Latest news with #timetable
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Train services axed because of dry soil
A train timetable has been cut because soil along the route is too dry. South Western Railway (SWR) said it has 'no alternative' but to run reduced services from London Waterloo to Devon. This is because a lack of moisture in clay soil embankments has disturbed track levels, preventing trains from safely travelling at full speed. This year saw the second driest spring on record for England, while summer rainfall has been just below average across the UK. SWR said the dry conditions have removed moisture from embankments between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon, causing them to shrink. This has disturbed the track sitting above these embankments, so the speed limit for trains on a 12-mile stretch has been cut from 85mph to 40mph. From August 11 until further notice there will only be one train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids, Devon – reduced from one per hour – which will take approximately one hour longer than usual. One train per hour will operate from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction, Somerset, with journey times extended by around 25 minutes. SWR warned that dry conditions are 'set to continue', so further speed restrictions 'may be required'. Attempting to stabilise the track now would 'only provide a short-lived fix as the soil continues to move', it added. SWR chief operating officer Stuart Meek said: 'We are very sorry for the disruption that customers will experience due to this change, as we know just how important the West of England line is to the communities it serves. 'We have not taken this decision lightly and we recognise the impact that it will have on customers west of Yeovil in particular. 'However, to continue operating a safe and reliable service, we have no alternative but to introduce a reduced timetable. 'We always aim to minimise disruption and so, together with our colleagues at Network Rail, we will carefully monitor train performance and work hard to give customers a service that they can rely on. 'We encourage customers to plan ahead via our website and allow extra time to complete their journeys.' Network Rail operations director Tom Desmond said: 'The safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we must impose these speed restrictions between Gillingham and Axminster. 'We want to give customers the longest notice possible of timetable changes, and following a comprehensive analysis of ground and track conditions, we know that we must make changes in the next two weeks. 'We have worked closely with our colleagues at South Western Railway to understand the impact of the speed restrictions, and we will regularly review conditions in order to restore the normal timetable as soon as possible.' The amended timetable will restore services to Crewkerne, Somerset which has been served by buses since July 28 because of dried out embankments. SWR became the first operator brought into public ownership by the Labour Government in May.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Train services axed because of dry soil
A train timetable has been cut because soil along the route is too dry. South Western Railway (SWR) said it has 'no alternative' but to run reduced services from London Waterloo to Devon. This is because a lack of moisture in clay soil embankments has disturbed track levels, preventing trains from safely travelling at full speed. This year saw the second driest spring on record for England, while summer rainfall has been just below average across the UK. SWR said the dry conditions have removed moisture from embankments between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon, causing them to shrink. This has disturbed the track sitting above these embankments, so the speed limit for trains on a 12-mile stretch has been cut from 85mph to 40mph. From August 11 until further notice there will only be one train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids, Devon – reduced from one per hour – which will take approximately one hour longer than usual. One train per hour will operate from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction, Somerset, with journey times extended by around 25 minutes. SWR warned that dry conditions are 'set to continue', so further speed restrictions 'may be required'. Attempting to stabilise the track now would 'only provide a short-lived fix as the soil continues to move', it added. SWR chief operating officer Stuart Meek said: 'We are very sorry for the disruption that customers will experience due to this change, as we know just how important the West of England line is to the communities it serves. 'We have not taken this decision lightly and we recognise the impact that it will have on customers west of Yeovil in particular. 'However, to continue operating a safe and reliable service, we have no alternative but to introduce a reduced timetable. 'We always aim to minimise disruption and so, together with our colleagues at Network Rail, we will carefully monitor train performance and work hard to give customers a service that they can rely on. 'We encourage customers to plan ahead via our website and allow extra time to complete their journeys.' Network Rail operations director Tom Desmond said: 'The safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we must impose these speed restrictions between Gillingham and Axminster. 'We want to give customers the longest notice possible of timetable changes, and following a comprehensive analysis of ground and track conditions, we know that we must make changes in the next two weeks. 'We have worked closely with our colleagues at South Western Railway to understand the impact of the speed restrictions, and we will regularly review conditions in order to restore the normal timetable as soon as possible.' The amended timetable will restore services to Crewkerne, Somerset which has been served by buses since July 28 because of dried out embankments. SWR became the first operator brought into public ownership by the Labour Government in May.
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Derby: Two Sunday bus services axed over passenger numbers
Two Sunday bus services are being axed at the end of August as "revisions" are made to timetables in has announced the changes, which will take effect from 30 includes ending the 4 Derby to Alvaston and the X38 Derby to Burton-on-Trent journeys on a changes are "due to low customer use", said Arriva. From Monday to Saturday, both will run up to every half an hour "to reflect customer demand", but the 4 will no longer serve Derby Commercial Park due to low passenger for the 5/5A to Littleover, 6/7 to Sunnyhill and Sinfin, 8 to Mackworth, 20/21 to Chaddesden and Spondon, and 26 to Oakwood will be revised from 30 Arriva spokesperson said: "It is important to make sure your bus services are kept up to date, and we will be making some revisions."
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cuts to South Western Railway summer services criticised by MP
An MP has criticised a rail operator for timetable changes that will reduce services over the Western Railway (SWR) has introduced changes for the summer holidays that will mean fewer services on some lines, including only one train an hour between 0700 BST and 09:00 on the Chertsey to Weybridge Ben Spencer, Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, said commuters trying to get to work were being treated with "contempt".SWR said the reduction to "quieter, off-peak" trains between July 28 and August 29 affected fewer than 5% of its daily services. 'Treated with contempt' Spencer, who has previously raised concerns about transport networks in the area, told BBC Radio Surrey he was also unhappy about a lack of consultation."Only in SWR's mind could between 07:00 and 09:00 be 'off-peak' services," he said."This is a really important route for people to get in to work, to get across my constituency, and to commute into London. People depend on this. It's already the worst performing line on SWR. "These changes have been brought in without consultation. Do people not need to go to work over the summer? Do we not need, you know, reasonable rail services over the summer? "Quite simply, I think SWR are treating commuters, and my constituents, with contempt."He added that, because SWR was nationalised in May, the government now had "direct control and accountability" for the service. A spokesperson for SWR said the reduction accounted for less than 5% of its 1,600 daily services."Over the summer holiday period, customer numbers drop by 12-17% and the services we have removed are those with the lowest forecast demand," they spokesperson added the reduction would help complete a driver training programme for new trains being introduced to the service.A Department for Transport spokesperson said "the issues causing these reductions were inherited from previous private sector ownership under the flawed franchise system" and that the new managing director of Great British Railways "will be setting out a plan to drive up performance".
UAE Moments
29-07-2025
- General
- UAE Moments
Your Daily Career Tarot Card Reading for July 29th, 2025
29.7.25 The Hanged Man: Drawing this card can indicate a period when nothing much seems to be happening. It might even appear that your career progress or job search has come to a halt, leaving you frazzled or bored. Try not to fight this, as the first stirrings of positive change will show up in their own time. You can't push the cosmos to accommodate your needs. Instead, you'll have to work on its timetable.
