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GWR Strike Timetables

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RPI

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From what I gather at work today, GWR running hourly Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol, other than a couple of castle cary specials thats it. No branches, nothing in Cornwall
 
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Chingy

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From what I gather at work today, GWR running hourly Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol, other than a couple of castle cary specials thats it. No branches, nothing in Cornwall

Not surprised re Cornwall, what with the number of local, lever boxes down there still. Surprised there is nothing between Padd and South Wales though, if that's literally it.
 

RPI

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Not surprised re Cornwall, what with the number of local, lever boxes down there still. Surprised there is nothing between Padd and South Wales though, if that's literally it.
I'm not sure about south Wales actually, I'm not sure if what I was told was just what affects Exeter so wait for the official timetable.
 

uglymonkey

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Reads like a Beeching Mk2 map ! How are they going to run anything if the signalers and NR are on strike?
 

Chingy

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Would the B&H be closed due to no signaller availability or is it just a GWR decision?

As if it's a signaller issue, that'll essentially close down the Mendip quarry traffic on the affected days next week.
Otherwise, much the same as the other TOC's, ie a skeleton service on the core, city - city bit of their network.
 

55002

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Not good for the Glastonbury traffic, although I suppose they can cram on anything via swindon
 

Nunners

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Would the B&H be closed due to no signaller availability or is it just a GWR decision?

As if it's a signaller issue, that'll essentially close down the Mendip quarry traffic on the affected days next week.
Otherwise, much the same as the other TOC's, ie a skeleton service on the core, city - city bit of their network.
Mendip traffic can go via Melksham, which is still open
 

infobleep

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It seems to be as if GWR can run more of a service than SWR [South Western Railway] when you look at all the branches being served near London.

Is that due to the signalling set-up in those areas compared to SWR?
 

JonathanH

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It seems to be as if GWR can run more of a service than SWR [South Western Railway] when you look at all the branches being served near London.

Is that due to the signalling set-up in those areas compared to SWR?
The signalling work required to run one train shuttles from Twyford to Henley and Slough to Windsor isn't especially complex. You will note that Maidenhead to Marlow is dependent on a guard being available. There are existing arrangements to stable units overnight on the routes.
 

HamworthyGoods

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The signalling work required to run one train shuttles from Twyford to Henley and Slough to Windsor isn't especially complex. You will note that Maidenhead to Marlow is dependent on a guard being available. There are existing arrangements to stable units overnight on the routes.

Indeed, once you’ve got the panel open on Thames Valley Signalling Centre the actual operation of the branches are easy, and with the branches with the exception of Marlow being DOO you don’t need any ‘contingent guards’ to run the trains unlike SWR.
 

infobleep

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Indeed, once you’ve got the panel open on Thames Valley Signalling Centre the actual operation of the branches are easy, and with the branches with the exception of Marlow being DOO you don’t need any ‘contingent guards’ to run the trains unlike SWR.
The SWR contingent strike service was wider and covered more lines than this strike service will. That didn't have signallers on strike of course but it did need guards.

So I'd have thought the biggest limiting factor is the signalling and less so the guards.
 

HamworthyGoods

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The SWR contingent strike service was wider and covered more lines than this strike service will. That didn't have signallers on strike of course but it did need guards.

Covid (and it’s restrictions during the pandemic) has resulted in a vast reduction of contingent train operating staff
 

PTR 444

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Cant find any strike dates timetables on the GWR website, however looking at the map in post #6, is the plan to route London - Plymouth trains via Melksham rather than Bristol as originally speculated by the OP?

Also judging by open routes, will the Cardiff - Taunton run as usual and the Cardiff - Portsmouth run as far as Westbury?
 
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Chingy

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Looking at the map in post #6, are GWR planning to route London - Plymouth trains via Melksham rather than Bristol as originally speculated by the OP?

I think the trains routed via Melksham will be Glastonbury specials to Castle Cary. The non festival trains are going Plymouth - Bristol - Swindon - Padd if I understand correctly.
 

PTR 444

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I think the trains routed via Melksham will be Glastonbury specials to Castle Cary. The non festival trains are going Plymouth - Bristol - Swindon - Padd if I understand correctly.
Ahh okay, but will the Castle Cary specials terminate there or continue to Taunton or beyond (as the line from there to Cogload Junction is open). Also seems a bit perverse to route London - Plymouth services via Bristol as the route via Melksham is quicker, and Bristol - Plymouth will be served by Cross Country anyway.
 

Horizon22

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Ahh okay, but will the Castle Cary specials terminate there or continue to Taunton or beyond (as the line from there to Cogload Junction is open). Also seems a bit perverse to route London - Plymouth services via Bristol as the route via Melksham is quicker, and Bristol - Plymouth will be served by Cross Country anyway.

But Bristol to London wouldn't necessarily be. The idea of a Plymouth - London (via Bristol) train is that, whilst long, it serves two core GWR routes for those that must travel.
 

PTR 444

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But Bristol to London wouldn't necessarily be. The idea of a Plymouth - London (via Bristol) train is that, whilst long, it serves two core GWR routes for those that must travel.
I guess that makes sense from a supply point of view to make use of fewer resources while drivers and open lines are in short supply. Another question, but will these London > Bristol > Plymouth trains run via Bath or Bristol Parkway?
 

JonathanH

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I guess that makes sense from a supply point of view to make use of fewer resources while drivers and open lines are in short supply.
There is an abundance of available drivers. It is the guards who are on strike.
 

irish_rail

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There is an abundance of available drivers. It is the guards who are on strike.
Indeed not entirely sure where the drivers are all meant to go, there isn't going to be space in most messrooms! And covid hasn't gone away yet either!
 

Horizon22

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Indeed not entirely sure where the drivers are all meant to go, there isn't going to be space in most messrooms! And covid hasn't gone away yet either!

Yes this is going to be weird with so many diagrams not required - only so many spares you need with 1/2 tph! Maybe you can all do a station stint each :D
 

Max

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I notice that the expected timetable publication for Tuesday has been postponed from today to tomorrow (Fri 17th).
 
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