Great Western Coffee Shop

Trying to get my head around whats happening weekends end of Feb and during March.  FGW timetable is suggesting rail relief buses but there seems to be the odd through train that doesn't require getting on a bus.

For example 19th March catch the 15.32 from Reading to Plymouth and you need to take a bus from Taunton to Tiverton but catch the 12.32 from Reading and it seems to be direct to Plymouth.

Is this a mistake on the timetable or can one with a careful train choice avoid the bus.

Trains going via Honiton.

That makes sense. Am actually trying to get Plymouth - Newbury on Sundays

Can't understand why the FGW website insists on sending me on the rail relief bus service (other than its a bit quicker) rather than letting me catch the 2.15 from Plymouth (via Honiton) and change on to the Taunton Newbury service at Castle Cary (as its a scheduled stop for both services). Whatever I try to do it - it doesn't allow me to pull it up as a connection.

Try putting in via Honiton might work =]

Fair enough - but you'd need to know it was going 'via Honiton' to do that, surely?

CfN  :P

As normal FGW's planner defaults to suppressing some overtaken trains.

On NR's planner, ticking the box for 'include slower trains' brings up your proposed journey, there doesn't seem an equivalent option on FGW's, but selecting via Honiton ought to do it, as just suggested.

Paul

Success (thanks for tip re include slower trains) on National Rail Enquiries but no go using Honiton on FGW

14:15 Plymouth  Castle Cary 17:13 3 2h 58m   
Calling points  Arrives  Departs 
 
Exeter Central [EXC]  15:29  15:31 
Honiton [HON]  15:46  15:53 
 
Train  17:40 Castle Cary  Newbury 18:36  0h 56m