Reading to Swindon Rail Replacement Buses

[ValleyLines142]

Morning,

I've got an Advance ticket from Paddington to Gloucester, but it's only given a five minute gap at Swindon from the arrival time on the rail replacement bus from Reading to the departure for Gloucester. I'm a little worried the connection won't be held, as is often with rail replacement buses. Just wondered whether anyone has had any experience of using them this weekend? I've asked GWR if I can take the service before from Paddington (12 minutes earlier) to Reading to ensure I have sufficient time to change.

Also, the replacement bus between Swindon and Reading, is it mainly coaches or standard single/double decker buses. Who is operating them?

Thanks.

 

[Class800]

GWR replacements tend to be coaches for routes like this. There may be multiple operators - usually local coach companies. You did not provide a full itinerary, but I looked at for example the 0800 bus Reading to Swindon - it takes 1 hour 5 minutes. This is a little generous, as the journey is 50 minutes on Google maps, but coaches have a 60 speed limit. It may be tight, but I'd say you'd probably make it. Bus times can be approximately - they go when dispatched. My suggestion is try to get off the train quickly - positioning near station exit or bridge if you know it well enough to do that, so you get on the first coach. I would not suggest they would amend your itinerary in advance. It is a valid itinerary. Trains are not usually held for buses, but the other way round sometimes happens. If the connection is missed, you would be entitled to the next service and delay repay claim

 

[ValleyLines142]

GWR replacements tend to be coaches for routes like this. There may be multiple operators - usually local coach companies. You did not provide a full itinerary, but I looked at for example the 0800 bus Reading to Swindon - it takes 1 hour 5 minutes. This is a little generous, as the journey is 50 minutes on Google maps, but coaches have a 60 speed limit. It may be tight, but I'd say you'd probably make it. Bus times can be approximately - they go when dispatched. My suggestion is try to get off the train quickly - positioning near station exit or bridge if you know it well enough to do that, so you get on the first coach. I would not suggest they would amend your itinerary in advance. It is a valid itinerary. Trains are not usually held for buses, but the other way round sometimes happens. If the connection is missed, you would be entitled to the next service and delay repay claim.

The thing is I don't particularly want to have to wait at Swindon for an hour because of an unrealistic connection; the journey time is already increased as a result of engineering works so I really don't want it to take longer than it needs to, it also means getting home rather late. At the moment I've got 12 minutes at Reading and just 5 minutes at Swindon (the latter is what I'm really worried about), I just hope that there aren't any delays en route. I imagine the bus to Swindon will be in the bus station, and whilst it's only a quick sprint across the road it's not ideal by any means.

 

[Class800]

Location for rail replacement from national rail website:

Swindon: Drop off Station Approach / Pick Up Front of the station (Small Ops both drop/pick up on Station Approach)
Reading: At the North side of the station

With an advance ticket, your itinerary is as printed unless there is disruption to the printed itinerary. It may be different if you bought the ticket before the engineering was announced.

 

[robbeech]

For these types of replacements the bus would almost certainly wait, but the train might not.

 

[Mag_seven]

Also, the replacement bus between Swindon and Reading, is it mainly coaches or standard single/double decker buses. Who is operating them?

Thanks.

Mainly coaches in my experience - "Pewsey Vale" appear to be one of the operators.

 

[SwindonBert]

The Swindon stop is (usually) just outside the main entrance, it will be a coach along the M4, so, most of the journey you'll be making good time.
When they've run busses before arriving early is not unusual

If it's on time & not platform 2, unless you have mobility issues 5 mins should be no problem

Best option is go through the barriers & take the barriers and take the 2nd set of steps on the right (1st set is to platform 4). You'll be on platform 3, if the train departs from platform 1, just go through the waiting room on your left.
It's quicker & most people will go up the main stairs on the left

 

[73128]

Mainly coaches in my experience - "Pewsey Vale" appear to be one of the operators.

all coaches but several different operators provided one or more vehicles these last four weeks. At Reading North vehicles are normally dispatched by RR staff.