It's really to do with the failure to address performance issues with the Weybridge services so the "solution" has been to have the Weybridge run ahead of the Reading. That is not a solution, it is a cop-out. The improved performace of the 701s ought to allow the former timetable to be reinstated.
One way to keep the Fawley Branch operational.
in the cleaning shed at the Park around 1800 were 1009 and on the next road were 1517 buffers end and 1512 country end
All other SWR stock is operated in the traditional manner, guard open and close with no driver involvement. The reason for there being a pause in door release is because the guard is required to check that the train is correctly platformed first.
Also once the 701 project is finally complete, it's more than likely we see the energising of the 450 door release buttons in the lead driving cab. It's in the agreement with both Guards and drivers so makes perfect sense.
Somewhere in these forums there are some timetable pdfs as attachments, not sure if they covered 100% of routes, but there were quite a few files uploaded, will try and find them.
www.railforums.co.uk
Totally agree, I really hope this is going to be introduced as a quick win for GBR, presented as spending money for passenger benefit rather than giving First their "free money"
The Hounslow loop certainly does need to go back to 4 tph but not quite true all Southeastern services have returned to 4tph off peak to all Metro stations.
Correction to this:
+
My bold. I am guessing that 701022 has only just left Marchwood for London. 701022 is certainly one I have not seen in London. I was hoping to get it in Clapham Yard today (08/08/2025) but I guess it is now hiding in Wimbledon Park OR was out on test.
Nothing will change before December in any case. And whilst SWR might have the spare units to bring back the Hounslow loop & the missing Epsom line trains, do they have the staff available to run said trains?
OK, so let's be on the safe side and do nothing...
That's really disappointing, so we'll still be getting peak time 4 coach trains via Hounslow until December.
4 tph - trains per hour not 4 coach trains.
Why does it “make perfect sense”, what’s the benefit? The pressure to get doors open as quickly as humanly possibly largely passed with Covid, no?
There won't be much time savings with that, plus the plan is that those 450s eventually get displaced back onto the mainline where the timings are more suited for them.
It’s not 3 seconds, it’s more like 10-15 which does matter on the high frequency sections like Wimbledon and Barnes inwards.
The timetable at Worcester Park is so stupid, there is indeed a 31/32 minute gap between some services. It's not always 58 and 28. So yes, it does happen. There's a better service in Yorkshire than SW London.
No I imagine most passengers don't. But what happens if a train is cancelled, or the passenger is running late and just misses the train? Then it's a 30 minute wait.
Covid means passengers like to waste time? You get a bundle of impatient passengers inside the door staring at a group of impatient passengers staring at a stationary train - it’s farcical and makes the railway look amateurish ( exacerbated by Desiros’ ludicrously slow doors)
It allows the guard on long distance services to carry on with the customer service aspect of the role until dispatch is required though.
On every single 701 journey I've made the doors were released within 0-2 seconds, which is consistent with driver door release elsewhere (expect on the Bakerloo line where the doors often open before the train stops.
). On 450s my experience is anything between 1-15 seconds depending on the guard and on services with frequent stops this impacts on punctuality.Pendolinos and Voyagers have driver door release without cameras.
