'Get rail to the Moreton Show, says Network Rail'

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Network Rail press release:

Ditch your car and let someone else drive you to the Moreton Show, says Network Rail.

Visitors travelling to the largest agricultural show in the country are urged to choose rail to help ease road congestion and protect the environment.

With around 18,000 visitors expected on Saturday, some delays on the road are anticipated with the increased traffic but rail services will open for business as usual to provide a reliable alternative transport.

Improvement work to deliver the Cotswold redoubling scheme has been carefully planned to avoid disrupting services on the event day.  Network Rail and First Great Western are also lending further support by providing rail service advise to visitors and sharing their improvement plans for the Cotswold line at the event.

Chris Rayner, route director, Network Rail said: ^There is no better way to travel within the Cotswolds than taking the train and we hope visitors can leave their cars at home this Saturday. Train travel is safe, convenient and green.   Services have also become more punctual and more reliable than ever, owing to sustained investment such as the Cotswold redoubling scheme to be completed next year.^

Martin Barnett, senior project manager, First Great Western said: "First Great Western continues to operate its timetable service to the North Cotswolds, which is an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB^▸ (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)) and home to events such as the Moreton Show . We fully support the North Cotswolds redoubling scheme and are working closely with Network Rail to progress this important project."

This call is also supported by the Moreton Show organiser, who is keen to avoid last year^s disruption when the road failed to cope with increased traffic.  Visitors travelling to the show by train can gain admission at a discount rate by presenting their advance rail tickets at the entry gate.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Oh, dear.

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) live updates:

09:43 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 12:29
This train will be started from Oxford. It will no longer call at: Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough. This is due to a train fault.
Last Updated: 04/09/2010 08:56

10:21 London Paddington to Hereford due 13:42
This train has been delayed between Reading and Didcot Parkway and is now 37 minutes late from Moreton-In-Marsh. This train will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill. It will no longer call at: Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link, Great Malvern, Colwall, Ledbury and Hereford. This is due to an earlier train fault.
Last Updated: 04/09/2010 12:54

11:21 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 14:04
This train has been delayed between Oxford and Ascott-Under-Wychwood and is now 16 minutes late from Ascott-Under-Wychwood. This is due to an earlier train fault.
Last Updated: 04/09/2010 13:07