evening services was highlighted last night.  Local (Melksham) meetings usually end with people headed home within the town on foot or by c-a-r, but last night's was a meeting about public transport and was timed to suit.

As we were winding up, after we had concluded, three or four people said hasty "good bye"s as they headed for their bus back home,  and we also got lifts to the station for several other people for the 21:10 train.   That last train is significantly later than the final train was prior to 15th December last; retimed nearly three quarters of an hour later, it opens up opportunities that weren't there before - inbound and also outbound.

 

If anyone comes to look at this later ... the up train from Weymouth also delayed and a 3 minute turn around achieved at Swindon.   Storm Clara reaking havoc all over the place and a miracle that - so far - TransWilts has kept going.

 

 

I don't think this is quite as simple as it's made out ... the 09:09 at Melksham is running.   I suspect that it's some tree elsewhere that's left a crew shortage or rolling stock shortage and we've got a case of "this is an easy service to cull" again.  Please tell me if I'm wrong.

 
There's a tree down on the Kemble line near Sapperton Tunnel.

EDIT TO ADD:  There is also a tree down between Newbury and Reading with West of England services being diverted via Melksham which is probably more likely to be the reason.   

 
And 2 more ...


Bit late for me (personally) to tell me about the rail replacement bus ... by the time that was added (10:56 update) I was on the regular bus to get to a meeting ...

 
Must have been a big tree or damage was done Line side for it to still be causing disruption between Newbury and Reading.

 

Tree balanced on semi-collapsed electric overheads near Newbury Racecourse

 
The down line through Newbury is now open but apparently the wires are hanging too low on the up line to allow even diesel trains to pass.    Repairs will take until the morning.

 

The benefits of electrification 

 
The actual location is between Theale station and the M4 overbridge.

 
The Transwilts is paying the price with further services cancelled. Ironic after being one of the most reliable of services yesterday when the rest of the network was in near meltdown. Not been much better today sadly but somewhat expected after yesterday.

 




Indeed ... and not even a tree blocking "our" line!!

At a meeting - on timetables - today.  I have suggested that now there's a semi-fast service from Reading to Taunton in addition to a none-stop, perhaps the semi-fast should call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge in place of Theale, Thatcham, Newbury, Hungerford and Pewsey should it be diverted and replace the TransWilts train.

 

Indeed.

Tree down at Uffington early this morning meant a number of 387s were trapped in Cocklebury sidings at Swindon.
Tree down near Theale closed the Berks & Hants route completely until early afternoon when the down line was opened.
Damage to the overhead at Acton affecting trains leaving London this morning
A trespasser at Hanwell caused severe delays for part of the morning
The signalbox at Par was hit by lightning taking out the signalling in the area (and no doubt giving the signaller a fright!)

In addition sets out of place and staff out of hours after yesterday's problems.

Ironically I had better than expected journey back from Bristol at lunchtime.   Two successive trains from Temple Meads to Swindon via Bath were cancelled but I managed to catch a late running train to Bristol Parkway which connected with a late running train from South Wales and I got to Swindon five minutes earlier than I would have had the first cancelled train run.

 
For sure GWR and it’s passengers have had a lot to contend with these past couple of days.

 

Two buses each way for me - around 2 x 110 minutes = 220 minutes on buses today for a 120 minute meeting. But then the meeting was quality, and I had my laptop so could work on the bus.

 

 
Summary from yesterday



First service of this morning on its way from Westbury - hopefully they will do better today.  Joueneycheck tells us of problems still around Theale with train diversions inbound towards Reading / London and buses for local trains.

Let's hope that at this point "no news is good news" rather than "no news is because we haven't got around to telling you yet in Wiltshire".

 

I am jinxed, I tell you!   Third trip I have taken this year to be cancelled (and I have only made 5 trips out of town so far by - or planned - on public transport).

Never mind ... if the 07:52 is cancelled perhaps the 10:01 will run?  Yes - defensive planning already ... 

 

This service is "fed" by 5M44 - an empty from Bristol up to Swindon.  Running neatly 50 minutes late off Bristol tonight, so being turned at Chippenham no doubt to have it on time for the rest of its run.   Sensible operational call, provided there's a connection that will get people from Swindon to Chippenham to get on.  Timetable wise though, silly empty working.   Better run it in service from Westbury, which would will sort out the biggest hole on TransWilts services in the week.

 

Well disguised because it's a through train but, yes, that's the 18:51 Swindon to Westbury service. next train, 20:45.

 
Service now starts at Westbury.

 


goodness ... an interesting evening.  From Chippenham

 

Real time trains offers

 
Through passenger numbers from Melksham and north thereof to Romsey and Southampton at this time of night are limited ... but recorded here for completeness.  South of Salisbury , this is something on an "extra" in the 2 trains per hour normally run - one SWR and one GWR; realistically, it would link into / become a SWR "Romsey 6" service at Salisbury.

 
Guess which line is allocated the train that's not working!




Yes, thank you.   But how do I travel??

P.S.


And why the **** could that not have been used for the 07:36 Westbury to Swindon and 08:44 return, into Westbury at 09:25 and picking up the 09:40 to Great Malvern which is where the diagram of the 06:11 is resuming this morning:

 


Interesting you bring this up. Before Delay Repay, the 'Further Information' part of JourneyCheck was often populated with at times useful advice with what to do, not anymore, just the same standard line about Delay Repay.

 
The 17:50 Gloucester to Westbury (instead of Southampton Central because of the landslip) service was cancelled throughout owing to disruption from the incident at Keynsham earlier.

 

Sadly, a lack of information at Melksham (I sound like a well worn record!).   On the Melksham Rail User Group Facebook page, I read


Little wonder that people drive, is it?

 
I suggest that every time there is a cancellation and no travel information on Journey Check,  GWR should be tweeted to ask for such information

edit: fixing quote box

 

 

The 08:44 Swindon to Westbury had to return to Swindon (so that's the 09:09 at Melksham cancelled)


Delay above has turned into a cancellation:

 
The offending tree:
https://twitter.com/GWRHelp/status/1230430751033827329

 

Calls Melksham at 10:28

 

We have a serious robustness / reputational issue. From last night - public post on Facebook:


and 3 days out of 4 so far this week, at least one cancellation.

Looks like that extra got cancelled too ... train waited an hour in Swindon to resume its normal diagram. Probably the wisest / pragramtic thing to have done as otherwise it would have been out of step all day unless they turned it short on the next run at Chippenham.









Edit to add complete record for Thursday in place of partial record posted during the day

 
The 08:59 from Chippenham to Trowbridge has been cancelled two days in a row, yesterday because of a broken down train and today due to a tree. I'm hoping to get into the office tomorrow, fingers crossed!

 
I will update the real time screen capture above as  / when / if trains resume.



I guess one of the benefits of electrification is that it takes longer to clear fallen trees away, even for diesel trains.   Don't recall that benefit being one of the quoted sales features 

 

Err ... OK.    Noting that 12:16 Westbury to Swindon (due 12:59) is cancelled, I wonder what will happen to the 13:14 Swindon to Westbury.   

Love to have that as a permanent advertised additional train if the existing trains remained in the timetable and ran!

 
The additional 12:35 has run - albeit 10 minutes late.

 

so no stock available for the 13:14.


Why not simply hold it back half an hour in Swindon?

 
Having tried to run it earlier it may have been the crew were getting near the end of their hours.

 

 

I booked this week off work as soon as I saw the weather forecast. There was never going to be a reliable service on this benighted line once GWR got a sniff of even potential excuses reasons not to run any trains.

 

 
Yeah sad... my 16:31 was cancelled so took the 16:47 to Gloucester, obviously getting off at Bath. Not sure where that train comes from, maybe Weymouth? The fatality occured in the Swindon area we were told by the Bath announcer and it was causing delays/cancellations on the mainline. In the end got home about an hour late.

 
Just two cancellations at the moment across the GWR network.


There seem to be disproportionate cancellations due to train faults on the TransWilts, and yet they're the same type of train as used on many other lines / service from, to and through Westbury.  Which leads to the question "Why?".  Is there something about the line than causes the trains to fail more frequently, is it the easiest one to cancel if they're a train short, or do they get less complaints if this is the one cancelled?

 

 
Appears to the result of a double failure.

The set working the 15:46 from Swindon had to come out of service and then a set brought out of the yard also had a problem leading to the cancellation of the 16:50 back to Swindon and its return.

A unit is now being detached from a Cardiff to Fareham service at Westbury for the 20:18 to Swindon.

 

Fixed that for you