Great Western Coffee Shop

Anyone know why this mornings Plymouth-Padd (via BTM ) was replaced with a 5 car 158 set from WSM to Swindon? ( 07.24 dep from Weston, 08.00 dep from BTM )?

What about those poor sods at Bridgwater and Highbridge?

Im glad they didn't cancel it, fair play to them there, but surely with a fair few 1st Classies & the guys who want a Bacon Bap & coffee, this must of been a bit unfair for them?

Aha, I wondered why I saw a 5 car 158 formation heading south through Nailsea mid morning.

I suspect the units could only get as far south as Weston - if they gone any further they would not have been able to run in the path of the HST.  Fair play though to FGW, in the past there would have been nothing in place and pax would have had to squeeze onto the following 143, which would only have gone as far as Bristol.

No crew was reason given.

Must have been the same 5 car 158 that did the 10:00 Paddington - Paignton (which started Swindon today)

That is correct Ollie!

The set started at Swindon at 10.56 and ran to Paignton!

I pressume it was the HST at fault, as crew could of been found by that time, considering the service must have sat at Swindon for at least 2 hours!

There was no crew to take it forwards from Plymouth presumably.

I presume a replacement HST was sent to Paignton as it ran back to Paddington without delay.

Where did the 5 car 158 set end up?

It was nice to see FGW could magic up 2 158 units from SPM so quickly.  Would of thought these units would be hard to come by as they are quite decent, definately wouldn't of thought these units would be spare!!!

i bet it was a better jouney!!

Better seats!  Just no Coffee!!!  :-[ :'(

Yes, I wondered how they managed to do that. 

did they have a trolly? actually thats my only bad word about the swt class 159's im sure that buffet that is available onboard is imaginary

If FGW can magic up a 5 car train at short notice, why can't they spare one car for Melksham?

An interesting question for Mark Hopwood, on his first day in his new office, perhaps?

 ;) :D ;D

There was no catering and no 1st Class wat-so-ever!!

Just better seats! 

I would imagine a lot of the 1st class ticketholders were not too pleased, although I never witnessed any confrontations!!   >:(

i would say the first class passengers would probably be able to claim a refund for the first class premium paid

I don't think Paignton has a massive First Class market

Slightly more on the 0800 Bristol to Paddington though, which was the first journey.

I would hope so, I know I wouldn't be best pleased!!  >:(

talking of hst's there top speed at chich they are cleared is 125 on the network but inbetween penzanze and paddington how many times are they able to hit that?

Between Paddington and Reading only.

If going via BTM, then Swindon - Didcot also!!