Rail passengers trying to travel to the Midlands or the north from Plymouth are being advised to go via London to avoid ongoing flooding , say Virgin Trains (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=17897968&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174#readercommentPlymouth , Cornwall and Devon have so far escaped the deluges which saw up to five inches of rain fall in a single day in other parts of the West Country , flooding towns such as Gloucester and Cheltenham as the rivers Severn and Avon burst their banks.
And rail travellers making relatively local journeys from Plymouth to places such as Bristol or Penzance should have no problems.
But Virgin Trains CrossCountry customers were last night being strongly advised not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary. Train services are still suspended between Birmingham New Street and Gloucester , though an hourly train service is operating between Gloucester and Bristol , Taunton , Plymouth and Penzance.
There are no train services between Gloucester , Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham New Street , and no replacement transport is available.
First Great Western train services between Reading and Gatwick Airport continue to be disrupted due to flooding , and there are currently no First Great Western services north of Oxford.
There is also no train service between Reading and Taunton or between Didcot Parkway , Chippenham and Bristol Parkway.
Customers in these areas are being advised to attempt only essential journeys.
Virgin Trains spokesman Jim Rowe said last night: "If we can open tomorrow, we will, but it is incredibly difficult to predict with river levels going up and down. Services from Plymouth to Bristol and Penzance are unaffected. But for people trying to get to the north or Midlands, our best advice is to change at Exeter or Bristol and go via London; their tickets will be accepted."
Here is a related article (link below.)
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=17898435&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922
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