The new First Great Western timetable started on 13 Dec 2009. If you have any comments to make about how it has affected your journey, including connections at Oxford, please post them here. We would also be interested to hear about any changes you would like FGW to consider for the next timetable for us to raise at the next Customer Panel meeting on 12 Jan 2010.
Following this morning’s leaflet drop advertising this website, we now have over 100 subscribers, so it would be great to get your feedback!
Update: For a summary of the timetable changes, click here.
The old (May 2009) timetable is here:
http://www.obrag.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Bicester-Link-Timetable-2009-05.pdf
As a further comparison, the 2006 timetable is here:
http://www.obrag.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Oxford-Bicester.pdf
Interesting to see how much things have improved in terms of trains per day, although the evening commuter service is now less convenient for those leaving work at 17:00 from Oxford.
As a regular commuter for several years from Bicester to Reading, I am pleased to note that additional trains have been added to the route throughout the day which appears to benefit the local community and ease some of the traffic congestion along the A34.
However, I have noticed over the years the timetable whilst benefitting the Oxford commuters does not assist those necessarily going onto destinations such as Reading and London.
There are no trains after 06.23 from Bicester Town that will arrive in either Reading or London before 9am. This is the same scenario after 1700 hours whereby the previous 17.17 train has been put back to 1720 hours making it almost impossible to catch the connection at Oxford (1754) back to Bicester. I believe by introducing a train between the 06.23 and 7.57 or a complete revision of the morning timetable altogether (i.e. 6.23, 7.23 & 8.23 etc) to accomodate those travelling beyond Oxford which would further improve the service and undoubtbly increase numbers of passengers. This would also apply to the return journey whereby connection times need to be improved.