"not bothering" is a favourite of SWR...Maybe it isn't the industrial action, maybe those that control things these days have said not to bother. Who really knows anymore!
"not bothering" is a favourite of SWR...Maybe it isn't the industrial action, maybe those that control things these days have said not to bother. Who really knows anymore!
Someone on their social media asked if they could drive from Axminster to Dorchester and use their ticket from there, and were told that wasn't allowed and they needed to refund and buy a new ticket, which of course will cost far more than an Advance bought weeks earlier.The crews are almost all Yeovil Junction based now i believe which makes crewing an Exeter to Axminster shuttle easier and given the other engineering works, they were running an exeter to yeovil shuttle before the closure. I really fail to understand why Salisbury to Yeovil via Westbury is cancelled as there is no issue at all on that bit so that's just SWR screwing everyone. The fact there is no ticket acceptance on GWR (also a first company) or stagecoach buses is ridiculous but typical SWR
Also pretty much guarantees no 0510 or 0725 from Exeter on Monday so there goes my trip to work again.By moving all these units back to Salisbury gives them another excuse not to run anything between Exeter and Axminster
They were on strike, and all of the Driver Standards Managers that work the strike days in Exeter only sign the branches.Reported elsewhere as a GWR driver having worked it.
Is a weekly occurrence. Stagecoach have been doing a good trade on their X30 route this week!"not bothering" is a favourite of SWR...
SWR Twitter: Hi, there is GWR ticket acceptance from Exeter to Paddington. ^DM
Probably just simple human error. There are several major problems affecting the SWR network at present, and in such situations it can be easy for those doing such work to become overwhelmed occasionally.How is it so difficult to update Journeycheck correctly!
Many of the GWR services from Exeter to Paddington are still being cancelled though.And it looks like they have decided to do GWR ticket acceptance after all. Good thing too, as they are legally obliged to...
And uet they allowed GWR passengers to travel between Reading and Waterloo on Thursday evening."not bothering" is a favourite of SWR...
So ticket acceptance wasn't allowed when they weren't be cancelled and now some still are, it is.Many of the GWR services from Exeter to Paddington are still being cancelled though.
If that was the case then SWR wouldn’t have loaned a different 158 to GWR each week until a few years ago.There's probably been modifications to the stock that GWR don't sign
That was a few years ago. Maybe the modifications hadn't been made, maybe the GWR signed the modifications at that point. Things change over the yearsIf that was the case then SWR wouldn’t have loaned a different 158 to GWR each week until a few years ago.
Nothing significant has changed. Sand in brake step 1. That's about it. Nothing a sheet of paper wouldn't brief sufficiently if it needed to be briefed at all.That was a few years ago. Maybe the modifications hadn't been made, maybe the GWR signed the modifications at that point. Things change over the years
Thanks.Nothing significant has changed. Sand in brake step 1. That's about it. Nothing a sheet of paper wouldn't brief sufficiently if it needed to be briefed at all.
There's still two units in the new yard - was 7 units stuck there originally - so short form on the 0725 but if the line's open both those should runAlso pretty much guarantees no 0510 or 0725 from Exeter on Monday so there goes my trip to work again
Believe it was an SWR Salisbury driver, still one who maintains knowledge via Taunton under local agreementReported elsewhere as a GWR driver having worked it.
Didn't want to risk so on 0931 Exeter to Paddington and guard had no issue at all with ticket. I see SWR are running empty shuttles to and from Axminster today.....says everything,There's still two units in the new yard - was 7 units stuck there originally - so short form on the 0725 but if the line's open both those should run
Believe it was an SWR Salisbury driver, still one who maintains knowledge via Taunton under local agreement
I am not usually a conspiracy theorist - the cockup principle usually fits the facts better - but I do wonder if the dead hand of politics and the DfT is behind all this. You could believe that this road- and air-transport focused government has a deliberate agenda of trying to show that railways are not essential any more. However I think it's probably that the political drive to offer a good railway service just isn't there, and DfT's assigned role is to cut costs to the maximum possible extent. Who actually decides whether a rail replacement bus service should be put on? I suspect that in reality it's DfT. SWR is just the convenient whipping boy - sorry, person!Maybe it isn't the industrial action, maybe those that control things these days have said not to bother. Who really knows anymore!
Also looks like it has been reporting since Farnborough, 15 mins early but nothing from Waterloo to Farnborough. Anyone know why this may be?1L17 07.35 Waterloo - EXD via Westbury is now at Yeovil Jn. according to RTT, waiting departure time at 10.39. This suggest the line through Crewkerne is open, although earlier trains shown were all cancelled! Anyone know what's going on? A silly question, perhaps.
Started from Farnborough in the path of 2L13 as part of the plan for the possession at BrookwoodAlso looks like it has been reporting since Farnborough, 15 mins early but nothing from Waterloo to Farnborough. Anyone know why this may be?
Exactly what I have been thinking - that they have another Beeching up their sleeve. The DfT's plan could be to allow some lines to deteriorate to the point they can close them with most users and objectors having already given up., the service having become unreliable anyway. Salisbury - Exeter would be a prime candidate, and everything beyond Exeter.I do wonder if the dead hand of politics and the DfT is behind all this. You could believe that this road- and air-transport focused government has a deliberate agenda of trying to show that railways are not essential any more.
One return trip. Says they have a driver spare and want to check that the track is still thereI see SWR are running empty shuttles to and from Axminster today.....says everything,
Yes, because there is a Barnstaple-Axminster which runs forward ECS to Castle Cary and back for route retention. But there's an overtime ban...Do GW crews sign to Axminster atm?
...on this forum?While I'll at least look at a conspiracy theory if there's a tangible trigger, I think going from SWR being awful to the DfT wants to shut off the entire south west is a bit of a reach.
The sensible thing is just to transfer a few 158's to GWR and let them run services from Yeovil Westwards. Permanently, there's certainly more demand for a reliable commuter service between East Devon and Exeter than there is for what has become a rather second rate and slow service between Exeter and Waterloo.Just to address a few points….
The SWR diesel fleet is no longer compatible in passenger service with other sprinter fleets due to modifications made to the fleet. They can still run together in an emergency rescue situation but mitigations need to be applied.
Regarding an Axminster shuttle, it would need additional crew as you wouldn’t be able to taxi the crew booked from Yeovil Junction and get them there in time. Due to the T&Cs in the drivers contracts, driver changeover cannot be at Axminster, they have to be at Exeter St David’s which adds significant time on. The only feasible way of running any shuttle service would rely completely on overtime and create additional diagrams. When it’s done pre arranged it can be diagramed accordingly, short notice it cannot be.
Yes only a handful of drivers though, but all Train Managers, Plymouth Train Managers also sign the route.Do GW crews sign to Axminster atm?
While I'll at least look at a conspiracy theory if there's a tangible trigger, I think going from SWR being awful to the DfT wants to shut off the entire south west is a bit of a reach.