Recent content by Weekender

There is, it’s Stagecoach 882 takes 45 minutes and runs about every 2 hours.

This was inevitable after the cancellation of HS2. Even this government wouldn’t be stupid/arrogant enough to continue with East/West Rail after crapping on passengers in the north. I confidently predict this won’t go any further than Milton Keynes.

Gloucester to Newport along the banks of the Severn.

Week commencing 24th October the service was operated on 3 consecutive days by an IET. Friday the 27th it was a Castle but as is often the case for Gloucester/Cheltenham services it was cancelled between Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads due to lack of train crew. Recently more often than not...

As you said on the transport for Wales 231 thread it’s all subjective. Good point about the first class declassification though. Just hope the train manager understands it!

It also appears that 1C71 0700 Gloucester to Penzance has been downgraded to an IET. which is a shame as I am booked on it tomorrow from Gloucester to Newton Abott and was looking forward to the comfort of a “castle class”. Edited to add departure time.

I notice the mythical 2 trains per hour between Bristol and Gloucester is still missing from the new timetable. It would appear that GWR/dft are waiting for the Gloucester MP to lose his seat so the promise can be quietly dropped.

Is this both Cotswolds lines?

Must have been cosy!!

So why do you think the weekend cancellations have been so high for so many years on these routes?

GWR have no interest in either of the Cotswold lines and would quite happy to see either or both close. The Sunday service on the South Cotswold line has been a total lottery for at least the last 7 years and the Hereford line doesn’t fare much better.

I travel on this route regularly and nearly all services are”full and standing” between Cam and Dursley and Bristol. If the train has come from Worcester it can be difficult to get a seat at Gloucester.

That’s what I was dreading. I travel frequently at weekends between Gloucester and Bristol and for a few months now the hourly trains have been overcrowded. The only way to be sure of a seat now is to change at Severn Tunnel Junction.

Unfortunately I think that is very much what the treasury want and I don’t think Grant Schapps would fight them on it.

Crew shortages has been a major problem for GWR since at least 2015. Particularly on the Cotswold lines and at weekends. It never seems to be a priority.