Been an absolute shocker again today across the board with few lines unaffected by cancellations so little point in trying to highlight any particular line. My concerns for those relying on the train to travel over the Christmas period.
Returning from London yesterday, on arrival at Paddington a little after 2pm, several of the trains that were listed on Realtimetrains as running were not, and the National Rail web site was being very coy as it quite likes a rock solid internet connection.
There wasn't as big a crowd on the concourse as I'd expected but by now the Sunday capacity constraints must be suppressing demand.
Travel back to Bath involved catching the 14:37 to Swansea, which left on time, very full, very standing and people with a large amount of luggage. The train then came to a halt at Southall for 15 minutes as a passenger had a medical issue and needed assistance.
That sorted, the train did not get any less busy at Reading. I left it at Swindon for the service to Frome which had been held for the Swansea train to pass - staff were doing a good job of getting people from platform 4 to 2. Off set the train, and I left it at Chippenham to catch the Taunton train that was forty minutes behind. So, time to enjoy the now very much fading ambience of that weatherboarded building that sits to one side of the through road that was long ago interrupted by the building of the railway.
Finally, off the train at Bath along with a lot of other people, so it was good to head for the exit at the up end of the down platform to pick a way through the festival of motoring that had set itself up in the remaining pick-up area at the rear of the station - there was a bit of a horn-fest going on, which wasn't helping. For the down platform at Bath, large passenger flows mean a queue for the stairs, but the car park exit remains useful.
Mark
