tramway, thanks for the info - I obviously missed that little nugget when scanning the timetable.

Anyway, thought I'd venture out to see what delights turned up on the 0909 today, and was "rewarded" (if you can call it that) with in order 150123+153318+150129. A total of 10 passengers on board from Bath, 12 from Westbury, and 9 forward from Frome. Problem is that although this train as well as the 1655 return are shown in FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s pocket timetables, they do not appear if you use the NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service) (checked on the FGW and National Rail web sites). No surpise really, as neither service is shown in the Network Rail National Rail Timetable.

However, in conversation with the train crew, it does seem that it is still on the cards that the 0909 and 1655 could be worked by at HST^▸ (High Speed Train). The issue appears to be whether Bristol HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) drivers are taken time out to learn the route to Weymouth themselves, or have Bristol West drivers acting as pilotman. A case of watch this space to see what (might or could) happen?

And just for info, the following Weymouth service was formed of ... 2 coaches!

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are obviously plotting something with HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) on the route. Noted HST 2+7 and HST 2+8 stop markers at Bradford-on-Avon just beyond the Bristol bound platform. Also there's an HST Stop sign on the Westbury bound platform at Trowbridge, but couldn't see any on the other side. I presume the signal will act as the stop point.

When I checked the departure board yesterday, I noted that the 1400 Cardiff Taunton was shown as running with 2 coaches instead of 4. According to another forum, 57316 had problems starting in the morning, and failed with a suspected traction motor flashover later on. A 150 was found for the 1400 departure as far as Bristol TM^‡(resolve) with a 3 car 158 (158950) forward.

It appears that cables were severed somewhere between Bristol & Bath (rumour was at Keynsham but unconfirmed) resultiing in a total blackout of signalling (not even red lights) from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) as far as Bathmapton and Bradford-on Avon. From what I can gather, the ^incident^ occurred just after 4pm, as the last train to head east through Bath Spa was the 1552 Bristol Waterloo which I understand then got stuck around Bradford. The next eastbound departure was not until a 5 car Portsmouth Harbour bound service arrived and departed at 1930. Westbound, the 1608 dep from Bath to Gloucester eventually left at 1745 presumably under restriction, and the next arrival was a Portsmouth Cardiff at 1915.

I assume that services to / from Paddington were diverted via Bristol Parkway. At Bristol TM, some passengers for Portsmouth / Weymouth stations were sent via Taunton to Westbury, and I believe a combined Portsmouth and Weymouth was also routed this way.

Once again, communication was yet again below par at Bath with mixed messages being given to passengers regarding alternative transport. At around  1730, it was stated that there would be coaches arriving in about 15 minutes for Bristol, Swindon and Westbury; but in the end, the delayed Gloucester train left for Bristol first. Some coaches did turn up eventually which i think were mainly for Swindon. On the arrival of the Portsmouth service, there was a mad dash from the forecourt up the stairs for passengers to catch the train, as they didn't know about it until the train arrived!

At Westbury, staff there were visible doing their utmost best to deal with naturally disgruntled passengers, sorting out tranpsort options and issuing stop notices as required in order to get passengers on the move. Well done guys. Shows exactly what can be done when local staff take in control and not the remote dead-hand of Swindon who only seem interested in main line intercity passengers.

Problem appears to have been resolved as a 150+153 combination was noted on yesterday afternoons 1510 Weymouth Gloucester.

The 0540 Weymouth Bristol PW^▸ (Permanent Way) ran as a single car 153 all the way this morning instead of a 3 car set (150+153), and suffice to say it was a bit of a squeeze; Oldfield Park and Keynsham passengers had no chance. I presumme that the 150 left behind was coupled up to the following 0640 Weymouth.

I understand that an instruction was issued last night banning the coupling of 153s to any other unit because of a technical defect involving the doors when coupled together, and apparently only involving refurbished 153s ^ can anyone shed further details? I am not surprised considering an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) senior manager confirmed to me that no mechanical refurbishment of any of the units did in fact take place.

Not the best time for this to happen either with Glastonbury looming as I believe the 153s were to be used to strengthen Weymouth services this week.

First week there was no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) revenue staff on board the train out or back just the EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) crew. Second week, there was a member of the Westbury revenue staff on board on the outward run who I think joined at Keynsham but I don't know how far they went down; it was certainly beyond Frome. As the loco and stock returned on a timetabled service, there should have been someone, but as the outward working (1251 ex Great Malvern) didn't turn up, no one available. In fact, no-one even boarded at Westbury, which I would have expected at the very least.

I recall that when it ran last year, the first week there was no-one, and the subsequent two weeks there was revenue staff on board on the outward journey only. FGW can't on the one hand complain about having to provide the train at extra cost if they don't take steps themselves to - as Timmer says - get a return on their investment. Own goal here I think.

However, the good news is that official posters are now starting to appear at stations advertising the service.

The LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) did indeed work the 1730 Weymouth Bristol TM^‡(resolve). I understand the 1251 Gt Malvern Weymouth (which forms the 1730) terninated at Westbury on the way down.

If it hadn^t been for the fact that I decided to go out and about on Saturday, I would have not known it was running. The only ^publicity^ I have seen regarding the additional was an A4 page stuck onto the booking office doors at Frome Station Saturday morning showing the times of the additional and the other trains between Bristol and Weymouth, which certainly wasn^t there on Friday afternoon.

Whilst on the one hand, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) certainly deserve praise for running the train throughout the summer rather than on certain dates, they also deserve critism for the way in which they have dealt with this, but then again I'm not surprised given FGW's "love" of the ex-Wessex empire.

Although crewed by EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))), it is advertised as a First Great Western service, and should be treated equally as such. I am led to believe from the on-train staff that there are negotiations on-going to enable the train to run on weekdays (presumably during the school summer holidays). Perhaps if FGW used the train on an actual timetabled services between Bristol and Weymouth ^ like Wessex used to do ^ then they might get more benefit out of it.

As far as I am aware, the Class 31 locos and coaches used by Wessex on the Brighton / Weymouth services were hired on a rolling contract from the now defunct Fragonset / FM Rail spot hire company. I also believe ^ but stand to be corrected if anyone knows different ^ that the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) at the time provided the funding to Wessex to run them. On the demise of FM Rail, Victa WestLink Rail took over some of the stock which were used on last years  Butlin^s trains, but they also seem to have bit the dust.

I had my suspicions when I noted the 1510 Weymouth was retimed to depart at 1610 on Saturdays until Sept 6 that the possibility of a loco-hauled additional was now unlikely. If there is a climb down and one does run, I can only see it running between Westbury and Weymouth which probably makes it not cost justifiable.

An unexpected but welcome addition. I note that they will also call on Saturdays but not until from Sept 13 although the up train departs 19 minutes later at 1614.

The down train also provides an additional connection at Westbury off the 1310 Bristol Waterloo service (Bath dep 1322), which at long last plugs the 3 hour gap that currently exists in the early afternoon.

I can confirm that this is correct - 153329 to be precise - ruuning 14 minutes late. This would mean that that the 0811 Weymouth Gt Malvern (not good as this is often an extremely busy train), 1251 Gt Malvern Weymouth (1449 ex Bristol TM^‡(resolve)) and 1711 Weymouth Cheltenham will be so formed. Interestingly, a 150 and a 158 were noted stabled in the sidings at Westbury this morning.

I too am undecided, since based on the recent shambolic performance on the Portsmouth and Weymouth routes of late, I would say not despite all his talk in interviews I have seen that he intends to put "..passengers before targets..". It depends on whether or not he will be prepared to face the wrath of his Local Lines customers when trains are short-formed and over-crowded once the 12 158's are despatched to Northern come the December timetable change.

Agree that it's good to have advance copies of weekend services available as they often contain nasty surprises. However, a quick glance of the Sunday Weymouth Bristol service shows the 1st train departs 1800 whilst the OJP^▸ (Online Journey Planner) reveals a departure at 1400. Whilst it might only be a draft, it's a bit of a glaring inconsistency. Perhaps a word of caution when reading just in case there are others.

That presumes yesterday's last down Weymouth didn't run beyond Westbury, as the driver which takes it forward stays over and works back up on the 0535. The 0647 Frome Cardiff was once again held back to depart vice the Weymouth at 0652 which again was pathed behind the Exeter Paddington and again didn't connect with it or the Swindon at Westbury much to the irritation of some passengers who were routed via Bath. I await tonight's 'adventure' with interest!