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Newsletter 312: 25/11/2024
Hello All,
Please find some updates below.
Message from GWR - Storm Bert
You will have seen that rail services across the GWR network are severely affected by the impacts of Storm Bert. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience and disruption to journeys.
As of this morning multiple lines are still closed due to flooding, fallen trees and other blockages, so our advice to customers is do not travel, with disruption expected to last until at least the end of today (Monday 25 Nov).
Network Rail and GWR teams are working hard across the network to inspect lines as the morning light improves, and will look to reopen lines as quickly as possible. Customers with tickets for yesterday (Sun 24) and today (Mon 25) will be able to use them on Tues 26 and Weds 27 at no extra charge, including on peak-time services, or claim a full refund.
The latest travel information is available at www.gwr.com/check and you can also find updates on our social media channels at www.x.com/gwrhelp and www.x.com/networkrailwest. If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to get in touch, and we will provide further updates as our teams’ work to reopen the railway continues.
Forthcoming Disruption & Engineering Works
All Sundays
GWR train crew are not contracted to work on Sundays. Instead, Sunday is a voluntary overtime day. Recently GWR have been struggling to fully staff the Sunday timetable. Therefore, always check before you travel.
Sunday 1st December
0806 Reading to Newbury will not run. A replacement bus will run from Reading at 0755 calling all stations to Newbury except for Newbury Racecourse. The 0834 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury. Customers should travel on the 0755 Reading to Newbury bus to connect. 0751 (departing 0747 London Paddington to Penzance will not call at Newbury or Pewsey. The 0851 (departing 0845) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th of December - 0532 Bedwyn to London Paddington will start from Newbury at 0550. Customers travelling from Bedwyn, Hungerford or Kintbury should travel on the next train service.
Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th December
There will be a full line closure between Newbury and Bedwyn. Bus replacements will operate. Please see the journey planners. Please also note, that Newbury station's car park will fill quickly on these days.
GWR has agreed that monthly or longer season ticket holders can use Swindon or Didcot. South West Trains have agreed to accept tickets from/to stations Basingstoke – Grateley, via Woking to London, or via Basingstoke towards Paddington. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay for your parking. Overton and Whitchurch have limited parking. Refunds can be claimed on season tickets for anyone not travelling subject to the usual terms and conditions (and where applicable, admin fees). Refunds are not available by way of compensation during these works, as GWR put mitigations in place (ticket acceptance from other stations, replacement buses etc).
A tip from another passenger is to use the Sainsbury's car park at Newbury. A day pass can be purchased at https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/newbury/s/hectors-way-newbury-rg14-5ab/
25th and 26th December
The entire GWR network will be closed.
27th to 29th December
All lines between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington will be closed. If you wish to travel to Paddington, catch an Elizabeth Line service at Reading then change onto the Underground at Ealing Broadway.
January 2025
Due to extensive work at Westbury station, all train services running via Westbury will be affected from Friday 27 December to Thursday 23 January 2025. GWR’s long-distance services between London Paddington/Reading and the West of England will call at Frome instead of Westbury. So, if you are heading west during this period, check your trains.
Station Usage Figures
Bill Wells has examined the recently released station usage figures for April 2023 to March 2024. The following table shows pre and post-pandemic figures:
2018/2019 2019/2020 2023/2024
Pewsey 221,712 269,352 187,072
Bedwyn 109,320 129,886 93,570
Hungerford 321,464 359,776 288,322
Kintbury 82,290 95,850 70,722
Newbury 1,665,096 1,819,730 1,380,182
These figures show that the rail industry is still suffering post-pandemic. However, the year-on-year change between 2022/23 and 2023/24 is more positive:
Pewsey 3.30%
Bedwyn 14.80%
Hungerford 25.5%
Kintbury 8.50%
Newbury 14.30%
This will help the case to re-establish our off-peak direct services to Paddington.
Tips
We always welcome tips you pick up. Here are two recent ones we have received:
Seat Reservation Guarantee Claim
If you cannot occupy your reserved seat you may be able to claim up to a 50% refund. Please see:
https://www.railhelp.co.uk/gwr/make-a-complaint/on-train/seating-capacity
Advanced Tickets for Regular Commuting
If you travel regularly (e.g., for work) and know up to three months in advance the services you will use, then look at the advanced purchase options. A single peak ticket, from Bedwyn to Paddington, can be purchased for as little as £17.50. However, you do need to plan ahead. The closer you book to the date of travel, the higher the price will be.
Best wishes
Steve Smith
Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group