sleepy_hollow
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jan 2018
- Messages
- 177
Services:
2K14 0810 Weston-super-Mare to Severn Beach 17_05_2024 - 158 747
2O16 1701 Severn Beach to Salisbury 17_05_2024 - 166 203
A simple return trip from Sea Mills (SML) to Severn Beach. Four minutes late going out, about twelve minutes late on the return (1732 arrival instead of 1720), by my watch and the SML station screen. Only five according to Real Time Trains (RTT) presumably because the times between Avonmouth (AVN) and SML are extrapolated from the AVN time, so the long wait at the end of the AVN loop is not included. Waiting for the outbound train at the signal just before the M5 bridge is common but usually succeeds in maintaining the schedule, unlike this occasion.
We were still in the AVN loop when we should have been at SML, which shows how adding a loop at SML would be useful even for the current timetable. On the other hand the last two days SVB service (21 & 22 May) have been plagued by points failure cancellations, so perhaps introducing points has risks, although I assume you get graceful degradation of a loop unless you get two failures.
Three bicycles in the 158 class bike space on the way out and at least one more elsewhere. The 166 on the way back was generally empty including the bike space, so had exclusive use of the parcel rail, the 166 spaces being too short for an adult bicycle.
PAYG taps correctly processed, picking up the previous 65 pence one way journey when charged, almost like having an account. Given that PAYG includes agreement to a continuous credit card authority it is not clear why GWR only make this concession to running an account. It would presuably save bank charges if charges were deducted weekly in one payment, or whenever a set sum was reached.
The appearance of the 158 presumably implies lack of availability of Turbos. There were some two instead of three coach notifications in this week, presumably for the same reason. But 158 seats are the best on the railway.
2K14 0810 Weston-super-Mare to Severn Beach 17_05_2024 - 158 747
2O16 1701 Severn Beach to Salisbury 17_05_2024 - 166 203
A simple return trip from Sea Mills (SML) to Severn Beach. Four minutes late going out, about twelve minutes late on the return (1732 arrival instead of 1720), by my watch and the SML station screen. Only five according to Real Time Trains (RTT) presumably because the times between Avonmouth (AVN) and SML are extrapolated from the AVN time, so the long wait at the end of the AVN loop is not included. Waiting for the outbound train at the signal just before the M5 bridge is common but usually succeeds in maintaining the schedule, unlike this occasion.
We were still in the AVN loop when we should have been at SML, which shows how adding a loop at SML would be useful even for the current timetable. On the other hand the last two days SVB service (21 & 22 May) have been plagued by points failure cancellations, so perhaps introducing points has risks, although I assume you get graceful degradation of a loop unless you get two failures.
Three bicycles in the 158 class bike space on the way out and at least one more elsewhere. The 166 on the way back was generally empty including the bike space, so had exclusive use of the parcel rail, the 166 spaces being too short for an adult bicycle.
PAYG taps correctly processed, picking up the previous 65 pence one way journey when charged, almost like having an account. Given that PAYG includes agreement to a continuous credit card authority it is not clear why GWR only make this concession to running an account. It would presuably save bank charges if charges were deducted weekly in one payment, or whenever a set sum was reached.
The appearance of the 158 presumably implies lack of availability of Turbos. There were some two instead of three coach notifications in this week, presumably for the same reason. But 158 seats are the best on the railway.