Through GWR Bedwyns to be axed from May 2022

[Starmill]

This is true, but you have specifically just said



I’m just curious what data / evidence would support entirely removing Bedwyn’s train service, rather than simply paring it back to meet local demand, even if Marlborough had remained open? There are far smaller rural villages with a functioning station, are you calling for all of their closures as well?

Yes of course, where the main traffic needs are met and where it's uneconomical to serve the very small settlements. For example I've repeatedly called for Barrhill and Chathill to be closed. They do not serve a useful purpose.

There's absolutely no chance of Marlborough being served with its own station however.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Just out of curiosity, is there enough Class 387's to run as 8 coaches to and from Newbury and London at least in the morning peak and day time then perhaps say after 8pm from London?

A 4-car 387 has 224 seats and 8-cars 448.
A 5-car IET in Standard Class has 290 Standard Class seats.

 

[Flinn Reed]

I think the best solution for timetabling the Bedwyn services would be to incorporate with the semi-fast Exeter services.

Effectively, the Bedwyn services (whether terminating at Newbury, Reading or London Paddington) would be reduced to every 2 hours. Then add a few extra stops onto the Exeter services, - either all stops on this section, or possibly just Hungerford depending on demand. (Do Bedwyn and Kintbury need an hourly service?). Either way, would still have far fewer stops than the Waterloo-Exeter route.

As others have mentioned here, Bedwyn does seem an odd place to terminate at - I would suggest extending onwards to Westbury instead. This would provide a better service level at Pewsey and Westbury, plus interchange opportunities at Westbury to stations such as Warminster, Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon (which no longer have direct services to London). Could also consider adding a new station at Lavington to serve Devizes? Or maybe even have a limited number of these Westbury terminaters continue to Bath/Bristol or Yeovil (as an alternative to Waterloo via Salisbury)?

 

[Xavi]

I think the best solution for timetabling the Bedwyn services would be to incorporate with the semi-fast Exeter services.

Effectively, the Bedwyn services (whether terminating at Newbury, Reading or London Paddington) would be reduced to every 2 hours. Then add a few extra stops onto the Exeter services, - either all stops on this section, or possibly just Hungerford depending on demand. (Do Bedwyn and Kintbury need an hourly service?). Either way, would still have far fewer stops than the Waterloo-Exeter route.

As others have mentioned here, Bedwyn does seem an odd place to terminate at - I would suggest extending onwards to Westbury instead. This would provide a better service level at Pewsey and Westbury, plus interchange opportunities at Westbury to stations such as Warminster, Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon (which no longer have direct services to London). Could also consider adding a new station at Lavington to serve Devizes? Or maybe even have a limited number of these Westbury terminaters continue to Bath/Bristol or Yeovil (as an alternative to Waterloo via Salisbury)?

From what I have read, this very sensible proposal isn't possible because of the lack of signalling sections between Castle Cary and Cogload. With additional stops the following fast service would be catch up the stopper and be delayed.

 

[geoffk]

I agree.

Marlborough - a town without a current rail connection, could benefit hugely from a couple of miles of reinstated track, plus being the termination point of Paddington services.

There was a local group in 2014 campaigning for the reopening of Savernake - Marlborough. MP Claire Perry said she supported the scheme but it seems to have gone quiet and doesn't feature in any of the "reversing Beeching" proposals. But this is getting into to realms of speculation!

 

[HamworthyGoods]

From what I have read, this very sensible proposal isn't possible because of the lack of signalling sections between Castle Cary and Cogload. With additional stops the following fast service would be catch up the stopper and be delayed.

Yup that’s spot on Castle Cary to Cogload is Absolute Block based on the old signal boxes. Some very long headways. You can generally get one extra stop in a B&H semi-fast such as Hungerford provided the train isn’t pathed around a class 7 freight (which are very slow), without the following fast catching up, any more and you end up slowing the fast behind.

 

[Watershed]

Yup that’s spot on Castle Cary to Cogload is Absolute Block based on the old signal boxes. Some very long headways. You can generally get one extra stop in a B&H semi-fast such as Hungerford provided the train isn’t pathed around a class 7 freight (which are very slow), without the following fast catching up, any more and you end up slowing the fast behind.

It's not AB - it's been TCB ever since control was transferred to Westbury & Exeter PSBs in stages between 1985 and 1986.

However, there are some exceptionally long signal sections and therefore after previously using headway values as high as 18 minutes, it's mostly now planned as if it were AB, with 'sections' between Castle Cary and Somerton GF, Somerton and Athelney, and Athelney and Cogload Jn.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

It's not AB - it's been TCB ever since control was transferred to Westbury & Exeter PSBs in stages between 1985 and 1986.

However, there are some exceptionally long signal sections and therefore after previously using headway values as high as 18 minutes, it's mostly now planned as if it were AB, with 'sections' between Castle Cary and Somerton GF, Somerton and Athelney, and Athelney and Cogload Jn.

Apologies I should have said in planning terms its based on AB using the old boxes as sections.

 

[PG]

From what I have read, this very sensible proposal isn't possible because of the lack of signalling sections between Castle Cary and Cogload. With additional stops the following fast service would be catch up the stopper and be delayed.

Could we countenance the fast service being somewhat slower or is that unpalatable?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Could we countenance the fast service being somewhat slower or is that unpalatable?

There’s a perception the fast service isn’t fast enough as it is.

 

[RPI]

There’s a perception the fast service isn’t fast enough as it is.

And there is zero spare capacity on most of them too.