GWR short train lengths

[Sad Sprinter]

GWR seem to be running 5 coach trains on London to Swansea lately, leading to some rather snug conditions in the carriage. What's the reason for this? Just seems like more stellar mediocrity from Britain's railways.

 

[Brissle Girl]

GWR seem to be running 5 coach trains on London to Swansea lately, leading to some rather snug conditions in the carriage. What's the reason for this? Just seems like more stellar mediocrity from Britain's railways.

You mean stellar mediocrity by the DfT which has insisted that GWR (as well as some others) remove stock to make cost savings. GWR has its hands tied in the matter.

 

[Snow1964]

You mean stellar mediocrity by the DfT which has insisted that GWR (as well as some others) remove stock to make cost savings. GWR has its hands tied in the matter.

I wrote to my MP 10 weeks ago about GWR short forms (on our line now some 2car instead of 5car trains), got initial reply MP would write to rail minister for reply, I followed up in 7th week, but still awaiting a response.

EDIT. as if by magic a further email reply turns up few hours after I wrote this, saying had written to rail minister, and enclosing copy of letter to him from 7 weeks ago. Now just got to await Huw Merriman (or his team) writing back.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I wrote to my MP 11 weeks ago about GWR short forms (on our line now some 2car instead of 5car trains), got initial reply MP would write to rail minister for reply, I followed up in 7th week, but still awaiting a response.

Just shows Government doesn't care. I suppose I just wait until next election and vote for someone else.

Sadly I’m not sure any government is going to care about the railway.

 

[Brissle Girl]

Trouble is, even if another govt does care, so much serviceable stock (eg the Castle Class) will have gone for scrap that it will takes years to procure new stock to remedy the situation.

 

[Clarence Yard]

The reason for 5 car working on the Swansea services will usually be unit shortages on the day. With one return trip exception, all trains are booked to be load 9 or 10.

The exception is the up Carmarthen (Mon to Thurs only) which is load 5 all the way to Paddington & 11.48 back to Swansea to release a set for driver/route learning, which then couples to the 11.48 unit at Swansea to form the 1523 to Paddington as a 10 car. Currently, the two 5 car trains are not normally heavy loaders.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Just shows Government doesn't care. I suppose I just wait until next election and vote for someone else.

+1

More of this sort of thinking is required, on a national level. Too much apathy and tolerance of mediocrity in leadership among the electorate.

 

[Ashley Hill]

+1

More of this sort of thinking is required, on a national level. Too much apathy and tolerance of mediocrity in leadership among the electorate.

I voted for someone else in 1997,nothing changed.

 

[43096]

The reason for 5 car working on the Swansea services will usually be unit shortages on the day. With one return trip exception, all trains are booked to be load 9 or 10.

What’s going to change during this year to improve availability? Because come December there’s no HSTs that can be used to backfill.

My betting is it will be short-forms all round to cover.

 

[Annetts key]

I voted for someone else in 1997,nothing changed.

You never know, it may be different this time round…

 

[Parham Wood]

I wrote to my MP 11 weeks ago about GWR short forms (on our line now some 2car instead of 5car trains), got initial reply MP would write to rail minister for reply, I followed up in 7th week, but still awaiting a response.

Just shows Government doesn't care. I suppose I just wait until next election and vote for someone else.

This shows that your MP is not that interested in following up communications (or your issue) and it seems any communication to the Ministry will just get lost. I have the same problem when writing to my MP, the standard answer is that "I will forward it to the minister concerned". You should chase your MP for a reply, if you still don't get a response start embarrassing them on social media for what it is worth.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

This shows that your MP is not that interested in following up communications (or your issue) and it seems any communication to the Ministry will just get lost. I have the same problem when writing to my MP, the standard answer is that "I will forward it to the minister concerned". You should chase your MP for a reply, if you still don't get a response start embarrassing them on social media for what it is worth.

As someone that interned in an MPs office once, I can say that the amount of mail they get is relentless. Far, far too much. Especially when there's only two or three people in their office to answer it all.

 

[ComUtoR]

+1

More of this sort of thinking is required, on a national level. Too much apathy and tolerance of mediocrity in leadership among the electorate.

Westminster could be a TOC all by itself. A change of colours, and a new MD, different logo on my payslip, same old !"£!"$"£.

 

[D6975]

I voted for someone else in 1997,nothing changed.

I voted stay a few years ago, as did the majority of people in my area. Didn't stop Brexit.

 

[Clarence Yard]

What’s going to change during this year to improve availability? Because come December there’s no HSTs that can be used to backfill.

My betting is it will be short-forms all round to cover.

The problem with Swansea is that if a unit goes onto Maliphant at night and can’t go out in the morning, then it’s probably going to result in at least one short form. If it’s a 10 and one unit is a dud, that’s a 5 vice 10, if it’s a dud 9 then it’s a 5 vice 9 and a 5 vice 10.

There are no spare units held overnight at Maliphant and no room for them either!

The replacement of HSTs won’t have any effect on this situation.

 

[Benjwri]

The replacement of HSTs won’t have any effect on this situation.

Although this isn't always the case and Swansea suffers from short forms the same as the rest of the network. There would've been a short form on a Swansea service this evening, which could've been prevented if more units were available, although obvious whether that actually happened with todays chaos I do not know.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Although this isn't always the case and Swansea suffers from short forms the same as the rest of the network. There would've been a short form on a Swansea service this evening, which could've been prevented if more units were available, although obvious whether that actually happened with todays chaos I do not know.

Was the short form because of no spare sets or because of the disruption no spare driver to go and get it from Stoke Gifford / North Pole. Often when there are short forms it’s not down to a lack of units just units in the wrong place and nobody to move them to the right place…

 

[Benjwri]

Was the short form because of no spare sets or because of the disruption no spare driver to go and get it from Stoke Gifford / North Pole. Often when there are short forms it’s not down to a lack of units just units in the wrong place and nobody to move them to the right place…

Was listed to be short formed on journeycheck at 9am this morning, so nothing to do with todays disruption, surely at some point one could be swapped in at the London end?

 

[Meglos]

Was listed to be short formed on journeycheck at 9am this morning, so nothing to do with todays disruption, surely at some point one could be swapped in at the London end?

Do you have proof that there was an available set to allow this? If it's short formed, then it's likely that there wasn't a spare set available.

 

[railfan99]

As someone that interned in an MPs office once, I can say that the amount of mail they get is relentless. Far, far too much. Especially when there's only two or three people in their office to answer it all.

Exacerbated by numerous emails that some send at the drop of a hat, and telephone calls if the English experience is similar to Australia.

But yes, the constituent should follow up with his MP.

 

[Benjwri]

Do you have proof that there was an available set to allow this? If it's short formed, then it's likely that there wasn't a spare set available.

Which if you read upthread was my point.

 

[JamieL]

I voted for someone else in 1997,nothing changed.

Except...the Human Rights Act, minimum wage, devolution, achieving the short NHS waiting lists (now eroded of course), free TV licences for over-75s, massive increase in teachers, initiation of HS2, Northern Ireland peace process, making public places smoke free, repealed Section 28, banned fox hunting, rights to roam, signing of social chapter, banning cluster munitions, commissioning two aircraft carriers, West Coast modernisation, initiation of Crossrail/Elizabeth Line etc etc. The legacy of New Labour is all around us.

Keep calm and purge the Tories!

 

[QSK19]

Except...the Human Rights Act, minimum wage, devolution, achieving the short NHS waiting lists (now eroded of course), free TV licences for over-75s, massive increase in teachers, initiation of HS2, Northern Ireland peace process, making public places smoke free, repealed Section 28, banned fox hunting, rights to roam, signing of social chapter, banning cluster munitions, commissioning two aircraft carriers, West Coast modernisation, initiation of Crossrail/Elizabeth Line etc etc. The legacy of New Labour is all around us.

Keep calm and purge the Tories!

Pretty sure that the GWR short trains thread isn’t the place to lay out Labour’s manifesto ahead of the next election!

I’m sure there must be a thread somewhere in RF where wannabe Labour candidates can make their case for election and hopefully somebody from their NEC will take notice!

Back OT, yes I think any actual shortening of services (as opposed to a shortformed service versus booked service levels) will be due to DfT wanting across-the-board cuts.

 

[JamieL]

Pretty sure that the GWR short trains thread isn’t the place to lay out Labour’s manifesto ahead of the next election!

I’m sure there must be a thread somewhere in RF where wannabe Labour candidates can make their case for election and hopefully somebody from their NEC will take notice!

Back OT, yes I think any actual shortening of services (as opposed to a shortformed service versus booked service levels) will be due to DfT wanting across-the-board cuts.

The salient point is that shortfalls in railway services can be remedied and that the argument that all political parties are the same is pretty incoherent. The Tories have made a mess of the railways, perhaps Labour will do better.

We certainly know they plan to reactivate the Leeds leg of HS2. That will intensify traffic through Old Oak Common which obviously connects to the GWML. So it is not inconceivable that this change will help reconfigure GWR services for the better.

 

[Snow1964]

I have amended my post #3 above as subsequently received reply from my MP

It would appear the letter asked of the rail minister represents A number of constituents, and also asks some questions I hadn't specifically asked. I was complaining about short forms due to not releasing turbos from London area, resultant overcrowding and people being unable to board. So presumably others had been complaining to our local MP too.

It includes... The Portsmouth-Cardiff service is cited as particularly bad example of this. ....and how we are going to ensure that the areas of the South West of England receive modern rolling stock with the capacity needed to service the population.

No wonder DfT have after 7 weeks not yet produced an answer.

My wife used to be a civil servant at Whitehall and said when she was there (over 15 years ago) were expected to drop everything for MPs letter answer and reply worst case within 2 weeks. Standards must have dropped.

I will revert when answer comes through.

 

[QSK19]

The salient point is that shortfalls in railway services can be remedied and that the argument that all political parties are the same is pretty incoherent. The Tories have made a mess of the railways, perhaps Labour will do better.

We certainly know they plan to reactivate the Leeds leg of HS2. That will intensify traffic through Old Oak Common which obviously connects to the GWML. So it is not inconceivable that this change will help reconfigure GWR services for the better.

Well, I would sum up Labour’s time in office by Liam Byrne’s note for David Laws stating “Dear Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck!”. An admission of financial mismanagement and the sheer gall of making light of it following the financial crisis of the late naughties/early 2010s.

On a railway-level, Labour electrified only 10 miles of track during their time in power (second paragraph of page 3 & first paragraph of page 4: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05907/SN05907.pdf), a pathetic amount completely blown out of the water by the Tories (look to the MML for example). So, Labour are not without criticism.

You and I will probably never agree on politics (I won’t stand for election on a Conservative platform by the way!); but the fact is that the railways have numerous fundamental, chronic problems, something that won’t be fixed by Labour if they happen to get in at the next election.

For GWR’s sake, I hope that their passengers get the level of service that they fully deserve and that shortening of services is minimised as much as it can be. We’ve suffered it very badly up here in EMR-land and it’s not nice at all.

 

[geoffk]

As someone that interned in an MPs office once, I can say that the amount of mail they get is relentless. Far, far too much. Especially when there's only two or three people in their office to answer it all.

While working for local authorities, I learnt that many folks went straight to their MP with even a minor/trivial issue rather than go through the proper channels, whether the council, NHS, train/bus operator, Royal Mail etc. then approach the MP if all else failed.

 

[Mag_seven]

Whilst we I appreciate that people have been writing to their MPs about this can we try to keep to the topic of GWR shortforms and refrain from posting any off topic political stuff which can of course be discussed in our General Discussion section.

Thanks

 

[QueensCurve]

Well, I would sum up Labour’s time in office by Liam Byrne’s note for David Laws stating “Dear Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck!”. An admission of financial mismanagement and the sheer gall of making light of it following the financial crisis of the late naughties/early 2010s.

A Joke, as is customary for ministers to leave for their successors. A country with a sovereign currency need never run out of money. More can be created at the click of a mouse. The annualised growth in the UK economy was at the time of the 2010 election was 2.4%. We have had nothing remotely like that since. We were promised stellar rates of growth if we left the "sclerotic EU" what happed to that?

On a railway-level, Labour electrified only 10 miles of track during their time in power (second paragraph of page 3 & first paragraph of page 4: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05907/SN05907.pdf), a pathetic amount completely blown out of the water by the Tories (look to the MML for example). So, Labour are not without criticism.

Yes. Only 10 miles of electrification was completed during the Labour years (Crewe to Kidsgrove). It was the last Labour Transport secretary (Lord Adonis) that put electrication back underway kicking off with the Northern triangle.

Also Labour's model for Network Rail as a Company Limited by Guarantee with the regulatory asset base was good for improvement projects we had waited decades for a new flyover and then 5 came together.

No. a Labour government won't solve the railways' problems. I do live in joyful hope that one day we will see a government that recognises that government spending is a foundation for a strong economy rather than pretending that it is a burden on taxpayers.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

A Joke, as is customary for ministers to leave for their successors. A country with a sovereign currency need never run out of money. More can be created at the click of a mouse. The annualised growth in the UK economy was at the time of the 2010 election was 2.4%. We have had nothing remotely like that since. We were promised stellar rates of growth if we left the "sclerotic EU" what happed to that?

Yes. Only 10 miles of electrification was completed during the Labour years (Crewe to Kidsgrove). It was the last Labour Transport secretary (Lord Adonis) that put electrication back underway kicking off with the Northern triangle.

Also Labour's model for Network Rail as a Company Limited by Guarantee with the regulatory asset base was good for improvement projects we had waited decades for a new flyover and then 5 came together.

No. a Labour government won't solve the railways' problems. I do live in joyful hope that one day we will see a government that recognises that government spending is a foundation for a strong economy rather than pretending that it is a burden on taxpayers.

That is the problem with how the political parties work. They both try to capture a narrow, suburban, lower middle class, Middle England caricature and tend to forget about everything and everyone else.