Whilst not wanting my first post to sound out of turn or bring an old topic back to light I feel I must drop my 2p worth in to the pot. With FGW^▸ (First Great Western) not being able to run any rail services along the OWW^▸ (Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton) for 2 weeks due to flooding their ability to not see past the immediate difficulties astounded me. Fair enough there was a fair amount of devistation around this neck of the woods with many roads etc closed. HOWEVER after the floods on Friday, roads were easily passable again by the Wednesday. So, why were FGW standing by ther "No alternative road transoprt is avaliable" stance? It was of course the start of the school holidays so coaches would of been avaliabe. It wasn't untill week 2 of the crisis that 'Bustitution^▸ (the practice of replacing trains with buses)' took place with a coach from Worcester to Kingham. Alternatives were in place for Evesham passengers with a shuttle bus to Cheltenham connecting there, for other intermediate stops taxi's/local bus services were suggested. So if they were able to use the roads, why couldn't a rail replacement bus do the same? The re-routing of the 2 morning and 2 evening HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s does need applause, it happens occasionally that the HST's come up from The Marsh, through Worcester and across as ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to Hereford instead of into Newport, then Reversing and heading up the Marches Line.

Still glad its all back open, just hope these speed restriction don't last much longer!