Hogrider No 98 : August 2004

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAIL USERS' GROUP NEWSLETTER

INDEX

DECEMBER TIMETABLE: FGW'S WELL PUBLICISED / SWT'S SWATHED IN SECRECY

SWT STARTS RUNNING TO BRISTOL: NO CREW FOR ROMSEY-TOTTON SERVICE

PASSENGER FURY BOILS OVER AT SWT'S RUTHLESSNESS

DISABLED LADY LET DOWN ON 88TH BIRTHDAY TRIP

THE MISERY OF AUGUST 3: SAME OLD LACK OF STRATEGY

A SUMMER SATURDAY SARDINE TRIP ON SWT

BAD START TO COWES WEEK

POOR SERVICE AT SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL / SHUTTING DOORS IN FACES

SWT'S PASSENGERS' PANEL HEAVILY CRITICISED

WINCHESTER-ROMSEY BUS LINK DOWNGRADED

THE RAIL REVIEW: SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS

RAIL PASSENGERS' COMMITTEE MEETING: BRIGHTON 20/7/2004

SHRUG RESPONSE TO SWT'S CONSULTATION ON CYCLE CARRIAGE POLICY

PORTCHESTER RETREAT

MODERATING THE LANGUAGE OF FAILURE 5

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RPC NETWORK

NOTICE BOARD

RAIL PERFORMANCE REPORTS

HOGRIDER PRESS RESEARCH

SRA objective: "To secure accountable, viable operators who are passionate about delivering for their customers".

So full marks to Christopher Garnett, Chairman of GNER, who was noted checking for problems and promoting team spirit with the on-board train team between Doncaster and York on the 13.30 Kings Cross-Edinburgh on 27 July. Readers may remember that GNER was a bidder for the SWT franchise. However, the franchise was won by Stagecoach whose Chairman believes that "--ethics are not irrelevant but some are incompatible with what we have to do because capitalism is based on greed".

Finally, a bizarre quote from "Rail" No 491: "The Government must halt the slide of the UK railway network into the hands of self-interested organisations which will never put the interests of the public user before their own, says SRA Chairman Richard Bowker." Is this a (professionally speaking) 'death-bed' conversion against ethically-limited operators who justify their stance on the basis that capitalism is based on greed?

DECEMBER TIMETABLE: FGW'S WELL PUBLICISED / SWT'S SWATHED IN SECRECY

12 December - the darkest day of the commuting year for those who retain memories of the Clapham crash - will see considerable recasting of timetables. This will affect huge numbers of regular rail users. First Great Western passengers have for months known how their services are to change, with the operator publishing a fair amount of detail.

SWT passengers, who are more numerous, have been kept in the dark. One passenger who tried to find out was told that the new timetables were commercially confidential. What does that mean? We have heard lots in recent months about train operators coming together to discuss their timetable proposals. We know that South Central will restore their Southampton-Victoria direct services from December. Presumably, therefore, "commercially confidential" is a euphemism for keeping passengers blindfolded for as long as possible.

Significantly, one RPC member has referred to some commuters getting less choice and longer journey times. Hang on - the new SWT franchise was supposed to focus on capacity and performance. Performance remains awful. In some recent 4-weekly performance periods, SWT failed to meet any one of its four basic targets (mainline punctuality; mainline reliability; suburban punctuality; suburban reliability).

So the outlook for these SWT commuters looks bleak: a poorer service from December and a fare increase above RPI in January. This is likely to be more than enough to take the gloss off the introduction of the new trains which are costing passengers and other taxpayers hundreds of millions through a hugely generous franchise settlement, and massive infrastructure upgrade.

SWT STARTS RUNNING TO BRISTOL: NO CREW FOR ROMSEY-TOTTON SERVICE

In the Group's submission to the Government's "Big Conversation" we wondered where SWT would get additional resources for the Salisbury-Bristol services which the "Stagecoach Rescue Authority" has allowed them to operate over Wessex Trains' territory since May. It's now beginning to look clearer.

This is, of course, a question of the SWT diesel train fleet and its crews. More Exeter line trains have been running in short formation since the Bristol services started, with one train advertised as comprising only two coaches between Waterloo and Plymouth! But there are two main losers. The first is the SWT service between Reading and Portsmouth or Brighton. Our daily reports show that these trains are often axed between Reading and Basingstoke, which normally indicates that no diesel train is available and the service can operate only over the electrified route south of Basingstoke. The other loser is the new service between Romsey and Totton. Chandlers Ford passengers, who were delighted to get a new station, repeatedly complain of the unreliability of this service. So let's take a look at some examples of what is happening…

An original SWT website entry: "POWER IN THE PARK FESTIVAL - SOUTHAMPTON AREA - This event is expected to draw large crowds and additional train services will operate between Southampton Central and Portsmouth. Passengers are advised that train services in the Southampton area are expected to be very busy, especially after the concert when boarding controls may be applied at Southampton Central."

SWT website entry on the day of the festival (13 June): "Romsey to Totton - Good afternoon. Starting from 15.55 Totton to Romsey, all services to and from Romsey will be cancelled until end of service. Road transport will be in operation to convey passengers between Eastleigh and Romsey and vice versa. xx.50 London to Bournemouth / xx.55 Bournemouth to London Waterloo services will call additionally at Redbridge, Millbrook, St Denys and Swaythling and vice versa until end of service."

On Saturday 26 June, the SWT website progressively showed trains on the Totton-Romsey service as cancelled, without explanation. The National Rail website confirmed that the service was suspended all day due to SWT having no train crews to run it.

On Sunday 11 July, the last 3 services from Totton to Romsey and the return workings were all withdrawn due no crew.

On Sunday 18 July, the service was halved, with alternate hourly trains omitted from 20.00 due to no crew. On Monday 19 July, there was a repeat occurrence from 21.00.

On Monday 9 August the peak-time 17.24 Totton-Romsey and 18.14 Romsey-Totton were axed between Southampton Central and Romsey due to no crew.

PASSENGER FURY BOILS OVER AT SWT'S RUTHLESSNESS

The morning of Monday 2 August started with signalling problems at Bournemouth. The 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo was 45 minutes late; SWT turned its back on severely delayed passengers at Pokesdown, Christchurch, New Milton and Totton by deliberately omitting their stops for operational convenience. The following service, the 05.42 from Poole, was 40 minutes late. When the train left Southampton, the lady guard broadcast an announcement pleading with passengers not to swear at her when she came through the train because she had had her share of being sworn at for the day. The result of deliberately omitting stops was that passengers who had intended to get to work on the 05.34 from Bournemouth were about an hour late.

Totton passengers wanting to catch the 06.28 Poole-Waterloo had a choice; they could catch it at Totton at 07.16, or they could catch the local service at 07.09 and change at Southampton Central. The 07.09 was cancelled and the Totton stop of the 06.28 was axed for operational convenience. The next service, the 06.54 from Poole, was 48 minutes late. The result of deliberately omitting stops was that passengers who had intended to get to work on the 06.28 from Poole were one and a half hours late.

Remember what Richard Bowker said at last December's public meeting of the Rail Passengers Council, after the Secretary of State had left. He urged operators to be 'ruthless' to improve performance, in line with the policy which SWT had already implemented. This is what this policy of indifference to passengers who use the wrong sort of station has achieved.

DISABLED LADY LET DOWN ON 88TH BIRTHDAY TRIP

A New Forest resident decided to take his disabled wheelchair-reliant mother for an 88th birthday trip to Paignton on Sunday 15th August, using the direct trains to and from Salisbury. He rang SWT's Disabled Assistance at 7pm on the preceding Friday, giving the operator 40 hours' notice, well over the recommended time. As there was no reply after a very long delay, he left a message on the hotline as instructed.

Arriving at Salisbury for the 09.26 departure, he found the Customer Assistance office closed. However, he spoke to a SWT employee on the platform, who happened to be the change-over conductor guard for the train. The guard fetched a ramp on arrival of the train.

At Paignton, there was nobody to meet him, but the buffet steward let him use his ramp and assisted his mother off the train. The steward was very helpful although it wasn't his job. The passenger wondered why the ramps in the Class 159 trains are apparently not used for wheelchairs.

There was again no assistance on the 18.08 return service. In addition, the station toilets were all locked and there were many passengers who wanted to use them including his mother.

When the train arrived from Goodrington sidings, a couple of minutes after its departure time, he went to the disabled door but could not manage to lift his mother on the train. Fortunately, an on-train cleaner came to the rescue and assisted them aboard.

He later found the conductor guard, who was having to deal with the doors at the rear of the six coach train. The conductor guard passed the message on to the change-over conductor guard at Exeter. The Exeter conductor said he would phone through to Salisbury for someone to meet them and would look out for them on arrival. At Salisbury no ramp was available, in spite of there being one fixed to the wall of the train.

Some teenage lads offered help, but the passengers had already managed to attract the attention of a member of the station staff who lifted the wheelchair off the train. There was a ramp on the platform at Salisbury - why was that not used?

A day of much anxiety and little dignity travel-wise.

THE MISERY OF AUGUST 3: SAME OLD LACK OF STRATEGY

As the evening peak period approached on August 3, a lightning strike affected signalling on the main tracks from Waterloo, whilst the Windsor lines continued to operate after a fashion. The 16.45 Waterloo-Poole (formed of 12 old Mark I coaches) was duly sent down the main track, starting 15 minutes late but leaving the first stop - Clapham Junction - 126 minutes late. The hapless passengers had to sit and watch main line trains going in and out of Waterloo on the Windsor lines.

At Clapham Junction it took station staff five minutes to walk along the platform and ask the driver where the train was heading. A member of staff bellowed out the stops as far as Southampton, with Central and Airport stations in the wrong order, and then gave up. A Woking passenger noted that passengers for his station had piled on to the previous train (presumably the 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth), only to discover that it was to run fast to Winchester.

Although the 16.45 departed from Waterloo at 17.00, with dozens of empty seats towards the front, it was removed from the departure boards at the time it should have left. Passengers who arrived at Waterloo between 16.45 and 17.00 could have used it, but were told to catch another train (believed to be the 17.03 Waterloo-Yeovil) and change at Basingstoke; they were then thrown off due to no driver, only to be told to board again: this train departed at about 18.30. The 17.15 Waterloo-Weymouth departed at 18.10 and reached Southampton about 90 minutes late, being routed along the Windsor lines and thus able to overtake the 16.45 to Poole.

At Eastleigh and Southampton Airport the 16.45 was shown as going only to Southampton Central. At Southampton Central it was shown as terminating, and at Totton the screen advised passengers to stand clear as it was not stopping. Presumably there was a difference of opinion in SWT as to whether to throw passengers off at Southampton Central and make them wait another 75 minutes for the 17.45 from London. And why not? After all, the 16.45 was only about two and a quarter hours late.

The 17.15 had spare seats, and a Woking stop was inserted into its schedule; this was not announced at Waterloo and only 3 passengers alighted at Woking. The train was presumably removed from the departure boards at Waterloo long before its actual departure; meanwhile passengers arriving for the 17.45 to Weymouth were finding it too overcrowded to board.

The 17.45 reached Southampton about 165 minutes late; passengers for intermediate stations to Bournemouth were thrown off as the driver was reaching his working time limit and SWT had failed to get a relief driver. The next service, the 18.05 from Poole, was similarly late; one passenger reports that this train left Waterloo at 19.00, but he was thrown off at Clapham Junction due to a duff door; he reached Totton at 23.15, against his planned arrival time of 19.14 (on the 17.45 from Waterloo).

Waterloo station was eventually closed because of overcrowding; however, passengers found that some routes on to the station were still accessible.

Commuters widely commented on the information staff at Waterloo having been totally useless. A letter in the Evening Standard of 6 August notes that "At Waterloo, staff apparently disappeared as services ground to a halt for hours. Passengers were advised to take the Tube, only to find Underground employees closing the gates. When a group of irate passengers found themselves held prisoner aboard a train just outside Waterloo, they revolted and got out of their carriages. Suddenly it was all the passengers' fault, they became not "customers" any more but trespassers. I joined a group of people who went across the bridge to Embankment station. We arrived to find that the District line was to a large extent out of action, too, but nobody announced this. Eventually I reached Victoria and then Clapham Junction, which resembled a refugee camp. Automated voices repeated their unfeeling mantras: "I'm sorry to announce…" At one point passengers were directed to platform 5, only for the train to pull out before anyone could make it there. It took me four hours to travel 10 miles. I could have got to Paris or Edinburgh in that time."

SUMMER SATURDAY SARDINE TRIP ON SWT

Forget the glossy brochures and 'E-motion' magazine. Saturday August 7 was a very hot day with many people wanting to get to and from the Dorset Coast. As in previous years, the 08.30 Waterloo-Weymouth (the first fast Bournemouth and Weymouth train of the day from London) was formed of 5 coaches only. At 09.30 passengers waiting at Southampton Central were cheerfully informed that it was "full and standing" and that there was no space for bicycles. The crush was so awful that the guard had to broadcast an announcement asking passengers to make way for a member of staff to pass through the gangway so that he could alight. Children were restless, passengers had to disturb many others (and their luggage) in the gangways and vestibules in order to reach the toilets, and one exasperated parent moaned that it was a "Third World" service. After a further delay at Wool, due to an alleged trespasser on the line, the train was 20 minutes late. Similar story on the 20.07 Weymouth-Waterloo: a 5-coach train with very many passengers, including sleepy children, standing from Bournemouth. Duff air conditioning in the middle carriage created terrible conditions on this very hot day.

BAD START TO COWES WEEK

8 August was the start of Cowes Week, with all Isle of Wight ferries likely to be busy, and special Lymington Pier - Cowes services operating. Trains to and from Lymington Pier were withdrawn all day without notice or explanation.

POOR SERVICE AT SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL / SHUTTING DOORS IN FACES

The island platforms at Southampton Central can be a centre of exceptionally bleak customer service. The majority - but not quite all - the railmen stationed there tend to watch the trains, watch the clock, and ignore passengers who are clearly confused or uncertain.

The customer information system often adds to the difficulties. Both island platforms can accommodate two trains at once, but the departure screens towards the ends of each platform give the same information. So it is that confusion often reigns while the 17.47 to Portsmouth stands adjacent to a screen which states "1. 17.42 Westbury 2. 17.47 Portsmouth Harbour". On 17 June, the screens made matters worse by incorrectly advertising these trains as "1. 17.42 Westbury 2. 18.17 Eastleigh". A member of staff looked up a screen and took no action. Passengers were dithering and one, who trusted the screen and did not ask, missed the 17.47. The train was eventually announced on the tannoy after it had disappeared into Southampton tunnel.

One in four rail journeys involves a change of train. Southampton Central is, of course, a major interchange. In the bad old days of BR, arriving passengers would be given helpful announcements, telling them which platforms to cross to for their connecting services, and whether they needed to hurry. In these "customer-focused" days of Stagecoach, the valuable minutes when passengers need to change trains are occupied with announcements about smoking policy, lack of litter bins, cycling on platforms, and leaving luggage unattended.

Even regular passengers find their journey a gamble, with extraordinary lack of focus on their need to make connections. The 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth and 16.42 Poole-Waterloo have 8-minute and 6-minute connections respectively with the 17.47 departure for stations along the populous belt between Southampton and Portsmouth. Missing the 17.47 can mean a delay of one hour at the end of a day's work.

The myth: Locking doors on trains 30 seconds before departure time is essential to secure punctuality.

The reality: This is practicable only at stations where trains start their journey, where they arrive early after a long non-stop run, or where they have a significant waiting time. Stopping services, which might in theory stand to gain most from this practice, generally have station dwell-times of as little as 20 seconds. The new Desiro trains on SWT are comparable with tube trains in respect of their fast-closing doors and rapid acceleration. The doors slam shut in about 5 seconds. Just imagine the delays if tube trains closed their doors 30 seconds before departure.

So let's have a look at customer service on the island platforms: 24 June: Angry shouting match when doors of the 17.47 are slammed shut in a middle-aged man's face. Train leaves 10 seconds before its correct departure time.

25 June: Three passengers off the slightly delayed arrival from Poole race down the footbridge steps; doors of the 17.47 slammed shut in their faces and they stand looking dumbfounded.

28 June: Delayed 16.30 from Waterloo arrives some 30 seconds before 17.46. Passengers for the 17.47 find that every second counts. They rush across the crowded footbridge and several manage to jump aboard as the doors close, 20 seconds early. Others are left behind, with an hour's wait. One businessman utters 4-letter word. Passengers for the 17.55 stopping service to Brockenhurst find that seconds are immaterial; their train is waiting for them but leaves over 4 minutes late, due to no crew.

29 June: 17.47 departs precisely on time while a woman off the delayed arrival from Poole is trying to open the doors to board. The train from Poole then wastes 10 minutes in Southampton station, apparently due to no crew.

1 July: Delayed 16.30 from Waterloo arrives at Southampton at 17.46. Passengers race across the footbridge and catch the 17.47. Passengers continue to drift aboard until 17.54, when a group have the doors locked in front of them, even though the signal is on red and the train is delayed several minutes longer.

2 July: Delayed 16.30 from Waterloo leaves passengers 90 seconds to race over the footbridge for the 17.47. However, the delayed train from Poole is given precedence, and the 17.47 departs 3 minutes late.

5 July: A woman with an exceptionally large suitcase struggles on to the island platforms and pauses to look at the departure screens. Doors on the 17.47 close 15 seconds early and staff refuse to let her board. At this point the train was announced on the tannoy; it was announced a second time as it disappeared into Southampton tunnel. No problems for passengers wanting the 17.55 to Brockenhurst. This train left 3½ minutes late due to no crew.

9 July: a railman on platform 3 blew the whistle 20 seconds before the 17.55 slam-door train to Brockenhurst was due to depart, forbade a young woman to board because "it wasn't allowed after the whistle had blown", and sent the train away 10 seconds early, leaving the passenger behind.

12 July: Doors on 17.47 closed 25 seconds early. Train left 40 seconds later. Two passengers missed it. At 17.58, passengers on the 17.55 to Brockenhurst were told to change to the 18.01 for an earlier departure to Millbrook, Redbridge and Totton. As soon as they had switched trains, the 17.55 departed.

15 July: Doors on the 17.47 closed 25 seconds early, but it left several seconds late. Even regular passengers had to check for the 17.42 to Westbury, which was switched to platform 2. Woman desperately looking for the 17.42 was given directions by another passenger as the only member of station staff was at the far end of the platform. She raced along the platform as the time display passed 17.42. Happily, the friendly Wessex Trains' guard held the rear door for her, neatly illustrating the difference between the attitudes of National Express and Stagecoach to their passengers. One member of SWT staff apparently didn't understand the 24-hour clock, advising a Salisbury passenger to catch the 16.09 to Cardiff.

19 July: 16.30 from Waterloo arrived at Southampton at 17.47, due to engineering works at Eastleigh. 17.47 to Portsmouth departed as passengers raced across the footbridge.

20 July: Passenger races down the footbridge steps and jumps aboard the 07.09 Southern service to Worthing after the guard has blown the whistle. Guard stops train and tries to throw him off. Passenger explains that he would lose his job if he missed the train; he had been unable to buy a ticket at the barrier due to the member of SWT staff in charge not having any change. He had only been allowed through without a ticket at the last minute. After 6 minutes' argument, the passenger is allowed to stay on board and the train departs. The service then loses its path and reaches Worthing 20 minutes late with passengers for Hove and Gatwick missing their connection.

11 August: Two middle-aged passengers rushed towards the 17.47 to Portsmouth, just as the doors were closing 10 seconds early. Train left 17 seconds late despite a green signal throughout. Ample time for the passengers to have boarded without additional delay. Loud shouting by furious man.

SWT'S PASSENGERS' PANEL HEAVILY CRITICISED

From SWT leaflet:

"South West Trains is committed to giving its customers a voice at boardroom level. We believe that if we listen to your ideas and suggestions, this will build our understanding and help us plan for a future that better meets our passengers' needs."

From the Spring newsletter of the Kingston Area Travellers' Association:

"A member of SWT's so-called Passengers' Panel has resigned because it does not serve the interests of passengers. Venessa Wilkins of Norbiton said that passengers' suggestions were rarely acted upon and were a waste of time. She was not even thanked for her 18 month contribution to the Panel." This is said to be much the same treatment as the editor of the newsletter received when resigning from the London Transport Users' Committee whose ex-chair was Sir Alan Greengross, now chair of SWT's Passengers' Panel."

WINCHESTER-ROMSEY BUS LINK DOWNGRADED

SWT has downgraded the Winchester-Romsey bus link, one of the 'pluses' of their original franchise bid. Off-peak the service is integrated with Stagecoach service X66. Journey times between Romsey and Waterloo have increased from about 90 minutes to around 2 hours. Drivers refuse to sell through bus-rail tickets, and people have to queue at the ticket office at Winchester. They often miss their connections because of late buses or long ticket queues. One bus driver was reportedly so fed up with the new service that he had handed in his notice.

Granted that some Romsey-London passengers will have switched to the new train services to Eastleigh, but those services too are far from reliable, as reported above.

THE RAIL REVIEW: SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS

Had the Government's Rail Review been undertaken to address the kinds of concern raised in our Group's contribution to their Big Conversation, we could scarcely have asked for a more positive outcome. With the demise of the SRA, and transfer of franchising responsibilities to the Department for Transport, the days of handing ever larger sums of money to operators who continually fail to give their customers value for money should be well and truly over.

Train operators are likely to feel a chill wind. If Stagecoach's Graham Eccles again makes comments like "If we don't get what we want, we won't hesitate to walk away" (quote from 'Rail Professional'), we can reasonably expect that the answer will be "Goodbye, then". And it is confirmed in 'Rail' magazine that past performance will be taken into account in future franchising exercises. That too will be bad news for Stagecoach, given their continuing failure to meet their performance targets and their rankings consistency around the bottom of the 26 train operating companies.

Doubts about the SRA's impartiality in awarding franchises have been raised on several fronts. Why did SWT get a new franchise, even for a very short period of 3 years, when the company's ethos of greed ("Ethics are not irrelevant, but some are incompatible with what we have to do because capitalism is based on greed" - Brian Souter) had been reflected in sustained poor service, for example through disposing of drivers and middle managers? Why was the SRA advising Stagecoach behind the scenes on how to get a stake in other franchises (see Hogrider No 97)?

Why has the SRA given so much money to Virgin Trains? Virgin has done much better than SWT in introducing new trains and improving performance, and deserves credit for that. Whether taxpayers and passengers are getting best value for money is nevertheless questionable. Why are Voyager trains so overcrowded that passengers from the South Coast are not allowed to alight from some trains at Oxford, whilst Pendolinos are leaving Euston at 08.30 on a Thursday morning (actual example) with a first class coach carrying three passengers? Since capacity is supposed to be a critical issue for the railways, does that really make sense? (It is recently reported that Virgin will not get an extension of the current Cross Country franchise.)

Why are the operators who are most popular with passengers, like First Great Eastern and Anglia losing their franchises? Why did the SRA apparently not realise that switching Scotrail from National Express to First Group, and Greater Anglia from Anglia / First Group to National Express would raise monopoly issues, because of the winners' road transport operations? At least the position of popular GNER looks better now that the Virgin bid for the franchise has fallen through the withdrawal of their partners.

Looking more widely, the Office of the Rail Regulator will be replaced by an Office of Rail Regulation, with a board rather than a single, powerful, regulator. Safety issues will pass to this organisation from the HSE, which may lead to more proportionate and realistic handling of safety incidents. The tendency in recent years has been to cause ever-longer delays for passengers.

Wales, Scotland, London and the Passenger Transport Executives will have greater responsibility for the kind of rail services they want.

The Rail Passengers Council will become more independent. Efforts will be made to raise its profile on trains and stations, and the current federal system of regional committees will be superseded.

Network Rail will become a multi-functional organisation. The May edition of its staff magazine "Track Record" describes it as "Customer focused ……. Engineering led". Quite how that will work out, remains to be seen: BR was noted for tensions between commercial and engineering perspectives. That said, the presentation by Robin Gisby - NR Director of Operations and Customer Services - at the Brighton meeting of the Rail Passengers Committee was more positive than the kinds of statements we have come to expect from Railtrack / Network Rail. As an example, he thought the substantial savings from the reduced estimates for the Portchester platform extensions could be available for other small improvements. This marks a sharp change from NR's attitude in recent times, which has been that everything has soared in cost and become unaffordable. So perhaps we should retain concerns for the future, but allow ourselves to be more optimistic.

The big disappointment for Hampshire is the scrapping of the South Hampshire Rapid Transport proposal. But at least this should remove the planning blight from the Netley line. A more intensive rail service between Southampton and Portsmouth could make a big contribution to the role of public transport in this populous county.

RAIL PASSENGERS' COMMITTEE MEETING: BRIGHTON 20/7/2004

Presentation on fares by Southern

Virtually all Southern fares are walk-up rather than advance purchase. Weekday reductions after 09.00, and on trains reaching London after 10.00. Even lower fares on trains reaching London at 10.55 or later. One-day all-lines Rover ticket for £10 - four people can travel together all day for £20. From May, passengers can get tickets with an add-on covering all the London Underground, including Heathrow, for a Zone 1 fare. [SWT seems a long way behind on innovative fares!]

Fare rises on seasons and one other ticket type regulated by Government. The regulated non-season fare is normally the Saver where available, otherwise the full standard class fare. Line is drawn in such a way that it is the full London-Brighton fare which is regulated, but the Saver between London and Hove.

Southern wants fares to be as simple as possible with no hidden agenda. Government decided that formula for fare increases should switch in January 2004 from "RPI minus one per cent" to "RPI plus one per cent". This increase applies as an average across the "fares basket". In the case of Southern, Travelcard fares in London determine a large percentage of the basket. If these are kept low, other fares will rise by a greater amount to compensate.

Some fares are below 1995 levels because of performance capping. Southern looks at criteria like capacity and quality when deciding individual fare rises. Has applied bigger increases where services have improved significantly, for example between East Grinstead and London.

Cheap off-peak fares help lower demand in peak, but original Network Card was too abstractive of revenue.

Southern welcomes input to internal debate on fare levels for 2005.

Presentation on fares by SRA

Regulation of fares responds to power of rail companies in commuting areas. 85% of commuters in London use the Underground or National Rail. Savers and seasons account for 46% of the £3.6 billion revenue from rail fares nationally.

Each London operator has a fares basket which extends out about 35-50 miles. Within the average increase, individual fares must not increase by more than "RPI plus 6%" against previous year. 2002-03 is now the base level for calculating increases. Operators can choose not to increase fares, and if they later decide they want compensatory increases, the "RPI plus 6%" formula protects passengers.

Where there is no Saver ticket, the standard day return ticket is normally regulated. First class tickets not regulated. Neither are tickets by Open Access Operators like Hull Trains, who have no franchise agreement.

Trying to simplify understanding of fares through standard terminology.

Focus on young people

Thoughtful presentation by two teenagers who highlighted the importance of rail to children and young people for participation in a range of activities. Survey of 13-15 year-olds showed that 58% used trains for leisure and one in six used them for travel to school or college. Interestingly, young people want the same things as adults: safety, punctuality, value for money, integrated bus/rail timetables with good reliable connections. 70% of those survey did not know the complaints procedures, and local stations often failed to make available the conditions of carriage.

Presentation by Southern

Southern is focusing on the very thing that SWT passengers so often find to be lacking: empathy. See the way to better service as standing in passengers' shoes, and thinking like passengers. Intend to be honest about what they can/can't do and what they are/are not prepared to do.

Half of new trains now in service. Refurbishment of suburban trains has started. Looking after needs of families with babies and disabled passengers. New station signs are graffiti-proof. Colour scheme and signage designed to help people who are visually disabled. CCTV and all stations being improved. All managers undergoing 10-day training programme. Follows customer training programme for all front-line staff. Types of staff to be designated by type of uniform.

Performance gradually improving over last 12-18 months. Depot regeneration. Greater share of delays now attributable to Network Rail. New trains biggest performance problem for Southern - less reliable than slam-door stock. Only 200 old carriages by end of year - these will run mainly on peak services.

Could not accommodate bikes on new stock during British Heart Foundation cycling event. Complaints that tickets sold to cyclists who could not travel. Southern has a major event steering group. They are happy to listen. No restrictions at all on folding bikes on Southern - error in National Rail Timetable on this point will be corrected.

Dreadful journey on 17.45 London-Eastbourne on 24 May. Network Rail said there was a problem with the train north of Croydon, and action initiated accordingly. In fact, the train was fine but there was a burned-out trackside cable. Delays of 2½-3 hours. Disruption management to be improved and line exercises now taking place. [2½-3 hours is not much compared with last year's 9-hour Southampton-Waterloo journey on SWT last summer!]

Address by Stewart Francis, Chairman of Rail Passengers Council

RPC has a national policy of half-price rail travels for students in full-time education. At present provision is a postcode lottery.

Rail review is White Paper with green edges. RPC considered railway was at war with itself - SRA versus Rail Regulator - and not facing passengers or taxpayers. In future railway will be operated by Network Rail in partnership with the train operating companies. The SRA and post of Rail Regulator both go. Safety moves to the Office of Rail Regulation.

RPC has a seat on the board of Network Rail. The new RPC model will be a national council with regional representation and a higher profile. RPC must ensure new model works better than the old federal system of regional committees. Don't want to lose the knowledge of the regional committees.

Review recognises the blindingly obvious. Says nothing about a bigger railway. No clues about future station ownership. Industry still "learning" despite advice from RPC. How will the train operators innovate? How will Network Rail become customer-focused?

Old federal structure of RPC means passengers often do not know about the organisation. In future there will be a nationwide 0845 number, and poster on every station and train. RPC can deal with questions, advice and complaints. Will build biggest database of passengers ever.

Network Rail

NR will have a new functional organisation, with passengers rather than the train operating companies as their customers.

Maintenance will be totally in-house by the end of July.

Performance still not good enough. Aim is to have 85% of commuter trains within 5 minutes of time by September 2005. Operational goals are to plan train services which work; get back to plan quickly when things go wrong; provide information from one source; and integration/simplification - 8 control centres across the network instead of 64.

Some elements of regulation may change. Punctual trains may not always have priority over late trains. Split responsibility for stations to be sorted out. Maintenance will mainly be done overnight in future. Fewer big blockades needed, but this depends to some extent on what projects are taken forward. Not many big pieces of work outstanding south of the Thames. Basingstoke being resignalled.

Wessex Trains

Wessex has obtained 6 additional class 158 units from other companies. Wants further units to relieve overcrowding on the Cardiff-Portsmouth/Brighton line.

First Great Western Link

Major timetable recast on Great Western in December. Preferred North Downs line (Reading-Gatwick) proposals rejected by Network Rail. Stations and trains to be kept cleaner. Paddington-Heathrow stopping service by March 2005. Four Paddington-Bedwyn trains per day to extend to Exeter.

South Eastern

Pursuing back-to-basics policy between franchises. First four new inner-suburban trains under trial. Couplings on all new class 375 units being made compatible. Tackling cleaning and security issues. Trains won't in future go into service without toilets fully operational. Prospective integrated Kent franchise extremely controversial: commuters who want Cannon Street would have their trains diverted to St Pancras.

South West Trains

First refurbished suburban unit to be in service by end of August. Class 458 "Juniper" units will stay in service on the Waterloo-Reading line for some time. New timetable in December. Will simplify, standardise and be more robust. RPC concerned that some commuters will get less choice and longer journey times. New ticket machines which will accept credit cards. Performance still not satisfactory. For the remainder of its franchise, SWT is looking at overall station environment; availability and helpfulness of staff; how to improve perception [more meaningless PR?]; better communication during disruption.

Virgin Trains

Cross Country is now beating all other Inter City operators on performance, although performance has dipped slightly due to wheel problems. [Interesting that they are the only Inter City operator with a completely new train fleet, and the perceived wisdom is that new trains are less reliable.] Can now sell a full range of tickets on trains. SWT arrange substitute buses as necessary on the Reading-Bournemouth line.

Thameslink

35-week central London blockade starts on 11 September. Southbound trains will run from Kings Cross Thameslink, and northbound trains from St Pancras Interim. Mini-bus connection for those who cannot manage to walk between the two [This is a lot better than the original plan which would have seen no trains between Blackfriars and St Pancras]. Two-year extension of franchise to April 2006.

Office of Rail Regulation

Board replacing Rail Regulator. Taking over responsibility for safety from the HSE. No clear steers yet.

SHRUG RESPONSE TO SWT'S CONSULTATION ON CYCLE CARRIAGE POLICY

I think we have to accept that the carriage of cycles on trains is now marginalised - especially as SWT is to hire 26% fewer new carriages than promised (665 Desiros instead of 785 Desiros and 120 Junipers).

However, I would offer a few thoughts. People travelling into central London should need to take their cycles with them only if there is no secure storage space available at their local station. By secure storage space I have in mind (1) cycle lockers on any station and (2) cycle racks on stations which are continuously staffed. Season ticket holders who do not have this facility available at their local station should be given precedence in allocating reservations on peak-time trains.

Where travel to and from central London is not involved, the situation is more complex. A season ticket holder may need to take his bike because there is no other realistic means of getting (1) between his home and his departure station, (2) between his destination station and his place of work or (3) between both. Where there are secure cycle lockers, it might be practicable for some season ticket holders in category (2) to leave their cycles overnight at their destination stations.

As I do not personally cycle, I do not know which stations are in practice likely to cause the greatest problems for season ticket holders with cycles. However, it is clearly the case that the wider the area in which cycles are barred from trains during peak periods, the greater the number of cyclists who may be disadvantaged. For example, suppose somebody living in Hook works on an industrial or commercial estate in the Blackwater Valley, and public transport access to the estate is not available? The proposed extension of the cycle ban to that area could mean the person's having to resign.

I doubt whether delay is really an issue. I believe that any delays which cyclists cause are very insignificant compared with the delays caused on SWT by defective rolling stock and not employing enough train crews to run a robust service, meaning that a delay to one train quickly has a knock-on effect.

Two final points. First, cyclists are often left stranded at stations even though there is plenty of room on the train to carry their cycles. This happens at short-platform stations where there is no available cycle space adjacent to the platform, but there is space further back. Surely there should be a policy of loading cycles from the back of the train except where the cyclist wishes to alight from a short-platform station? Secondly, your ticketing and cycle-carrying policies, in conjunction, are not customer-friendly. Cyclists can get very annoyed when they have bought their ticket and are then left behind.

PORTCHESTER RETREAT

Portchester was to lose its hourly London services because SWT had ordered rolling stock which was 4½ metres too long for the platforms and was not prepared to pay for the platform extensions. Following the intervention of the SRA, the cost of 4½ metres of platform has reduced from £750,000 to £100,000 and the work will go ahead.

MODERATING THE LANGUAGE OF FAILURE - 5

On 19 June 2004, SWT's website announced an "ALTERATION" affecting the 15.37 Waterloo-Weybridge. All its booked stops were shown as omitted, and the train would be diverted to run non-stop to Ascot. We suspect that a more straightforward operator would have shown this as a cancellation.

A similar "ALTERATION" was advertised on 3 July. The 12.00 Waterloo-Guildford stopping service was "altered" to become a non-stop service from Waterloo to Dorking.

A rather neat "ALTERATION" was advertised on 7 July: "ALTERATION: 14.15 London Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour. This train will be revised. It will no longer call at London Waterloo".

Interestingly, two excuses which are increasingly apparent are "due to a police matter" or "due to a matter currently under investigation" both of which are completely meaningless for passengers.

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RPC NETWORK

We have received 17 pages of briefing which - given the contents - is almost certainly from one of the Rail Passengers Committees. No compliment slip was attached, but the postmark was not within the area of the Southern RPC. The author(s) argue that:

the passengers' watchdog has become excessively centralised;

members are not consulted or provided with information, and agenda papers relating to major proposals are circulated too late;

the RPC network budget is increasing beyond what is necessary - £2.6m in 2000-01, £4.3m in 2001-02, £5.3m in 2002-032, £5.7m (projected) in 2003-04 and £7.0m (budget bid) in 2004-05; and

money is wasted things which don't benefit passengers, like mission statements. The papers quote paragraph 223 of the Select Committee on Transport's report on the "Future of the Railways":

"A mature industry needs a strong and constructive consumer voice, particularly at times when the industry's performance is weak, its structure fragmented, and it lacks any strong vision for the future, as at present. We were frankly disappointed with the contribution of the Rail Passengers Council (RPC) to our inquiry. In addition, the profile of the RPC throughout the network is too low. We likened the Council to a 'secret' which the industry likes to "keep to itself". We were concerned, for example, that members of the public who wanted to complain about train services would not find the RPC's contact details readily available. This needs to change. If the organisation is to make a significant contribution to the debate about the future of the railway, then it will need to represent passengers' concerns much more powerfully than at present. It may be that a body representing interests of passengers which is not sponsored directly by the body responsible for the railway, as the RPC is presently by the SRA, would find a more insistent public voice."

NOTICE BOARD

Should you discover something wrong with the railway infrastructure, or if you think your train may be damaging the track because of rough riding which appears to be due to poor suspension or a flat (= wheel which needs re-profiling), you can report the matter to Network Rail on 08457 711 4141.

The Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England's final public meeting in 2004 is scheduled for 26 October (South Eastern area). The Committee can be contacted at Centric House, 390/391 Strand, London, WC2R 0LT. Tel 020 7240 5308. Fax 020 7240 8923. They now have an email address: info.southern@railpassengers.org.uk, and website:
www.railpassengers.org.uk/Southern.

Railfuture, the former Railway Development Society, campaigns for better rail services throughout Great Britain, and has 17 local groups affiliated to thousands of people in rail user groups. Produces a quarterly magazine 'Railwatch'.

The organisation's philosophy is that there are many positive economic, social and environmental reasons to travel by rail: roads cause 134 times more pollution than rail, travel by rail is at least 18 times safer than by car, and one train can replace more than 100 lorries.

The latest information they have given us is that membership is £17.50 for one year for an individual; £17.50 for a family (+ £2 per extra person); £8.50 for an OAP/student/unwaged person; and £35 for a local authority or company (information correct at April 2003). Address is 207 Colourworks, 2 Abbot Street, London E8 3DP. Website: www.railfuture.org.uk Tel: 020 7249 5533. Fax: 020 7254 6777. E'mail (To Marketing Director Kate Tudor-Pole) kate@railfuture.org.uk

RAIL PERFORMANCE REPORTS

Note: These details are snapshots, based on passengers' own experiences and website information. The Group does not have the resources to provide a full picture of the performance shortcomings which passengers suffer. Trains can become increasingly late during the course of their journeys - or make up time where stops are omitted and passengers thrown off - and the "minutes late" figures may not represent the position at the end of a journey.

1/6/04 05.39 Yeovil-Waterloo axed between Yeovil and Salisbury due to no driver. 06.38 Farnham-Waterloo 19 minutes late; intermediate stops after Woking omitted for operational convenience. Clapham Junction stop of the 06.50 Alton-Waterloo axed. 06.54 Poole-Waterloo 29 minutes late; stops at Basingstoke, Woking and Clapham Junction axed. 07.42 Waterloo-Windsor 15 minutes late and omitted all stops before Staines due to no rolling stock. 07.47 Waterloo-Weybridge 15 minutes late. 08.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke 21 minutes late. 09.45 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled. 09.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 11.07 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled. 17.34 Woking-Waterloo cancelled. 18.34 Waterloo-Windsor 10 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches. 19.22 and 20.52 Waterloo-Chessington cancelled due to no driver. 19.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.50 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.12 Waterloo-Woking cancelled due to no guard. 20.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled due to no driver. 21.15 Woking-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 21.38 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 22.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver.

2/6/04 15.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled. 15.45 Salisbury-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 16.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches. 16.28 Waterloo-Windsor cancelled. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 25 minutes late. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled. 16.37 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 4 coaches. 16.45 Waterloo-Poole 12 minutes late. 17.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 17.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 17.26 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole 23 minutes late due to no crew. 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil reduced to 6 coaches. 18.47 Waterloo-Staines cancelled due to duff stock. Passengers on the 19.17 Waterloo-Woking thrown off at Hounslow. 19.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 20.33 Waterloo-Shepperton cancelled. 21.12 Waterloo-Guildford 18 minutes late. 21.37 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled.

3/6/04 06.06 Brockenhurst-Winchester cancelled. 06.19 Poole-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 06.20 Honiton-Waterloo reduced to 3 coaches. 07.49 Farnham-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.52 Waterloo-Reading axed between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. 07.55 Shepperton-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 08.35 Twickenham-Waterloo cancelled. 15.03 Waterloo-Gillingham terminated at Salisbury. 16.03 Waterloo-Salisbury reduced to 3 coaches. 17.15 Gillingham-Salisbury cancelled. 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 17.52 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches.

4/6/04 Passengers on the 04.55 Southampton-Waterloo thrown off at Surbiton after two abrupt stops due to signals turning to red in front of the train. 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo and 05.42 Poole-Waterloo both 20 minutes late. 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. Passengers on the 12.00 Waterloo-Poole thrown off at Southampton Airport due to duff stock. 15.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 15.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 15.45 Waterloo-Southampton 18 minutes late. 15.48 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 16.00 Waterloo-Poole 23 minutes late. 16.00 Alton-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 16.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 16.45 Waterloo-Poole axed between Southampton and Poole. 17.42 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole reduced to 5 coaches. 18.40 Waterloo-Havant reduced to 8 coaches. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 18.53 Waterloo-Chessington axed between Waterloo and Raynes Park due to duff stock. 19.18 Waterloo-Dorking cancelled due to no driver. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.33 Chessington-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.42 Poole-Waterloo axed between Poole and Southampton. 19.50 Waterloo-Poole axed between Waterloo and Southampton due to no driver. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 20.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 21.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth terminated at Bournemouth due to no driver.

5/6/04 CANCELLED: 11.22/13.22 Waterloo-Reading; 12.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo; 12.24 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo; 12.26 Waterloo-Hampton Court; 12.52 Waterloo-Chessington; 13.03 Waterloo-Shepperton; 13.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo; 13.12/15.12 Reading-Waterloo; 13.12/15.12 Waterloo-Woking; 13.33 Chessington-Waterloo; 13.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke; 13.52 Waterloo-Chessington; 13.58 Waterloo Windsor; 14.07 Shepperton-Waterloo; 14.15/16.15 Woking-Waterloo; 14.33 Chessington-Waterloo; 14.36 Portsmouth-Southampton; 14.55 Windsor-Waterloo; 15.47/22.47(no driver) Southampton-Portsmouth; 15.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo; 18.00 Waterloo-Poole; 18.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth; 18.55 Southampton-Waterloo (no driver); 19.49 Dorking-Waterloo (no driver); 20.45 Waterloo-Southampton; 20.54 Portsmouth-Winchester (no driver). 08.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 08.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 09.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches and 12 minutes late. 09.37 Waterloo-Weybridge 20 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 16.47 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 16.52 Waterloo-Reading 17 minutes late. 16.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 16 minutes late.17.28 Waterloo-Windsor 15 minutes late. 17.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 21.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth 34 minutes late.

6/6/04 08.00 Portsmouth-Brighton cancelled due to no driver. No catering facilities on 08.30/09.30 Waterloo-Weymouth. 08.40 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 09.55 Reading-Brighton 22 minutes late due to no driver. 10.10 Brighton-Reading axed between Brighton and Havant due to no driver. 10.52 Guildford-Waterloo 25 minutes late. 11.22 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 12.39 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled. 13.10 Brighton-Reading axed between Havant and Reading due to no driver. 14.00 Plymouth-Waterloo 82 minutes late due to duff train in front. 14.16 Penzance-Waterloo 42 minutes late. 15.25 Paignton-Waterloo 101 minutes late due to duff train in front. 15.55 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Havant due to no crew. 16.41 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to no driver. 18.08 Paignton-Waterloo axed between Paignton and Exeter. 18.27 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 18.55 Basingstoke-Waterloo 35 minutes late due to no crew; passengers thrown off at Woking. 18.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 19.08 Salisbury-Brighton 71 minutes late. 19.55 Totton-Romsey axed between Southampton and Romsey due to no driver. 21.00 Romsey-Totton axed between Romsey and Southampton due to no driver. 21.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to no driver. 22.00 Romsey-Totton axed between Southampton and Romsey due to no driver. 22.41 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to no driver. 23.15 Totton-Romsey axed between Totton and Southampton due to no driver.

7/6/04 14.45 Salisbury-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 14.55 Windsor-Waterloo axed between Windsor and Staines. 15.45 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled. 15.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 38 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Woking. 15.57 Brighton-Reading 21 minutes late. Stock for 16.18 Waterloo-Dorking not expected until 16.23. 16.25 Waterloo-Hampton Court reduced to 4 coaches. Two coaches of the 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth so hot, due to duff air conditioning, that the guard advised passengers not to use them; with the internal doors locked open, and the drop-lights in the external doors open, the temperature in the seventh coach had plummeted to 90oF by Southampton. Similar problems with duff air conditioning on the 17.15 Waterloo-Weymouth and 18.05 Waterloo-Poole. 16.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 17.15 Waterloo-Weymouth 18 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.18 Waterloo-Alton 27 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 17.20 and 18.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 17.30 Waterloo-Exeter reduced to 3 coaches; guard locked the doors, announcing that the train was getting dangerously overcrowded; unfortunately, the air conditioning was duff and passengers were effectively trapped in an oven; guard did not get through to open the emergency vents until Woking; at the pick-up only stop at Basingstoke, only 5 passengers managed to cram aboard. 17.36 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 4 coaches; 18.21 reduced to 8 coaches. 17.39 Waterloo-Farnham cancelled. 17.42 Poole-Waterloo axed between Bournemouth and Waterloo. 17.45 Woking-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 17.51 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 18.03 Waterloo-Shepperton cancelled due to duff stock. 18.04 Woking-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.18 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 19.07 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 19.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 20.09 Waterloo-Guildford reduced to 4 coaches and 20 minutes late.

8/6/04 07.26 Southampton-Romsey cancelled. 13.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late due to duff train in front. 14.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 14.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 25 minutes late. 14.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth 17 minutes late. 14.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke 20 minutes late due to no coaches. 14.48 Waterloo-Alton 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 15.27 Windsor-Waterloo axed between Windsor and Staines. 15.38 Exeter-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth reduced to 8 coaches of old Mark I stock. 16.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late; Clapham Junction stop axed. 17.20 and 18.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 17.48 Waterloo-Alton reduced to 4 coaches. 18.12 Waterloo-Guildford reduced to 4 coaches. 18.14 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth reduced to 8 coaches of old Mark I stock; 8 minutes late by Southampton. 18.48 Waterloo-Dorking cancelled. 19.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled.

9/6/04 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 05.42 Poole-Waterloo 15 minutes late due to duff train in St Denys area; badly overcrowded. 06.42 Hilsea-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 06.49 Portsmouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 07.25 Alton-Waterloo cancelled. 15.12 Reading-Waterloo 13 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.20 and 18.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 17.23 Waterloo-Basingstoke 36 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.39 Waterloo-Farnham cancelled due to duff stock. 17.48 Waterloo-Alton 28 minutes late. 17.54 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 17.54 Waterloo-Weybridge 15 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 17.54 Waterloo-Haslemere reduced to 8 coaches. 17.58 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 18.00 Waterloo-Guildford reduced to 8 coaches. 18.08 Waterloo-Haslemere 16 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil reduced to 5 coaches. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 15 minutes late. 18.54 Reading-Waterloo terminated at Staines due to duff stock. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 30 minutes late. 19.21 Weybridge-Waterloo 12 minutes late due to broken down train in front.

10/6/04 Morning services on the Lymington branch suspended due to a failed train. Signalling problems between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst: 05.42 Poole-Waterloo 30 minutes late; 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 41 minutes late; 06.02 Weymouth-Waterloo 44 minutes late; 06.37 Weymouth-Waterloo 27 minutes late; 07.23 Poole-Brockenhurst and 08.06 Brockenhurst-Poole ran only between Bournemouth and Poole; 08.45/09.45 Waterloo-Southampton axed; 08.55 Waterloo-Poole 30 minutes late. 06.26 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. Reduced to 4 coaches: 06.30 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo; 06.37 Basingstoke-Waterloo; 07.56 Guildford-Waterloo; 08.21 Weybridge-Waterloo; 08.27 Woking-Waterloo; 08.49 Effingham Junction-Waterloo. Reduced to 8 coaches: 06.50 Alton-Waterloo; 07.10 Haslemere-Waterloo; 07.32 Basingstoke-Waterloo. 06.40 Waterloo-Weymouth 18 minutes late due to no crew. 07.20 Basingstoke-Yeovil axed between Basingstoke and Salisbury. 08.22 Waterloo-Reading terminated at Vauxhall due to duff stock. 10.12 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 12.18 Waterloo-Alton cancelled due to duff stock. 15.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 15.55 Southampton-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 15.57 Brighton-Reading axed between Brighton and Cosham due to duff stock. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo 17 minutes late. Duff train blocked line at Fratton: 17.36 Portsmouth-Southampton 65 minutes late; 17.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 52 minutes late; 17.50 Portsmouth-Waterloo 38 minutes late; 18.01 Portsmouth-Waterloo 49 minutes late; 18.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 46 minutes late; 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 45 minutes late. 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth 21 minutes late. 17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole 24 minutes late due to no crew. 18.39 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock. 20.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 20.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth 26 minutes late; 20.50 Waterloo-Poole 19 minutes late; 21.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late.

11/6/04 06.23 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot. 06.37 Basingstoke-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 06.52 Eastleigh-Portsmouth axed between Fareham and Portsmouth. 07.05 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled. 07.12 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. 07.18 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled. 07.00 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 20 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Kingston. 07.51 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth and Fareham. 08.22 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed between Waterloo and Kingston. 08.27 Woking-Waterloo cancelled. 09.01 and 09.15 Haslemere-Waterloo axed between Haslemere and Guildford. 09.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke axed between Waterloo and Woking. 10.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 11.48 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 11.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 11.55 Southampton-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 12.00 Waterloo-Poole 20 minutes late. 12.03 Waterloo-Bristol 17 minutes late. 12.10 Waterloo-Basingstoke axed between Woking and Basingstoke. 12.25 Basingstoke-Brighton 16 minutes late. 12.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 13.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 13.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo axed between Basingstoke and Woking. 14.00 Waterloo-Poole 18 minutes late. 15.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 16.18 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 16.27 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 18.37 Waterloo-Alton cancelled due to no driver. 20.07 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil reduced to 9 coaches due to duff stock. Rear two units of 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter locked out of use due to no light or air conditioning; units detached at Salisbury and train 21 minutes late. 19.05 Waterloo-Bristol 30 minutes late due to duff stock. 20.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 30 minutes late; all intermediate stations except Woking omitted.

12/6/04 08.05 Portsmouth-Reading 40 minutes late and terminated at Basingstoke due to duff stock. 08.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late; 08.25 17 minutes late. 08.36 Portsmouth-Southampton cancelled due to duff stock. 08.55 Southampton-Waterloo cancelled. 09.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 10.05 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock. 10.45 Waterloo-Southampton axed between Waterloo and Woking due to duff stock. No catering on 16.00 Waterloo-Poole, 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth or 12.48/17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo. 22.35 Waterloo-Salisbury cancelled due to no guard. 22.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 22.58 Waterloo-Alton axed between Farnham and Alton.

13/6/04 Overrunning engineering work: 09.40 Portsmouth-Waterloo and 10.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled. 10.52/11.22 Guildford-Waterloo axed between Guildford and Woking. 10.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 22 minutes late. 11.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth 17 minutes late. 15.40 Weymouth-Waterloo reduced to 5 coaches due to duff stock. 15.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches. 15.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth reduced to 4 coaches. 16.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled. 17.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.22 Guildford-Waterloo 60 minutes late due to no crew. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.51 Portsmouth-Southampton 20 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth reduced to 5 coaches. 20.41 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to no driver. 22.08 Paignton-Salisbury cancelled due to no driver. 22.27 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. Despite annual 'Power in the Park' popular music festival on Southampton Common, the hourly service between Totton, Southampton, Eastleigh and Romsey was withdrawn from mid-afternoon for the rest of the day; last train from Romsey to Totton was the 15.03, with the 15.53 operating only to Southampton Central; last train from Totton was the 14.55.

14/6/04 06.22 Twickenham-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 06.27 Southampton-Yeovil axed between Southampton and Salisbury due to no guard. 06.36 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled due to no rolling stock. 06.38 Farnham-Waterloo axed between Farnham and Aldershot and 15 minutes late. 06.47 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 07.12 Waterloo-Windsor axed between Waterloo and Twickenham. 07.17 Waterloo-Weybridge 15 minutes late due to no crew. 07.32 Basingstoke-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.55 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled. 07.56 Alton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 08.29 Teddington-Waterloo axed between Teddington and Earlsfield. 12.18 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 16.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 17.12 Reading-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo 25 minutes late. 19.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 20 minutes late. Electrical supply problems at Staines: 19.12 Waterloo-Windsor 39 minutes late; 19.21 Weybridge-Waterloo 38 minutes late; 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 18 minutes late; 19.26 Waterloo-Reading 32 minutes late; 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo 15 minutes late; 20.33 Weybridge-Waterloo 41 minutes late; 20.46 Windsor-Waterloo 33 minutes late; 20.54 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot; 20.56 Waterloo-Reading cancelled; 21.11 Windsor-Waterloo 31 minutes late with all intermediate stops after Staines omitted for operational convenience; 21.12 Waterloo-Windsor cancelled; 21.21 Staines-Waterloo cancelled; 21.47 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled; 22.13 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled; 22.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 11 minutes late.

15/6/04 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late, with stops at Pokesdown, Christchurch and New Milton omitted for operational convenience and commuters left behind. 06.54 Poole-Waterloo terminated at Southampton Airport due to duff stock. 07.28 Havant-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.50 Aldershot-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 08.10 Waterloo-Basingstoke 21 minutes late due to duff stock. 08.23 Totton-Romsey axed between Southampton and Romsey. 08.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed between Kingston and Waterloo. 08.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 09.10 Romsey-Totton axed between Romsey and Southampton. 09.22 Basingstoke-Brighton 22 minutes late. 09.26 Waterloo-Hampton Court delayed and omitted all intermediate stops before Surbiton. 09.48 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed between Waterloo and Kingston. 10.00 Waterloo-Poole axed between Waterloo and Southampton due to duff stock. 11.00 Waterloo-Poole 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 11.30 Waterloo-Guildford delayed and omitted all intermediate stops up to and including Wimbledon. 11.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 15 minutes late. 11.48 Waterloo-Alton 24 minutes late and terminated at Aldershot due to duff stock. 12.25 Basingstoke-Brighton 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled due to duff stock. 13.19 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 13.22 Waterloo-Chessington cancelled. 14.03 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled. Two of the five coaches on the 15.00 Waterloo-Poole suffered air conditioning failure; some furious passengers stood in the vestibules in preference to baking. 15.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 16.00 Alton-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches and 22 minutes late; Clapham Junction stop omitted. 16.10 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 16.21 Guildford-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 16.27 Windsor-Waterloo 27 minutes late due to duff stock; all stops from Richmond to Vauxhall inclusive omitted for operational convenience. 16.27 Alton-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 30 minutes late. 16.39 Hampton-Court-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 16.45 Staines-Weybridge 22 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Virginia Water. 17.21 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Virginia Water. 17.42 Poole-Waterloo terminated at Southampton due to duff stock. 17.48 Waterloo-Alton 33 minutes late. 17.51 Weybridge-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 17.54 Waterloo-Haslemere cancelled. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole reduced to 5 coaches. 18.08 Waterloo-Haslemere 16 minutes late. 18.14 Windsor-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 11 minutes late. 18.40 Waterloo-Havant 16 minutes late. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 19.15 Haslemere-Guildford cancelled. 19.54 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to no driver. 20.00 Guildford-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 20.15 Woking-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 20.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 16 minutes late. 20.33 Waterloo-Alton 16 minutes late. 21.03 Waterloo-Alton 23 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 22.23 Ascot-Guildford cancelled due to no driver. 23.30 Guildford-Ascot cancelled due to no driver.

16/6/04 06.27 Southampton-Yeovil axed due to no driver. 06.38 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches and axed between Portsmouth and Fareham. 06.42 Waterloo-Southampton 20 minutes late due to duff stock. 07.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 07.14 Southampton-Portsmouth 19 minutes late. 07.21 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 8 coaches. 07.25 Southampton-Brockenhurst axed due to no driver. 07.28 Eastleigh-Waterloo 25 minutes late due to no rolling stock; all intermediate stops after Basingstoke axed. 07.53 Brockenhurst-Eastleigh axed due to no driver. 08.17 Brighton-Basingstoke axed between Fareham and Basingstoke due to duff stock. 08.52 Waterloo-Reading 18 minutes late due to duff stock. 13.12 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 10.33 Waterloo-Paignton 41 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Newton Abbot. 11.53 Gillingham-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 14.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 16 minutes late. 15.08 Paignton-Waterloo axed between Paignton and Newton Abbot. 15.45 Salisbury-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 15.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 16.57 Portsmouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 18.24 Waterloo-Weybridge 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 19.21 Weybridge-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 22 minutes late.

17/6/04 11.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 15 minutes late due to broken down train. 15.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 20 minutes late and ran fast from Kingston. 15.57 Brighton-Reading 26 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Basingstoke. 16.10 and 16.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches. 16.32 and 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed. 17.12 Reading-Waterloo axed due to duff stock. 17.52 Waterloo-Chessington axed. 17.54 Guildford-Ascot 15 minutes late. 17.54 Waterloo-Haslemere axed. 18.04 Woking-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.33 Chessington-Waterloo axed. 18.37 Waterloo-Alton reduced to 8 coaches. 18.39 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 19.09 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to earlier broken down train. 19.14 Romsey-Totton axed due to no guard. 19.15 Haslemere-Guildford axed. 19.54 Portsmouth-Winchester 11 minutes late. 20.25 Totton-Romsey axed between Totton and Southampton due to no guard. 21.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 14 minutes late.

18/6/04 Old Mark I train failed on the up fast line at Surbiton in the morning peak, with damaged conductor rail behind it: 50% capacity into Waterloo and delays typically in the order of 20-30 minutes. 05.42 from Poole arrived 3 minutes before it was due to leave as the 08.30 to Weymouth. 06.19 from Poole similarly delayed. Operation still chaotic in the evening, with suburban services very late into Waterloo and so many stops omitted for operational convenience that services were scarcely recognisable. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late; 18.47 14 minutes late. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 17.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth 27 minutes late due to earlier broken down train. 17.12 Reading-Waterloo 17 minutes late; 19.24 11 minutes late; 19.54 22 minutes late; 20.24 13 minutes late. 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 27 minutes late; 18.02 14 minutes late; 18.15 10 minutes late and ran fast from Vauxhall to Kingston; 18.45 11 minutes late; 19.16 20 minutes late and ran fast to Kingston; 19.32 13 minutes late. 17.18 Waterloo-Alton 16 minutes late due to earlier broken down train. 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth/Bournemouth made slow progress to Southampton, arriving 10 minutes late; both halves were then delayed 35 minutes due to duff doors in the Weymouth portion; Bournemouth portion delayed a further 5 minutes at Millbrook for a fast train to overtake. 17.45 Woking-Waterloo 19 minutes late; 18.15 omitted all stops before Surbiton; 19.15 11 minutes late; 19.45 15 minutes late. 17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.49 Dorking-Waterloo 20 minutes late; 18.19 21 minutes late and ran fast from Stoneleigh; 19.49 12 minutes late. 17.56 Windsor-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 18.03 Chessington-Waterloo 22 minutes late; 18.33 23 minutes late; 19.03 25 minutes late. 18.07 Shepperton-Waterloo 20 minutes late and ran fast from Teddington; 18.37 13 minutes late; 19.07 17 minutes late; 19.37 17 minutes late. 18.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 18 minutes late; 18.39 19 minutes late; 19.09 23 minutes late; 20.09 13 minutes late; 20.39 21 minutes late; 21.09 10 minutes late. 18.20 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock; 18.36 27 minutes late; 18.50 16 minutes late; 19.20 26 minutes late; 20.20 22 minutes late; 20.50 11 minutes late. 18.22 and 18.53 Waterloo-Chessington ran fast to Raynes Park. 18.34 Alton-Waterloo 19 minutes late; 19.32 11 minutes late. 18.39 Waterloo-Woking stopping train ran non-stop. 18.48 Epsom-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 18.51 Basingstoke-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.00 Waterloo-Guildford ran fast to Epsom. 19.09 Waterloo-Guildford stopping service ran non-stop. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 23 minutes late. 20.49 Kingston-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 21.12 Waterloo-Windsor omitted all intermediate stations except Staines; 21.42 23 minutes late due to no crew. 21.26 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to duff stock. 22.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches.

19/6/04 06.11 Salisbury-Waterloo 30 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.05 Paignton-Brighton 21 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 12.42 Reading-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 13.03 Weybridge-Waterloo axed. 13.57 Brighton-Basingstoke 15 minutes late. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 14.42 Reading-Waterloo 29 minutes late. 14.52 Waterloo-Reading 38 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Ascot. 15.03 Weybridge-Waterloo 27 minutes late. 15.07 Waterloo-Weybridge 25 minutes late; all stops before Staines omitted for operational convenience. 15.12 Reading-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 15.22 Waterloo-Reading 25 minutes late; all stops before Staines omitted for operational convenience. 15.33 Weybridge-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 15.37 Waterloo-Weybridge stopping service "altered" to become a non-stop train to Ascot. 15.57 Brighton-Reading axed between Brighton and Barnham. 16.37 Waterloo-Weybridge axed. 16.42 Reading-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 17.03 Weybridge-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 17.08 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.12 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot. 17.57 Brighton-Salisbury axed between Brighton and Worthing. 18.00 Waterloo-Poole axed. 18.12 Reading-Waterloo axed. 21.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late.

20/6/04 09.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth 35 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Havant. 09.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 29 minutes late. 09.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 12 minutes late. 10.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 11.55 Basingstoke-Waterloo 38 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Woking. 13.23 Waterloo-Basingstoke axed between Waterloo and Woking. 11.53 Havant-Southampton 15 minutes late. 13.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth 25 minutes late; passengers for stations between Guildford and Haslemere thrown off. 14.53 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Clapham Junction due to duff stock. 14.55 Basingstoke-Waterloo 24 minutes late due to no crew. No catering on 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth, 18.40 Weymouth-Waterloo and 22.50 Waterloo-Poole. 17.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 51 minutes late; passengers for all stations after Bournemouth, except Southampton Central and Waterloo, thrown off. 19.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth 19 minutes late due to duff stock. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 40 minutes late due to no crew.

21/6/04 06.55 Brockenhurst-Southampton axed. 07.04 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking due to duff stock. 07.25 Southampton-Brockenhurst axed. 07.44 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.53 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Bracknell. 09.01 Haslemere-Waterloo axed between Haslemere and Guildford. 15.38 Exeter-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 15.57 Brighton-Reading 30 minutes late. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo reduced to 5 coaches due to duff stock. 16.57 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 17.37 Waterloo-Aldershot reduced to 4 coaches. 17.49 Waterloo-Dorking 16 minutes late due to no crew. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole reduced to 5 coaches. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo failed at Farnham. 19.16 Windsor-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 21 minutes late with Richmond and Clapham Junction stops axed, due to duff stock. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth reduced to 5 coaches due to duff stock. 19.50 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.33 Waterloo-Alton 30 minutes late due to no crew; passengers thrown off at Farnham. 20.45 and 21.09 Waterloo-Guildford reduced to 4 coaches. 21.52 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham.

22/6/04 06.10 Portsmouth-Eastleigh-Waterloo axed. Passengers on the 06.50 Alton-Waterloo furious when it missed its Clapham Junction stop without prior warning. 15.07 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled. 15.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late and reduced to 4 coaches, due to duff stock. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth delayed at Northam "due to something in front"; passengers wishing to connect with the hourly stopping train to Portsmouth raced across the footbridge at Southampton Central, but thanks to furious baton waving the old slam-door train managed to depart a few seconds early and leave them stranded. 16.33 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 16.55 Southampton-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 17.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 17.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 17.34 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches, due to duff stock. 18.11 Twickenham-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.22 Waterloo-Reading 16 minutes late. 18.56 Waterloo-Hampton Court reduced to 4 coaches. 20.07 Weymouth-Waterloo diverted via Havant due to engineering works; 23 minutes late against revised schedule by Guildford. 20.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled due to no guard. 20.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth delayed 31 minutes by signalling problems. 21.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 22 minutes late due to signalling problems. 21.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth stopping train delayed by signalling problems; all stations between Guildford and Portsmouth & Southsea (reached 19 minutes late) omitted for operational convenience. 21.26 Waterloo-Reading 15 minutes late due to no stock. 22.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 13 minutes late due to no crew. 22.35 Waterloo-Salisbury cancelled. 23.55 Waterloo-Bournemouth started 51 minutes late due to no crew.

23/6/04 06.00 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 07.00 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo omitted all stops between Teddington and Raynes Park (odd case of a Kingston Circle train not stopping at Kingston). 07.38 Weymouth-Waterloo reduced to 5 coaches and 15 minutes late. Stagecoach practices came to Warminster, until last May solely Wessex Trains territory: the stop was omitted by the 07.00 Salisbury-Bristol and 08.46 Bristol-Salisbury (the latter nominally a Waterloo service). 08.17 Brighton-Basingstoke 17 minutes late. 08.18 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to duff stock. 08.29 Teddington-Waterloo axed between Teddington and Earlsfield. 08.43 Poole-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 09.08 Weymouth-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 09.20 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 09.55 Southampton-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 10.20 Guildford-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 10.55 Southampton-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 11.18 Waterloo-Alton cancelled due to duff stock. 11.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 14 minutes late and omitted all stops between Twickenham and Waterloo. 11.36 Portsmouth-Southampton 12 minutes late. 11.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 37 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Eastleigh. 12.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 16 minutes late. 12.55 Southampton-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 13.18 Waterloo-Alton 17 minutes late. 14.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 14.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 15.00 Waterloo-Poole axed. 15.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 15.48 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed. 15.55 Southampton-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 16.07 Shepperton-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 16.22 Waterloo-Reading terminated at Virginia Water due to tree on the line. 16.33 Waterloo-Shepperton axed. 16.37 Shepperton-Waterloo axed. 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.26 Reading-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 17.37 Shepperton-Waterloo axed. 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil 21 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.50 Waterloo-Poole 11 minutes late. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 52 minutes late. 19.17 Waterloo-Woking cancelled due to no crew. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.26 Waterloo-Reading 29 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Wokingham. 19.32 Alton-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 19.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke 17 minutes late. 19.51 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 20 minutes late; all intermediate stops after Staines omitted for operational convenience. 20.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 32 minutes late due to no crew; ran non-stop to Kingston. 20.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 20.24 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to no crew. 20.26 Waterloo-Hampton Court 24 minutes late; ran non-stop to Thames Ditton. 20.33 Waterloo-Alton 18 minutes late. 20.49 Kingston-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 20.54 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Bracknell. 21.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 10 minutes late.

24/6/04 14.48 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 15.45 Salisbury-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 16.24 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 17.54 Waterloo-Haslemere cancelled. 18.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 18.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke 25 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches. 18.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 18.57 Brighton-Reading axed between Brighton and Havant due to duff stock. 19.15 Haslemere-Guildford cancelled. 19.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 75 minutes late due to electrical problems. 19.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.50 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to no conductor. 20.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 18 minutes late. 20.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 21.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 21.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled. 22.27 Guildford-Ascot axed. 23.23 Ascot-Farnham axed.

25/6/04 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 25 minutes late; stops at Petersfield and Woking axed for operational convenience. 14.52 Waterloo-Reading 20 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Ascot. 14.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 16.42 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot. 16.52 Waterloo-Reading 51 minutes late due to a lineside fire; passengers thrown off at Ascot. 17.10 Plymouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 17.28 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 17.33 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 17.48 Waterloo-Alton 18 minutes late. 17.51 Weybridge-Waterloo terminated at Staines. 18.01 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 18.12 Waterloo-Windsor 27 minutes late. 18.14 Windsor-Waterloo 25 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot. 18.37 Waterloo-Alton stopping train started from Surbiton and ran non-stop to Alton for operational convenience. 18.47 Waterloo-Staines axed between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. 18.54 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled. 18.57 Brighton-Reading 39 minutes late due to train failure; passengers thrown off at Basingstoke. 19.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 20 minutes late; stops at Surbiton and Clapham Junction omitted for operational convenience. 19.16 Windsor-Waterloo 24 minutes late; ran non-stop from Twickenham for operational convenience. 19.19 Dorking-Waterloo 20 minutes late; ran non-stop from Epsom for operational convenience. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 19.26 Waterloo-Reading axed between Waterloo and Staines. 19.39 Waterloo-Guildford axed between Waterloo and Surbiton. 19.51 Weybridge-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 22 minutes late; ran non-stop from Staines for operational convenience. 20.07 Alton-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 20.16 Windsor-Waterloo 39 minutes late; ran non-stop from Twickenham for operational convenience. 20.24 Reading-Waterloo 30 minutes late; ran fast from Staines for operational convenience. 20.33 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 21.26 Waterloo-Reading 20 minutes late. 22.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late due to no crew.

26/6/04 Romsey-Totton service axed all day due to no crew. 07.07 Salisbury-Brighton axed. 09.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 09.57 Brighton-Paignton axed between Brighton and Portsmouth. 10.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 25 minutes late due to no stock. 10.45 Waterloo-Southampton 24 minutes late. 10.48 Poole-Waterloo 32 minutes late due to duff stock. 11.00 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late. 12.05 Paignton-Brighton 19 minutes late. 12.48 Poole-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 13.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 23 minutes late. 13.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 14.00 Waterloo-Poole 30 minutes late. 14.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 20 minutes late. 15.33 Waterloo-Shepperton axed between Waterloo and Wimbledon due to duff stock. 15.48 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Bournemouth and Waterloo. 15.48 Poole-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 17.30 Waterloo-Guildford omitted all stops before Epsom. 17.39 Waterloo-Guildford 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 17.57 Brighton-Salisbury 15 minutes late. 18.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed due to no driver. 18.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 18.45 Woking-Waterloo stopping train 15 minutes late; all intermediate stops axed. 18.48 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Bournemouth and Waterloo. 18.48 Poole-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 19.00 Waterloo-Poole 20 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth axed between Waterloo and Bournemouth. 19.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed. 21.15 Southampton-Waterloo axed. 22.10 Waterloo-Basingstoke 12 minutes late. 22.30 Waterloo-Bournemouth axed. 23.30 Waterloo-Southampton axed.

27/6/04 06.51 Portsmouth-Southampton 48 minutes late. 11.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 30 minutes late. 12.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 49 minutes late. 12.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth 23 minutes late. 12.55 Reading-Portsmouth 47 minutes late. 14.16 Penzance-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 14.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth 25 minutes late; stops at Clapham Junction and Woking axed for operational convenience. 19.28 Weybridge-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 21.02 Waterloo-Weybridge 24 minutes late. 20.53 Waterloo-Alton 19 minutes late due to duff stock. 22.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled.

28/6/04 05.42 Poole-Waterloo suffered duff doors from the outset; 8 minutes late in the Southampton area, with passengers standing from Southampton Airport, Eastleigh and Winchester. At 08.00 most mainline arrivals into Waterloo advertised as 5-10 minutes late. 13.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 14.23 Salisbury-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 15.48 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Weymouth and Dorchester due to electrical supply problems; train 30 minutes late and passengers for Brockenhurst, Southampton Airport, Winchester and Woking thrown off to allow stop-skipping for operational convenience. 16.10 Waterloo-Portsmouth 12 minutes late. 16.18 Waterloo-Alton reduced to 4 coaches. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo left Southampton 12 minutes late after a long stand, presumably due to SWT's traincrew shortage. 16.48 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Weymouth and Dorchester. 17.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches. 17.13 Basingstoke-Waterloo 30 minutes late; all intermediate stops omitted for operational convenience. 17.35 Alton-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 17.39 Waterloo-Farnham terminated at Woking due to duff stock. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 18.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke 10 minutes late. 18.50 Waterloo-Poole started 18 minutes late. 20.10 Waterloo-Southampton 10 minutes late.

29/6/04 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 11.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 20 minutes late due to duff stock. 15.15 Woking-Waterloo omitted all intermediate stops after Surbiton. 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter reduced to 6 coaches. 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 19.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late.

30/6/04 05.46 Basingstoke-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 05.56 Waterloo-Reading 20 minutes late; 7 booked stops omitted for operational convenience, including Richmond which was deprived of its Underground services because of industrial action. 05.59 Guildford-Waterloo 15 minutes late; all stops between Epsom and Waterloo omitted for operational convenience, including Vauxhall which was deprived of its Underground trains because of industrial action. 06.52 Eastleigh-Portsmouth cancelled. 07.12 Waterloo-Brighton axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 07.51 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth and Basingstoke due to no driver. Duff stock on 08.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth; passengers thrown off at Woking. 08.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 15 minutes late, and 08.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 18 minutes late, due to duff train in front. 08.32 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops after Kingston for operational convenience. 08.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth 19 minutes late. 09.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 10.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 13.57 Brighton-Basingstoke 27 minutes late. 14.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 46 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Woking. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 17 minutes late; stops at Godalming, Farncombe, Worplesdon and Clapham Junction omitted. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 14.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 16.22 Waterloo-Reading 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 16.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth 17 minutes late. 17.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole 27 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth reduced to 5 coaches. 18.33 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.48 Waterloo-Dorking delayed due to no crew. 19.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled.

1/7/04 13.32 Plymouth-Waterloo 22minutes late due to duff stock. 13.48 Poole-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 14.36 Portsmouth-Southampton "all stations" service ran non-stop due to duff stock, leaving huge 2-hour service gap from stations in this populous corridor; despite this desperate measure, the return service at 15.47 was delayed. 14.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 14.55 Southampton-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 15.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo omitted all stops before Twickenham. 17.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 10 minutes late. 17.34 Waterloo-Portsmouth 21 minutes late due to broken down train. 17.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 11 minutes late. Passengers on the 17.58 Waterloo-Basingstoke and 21.20 Guildford-Waterloo thrown off at Surbiton due to duff stock. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 16 minutes late. 18.40 Waterloo-Havant reduced to 8 coaches. 18.47 Waterloo-Staines reduced to 4 coaches. 19.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to duff stock; stops at Surbiton and Clapham Junction omitted. 20.10 Waterloo-Southampton 11 minutes late.

2/7/04 05.42 Poole-Waterloo 5 minutes late due to an empty Desiro train being given precedence at Eastleigh. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 14.42 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 14.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 15.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 16.03 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 16.22 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches. 16.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 17.24 Waterloo-Weybridge 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.48 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Weymouth and Dorchester and 32 minutes late. 18.51 Weybridge-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 20 minutes late; all stops after Staines omitted for operational convenience. 19.42 Poole-Waterloo 13 minutes late. Passengers on 21.10 Waterloo-Southampton thrown off at Basingstoke due to no guard. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 21.32 Portsmouth-Southampton 12 minutes late.

3/7/04 08.35 Staines-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. No catering on 09.33 Waterloo-Exeter. Train broke down in Earlsfield area. 09.48 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 20 minutes late; all stations between Twickenham and Waterloo omitted for operational convenience. 09.45 Waterloo-Southampton 20 minutes late. 09.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 10.00 Waterloo-Poole and 10.00 Waterloo-Guildford 16 minutes late. 10.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 10.20 Guildford-Waterloo axed between Guildford and Effingham Junction; 12 minutes late. 10.33 Chessington-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 10.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 10.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 10.55 Southampton-Waterloo 20 minutes late due to slow moving freight train. 11.15 Waterloo-Dorking 10 minutes late. 12.00 Waterloo-Guildford stopping service omitted all stops and ran fast to Dorking instead. 12.09 Waterloo-Guildford 16 minutes late due to no crew. 15.40 Waterloo-Basingstoke 23 minutes late; all stops between Woking and Basingstoke omitted. 17.52 Brighton-Salisbury 10 minutes late. 18.25 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 18.36 Portsmouth-Southampton 12 minutes late. 18.57 Brighton-Reading 45 minutes late due to duff stock; passengers thrown off at Basingstoke. 20.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth 21 minutes late. 21.24 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock.

4/7/04 08.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 44 minutes late and advertised catering facility not provided. 09.03 Waterloo-Plymouth started 15 minutes late. 09.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 16.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 16.40 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Bournemouth and Waterloo. 20.30 Waterloo-Weymouth axed between Waterloo and Bournemouth. 21.41 and 22.41 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to no driver.

5/7/04 14.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 14.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 31 minutes late; omitted all stops between Bournemouth and Waterloo except Southampton Central. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled. 15.08 Paignton-Waterloo 10 minutes late.15.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 15.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late; omitted all stops between Bournemouth and Waterloo except Southampton Central. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late due to late arrival of the staff portion at Southampton (an unadvertised rear portion of this train carries the crew for the 17.55 Southampton-Brockenhurst). 17.10 Plymouth-Waterloo delayed 23 minutes by duff train in front; passengers then thrown off at Salisbury because the 17.10 itself was duff. 17.59 Waterloo-Hampton Court 18 minutes late due to no stock. 18.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo 15 minutes late.

6/7/04 13.32 Plymouth-Waterloo axed between Plymouth and Exeter. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late and omitted stops between Guildford and Waterloo for operational convenience. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 25 minutes late due to no crew. 14.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 15.00 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 15.12 Reading-Waterloo ran non-stop from Reading to Clapham Junction and terminated. 16.47 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 16.58 Waterloo-Windsor reduced to 4 coaches. First class coach in front unit of 16.45 Waterloo-Poole stifling hot due to duff air conditioning. 17.03 Waterloo-Yeovil axed between Salisbury and Yeovil due to points failure. 17.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 17.30 Waterloo-Exeter 26 minutes late. 17.51 Weybridge-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.07 Waterloo-Reading omitted stops at Clapham Junction and Feltham. 18.18 Waterloo-Alton 20 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot due to duff stock. 19.05 Waterloo-Bristol 15 minutes late. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 19.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 19.55 Plymouth-Salisbury 25 minutes late. 20.15 Yeovil-Waterloo axed between Yeovil and Salisbury. 21.54 Portsmouth-Winchester 21 minutes late due to duff stock.

7/7/04 06.22 Twickenham-London cancelled. 06.25 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Staines. 06.33 Guildford-Aldershot cancelled. 07.00 Salisbury-Bristol cancelled due to duff stock. 07.30 Woking-Waterloo omitted stop at Walton-on-Thames. 07.42 Gillingham-Waterloo axed between Gillingham and Salisbury due to duff stock. 07.45 Effingham Junction-Waterloo axed between Effingham Junction and Epsom. 07.48 Guildford-Waterloo 16 minutes late due to no crew; omitted all intermediate stops after Surbiton for operational convenience. 07.51 Portsmouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 08.23 Totton-Romsey axed between Southampton and Romsey. 09.10 Romsey-Totton cancelled due to no driver. 10.25 Totton-Romsey axed between Totton and Southampton. High winds set in during late morning blowing trees on to lines. 10.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 40 minutes late; 13.48 29 minutes late; 15.48 axed between Weymouth and Poole; 16.48 28 minutes late; 17.48 23 minutes late. 11.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 51 minutes late; 11.25 54 minutes late; 11.54 10 minutes late; 13.47 16 minutes late; 14.54 66 minutes late and passengers thrown off at Basingstoke; 15.17 35 minutes late; 15.25 14 minutes late; 16.54 11 minutes late; 17.50 17 minutes late; 18.20 39 minutes late. 12.33 Weybridge-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 12.40 Haslemere-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 12.45 Waterloo-Southampton 12 minutes late. 12.50 Guildford-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 12.55 Windsor-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 14.47 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 11 minutes late; 15.17 28 minutes late; 15.24 30 minutes late; 15.54 28 minutes late. 15.27 Windsor-Waterloo 50 minutes late. 15.31 Guildford-Waterloo 25 minutes late. 15.33 Weybridge-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 15.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 15.48 Poole-Waterloo 36 minutes late; all stations between Bournemouth and Waterloo, except Southampton Central, omitted for operational convenience. 15.49 Dorking-Waterloo 29 minutes late. 15.55 Windsor-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 16.00 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham; 17.35 18 minutes late; 18.34 22 minutes late. 16.00 Waterloo-Poole started 29 minutes late. 16.17 Romsey-Totton 17 minutes late. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 16.41 Wareham-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 16.55 Southampton-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 17.13 Basingstoke-Waterloo 14 minutes late; 17.38 15 minutes late. 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 11 minutes late; 17.33 14 minutes late. 17.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 45 minutes late; 17.28 axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 17.42 Poole-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 17.45 Woking-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth 55 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 17.50 Portsmouth-Waterloo 31 minutes late. 17.54 Reading-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 17.56 Windsor-Waterloo 21 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops. 18.08 Waterloo-Haslemere 24 minutes late. 18.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 39 minutes late. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 20 minutes late. 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter 20 minutes late. 18.37 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 18.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 18.50 Waterloo-Poole 33 minutes late. 18.55 Waterloo-Guildford 30 minutes late. 19.05 Alton-Waterloo 24 minutes late; 19.32 12 minutes late. 19.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 43 minutes late. 19.19 Dorking-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 22 minutes late. 19.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 12 minutes late; 19.32 cancelled. 19.33 Paignton-Basingstoke 21 minutes late. 19.33 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Farnham. 19.33 Waterloo-Shepperton cancelled. 19.33 Chessington-Waterloo 13 minutes late; 20.03 cancelled. 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled. 19.55 Plymouth-Salisbury 68 minutes late. 20.03 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled. 20.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 24 minutes late. 20.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth 28 minutes late. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 20.50 Waterloo-Poole 27 minutes late. 21.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 17 minutes late. 21.02 Weymouth-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 21.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 24 minutes late. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth 19 minutes late. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 25 minutes late. 21.37 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 22.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Guildford. 22.13 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled.

8/7/04 05.39 Yeovil-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 14.45 Waterloo-Southampton 12 minutes late; connection into the 15.00 Waterloo-Poole missed. 14.48 Poole-Waterloo 23 minutes late. 17.12 Waterloo-Guildford reduced to 4 coaches. 17.58 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 18.18 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 21.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking due to duff stock.

9/7/04 15.00 Waterloo-Guildford 15 minutes late; all intermediate stops after Epsom omitted. 15.03 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 15.08 Paignton-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 15.17 Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo only got as far as Portsmouth & Southsea before passengers thrown off due to duff stock. 16.55 Southampton-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 17.30 Waterloo-Exeter 15 minutes late. 17.37 Waterloo-Epsom 20 minutes late. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late. 18.26 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter 43 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.45 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 19 minutes late; 19.16 cancelled. 19.00 Waterloo-Guildford 28 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops after Effingham Junction. 19.03 Chessington-Waterloo 26 minutes late; 19.33 10 minutes late. Passengers on the 19.05 Alton-Waterloo thrown off at Woking. 19.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo 25 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops after Surbiton. 19.12 Waterloo-Basingstoke omitted Surbiton stop. 19.16 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled. 19.19 Dorking-Waterloo axed between Dorking and Epsom. 19.20 Guildford-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 19.37 Shepperton-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 19.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo 15 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops after Surbiton. 19.42 Poole-Waterloo 26 minutes late. 19.49 Waterloo-Guildford 25 minutes late; omitted all stops before Epsom. 19.49 Dorking-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 20.31 Alton-Waterloo 25 minutes late; axed between Alton and Farnham and omitted stops at Surbiton and Clapham Junction. 20.35 Waterloo-Exeter axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 20.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 20.50 Waterloo-Poole 13 minutes late. 21.12 Waterloo-Guildford 30 minutes late. 21.12 Waterloo-Basingstoke 30 minutes late; all intermediate stops omitted. 21.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 21.33 Waterloo-Alton 16 minutes late. 21.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke 17 minutes late. 21.45 Woking-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 22.18 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 22.30 Exeter-Salisbury 17 minutes late.

10/7/04 09.50 Paignton-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 11.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 18 minutes late. 12.00 Waterloo-Poole 20 minutes late. 12.48 Poole-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.27 Guildford-Ascot 30 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 20.42 Waterloo-Windsor and 21.43 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver.

11/7/04 Passengers on the 10.03 Waterloo-Paignton thrown off at Salisbury. 10.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 43 minutes late due to signalling problems. 10.40 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled. 11.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 30 minutes late. 11.51 Portsmouth-Southampton cancelled. 12.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 4 coaches. 12.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled. 14.51 Portsmouth-Southampton 35 minutes late. 15.25 Paignton-Waterloo axed between Paignton and Exeter. 15.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 38 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Fareham. 16.11 Waterloo-Reading and 17.57 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 16.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 16.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 16.51 Portsmouth-Southampton axed between Portsmouth and Fareham. 19.39 Salisbury-Bristol cancelled. Passengers on the 21.00 Romsey-Totton thrown off at Southampton. 21.15 Bristol-Salisbury cancelled due to no driver. 21.05, 22.05 and 23.15 Totton-Romsey cancelled due to no driver. 22.00 Romsey-Totton and 23.02 Romsey-Southampton cancelled due to no driver.

12/7/04 Passengers on the delayed 17.55 Southampton-Brockenhurst told to change to the 18.01 if they wanted Millbrook, Redbridge or Totton; as soon as they changed, the 17.55 departed. 18.07 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to duff stock. 18.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot.

13/7/04 13.48 Poole-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 15.17 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 36 minutes late; 4 stops omitted for operational convenience. 15.53 Ascot-Guildford cancelled due to duff stock. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 17.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 8 coaches. 17.30 Waterloo-Exeter 18 minutes late due to duff stock. Passengers on the 17.52 Waterloo-Reading thrown off at Clapham Junction due to duff stock. 17.54 Reading-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 19.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth reduced to 8 coaches. 19.33 Waterloo-Alton 25 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Farnham. 19.55 Plymouth-Salisbury 15 minutes late. 20.53 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 21.47 Waterloo-Weybridge omitted all stations between Clapham Junction and Feltham due to duff stock.

14/7/04 07.54 Woking-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 10.03 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 11.45 Salisbury-Waterloo 10 minutes late due to no crew. 15.23 Ascot-Guildford 20 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stations except Aldershot. 16.23 Ascot-Guildford cancelled. 17.15 Waterloo-Weymouth/Poole unable to split at Southampton. Passengers for some stations which should have been served by the rear portion thrown off for operational convenience. 17.23 Ascot-Guildford axed between Ascot and Aldershot. 18.03 Waterloo-Shepperton cancelled due to duff stock. 19.07 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 19.42 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 19 minutes late. All stops between Staines and Waterloo omitted. 21.12 Waterloo-Basingstoke and 22.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches.

15/7/04 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 66 minutes late due to duff stock. 08.12 Waterloo-Dorking cancelled. 14.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth 23 minutes late. 15.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo ran non-stop to Twickenham. 15.30 Alton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading failed on leaving Waterloo; passengers thrown off at Vauxhall. Passengers on the 18.57 Brighton-Reading thrown off at Havant due to duff stock. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo omitted all intermediate stops after Staines. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Eastleigh.

16/7/04 11.33 Waterloo-Plymouth reduced to 2 coaches. 15.07 Waterloo-Weybridge, 15.12 Waterloo-Woking, 15.15 Waterloo-Dorking and 15.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo all 15 minutes late. 15.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 15.33 Waterloo-Shepperton omitted all stops before Kingston due to duff stock. 14.42 Reading-Waterloo and 16.22 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches. 14.55 Southampton-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 16.05 Reading-Brighton 100 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Havant. 16.12 Waterloo-Southampton 23 minutes late. 16.32 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. Passengers on 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth furious at stifling conditions due to duff air-conditioning; train 38 minutes late due to signalling problems in the Basingstoke area. 16.45 Waterloo-Poole 23 minutes late; no announcements at Southampton Central about short platforms and none on the train after departure; 4 passengers would have been carried beyond Totton if other passengers had not helped them. 17.40 Exeter-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 17.42 Poole-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth 12 minutes late. 17.53 Salisbury-Waterloo 35 minutes late. 17.56 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 18.01 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth and Fareham. 18.17 Southampton-Eastleigh 12 minutes late. 18.36 Guildford-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 18.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 18.52 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to no driver. 18.54 Portsmouth-Winchester 39 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Eastleigh. 19.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 20 minutes late due to no crew. 19.35 Waterloo-Honiton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 19.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth terminated at Fratton. 19.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled. 19.56 Waterloo-Reading cancelled. 20.03 Winchester-Portsmouth axed between Winchester and Eastleigh. 20.15 Waterloo-Dorking terminated at Leatherhead due to no driver. 20.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.49 Dorking-Waterloo 29 minutes late. 21.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 21.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 21.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 12 minutes late. 22.12 Waterloo-Windsor and 23.15 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver.

17/7/04 Catering facilities withdrawn from various trains between Waterloo and Poole or Weymouth. 09.33 Exeter-Waterloo axed between Exeter and Honiton due to the cancellation of an earlier train. 11.33 Waterloo-Gillingham 27 minutes late due to duff stock. 20.00 Waterloo-Poole 35 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 20.10 Waterloo-Southampton 48 minutes late. Passengers on the 20.30 Exeter-Basingstoke thrown off at Salisbury due to no driver. Passengers on 21.40 Brighton-Salisbury thrown off at Southampton.

18/7/04 07.32 Yeovil-London axed between Yeovil and Salisbury due to no guard. 10.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to broken down train in front. 10.25 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled. 10.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 10.55 Totton-Romsey axed between Totton and Southampton due to duff stock. 13.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth 23 minutes late due to duff stock. Passengers on the 16.11 Waterloo-Reading thrown off at Staines due to duff stock. 16.51 Portsmouth-Southampton 10 minutes late. 17.25 Yeovil-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 17.57 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. Passengers on the 18.10 Brighton-Exeter thrown off at Salisbury due to no crew. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 19.21 Eastleigh-Portsmouth axed between Eastleigh and Fareham due to duff stock. 19.41 Waterloo-Reading 28 minutes late. 19.53 Romsey-Totton terminated at Southampton due to no driver. 19.53 Waterloo-Alton and 21.20 Alton-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. Passengers on the 20.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo thrown off at Southampton. 21.02 Windsor-Waterloo 26 minutes late. 21.05 / 23.15 Totton-Romsey and 22.00 Romsey-Totton cancelled due to no crew. 21.27 Reading-Waterloo 20 minutes late.

19/7/04 15.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth ran only between Woking and Fratton due to duff stock. Part of 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth sweltering hot due to duff air conditioning. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole reduced to 5 coaches. 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled due to duff stock. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 21.25 Totton-Romsey terminated at Southampton due to no driver. 22.14 Romsey-Totton and 23.25 Totton-Romsey cancelled due to no driver.

20/7/04 17.22 Yeovil Junction-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to duff stock. 19.16 Windsor-Waterloo 10 minutes late.

21/7/04 13.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 17.56 Windsor-Waterloo 14 minutes late; omitted all intermediate stops after Staines. 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 18.24 Waterloo-Weybridge 19 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo omitted all stops - except Staines - between Ascot and Clapham Junction, due to duff stock. 19.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock.

22/7/04 21.10 Waterloo-Southampton reduced to 8 coaches. 22.47 Southampton-Portsmouth cancelled.

23/7/04 05.03 Waterloo-Portsmouth and 07.37 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 4 coaches. 05.14 Portsmouth-Waterloo reduced to 8 coaches. 07.00 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 10 minutes late; all intermediate stops before Richmond axed. 07.38 Weymouth-Waterloo and 08.55 Southampton-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 09.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 25 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 09.54 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 09.55 Southampton-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 10.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth 20 minutes late. 11.37 Waterloo-Weybridge and 13.03 Weybridge-Waterloo axed due to no driver. 14.57 Brighton-Basingstoke axed. 15.10 Waterloo-Southampton axed between Waterloo and Basingstoke. 15.18 Waterloo-Alton 20 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 15.23 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed. 15.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 15.57 Brighton-Reading axed between Brighton and Worthing due to no rolling stock. 16.00 Waterloo-Poole 47 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 34 minutes late. 17.25 Hounslow-Waterloo axed due to no crew. 17.25 Southampton-Poole axed due to duff stock. 17.52 Waterloo-Reading axed due to no driver. 17.56 Waterloo-Guildford axed due to no driver. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading 15 minutes late. 18.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 8 coaches. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo axed between Poole and Bournemouth. 18.57 Brighton-Reading 15 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Basingstoke. 19.18 Waterloo-Dorking axed. 19.26 Waterloo-Reading delayed due to duff stock. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 25 minutes late; all intermediate stops except Ascot and Staines axed. 20.00 and 20.50 Guildford-Waterloo axed. 20.07 Weymouth-Waterloo 42 minutes late. 20.17 Waterloo-Staines axed. 20.23 and 22.23 Ascot-Guildford axed. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 20.49 Dorking-Waterloo axed. 21.21 Staines-Waterloo axed. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 21.27 and 23.30 Guildford-Ascot axed. 00.31 Ascot-Farnham axed.

24/7/04 09.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 15 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.05 Brockenhurst-Wareham cancelled due to no driver. 13.12 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Virginia Water. 13.50 Wareham-Brockenhurst axed between Wareham and Bournemouth. 13.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 49 minutes late; omitted all stops between Southampton Central and Waterloo. 14.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 14.48 Poole-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 15.48 Poole-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 16.45 Waterloo-Southampton axed due to no driver. 17.00 Waterloo-Poole 30 minutes late due to no rolling stock; Basingstoke and Winchester stops axed for operational convenience. 17.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 50 minutes late; all intermediate stops after Poole omitted for operational convenience except Wareham and Dorchester. 18.22 Waterloo-Reading axed. 18.55 Southampton-Waterloo 61 minutes late; all intermediate stops omitted for operational convenience. 19.00 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late due to no crew. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo axed due to no driver. 20.00 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late. 20.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 30 minutes late. 20.30 Exeter-Basingstoke 57 minutes late. 20.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth 30 minutes late. 20.45 Waterloo-Southampton 31 minutes late. 21.00 Waterloo-Poole axed. 21.02 Weymouth-Waterloo 32 minutes late. 21.45 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled. 22.02 Waterloo-Kingston and 22.49 Kingston-Waterloo cancelled. 22.26 Waterloo-Reading cancelled. 23.30 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled.

25/7/04 07.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 25 minutes late due to duff stock. 07.40 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 08.02 Windsor-Waterloo 15 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 09.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth 16 minutes late and 09.45 10 minutes late, due to no rolling stock. 09.55 Basingstoke-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to duff stock. 10.03 Waterloo-Paignton reduced to 3 coaches. 10.27 Waterloo-Windsor 17 minutes late. 11.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 32 minutes late. 11.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 11.52 Guildford-Waterloo cancelled. 11.57 Reading-Waterloo 31 minutes late. 12.09 Waterloo-Guildford 17 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 12.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 12.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 13.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 14.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 15.25 Yeovil-Waterloo 10 minutes late. Passengers on the 15.40 Weymouth-Waterloo thrown off at Bournemouth due to no driver. 16.40 Weymouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth axed due to no driver.

26/7/04 13.30 Exeter-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 15.30 Alton-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 15.37 Waterloo-Weybridge and 17.03 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 15.52 Waterloo-Chessington and 16.33 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled. 16.00 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 16.03 Waterloo-Salisbury reduced to 4 coaches. 16.22 Waterloo-Reading reduced to 4 coaches due to duff stock. 17.03 Waterloo-Yeovil reduced to 3 coaches. 17.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled. 17.24 Totton-Romsey 10 minutes late. 17.39 Waterloo-Farnham reduced to 8 coaches. 17.45 Waterloo-Strawberry Hill reduced to 4 coaches due to duff stock. 17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 32 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 19.56 Waterloo-Reading and 21.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.33 Waterloo-Alton axed. 20.50 Waterloo-Poole reduced to 4 coaches. 21.12 Waterloo-Windsor and 22.13 Windsor-Waterloo axed due to duff stock. 21.15 Woking-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 21.52 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham.

27/7/04 06.06 Brockenhurst-Winchester 11 minutes late due to duff stock. 06.42 Hilsea-Waterloo 17 minutes late; all stops between Haslemere and Guildford axed.

29/7/04 06.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 06.37 Basingstoke-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 07.00 Salisbury-Bristol cancelled. 07.10 Waterloo-Exeter 29 minutes late due to duff stock. 07.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 08.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled due to duff stock. 09.45 Waterloo-Dorking 15 minutes late. 09.45 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled due to duff stock. 10.00 Waterloo-Poole 30 minutes late due to duff stock; stops at New Milton, Christchurch and Pokesdown axed and all passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 10.57 Brighton-Basingstoke 24 minutes late. 12.05 Brockenhurst-Wareham 18 minutes late. 12.42 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot due to a fatality. 12.48 Poole-Waterloo axed between Poole and Bournemouth. 13.57 Brighton-Basingstoke 19 minutes late due to duff train in front. 14.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 14.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo 18 minutes late; Clapham Junction stop axed. 15.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea. 15.27 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 15.52 Waterloo-Reading 32 minutes late due to duff stock; passengers thrown off at Staines. 16.22 Waterloo-Reading 15 minutes late. 16.28 Waterloo-Windsor reduced to 4 coaches. 16.53 Ascot-Guildford terminated at Aldershot due to duff stock. 16.56 Windsor-Waterloo delayed; all intermediate stops omitted for operational convenience. 17.03 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Virginia Water. 17.10 Plymouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 17.21 and 17.51 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Staines. 17.26 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 17.54 Reading-Waterloo 30 minutes late; ran fast from Staines to Waterloo. 18.05 Waterloo-Poole 26 minutes late. 20.33 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 20.33 Waterloo-Shepperton 27 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Fulwell. 21.37 Shepperton-Waterloo axed between Shepperton and Teddington.

30/7/04 06.37 Basingstoke-Waterloo 21 minutes late; caused delays of 5-10 minutes to a number of other trains including the 05.42 from Poole. 14.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 14.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 14.48 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled. 15.00 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham due to duff stock. 15.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 15.03 Waterloo-Shepperton and 16.07 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled due to no guard. 16.41 Wareham-Waterloo 47 minutes late; Clapham Junction stop axed. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo 33 minutes late due to a lineside fire; train ran non-stop from Southampton Central to Waterloo for operational convenience. 16.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 16.57 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late; Clapham Junction stop omitted. 17.55 Southampton-Brockenhurst 35 minutes late; nobody bothered to tell passengers for Millbrook, Redbridge and Totton that they should change to the 18.01, so they were left behind. 18.37 Waterloo-Alton reduced to 4 coaches. 18.40 Waterloo-Havant reduced to 8 coaches. 19.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 25 minutes late. 19.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 16 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 25 minutes late. 19.50 Waterloo-Poole 17 minutes late. 20.10 Waterloo-Southampton 18 minutes late. 20.45 Portsmouth-Waterloo 35 minutes late; all stops between Havant and Guildford omitted.

31/7/04 17.48 Poole-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 18 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.30 Exeter-Waterloo 22 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. Passengers on 20.00 Waterloo-Poole and 21.30 Waterloo-Weymouth thrown off at Bournemouth. 21.02 Weymouth-Waterloo 27 minutes late. 21.26 Waterloo-Reading cancelled. Passengers on 20.47 Waterloo-Weybridge thrown off at Staines. 22.30 Weybridge-Staines cancelled. 22.54 Reading-Waterloo cancelled.

1/8/04 08.11 Waterloo-Reading terminated at Clapham Junction due to duff stock. 09.57 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Ascot due to no rolling stock. 11.00 Romsey-Totton axed between Romsey and Eastleigh. 14.16 Penzance-Waterloo/Brighton 40 minutes late. 19.39 Salisbury-Bristol 15 minutes late. 21.55 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled. 23.00 Waterloo-Effingham Junction cancelled.

2/8/04 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo 45 minutes late; stops at Pokesdown, Christchurch, New Milton and Totton axed for operational convenience. 05.36 Portsmouth-Southampton cancelled due to duff stock. 05.36 Shepperton-Waterloo axed between Shepperton and Strawberry Hill. 05.42 Poole-Waterloo 36 minutes late; arrived at Waterloo at 08.40 to form the 08.30 to Weymouth. 05.58 Bournemouth-Weymouth 22 minutes late. 06.10 Woking-Alton cancelled. 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 06.28 Poole-Waterloo cancelled. 06.30 Eastleigh-Portsmouth axed between Eastleigh and Fareham due to broken down train in front. 06.32 Weymouth-Waterloo and 06.54 Poole-Waterloo 48 minutes late. 06.34 Southampton-Romsey and 06.48 Southampton-Eastleigh cancelled due to duff stock. 06.42 Hilsea-Waterloo cancelled. 06.55 Brockenhurst-Southampton cancelled. 07.25 Alton-Waterloo cancelled. 07.25 Southampton-Brockenhurst cancelled. 14.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 35 minutes late. Fatality at Bursledon at about 16.20 - chaos on Netley line. 16.37 Waterloo-Basingstoke reduced to 4 coaches. 17.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 50 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Guildford. 17.39 Waterloo-Farnham reduced to 8 coaches. 18.08 Waterloo-Haslemere, 18.43 Waterloo-Windsor and 18.54 Waterloo-Weybridge all 16 minutes late. 17.54 Waterloo-Weybridge 22 minutes late. 19.24 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to previous train cancelled. 19.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 30 minutes late. 19.51 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Virginia Water.

3/8/04 05.42 Poole-Waterloo 15 minutes late. Late afternoon lightning strike affected signalling between Waterloo and Wimbledon. Total collapse of service. Examples: 16.45 Waterloo-Poole about 135 minutes late; 16.50 Waterloo-Portsmouth cancelled; 16.52 Waterloo-Alton cancelled; 17.15 Waterloo-Weymouth about 90 minutes late; 17.45 Waterloo-Weymouth about 165 minutes late; 18.05 Waterloo-Poole about 165 minutes late. Waterloo station eventually closed. Some commuters reportedly took up to 5 hours to get home. Trains which did run had inhuman overcrowding and, as it was taking an hour or two to get from Waterloo to Clapham Junction, passengers had extended opportunities to sample the misery.

4/8/04 04.58 Poole-Waterloo 24 minutes late. 05.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 06.17 Waterloo-Weybridge 13 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Virginia Water. 06.25 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 06.38 Farnham-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 06.42 Hilsea-Waterloo 20 minutes late due to no stock. 07.14 Woking-Waterloo cancelled. 07.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Guildford. 07.20 Wareham-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 07.38 Weymouth-Waterloo 25 minutes late. 07.45 Waterloo-Southampton delayed due to no stock. 07.47 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled due to no driver. 07.54 Woking-Waterloo 18 minutes late due to no stock. 07.55 Weybridge-Waterloo axed between Weybridge and Virginia Water. 08.06 Brockenhurst-Poole 15 minutes late. 08.10 Waterloo-Basingstoke cancelled due to previous train cancelled. 08.18 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 08.22 Waterloo-Reading 15 minutes late. 08.24 Reading-Waterloo 21 minutes late. 08.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth omitted all stops before Fratton. 08.43 Poole-Waterloo 31 minutes late. 08.46 Weymouth-Waterloo 35 minutes late. 08.48 Waterloo-Alton 15 minutes late. 08.48 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 09.08 Weymouth-Waterloo semi-fast train replaced by a non-stop service from Weymouth to Woking. 09.45 Waterloo-Dorking and 09.45 Waterloo-Southampton 15 minutes late. 09.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 30 minutes late. 10.00 Waterloo-Poole 11 minutes late. 10.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 10 minutes late; all stops between Basingstoke and Woking axed. 10.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 27 minutes late. 10.48 Poole-Waterloo 27 minutes late. 10.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 10.50 Wareham-Brockenhurst axed between Wareham and Bournemouth. 11.07 Waterloo-Weybridge axed due to no guard. 11.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 11.48 Waterloo-Alton axed between Farnham and Alton. 11.50 Wareham-Brockenhurst axed between Wareham and Bournemouth. 12.00 Waterloo-Poole 20 minutes late; stops at New Milton, Christchurch and Pokesdown axed. 12.05 Brockenhurst-Wareham axed between Bournemouth and Wareham. 12.16 Farnham-Waterloo 20 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.30 Waterloo-Weymouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 12.33 Weybridge-Waterloo axed due to no guard. 12.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth delayed due to no stock. 12.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth omitted all stations between Guildford and Fratton. 13.00 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late. 13.18 Waterloo-Alton 24 minutes late. 13.30 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham. 13.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 21 minutes late. 14.26 Waterloo-Hampton Court axed between Waterloo and Surbiton. 14.28 Brockenhurst-Lymington and 14.43 Lymington-Brockenhurst cancelled due to no driver. 14.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth 25 minutes late. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. Rear unit of 16.35 Waterloo-Exeter duff; 23 minutes' delay at Salisbury while it was being detached. 17.50 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 18.08 Alton-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil 15 minutes late. 18.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke failed due to duff stock; passengers thrown off at Surbiton. 18.24 Waterloo-Guildford 26 minutes late due to duff train in front. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 18 minutes late. 18.32 Waterloo-Portsmouth 21 minutes late due to duff train in front. 18.34 Alton-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter 30 minutes late due to duff train in front. 18.43 Waterloo-Windsor 15 minutes late. 18.50 Waterloo-Poole cancelled due to duff stock. 18.51 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 19.03 Waterloo-Shepperton reduced to 4 coaches. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 21.27 Guildford-Ascot 15 minutes late. 21.52 Alton-Waterloo 22 minutes late.

5/8/04 Evening of tree on the Alton line and broken down train in the Wokingham area. 16.05 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 16.07 Shepperton-Waterloo 105 minutes late; 17.07 67 minutes late; 18.37 45 minutes late; 19.07 67 minutes late; 19.37 73 minutes late; 20.07 61 minutes late; 22.37 cancelled due to no crew. 16.27 Alton-Waterloo 73 minutes late; 16.58 46 minutes late; 17.35 29 minutes late; 18.08 27 minutes late; 18.34 19 minutes late; 19.05 cancelled; 21.24 cancelled due to duff stock. Parts of 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth virtually empty due to duff air conditioning. 16.42 Poole-Waterloo delayed 10 minutes at Southampton. 16.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late; 16.57 16 minutes late; 20.47 19 minutes late. 16.54 Waterloo-Weybridge 28 minutes late; 18.24 24 minutes late; 19.47 cancelled due to no crew. 17.03 Weybridge-Waterloo 43 minutes late; 18.21 38 minutes late; 18.51 18 minutes late; 19.51 26 minutes late; 21.30 cancelled. 17.12 Reading-Waterloo 11 minutes late; 17.26 76 minutes late; 17.54 33 minutes late; 18.54 13 minutes late; 20.24 27 minutes late; 20.54 31 minutes late; 21.24 cancelled due to duff stock. 17.26 Windsor-Waterloo 28 minutes late; 19.16 27 minutes late; 19.46 17 minutes late. 17.33 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo axed between Waterloo and Twickenham; 18.15 11 minutes late; 19.32 13 minutes late. 17.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 17.54 Guildford-Ascot 45 minutes late; 18.54 axed between Aldershot and Ascot. 18.06 Waterloo-Epsom cancelled due to no crew. 18.12 Waterloo-Windsor 27 minutes late. 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke 36 minutes late. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading cancelled; 19.26 36 minutes late; 19.56 35 minutes late; 20.26 18 minutes late; 20.56 18 minutes late; 21.26 16 minutes late. 18.48 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled due to no crew. 18.57 Ascot-Guildford 33 minutes late. 19.33 Paignton-Basingstoke 16 minutes late. 19.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 19.50 Guildford-Waterloo 24 minutes late due to no crew; all stations after Effingham Junction omitted for operational convenience. 19.53 Ascot-Aldershot cancelled. 20.15 Waterloo-Dorking cancelled due to no crew. 20.32 Portsmouth-Southampton 36 minutes late due to no rolling stock. 20.33 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Farnham due to no crew. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock. 21.33 Waterloo-Shepperton cancelled due to no crew. 21.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 25 minutes late. 21.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled.

6/8/04 06.10 Portsmouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 06.19 Poole-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 06.50 Alton-Waterloo 20 minutes late. 07.10 Haslemere-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 07.17 Basingstoke-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 14.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 10 minutes late. 16.05 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 16.12 Waterloo-Woking, 16.56 Waterloo-Hampton Court, 17.03 Waterloo-Shepperton, 17.45 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo, 18.12 Waterloo-Guildford and 18.22 Waterloo-Chessington all reduced to 4 coaches. 16.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 17 minutes late due to electrical problems; connections from Southampton Airport for Romsey and from Southampton Central for all stations to Brockenhurst missed by about two minutes. 17.14 Romsey-Totton 10 minutes late. 18.07 Waterloo-Reading cancelled due to duff stock. 17.40 Exeter-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 18.42 Poole-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 18.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled. Passengers on the 18.57 Brighton-Reading thrown off at Basingstoke. 19.24 Reading-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock; 19.54 13 minutes late. 19.45 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 27 minutes late. 20.07 Alton-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 20.16 Windsor-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 20.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 22 minutes late. 20.50 Waterloo-Poole 26 minutes late. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke. 21.49 Kingston-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 21.52 Alton-Waterloo 24 minutes late.

7/8/04 Busy Summer Saturday morning. As in previous years, the 08.30 Waterloo-Weymouth was 5 coaches only; at 09.30 passengers waiting at Southampton Central were cheerfully informed that it was "full and standing" and that there was no space for bicycles. After a further delay at Wool, due to an alleged trespasser on the line, the train was 20 minutes late. Repeat story on the 20.07 Weymouth-Waterloo: a 5-coach train with many passengers standing from Bournemouth.

8/8/04 Brockenhurst-Lymington service axed all day without explanation. 07.00 Eastleigh-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 09.03 Waterloo-Plymouth 9 minutes late due to duff stock. 09.55 Bournemouth-Waterloo 32 minutes late due to duff stock. 10.11 Waterloo-Staines 13 minutes late. 12.25 Windsor-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 13.20 Alton-Waterloo axed between Alton and Farnham due to duff stock. 14.00 Romsey-Totton cancelled due to duff stock. 14.55 Totton-Romsey cancelled due to duff stock. 15.53 Romsey-Totton axed between Romsey and Southampton Central due to duff stock. 15.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth 16 minutes late due to no crew. 16.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth terminated at Fratton due to duff stock. 16.50 Waterloo-Bournemouth cancelled. 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth cancelled. 22.40 Weymouth-Brockenhurst cancelled.

9/8/04 13.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth 24 minutes late; 14.08 22 minutes late; 14.38 axed between Waterloo and Woking; 19.00 reduced to 4 coaches. 14.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 11 minutes late; 18.01 axed between Eastleigh and Waterloo due to duff stock; 19.20 12 minutes late. 14.55 Southampton-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 16.48 Weymouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 17.24 Totton-Romsey and 18.14 Romsey-Totton axed between Southampton and Romsey due to no crew. 17.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 27 minutes late. 18.39 Waterloo-Woking cancelled. 19.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 14 minutes late. 19.50 Waterloo-Poole 19 minutes late. 21.12 Waterloo-Guildford cancelled due to no driver.

10/8/04 16.00 Alton-Waterloo 26 minutes late and axed between Alton and Farnham. 16.42 Reading-Waterloo cancelled. 16.45 Waterloo-Poole advertised as cancelled due to crew; it was then reinstated as an "additional service" which reached Totton 55 minutes late between the Weymouth and Bournemouth portions of the 17.45 from Waterloo. 16.52 Waterloo-Chessington, 17.12 Waterloo-Guildford and 18.15 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo all reduced to 4 coaches. 16.56 Waterloo-Woking and 18.04 Woking-Waterloo cancelled. Passengers on the 17.10 Plymouth-Waterloo thrown off at Basingstoke due to no guard. 18.37 Waterloo-Reading 23 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Wokingham. 18.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 23 minutes late. 19.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 10 minutes late. 19.42 Poole-Waterloo axed between Poole and Bournemouth. 19.54 Portsmouth-Winchester axed between Eastleigh and Winchester. 19.54 Reading-Waterloo 30 minutes late; axed between Reading and Bracknell and called only at Staines and Waterloo. 21.09 Winchester-Portsmouth axed between Winchester and Eastleigh. 21.09 Waterloo-Guildford and 22.20 Guildford-Wimbledon cancelled due to no crew.

11/8/04 15.07 Waterloo-Weybridge and 16.33 Weybridge cancelled. 16.03 Waterloo-Shepperton, 17.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth, 17.15 Waterloo-Strawberry Hill and 18.06 Waterloo-Epsom all reduced to 4 coaches. 17.07 Waterloo-Guildford 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 18.21 Weybridge-Waterloo 18 minutes late. 18.24 Reading-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 18.54 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled due to no driver. 20.33 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.49 Kingston-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 20.52 Waterloo-Chessington cancelled due to no driver. 21.02 Waterloo-Kingston axed between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. 21.38 Chessington-Waterloo cancelled due to no driver. 21.45 Woking-Waterloo cancelled.

12/8/04 11.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 13.53 Waterloo-Portsmouth 18 minutes late. 14.00 Waterloo-Poole 16 minutes late. 14.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 15 minutes late. 14.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 18 minutes late due to no crew. 15.22 Waterloo-Chessington 17 minutes late; ran non-stop to Raynes Park for operational convenience. 15.45 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled. 16.05 Reading-Brighton axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock. 17.48 Waterloo-Alton reduced to 8 coaches. 18.53 Waterloo-Chessington reduced to 4 coaches. 18.54 Salisbury-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 18.57 Brighton-Reading axed between Basingstoke and Reading due to duff stock. 19.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 13 minutes late. 19.35 Waterloo-Honiton 42 minutes late due to duff stock; passengers thrown off at Salisbury. 20.16 Windsor-Waterloo 23 minutes late; all intermediate stops after Twickenham omitted. 20.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 15 minutes late. 20.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 21 minutes late. 21.24 Reading-Portsmouth axed between Reading and Basingstoke due to duff stock.

13/8/04 Train failure at Clapham Junction in the morning peak: all mainline arrivals into Waterloo between 08.00 and 08.30 about 10-15 minutes late. 13.48 Poole-Waterloo 29 minutes late - arrived at Waterloo at 16.30 to form the 16.30 to Weymouth, departing 9 minutes late and reaching Southampton 18 minutes late; a number of important connections missed. 14.45 Salisbury-Waterloo 11 minutes late. 15.14 Basingstoke-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 17.10 Plymouth-Waterloo 20 minutes late due to duff stock. 17.54 Reading-Waterloo 13 minutes late; axed between Reading and Bracknell. 18.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 12 minutes late. Passengers on the 18.10 Waterloo-Yeovil thrown off at Salisbury. 18.18 Waterloo-Alton 31 minutes late due to duff stock; knock-on effects for 18.21 Waterloo-Basingstoke (32 minutes late), 18.24 Waterloo-Guildford (32 minutes late), 18.30 Waterloo-Weymouth (29 minutes late). 18.35 Waterloo-Exeter 13 minutes late; reduced to 6 coaches. 18.40 Waterloo-Havant 17 minutes late. 18.54 Waterloo-Weybridge cancelled. 19.00 Waterloo-Portsmouth 26 minutes late. 19.03 Waterloo-Shepperton and 20.07 Shepperton-Waterloo cancelled. 19.05 Waterloo-Bristol 17 minutes late. 19.10 Waterloo-Southampton 21 minutes late. 19.20 Waterloo-Portsmouth 10 minutes late. 19.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 20 minutes late. 19.32 Alton-Waterloo 36 minutes late. Passengers on the 19.33 Paignton-Basingstoke thrown off at Salisbury. 19.35 Waterloo-Honiton 16 minutes late. 19.40 Waterloo-Portsmouth 16 minutes late. 19.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo 17 minutes late; stops at Surbiton and Clapham Junction axed. 20.00 Guildford-Waterloo 17 minutes late. 20.07 Alton-Waterloo 28 minutes late. 20.33 Weybridge-Waterloo cancelled. 20.35 Waterloo-Exeter 15 minutes late. 20.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 35 minutes late. 20.50 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late.

14/8/04 07.18 Waterloo-Alton 19 minutes late. 08.24 Waterloo-Brentford-Waterloo started 8 minutes late due to duff stock. 09.57 Brighton-Paignton 38 minutes late. 10.33 Waterloo-Paignton 63 minutes late and reduced to 3 coaches due to duff stock. 14.50 Paignton-Waterloo axed between Paignton and Newton Abbot. 15.03 Waterloo-Salisbury cancelled due to duff stock. 15.48 Poole-Waterloo 54 minutes late; all stops between Southampton Central and Waterloo omitted. 17.30 Waterloo-Weymouth cancelled. 17.33 Waterloo-Yeovil axed between Waterloo and Salisbury. 19.00 Waterloo-Poole 15 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Bournemouth. 19.03 Waterloo-Bristol axed between Salisbury and Bristol. Passengers on the 19.10 Salisbury-Waterloo thrown off at Basingstoke. 20.23 Ascot-Guildford axed between Aldershot and Guildford due to duff stock. 20.33 Waterloo-Yeovil axed between Salisbury and Yeovil. 21.33 Waterloo-Gillingham axed between Waterloo and Salisbury. 22.15 Bristol-Salisbury cancelled. 21.02 Weymouth-Waterloo axed between Weymouth and Bournemouth. 21.27 Guildford-Ascot axed between Guildford and Aldershot due to duff stock.

15/8/04 06.40 Portsmouth-Waterloo 59 minutes late; passengers thrown off at Woking. 08.45 Waterloo-Portsmouth axed between Waterloo and Woking. 09.47 Southampton-Portsmouth 18 minutes late. 11.51 Portsmouth-Southampton 10 minutes late. 20.18 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 28 minutes late.

16/8/04 05.54 Reading-Waterloo axed between Reading and Bracknell due to duff stock. 06.12 Waterloo-Basingstoke 17 minutes late due to duff stock. 06.56 Waterloo-Reading 19 minutes late and omitted all intermediate stops after Ascot, due to duff stock. 09.18 Windsor-Waterloo axed. Passengers on the 10.02 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo thrown off at Clapham Junction due to duff stock. 14.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 35 minutes late due to duff stock; Paignton portion axed. 15.18 Waterloo-Alton axed between Waterloo and Woking. 16.00 Waterloo-Poole 17 minutes late. 17.40 Exeter-Waterloo 19 minutes late due to train failure. 19.20 Portsmouth-Waterloo 23 minutes late due to duff stock. 19.33 Paignton-Basingstoke axed between Paignton and Exeter due to duff stock. 19.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 20.45, 21.15 and 21.45 Woking-Waterloo missed West Byfleet and Byfleet & New Haw stops due to a train failure. 21.26 Waterloo-Reading 18 minutes late due to duff stock.

17/8/04 Overrunning engineering works in the Basingstoke area added to the usual problems. 05.35 Waterloo-Weymouth 49 minutes late. 05.40 Basingstoke-Bournemouth axed between Basingstoke and Southampton. 06.10 Woking-Alton cancelled due to duff stock. 06.40 Waterloo-Weymouth 23 minutes late. 07.10 Basingstoke-Portsmouth 28 minutes late. 07.12 Waterloo-Brighton 72 minutes late. 07.25 Alton-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.29 Basingstoke-Yeovil 29 minutes late. 07.30 Waterloo-Wareham 47 minutes late. 07.52 Waterloo-Salisbury 19 minutes late. 07.53 Epsom-Waterloo cancelled due to duff stock. 07.55 Waterloo-Poole 44 minutes late. 08.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth 43 minutes late. 08.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 34 minutes late. 08.32 Portsmouth-Southampton axed between Portsmouth and Fareham. 08.33 Waterloo-Plymouth 34 minutes late. 08.55 Southampton-Waterloo axed between Southampton and Basingstoke. 08.55 Waterloo-Poole 20 minutes late. 09.01 Haslemere-Waterloo omitted all stops from West Byfleet to Surbiton inclusive. 09.22 Basingstoke-Brighton 29 minutes late. 09.44 Basingstoke-Waterloo axed between Basingstoke and Woking. 09.45 Waterloo-Southampton cancelled. 09.57 Brighton-Reading 16 minutes late. 10.05 Reading-Brighton 29 minutes late. 10.26 Waterloo-Hampton Court omitted all stops before Berrylands. 10.30 Waterloo-Weymouth 20 minutes late. 10.57 Brighton-Basingstoke 24 minutes late; axed between Brighton and Worthing. 11.09 Hampton Court-Waterloo omitted all stops after Surbiton. 11.15 Waterloo-Portsmouth 18 minutes late. 11.23 Waterloo-Haslemere axed between Guildford and Haslemere. 12.05 Brockenhurst-Wareham 15 minutes late. 12.08 Waterloo-Portsmouth 30 minutes late due to duff stock. 12.40 Haslemere-Waterloo axed between Haslemere and Guildford. 13.38 Waterloo-Portsmouth 20 minutes late. 15.47 Portsmouth-Waterloo 35 minutes late due to duff stock; stops at Fratton, Petersfield and Woking axed. 16.01 Portsmouth-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 16.17 Portsmouth-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 16.25 Portsmouth-Waterloo 16 minutes late. 16.45 Waterloo-Kingston-Waterloo 22 minutes late; all intermediate stops after Twickenham omitted. 16.54 Portsmouth-Waterloo axed between Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea. 16.57 Portsmouth-Waterloo 19 minutes late. 17.03 Waterloo-Shepperton 16 minutes late. 17.33 Chessington-Waterloo 15 minutes late. 17.39 Hampton Court-Waterloo 15 minutes late; intermediate stops after Surbiton omitted. 17.49 Dorking-Waterloo cancelled. 19.46 Windsor-Waterloo 10 minutes late. 20.07 Alton-Waterloo 12 minutes late. 20.42 Waterloo-Windsor 16 minutes late.

HOGRIDER PRESS RESEARCH
(Cuttings archived by SHRUG)

Rail bosses to get £112,000 bonuses (Metro 3/6/04)
Network Rail's chief and deputy chief executives are to get bonuses of £112,320 / £99,840. The group's 15,000 other staff will get about £600. The group failed to meet its 10% target for reducing delays and had a £758 million operating loss.

Halt these trains (Romsey Advertiser 4/6/04)
Reader complains that trains run empty between Chandlers Ford and Romsey and are a nuisance to motorists at Crampmoor crossing.

Pollution could cut your life by 10 years (Evening Standard 7/6/04)
Figures produced by Kings College, London show that potentially fatal forms of pollution have soared. London's air pollution estimated to have caused 1,600 premature deaths and 1,500 hospital admissions every year. [Some results are surprising: Sevenoaks and Kingston have more ozone pollution than Tower Hamlets or Brent. Enfield has almost twice the level of dust pollution as Marylebone Road - Is this because there are more cars and/or industry in the suburbs than in the centre?]

New trains are worst I have travelled on (Southern Daily Echo 8/6/04)
A correspondent finds the new Desiros on the Portsmouth-Southampton line the worst trains he has travelled on in 60 years. They are cold, noisy, draughty and uncomfortable. The seating and excessive air conditioning are particularly bad. The guard agreed with his views.

Encourage cyclists to use rail (Southern Daily Echo 8/6/04)
A reader laments the reduced facilities for cycles on new trains; this is against government policy of integrated transport and discourages use of trains.

Forced from trains and on to the roads (Southern Daily Echo 10/6/04)
Reader agrees with previous correspondent's complaint about the reduced facilities for cycles on new trains. He has also been badly inconvenienced by Southern's withdrawal of their services beyond Southampton to Bournemouth. He now drives from Swanwick to Bournemouth, adding to road congestion.

Radio for rail safety will mean delays (Evening Standard 10/6/04)
An £800 million railway safety system could bring a sharp rise in train delays because it is over-sensitive. The SRA has admitted that there could be a problem but "only in a few very dense and complex areas". Meanwhile safety improvement targets set 5 years ago have been scrapped because they are not realistically achievable.

Council appoints new transport head (Southern Daily Echo 11/6/04)
Keith Wilcox is Hampshire County Council's new head of passenger transport. He worked for the Council 3 years ago before taking up a post with Stagecoach.

Double rail blow for passengers (Southern Daily Echo 11/6/04)
A day of misery for New Forest passengers. Signalling problems led to 50 minute delays between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst and a duff train blocked the Brockenhurst-Lymington branch line.

Train-delay man walks free (Metro 18/6/04)
A man who parked his car on a level crossing at Berwick, East Sussex, at protest at his train not stopping due to wrong sort of rolling stock, was given 80 hours community service and made to pay £250 compensation to National Rail.

Pollution and roads kill 100,000 children a year in Europe (Guardian 18/6/04)
World Health Organisation has found that 13,000 children a year die of injuries in Western Europe - mostly from road traffic injuries- one third of deaths under 19. Lead is still the most serious toxicant. Outdoor pollution causes nearly 14,000 deaths a year of children under 4.

Chandlers Ford rail link success (Romsey Advertiser 18/6/04)
Hampshire County Council replies to letter published on 4 June (see above). On average, over 200 passengers a day in each direction travel by train between Romsey and Chandlers Ford. Trains are used by more than 90,000 passengers a year at Chandlers Ford. 41% of Chandlers Ford passengers have transferred from their cars and 35% have transferred from buses because they find the train more convenient. A letter from another reader accuses car users of being short-sighted, and points out the negative environmental impacts of road traffic.

MPs seek funding for key £40m rail upgrade (Southern Daily Echo 21/6/04)
Southampton MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead are pressing for upgrade of route from Southampton Docks to the Midlands to allow more new-style 9.5ft containers to be transported. This is seen as particularly important to the port's prosperity following the decision not to proceed with development at Dibden Bay.

Transport summit is boost for SHRT (Southern Daily Echo 21/6/04)
County Council initiative to increase awareness of the South Hampshire Rapid Transport scheme [Portsmouth-Gosport-Fareham tramway]. Council is awaiting a decision about government funding for the scheme. It is considered good value for money and underpins the transport strategy for South Hampshire.

£1 million rail crash settlement (Guardian 22/6/04)
A widow and two children of a victim of the Hatfield crash are to receive £1 million in compensation from Railtrack.

Stagecoach pair profit in windfall (Evening Standard 23/6/04)
Stagecoach founders Brian Souter and Ann Gloag have received a £60 million give-away from a £250 million award to shareholders. The two will also receive £10 million from the company's annual dividend. Stagecoach has a net debt of £68 million.

Record number of attacks on passengers revealed (Evening Standard 23/6/04)
Thefts on trains and the tube have increased to over 32,000 annually - equivalent to 4 an hour. Arrests made in one in every 40 cases. Violence is up 20% to 7,458 incidents - about 20 violent crimes every day. All companies except the tube are branded in HM Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary's report as "loath to fund the force [British Transport Police] to the required level" - leaving its officers with "impoverished and inadequate" infrastructure which is "groaning" under the strain.

Praise for rail crash lawyer (Metro 24/6/04)
Louise Christian, who represented victims of the Paddington, Southall and Potters Bar disasters has been named Legal Aid Personality of the Year.

Rail chiefs share blame (Evening Standard 24/6/04)
Christian Wolmar points out that the vote for a strike on Network Rail was easier to achieve because of the £112,320 / £99,840 bonuses paid to chief executive John Armitt / deputy Iain Coucher, on top of their salaries of over £400,000.

The phantom Stagecoach driver (Guardian 24/6/04)
Stagecoach investigating optical guidance system that steers buses by detecting white lines painted on roads. Brian Souter still pressing for integration between tracks and trains, saying "We just keep preaching the gospel and waiting for the sinners to see the light". [Presumably Stagecoach's huge subsidy from taxpayers, shortage of drivers and excess of duff trains leaves them squeaky clean. Why should the tracks be any better under their control - or are we all sinners for not having faith in them despite their constant failure to provide a reliable train service?] Mr Souter is also quoted as moaning "According to the pensions situation, none of us has to retire any more - we'll have to keep working". He and his sister Ann Gloag are only the eleventh richest people in Scotland with a combined fortune of £330 million, to which you can add £65 million by the time Stagecoach makes its payout to shareholders.

Record £5 billion spent on railways but one in five trains is late (Evening Standard 25/6/04)
Performance figures for the first 3 months of 2004 are only marginally better than those of the same period in 2003. Of the London commuter services, Chiltern - with 86.6% of trains on time - has snatched top place from C2C, who still do comparatively well at 85.8%. SWT is [unsurprisingly] the worst with 69.6% of trains on time, moving from last but one place to the very bottom.

Unions riled as Dutch state railway wins UK franchise (Guardian 2/7/04)
Dutch state railways will soon run a larger train network in Britain than it does in the Netherlands, having won an 8-year franchise for services from Liverpool and Manchester to Yorkshire and Newcastle. General Secretary of the RMT noted that the services would effectively be in state hands.

Trams are Mayor's route to the future (Evening Standard 6/7/04)
Trams are to take centre stage in Ken Livingstone's plans to overhaul London's transport network. Rail / tram proposals in summary are: East London Line to be extended north to Highbury and Islington and south to Clapham Junction, West Croydon and Crystal Palace. Metropolitan Line to be extended to Watford Junction. Piccadilly Line to be extended to Heathrow Terminal 5. Crossrail would be a high-speed link between Heathrow and Stratford / Isle of Dogs and beyond towards Shenfield and Ebbsfleet. Thameslink 2000 would have big capacity increase and a branch to Cambridge. Croydon Tramlink would extend to Purley, Streatham, Crystal Palace, Tooting, and Wimbledon via Sutton. The Docklands Light Railway would extend to Woolwich Arsenal, Dagenham Dock and Stratford International. Cross River Transit would be a tramway from Camden to Peckham and Brixton via Waterloo Bridge. East London Transit would be a tramway linking Barkingside, Collier Row and Harold Wood with Rainham (Essex). Greenwich Waterside Transit would be a guided bus or tram route linking Greenwich with Gallions Reach via a new Thames crossing. West London Transit would be a Shepherds Bush-Uxbridge tramway.

National Express in monopolies investigation (Evening Standard 8/7/04)
The Competition Commission fears higher rail and coach fares now that National Express has won the Greater Anglia rail franchise. The company already runs coach services linking London with Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. It also now runs both rail routes between Southend and London. [Similar concerns were raised when First took Scotrail from National Express; now National Express has taken Greater Anglia from First and Anglia. Did the SRA ever consider monopoly as an issue? And what about Northern Hampshire where Stagecoach runs both buses and trains?]

Virgin denied East Coast line (Guardian 9/7/04)
The three-way franchise bid by Virgin, Stagecoach and Deutsche Bahn has been withdrawn after the German partner became concerned about the risks of running trains in Britain. [GNER, who run the service without public subsidy and who are highly regarded for their customer service standards, ought to be front runners]

Climate change curbs Darling's plans (Guardian 13/7/04)
Alistair Darling's enthusiasm for building roads and airport runways is to be curbed by new measures forcing him to take account of Britain's international commitment to tackling climate change. Transport is to be included in the government's target of achieving a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010, which was set out in the Kyoto treaty.

Melting ice would wipe out London - top scientist (Guardian 14/7/04)
There is more carbon monoxide in the air than for 55 million years, enough to melt all the ice on the planet and submerge cities like London, New York and New Orleans, says Sir David King, the Government's chief scientific adviser. We are already doomed to 30-40 years of climate heating because of the carbon monoxide already in the air. Ice caps like that on Mount Kilimanjaro are expected to disappear during that period, after having existed for hundreds of thousands of years. Climate change is now a greater threat than global terrorism.

Mayor to ask firms to pay more tax for Crossrail project (Evening Standard 14/7/04)
Ken Livingstone is to ask for a three per cent rise in business rates to drive Crossrail forward. The Greater London Authority would gain majority support. Corporation of London supports the idea and the CBI is open to it.

Train sense (Evening Standard 15/7/04)
A big welcome for the Government's plans to give the Mayor of London extensive new powers to tackle delays, overcrowding and soaring prices on London commuter services.

Train fleet owners face scrutiny over profits (Evening Standard 16/7/04)
The Government is to develop a longer term strategy for the rolling stock market. Last year the three rolling stock companies made total profits of £130 million. The competition authorities may be asked to investigate. Porterbrook protested that it did not make excessive profits, while the other two companies declined to comment.

Switching points to a new way ahead (Guardian 16/7/04)
The SRA's 380 employees have been told that the organisation is being scrapped. Policy responsibilities go to the Secretary of State for Transport, and operational responsibilities to Network Rail. Safety will transfer from the HSE to the Office of Rail Regulation, and there will be more powers for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Mayor of London. One senior industry source said, "There was no point to the SRA".

Mayor handed £3 billion transport boost to help London win the Olympics (Evening Standard 20/7/04)
The Mayor of London has been given a £2.9bn financial package to invest in vital projects by the end of the decade. These include extension of the East London line (Shoreditch-New Cross/New Cross Gate) from Highbury and Islington to West Croydon and upgrade of the Docklands light railway, including a second river crossing, to Woolwich.

20,000 on trains already full as overcrowding worsens (Evening Standard 20/7/04)
Department for Transport's figures show huge increase in passengers on trains which have already reached their official safe capacity (number of standing passengers = 35% of number of seated passengers). Overcrowding on SWT's morning peak services has increased by 77% since 1997.

A transport plan for the future (Evening Standard 20/7/04)
Many peak hour London commuters travel in cattle truck conditions. The Government's new transport plan will get a wry reception from the 6,000 "excess" passengers who are crowded on to SWT services every morning. And what will Underground passengers make of Transport for London's Commissioner, Bob Kiley's salary package of £700,000 last year? Some of Alistair Darling's wide-ranging ideas have promise, but passengers are entitled to be sceptical until we see results.

The road to freedom (Guardian 21/7/04)
The country faces either pay-as-you-go driving or else roads at near choking point at peak times. Hi-tech road pricing would not be introduced until 2014. Alistair Darling is congratulated for introducing a more practical approach to transport issues, his strategy including more control for Councils over buses, getting the Crossrail project off the ground, and starting the debate on getting to grips with road congestion.

How Prescott's masterplan was dumped (Guardian 21/7/04)
The ten year transport plan to increase use of public transport and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution has been consigned to the dustbin. Targets now appear unrealistic. Adverse effects from the lorry drivers' blockade of petrol stations in 2001 and the Hatfield rail disaster.

Supertram derailed (Southern Daily Echo 21/7/04)
Government has shelved plans to help fund the Portsmouth-Gosport-Fareham rapid transport system. Planning to date has taken 14 years and cost taxpayers nearly £10m.

No decision yet on £40m docks rail link (Southern Daily Echo 21/7/04)
Ministers have not yet decided whether to agree upgrading of the rail link from the West Midlands to Southampton Docks.

Crossrail Con Trick (Evening Standard 22/7/04)
Crossrail has been "going ahead" for 15 years, but the project employs 200 people and £300m has been spent on consultants. Yet the Government's report says the project needs "further engineering and economic analysis", not to mention a "refinement of the financing strategy" with "substantial work which will take time to complete". A hybrid Crossrail bill is being introduced in Parliament, sometime. A private bill was introduced in the mid-nineties and the Treasury scuppered it.

Transport plan derailed (Guardian 22/7/04)
Correspondents have mixed views on Government's latest transport plan. Public and business frustration with the 10-year plan, launched 4 years ago; billions of pounds for London improvements but not the £1bn required to extend Manchester Metrolink; lack of confidence that Government can deliver effective package around road charging; more emphasis needed on cycling to reduce obesity; and road charging seen as a stealth tax on poorer people.

Bonus anger at Network Rail (Guardian 22/7/04)
Widespread anger that Network Rail Directors are getting payouts worth 24% of salary when the organisation has recorded a £785m deficit and failed to meet train reliability targets.

Fears of steep rise in rail fare (Evening Standard 22/7/04)
Roger Ford, technical editor of 'Modern Railways', considers that the ageing rail network is unaffordable at the present rate of subsidy. Fares last year covered 42% of running costs, with the remainder coming from taxpayers.

Letters (Evening Standard 30/7/04)
Correspondent from Lincoln's Inn considers that, every weekday since SWT was set up, at best one in ten of their services has been on time. The official figures are better only because of the wide interpretation of the word "late". Overcrowding has been exacerbated by the re-introduction of slam-door trains on some services and train crew shortages on Friday evenings. The rises in fares are "criminal".

Experts highlight hot spots as air pollution rises 300% (Southern Daily Echo 4/8/04)
Huge rise in the numbers of cars on Hampshire's roads, along with rising temperatures, are exacerbating the problems of pollution. Four areas of Southampton (Millbrook Road, Redbridge Road, Bevois Valley Road and Bitterne Road) along with the centre of Winchester and Lyndhurst High Street are particularly bad. Research suggests that air pollution in the UK brings forward the deaths of 12,000-24,000 people every year. Increases in pollutants are blamed mainly on motorists. Young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and people with heart and lung conditions are particularly at risk.

Most rail advice is 'inaccurate' (Metro 5/8/04)
Study by 'Which?' magazine shows that National Rail Enquiries are giving the wrong information 75% of the time. One operator had no idea where Cambridge was. In another case, a fare of £182 was quoted when an alternative ticket was available for £52.

Letters (Evening Standard 6/8/04)
During the chaos on 3 August, following a lightning strike on the signalling system, staff at Waterloo apparently disappeared as services ground to a halt for hours. Passengers were advised to take the Tube, only to find Underground employees closing the gates. When a group of irate passengers found themselves held prisoner aboard a train just outside Waterloo, they revolted and got out of their carriages. Suddenly it was all the passengers' fault, they became not "customers" any more but trespassers. At one point passengers at Clapham Junction were directed to platform 5, only for the train to pull out before anyone could make it there. It took the writer four hours to travel 10 miles.

Virgin franchise bid fails (Evening Standard 9/8/04)
Virgin's bid to extend its Cross Country franchise to 2012 has been ruled out by the SRA on value for money grounds.

Dad rescues son after slip through gap at railway station (Southern Daily Echo 10/8/04)
A 5-year old slipped under a train at Stagecoach's Ryde Esplanade station, moments before it pulled away. Stagecoach commented that they were treating the incident very seriously but perhaps the child's hand wasn't held or perhaps he was jostled in a group. The child's father said there had been announcements about the gaps on the outward journey but not on the return journey.

Private Eye No. 1108
The SRA's proposals for passenger train services in Kent show why the authority needed to be scaled down. Many stations would no longer have trains to both Charing Cross and Cannon Street. Many Kent commuters are predicted to switch to high speed services to St Pancras, but most don't work in that area so will lose the saved time in battling across London. Meanwhile the new franchise for the East Coast Main Line is being rushed through. The consultation document has been branded "commercially confidential" by the SRA, preventing discussions with passengers [the same lame excuse is being used to prevent passengers seeing Stagecoach's proposals for a new SWT timetable from December this year]. Richard Bowker's haste to give his former company, Virgin, a chance to dethrone [popular] GNER contrasts with delays in settling the northern region franchise.

Private Eye No. 1109
Half the coaches on Virgin's new Pendolino trains are first class, but there are early signs of passenger resistance. Virgin is spending £1.5 million on advertising to encourage people to switch to first class. A first class open single from London to Manchester has increased from £67.50 to £140 since 1997. This is a 107% increase over a period when inflation was 16%. SRA Chief Executive, Richard Bowker's, splitting of London-Northampton-Birmingham services to make more room for Virgin services has hit a snag. Central Trains has to train staff to operate unfamiliar routes and rolling stock, and some local services in the Midlands have had to be suspended for a year. Central's subsidy has increased by 32% this year, to £221 million.

Private Eye No. 1110
Whatever the SRA's fate, it has succeeded in its key task of saving Stagecoach for the nation. Stagecoach had disastrously paid £1.2bn for an assortment of bus and taxi operations. At home, Virgin (49% owned by Stagecoach) was heading for staggering losses because it couldn't deliver the services and payments to the state it promised. Fortunately Richard Bowker found a stash of spare millions at the SRA, and even found some left over to increase Stagecoach's SWT subsidy by 400% last year. By April 2004, Stagecoach had accrued a £250m pile of surplus cash attributed to unexpectedly strong profits at Virgin Rail and SWT. But instead of selfishly investing that money in SWT - perhaps in hiring the 100-plus new carriages originally planned but now abandoned - Stagecoach will generously give the cash to its needy shareholders. Announcing its annual results, Stagecoach boasted of "significant improvement in South West Trains' operational performance". This improvement was a 7.5% increase (!) in trains cancelled and 2% improvement in punctuality.

Meanwhile Virgin Trains dumped a 14-year old schoolgirl on a platform miles from her home after a mix-up over her ticket. The problem arose because the ticket was printed in an unusual format, but this was because it had been issued at Hexham and posted to her. The girl's father rang British Transport Police who sprang into action to ensure her safety. A spokesman for Virgin said "It does give us cause for concern".

Private Eye No. 1111
It remains to be seen whether putting civil servants in charge of the railways will be more successful than using consultants. SRA contracts with consultants accounted for £26m last year. It also remains to be seen whether Network Rail's greater role will mean that operations are subordinate to engineering. Network Rail will become responsible for timetables, but its lack of direct contact with passengers and freight users means that it may have little idea of commercial reality. The transfer of safety responsibilities to the Office of Rail Regulation doesn't guarantee that money won't be poured into schemes for negligible safety gains.