2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Just to note the service survived unscathed today despite a track circuit failure meaning pilot working was needed until lunchtime.

[grahame]

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Melksham.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway.

[GBM]

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Melksham.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway.

As posted in Thames Valley section
Cancellations to services between Reading and Westbury
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Reading and Westbury all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or diverted between Reading and Westbury. Disruption is expected until 13:00 24/01.
Customer Advice
-

We've received reports of an incident involving a loss of life in the Hungerford area. Subsequently all lines are on stop.

However - rare? movement happening here
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington due 12:05 was diverted from Westbury and will be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads.
It will no longer call at Pewsey, Newbury, Reading and London Paddington but will call additionally at Trowbridge, Bradford-On-Avon and Bath Spa.
It has been delayed previously and is now 19 minutes late from Westbury.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway.
So, it travelled to Westbury, then still in service to Bristol with Paddington passengers still onboard?

[Timmer]

So, it travelled to Westbury, then still in service to Bristol with Paddington passengers still onboard?

I would imagine London bound passengers were encouraged to change at Bath Spa for the half hourly Paddington services.

[grahame]

We've received reports of an incident involving a loss of life in the Hungerford area. Subsequently all lines are on stop.

Initial impact on our service will entail some services in the affected area being held at stations until further notice and some long-distance London Paddington - Plymouth / Penzance services diverting via Swindon (both directions). Some of these trains may call additionally at Swindon for our Pewsey customers (road transport Swindon - Pewsey both directions).

Our thoughts with those involved, and once again the line through Melksham comes to the rescue.

Like Pewsey, Melksham loses its trains when something goes wrong on the Berks and Hants between Reading and Westbury.   I note the difference in how GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) treats these two stations when diversions are in place.

For Pewsey, trains make extra calls at Swindon and a taxi service is provided to and from Pewsey

For Melksham, the trains do not make extra calls.  No taxi service would be needed.

[ReWind]

The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic.  Congestion either side of the branch now;

[brooklea]

The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic.  Congestion either side of the branch now;

Indeed. It’s not really coping at all.

12:17 Westbury to Swindon has run via Bradford on Avon.
An Up IET waiting at Bradford Junction.
Meanwhile a Down IET and Down Stone train waiting at Thingley Junction, and just for good measure, a Cross-Country for Edinburgh waiting at Trowbridge.

[grahame]

The Melksham branch struggling to cope with the diverted IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))’s & freight, along with the timetabled traffic.  Congestion either side of the branch now;

Indeed. It’s not really coping at all.

Two tracks NOW!

[grahame]

Two tracks NOW!

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to congestion.

[brooklea]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to congestion.

13:15 Swindon to Westbury also diverted via Bathampton Junction (therefore not calling Melksham) and arrived at Westbury 42 minutes late. The 14:19 Westbury to Swindon left at 14:42, so a creditably quick turnaround.

It should be possible for the TransWilts to be back on time again for the 16:23 from Westbury….

[grahame]

It should be possible for the TransWilts to be back on time again for the 16:23 from Westbury….

Indeed ... and here we go again

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58

20:13 Swindon to Westbury due 20:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06

17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 is being delayed at Gloucester.
This is due to a broken down train earlier today.

[grahame]

I bring you a further example of good practise that should be emulated for Melksham when the Westbury to Swindon service is suspended to make way for longer distance trains, as it was earlier today.

Customer Advice

Due to a problem currently being investigated, we are unfortunately having to suspend our Newbury to Bedwyn shuttle service until at least 19:30. However, the stations served will continue to see a service on our longer distance Frome and Plymouth trains, so there won't be a long gap between trains.

[TaplowGreen]

I bring you a further example of good practise that should be emulated for Melksham when the Westbury to Swindon service is suspended to make way for longer distance trains, as it was earlier today.

Customer Advice

Due to a problem currently being investigated, we are unfortunately having to suspend our Newbury to Bedwyn shuttle service until at least 19:30. However, the stations served will continue to see a service on our longer distance Frome and Plymouth trains, so there won't be a long gap between trains.

To be fair, alternative transport has been arranged....

Further Information
We're sorry for the disruption to your journey.
A taxi has been arranged leaving Westbury at 19:05 calling at Trowbridge (19:17), Melksham (19:30) and Chippenham (19:46 arrival).
The taxi company is Bath Taxis.

[grahame]

To be fair, alternative transport has been arranged....

Further Information
We're sorry for the disruption to your journey.
A taxi has been arranged leaving Westbury at 19:05 calling at Trowbridge (19:17), Melksham (19:30) and Chippenham (19:46 arrival).
The taxi company is Bath Taxis.

That may be an addition ...

Last Updated:24/01/2024 18:45

... again being fair to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), they have a moving situation.  I don't know whether the taxi was shown before that update, but it is timed after the original post was made and indeed after the train should have left.