June 2024 Timetable Change

[Johnny Lewis]

One minor thing for June 2024 - GWR will be reinstating "Named trains" in its online public timetables. So these are the traditional names like "The Cornish Riviera", "The Golden Hind" etc., rather than the IET namings, which are named after significant figures from the West of England and South Wales.
Some of them are quite meaningless - for example, "The Cheltenham Spa Express" is no faster or limited stop than any other train on the route.
All six Pullman services will be "named" in this way.

 

[gabrielhj07]

One minor thing for June 2024 - GWR will be reinstating "Named trains" in its online public timetables. So these are the traditional names like "The Cornish Riviera", "The Golden Hind" etc., rather than the IET namings, which are named after significant figures from the West of England and South Wales.
Some of them are quite meaningless - for example, "The Cheltenham Spa Express" is no faster or limited stop than any other train on the route.
All six Pullman services will be "named" in this way.

That’s a nice touch.

 

[The exile]

That’s a nice touch.

Indeed. Let us hope it is extended to station announcements, PIS etc.

 

[Starmill]

Indeed. Let us hope it is extended to station announcements, PIS etc.

It definitely was in the old days when they did them. Hope it is again.

 

[whoosh]

Great Northern are now saying there is only one additional peak Peterborough service in each direction, so the “Runs as required” ones won’t be running.

What a surprise! There never seems to have been the stock for both services. Perhaps something will materialise if the 379s come over in time.

Driver's diagrams showing a change in October.

 

[nw1]

One minor thing for June 2024 - GWR will be reinstating "Named trains" in its online public timetables. So these are the traditional names like "The Cornish Riviera", "The Golden Hind" etc., rather than the IET namings, which are named after significant figures from the West of England and South Wales.
Some of them are quite meaningless - for example, "The Cheltenham Spa Express" is no faster or limited stop than any other train on the route.
All six Pullman services will be "named" in this way.

Indeed, the "Cheltenham Spa Express" was once the single daytime out-and-back HST which was introduced in around 1984 to make use of the set in between the peaks, whereas now there are (IIRC) several daytime services. Presumably they're re-introducing the name for a departure which leaves around the same time as the 80s version.

I'd presume the "Cornish Riviera" will be a bit faster than the standard services though, otherwise there's little point naming it.

 

[hexagon789]

Indeed, the "Cheltenham Spa Express" was once the single daytime out-and-back HST which was introduced in around 1984 to make use of the set in between the peaks, whereas now there are (IIRC) several daytime services. Presumably they're re-introducing the name for a departure which leaves around the same time as the 80s version.

I think that was the Cotswolds and Malverns Express and not the Cheltenham Spa Express; HSTs appeared on Cheltenham runs before 1984, instead I believe an extra off-peak run was added in that year to/from Cheltenham.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

The only properly limited stop named trains will be, summer weekdays only, The Royal Duchy, 12.03 London Paddington to Penzance, which will be first stop Exeter St David's (pick up only), Plymouth, then most stops in Cornwall.

The 16.18 Paddington to Carmarthen will be "The Red Dragon" and first stop Bristol Parkway.

On Summer Saturdays, The Cornishman will provide a relatively limited stop service from Penzance to London Paddington at 11.00, which, after Plymouth will only call at Exeter St David's and Reading.

Otherwise, the trains aren't really any more limited stop or "special" than their non-named counterparts, even those which will contain the word "Express" in them!

 

[Bald Rick]

On Summer Saturdays, The Cornishman will provide a relatively limited stop service from Penzance to London Paddington at 11.00, which, after Plymouth will only call at Exeter St David's and Reading.

Surely, in these enlightened times, it should be “The Cornishperson”.

 

[507020]

Surely, in these enlightened times, it should be “The Cornishperson”.

Or “The Cornishthem” when as a gender neutral term, “The Cornish” would suffice!

 

[dk1]

Or “The Cornishthem” when as a gender neutral term, “The Cornish” would suffice!

Doesn’t I just make you want to cry

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Surely, in these enlightened times, it should be “The Cornishperson”.

Or “The Cornishthem” when as a gender neutral term, “The Cornish” would suffice!

This is priceless After all, trains aren't the only thing getting cancelled left and right for trivial matters these days

 

[jkkne]

One minor thing for June 2024 - GWR will be reinstating "Named trains" in its online public timetables. So these are the traditional names like "The Cornish Riviera", "The Golden Hind" etc., rather than the IET namings, which are named after significant figures from the West of England and South Wales.
Some of them are quite meaningless - for example, "The Cheltenham Spa Express" is no faster or limited stop than any other train on the route.
All six Pullman services will be "named" in this way.

Seems a fairly pointless exercise that might excite enthusiasts but mean absolutely nothing to the travelling public

Priorities all over the shop…

 

[WAB]

Seems a fairly pointless exercise that might excite enthusiasts but mean absolutely nothing to the travelling public

Priorities all over the shop…

It's part of GWR's overall branding - one of nostalgia.

 

[The exile]

It's part of GWR's overall branding - one of nostalgia.

And us achievable for little effort and at little cost - certainly a figure that wouldn’t even scratch the surface of the “bigger things”

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

In case it hasn’t been clearly stated, GWR’s June 2024 timetables are now available in PDF format on their website.

 

[nw1]

I think that was the Cotswolds and Malverns Express and not the Cheltenham Spa Express; HSTs appeared on Cheltenham runs before 1984, instead I believe an extra off-peak run was added in that year to/from Cheltenham.

Both existed: both introduced in 1984 if I remember right.

The Cotswold and Malvern Express was the only through Cotswold line service during the daytime off-peak, which went to Great Malvern.

The Cheltenham Spa Express went to Cheltenham and again was the only through service off-peak. This was the extra off-peak run you mention, but it definitely carried the Cheltenham Spa Express name.

I'm not sure whether there were HSTs on either line before 1984, but I do remember a big thing being made of the introduction of these two daytime services.

I have station working books for Paddington from 1981 and 1985, from the BR Coaching Stock group on groups.io.
There appear to be no HSTs to Cheltenham in 1981, with two conventional hauled services in the evening peak at 1622 and 1727.

In 1982 (timetable on Timetable World) there was a 1743 to Cheltenham, fast to Didcot at 1816 - I'd imagine these timings meant it must have been an HST. So it looks like HSTs (well, one trip) to Cheltenham were introduced in 1982. No sign of any daytime trip of any description, though.

By 1985 the Cotswold and Malvern Express and Cheltenham Spa Express are both present, departing 1010 and 1040 respectively. The station working book mentions both names.
The evening peak HST is also still there at 1742, as well as a service operated by conventional hauled stock at 1625.

 

[hexagon789]

Both existed: both introduced in 1984 if I remember right.

The Cotswold and Malvern Express was the only through Cotswold line service during the daytime off-peak, which went to Great Malvern.

The Cheltenham Spa Express went to Cheltenham and again was the only through service off-peak. This was the extra off-peak run you mention, but it definitely carried the Cheltenham Spa Express name.

I'm not sure whether there were HSTs on either line before 1984, but I do remember a big thing being made of the introduction of these two daytime services.

I have station working books for Paddington from 1981 and 1985, from the BR Coaching Stock group on groups.io.
There appear to be no HSTs to Cheltenham in 1981, with two conventional hauled services in the evening peak at 1622 and 1727.

In 1982 (timetable on Timetable World) there was a 1743 to Cheltenham, fast to Didcot at 1816 - I'd imagine these timings meant it must have been an HST. So it looks like HSTs (well, one trip) to Cheltenham were introduced in 1982. No sign of any daytime trip of any description, though.

By 1985 the Cotswold and Malvern Express and Cheltenham Spa Express are both present, departing 1010 and 1040 respectively. The station working book mentions both names.
The evening peak HST is also still there at 1742, as well as a service operated by conventional hauled stock at 1625.

Cheltenham had two HSTs each way prior to the 1984 changes, rather like the Costwolds line through LHCS between Paddington & Hereford pattern it had a pair of morning peak Up HSTs and evening peak Down HSTs, 1984 added an off-peak return working to these.

 

[Condor7]

Seems a fairly pointless exercise that might excite enthusiasts but mean absolutely nothing to the travelling public

yes I agree with you there. It’s not that I don’t like the idea of named trains, in fact I really like the idea, but naming has to have a reason something that makes them special or different. I would prefer fewer named trains but the ones that are named mean something. As mentioned earlier in this thread one of the obvious ones between given to the faster train on that route, or providing some extra service like a restaurant car etc.

 

[Chris Hamilton]

Expect those to become permanent or an "extended trial"

A bit like the “temporary suspension” of most Glasgow Central services during Covid. 4 years later, still one train a day.

 

[evergreenadam]

SWR have published a summary of their timetable changes:

Services between Portsmouth and London Waterloo via Guildford, between Monday and Saturday, will be retimed in both directions, in conjunction with changes to Southern services between Brighton, Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central.

The changes will also allow more time for SWR customers to make connections between train and ferry services at Portsmouth Harbour.

Changes are as follows:

• Fast services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 15 minutes past the hour
• Stopping services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 33 minutes past the hour
• On Saturdays, fast services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. Stopping services from Portsmouth & Southsea will depart at 37 minutes past the hour

Additional changes to morning peak time trains

There will also be three minor changes to morning peak services between Portsmouth and London Waterloo, as follows:

• The 0624 from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Basingstoke will call additionally at Farnborough Main
• The 0642 from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford will call additionally at Woking
• The 1003 from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford will no longer call at Woking

Southampton Central to Portsmouth & Southsea changes

Services between Southampton Central and Portsmouth & Southsea via Netley will be significantly retimed, again, in conjunction with changes to Southern services.

• Services from Southampton Central will depart 16 minutes earlier than the current timetable, at 28 minutes past the hour
• Services from Portsmouth & Southsea will depart eight minutes later, at 46 minutes past the hour

Following these changes to services between Southampton and Portsmouth, an additional service has been created to run from Fareham to London Waterloo, departing at 0749.

Additional changes

In response to changing travel patterns, two services to London Waterloo via Epsom will be changed:

• The 0630 from Dorking to London Waterloo will depart eight minutes earlier than the current timetable, at 0622
• The 0558 from Guildford to London Waterloo will depart 30 minutes later, at 0628

Basingstoke to London Waterloo stopping services, which depart at 24 minutes past the hour, will call additionally at Clapham Junction, while services that depart at 54 minutes past the hour will no longer call at Clapham Junction.

The 0644 from Southampton Central to London Waterloo will call additionally at Weybridge.

The 0924 from London Waterloo to Alton will call additionally at Clapham Junction.

The 2335 from Guildford to Aldershot will depart 20 minutes later, at 2355, and will be extended to Farnham.

 

[nw1]

SWR have published a summary of their timetable changes:

Services between Portsmouth and London Waterloo via Guildford, between Monday and Saturday, will be retimed in both directions, in conjunction with changes to Southern services between Brighton, Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central.

The changes will also allow more time for SWR customers to make connections between train and ferry services at Portsmouth Harbour.

Changes are as follows:

• Fast services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 15 minutes past the hour
• Stopping services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 33 minutes past the hour
• On Saturdays, fast services from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo will depart at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. Stopping services from Portsmouth & Southsea will depart at 37 minutes past the hour

So does this mean that the Haslemere starter/terminator extends to PSS on a Saturday and there are two fast services on Sat? Is that the case now?

What are the changes in the other direction (it says they are retimed in both directions, but no mention of down services is given in the detail), I wonder?

• The 1003 from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford will no longer call at Woking

That's a bit of a random one, as it would presumably call at / pass through Woking around 1100, well after the peak. Wonder why that particular service skips Woking?
Perhaps they can only allocate a single 450 to it and it doesn't have capacity to pick up extra passengers at Woking?

Basingstoke to London Waterloo stopping services, which depart at 24 minutes past the hour, will call additionally at Clapham Junction, while services that depart at 54 minutes past the hour will no longer call at Clapham Junction.

Wonder why that's happening? Pathing reasons, I guess, as a result of the Portsmouth retimings above.

 

[jfollows]

See https://timetables.fabdigital.uk/nrt/jun2024/155 London to Haslemere, Havant and Portsmouth.pdf for Portsmouth Direct services, other timetables for other routes from the same place.

 

[nw1]

See https://timetables.fabdigital.uk/nrt/jun2024/155 London to Haslemere, Havant and Portsmouth.pdf for Portsmouth Direct services, other timetables for other routes from the same place.

Ah ok, thanks.

I can't see any obvious changes in the down direction but maybe there are small ones.

Looks like there is indeed a stopper all the way to PSS on a Saturday; I thought this terminated at Haslemere 6 days a week.

The timetable numbering has changed since my day, incidentally. Table 156 now the Solent line, Table 165 Beckenham Junction?

 

[jfollows]

Also there is no 10:03 from Portsmouth Harbour in the PDF I referred to nor in RTT for June.

1G32 10:15 Portsmouth-Waterloo avoids Woking by using the New Line via Effingham Junction (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L56956/2024-06-18/detailed).

Timetable numbering changed a couple of years ago when Brian Burkinshaw took over from National Rail. I think there’s some historic discussion here if you can find it. E.G. https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ail-timetable-what-do-you-think-of-it.219222/

 

[nw1]

Also there is no 10:03 from Portsmouth Harbour in the PDF I referred to nor in RTT for June.

1G32 10:15 Portsmouth-Waterloo avoids Woking by using the New Line via Effingham Junction (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L56956/2024-06-18/detailed).

Timetable numbering changed a couple of years ago when Brian took over from National Rail. I think there’s some historic discussion here if you can find it. E.G. https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ail-timetable-what-do-you-think-of-it.219222/

Ah ok.

Can see the 1015 diverts, and takes 8 extra minutes.

Presumably some kind of one-off clash at Woking Junction but wonder why, as it's well into the off-peak?

Freight working?

 

[swt_passenger]

Ah ok, thanks.

I can't see any obvious changes in the down direction but maybe there are small ones.

Looks like there is indeed a stopper all the way to PSS on a Saturday; I thought this terminated at Haslemere 6 days a week.

When the knock on changes to SWR were discussed back in February in the dedicated West Coastway thread I think it was only ever up Waterloo trains that were mentioned. I don’t remember noticing any significant down changes.

 

[TEW]

Ah ok, thanks.

I can't see any obvious changes in the down direction but maybe there are small ones.

Looks like there is indeed a stopper all the way to PSS on a Saturday; I thought this terminated at Haslemere 6 days a week.

The timetable numbering has changed since my day, incidentally. Table 156 now the Solent line, Table 165 Beckenham Junction?

The stopping service runs through to Portsmouth & Southsea on Saturdays at present. The path in the up direction moves by half hour from June.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Only a few changes for Chiltern in June:

Weekdays:

• Additional loco-hauled services on Tuesdays - Thursdays: 0721 Princes Risborough - Marylebone and 1737 return.
  
  To accommodate these, the following changes apply on Tuesdays - Thursdays:
  • 0637 Oxford - Marylebone skips Princes Risborough and Beaconsfield and is set down only at High Wycombe
  • 1737 Marylebone - Birmingham Snow Hill is retimed to depart at 1733
  • 1745 Marylebone - Oxford calls at Beaconsfield instead of High Wycombe
• 0722 High Wycombe - Marylebone retimed to 0721 and calls additionally at South Ruislip
• 0753 Gerrards Cross - Marylebone retimed to 0754 and no longer calls at South Ruislip
• 0820 Oxford - Marylebone calls additionally at Saunderton
• 1719 Marylebone - High Wycombe calls additionally at Northolt Park
• 1723 Marylebone - West Ruislip no longer calls at Northolt Park
• 1837 Marylebone - Birmingham Snow Hill gains a pick up only call at Princes Risborough all week
• 2214 Leamington Spa - Stratford-upon-Avon is retimed to 2226 to connect with later services

Saturdays:

• 0703 Amersham - Aylesbury is extended to Aylesbury Vale Parkway
• 2039 Leamington Spa - Stratford-upon-Avon is retimed to 2124 to connect with later services

Sundays:

No change

 

[pompeyfan]

it’s to retain route knowledge via Cobham for Fratton drivers. Basically one of the morning 1G services runs via Woking instead of Cobham, so to ensure sufficient trips 1P32 now runs via Cobham.