New South Western franchise: Awarded to First/MTR

[Bletchleyite]

O2 are good value and seem to have good customer services - but it is a shame their network isn't up to scratch compared with EE.

I have my phone on O2 and iPad on EE, which means with a bit of tethering I can usually get a usable signal in most places.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Apart from any usual extra summer services during the summer timetable will we see any significant timetable changes or will they wait until the autumn at the earliest to make significant changes to the timetables (eg extending the Pompey-Sotton trains to Weymouth)?

 

[theironroad]

Apart from any usual extra summer services during the summer timetable will we see any significant timetable changes or will they wait until the autumn at the earliest to make significant changes to the timetables (eg extending the Pompey-Sotton trains to Weymouth)?

My understanding is that there will be no changes until the December 2018 timetable change, so a year + after first MTR take over.

Also, my understanding is that the current stopping service from Pompey to soton is not being extended to Weymouth. The proposals are for a new Pompey to Weymouth service in addition to the current stopper. I'd imagine it would run fast from Fareham or swanwick to Southampton then not really sure what stopping pattern to Weymouth, but as there service is being touted as to 'improve regional connectivity' I'd imagine it would be limited stops to Bournemouth at least. Again, not sure about west of Poole and whether it is intended to run 3tph west of poole.

 

[northwichcat]

O2 are good value and seem to have good customer services - but it is a shame their network isn't up to scratch compared with EE.

I have my phone on O2 and iPad on EE, which means with a bit of tethering I can usually get a usable signal in most places.

For a lot of people a contract with two different operators wouldn't be something they could justify doing. Also only the more expensive tablets have sim slots and I don't think a sim slot is very common on laptops so for a lot of people tethering to their phone is the only option if there's no wifi available.

 

[swt_passenger]

I was thinking Waterloo might be a national rail station but I wasn't sure. Are you saying both Clapham Junction and Guildford will revert to being run by National Rail?

NR is Network Rail in this context. It isn't a 'reversion', as they have not previously been managed by Network Rail.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For a lot of people a contract with two different operators wouldn't be something they could justify doing. Also only the more expensive tablets have sim slots and I don't think a sim slot is very common on laptops so for a lot of people tethering to their phone is the only option if there's no wifi available.

The iPad is on PAYG (Apple SIM) - I only put data on it when I'm likely to need it. Much of the time it is used at home on wifi.

 

[swt_passenger]

Apart from any usual extra summer services during the summer timetable will we see any significant timetable changes or will they wait until the autumn at the earliest to make significant changes to the timetables (eg extending the Pompey-Sotton trains to Weymouth)?

I heard somwhere else the extra summer services (if you mean those Weymouth DMUs etc) are not running because of the Waterloo blockade.

All timetable alterations start from Dec 2018, as has already been stated, it is clear in the various announcements, and that is exactly as called for in the ITT.

 

[HH]

The iPad is on PAYG (Apple SIM) - I only put data on it when I'm likely to need it. Much of the time it is used at home on wifi.

Still, it's what, £100? more for a SIM-enabled iPad, which most people would still find hard to justify for occasional use, especially since most of the time they could have connected via their phone...

 

[HH]

NR is Network Rail in this context. It isn't a 'reversion', as they have not previously been managed by Network Rail.

NR are also thinking of trialling a different model than their normal managed stations, where they effectively only run the property side (which is the bit they actually want anyway), leaving all operations with the TOC. So these ought to get the First/MTR improved WiFi I would have thought. Whether Waterloo gets it is less certain, as NR would have to agree and they might see it as another area where they can milk the passenger...

 

[Clip]

For a lot of people a contract with two different operators wouldn't be something they could justify doing. Also only the more expensive tablets have sim slots and I don't think a sim slot is very common on laptops so for a lot of people tethering to their phone is the only option if there's no wifi available.

Tethering can be a right pain sometimes so I just use a dongle. Much more simple and can keep my phone free

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Still, it's what, £100? more for a SIM-enabled iPad, which most people would still find hard to justify for occasional use, especially since most of the time they could have connected via their phone...

Paying a premium for 4G/LTE connectivity is well worth it. Trust me. Because you can also use your tablet as a second phone.

 

[HH]

Paying a premium for 4G/LTE connectivity is well worth it. Trust me. Because you can also use your tablet as a second phone.

I already have 2 phones; Lord save me from a third!

 

[HarleyDavidson]

I already have 2 phones; Lord save me from a third!

You can ring & talk to yourself.

I regularly do, as I need the expert advice on how to deal with the new & improved idiots we have.

Remember. Nothing is idiot proof, as you can guarantee that someone will come up with a new & improved idiot. :roll:

 

[sarahj]

My understanding is that there will be no changes until the December 2018 timetable change, so a year + after first MTR take over.

Also, my understanding is that the current stopping service from Pompey to soton is not being extended to Weymouth. The proposals are for a new Pompey to Weymouth service in addition to the current stopper. I'd imagine it would run fast from Fareham or swanwick to Southampton then not really sure what stopping pattern to Weymouth, but as there service is being touted as to 'improve regional connectivity' I'd imagine it would be limited stops to Bournemouth at least. Again, not sure about west of Poole and whether it is intended to run 3tph west of poole.

Perhaps these extra trains will compnesate punters who get turfed out of the Southern services that keep terminating short at Fareham. (2 hour odd journey times, 10 mins or less turn-arounds at Southampton and Brighton, around 15 at Vic, you do the math on why this keeps happening)

 

[infobleep]

O2 are good value and seem to have good customer services - but it is a shame their network isn't up to scratch compared with EE.

I have my phone on O2 and iPad on EE, which means with a bit of tethering I can usually get a usable signal in most places.

I agree about the customer service and value, and the Ow priority ticketing and lounge at the O2 venues, including the O2 Arena. It's why I'm still with them.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Perhaps these extra trains will compnesate punters who get turfed out of the Southern services that keep terminating short at Fareham. (2 hour odd journey times, 10 mins or less turn-arounds at Southampton and Brighton, around 15 at Vic, you do the math on why this keeps happening)

The simple solution would be to bin them and send them to Portsmouth instead. the problem is capacity in the low level & at the harbour.

Ideally what's required is a bay platform at Havant, but that's a much too sensible idea. :roll:

 

[sarahj]

The simple solution would be to bin them and send them to Portsmouth instead. the problem is capacity in the low level & at the harbour.

Ideally what's required is a bay platform at Havant, but that's a much too sensible idea. :roll:

No, just the bay at Fareham to be facing the other way, so you don't have to do this when terminating.

Shunt down the line towards Swanick.
Back into the bay where you wait for a while,
then shunt towards the tunnel,
then into platform 3 and back to Southernland.

 

[pompeyfan]

No, just the bay at Fareham to be facing the other way, so you don't have to do this when terminating.

Shunt down the line towards Swanick.
Back into the bay where you wait for a while,
then shunt towards the tunnel,
then into platform 3 and back to Southernland.

I've always thought that making P2 at Fareham a through platform was a reasonable suggestion. However I've got a suspicion it's something to do with the bridge not being wide enough / strong enough.

 

[swt_passenger]

I've always thought that making P2 at Fareham was a reasonable suggestion. It's something to do with the bridge not being wide enough / strong enough.

I guess you missed the word 'through' out somewhere?

One of the bridge decks would need replacing with a wider one, but the piers underneath are already full width across the gap so it wouldn't be much of a technical issue. Someone told me many years ago that when the bridge was put in as part of the road widening they did allow for the possibility of a third track.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

No, just the bay at Fareham to be facing the other way, so you don't have to do this when terminating.

Shunt down the line towards Swanick.
Back into the bay where you wait for a while,
then shunt towards the tunnel,
then into platform 3 and back to Southernland.

I do know the moves and routines for Fareham. Thank you.

 

[infobleep]

NR are also thinking of trialling a different model than their normal managed stations, where they effectively only run the property side (which is the bit they actually want anyway), leaving all operations with the TOC. So these ought to get the First/MTR improved WiFi I would have thought. Whether Waterloo gets it is less certain, as NR would have to agree and they might see it as another area where they can milk the passenger...

If the government are serious about providing WiFi, I'd hope they might lean on Network Rail and force them to provide WiFi. I mean it is rather large with lots of passengers. That clued be incentive enough.

Anyway passengers could always use the free Boots WiFi if they were trying to charge. That's what I'd do.

 

[infobleep]

The simple solution would be to bin them and send them to Portsmouth instead. the problem is capacity in the low level & at the harbour.

Ideally what's required is a bay platform at Havant, but that's a much too sensible idea. :roll:

They use to have more platforms at both Portsmouth stations but they got rid of them years ago. Whether they could return I don't know. Probably not considered worth it.

 

[infobleep]

No, just the bay at Fareham to be facing the other way, so you don't have to do this when terminating.

Shunt down the line towards Swanick.
Back into the bay where you wait for a while,
then shunt towards the tunnel,
then into platform 3 and back to Southernland.

How long do such moves take?

 

[Monty]

They use to have more platforms at both Portsmouth stations but they got rid of them years ago. Whether they could return I don't know. Probably not considered worth it.

Highly unlikely unfortunately, part of the area where the old platforms used to be is now a car park and the other part is a Matalan. Even getting one additional bay platform will require at least a partial demolition of that store.

 

[yorksrob]

They use to have more platforms at both Portsmouth stations but they got rid of them years ago. Whether they could return I don't know. Probably not considered worth it.

I believe there are structural issues with the pier underneath the disused one at harbour.

 

[JaJaWa]

The iPad is on PAYG (Apple SIM) - I only put data on it when I'm likely to need it. Much of the time it is used at home on wifi.

Just an FYI, Three x Amazon were offering 24GB valid for 24 months for £28 total recently.

 

[swt_passenger]

How long do such moves take?

In broad terms it will be about 5 mins into the bay, about 10 mins from the bay to P3. But even if running half an hour late they'd still have another half hour to do it in, the aim is to just to get back on time for the up direction, missing out the Southampton leg gives about an hour to play with.

 

[pompeyfan]

I understand why they want it to be R/T on the return journey, but it's not much of a service for the passengers. From observation it's not a rare occurrence to terminate at Fareham. Short of throwing in extra units into the circuit or having the ex brighton form the xx:12 Victoria etc and v/v there's no easy soloution. Just a thought semi related, but with the extra booked services over the Netley road, will it result in extra congestion if the Weymouths and Poole stoppers get diverted for what ever reason? Or can the 2 aspect signalling just about handle 6/7 (worst case 8) trains an hour in each direction?

 

[swt_passenger]

I think part of the reasoning is that the 2 Southern services are only about quarter of an hour apart at Fareham in the westbound direction, so if the train from Vic is 15 min late it is also delaying the train from Brighton, and thence delaying the SWT stopper. So if they cut the Victoria short passengers should be able to have a short wait for the following SN service.

AFAICS the current fast trains (SN/GWR/SN) run as a flight of three from Fareham towards Southampton, so the obvious place to put an extra SWT fast service is ahead of the first SN service by the 6 min headway? But that means it probably would leave Portsmouth just before the next SWT Waterloo via Eastleigh service. That then asks the question, where should it call between Portsmouth and Fareham?

The other point about diverted Weymouth or Poole services, is what priority does that spare path take in the overall scheme of things. Perhaps it can just be fitted in as well as you suggest, but it would have to arrive into the mix at Cosham at just the right time...

 

[Suraggu]

TOC to be known as London & South Western Railway by all reports.