Announcement "Weymouth via Winchester"

[The Ham]

There was, at Woking so is unlikely to relate to any other services by other TOC, an announcement for a train to Weymouth via Winchester. My question is, are there any other routes which would justify such an announcement?

I get Portsmouth via Basingstoke as the are also the direct services. However the only other option that I am aware of requires a change at Salisbury. Alternatively, going forward there could be a viable option of going via Havant depending on journey times along the new joined up route along the south coast.

Is this just an anomaly or is it likely to indicate that SWR cod be looking at running services to Weymouth via some other route?

 

[NSEFAN]

Perhaps it's purely to help unfamiliar passengers get their bearings? Also, services to Weymouth via Havant are quite common during engineering work/disruption, so it's perhaps an indicator that services are vaguely running as normal?

 

[jopsuk]

Non-express services from Cambridge to Kings Cross are signed on the front of the trains as "via Stevenage". The Express services go through Stevenage.

 

[berneyarms]

There was, at Woking so is unlikely to relate to any other services by other TOC, an announcement for a train to Weymouth via Winchester. My question is, are there any other routes which would justify such an announcement?

I get Portsmouth via Basingstoke as the are also the direct services. However the only other option that I am aware of requires a change at Salisbury. Alternatively, going forward there could be a viable option of going via Havant depending on journey times along the new joined up route along the south coast.

Is this just an anomaly or is it likely to indicate that SWR cod be looking at running services to Weymouth via some other route?

In theory you could go via Yeovil Pen Mill with a change, but only at certain times.

 

[Schweir]

Hopefully not I don't think SWR seems very keen on the Waterloo- Weymouth services. We are already losing 1 direct service to London due to them introducing that seemingly pointless Portsmouth stopper service.

 

[greaterwest]

There was, during last summer, a direct service from London to Weymouth via Salisbury & Yeovil Pen Mill.

Also diversions via Havant.

As I understand it, Woking's automated announcements have always specified "via Winchester" on the Weymouth services.

 

[Segedunum]

I remember that the 365s used to declare: "This train is for King's Lynn, via Ely." on departure from Cambridge. How else were we going to get there?

Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk

 

[Wookiee]

I remember that the 365s used to declare: "This train is for King's Lynn, via Ely." on departure from Cambridge. How else were we going to get there?

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It's not the same thing but one of the Chargemen at Fareham in the late 80s used to announce every train as a through train. "Through train to Southampton" was my personal favourite!

 

[A0]

Non-express services from Cambridge to Kings Cross are signed on the front of the trains as "via Stevenage". The Express services go through Stevenage.

*Everything* on that part of the ECML goes via Stevenage.

Via Hertford or via Welwyn would be more accurate.

 

[jopsuk]

*Everything* on that part of the ECML goes via Stevenage.

Via Hertford or via Welwyn would be more accurate.

But the semi-fast services don't stop at Welwyn. The point of "via Stevenage" is to reinforce that that service stops there.

Similarly, with Winchester from Woking and Ely from Cambridge being potentially major destinations, advertising as "via" there helps make it clear to non-regular passengers which train they need- even though almost all services do stop there.

 

[Chris M]

At Paddington I've seen Taunton via Bristol (although I've also seen these advertised as Bridgwater) and Exeter via Bristol, which makes it clear both that they're not going via the Berks and Hants and that anybody wanting Bristol can use these trains. It doesn't of course make it clear whether they're going via Bath or via Filton.

 

[swt_passenger]

Hopefully not I don't think SWR seems very keen on the Waterloo- Weymouth services. We are already losing 1 direct service to London due to them introducing that seemingly pointless Portsmouth stopper service.

Blame the DfT, not SWR. The changes are as per the service specification in the ITT given to all bidders.

 

[70014IronDuke]

There was, during last summer, a direct service from London to Weymouth via Salisbury & Yeovil Pen Mill.
... .

Interesting point: I wonder how they advertised these trains at Waterloo, Clapham Jcn etc (and at Weymouth and Upwey on the returns)?

Could have been very frustrating for the unknowing Basingstoke passenger to board this train and end up taking an extra 90 minutes (?) or so to get to Weymouth, let alone get stuck at Yeovil Junction because of a crew shortage or some such. (I believe quite a few of those workings were cancelled or part cancelled.)

 

[pompeyfan]

Service from Portsmouth to Cardiff are advertised as via Salisbury with no through diversions having been run in my knowledge. I'm sure they could go via Guildford/Basingstoke, onto Reading and along the GWML.

Just a though, is it to do with ticketing route restrictions?

 

[paddington]

At Heathrow, Piccadilly line trains are announced as Cockfosters/Oakwood/Arnos Grove via Central London.

 

[Michael.Y]

Services to Severn Beach are advertised as being via Clifton Down. Presumably future proofing for if/when some future SB and Avonmouth services are routed via Filton and the Henbury Loop.

 

[Parallel]

GWR loves their 'via's. Other favourites include Exmouth via Exeter Central (at Exeter St Davids), Great Malvern via Bristol Parkway (at Bristol Temple Meads), Cardiff Cental via Bristol Temple Meads (at Trowbridge), Avonmouth via Clifton Down (from Temple Meads) and on departure boards (but not verbal) Bristol Temple Meads via Oldfield Park and Keynsham (from Bath) - though the latter is meant to indicate a stopping service.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Is there an announcement saying Holyhead via llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?

 

[GW43125]

Waterloo-Readings are always announced as "Reading via Ascot", despite there being no other logical route from Waterloo to Reading

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Well not until they juice up the NDL or the Reading to Basingstoke roads.

 

[Starmill]

There are three main reasons why you might include a 'via' point in a train announcement:

1. Perhaps the most obvious, because there are two routes that direct trains take and you need to clarify which it is. There are lots of examples of this, such as Leeds via Barnsley and Leeds via Moorthorpe at Meadowhall.

2. To make it clear that a train calls somewhere. Most used where there are lots of trains to a common destination which have starkly different calling patterns. Cambridge via Stevenage at London Kings Cross is a good example, and London Kings Cross via Huntingdon is another. Usually all trains are via these places, but the via point draws attention to the fact that the train calls.

3. To clarify a major destination short of the final destination of the train. The best example of this is found on the Snow Hill Lines, for example people waiting at Kidderminster would generally find their train advertised as Worcester Foregate Street via Birmingham Snow Hill. This is not because there might be trains going to Worcester by some other route or trains which pass Birmingham Snow Hill non-stop, it's just to draw attention to the key destination for that station. Another is services to Stirling, Inverness and Aberdeen at York, Newcastle and elsewhere are all advertised as 'Via Edinburgh'. This is not to clear up confusion about which route these trains take, it is just to make it clearer that these are the services for Edinburgh.

If you ask me, 'Weymouth via Winchester' doesn't really fall into any of these categories, so I am not sure why it is used.

 

[The Ham]

There are three main reasons why you might include a 'via' point in a train announcement:

1. Perhaps the most obvious, because there are two routes that direct trains take and you need to clarify which it is. There are lots of examples of this, such as Leeds via Barnsley and Leeds via Moorthorpe at Meadowhall.

2. To make it clear that a train calls somewhere. Most used where there are lots of trains to a common destination which have starkly different calling patterns. Cambridge via Stevenage at London Kings Cross is a good example, and London Kings Cross via Huntingdon is another. Usually all trains are via these places, but the via point draws attention to the fact that the train calls.

3. To clarify a major destination short of the final destination of the train. The best example of this is found on the Snow Hill Lines, for example people waiting at Kidderminster would generally find their train advertised as Worcester Foregate Street via Birmingham Snow Hill. This is not because there might be trains going to Worcester by some other route or trains which pass Birmingham Snow Hill non-stop, it's just to draw attention to the key destination for that station. Another is services to Stirling, Inverness and Aberdeen at York, Newcastle and elsewhere are all advertised as 'Via Edinburgh'. This is not to clear up confusion about which route these trains take, it is just to make it clearer that these are the services for Edinburgh.

If you ask me, 'Weymouth via Winchester' doesn't really fall into any of these categories, so I am not sure why it is used.

That was broadly my understanding, and so why I posed the question.

I am also mindful that Waterloo to Weymouth via Winchester takes 2:40-3:00 whilst if such a service were to exist calling at all the stations West of Basingstoke going via Salisbury would take 3:30. As such from Woking/Basingstoke it wouldn't be much slower given that the fast services often miss those stations. Depending on the times it could be quicker to take the slower train than wait for the direct train.

Given the spacing of trains on the Salisbury to Weymouth section it could be possible (depending on what the signalling allows) to run such a service fairly close behind the GWR service and be out of the way before the next GWR service going the other way needs the track.

 

[Starmill]

In point 3 I meant people waiting at Dorridge, not Kidderminster - apologies!

 

[swt_passenger]

If you ask me, 'Weymouth via Winchester' doesn't really fall into any of these categories, so I am not sure why it is used.

In the standard off-peak pattern, a Weymouth train leaving Woking is first stop Winchester. Confusing, but it could be to advise pax to not expect Basingstoke?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There are three main reasons why you might include a 'via' point in a train announcement:

1. Perhaps the most obvious, because there are two routes that direct trains take and you need to clarify which it is. There are lots of examples of this, such as Leeds via Barnsley and Leeds via Moorthorpe at Meadowhall.

2. To make it clear that a train calls somewhere. Most used where there are lots of trains to a common destination which have starkly different calling patterns. Cambridge via Stevenage at London Kings Cross is a good example, and London Kings Cross via Huntingdon is another. Usually all trains are via these places, but the via point draws attention to the fact that the train calls.

3. To clarify a major destination short of the final destination of the train. The best example of this is found on the Snow Hill Lines, for example people waiting at Kidderminster would generally find their train advertised as Worcester Foregate Street via Birmingham Snow Hill. This is not because there might be trains going to Worcester by some other route or trains which pass Birmingham Snow Hill non-stop, it's just to draw attention to the key destination for that station. Another is services to Stirling, Inverness and Aberdeen at York, Newcastle and elsewhere are all advertised as 'Via Edinburgh'. This is not to clear up confusion about which route these trains take, it is just to make it clearer that these are the services for Edinburgh.

If you ask me, 'Weymouth via Winchester' doesn't really fall into any of these categories, so I am not sure why it is used.

The Moorthorpe example gives me an OCD twitch whenever I'm at Leeds or Sheffield - simply because the routing point of Moorthorpe isn't significant other than being the boundary station between West and South Yorkshire: it's just a suburb of PonteCarlo! Via Rotherham would be better because people outside of Yorkshire have heard of it!

When Huddersfield to Lincoln/Retford services were the rule rather than the exception a while back, Huddersfield staff had to start announcing them as "... via Barnsley and Sheffield" due to pax constantly asking where the Barnsley train was. This despite the route having its own dedicated platform at HUD*.

*= Yes, Sheffield services can leave from 1 and 4b as well as 2, but anything IN 2 can only get to Lockwood, not Slawit.

 

[Harbouring]

Service from Portsmouth to Cardiff are advertised as via Salisbury with no through diversions having been run in my knowledge. I'm sure they could go via Guildford/Basingstoke, onto Reading and along the GWML.

Just a though, is it to do with ticketing route restrictions?

Reverse journeys are shown as "via Southampton Central" and both directions get "via Bristol Temple Meads" at some point along the way (especially Salisbury-Bath)

 

[BestWestern]

Deleted

 

[BestWestern]

GWR loves their 'via's. Other favourites include Exmouth via Exeter Central (at Exeter St Davids), Great Malvern via Bristol Parkway (at Bristol Temple Meads), Cardiff Cental via Bristol Temple Meads (at Trowbridge), Avonmouth via Clifton Down (from Temple Meads) and on departure boards (but not verbal) Bristol Temple Meads via Oldfield Park and Keynsham (from Bath) - though the latter is meant to indicate a stopping service.

The 'vias' are included simply to assist passenger flows to major destinations, they aren't intended to provide some sort of routing analysis. It's simply a way of quickly pointing out that this train serves a particular place that lots of people want to go. The vast majority of passengers have little or no interest in railway geography, and while it may seem obvious to the informed, the average passenger waiting at Trowbridge to go to Bristol may well have absolutely no idea where Gt Malvern, nor any understanding that the train has to pass through Bristol to get there.

The 'vias' are a sensible idea, in my opinion.

 

[fairysdad]

The 'vias' are included simply to assist passenger flows to major destinations, they aren't intended to provide some sort of routing analysis. It's simply a way of quickly pointing out that this train serves a particular place that lots of people want to go. The vast majority of passengers have little or no interest in railway geography, and while it may seem obvious to the informed, the average passenger waiting at Trowbridge to go to Bristol may well have absolutely no idea where Gt Malvern, nor any understanding that the train has to pass through Bristol to get there.

The 'vias' are a sensible idea, in my opinion.

So, in the thread title's case, would 'Weymouth via Southampton' be a better alternative?

 

[cactustwirly]

GWR loves their 'via's. Other favourites include Exmouth via Exeter Central (at Exeter St Davids), Great Malvern via Bristol Parkway (at Bristol Temple Meads), Cardiff Cental via Bristol Temple Meads (at Trowbridge), Avonmouth via Clifton Down (from Temple Meads) and on departure boards (but not verbal) Bristol Temple Meads via Oldfield Park and Keynsham (from Bath) - though the latter is meant to indicate a stopping service.

In the Thames Valley we have Hereford via Oxford and Bedwyn via Newbury