Great Western Coffee Shop

The 09.22 from Portsmouth to Cardiff (return journey 13.30) was 4 carriages today - 1 refurbished 158 and 1 ex South West Trains 158.

The 12.22 from Porthsmouth to Cardiff (return jourey 16.30) was also 4 carriages. 1 ex transpennine 158 and a refurbished (or at least repainted) 150.

So I guess they are reverting to 4 carriage trains on this service then.

Also, slightly off topic, but it appears trains will be terminating at Fareham tommorow.

I was at Trowbridge at around 1pm today waiting for an up train to Cardiff and saw a 4 carriage ex-TransPennine 158 heading down towards Portsmouth. Had fun watching HSTs rush through as well - they're not common on that line unless there's engineering works happening on the main Bristol-London route (which there is every weekend at the moment)

Yes, the 12S's from Swansea and Cardiff seem to be going via Bristol TM and Bath Spa on Saturdays at the moment and joining the line after Swindon.

I was in Cardiff Central today and noticed that when giving the announcement for the train.

Probably also strengthened due to the football in Bristol.

Hsts go to Bristol TM, Bath Spa, trowbridge and along the Berks and Hants to Reading and onto Paddington.

ex South West Trains 158? didn't know we had any?

Remember Bristol Rovers were at home to Soton today.

Me neither. Quite a surprise to see that on Platform 3 at Cardiff Central today.

Presume then it was hired in for the day because of the FA Cup crowd, rather than being a longer term arrangement.

Could be. It still had the South West Trains name on it. Mind you some of the 158's still have transpennine express on them!  ;)

I was on the 9.22 from Portsmouth (well got on at Southampton), and the SWT livered 158 was connected at Salisbury so I presume it's a proper SWT one...

Was it full and standing before Salisbury?

More importantly - did you sit in First Class  ;D

It was yes, I can't remember how much but there was a steady stream of passengers going forward at Salisbury to the front 2 carriages. If I'd realised we'd gone onto a SWT unit I would have sat in 1st class, but I was unaware what we'd attached to until Bath Spa thanks to Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' album!