GWR Bristol - Oxford service

[Benjwri]

Good news... how about Sundays too? Those are especially busy for Bath, Oxford too.

GWR is unfortunately already struggling to resource Sundays as it is, in my opinion there are far higher priority services such as Bristol to London being made half hourly as before covid, especially with the hourly service dropping the Didcot call next week.

 

[cle]

GWR is unfortunately already struggling to resource Sundays as it is, in my opinion there are far higher priority services such as Bristol to London being made half hourly as before covid, especially with the hourly service dropping the Didcot call next week.

I thought that's why they had the spares.

Could a second Sunday service run London - Oxford (reverse) - Swindon - Bristol maybe. Bit of a faff but ostensibly two services.
With the direct calling at Didcot.

 

[lachlan]

GWR is unfortunately already struggling to resource Sundays as it is, in my opinion there are far higher priority services such as Bristol to London being made half hourly as before covid, especially with the hourly service dropping the Didcot call next week.

Uh-oh, I guess they want to stop people splitting their ticket at Didcot!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2025 ==

Hopefully once this service has been established, it will improve the case for new stations at Corsham, Wootton Bassett, and Grove.

 

[The exile]

I thought that's why they had the spares.

Could a second Sunday service run London - Oxford (reverse) - Swindon - Bristol maybe. Bit of a faff but ostensibly two services.
With the direct calling at Didcot.

The struggle on Sundays is surely mostly finding crew rather than trains. The scarcity of stock on other days should have started to be relieved by May with IETs displaced from Devon & Cornwall by 175s (with any luck)

 

[Snow1964]

I thought that's why they had the spares.

Could a second Sunday service run London - Oxford (reverse) - Swindon - Bristol maybe. Bit of a faff but ostensibly two services.
With the direct calling at Didcot.

GWR have a lot of train crew (especially the mainline ones who mainly drive IETs) on old contracts where Sundays are voluntary, rather than part of booked 7day rotas. So inevitably short of crew.

The recent temporary staff tender (which doesn't include train crew) even included following regarding Sundays

Temporary labour support at GWR is often required more at weekends (particularly Sunday) than during the week, so the labour provider should note that coverage of weekend shifts is a key requirement.

Temporary Labour for GWR - Find a Tender

www.find-tender.service.gov.uk

There is not usually a shortage of rolling stock overall at weekends, (but overall includes EMUs parked at Swindon etc) although can be shortages of DMUs as certain lines to scenic areas and coasts can be busier than during the week.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I used to commute on the 08:16 from Oxford via the Foxhall Curve, due Swindon 08:48. I'd set my alarm for 07:42 in Oxford and be at my desk in Swindon by 08:58. Perfect! Unfortunately it was frequently cancelled due to a traincrew shortage as priority was always given to the HSTs.

 

[800301]

GWR have a lot of train crew (especially the mainline ones who mainly drive IETs) on old contracts where Sundays are voluntary, rather than part of booked 7day rotas. So inevitably short of crew.

The recent temporary staff tender (which doesn't include train crew) even included following regarding Sundays

Temporary Labour for GWR - Find a Tender

www.find-tender.service.gov.uk

There is not usually a shortage of rolling stock overall at weekends, (but overall includes EMUs parked at Swindon etc) although can be shortages of DMUs as certain lines to scenic areas and coasts can be busier than during the week.

Only 1 link at Paddington and 1 Link at Oxford sign the West Curve at Didcot, the majority of those drivers have in their T and C’s the ability to throw in their Sunday’s hence staff coverage is the main problem

 

[cle]

Sounds like a good time to freshen up the talent pool!

 

[HamworthyGoods]

GWR is unfortunately already struggling to resource Sundays as it is, in my opinion there are far higher priority services such as Bristol to London being made half hourly as before covid, especially with the hourly service dropping the Didcot call next week.

The current trend is to reduce Sundays to what is deliverable rather than add extra trains in, the following are cut on GWR on Sundays from the Dec timetable change:

07.37 Reading - Basingstoke
08.06 Basingstoke - Reading

Bristol Temple Meads to London services drop to hourly through the day, departing Bristol at 07.45, 09.00 then hourly to 14.00, an additional working at 14.30, then 15.00, hourly to 18.00, then every 90 minutes at 19.30, 21.00 and 22.28.

Extensions south west of Bristol are vastly reduced with Bridgwater and Highbridge losing their direct trains to London, services from Weston remain at 08.29 (09.00 Bristol), 11.31 (12.00 Bristol), 13.31 (14.00 Bristol) then a gap to 22.03 (22.28 Bristol).

From Paddington departures are 07.59, 09.00 (extends to Weston), 10.30 (extends to Weston), 11.30 then hourly to 17.30, then 18.30 (extends to Weston), 19.30, 20.30 (extends to Weston), 21.30, 22.15, 22.45 and 23.33.

Through trains between Cheltenham and London are further reduced from the existing 3 at 10.47, 15.00 and 17.00 to just a single working at 10.47, the other two workings terminating at Swindon.

There are additional 387 operated services in some hours between Paddington and Swindon.

Cuts on the B&H are the 14.36 Paddington - Exeter is deleted, 4 hour gap in service at Pewsey but Newbury, Westbury and Castle Cary added to the 15.03 Paddington - Penzance. The 18:36 Paddington - Plymouth terminates at Taunton with Dawlish and Teignmouth added to the 19.03 Paddington - Plymouth.

10.32 Paignton - Paddington deleted, stops added into the 08.10 Penzance - Paddington for Pewsey and Newbury and the 09.18 (re-timed to 09.09) Penzance - Paddington for Castle Cary and Westbury. The 19.15 Plymouth - Paddington is deleted.

 

[Benjwri]

The current trend is to reduce Sundays to what is deliverable rather than add extra trains in, the following are cut on GWR on Sundays from the Dec timetable change:

07.37 Reading - Basingstoke
08.06 Basingstoke - Reading

Bristol Temple Meads to London services drop to hourly through the day, departing Bristol at 07.45, 09.00 then hourly to 14.00, an additional working at 14.30, then 15.00, hourly to 18.00, then every 90 minutes at 19.30, 21.00 and 22.28.

Extensions south west of Bristol are vastly reduced with Bridgwater and Highbridge losing their direct trains to London, services from Weston remain at 08.29 (09.00 Bristol), 11.31 (12.00 Bristol), 13.31 (14.00 Bristol) then a gap to 22.03 (22.28 Bristol).

Which I agree is the correct course of action, my point was more that if there were suddenly to be capacity to add trains back, I don't think Bristol to oxford should be front of the queue.

I believe a couple of trains between Bristol and Westbury are also cut.

 

[John R]

Which I agree is the correct course of action

All very well, except the last two occasions I have had the misfortune to need to travel between Bristol and London on a Sunday I have had the pleasure of standing rightly in the vestibule next to someone’s armpit for the whole journey, due to the previous service an hour earlier being cancelled.

GWR needs to be tackling the problem in a more customer focused manner. This is off topic to what is undoubtedly a good news story, but AIUI new recruits from a certain date have Sunday included? Has any modelling been done as to how many decades this situation will continue before a high enough proportion of staff are on these contracts, before which GWR will continue to offer an inadequate Sunday service if it just shrugs its shoulders and does nothing?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Which I agree is the correct course of action, my point was more that if there were suddenly to be capacity to add trains back, I don't think Bristol to oxford should be front of the queue.

I believe a couple of trains between Bristol and Westbury are also cut.

Agreed about Bristol - London when resources become available is going to be the priority over Oxford.

The 17.50 Cardiff to Portsmouth terminated at Westbury with the 22.06 Portsmouth to Westbury deleted on Sundays.

 

[Benjwri]

All very well, except the last two occasions I have had the misfortune to need to travel between Bristol and London on a Sunday I have had the pleasure of standing rightly in the vestibule next to someone’s armpit for the whole journey, due to the previous service an hour earlier being cancelled.

GWR needs to be tackling the problem in a more customer focused manner. This is off topic to what is undoubtedly a good news story, but AIUI new recruits from a certain date have Sunday included? Has any modelling been done as to how many decades this situation will continue before a high enough proportion of staff are on these contracts, before which GWR will continue to offer an inadequate Sunday service if it just shrugs its shoulders and does nothing?

My comment was relating that it is the right thing to do given the lack of staff, not that they shouldn’t try to fix the cause.

I am very well acquainted with Bristol services on a Saturday, and the messy changes made to them regarding Didcot will be very very inconvenient for me because of how the replacement times with the Didcot stopper, but I would still rather a reduced timetable that will run than being stuck at Didcot for hours because of cancellations.

 

[class ep-09]

Only 1 link at Paddington and 1 Link at Oxford sign the West Curve at Didcot, the majority of those drivers have in their T and C’s the ability to throw in their Sunday’s hence staff coverage is the main problem

And most at Worcester.

 

[Snow1964]

Following publication of ORR original and destination matrix
Thought I would check volumes to see potential users

Bristol Temple Meads - Oxford 42,978
Bath Spa - Oxford 45,240
Chippenham - Oxford 9495
Swindon - Oxford 38,399

 

[John R]

Following publication of ORR original and destination matrix
Thought I would check volumes to see potential users

Bristol Temple Meads - Oxford 42,978
Bath Spa - Oxford 45,240
Chippenham - Oxford 9495
Swindon - Oxford 38,399

Those aren’t the potential users though. It’s the number who currently make a journey that is much less convenient than it should be for the distance and importance of the places. It will be interesting to see what those figures look like in a couple of years.

 

[Snow1964]

Those aren’t the potential users though. It’s the number who currently make a journey that is much less convenient than it should be for the distance and importance of the places. It will be interesting to see what those figures look like in a couple of years.

These figures will include the users of the couple of experimental Saturday through services though. But I agree a direct service should boost numbers.

Of course can also utilise the origin destination matrix figures to find examples with counter argument, eg (using similar area), Bath, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge numbers to London Waterloo have gone back up, even though direct trains removed (at DfT behest)

 

[John R]

These figures will include the users of the couple of experimental Saturday through services though. But I agree a direct service should boost numbers.

Of course can also utilise the origin destination matrix figures to find examples with counter argument, eg (using similar area), Bath, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge numbers to London Waterloo have gone back up, even though direct trains removed (at DfT behest)

The latter though will surely include the post COVID upswing?

 

[brad465]

Swindon Borough Council are claiming that approval has been given for this service to run 1tp2h, though hasn't specified when yet. Still waiting for news' outlets to report on this:

Swindon Borough Council

Big boost for Swindon to Oxford direct rail service Council Leaders in Swindon and Oxfordshire have welcomed confirmation from the Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, that the Government supports...

www.facebook.com

Big boost for Swindon to Oxford direct rail service

Council Leaders in Swindon and Oxfordshire have welcomed confirmation from the Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, that the Government supports progressing a new two-hourly direct rail service between Swindon and Oxford.
Lord Hendy outlined the Government’s support in a letter to Swindon Borough Council Leader, Councillor Jim Robbins. The backing marks a major milestone in the campaign to restore regular direct services, which builds on Great Western Railway’s successful Saturday trial between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford via Swindon.
The trial proved the service is popular, deliverable and doesn’t require new infrastructure as there is already sufficient track capacity already in place.
A permanent service would:

Cut journey times to around 30 minutes

Boost commuting, tourism and supply-chain connections

Provide quicker, greener travel options

Help reduce congestion on the A420
Backed by detailed evidence from England's Economic Heartland, the proposal highlights the strategic importance of linking two of the country’s fastest-growing economies and strengthening east–west connectivity across the Thames Valley.
We’ll continue working with partners including Network Rail and the Department for Transport to help bring the service forward as quickly as possible.

 

[John R]

It doesn't say approval has been given - just that Lord Hendy supports it. The rail regulator has still to determine the track access request. But having the government supportive of it is a very strong sign that it will go ahead, as it effectively means that DfT won't block it on funding grounds.

 

[ChilliSauce]

In a world of being forever hopeful, it might actually have more attraction if it was to become a through service from Bristol to Milton Keynes ...

 

[Oxfordblues]

In a world of being forever hopeful, it might actually have more attraction if it was to become a through service from Bristol to Milton Keynes ...

As I recall the 08:16 from Oxford started-back at Bicester Town as a Thames Trains service, then was re-resourced at Oxford as a First Great Western train. Not only were the driver and guard replaced, but so were the passengers. I don't remember anyone remaining on board Bicester to Swindon.

 

[mikestone1952]

The trains aren't showing in RTT for May yet but the ECS shunts are shown at both ends.

 

[Laserbeam31]

The trains aren't showing in RTT for May yet but the ECS shunts are shown at both ends.

Out of interest, how were you able to determine this?

My knowledge of ECS moves and how this sort of thing is designated is basic in the extreme. I couldn’t find anything particularly conclusive when I tried RTT’s “advanced” mode.

Specifically, I don’t really understand how to find which shunts become which (non-)timetabled services. Is it just a case of looking at the unit number?

Apologies if I’m missing something obvious here…

 

[zwk500]

Out of interest, how were you able to determine this?

My knowledge of ECS moves and how this sort of thing is designated is basic in the extreme. I couldn’t find anything particularly conclusive when I tried RTT’s “advanced” mode.

Specifically, I don’t really understand how to find which shunts become which (non-)timetabled services. Is it just a case of looking at the unit number?

Apologies if I’m missing something obvious here…

Train IDs (Also called headcodes) will start with 5 for most ECS moves, and 3 for a few high-priority moves. (Exception of Eurostar isn't relevant here).

RTT won't have unit allocations for more than a day or so ahead of time.

Usually you can match up the platform numbers (caveat of units splitting or joining) but that does carry a risk at bigger stations like Bristol Temple Meads where the platform plan may be amended in the short-notice timescales.
The best way is usually to look for a Class 5 that shares the 3 latter charachters of a class 1 - So if Bristol-Oxford services run as 1D01, 1D02 etc, look for 5D01, 5D02 as the related ECS. Doesn't always happen - units may work in as a double set and split, or come from a further away depot and so use a Letter for routing, or there's several trains wanting the 5D01 headcode in the same time frame, etc...

See this snip of Oxford: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GW

 

[lachlan]

what changes are happening for this? Is the service increasing in frequency for the summer or being removed like last year?

 

[Laserbeam31]

Train IDs (Also called headcodes) will start with 5 for most ECS moves, and 3 for a few high-priority moves. (Exception of Eurostar isn't relevant here).

RTT won't have unit allocations for more than a day or so ahead of time.

Usually you can match up the platform numbers (caveat of units splitting or joining) but that does carry a risk at bigger stations like Bristol Temple Meads where the platform plan may be amended in the short-notice timescales.
The best way is usually to look for a Class 5 that shares the 3 latter charachters of a class 1 - So if Bristol-Oxford services run as 1D01, 1D02 etc, look for 5D01, 5D02 as the related ECS. Doesn't always happen - units may work in as a double set and split, or come from a further away depot and so use a Letter for routing, or there's several trains wanting the 5D01 headcode in the same time frame, etc...

See this snip of Oxford: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GW
View attachment 200355

That makes a lot of sense - many thanks for the detailed explanation! I had a look and can see exactly what you mean about the last three digits of (5xxx) head codes matching up with those of passenger service head codes. I’d always wondered if there was some kind of pattern like that; I should have noticed it sooner.

With that said, looking at May weekdays at the Oxford end, I can’t see any 5xxx GWR head codes with “missing” associated passenger services, like mikestone1952 mentions. The only unusual ECS services I can see along these lines are if I also include “CAN” in the advanced filter - which shows some class 80x services between Swindon and Oxford, by the looks of things.

 

[zwk500]

That makes a lot of sense - many thanks for the detailed explanation! I had a look and can see exactly what you mean about the last three digits of (5xxx) head codes matching up with those of passenger service head codes. I’d always wondered if there was some kind of pattern like that; I should have noticed it sooner.

No worries, as it happens there's far more to it (in some areas the numbers are -/+1 at the end to account for odds being one direction and evens being the other) but it gives you the right things to look for.

With that said, looking at May weekdays at the Oxford end, I can’t see any 5xxx GWR head codes with “missing” associated passenger services, like mikestone1952 mentions. The only unusual ECS services I can see along these lines are if I also include “CAN” in the advanced filter - which shows some class 80x services between Swindon and Oxford, by the looks of things.

CAN would be cancelled services, so not particularly helpful in this instance.

The new Oxford - Bristol services are running as 1Nxx in both directions, so should be easy enough to do a CTRL+F search for on RTT.

 

[cle]

Is there a definitive status of these for May? Would be good to start promoting them...

I see some in RTT (2 per day Sat) on 16 May but not the week after, or Sundays.

 

[Laserbeam31]

Is there a definitive status of these for May? Would be good to start promoting them...

I see some in RTT (2 per day Sat) on 16 May but not the week after, or Sundays.

Nothing official, from what I’ve seen, other than GWR have applied to run the services on weekdays+Saturdays. Per my understanding, they’re meant to be 2-hourly, at least to begin with.

As mikestone1952 noticed upthread, RTT does now show ECS moves for this service, at either end of the route, but the actual journey isn’t (yet?) shown.

It’s been mentioned earlier on that this service depends on the introduction of Class 175s elsewhere on the GWR network, because that’s meant to free up some IETs. Don’t know if that’s still the case and/or whether that’s still delaying these Oxford-Bristol services’ introduction.