Problems at Highbridge & Burnham - 17 Sep 12

[whole diary]

[bobm]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reporting a man, possibly with a weapon, has forced the closure of the line in that area.

The 21:29 Taunton to London Paddington is not calling at stations between Bridgwater and Nailsea & Backwell inclusive but is going to call at Bristol Temple Meads before continuing to London. Unless my geography has deserted me that seems to suggest it will pass through Bath Spa twice. (and end up in reverse formation). I guess they were keen to keep the Bristol stop in as it has picked up passengers from the diverted 17:39 ex Penzance.

[JayMac]

Network Rail reported at 10pm that the trespasser has been detained by police and lines have reopened.

Both Network Rail and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had reports from the police that the suspect was armed with both a knife and a firearm.

An additional train ran from Weston-super-Mare at 2201 which was formed from the 2000 Cardiff to Taunton service which had been terminated at WSM due to the incident. This additional service replaced the stops At Worle, Yatton and Nailsea & Backwell omitted by the diverted service, arriving Bristol TM^‡(resolve) at 2233. The diverted Paddington train was shown as departing Bristol at 2235. One hopes arrangements were in place to ensure passengers could connect onto the London bound service despite there being only two minutes between the two trains at Bristol TM.

The 1805 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service from Manchester to Plymouth and the 2014 XC from Paignton to Birmingham were also diverted via Westbury.

Following reopening of the line an additional call at Highbridge & Burnham was added to the 2149 Exeter SD to Bristol TM service.

[devon_metro]

2129 Taunton - Padd eventually left Bristol at 2308, so plenty of time for pax from Weston to connect.

[bobm]

National Rail couldn't keep up with the train doubling back - hence it appeared it left at 22:35 for a while.

[Louis94]

National Rail couldn't keep up with the train doubling back - hence it appeared it left at 22:35 for a while.

Looks like it says no report to me! 

Be down to Trust getting confused, it does not understand the direction of the train, it will just of noticed it 'departing' Bath Spa, even if it was after passing non-stop and in the wrong direction.

[bobm]

I think it shows it stopped at Bath Spa twice - either side of calling at Bristol Temple Meads.

[fatcontroller]

Network Rail reported at 10pm that the trespasser has been detained by police and lines have reopened.

Both Network Rail and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had reports from the police that the suspect was armed with both a knife and a firearm.

An additional train ran from Weston-super-Mare at 2201 which was formed from the 2000 Cardiff to Taunton service which had been terminated at WSM due to the incident. This additional service replaced the stops At Worle, Yatton and Nailsea & Backwell omitted by the diverted service, arriving Bristol TM^‡(resolve) at 2233. The diverted Paddington train was shown as departing Bristol at 2235. One hopes arrangements were in place to ensure passengers could connect onto the London bound service despite there being only two minutes between the two trains at Bristol TM.

The 1805 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service from Manchester to Plymouth and the 2014 XC from Paignton to Birmingham were also diverted via Westbury.

Following reopening of the line an additional call at Highbridge & Burnham was added to the 2149 Exeter SD to Bristol TM service.

Nearly BNM.

The Paddington - Weston SM terminator formed the additional train back to Bristol.

The terminated Cardiff - Taunton ran back empty.
The desire to run the last Taunton - Paddington into Bristol is for the simple ideology of that it is the last train of the day.
The Penzance was able to be diverted therefore passengers off that, and the passengers connecting off the "special" could all then get to London without incurring significant cots in road transport.

FC^‡(resolve).

[trainbuff]

In fact all the last three services by XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) were sent via Westbury in the Down Direction. That is the 20.44, 21.13 and 21.44 services from Bristol to Plymouth