Great Western Coffee Shop

Does anyone know if FGW are planning to add extra carriages to services between Bristol and Weymouth this weekend?

With the forecast for Saturday looking rather warm I would expect demand for services down to Weymouth and return to be rather busy particularly the 8.40 ex Bristol and the 17.28 ex Weymouth.

Such a shame the Summer Sunday timetable has finished as I'm sure there would have been quite a demand for services down to Weymouth this Sunday as well as tomorrow. Going via Southampton makes it rather a long journey and a more expensive one too.

My understanding is that over past years, it's very much been Saturday that's been busy to Weymouth, although this summer the 09:16 Sunday from Westbury and 17:56 return were much busier on those days that the 09:16 started back as Swindon -it loaded to over 400 people with a major TransWilts contingent.  Quite a few people asked me if the train would be running from Swindon into September, and were disappointed it would not.

I would be tempted to suggest that there is a Market for a Sunday Morning train to Weymouth all year - in the winter, portions from Bristol and Swindon combining at Westbury, and in the spring, summer and autumn the down trains as in high summer this year.  The  extra running early on a Sunday morning (when the train would otherwise have just been parked up) was very busy - people couldn't get seats at times - and it also helped fill the afternoon services, raising more revenue but not running more afternoon trains ;)

An excellent question!

Maybe somewhere to raise this would be:-
http://twitter.com/#!/NRE_FirstGW

Good to use these new fangled ideas!

Just saw the 08:40 from Bristol at Bath Spa.   158 (2 car) + 153 on the back.  Full and standing.

And it teminated at Castle Cary due to a train fault!!  I pity the poor guard on that service!

more fun on this line im afraid


Alteration to the 2E24 13:10 Weymouth to Gloucester due 16:33 run on 01/10/11.

This train has been delayed between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill and is now 33 minutes late from Bradford-On-Avon.

This train will be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads.

It will no longer call at: Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Parkway, Yate, Cam & Dursley and Gloucester.

This is due to speed restrictions.

The amended calling pattern follows:

Hide Calling Pattern
Due   Exp   Delay   Station
13:10   13:10           Weymouth
13:15   13:15           Upwey
13:23   13:23           Dorchester West
13:43   13:43           Maiden Newton
13:51   13:51           Chetnole
13:54   13:54           Yetminster
13:56   13:56           Thornford
14:06   14:06           Yeovil Pen Mill
14:20   14:20           Castle Cary
14:26   14:26           Bruton
14:39   14:39           Frome
14:48   14:48           Westbury
14:54   14:54           Trowbridge
15:00   15:00           Bradford-On-Avon
15:02   15:02           Avoncliff
15:06   15:39   00:33   Freshford
15:18   15:51   00:33   Bath Spa
15:21   15:54   00:33   Oldfield Park
15:28   16:01   00:33   Keynsham
15:41   16:14   00:33   Bristol Temple Meads

Was that the best FGW could do? If it was full by Bath others down the line stood no chance of getting on board.

Speed Restrictions. Not due it being too hot?

Probably due to heat as Network panic when weather hot.   Better be sure than sorry appears to be their theory.
Does anybody know what happened to the passengers this morning following the failure and also details of trains, loadings and formations returning this evening.