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Great Western Coffee Shop
As at 21st November 2024 13:18 GMT
Recent Public Posts
Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 12:49, 21st November 2024
 
11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:52

11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 14:52 will be diverted between Bath Spa and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Bradford-On-Avon.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 11 minutes late.
This is due to a lorry colliding with a bridge.

Pity no Chippenham or Melksham stop on this one, though I appreciate it would have been well early for the normal train.

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 12:45, 21st November 2024
 
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a lorry colliding with a bridge.

THANK YOU for the extra Melksham and Chippenham calls in the 10:23 Portsmouth to Cardiff - or rather 12:12 Westbury to Cardiff.  Makes sense.

10:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 13:48 was started from Westbury and will be diverted between Trowbridge and Bath Spa.

It will no longer call at Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea, Fratton, Cosham, Fareham, Southampton Central, Romsey, Salisbury, Warminster and Bradford-On-Avon but will call additionally at Melksham and Chippenham.

It is being delayed between Trowbridge and Bath Spa and is now expected to be 20 minutes late.

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 12:38, 21st November 2024
 
Due to a lorry colliding with a bridge between Bath Spa and Freshford the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:45 21/11.
Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury via Bath Spa may be delayed.
Customer Advice
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We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
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A vehicle has struck a railway bridge in the Limpley Stoke area between Bath Spa and Freshford. Network Rail have specialist staff on their way to the bridge to inspect it for any damage. Until this has been done we are unable to run trains over the bridge.
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To help you complete your journey you may use your ticket on CrossCountry services between Reading and Southampton Central and South Western Railway services between Basingstoke and Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour, and their services between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
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If you are travelling from South Wales, Bristol or Bath towards the South Coast please take a Great Western Railway service to Reading and change their for CrossCountry services to the South. You can then change again at Basingstoke for South Western Railway services towards Fareham and Portsmouth stations.
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If you are travelling from the South Coast towards Bath, Bristol or South Wales you may use CrossCountry services between Southampton Central and Reading and South Western Railway services from Portsmouth stations to London Waterloo, changing at Basingstoke for services to Reading. Change at Reading for services to Bath, Bristol and South Wales.
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We will update this message with more information when we have it.

Err ... not disruption until 12:45, but until 13:57 - see previous post declaring a cancellation on the TransWilts.  And yet ... again ... trains cancelled due to issues elsewhere ...

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 12:35, 21st November 2024
 
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 12:59
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a lorry colliding with a bridge.

Re: De-icer and empty trains to tackle snow disruption, North West England - November 2024
Posted by Electric train at 12:32, 21st November 2024
 
From the days when British Rail EMU's and diesel electric locomotives had DC traction motors which had air vents for forced air cooling

11 February 1991. British Rail's Director of Operations, Terry Worrall, was asked to comment in BBC radio 4 "Today" programme, interviewer Jim Naughtie, on the adverse effects of the unusually heavy 1991 snowfall on railway services that winter. Terry Worrall explained that "we are having particular problems with the type of snow, which is rare in the UK" Jim Naughtie replied "Oh, I see, it was the wrong kind of snow," to which Worrall replied, "No, it was a different kind of snow".

Re: Ferries across waterways - whether by vehicle, foot or both (merged posts)
Posted by grahame at 10:43, 21st November 2024
 
From the BBC:

Islanders bid a fond farewell to MV Hebridean Isles




Thanks for posting that, Chris. I had ... wondered ... whether I should but thought I was probably the only one interested.  RONG! .. 

I wonder that they have enough ships left in the fleet - sort of TOC on water limitations, frugality and late delivery of complex new vehicles.   New Glen Sannox ... when?

It appears to have been delivered today for entry into service in January - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew1wxx0d0jo

The long-delayed ship at the centre of Scotland's ferries saga has been handed over by the Ferguson shipyard, exactly seven years after it was launched.

MV Glen Sannox, destined for CalMac's Arran route, is the first new large vessel for the west coast ferry fleet in nearly a decade.

The ferry operator will now conduct several weeks of crew familiarisation trials before the ship carries its first passengers in January.

Wiltshire and nearby estimates of station usage from April 23 to March 24
Posted by grahame at 10:39, 21st November 2024
 
Newly published data - all Wiltshire stations plus some close neighbours

April 22 to March 23April 23 to March 24Station
54684786118136Bath Spa
25880342831130Swindon
16215621812122Salisbury
14448881578070Chippenham
734772840926Trowbridge
518998535644Westbury
426702486806Bradford-on-Avon
295484331932Warminster
207090254698Frome
151630170286Tisbury
8153493570Bedwyn
6442463350Melksham
2823030004Dean
2340224136Avoncliff
1207619300Dilton Marsh

Analysis to follow

MOVED: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by grahame at 10:25, 21st November 2024

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by grahame at 10:24, 21st November 2024
 
Would this thread perhaps be better off within the "Transwilts Line" section?
Sorry - it probably would, I'm not that familiar with the forum and its sections. Or next time I post regarding this trip, I start a new thread in that section?

Helpful suggestion - I will move it there. 

General note - please post / start threads where you feel is sensible and don't worry about perfect placement - there's no such thing and we can always move stuff around if appropriate

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by matth1j at 10:19, 21st November 2024
 
Would this thread perhaps be better off within the "Transwilts Line" section?
Sorry - it probably would, I'm not that familiar with the forum and its sections. Or next time I post regarding this trip, I start a new thread in that section?

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:15, 21st November 2024
 
Would this thread perhaps be better off within the "Transwilts Line" section?

Re: 21st November 2024 - publication date for rail usage stats
Posted by grahame at 09:43, 21st November 2024
 
Summary / report at https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/lvscie3h/station-usage-2023-24-statistical-release.pdf


In Great Britain, 2,585 stations were served by mainline rail services as at 31 March 2024, including seven new stations which opened during the year.

A total of 1,610 million passenger journeys were made between April 2023 and March 2024. This is an increase of 16% from the 1,380 million journeys made in the previous year (April 2022 to March 2023).

Most and least used stations

The most used station in the latest year was London Liverpool Street with an estimated 94.5 million entries and exits. It was also the most used station in the previous year (April 2022 to March 2023), after the opening of the central section of the Elizabeth line which led to a large increase in its entries and exits. London Paddington, which also has Elizabeth line services, was the second busiest station. London Waterloo, which had been the busiest station in 17 of the previous 18 years prior to the Elizabeth line opening, was fourth busiest.

Birmingham New Street was the busiest station outside of London with 33.3 million entries and exits.

Of stations that were open during the year, Denton in Greater Manchester was the least used with 54 entries and exits.

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 09:30, 21st November 2024
 
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to engineering works not being finished on time.

13 minutes late from Swindon, 9 minutes late from Chippenham, 2 minutes late from Salisbury to Southampton.

Re: De-icer and empty trains to tackle snow disruption, North West England - November 2024
Posted by ray951 at 08:52, 21st November 2024
 
Talking of snow, but in the South West:

Due to heavy snow between Crediton and Okehampton the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 10:45 21/11.
Impact:
Train services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton via Crediton will be cancelled.
Customer Advice:
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We are sorry for the disruption to your journey this morning.
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Heavy snow fall in the area between Crediton and Okehampton means we are currently unable to run trains along the line to Okehampton.
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You are advised not to attempt to travel along this route at this time. The snow is also affecting the roads in the area and we are currently unable to provide replacement road transport.
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We will update this message with more information when we have it.

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by matth1j at 08:47, 21st November 2024
 
Lucky again this morning. Well, lucky it wasn't any worse...

Woke up early so decided to catch the 0632 Southampton service from Melksham, to get to Bristol via Trowbridge. Looked to be running fine when I left the house, but by the time I got to Melksham, it was delayed, meaning I'd miss the train I was planning on catching at Trowbridge.

Initially I thought I'd wait anyway, and catch the next train at Trowbridge. But I checked it, and it was also showing as 'delayed'.

So I kept walking and caught the 271 bus from Market Place, ending up in Bath in time to catch the Weston-super-Mare service I would have caught at Chippenham if I'd gone for the usual 0721 Melksham train. Although the 0721 was badly delayed; would have ended up hanging around until the 0802 (only slightly delayed). Hence some relief at not choosing the worst option

(The Weston-super-Mare service was only running 6 mins late.)

Re: lies, damned lines and ontimetrains
Posted by Timmer at 07:16, 21st November 2024
 
With the star over Melksham,we can be sure that it is indicating the beaded wise man from the east has arrived.
Only one question remains...where/who are the other two?
Ones in Swindon and the other in Nailsea, though the one in Nailsea doesn’t have a beard 

I’ll get my coat.

Re: North Cotswold Line delays and cancellations - 2024
Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 07:16, 21st November 2024
 
Wednesday November 20

The 'halts' train, 2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Moreton-in-Marsh, and return, 2E16 18:51 Evesham to Oxford, cancelled "cancelled due to a problem with the traction equipment (MD)", according to RTT.

1W41 20:52 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled throughout "due to an issue with the train crew (TH)".

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:58, 21st November 2024
 
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:07 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to engineering works not being finished on time.

Re: De-icer and empty trains to tackle snow disruption, North West England - November 2024
Posted by Electric train at 06:37, 21st November 2024
 
Snow and ice cause a number of problem,
  • Points and switches freezing - this is counteracted by the use of electric point heaters, these have control systems that monitor cold and 'hot' rail and the humidity, in some locations in the UK there are driven snow sensors; most of these control units report back to Route / Regional monitoring system.
    Conductor rail ice - the use of de-icing trains, basically the same units as the RHTT but with a different deployment head and the use of a de-icer fluid, "ghost trains" which are EMU's run by the TOCs on behalf of NR are run normally at night but can also be during the day; there are some locations with electric conrail heating typically at platforms and certain signals.
    OLE - with freezing rain ice can build up on the contact wire which can damage pan heads, in the UK we don't have OLE heating systems unlike parts of Europe, the exception is HS1, NR will run "ghost trains" if the likely hood of ice on the OLE contact wire is a risk. Also heavy snow can build up on insulators and cause a flashover.
    Lineside equipment - driven snow and snow drifts can get into electrical / signalling equipment causing shorts often only found as the snow thaws
    Staff - it is just a general challenge for Operations, reactive and maintenance teams to get into work and get out to lineside equipment and for train crew get to booking on points

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by grahame at 06:09, 21st November 2024
 
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Re: De-icer and empty trains to tackle snow disruption, North West England - November 2024
Posted by grahame at 06:03, 21st November 2024
 
People sometimes ask "why do railway signals have the red light at the bottom, but road traffic lights have the red light at the top"

Modern railway signals have a single lens that changes colour, or two if they are in 4 aspect land, though I grant you that in places that time has stood still, and where a proper National Rail service is not provided too that's the case. There are still places with systems of wires and pulleys and rectangular board that are horizontal for stop, horizontal with a fishtail for caution, and either at 45 degrees or vertical for proceed at line speed.   

Snow was a problem with some of these earlier systems, as illustrated at Abbots Ripton on 21st January 1876.


Re: lies, damned lines and ontimetrains
Posted by chuffed at 03:38, 21st November 2024
 
With the star over Melksham,we can be sure that it is indicating the beaded wise man from the east has arrived.
Only one question remains...where/who are the other two?

Re: De-icer and empty trains to tackle snow disruption, North West England - November 2024
Posted by broadgage at 03:32, 21st November 2024
 
People sometimes ask "why do railway signals have the red light at the bottom, but road traffic lights have the red light at the top"

Answer=in railway signals, each coloured light has has a cowling above to shield it from direct sunlight as this could be misleading. Any build up of snow on this cowling can obstruct the view of the light above it. With the red stop light at the bottom, there is no cowling below it upon which snow can build up.
In such severe weather roads are often closed, so snow obstruction of road signals is less important. Of greater importance is that the red light should be seen over the top of any other vehicles closer to the signal. Having the red light at the top helps.

Re: Northern's train woes won't be fixed until 2027, rail operator warns
Posted by grahame at 23:27, 20th November 2024
 
It's tempting to be cynical and say that DfT, the Government, ORR and GBR may have no great incentive to address any matters in their control until the succeeding arrangements are in place so that they can demonstrate that the new order has achieved something?

Indeed - and that matter - and also the idea of GWR's parent First looking to maximise income over expenditure in the shorter term rather than acting as guardians for passengers and the future has also been raised.  But I have the indication that the GWR folks are rail at heart, will be TUPEd over, and don't want to cross over with such a record.

Re: Northern's train woes won't be fixed until 2027, rail operator warns
Posted by broadgage at 23:04, 20th November 2024
 
I was going to vote "after the war" but that option was not listed.

Re: lies, damned lines and ontimetrains
Posted by grahame at 22:11, 20th November 2024
 
two more interesting views




Re: lies, damned lines and ontimetrains
Posted by grahame at 21:39, 20th November 2024
 
I take it the star over Melksham shows Graham is in residence 

Love it - the stations whose stats I was looking at.   Other stars over Okehampton and Twyford which I made the centre of the universe for those maps.

 
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