Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi,

Last weekend trout made a Journey to Chatham in Kent, He went Castle Cary > Westbury > Salisbury > Clapham Junction > London Victoria > Chatham. Outward journey went very well with not even the slightest of issues.

Shame that couldn't be said for the return Journey. Train departs Clapham Junction on time and arrives into Salisbury about 5 minutes late. We were informed that there would be a short delay whilst they changed crew at Salisbury (Something that normally happens but does not normally cause delay) We sat and waiting for a good 40 minutes until they cancelled the train. Apparently they didn't have a guard available as the booked guard was taken ill and the relief guard had just clocked off for the evening... ::)

I enquired as to how I proceed to Castle Cary and was told to take the 19:42 Cardiff Central train and change at Westbury. After changing at Westbury I arrived in Castle Cary at 20:51 (London Padd - Plymouth was running 7 mins late)

The 20:51 arrival ment I was running a Good 1 Hour and 15 minutes late. So as I was over an hour late, would I be entitled to claim compensation under the given circumstances? even if the Plymouth train was on time, I would have still been over an hour late.

The compensation isn't really an issue so I'm not concerned if I'm not entitled to it, The whole issue was more of an irritation to Mr Trout Snr who was meeting me at the station and ended up being sat around for over an hour...

Any comments would be greatly appreciated...! ;D ;) :D

Yes, I don't see why not. Complete a claim form.

 I agree, as SWT are at fault .

 http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/4.1.3.6.2customercommentsandcomplaints.pdf

 Promise a lot, do they deliver ?

FGw - the connection was cancelled!

Erm, no, SWT as they had no crew to work the train forward from Salisbury.

Trout, were you on one of the the SWT services that were diverted via Castle Cary last Sat? It's a shame SWT couldn't have included a stop at Castle Cary to replace the missed stops at Templecombe and Sherbourne. I hear some of the diverted services called at Warminster.

Was that because the whole train on the WAT to BRI services was now going as far as Westbury ? Were they splitting/joining at Westbury, or was that as far as the BRI service went ?

Yes I was on a diverted SWT service... Engineering work on at Templecombe...!

It did have a scheduled stop at Castle Cary and then went onto Yeovil Junction and down to Exeter St Davids via the Yeovil Pen Mill line. I was most looking forward to a photograph of a SWT 159 at Castle Cary Station... but they cancelled the service at Salisbury...! So they sent us up to Westbury on the 19:42 and then onto the Plymouth service at Westbury... :)