I thought Combe and Finstock were only long enough for a 2-car unit.Isn’t the data entry/exit (ie a commuter is two per day), which would make the usage look even more pointless?
I thought Combe and Finstock were only long enough for a 2-car unit.Isn’t the data entry/exit (ie a commuter is two per day), which would make the usage look even more pointless?
I thought Combe and Finstock were only long enough for a 2-car unit.
Yes, only 2 car units can be used for the service that calls at Combe & Finstock.
Yes, only 2 car units can be used for the service that calls at Combe & Finstock.
Was the Cotswold line ever fully double tracked between Oxford and Worcester?
Yes. All the way until 1971.
I believe it is. You could perhaps say 3-4 commuters/day since I got the daily figure by dividing the annual one by 365, but I think the one stopping train a day only runs Monday-Friday.
I assume you mean only the 2-car variety of Turbo can be used, as opposed to a 3-car.
So those ridiculous stops restrict capacity for lots of other stations?Yes, exactly that. The 2 car Turbo Diagram that contains the Cotswolds Halts service is one which we cannot substitute a 3 car Turbo, same goes with the 2 car diagrams that work the Marlow Donkey & the Greenford Branch respectively.
So those ridiculous stops restrict capacity for lots of other stations?
Moderator note: this thread is to discuss progress regarding the planned improvements; if anyone wishes to post any ideas, suggestions etc please use the Iideas for improving the north Cotswold line thread, thanks!
This means Combe gets 10.9 entries-exits per day (ie between 5 and 6 regular commuters - assuming that is who make up the bulk of trarrric) and Finstock gets 6.9, ie between 3 and 4 regulars makeing return journies on the days when services run.
That feels about right from my experience.
One interesting quirk is that because Combe is not particularly close to anywhere, and has no parking, the majority of users travel there by bike - last time I counted, there were six passengers and all had bikes. I wonder if there are any other stations for which this is true.
I haven't been reading this thread thoroughly but I can say that Finstock isn't exactly in a town or village centre. It's a fair walk from the town/village (not sure which) of Finstock itself and therefore bikes would probably be needed to cycle there if you don't want to get too tired out. There aren't any footpaths either IIRC. The 2-car trains are Class 165s/166s (again, not sure which). I went on a Turbostar about a year ago and it had plenty of space for luggage in big racks - maybe a bike could be stored in that car? There aren't many seats in that end of the units. But I'm not sure if that's a 2-car unit.Interesting. I don't know the area, but as far as I can tell from Google Maps, Finstock also appears to be not very close to anywhere and also has no parking - so do Finstock users also get to the station by bike? I can't see how else they'd do it? And can a 2-car train really fit that many bikes in?
Interesting. I don't know the area, but as far as I can tell from Google Maps, Finstock also appears to be not very close to anywhere and also has no parking - so do Finstock users also get to the station by bike? I can't see how else they'd do it? And can a 2-car train really fit that many bikes in?
It can't, and certainly not that service, which is always busy. But there's a few Sheffield stands at Combe itself (and Finstock), and of course lots of people travel with Bromptons.
Combe station is actually closer to the Millwood Vale end of Long Hanborough than Hanborough station itself is (the word "Long" is a clue!), so I suspect much of its custom comes from there: perhaps a bit from Combe village itself and even Stonesfield. At Finstock, I've known people walk from Fawler, and there is a small layby too: when parking charges were first introduced at Charlbury station, one commuter switched to Finstock for a while on the basis it was free there.
GWR is running an invitation-only limited-stop special train on Friday March 20 to promote both the opening of Worcestershire Parkway station and the task force business case for further improvements to the Cotswold Line - leaving Parkway at noon, calling at Moreton-in-Marsh, Hanborough, Oxford and Reading.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V22091/2020-03-20/detailed