FGW Brighton - Great Malvern

[impfreely]

Afternoon all,

Was walking past my local station earlier when I noticed a First Great Western train (usually Southern only!) and it made me curious.

Hence I found out about this route from Brighton to Great Malvern run once a day in both directions (I think), and I wondered....what is the point? Maybe I'm being naïve...!

Details of the train can be found here - http://traintimes.im/rail-details/C21408/2012/01/16/

And here it is returning - http://traintimes.im/rail-details/C24267/2012/01/14/

 

[ValleyLines142]

Afternoon all,

Was walking past my local station earlier when I noticed a First Great Western train (usually Southern only!) and it made me curious.

Hence I found out about this route from Brighton to Great Malvern run once a day in both directions (I think), and I wondered....what is the point? Maybe I'm being naïve...!

Details of the train can be found here - http://traintimes.im/rail-details/C21408/2012/01/16/

And here it is returning - http://traintimes.im/rail-details/C24267/2012/01/14/

It's a good service I think. Provides a direct link from the Bristol/Westbury area without the need to change at Southampton or even London shame there's not more like this!

 

[swt_passenger]

Discussed recently on page 8 of this thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=57956&page=8

It usually polarises opinion. I think it should be abandoned east of Southampton, because the SN Brighton Southampton hourly service introduced with the last franchise change (and now running 7/7) means it is a waste of FGW resources that could be better used in the west of FGW's area.

Some people think the through journey opportunity it gives is essential (as previous post) but there has to be sensible prioritising in my opinion, and capacity elsewhere would win for me...

The Sunday service is significantly more frequent than weekdays, another anachronism...

BTW there are two services per weekday westbound, the early service into Brighton only runs from Portsmouth though.

 

[Robinson]

A week before Christmas I was staying with a friend in Bristol for the weekend; we caught the 1845 from Southampton Central (ex-Brighton) to Temple Meads on the Saturday (17th December). Despite the fact that the previous 1810 had been cancelled, there was loads of spare capacity and we had no problems at all finding seats. My return journey on a Cardiff-Portsmouth train was far busier; and I've observed the Great Malvern services through Southampton a couple of times since then and they have also been significantly quieter than the main hourly services.

Is this a case of people not knowing about these extra services? I'm not sure...

 

[swt_passenger]

A week before Christmas I was staying with a friend in Bristol for the weekend; we caught the 1845 from Southampton Central (ex-Brighton) to Temple Meads on the Saturday (17th December). Despite the fact that the previous 1810 had been cancelled, there was loads of spare capacity and we had no problems at all finding seats. My return journey on a Cardiff-Portsmouth train was far busier; and I've observed the Great Malvern services through Southampton a couple of times since then and they have also been significantly quieter than the main hourly services.

The west bound FGW services (ex Brighton) from Southampton are also running just behind an SWT Salisbury service - so a reasonable number of the 1810's passengers could have taken the SWT. In the normal course of the day, the FGW 'extras' all follow SWT services on that leg anyway - which must take some potential passengers.

 

[Robinson]

The west bound FGW services (ex Brighton) from Southampton are also running just behind an SWT Salisbury service - so a reasonable number of the 1810's passengers could have taken the SWT. In the normal course of the day, the FGW 'extras' all follow SWT services on that leg anyway - which must take some potential passengers.

The 1042 Great Malvern actually goes out in front of the Salisbury stopper which is held at Southampton to 1044. Even in the case of the 1845, the timetable has it overtaking the Salisbury service in front.

 

[Flamingo]

Probably has something to do with grandfather rights, and it entitles FGW to a cut of the ticket revenue in this area. Kinda like XC stopping at Filton, Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway on their way to Cardiff twice a day.

 

[swt_passenger]

The 1042 Great Malvern actually goes out in front of the Salisbury stopper which is held at Southampton to 1044. Even in the case of the 1845, the timetable has it overtaking the Salisbury service in front.

You're quite right. I'm thinking of the normal hourly times, it is just the eastbound SWT that runs ahead of the FGW, about 1430ish at Southampton...

 

[sonic2009]

Probably has something to do with grandfather rights, and it entitles FGW to a cut of the ticket revenue in this area. Kinda like XC stopping at Filton, Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway on their way to Cardiff twice a day.

Also with what LM do on a Friday Night by extending to Gloucester from Birmingham on the 2300 , obtaining a share of Birmingham to Cheltenham

 

[Robinson]

Also with what LM do on a Friday Night by extending to Gloucester from Birmingham on the 2300 , obtaining a share of Birmingham to Cheltenham

Didn't know they still ran that...

 

[anthony263]

I know it has been suggested about withdrawing the FGW service to Brighton with the start of the new franchise to make better use of the rolling stock.

Considering that there is a frequnt service operated by Southern already I don't really see the point of such a service.

 

[ushawk]

Its only a couple of trains which will be freed up, but then your further cutting direct links from Brighton. Its always been busy when ive used it and i prefer using it (to Southampton anyway) than the Southern service. I cant see it being cut myself.

 

[elementalpat]

Didn't seem too long ago that Brighton had direct services to Basingstoke and Reading too which was handy, but SWT cut them too.

Brighton may soon just have FCC and Southern at this rate.

 

[Flamingo]

I see enough people on Brighton tickets who change at Reading or are going through London to think a direct Reading-Brighton service could be justified.

 

[Eagle]

I see enough people on Brighton tickets who change at Reading or are going through London to think a direct Reading-Brighton service could be justified.

But on which of the three routes (all of which were cut in 2007-8)? Via Basingstoke, via Guildford or via Kensington Olympia?

 

[Flamingo]

I don't think they would care if they didn't have to get off the train!

 

[swt_passenger]

Didn't seem too long ago that Brighton had direct services to Basingstoke and Reading too which was handy, but SWT cut them too.

Brighton may soon just have FCC and Southern at this rate.

DfT cut the service, not SWT, it was done in the ITT for the new franchise.

The DfT decided that the path was better used by running an hourly service to Southampton all day. Loadings suggest they were quite right...

Brighton won't just have FCC and Southern for long anyway, as it is now known the franchises will be combined in 2015...

 

[Lrd]

You're quite right. I'm thinking of the normal hourly times, it is just the eastbound SWT that runs ahead of the FGW, about 1430ish at Southampton...

That would be the 1433(ish) FGW to Brighton as the xx33 Southern service is changed to 1427 (ish) and runs via Eastleigh.