Great Western Coffee Shop

BBC reporting

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv2g2rrjywqt

From National Rail;

Route(s) affected

National Rail routes

Description
There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning.

Trains across the network are having to start their journeys later because of this fault and some may also be subject to cancellations or alterations. Please check before you travel, allow extra time for your journey and monitor live departure boards.

I suspect a russian cyber attack. Such an attack on national infrastructure has been predicted for some time.
Possibly aided and abetted by north korea or iran.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/23/putin-ready-to-cripple-britain-in-cyber-war/ (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/23/putin-ready-to-cripple-britain-in-cyber-war/)

I am curious about the GWR explanation for the cancellations on the early Weymouth service as being the result of communication problems.

The ecs from Bristol for the Yeovil to Filton Abbey Wood service was cancelled between Bristol and Westbury, problem at the depot. It started late from Westbury running to Castle Cary to form the service to Filton.

The first Westbury to Weymouth and return was cancelled - was this because the unit was taken for the Filton service?

Then the first up from Weymouth was cancelled. Was this because the crew are booked come down on the early ecs and get a taxi to Weymouth?

The cancelled services from Weymouth (0733 and 0930) have been reinstated from Bristol and Westbury respectively.

Was the initial problem the communications one and led to the other cascade?

It happened following a planned Signalling Transfer Point card replacement overnight, so more likely just a hardware glitch.

Only seems to affect trains leaving depots for their first run of the day - once in service, they seem to be running normally - says National Rail in an update

Sounds feasible.......Broadgage's theory was more fun though!  :)

Apparently if stopped drivers logging on.  Once they had logged on using a slower, secondary, process they were fine.

From Network Rail via X

From Philip Haigh on X

The fault appeared to affect some areas and not others. SWT were and GWR main line not. Hence Yeovil Pen Mill in Wessex was in the area affected and Castle Cary wasn't. I think!