Great Western Coffee Shop

I was glued to RTT and Traksy this evening for my journey home from Taunton to Templecombe following a family funeral. My train from Taunton to Exeter was at 1748 for an 1815 arrival. Perfect for the 1825 from Exeter to Templecombe. Sadly the service from Taunton was delayed by 20 minutes, but knowing how things were today I checked the running on the Waterloo <> Exeter line and was happy to see that the down service that would form the 1825 back to Waterloo was also delayed. Looking at live running I was confident I'd make the connection as the 1825 up would have to be delayed waiting for the down service that would form it.  SWR had other ideas though and caped the down service at Axminster so it could be sent back to Waterloo right time from there. So the 1825 from Exeter to Waterloo was cancelled between Exeter and Axminster. I had to wait for the 1925.

I suppose I should be grateful that SWR are back to an hourly service beiween Exeter and Waterloo - weather permitting. Less than an hour wait at Exeter St David's.

What amused me though is the reason given for that down train being caped at Axminster...

(https://i.ibb.co/MnkkQsn/Screenshot-2022-02-21-18-24-54-577-com-android-chrome.jpg)

Someone somewhere inputted the wrong delay attribution code it would seem.

The full description for code X4 is:

"Forecast or actual extreme winds, heat or rain requiring imposition of blanket speed restrictions or implementation of Key Route Strategy in accordance with Group Standards or other national operational safety instructions"

The version used on RTT (wherever it comes from) may capture the commonest reason for this code, but obviously there are others.

update: replace missing text in quote

The daytime temperature in this area has been hovering around 12 degrees C for several days which probably flummoxed Network Rail completely given that it is still officially winter.  :)