Great Western Coffee Shop

It's not just about portsmouth, but i'd say the main bulk was related to it and is probably going to affect this area for the longest, i wasn't sure which one to put it in. here's the revisions for this morning from FGW site.

Line problem between Reading and Redhill.
Train services between Reading and Redhill are being disrupted due to signalling problems.Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.

Train services between Guildford and Redhill have been suspended. Road transport has been arranged

Line problem in the Didcot Parkway area.
Train services between Reading and Oxford are being disrupted due to a broken down train in the Didcot Parkway area.Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.


Line problem in the Plymouth area.
Train services between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth are being disrupted due to an obstruction on the line in the Plymouth area.Delays can be expected.


Line problem in the Southampton Central area.
Train services between Salisbury and Portsmouth Harbour are being disrupted due to flooding in the Southampton Central area.Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.

Southampton Central station is closed until further notice. First Great Western services between Salisbury and Portsmouth will call at Eastleigh for connections with road transport to Southampton


Service incidents
06:25 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 09:54
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.This is due to flooding.


07:27 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 09:38
This train will be started from Gloucester.It will no longer call at: Cheltenham Spa.This is due to a train fault.


07:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 10:54
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


07:51 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 10:39
This train will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.It will no longer call at: Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link and Great Malvern.This is due to an earlier broken down train.


08:21 Oxford to London Paddington due 10:02
This train will be started from Didcot Parkway.It will no longer call at: Oxford and Radley.This is due to a broken down train.


08:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 11:43
This train has been revised.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


08:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 11:43
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


08:23 Southampton Central to Great Malvern due 12:29
This train will be started from Salisbury.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central and Romsey.This is due to flooding.


08:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 11:54
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


08:34 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 09:59
This train has been cancelled.This is due to signalling problems.


09:17 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 09:46
This train has been cancelled.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.


09:21 Oxford to London Paddington due 11:02
This train has been reinstated.


09:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 12:43
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


09:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 12:54
This train has been revised.It will additionally call at: Eastleigh.It will no longer call at: Southampton Central.This is due to flooding.


11:06 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 13:59
This train will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.It will no longer call at: Great Malvern, Malvern Link and Worcester Foregate Street.This is due to an earlier broken down train.

Good heavens!    When you look at it ... there's a high proportion of flooding / signalling issues there which don't fall on FGW's shoulders.   Is it just the fact that we have the web to tell us about this sort of thing than gives the impression that it happens more than it used to, is the weather getting worse and the infrastructure more ropey, or do "safety cases" prevent services running where they would have carried on in the past? 

I won't start a poll, but I would be interested in views!

I certainly think the web makes us more informed, particularly when FGW puts its alterations so visibly on its home page. So those of us who are interested have our attention drawn to every perturbation to services, rather than only the ones that affect us directly.