No times showing for replacement buses on North Downs Line 03/02

[DelW]

Presumably because GWR are unable to fuel units on the east side of the block. They would probably only last two days or so, even if they started with full tanks from Reading.

ISTR that GWR used to get Southern to fuel the units up (at Selhurst?) during blockades in the past. But with Southern Redhill drivers no longer working the 165s this is likely deemed to be in the "too difficult" pile - you'd need to get GWR Reading drivers to be route conducted by GTR etc. It's easier just to give up and bustitute the lot.

Surely it would be possible to refuel them from a road tanker in the sidings at Redhill (or anywhere else with road access)? I realise that needs spill precautions, but the construction industry routinely refuels diesel plant on site so it can't be prohibitively difficult or expensive.

It does seem that buses or even "do not travel" notices have become the railway industry's first resorts rather than last. Which drives ever more passengers off trains and onto alternatives if they have to travel for work or other unavoidable reasons.

 

[Tom]

Or they found that doing it last February wasn't worthwhile because fewer people travelled.

There were train services in the system just over a week ago but a paperwork issue that arose very recently to do with gauging meant they weren’t able to rotate the units to/from Reading via Woking and Basingstoke, so the whole line became buses. Not much time to put an alternative plan in place, but the intention was there to run trains.

 

[Watershed]

There were train services in the system just over a week ago but a paperwork issue that arose very recently to do with gauging meant they weren’t able to rotate the units to/from Reading via Woking and Basingstoke, so the whole line became buses. Not much time to put an alternative plan in place, but the intention was there to run trains.

Perhaps GWR would care to explain that to the public, to justify why they are not providing the level of service the taxpayer pays them for and that passengers rely on.

 

[Class 317]

I sent Mark Hopwood an email and his come back to me this morning to say his looking into the communication failures and will update me once they have been investigated.

I'll feedback his response.

 

[infobleep]

There were train services in the system just over a week ago but a paperwork issue that arose very recently to do with gauging meant they weren’t able to rotate the units to/from Reading via Woking and Basingstoke, so the whole line became buses. Not much time to put an alternative plan in place, but the intention was there to run trains.

I'm glad to hear this.

I assume the issue is between Basingstoke and Woking, as don't these trains run from Reading to Basingstoke or is that different class?

It did seem odd that GWR were not running trains when they had been so keen and had finally implemented two trains an hour to Gatwick Airport, most hours, Monday to Saturday. To be that keen and then not bothered about trains during the engineering works didn't entirely make sense. Now it does.

Did the trains run via Woking during previous engineering works?

It will be a good test of how good Gatick Airport is at getting people from the rail replacement buses to the trains in a timely manner, now that all the renovations are completed.

After all, if passengers have to be disrupted by getting a rail replacement bus, the latest they can do it make it easy fir them to reach the station platforms.

 

[Paul180]

Even more frustrating if you’re travelling from North Camp to Dorking and back you have to change buses at Guildford.

 

[infobleep]

Even more frustrating if you’re travelling from North Camp to Dorking and back you have to change buses at Guildford.

I have noticed that the fastest way to get from North Camp to Dorking is via Guildford and Leatherhead. At certainbtimes of the day It takes 1 hour 38-40 minutes, as opposed to 2 hours 3 minutes on two buses or 2 hours 23 minutes on two buses, depend on what time you travel.

Of course going via Leatherhead to Dorking Deepdene doesn't bring up a price on the National Rail Enquiries app. Even going to Dorking Main doesn't bring up a price.

It is a valid route so no doubt it's a routing guide issue but not sure what the issue is.

 

[JonathanH]

Of course going via Leatherhead to Dorking Deepdene doesn't bring up a price on the National Rail Enquiries app. Even going to Dorking Main doesn't bring up a price.

It is a valid route so no doubt it's a routing guide issue but not sure what the issue is.

North Camp to Dorking Deepdene is routed via Gomshall, and there is no easement to allow travel via Leatherhead in the absence of the rail service.

In practice, passengers may choose to buy tickets from Ash Vale to Dorking this week, and use an alternative route.

 

[infobleep]

North Camp to Dorking Deepdene is routed via Gomshall, and there is no easement to allow travel via Leatherhead in the absence of the rail service.

In practice, passengers may choose to buy tickets from Ash Vale to Dorking this week, and use an alternative route.

So as the route to Dorking Main isn't solely by rail, assuming rail replacement buses don't count, that will be the reason why that doesn't show up as it is the shortest route wholly by rail and that is always valid.

One would need to walk from Dorking Deepdene to Dorking Main otherwise.

They have definitely pointed out the Ash Vale route as an alternative, as you say, as it is mentioned in a BBC News article that was either published today or updated today.

Network Rail said passengers who usually travel from Farnborough North or North Camp could access these services from Farnborough main and Ash Vale stations, respectively.

BBC News - Rail work to cause train disruption at Reading and Gatwick

Rail work to cause train disruption at Reading and Gatwick

Network Rail will carry out week-long signal upgrade and level crossing works in the Wokingham area.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JonathanH]

So as the route to Dorking Main isn't solely by rail, assuming rail replacement buses don't count, that will be the reason why that doesn't show up as it is the shortest route wholly by rail and that is always valid.

As you note, the shortest route isn't valid if a route restriction doesn't permit it. There isn't an any permitted fare from North Camp to Dorking Stations, so technically you can't access Dorking Main on one ticket, without walking from Dorking Deepdene.

 

[infobleep]

As you note, the shortest route isn't valid if a route restriction doesn't permit it. There isn't an any permitted fare from North Camp to Dorking Stations, so technically you can't access Dorking Main on one ticket, without walking from Dorking Deepdene.

I thought route restrictions didn't override the shortest route rule.

Certainly I can get a fare for a week without replacement buses.

 

[Paul180]

Have GWR got a unit stranded at Guildford because looking on Open time trains and Traksy it looks like they have.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Have GWR got a unit stranded at Guildford because looking on Open time trains and Traksy it looks like they have.

View attachment 152133

Saw it on Saturday, 2-car 165118. It's parked at the end of the platform 6/7 with no tail lights. Instead, there are portable tail lights placed on the windscreen at both ends of the train. And the Farnham trains were using the same platform 6/7.

Realtime Trains | 2333 Reading to Gatwick Airport | 09/02/2024

Real-time train running information for 2333 departure from Reading to Gatwick Airport on 09/02/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[JN114]

Yes it broke Friday night; needs rescuing with another unit.