Services between Bristol and Birmingham Sunday 22nd June 2014

[Class 33]

I have noticed that on this day the journey times are extended a little between Cheltenham and Birmingham. With journey times of about an hour rather than the usual 40 minutes. Are these services taking the slight diverted route towards Worcester and then back to rejoin the usual route? Or are they taking the other alternate route into Birmingham New Street? Or are they taking the usual route but with speed restrictions extending the journey time?

Not only that, but I note there are some scheduled long waits at Cheltenham too. Most have about an 8 to 10 minute scheduled stop. But the 0915 from Bristol has a 21 minute stop, arriving there 1000 and departing at 1021! What's the reason for this also?

 

[gswindale]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C72684/2014/06/22/advanced shows it going via Worcester & Stourbridge Junction.

It's also not calling at Gloucester.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C72684/2014/06/22/advanced shows it going via Worcester & Stourbridge Junction.

It's also not calling at Gloucester.

There will also be pathing issues through Worcester/Stourbridge, have a look at this Real Time Trains link for Worcester Shrub Hill:


http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/WOS/2014/06/22/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[The Planner]

Judging by that schedule, it is a very clean path so it can't have been too difficult to shoehorn in.

 

[TEW]

Apart from the 26 minute wait at Cheltenham Spa of course. I wonder if that is pathing related.

 

[The Planner]

Probably to allow it to hit the next hours path at New St without holding it elsewhere.

 

[PHILIPE]

That would be correct because if additional time has to be built in due diversions etc., XC policy is to take up the path of the trains an hour later with their virtual clock face timetable and cutting across other parts. They would be held, if =necessary, to wait time at a suitable pathing location

 

[Goatboy]

A shame they couldn't call at Worcester along the way, a rare opportunity to make life easier for those who have to connect with XC via the 2 hourly FGW service. XC always call additionally at Gloucester and Newport when diverted that way, so not sure why its different. Wouldn't affect timings given it then waits time at Cheltenham anyway.

XC policy is to take up the path of the trains an hour later with their virtual clock face timetable and cutting across other parts.

Its also a shame they insist on this - I can see the reason why it benefits from them from a planning perspective but it delays passengers even further. Nothing more annoying than a journey that's extended by 30 minutes due to a diversion - fair enough - that ends up getting you there a full hour later because it then sits at Bristol for 30 minutes..

 

[The Planner]

Doubt XC have the rights to call at Worcester anyway, so unless they were doing it to fill in for a another TOCs service that was cancelled to fit them in they probably can't anyway.

 

[Mugby]

Are the Cardiff - Nottinghams cancelled on that day?

 

[Goatboy]

Doubt XC have the rights to call at Worcester anyway, so unless they were doing it to fill in for a another TOCs service that was cancelled to fit them in they probably can't anyway.

Ah, fair enough - I guess the difference with Gloucester and Newport is that although the Scotland to South West services do not normally call there, the Cardiff to Nottingham do hence access rights?

 

[Rich McLean]

Ah, fair enough - I guess the difference with Gloucester and Newport is that although the Scotland to South West services do not normally call there, the Cardiff to Nottingham do hence access rights?

Calling at Worcester would take trade away from LM, where as at Gloucester it doesn't (same as Newport)

 

[Goatboy]

Calling at Worcester would take trade away from LM, where as at Gloucester it doesn't (same as Newport)

Not if it was pick up only as LM don't link Worcester and Cheltenham.

 

[Class 170101]

Not if it was pick up only as LM don't link Worcester and Cheltenham.

FGW do though.