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The decline of GWR...

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JN114

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The main thing GWR promised was increased capacity in the peak. So what do they do? Last month they quietly reduce the 2R60 1759 London Paddington to Reading (a busy stopping service slap bang in the middle of the evening peak) from an 8-car 387 to a 5-car 165. No mention about it at all anywhere. If GWR were open about these things then people would be a tiny bit more understanding, but as things stand it once again shows GWR as not caring about their passengers, a reputation they've had for many many years. I did think things improved a bit once they rebranded in 2015, but since 2017 they've gone downhill again.

The 5 car Turbo gets to Paddington during the evening peak. Previously it would have worked a fast Oxford but that fast Oxford is now a Fast Didcot 8 car 387. It can’t just evaporate at Paddington; there’s no longer a convenient depot it can go stable at for the peak, so it has to do something productive. By running it as a stopping service to Reading it keeps the 90mph unit off the mainline and frees up 387s to make sure all other peak departures from Paddington are 8 or 12 car.

I mean they could always run it empty stock out of Paddington and just get rid of the 1759 altogether? I’m sure that would be great for capacity.

It’s putting capacity where it’s needed most and maximising the usage of what’s there. Unless you want to nominate a different service to run as a 5 car turbo and explain your reasoning for choosing that service?

I also don’t buy that they’re not being open about it - certainly in as much as they’re quite honest that it’s a 5 car. As has been seen nationally operators are struggling to get timetables out in good time as it is. Now you’re expecting chapter and verse about why changes are being made? No other operator does it, why does that suddenly make GWR substandard that they’re doing what every other operator does?
 
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JN114

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No they aren't? The move from 332s to 387s is supposed to take place in December 2019, which is at the same time as Crossrail reaches Reading, so at best they occur simultaneously. However, some units will be freed up this month when TfL rail take over Heathrow Connect and the Hayes & Harlington services, and why the 769s being procured for GWR will also be used on Thames Valley services temporarily to release a few more units for conversion work...

Spring 2019:

769s replace 16x on North Downs, Basingstokes, selected TV Branches. Those routes get 769s as they’ll all operated by Reading drivers only; reducing traincrew training requirement by 2/3rds.

16x temporarily displace a small number of 387 diagrams. By all accounts diagrams chosen will be carefully selected to minimise impact. 769s will likely venture into Paddington in peaks to keep Turbos off high peak departures where practical (see above).

387s go away for ETCS fitment and interior modifications to bring them up to HX standard.

December 2019:

Crossrail starts running through services on Western arm. 16x displaced off TV mainline work to transfer to West Country. significant number of 387s also released and redeployed on suburban duties enabling capacity increases. Modified 387s replace 332s on Heathrow work.
 

jdxn

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I expect more disruption on the inner Thames Valley: Construction of Heathrow western access portals/lines, Old Oak Common Station construction and associated HS2 works. Crossrail station rebuilds haven't really got going at the Western end yet, may end up being completed after the December 2019 full line launch. Electrification of the Henley and Windsor branches.

On the outer end of TV there's the line to Oxford - major station rebuild and electrification from Didcot.

The next CP has installation of axle counters from Paddington to Airport Jn to replace the track circuits, which will no doubt require a lot of possession time!
 

MarkyT

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The next CP has installation of axle counters from Paddington to Airport Jn to replace the track circuits, which will no doubt require a lot of possession time!

One advantage of axle counters is that because they are totally electrically isolated from the rails and the traction return current that flows in them, they can be installed, tested and brought into shadow use in parallel with the existing track circuits. Then they can be cut over quickly into live use at commissioning, and the track circuit equipment and bonding recovered gradually afterwards.
 

Deepgreen

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1. Remember that GWR have an ever dwindling supply of 166's at Reading due to them going to Bristol. I can't explain the reasoning behind a 166 vice 165 and in reverse on Redhill/Gatwick diagrams. That may just be how it comes out of the depot.

2. Dorking Deepdene's shelters were, as I remember them, rather run down, a magnet for antisocial behaviour and quite frankly, they were dangerous. I'm surprised the new TVMs at Deepdene have survived as long as they have so far.

3. This is a common issue not just on the North Downs Line.

4. This is a common issue with the TrainFX passenger information system, but seems to be especially so on board the Turbos. Perhaps bad wiring?

5. This is probably, again, due to vandalism. Do you think staff just put the bin bags there and leave them?


Responses :
1. Not my (the passenger's) problem - if I buy a 1st class ticket and then find there isn't any, I wouldn't be happy, apart from the TOC not meeting its franchise obligation. As for "that may be just how it comes out of the depot" - well, perhaps we'll see 165s to Penzance and 43s to Redhill, then? No - allocate the right stock to the right workings. The occasional substitution may happen, but on the large scale I have witnessed it's unacceptable.
2. The shelters were very basic, but kept the rain off better than nothing at all. "Dangerous" - how so?? As I said earlier, a simple poster explaining the situation would have been useful, but seemingly beyond GWR's capabilities.
3. Oh, that's all right then!
4. As above.
5. Vandalism - at Betchworth?! Yes, by the way, I have seen bags being dumped hurriedly, rather than fixed properly.

The 16x unit issues have been around for years, with no visible effort by FGW/GWR to address them. Again, as a passenger, behind the scenes failures are not my concern - I'm just presented with a railway seemingly in chaos and with no pride or planning in evidence.
 
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ChathillMan

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What has happened this weekend? I noticed NRE put an alert out at 5am advising disruption to the long distance services of due to staff shortage.. GWR say its crew issues and late notice of works.

Has Network Rail dropped a bombshell on GWR at the last minute, meaning they don't have the correct number of crew in the right place or is it BBQ day? (or something else?)
 

Mag_seven

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What has happened this weekend? I noticed NRE put an alert out at 5am advising disruption to the long distance services of due to staff shortage.. GWR say its crew issues and late notice of works.

Has Network Rail dropped a bombshell on GWR at the last minute, meaning they don't have the correct number of crew in the right place or is it BBQ day? (or something else?)

See this thread:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...d-and-during-week.148987/page-13#post-3448862
 

greaterwest

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Responses :
1. Not my (the passenger's) problem - if I buy a 1st class ticket and then find there isn't any, I wouldn't be happy, apart from the TOC not meeting its franchise obligation. As for "that may be just how it comes out of the depot" - well, perhaps we'll see 165s to Penzance and 43s to Redhill, then? No - allocate the right stock to the right workings. The occasional substitution may happen, but on the large scale I have witnessed it's unacceptable.
2. The shelters were very basic, but kept the rain off better than nothing at all. "Dangerous" - how so?? As I said earlier, a simple poster explaining the situation would have been useful, but seemingly beyond GWR's capabilities.
3. Oh, that's all right then!
4. As above.
5. Vandalism - at Betchworth?! Yes, by the way, I have seen bags being dumped hurriedly, rather than fixed properly.

The 16x unit issues have been around for years, with no visible effort by FGW/GWR to address them. Again, as a passenger, behind the scenes failures are not my concern - I'm just presented with a railway seemingly in chaos and with no pride or planning in evidence.

Responses;

1. I'm not suggesting it is, it's merely an observation for the purposes of this thread.
2. They were basic but last time I saw them, they appeared to be in a great state of disrepair (loose panels, which is mainly what I was referring to as dangerous)
3. Not suggesting it is; merely observing. Even SWR guards have this problem.
4. I don't think there's a lot GWR can do if the PIS loses its GPS signal, but again. Once again, just an observation.
5. I don't use Betchworth and have never been there, but if that's the case then perhaps there is some staff negligence involved, if you're suggesting they were "dumped" rather than fixed properly at the station. I hope you continue to write in to complain if that is the case.
 

Parallel

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Parallel commuting updates from last week:

30/04
08:00 Trowbridge to Bath Spa - 7L (5-car)
17:36 Bath Spa to Trowbridge - 22L (5-car)

01/05
08:00 Trowbridge to Bath Spa - 2L (3-car vice 5, packed)
17:06 Bath Spa to Trowbridge - 29L (First stop Westbury, stops at Freshford, Avoncliff, Bradford-on-Avon & Trowbridge cancelled due to a fault on this train)
17:24 Bath Spa to Trowbridge - 39L (Crushloaded. Pulled over at Bathampton Loop to allow the late running Portsmouth train go infront which wasn't advertised as happening at Bath - The commuters groaned when they saw the 158 sail past. This train was then terminated at Westbury with the stops at Dilton Marsh and Warminster were cancelled. I bet the Warminster commuters weren't best pleased as they would have been over an hour late having to also wait at Westbury for the next train.)

02/05
08:00 Trowbridge to Bath Spa - 15L (3-car vice 5, packed)
17:06 Bath Spa to Trowbridge 30L (Heavily overcrowded, unable to board)
17:24 Bath Spa to Trowbridge 25L

03/05
08:00 Trowbridge to Bath Spa - On time (& 5 coaches!)
17:37 Bath Spa to Trowbridge - 6L (4 coaches vice 5)

04/05
08:00 Trowbridge to Bath Spa - On time (5 coaches)
18:37 Bath Spa to Trowbridge - 29L (Delayed due to train crew delayed by service disruption)
 

PHILIPE

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People tweeting GWR re short formed IETs are receiving what seems to be a "cut and paste" reply, stating that it was due to an imbalance of trains at Swansea - Wait for it - LAST FRIDAY 6 days later.
 

cb00

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I have no choice but to travel on a Sunday to Paddington via the Cotswold line. On a recent Sunday all but one of the scheduled services were cancelled.

What's the best time to check on GWR.com (or RTT?) whether a service is definitely running/cancelled?
 

JN114

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I have no choice but to travel on a Sunday to Paddington via the Cotswold line. On a recent Sunday all but one of the scheduled services were cancelled.

What's the best time to check on GWR.com (or RTT?) whether a service is definitely running/cancelled?

Sunday morning. RTT will only show cancellations when they’re entered into TRUST; which is often after train time.
 

PHILIPE

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GWR replied to a Tweet today regarding a potential traveller on Sunday who asked if any cancellations could be advised out on Saturday so as to be able to make any required arrangements in ample time. The reply said they don't publish them until the day itself in case it is possible to find a crew member in the meantime. This is in contrast to ATW who if they have any cancellations/truncated trains they show them on Journey Check the evening before,
 

cb00

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Sunday morning. RTT will only show cancellations when they’re entered into TRUST; which is often after train time.
Thanks both. I find it staggering, having spoken with GWR customer service tonight, that they won't permit travel via Birmingham.

It seems GWR expects customers to wait for the 'next available service' or use bus replacements.

How this ongoing farce is being tolerated by the DfT, I have no idea.

GWR staff on trains I've found to be pleasant, in contrast with the company's apparent contempt for its customers.
 

itsthechoochoo

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GWR promised us more trains and more seats. The one I catch used to be 8 car diesel with comfortable seats. Now it’s 5 car electric with seats as hard as board. Passengers are reduced to standing. They then take great pride in informing us that they’ve reached Paddington 2 minutes ahead of schedule. This is achieved by going very fast and subjecting us to further discomfort as there appears to be lots of opportunities for jolting the train. Didn’t notice it too much on the comfy seats, but being thrown about on hard seats isn’t pleasant. Maybe standing is a better option, as long as you hold on tight.
 

jimm

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Thanks both. I find it staggering, having spoken with GWR customer service tonight, that they won't permit travel via Birmingham.

It seems GWR expects customers to wait for the 'next available service' or use bus replacements.

How this ongoing farce is being tolerated by the DfT, I have no idea.

GWR staff on trains I've found to be pleasant, in contrast with the company's apparent contempt for its customers.

Why is it staggering? It's not a GWR route, or a GWR fare.

If there is a major blockade over an extended period for engineering or signalling work, then GWR will arrange for their tickets to be accepted for travel from Worcester via Birmingham - no such situation applies this weekend.

You don't say where you want to travel from. If you are in the Worcester or Malvern area, which I assume you must be somewhere near if you are talking about travelling via Birmingham, then there are a number of Via Birmingham fares available that are set by Virgin/WMR.

Oddly enough, GWR do not want to cancel services if they can avoid it, so why announce a train won't run the previous evening if they find the following morning that they do have the necessary staff available? Sometimes trains indicated as cancelled in the morning get reinstated in the course of the day if extra crew become available for whatever reason.

And all the drivers at the GWR Worcester train crew depot are now passed out to drive Class 800s - which has clearly been producing dividends in terms of service performance, with very few cancellations on the Cotswold Line in the past two to three weeks. At the same time, most of the route learning that has also been taking place for drivers who transferred to Worcester from other areas when the drivers' depot opened there is now completed, again assisting with staff availability.

Quickest way to see what cancellations or alterations there may be is at GWR Journeycheck

https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/
 

Pete_uk

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GWR promised us more trains and more seats. The one I catch used to be 8 car diesel with comfortable seats. Now it’s 5 car electric with seats as hard as board.

That, at least is thanks to the DfT.

Seems like GWR are going through some upheaval
 

cb00

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Thanks for your replies. Not sure why HSTs randomly appear with a carriage missing but apart from some delays, GWR appear to be doing ok on the Cotswolds line this Sunday.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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Thanks for your replies. Not sure why HSTs randomly appear with a carriage missing but apart from some delays, GWR appear to be doing ok on the Cotswolds line this Sunday.

The vehicles for the 2+4 project are coming out of the existing operational fleet, so quite a few 7-car rakes running around. It doesn’t cause too much hassle, particularly as it’s TSOs being removed.
 

cb00

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The vehicles for the 2+4 project are coming out of the existing operational fleet, so quite a few 7-car rakes running around. It doesn’t cause too much hassle, particularly as it’s TSOs being removed.
A 10 car class 800 failed at Didcot Parkway, so this 7 car HST was delayed to accommodate passengers from that service. That missing carriage would have come in handy!
 

Parallel

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What is frustrating for walk-up passengers is when the rake is shortformed to 7 carriages, the reservations from the missing carriage are usually placed in Coach F, meaning there isn’t actually any unreserved seating.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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What is frustrating for walk-up passengers is when the rake is shortformed to 7 carriages, the reservations from the missing carriage are usually placed in Coach F, meaning there isn’t actually any unreserved seating.

Only if every single seat in A-E are reserved, which is very rare. But I take your point. Far better than the 1980s when the majority of Western Region HSTs were 2+7 sets with 4 standard coaches, so a shortform generally meant the Standard accommodation went down to 3! I wouldn’t fancy that on a Padd-Plymouth in the summer.
 

ChrisHogan

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Only if every single seat in A-E are reserved, which is very rare. But I take your point. Far better than the 1980s when the majority of Western Region HSTs were 2+7 sets with 4 standard coaches, so a shortform generally meant the Standard accommodation went down to 3! I wouldn’t fancy that on a Padd-Plymouth in the summer.

Running with six trailers was very very rare in the 1980s (I was at Paddn 1979-1986) as W.R. had a good number of spare TGSs that were used when a TS was missing (marshalled between the London end PC and TF 'H'). We would have put anything running 2+6 on a Bristol working rather than WoE.
 

jimm

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And in this case, the 7-coach was put on a Cotswold Line service, where loadings tend to be that bit lighter and where it is rare to see most of standard class festooned with seat reservation cards in the first place - unlike Bristol and South Wales services.
 

GodAtum

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I was travelling on Saturday from Paddington to Oxford. The 1022 was swapped from an HST to a turbo due to maintenance issues. As I had a 1st class reservation, I decided to wait in the lounge for the next train at 1042, which luckily was an HST so could have a comfortable journey.
 
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RMT are allegedly balloting HSS Train Managers for strike action over the class 800 running DOO to Oxford on an existing DOO route, surely if it’s an unguarded DOO cleared route with ASLEF agreement (once given) they haven’t got a leg to stand on.
 

cactustwirly

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RMT are allegedly balloting HSS Train Managers for strike action over the class 800 running DOO to Oxford on an existing DOO route, surely if it’s an unguarded DOO cleared route with ASLEF agreement (once given) they haven’t got a leg to stand on.

I would imagine GWR could take the RMT to court and get an injunction against them.
This ballot looks illegal to me, since none of the TMs are affected
 

Mag_seven

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RMT are allegedly balloting HSS Train Managers for strike action over the class 800 running DOO to Oxford on an existing DOO route, surely if it’s an unguarded DOO cleared route with ASLEF agreement (once given) they haven’t got a leg to stand on.

Would the ASLEF agreement mention any specific rolling stock?
 

cactustwirly

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Would the ASLEF agreement mention any specific rolling stock?

I don't know for sure, but I'm sure it would just be the route.
I believe the DOO 800s will be driven by LTV drivers, who already drive DOO 165/166s on this route.
 
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