Not really. EE pretty much has the place bathed in 4G coverage now, and O2/Vodafone are slowly getting there. 3 don't seem to be making much of an effort however.

You also forget that 3G/HSPA is still available and has had good coverage for some time. If I can get a nearly consistent signal on my phone inside a train, I'd imagine that the proper antennas on a wifi-fitted train can do an even better job.

(don't these wifi systems use all available 3G/4G networks?)

Perhaps O2 might finally be catching up to the sort of coverage and performance levels that EE and 3 have been providing for years.

I can think of numerous times where I've been sat on a train in Devon or Cornwall, streaming Netflix happily on 3 3G, while the person next to me is struggling to do basic tasks on O2 or Vodafone 2G

Took about an hour to go through Twyford. Noticed that a couple of HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) were waved through on the relief line before we could get through.

Hopefully there are decent connections at Plymouth that don't involve waiting for another delayed HST to Penzance..

When did it strike / the signalling fell apart?

My train has left Paddington (fortunately didn't have to join the scrum) but it is wedged. I'm guessing there almost certainly will be huge delays passing through Twyford. We're currently on the main line around Southall.

At Paddington now, things are pretty rammed. I don't know if this is normal for 4pm on a Friday.

I like how they're using a guy on a totally inadequate megaphone to give some information, instead of the PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) system that would cover the entire station and let more than about 5 people hear. All I could make out is that ticket restrictions have been lifted.

I'm not sure I can agree with O2 being overall the best for Cornwall. O2/VF will be great if all you care about is voice and SMS, but if you want data you'll be left on EDGE, or more likely GPRS^▸ (General Packet Radio Service - e.g. data over mobile phone). Vodafone has finally brought 3G to my village (years after Orange/3/T-Mobile did); unfortunately the performance is so poor that they clearly haven't upgraded the backhaul to the site.

For data, 3 or EE are undoubtably the way to go (EE has the added advantage of seamless 2G backup, whereas 3's is not). Even in the more rural bits. To steer things towards trains a bit, it's the same there too. On the main line in Cornwall or Devon you'll probably be struggling with GPRS if you use VF or O2, whereas you get HSPA (or even 4G/LTE) on EE or 3. Always impresses me how people soldier on with woeful performance from the "older" networks (email is a challenge) while I am able to stream Netflix with ease while trundling around south Devon or across Bodmin Moor.

I wonder where our Dave was in Cornwall to have to cut a holiday short over it? Or what network he was on? You'd think he could have just got the chauffeur to drive him into town to get a signal rather than having to go all the way back to London..

Thanks, I went up before you posted but decided to play it safe and change at Plymouth instead. I'm not sure what the Highways Agency really mean when they say it's closed between Bodmin and Liskeard between 8pm and 6am - clearly there were people driving into Bodmin Parkway before 6am.

The Highways Agency websites make the rail industry look like state of the art in comparison.

Do you have any idea if the direct buses at 8.30ish from Tiverton are stopping at Bodmin? The Plymouth detour + train really adds on the time.

On a slightly off-topic note, does anyone know if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) plan to run the replacement buses to/from Tiverton and Bodmin next week? The A38 appears to be shut (so is Bodmin Parkway itself closed?), and the buses certainly ran directly to Truro last week.

I'd rather not go via Plymouth if possible, adds so much time onto the journey.

It was running today, I got it from Bodmin Parkway. It was a nice First/Truronian coach, only one of two passengers, arrived at Tiverton in about 1h30 instead of the timetabled 2h. It's a sad indictment of the railway in the SW when the equivalent train would take considerably longer (although the difference is cancelled out by waiting for the 0804 at Tiverton).

It will be interesting to see how the reverse journey goes on Friday.

The guard on the silly o clock service to Newton Abbot seemed unaware of it and suggested I changed at Plymouth.

I hope so too. My phone said we were going 90 to 95mph a minute ago (I don't know what the linespeed should be or if that's a "reduced speed", but we've stopped just outside of Somerton according to Google Maps. I hope it's nothing too sinister.

I'm only going as far as just after Bodmin, and apparently they had a uneventful journey to Exeter, so I'm guessing it'll be ok when I finally get to EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains).

The buffet is open so hopefully there's still something to be sold

edit: moving again now, TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) said it will be at reduced speed.

You could be right, I was watching a film so wasn't taking much notice.

The train did slow down very quickly so I'm guessing it wasn't going too fast.

TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) is suggesting that the train is not that badly damaged according to the driver and that the train may start moving soon, or may not, depending on what control says and if they need to send someone out.

I am in the quiet carriage, so perhaps not the greatest benchmark but I'd say it's comfortably busy but still plenty of seats so I hope no one is standing.

Unfortunately despite it being the quiet carriage, a load of rah-rah gap year idiots are bullying a guy who doesn't work for First, but happens to be wearing FGW^▸ (First Great Western)-style colours and happened to be talking about what was going on based on volunteer experience (a member of this fine forum perhaps?). They can't get it through their heads that they can't smoke and certainly can't get off the train to smoke.

The TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) has said that we may have an hour's wait while fitters/network rail come out. I live in Cornwall but I'm glad someone is picking me up from Exeter, I'd be going loopy between this and bustitution (which I hear isn't running?)

We're stuck between Westbury and Castle Cary on an Exeter bound service, the train has hit a tree.

The wind is rocking the carriage a bit.

I wish I hadn't just missed the earlier Exeter service at Slough..

Probably the same black hole that Langley/Iver fell into this week. The staff at Reading had to call through to make whatever Ealing-bound train I got yesterday stop at Langley, as nothing else was planned to.

Obviously FGW can't be blamed for the problem, but their communication could be better.

Today:

I got the 1712 (heavily delayed) at 1742 from Langley. Signs say to change at Slough for Reading. Got off at Slough.
Staff at Slough have no idea why the PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) is saying that, apologise and advise to wait for next train to Maidenhead where there "might be a train or a coach". Slough PIS was reporting a Reading-bound service to Exeter, but got on a Turbo instead.
Got to Maidenhead and pushed onto platform 1 for an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to Weston-Super-Mare. Just before it was planned to arrive, it changed to platform 3(?) and the staff pushed us to move onto platform 3 to catch it. It too had been heavily delayed but not a long wait for us, possibly the train other people are discussing.
Got onto (packed) HST. Arrived in Reading just after 7pm after the inevitable delays around the flooded area.

I might work from home if it's going to be the same tomorrow. Going to Langley wasn't an amazing experience - gridlock in Reading and just outside on the M4 toward Maidenhead on the coach replacement, then no idea if the onward train was going to stop at Langley or not until half way through.

Between this and the 7 hour trip from Cornwall to Reading via Bristol yesterday, I've had my share of bustitution for the year...