It seems the biggest problem with the cut-down timetables still in existence (due to scarce resources) is the frequently uneven and irregular frequency, rather than less trains per se. For example see these posts regarding Basingstoke in the December timetable thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/december-2022-timetable-changes.231835/page-49#post-5878658
Wondering whether changes could be made to essentially keep the same number of trains, but retime them to give a better spread of services? Have some ideas for the SWML and Portsmouth Direct below - don't take the timings too literally, but they are just there to give an idea of a possible improved service. Also I recognise it may take several years to actually implement something like this.
For the SWML, I'd say the emphasis should be on providing regular connectivity between the larger towns, even if that's at the expense of "super-fasts" to Southampton and Bournemouth (I'm suggesting cutting the latter from 2tph to 1tph). So something like this:
xx35 to Weymouth to remain essentially unchanged, providing the one "super-fast" per hour. Perhaps the Woking stop could be removed (as there will be 2tph Woking-Southampton fasts in any case, see below) speeding this service up further.
xx05 to call additionally at Woking and Eastleigh. This would incur, perhaps, a 4 minute delay to stations beyond Eastleigh, but would allow the service to be part of a 2tph "principal towns" fast service. Essentially this service would restore the old Bournemouth semi-fast of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
xx09 to be withdrawn, replaced by xx39 below
xx39 Poole stopper to be restored, but with an altered calling pattern and terminating at Southampton Central: Clapham, Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester and Eastleigh, where the train would divide - front portion Parkway and Southampton Central, and rear portion all stations to Portsmouth via Fareham. This service would form the second "principal towns" service per hour.
Southampton-Poole stopper to be "fit in" in the best possible place (free paths/connectivity) calling at all stations from Totton onwards every hour, including Beaulieu Road. If it provides better connections or path usage, run it as two separate shuttles either side of Brockenhurst.
To compensate for a lack of fast services to Farnborough and Fleet, the xx42 Basingstoke would only call at Clapham and Woking, then all stations. (For alternative provision to Surbiton, Walton and Weybridge, see below). It would (paths allowing) then extend to Eastleigh, providing service for Micheldever and Shawford. (If paths don't work, run a Basingstoke-Eastleigh shuttle instead).
xx12 to Basingstoke - no change.
On the Portsmouth Direct I would suggest making best use of the limited resources by restoring a pattern rather like that of the 80s. So:
xx00 to Portsmouth Harbour principal stations only, i.e. Clapham, Woking, Guildford, Godalming, Haslemere, Petersfield, Havant, Fratton, PSS, PH
xx30 as above but with additional stops at Farncombe, and all stations beyond Haslemere.
xx45 stopper. To call additionally at Surbiton, Walton and Weybridge (compensating for the lack of these stops on the xx42), and then be looped at Guildford to allow the xx00 to overtake. Beyond Guildford, to call at all stations to Haslemere. This would mean that Farncombe, for example, would get even-interval (roughly) services, albeit with a change at Guildford needed for one train per hour. But this was always the pattern in the 80s anyway.
If there are resources to restore 3tph beyond Haslemere, and 2tph fast or semi-fast services to Portsmouth, I would then suggest removing Rowlands Castle, Bedhampton and Hilsea from the xx30, and extending the xx45 down to Portsmouth and Southsea.
As I said, don't take these timings too literally, it's the general service pattern I'm looking at. And as I said I don't expect such a change to happen overnight, but I think this is what the railway needs to be moving towards if we can't restore high-frequency timetables just yet - i.e. new timetables that make the best use of limited resources to provide a friendly service, rather than "2019 timetables with holes".
Wondering whether changes could be made to essentially keep the same number of trains, but retime them to give a better spread of services? Have some ideas for the SWML and Portsmouth Direct below - don't take the timings too literally, but they are just there to give an idea of a possible improved service. Also I recognise it may take several years to actually implement something like this.
For the SWML, I'd say the emphasis should be on providing regular connectivity between the larger towns, even if that's at the expense of "super-fasts" to Southampton and Bournemouth (I'm suggesting cutting the latter from 2tph to 1tph). So something like this:
xx35 to Weymouth to remain essentially unchanged, providing the one "super-fast" per hour. Perhaps the Woking stop could be removed (as there will be 2tph Woking-Southampton fasts in any case, see below) speeding this service up further.
xx05 to call additionally at Woking and Eastleigh. This would incur, perhaps, a 4 minute delay to stations beyond Eastleigh, but would allow the service to be part of a 2tph "principal towns" fast service. Essentially this service would restore the old Bournemouth semi-fast of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
xx09 to be withdrawn, replaced by xx39 below
xx39 Poole stopper to be restored, but with an altered calling pattern and terminating at Southampton Central: Clapham, Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester and Eastleigh, where the train would divide - front portion Parkway and Southampton Central, and rear portion all stations to Portsmouth via Fareham. This service would form the second "principal towns" service per hour.
Southampton-Poole stopper to be "fit in" in the best possible place (free paths/connectivity) calling at all stations from Totton onwards every hour, including Beaulieu Road. If it provides better connections or path usage, run it as two separate shuttles either side of Brockenhurst.
To compensate for a lack of fast services to Farnborough and Fleet, the xx42 Basingstoke would only call at Clapham and Woking, then all stations. (For alternative provision to Surbiton, Walton and Weybridge, see below). It would (paths allowing) then extend to Eastleigh, providing service for Micheldever and Shawford. (If paths don't work, run a Basingstoke-Eastleigh shuttle instead).
xx12 to Basingstoke - no change.
On the Portsmouth Direct I would suggest making best use of the limited resources by restoring a pattern rather like that of the 80s. So:
xx00 to Portsmouth Harbour principal stations only, i.e. Clapham, Woking, Guildford, Godalming, Haslemere, Petersfield, Havant, Fratton, PSS, PH
xx30 as above but with additional stops at Farncombe, and all stations beyond Haslemere.
xx45 stopper. To call additionally at Surbiton, Walton and Weybridge (compensating for the lack of these stops on the xx42), and then be looped at Guildford to allow the xx00 to overtake. Beyond Guildford, to call at all stations to Haslemere. This would mean that Farncombe, for example, would get even-interval (roughly) services, albeit with a change at Guildford needed for one train per hour. But this was always the pattern in the 80s anyway.
If there are resources to restore 3tph beyond Haslemere, and 2tph fast or semi-fast services to Portsmouth, I would then suggest removing Rowlands Castle, Bedhampton and Hilsea from the xx30, and extending the xx45 down to Portsmouth and Southsea.
As I said, don't take these timings too literally, it's the general service pattern I'm looking at. And as I said I don't expect such a change to happen overnight, but I think this is what the railway needs to be moving towards if we can't restore high-frequency timetables just yet - i.e. new timetables that make the best use of limited resources to provide a friendly service, rather than "2019 timetables with holes".
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