2018 cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

(I realize this is going way off topic)

Full Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service statement on Salisbury Plain fires:

Smoke from the on-going fire on the Salisbury Plain impact area has been affecting large parts of West Wiltshire to as far away as Bath in the last 24 hours.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Control room received dozens of 999 calls overnight, and firefighters were mobilised multiple times to incidents where alarm systems were triggered by the smoke.

Unfortunately, because the fire itself is within the live firing range, the Service is unable to tackle the blaze. Over the last two weeks, crews have been called to the Shrewton and Market Lavington areas to prevent the flames from spreading outside of the impact area, but it is unsafe for them to access the main fire. It also can’t be accessed by aircraft carrying water, due to the safety restrictions of the impact zone.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The fire is well within the impact zone, we have fire wardens monitoring the site and, if the flames start to spread outside of that area, we can bring in the Fire and Rescue Service to assist.

“We fully appreciate the inconvenience caused to the communities in and around the Plain. The fire itself is not a risk to property, but we do recognise that the smoke is very unpleasant.”

“The MOD takes the safety of our military personnel and the public seriously and we would like to reassure local residents and others that we are doing everything possible to reduce the risks. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates.”

Public Health England has advised: “Residents in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors, and keep their doors and windows closed. Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed and switch on air conditioning systems to recycle or recirculate air. If people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.”

They added: “Smoke can irritate air passages, the skin and the eyes, leading to coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. It can also worsen existing problems such as asthma and people with asthma should carry their inhaler with them at all times. Anyone concerned about their symptoms should contact NHS 111.”

The MOD has advised that live firing on Salisbury Plain has been stopped until further notice.

[johnneyw]

Today's Bristol Post saying a million and a half minutes of delays in a year on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trains and there's only half a million minutes in a year.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/million-half-minutes-delays-year-1774689

[grahame]

Today's Bristol Post saying a million and a half minutes of delays in a year on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trains and there's only half a million minutes in a year.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/million-half-minutes-delays-year-1774689

On average three trains being delayed at any one time??

[stuving]

Today's Bristol Post saying a million and a half minutes of delays in a year on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trains and there's only half a million minutes in a year.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/million-half-minutes-delays-year-1774689

On average three trains being delayed at any one time??

Yes, but only in this specific sense of "being delayed":

"a train counts as being delayed between its scheduled arrival time and its actual arrival time, that being an interval equal to the recorded delay time for that service"

[grahame]

13:33 Swindon to Westbury due 14:14
13:33 Swindon to Westbury due 14:14 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Additional Information
Customers at Swindon and Chippenham travelling to Trowbridge or Westbury should travel on the 14:00 Bristol Temple Meads service from Swindon (14:14 from Chippenham) and change at Bath Spa for the 14:35 service towards Portsmouth Harbour which calls at Trowbridge (14:53) and Westbury (15:00).

Customers travelling to Melksham should change at Chippenham and speak to station staff.

Customers at Melksham will be provided road transport from the station car park.

[bobm]

I *think* it might be a fault on another train.  The unit doing the Swindon/Cheltenham shuttles has broken down so it looks like this unit will work up from Westbury as usual but then go onto the Cheltenham diagram.

[grahame]

I *think* it might be a fault on another train.  The unit doing the Swindon/Cheltenham shuttles has broken down so it looks like this unit will work up from Westbury as usual but then go onto the Cheltenham diagram.

That seems a logical explanation, and makes some sense.   The days of a spare 153 sitting at Temple Meads and one at Gloucester during the day are gone ... pared down and reduced robustness!

[grahame]

15:22 Swindon to Warminster due 16:21
15:22 Swindon to Warminster due 16:21 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh and Warminster.
This is due to a speed restriction because of high track temperatures.

[bobm]

Wonder if it is a speed restriction or the need to keep the points at Warminster (needed to turn back) normalised.

[grahame]

Wonder if it is a speed restriction or the need to keep the points at Warminster (needed to turn back) normalised.

Just quoting wot I woz 'told'.   Yes, I would expect it to b a case of not asking for trouble with overheated points!

[RA]

Wonder if it is a speed restriction or the need to keep the points at Warminster (needed to turn back) normalised.

The points at Warminster are being left normal as part of the 'Key Route Strategy' when the temperature is forecast to reach a certain temperature (usually for several hours after noon). Other examples are the closure of passing loops such as those at Woodborough and Hullavington and the closure of the Westbury avoiding line.

[bobm]

Thanks RA. I suspected as much.  The strictures of Journeycheck obviously don’t allow for KRS!

[grahame]

8:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Passengers are advised to travel as early as possible, and to consider switching their travel plans to Monday 16 July. To help with this, ticket restrictions have been removed from services on Monday 16 July
Due to a number of factors including on-going engineering work; the World Cup Final taking place; the continuing good weather, and the start of the school holidays in some regions there is a significantly reduced number of available staff.

Advice on your ticket
To assist you with your journey ticket restrictions have been removed from services on Saturday 14 and Monday 16 July, enabling you to travel with Advance fare and off peak tickets on other services. If you choose not to travel as a result of the revised timetable, you will be entitled to a full refund on their unused ticket (the 10 administration fee is also waivered). To claim a refund please check our Refunds and Compensation page for more information: https://www.gwr.com/help-and-support/refunds-and-compensation/unused-ticket-refunds.

[grahame]

19:55 Swindon to Westbury due 20:35
19:55 Swindon to Westbury due 20:35 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[bobm]

16:20 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04

16:20 Westbury to Swindon due 17:04 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

17:18 Swindon to Westbury due 17:59

17:18 Swindon to Westbury due 17:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.