Times of commuter trains change to boost punctuality (From Witney Gazette)
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Times of Cotswold Line commuter trains change to boost punctuality
4:40pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News By William Crossley
A First Great Western Class 180 Adelante train at Charlbury station
CHANGES are being made to train timetables next month to improve reliability of a key Oxfordshire commuter train.
From Monday, March 4, the 7.15am train from Charlbury to London Paddington will depart three minutes earlier, at 7.12am, and will also leave Hanborough three minutes earlier, at 7.21am, arriving at Oxford at 7.30am. Its departure time from Oxford, at 7.34am, is unchanged.
This service has been cancelled between Charlbury and Oxford several times in recent weeks after delays to other services prevented the empty train reaching Charlbury and it is often delayed at Oxford, with commuters complaining not enough time is allowed for them to board.
In addition, there are changes to the 5.48am train from London to Worcester to ensure it reaches Charlbury on time, clearing the single line to Oxford for the 7.12am departure.
The stop by this train at Radley at 6.48am will be withdrawn and replaced by a service at 6.35am. The Worcester-bound train will then leave Oxford three minutes earlier, at 6.53am, and Hanborough at 7.02am, reaching Charlbury at 7.10am.
Operator First Great Western’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, said: “Due to a number of challenges, performance on our services in this area has not been up to the standard we expect to deliver for our customers.”
Revised timetables are available online at firstgreatwestern.co.uk and at staffed stations.
Comments(5)
bobsmith61
says...
8:59am Mon 25 Feb 13
King Joke
says...
11:10am Mon 25 Feb 13
I hope Trainpassenger and Bob aren't being sarcastic. If it's physically impossible to run a timetable as written, because for instance not enough time was allowed for passengers to board at Oxford, then it's only common sense to adopt a more workable schedule.
bobsmith61
says...
12:14pm Mon 25 Feb 13
King Joke
says...
12:39pm Mon 25 Feb 13
As the article states, often the train had to be cancelled at Charlbury, presumably because the train ran straight through from Worcester to make up time. Reducing cancellations sounds like a passenger benefit to me.
Additionally running late into Paddington means the next service this unit forms will also be late, or will not be cleaned internally, inconveniencing more people.
It's a good idea all round to devise a robust operation that can cope with real conditions.
train passenger says...
8:36pm Sat 23 Feb 13