Project Wareham

I wonder what this might do for Morebus' Route 30 summer service? Seemingly no love lost between these two bus companies.

 

You missed it then as that saying seems to be the most used one on the railway at the moment. That and, "See It, Say It, Sorted"!

 

Seaside buses seem good business, so First are after some of GoAhead/More's passengers heading to Swanage?

Maybe First buses colleagues in First/MTR owned SWR knew about this bus route, and perhaps why SWR have not been promoting the SR Wareham to Swanage trial DMU service as much as expected?
However SWR/NR seem to be making a bit of progress with Wareham ticket machine and displays now showing Swanage?. But the SWR ticket website still has not been updated.

 

The SWR meet the manager event at Basingstoke seems to be still on today, and so far has not been cancelled!.
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/contact-and-help/meet-the-manager

 

Yes, I’ll be sure to circle back, swing by and reach out.

See it? Say it? Sod it!

 

I can't repeat the most used sayings in most of my 'boxes...

 

I am a bit confused by what the RTT data showed yesterday. Went to see my Dad via the station at 14:00 as I wanted to chat with a couple of the WCRC guys I know. There was no DMU in the platform and the indicator board said the 14:23 was delayed 84 minutes and would leave at 15:47 and the 16:23 was showing an hour or so late as well. As I was not travelling so never bothered to check on the problem, if any, but possibly confusing for passengers. Yet when I checked in RTT later everything showing running to time all day.
I have noticed that the 10:53 down (connection to first Swanage service) terminated at Wareham 84 late and the 12:33 was cancelled (started at Farnborough terminated at Bournemouth) and the 13:01 which started at Bournemouth was 36 late. I believe all due to a PHBT, so the first two services had no SWR connection which made the load I saw on the first train impressive really although less than normal.
Today (again from RTT) looks like the DMU may have an issue. One of those weeks it seems.

 

Not sure it ran at all today

 

Nothing on Twitter but Facebook states that there were problems earlier in the day (unavoidable service disruptions and cancellations) but the Wareham service had resumed. No time given but the post states 8 hours ago so presumably 1300 - 1400.

 

The 13:05 from Wareham started at Corfe and worked the rest of the day. Although as the connection, the 1255 down did not arrive until 1324 made little difference.

 

I was considering a visit (by train all the way) while the Wareham service is operating, but it's not attractive if both that and the main line services are unreliable.

 

The Wareham DMU has only had two issues during the trial, one day when it was out and yesterday morning. However the SWR part is often an issue it seems, and of course today is an RMT strike day so no SWR trains to Wareham at all. Although in fairness to SWR these are normally infrastructure or PHBT issues.

 

I have sent you a PM. Don

 

Thanks Don; you should have a reply. Hope it helps.

 

I wonder with all the "issues" the big railway seem to have how much valuable data is being gathered by the SR.
Since the 18th, which is 8 service days, there have been 3 RMT strike days with no SWR service at all.
One day where the connections to the first two down services were missed.
One day where the DMU had a fault for the first two down services, but SWR were running late and would have missed the connection on the second down service if it had run anyway.
One day where connection to second down service was missed and two services previous to the third down service were terminated at Southampton and the last service was missed by both the connection and the preceding train as well.
Left just two days where it all ran to plan.

Not sure the SR is getting a "fair shake" from the trial.

 

To be fair I have been on the DMU for 15/07 and today (29/07) with no SWR services on both Saturdays and the first arrival at Wareham was greeted with 10 to 20 passengers waiting. This isn't going to "break the bank" but is quite heartening. At one point today we were fairly well loaded (more than 20 people in each vehicle) from Wareham to Norden, so I am not sure. I cannot say for the days the unit wasn't available, but we live in hope that something good may come from the exercise.

 

The experience of the SWR round the house to Corfe Castle a few years back (2018) clearly demonstrated that as regards the Wareham service and SWR "Murphy's Law" applies.

Today is of course the first Saturday of Swanage Carnival week and town was very busy today. If the Wareham service isnt carrying good loads this week then it is extremely unlikely it ever will. That may seem harsh but there has to come a point when reality is accepted.

 

No SWR trains yesterday due to RMT strike (extra parking spaces at Wareham station?), next DMU service from Wareham, when there is the Carnival and school holidays and £1 tickets for children (applies to the Wareham service, but not clearly on the publicity poster)
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/kids-for-a-quid , are: Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sat.

So can someone check DMU loadings on these days?.

 

I am sure the railways commercial department will be doing exactly that.

 

Aslef overtime ban all week, so may or may not impact on SWR services. Even the DCE was delayed by a signal issue at Poole on the outbound leg last Wednesday, more creaking infrastructure on the Weymouth line.