New South Western franchise: Awarded to First/MTR

[Suraggu]

I was also surprised that Andover only allowed 9 and the very rear of coach 10 was indeed just out.

Andover holds 10 on both the up and down platforms.

 

[Suraggu]

Salisbury depot has to locate a computer which can still read floppy disks to update the PIS to being SWR rather than SWT (JOKE)

159s used to have additional speed restrictions going via Staines so it probably makes more sense to keep them onto the main-line than to crawl through some of the stations.

Also easier to keep Salisbury Crew on in and out diagrams from Waterloo, another reason why they go up the main and not via Chertsey because they do not sign Staines.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Neither floppy disk drives (either internal or USB) nor the disks themselves are hard to source. A 30 second search on Amazon or Maplin's websites shows that.

If Salisbury don't have the necessary hardware easily available in their depot, it's due to pure incompetence and clearly shows how little train companies care about (providing information to) passengers.

That same Salisbury depot maintains the most reliable fleet in the country - even if it was a joke, making sure the service runs is the most important thing.

 

[louis97]

Andover holds 10 on both the up and down platforms.

Andover, as detailed in the sectional appendix, can only take 9 car 159s. Neither platforms are long enough for 10, 219m and 223m respectively.

 

[Suraggu]

Really? I actually find that interesting.

 

[mallard]

That same Salisbury depot maintains the most reliable fleet in the country - even if it was a joke, making sure the service runs is the most important thing.

Sure, but nobody cares how reliable the train's mechanics are when the line is blocked by flooding/tree on the line/other non-train-related problem and they're left for hours with no information about what's happen(ed|ing) or how/if/when they're going to get to their destinations. After ensuring the train is safe and unlikely to break down, passenger information is easily the most important thing. Unfortunately TOCs (and BR was little different) seem to treat it as less important than the catering trolley.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Sure, but nobody cares how reliable the train's mechanics are when the line is blocked by flooding/tree on the line/other non-train-related problem and they're left for hours with no information about what's happen(ed|ing) or how/if/when they're going to get to their destinations. After ensuring the train is safe and unlikely to break down, passenger information is easily the most important thing. Unfortunately TOCs (and BR was little different) seem to treat it as less important than the catering trolley.

Reliability goes hand in hand with ensuring the train doesn't break down.

 

[mallard]

Reliability goes hand in hand with ensuring the train doesn't break down.

Now read what I said... Particularly the parts where I said "... when the line is blocked by flooding/tree on the line/other non-train-related problem ..." and "After ensuring the train is safe and unlikely to break down ...".

The train can be as mechanically reliable as you like, but there will always be times when it can't run for some reason unrelated to its reliability. That's when providing accurate, up-to-date and regular information is vital. Unfortunately, most of the time, you'll get better information from the TOC's Twitter account than any public-facing member of staff.

Why the company-issued smartphones can't be as the very least be set up to receive the company's Twitter updates is beyond my understanding... Would at least stop the most blatant cases of out-of-date or just plain incorrect information being given out.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Now read what I said... Particularly the parts where I said "... when the line is blocked by flooding/tree on the line/other non-train-related problem ..." and "After ensuring the train is safe and unlikely to break down ...".

The train can be as mechanically reliable as you like, but there will always be times when it can't run for some reason unrelated to its reliability. That's when providing accurate, up-to-date and regular information is vital. Unfortunately, most of the time, you'll get better information from the TOC's Twitter account than any public-facing member of staff.

Why the company-issued smartphones can't be as the very least be set up to receive the company's Twitter updates is beyond my understanding... Would at least stop the most blatant cases of out-of-date or just plain incorrect information being given out.

Fair enough. Totally agree there. It's annoying that there can't be a standardised platform for mobile devices and informing staff.

 

[AY1975]

A useful feature of the new SWR website is the "How busy is my train?" section, which lists how easy it typically is to get a seat on all the morning peak trains from 60 of the busiest stations served by SWT. This is based on the average loading for each train between December 2016 and May 2017.

However, it would be even more useful if it covered all stations. Whitton, Twickenham, Richmond and Barnes are included, but St Margarets and North Sheen are not, for example.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's really about time that data made it into the Journey Planner as per SBB, with an added option of "avoid crowded trains if possible at the expense of a slower journey".

 

[smilerish]

A useful feature of the new SWR website is the "How busy is my train?" section... based on the average loading for each train between December 2016 and May 2017.

It's really about time that data made it into the Journey Planner as per SBB, with an added option of "avoid crowded trains if possible at the expense of a slower journey".

Presumably the idea is that this data will eventually be real-time or regularly updated using the load monitoring of the 707s and (when they get them) Aventras? Is there any suggestion that they might add this to the current Desiros, too?

 

[swt_passenger]

Presumably the idea is that this data will eventually be real-time or regularly updated using the load monitoring of the 707s and (when they get them) Aventras? Is there any suggestion that they might add this to the current Desiros, too?

The Desiro fleet has load sensing/monitoring, and a subset of both fleets has IR passenger counting (seen above doorways).

I doubt it can be displayed onboard like the newest trains though.

 

[TEW]

Neither floppy disk drives (either internal or USB) nor the disks themselves are hard to source. A 30 second search on Amazon or Maplin's websites shows that.

If Salisbury don't have the necessary hardware easily available in their depot, it's due to pure incompetence and clearly shows how little train companies care about (providing information to) passengers.

I'm really not convinced that changing South West Trains to South Western Railway on the PIS is a high priority. The PIS on all units was updated before the Waterloo Blockade to include all the correct information for all the altered calling patterns. The fact that it refers to SWT not SWR is really pretty trivial.

 

[smilerish]

The Desiro fleet has load sensing/monitoring, and a subset of both fleets has IR passenger counting (seen above doorways).

That's interesting! Is this how the guards know there are seats available in other carriages? They often make that announcement, and I wonder how they can be so sure when they're at the opposite end of the train.

I doubt it can be displayed onboard like the newest trains though.

Could it be added, though? From memory (the website seems to be down now?) the SWR website promised new PIS on all mainland trains including loading information.

 

[swt_passenger]

Could it be added, though? From memory (the website seems to be down now?) the SWR website promised new PIS on all mainland trains including loading information.

I expect they can do anything at the right price. I'd missed that proposal so you may well be right.

 

[Siemens Staines]

The WiFi on the 159s & 444s that I have been on in the past couple of days now direct you to the SWR portal, but 458/5 still directs you to the SWT portal even though the LAN on the unit has now been renamed SWR.

 

[Malcolmffc]

The LR article mentions that additional stairs are being added to P1-4 to increase access to the Undeground. Is this really the case? I've not seen any mention of that here or in the publicity.

 

[swt_passenger]

The LR article mentions that additional stairs are being added to P1-4 to increase access to the Undeground. Is this really the case? I've not seen any mention of that here or in the publicity.

I think it is a work in progress. Obviously the LR article provides photographic evidence that the work has commenced, in fact I wonder if P5/6 will also get the same treatment?

In an ideal world I suppose all the subway stairs would be altered to face towards the country end of the platforms. Does anyone know if the lifts are still operational, because they and various "staff facilities" all combine to limit circulation...

 

[TEW]

I think it is a work in progress. Obviously the LR article provides photographic evidence that the work has commenced, in fact I wonder if P5/6 will also get the same treatment?

In an ideal world I suppose all the subway stairs would be altered to face towards the country end of the platforms. Does anyone know if the lifts are still operational, because they and various "staff facilities" all combine to limit circulation...

Work has been in progress for some time on the extra stairs to the peak time subway. The holes in the platform have been evident for some time, perhaps as long ago as Christmas, but I can't remember exactly. There was an area where the platform surface on 1-4 appeared to be a wooden board, rather than the normal concrete of the rest of the platform. The holes had been dug and the covered over temporarily. I understand the new staircases will come in to use in October.

 

[Thisisajm]

The Smart card pages link through to each other in a loop.
Does anyone know of a working link to apply?
Also, can these be used at any station now?

 

[swt_passenger]

The Smart card pages link through to each other in a loop.
Does anyone know of a working link to apply?
Also, can these be used at any station now?

The map I saw yesterday was no different to that for SWT's scheme, i.e. not every station, and not every route, basically exactly as before.

 

[Thisisajm]

The map I saw yesterday was no different to that for SWT's scheme, i.e. not every station, and not every route, basically exactly as before.

Annoying. Hedge End has had the terminals for years.

 

[Monty]

That's interesting! Is this how the guards know there are seats available in other carriages? They often make that announcement, and I wonder how they can be so sure when they're at the opposite end of the train.

It's often because the Guard has walked through the train and knows there are spaces available still. Otherwise it's likely a regular train that suffers from overcrowding issues in a particular area (ie people piling on at the front etc).

 

[Eastwestjct]

Andover, as detailed in the sectional appendix, can only take 9 car 159s. Neither platforms are long enough for 10, 219m and 223m respectively.

10 car trains do start from platform 2 at Salisbury

 

[thelongestroad]

Could it be added, though? From memory (the website seems to be down now?) the SWR website promised new PIS on all mainland trains including loading information.

Oh lordy, hope it's not TrainFX!

 

[infobleep]

Now read what I said... Particularly the parts where I said "... when the line is blocked by flooding/tree on the line/other non-train-related problem ..." and "After ensuring the train is safe and unlikely to break down ...".

The train can be as mechanically reliable as you like, but there will always be times when it can't run for some reason unrelated to its reliability. That's when providing accurate, up-to-date and regular information is vital. Unfortunately, most of the time, you'll get better information from the TOC's Twitter account than any public-facing member of staff.

Why the company-issued smartphones can't be as the very least be set up to receive the company's Twitter updates is beyond my understanding... Would at least stop the most blatant cases of out-of-date or just plain incorrect information being given out.

Surely they must be able to? A guard on my train the other day gave out his Twitter user name and said he could be tweeted directly. Maybe it's something they wish to bring in over time or maybe he was unique and doing something he hadn't been directed to do as part of his job.

 

[XCTurbostar]

New stairs will only be provided on platforms 1-4. I took the image below when onsite. You can clearly see that a hole has not been created in the platform 5-6 void.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[SpacePhoenix]

New stairs will only be provided on platforms 1-4. I took the image below when onsite. You can clearly see that a hole has not been created in the platform 5-6 void.

Thanks,
Ross

What's the grey and yellow boxes on the posts for in that photo?

 

[bb21]

Due to larger gaps in service, "turn up and go" not implemented yesterday and today. All trains to depart at booked time.