2020 - TransWilts cancellation and amendment log

[whole diary]

[bobm]

The actual location is between Theale station and the M4 overbridge.

[Timmer]

The Transwilts is paying the price with further services cancelled. Ironic after being one of the most reliable of services yesterday when the rest of the network was in near meltdown. Not been much better today sadly but somewhat expected after yesterday.

[grahame]

The Transwilts is paying the price with further services cancelled. Ironic after being one of the most reliable of services yesterday when the rest of the network was in near meltdown. Not been much better today sadly but somewhat expected after yesterday.

16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:07
16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:07 has been cancelled.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17 will be cancelled.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

Indeed ... and not even a tree blocking "our" line!!

At a meeting - on timetables - today.  I have suggested that now there's a semi-fast service from Reading to Taunton in addition to a none-stop, perhaps the semi-fast should call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge in place of Theale, Thatcham, Newbury, Hungerford and Pewsey should it be diverted and replace the TransWilts train.

[bobm]

The Transwilts is paying the price with further services cancelled. Ironic after being one of the most reliable of services yesterday when the rest of the network was in near meltdown. Not been much better today sadly but somewhat expected after yesterday.

Indeed.

Tree down at Uffington early this morning meant a number of 387s were trapped in Cocklebury sidings at Swindon.
Tree down near Theale closed the Berks & Hants route completely until early afternoon when the down line was opened.
Damage to the overhead at Acton affecting trains leaving London this morning
A trespasser at Hanwell caused severe delays for part of the morning
The signalbox at Par was hit by lightning taking out the signalling in the area (and no doubt giving the signaller a fright!)

In addition sets out of place and staff out of hours after yesterday's problems.

Ironically I had better than expected journey back from Bristol at lunchtime.   Two successive trains from Temple Meads to Swindon via Bath were cancelled but I managed to catch a late running train to Bristol Parkway which connected with a late running train from South Wales and I got to Swindon five minutes earlier than I would have had the first cancelled train run.

[Timmer]

For sure GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and it’s passengers have had a lot to contend with these past couple of days.

[grahame]

Ironically I had better than expected journey back from Bristol at lunchtime.   Two successive trains from Temple Meads to Swindon via Bath were cancelled but I managed to catch a late running train to Bristol Parkway which connected with a late running train from South Wales and I got to Swindon five minutes earlier than I would have had the first cancelled train run.

Two buses each way for me - around 2 x 110 minutes = 220 minutes on buses today for a 120 minute meeting. But then the meeting was quality, and I had my laptop so could work on the bus.

[grahame]

18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway earlier today.

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26
20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway earlier today

[grahame]

Summary from yesterday



First service of this morning on its way from Westbury - hopefully they will do better today.  Joueneycheck tells us of problems still around Theale with train diversions inbound towards Reading / London and buses for local trains.

Let's hope that at this point "no news is good news" rather than "no news is because we haven't got around to telling you yet in Wiltshire".

[grahame]

07:36 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19
07:36 Westbury to Swindon due 08:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

I am jinxed, I tell you!   Third trip I have taken this year to be cancelled (and I have only made 5 trips out of town so far by - or planned - on public transport).

Never mind ... if the 07:52 is cancelled perhaps the 10:01 will run?  Yes - defensive planning already ... 

08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:25
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:25 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

21:07 Swindon to Westbury due 21:49 will be started from Chippenham.
It will no longer call at Swindon.
This is due to a tree blocking the railway.

This service is "fed" by 5M44 - an empty from Bristol up to Swindon.  Running neatly 50 minutes late off Bristol tonight, so being turned at Chippenham no doubt to have it on time for the rest of its run.   Sensible operational call, provided there's a connection that will get people from Swindon to Chippenham to get on.  Timetable wise though, silly empty working.   Better run it in service from Westbury, which would will sort out the biggest hole on TransWilts services in the week.

[grahame]

17:50 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 20:36
17:50 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 20:36 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

Well disguised because it's a through train but, yes, that's the 18:51 Swindon to Westbury service. next train, 20:45.

[bobm]

Service now starts at Westbury.

[grahame]

17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17 is being delayed at Chippenham.
This is due to the ambulance service dealing with an incident.

18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to the ambulance service dealing with an incident.

goodness ... an interesting evening.  From Chippenham

[grahame]

Service now starts at Westbury.

Real time trains offers

This service is partially cancelled
This service was cancelled between Gloucester and Westbury due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS).

[grahame]

Through passenger numbers from Melksham and north thereof to Romsey and Southampton at this time of night are limited ... but recorded here for completeness.  South of Salisbury , this is something on an "extra" in the 2 trains per hour normally run - one SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) and one GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway); realistically, it would link into / become a SWR "Romsey 6" service at Salisbury.

17:50 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 20:36
17:50 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 20:36 will be terminated at Salisbury.
It will no longer call at Romsey and Southampton Central.
This is due to a landslip.