South West Trains DoA

[pete_m911]

http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/south-west/136302-/

Stagecoach has signed an agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT) that will allow for further investment in the South West Trains franchise.

The Deed of Amendment provides for accelerated investment of about £50m for improvements to the service between now and February 2017.

The current South West franchise ends in 2017 and Stagecoach said it was currently negotiating an extension with the DfT until April 2019.

It added the investment would provide 57,000 additional seats, 73 new evening and weekend services, increased car parking at stations and new ticket systems.

Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said: "The South West Trains network, operating out of London Waterloo, Britain's busiest station, is a key part of the country's transport infrastructure.

"These improvements will support the regional economy and enhance the transport network for communities across the south and south-west of England."

Tim Shoveller, chief executive of the South West Trains-Network Rail Allliance, added: "We have achieved a huge 50 per cent growth in the number of passenger journeys on our network in the past ten years.

"Looking ahead, the scale of growth is set to continue. That is why we are absolutely focused on improving the railway for today's customers and planning for the future."

South West Trains currently operates more than 1,600 trains a day with more than 220 million passenger journeys a year.

The news follow Chancellor George Osborne's announcement of a new South West rail franchise in his 2015 Budget.

 

[pete_m911]

Wonder what these new services will be...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Now on the DfT web site: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-50-million-package-of-passenger-benefits-on-south-west-trains

And on the Stagecoach Group site: http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2015/2015-03-25.aspx

This gives details of the new services:

NOTES TO EDITORS

57,000 seats include trains that are extended from their current destination station and those which are diverted from their current route.

Basingstoke
Two additional trains per hour between Basingstoke and Waterloo on Sunday afternoons (one from Salisbury and one from Portsmouth via Eastleigh)
Over 4000 additional seats between Basingstoke and London on Sunday afternoons

West of England
Half hourly service from Salisbury to London on Sunday afternoons
New hourly express trains on Sunday early evenings from London Waterloo to Salisbury calling only at Clapham Junction with journey times of 1hr10m
1000 extra seats on the West of England line on Sunday afternoons between Salisbury and London

Poole/Bournemouth
10 minute faster journey times between Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton and London on Sunday afternoons
Over 1600 additional seats between Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton and London on Sunday afternoons
New early morning train from Southampton to London at 05:20 and 0703 from Waterloo on weekdays

Suburban
Half-hourly service on the Hounslow loop on Sunday afternoons
Half hourly connections through to Hampton Court until the end of service Monday to Saturday

The OP's quote (last line) neatly shows the confusion between this franchise deal and the FGW one.
Both could be described as "a new franchise for the South West".
I think George Osborne meant the FGW one, but you never know!

 

[21C101]

Now on the DfT web site: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-50-million-package-of-passenger-benefits-on-south-west-trains

And on the Stagecoach Group site: http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2015/2015-03-25.aspx

This gives details of the new services:


The OP's quote (last line) neatly shows the confusion between this franchise deal and the FGW one.
Both could be described as "a new franchise for the South West".
I think George Osborne meant the FGW one, but you never know!

If those Sunday Evening trains to Salisbury which will do it in 1h 10 mins go on to Exeter Central stopping at only Yeovil and Axminster they would do it comfortably in 2hr 23 mins (note 1) which is only five minutes slower than current Paddington to Exeter time given in the FGW government consultation. Not bad for a line with only max 85mph maxspeed west of Salisbury and 90mph sprinters.

Non stop from Waterloo you would be looking at 2h 15. Only 15 mins longer than the Cornish Riviera and the typical time given for Paddington - Exeter services given in the FGW consulation government response.

Electrify and upgrade line and linespeed and 1h 40-1h 55 is easily attainable. Fifteen minutes to half an hour quicker than most Paddington to St Davids trains will be with west of England IEPs.

Note 1
1h 10 mins Waterloo to Salisbury
30 mins non stop Salisbury to Yeovil has been done in the past by 159s (currently last up train does it non stop in 35 minutes but this includes extra minutes as it terminates at Salisbury)
43 Minutes Yeovil to Exeter with call at Axminster is possible if it gets priority at all the loops. In 2007 the 09.20 SO did Yeovil - Axminster in 19 minutes non stop and the 1720 MF did Honiton-Exeter in 15 minutes. Current minimum for Axminster Honiton is 11 Minutes. Total 48 minutes. Remove 2 minutes for not stopping at Honiton and you have 43 minutes.

 

[bavvo]

Half hourly connections through to Hampton Court until the end of service Monday to Saturday

What does this mean? Isn't there already a half hourly service to Hampton Court?

 

[swt_passenger]

This will be the Deed of Amendment that is mentioned in the track access application that was discussed in this thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=112532

The various main line alterations, especially those on Sunday afternoon, i.e. the additional Poole trains rather than Poole/Portsmouth splitting and joining; were a bit of a sideshow as most forum discussion focused on the Yeovil Pen Mill related changes...

 

[hassaanhc]

What does this mean? Isn't there already a half hourly service to Hampton Court?

Almost;
Departures from Waterloo: Half-hourly from start of proceedings until 2036, then 2136, 2236 and 2336.
Depatures from Hampton Court: Half-hourly from start until 2124, then 2224 and 2324 (last service terminates at Wimbledon)
Timetable here
Similar happens with the Chessington South branch.

 

[Kite159]

Extra points for the BBC for selecting a picture for the story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32052114

"This is yet another pre-election stunt on a basketcase franchise which has a shocking reputation for reliability and overcrowding.

The SWT franchise is a basketcase?
(Those additional Salisbury trains would be good if they called at Andover)

 

[evergreenadam]

Almost;
Departures from Waterloo: Half-hourly from start of proceedings until 2036, then 2136, 2236 and 2336.
Depatures from Hampton Court: Half-hourly from start until 2124, then 2224 and 2324 (last service terminates at Wimbledon)
Timetable here
Similar happens with the Chessington South branch.

So three extra departures from Waterloo each evening to infill the gaps in the Hampton Court service, which is a step in the right direction.
Shame they did not improve the Chessington South branch too, there is a one and a quarter hour gap in departures from Waterloo between 2146 and 2300. Adding two extra departures from Waterloo each evening would almost provide a half hourly service until close of service.
A half hourly frequency on the Hounslow loop on Sunday afternoons is a much needed improvement, but it should have been all day.

 

[hassaanhc]

Half-hourly via Hounslow and Brentford will be welcomed on Sundays . A differential of 4tph on Monday-Saturday going down to just 1 on Sundays is very poor anyway, but even more so when compared to the much more busy and frequent Piccadilly (or District) Lines which run roughly parallel (just 1 mile road distance between stations in many places, or 0.6 miles between Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury). Quite often you could reasonably use either line, but infrequent services will sway the decision towards the Tube.

 

[21C101]

Extra points for the BBC for selecting a picture for the story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32052114



The SWT franchise is a basketcase?
(Those additional Salisbury trains would be good if they called at Andover)

I must admit I am actually a bit surprised they are not. Together with the previous announcement about the extra and exotic WoE main line services to Pen Mill and Weymouth etc. it looks to me like SWT are up to something

I'm also really surprised they have got it as low as 1h 10mins, given that the 159s only do 90mph. Its 12 minutes quicker than the current "fast" services (despite only losing three stops).

Assuming the usual 7 minutes to Clapham Junction that is 63 minutes for the 79 3/4 miles from Clapham Junction to Salisbury. That's an average speed of 76mph.

As a comparison, the Cornish Rivieras non stop 137 3/4 mile journey from Reading to Exeter St Davids, operated by an Intercity 125 takes 94 mins at an average of 87mph.

 

[Class 170101]

Doesn't seem like many improvements from what we already knew and by all accounts no extra peak time capacity on top of what has already been announced (re the new and refurbished trains).

 

[Goldfish62]

Doesn't seem like many improvements from what we already knew and by all accounts no extra peak time capacity on top of what has already been announced (re the new and refurbished trains).

Not mentioned here, but confirmed in today's "live" webchat are additional peak Reading line services from December, at 0623 and 0653 from Reading, and 1805 and 1935 from Waterloo. The current 1805 to Aldershot moves to 1755.

 

[evergreenadam]

Not mentioned here, but confirmed in today's "live" webchat are additional peak Reading line services from December, at 0623 and 0653 from Reading, and 1805 and 1935 from Waterloo. The current 1805 to Aldershot moves to 1755.

Also off peak weekend trains to be lengthened on suburban routes according to the webchat. Thank goodness for that!

 

[hassaanhc]

Think we can comfortably say that this announcement has been dedicated to the passengers who travel outside the weekday peak? Really is refreshing to see that leisure passengers are not forgotten about, an increase of frequencies and train lengths at weekends can only be a good thing. Something that certain other TOCs could do with replicating (well, particularly regarding train lengths).

 

[SWT_USER]

About time the Hounslow frequency was upped on a Sunday. A 4 coach train once an hour just isn't enough.

 

[HowardGWR]

In suspect that there is a good commercial case (probably identified by SWT advance ticket sale info) for running fast from Clapham to Salisbury and limited thereafter. The stop at Clapham Jcn is needed for Gatwick pax and I see lots heaving their cases out there (including us).

The train becomes more competitive than the A303 and M3 and need to be, because of the dogleg involved. Then there is the parking fee saved. Early and late trains are needed to get early and late flights (saves booking a hotel room)..

 

[infobleep]

In suspect that there is a good commercial case (probably identified by SWT advance ticket sale info) for running fast from Clapham to Salisbury and limited thereafter. The stop at Clapham Jcn is needed for Gatwick pax and I see lots heaving their cases out there (including us).

The train becomes more competitive than the A303 and M3 and need to be, because of the dogleg involved. Then there is the parking fee saved. Early and late trains are needed to get early and late flights (saves booking a hotel room)..

If only they could hurry up and build Crossrail 2 then a stop at Clapham Junction for a Gatwick passengers and everyone else could happen every day of the week, all day long.

However it takes time to build things like Crossrail 2, so it can't happen for some years yet. Once it's built it will be fantastic for passengers.

Glad to see South West Trains taking an interest in running and improving services at all times of the day and week.

Would love to see a later fast service to Portsmouth, other than just on Sunday nights (0.50 Monday morning). Would hope their might be a financial reward for doing so on at least a Friday and Saturday night.