Delays to services between Newbury and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 18:00 14/02.

Customer Advice
Apologies to customers, due to a fault with the signalling system in the Thatcham area trains on eastbound line have to run at a reduced speed thus incurring delays.

Some semi-fast trains between Newbury and Reading will be cancelled, but all stations will still receive a train service.

 
A reminder if you are coming back through Bath Spa.   The lift from Platform 2 is out of use until next month.

https://transwilts.org/2026/02/04/lift-works-at-bath-spa/

 
Part of the apparent discrepancy may be down to a change of route.   After leaving Taunton it was scheduled to go via Box and Swindon but instead went up the Berks & Hants line.

When it passed Cogload Junction it was 194 minutes late.  By the time it got back on route west of Reading it had reigned that in to 157 minutes late. 

As the service was replaced by a five car IET at Taunton, it also saved 20 minutes with the Reading stop as it didn't pause to attach the second loco to the rear.

 

Yes, and yes

 

A rude awakening indeed!

 
I hope that they were all l;eft in their cabins until the IET was ready & waiting at TAU?

 
It seems that the train was declared a failure at Taunton where it had arrived at 01.38. An 802 IET was sent from Exeter to continue the service leaving Taunton at 05.05.

 

That's a result of timing the run at a sedate pace to allow sleep. Of course, once late, the train can & does go faster & catch up.

I'm sure it was 200 late when that warning was posted - why would it not be?
Lumo even post that their delays can be caught up further down/up the line.....

 
or did come back with 175002 and not mentioned.
An interesting signal problem is how. On London Underground signalling; as the points cannot be guaranteed, because a train is occupying the approach section, to be locked they would have to be scotched and clipped and hand signalled into the platform or the trains moved towards Liskard past signal LD20, the points on the branch scotched and clipped then the normal signal interlocking can take effect and the trains moved onto the main line.

 

Was this bought at Bath Spa? Did they issue the coupon with it, to record the days you travel?

Mark

 

"Only" 2 hours late 

 

Ah, that's Newport. The police dog that was less than ok was on the footbridge at Waterloo, I'm sure all the police dogs in Wales are lovely. This from Dyfed police's web site.

https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/police-forces/dyfed-powys-police/areas/about-us/about-us/dog-section/

Mark

 

Goodness - how the information system is so wonderful at getting it wrong.   Due into Paddington at 05:07, actually in at 07:04 - only 117 late - and for many passengers, I suspect that's a far better arrival time anyway.  And - question - how does delay/repay work with the sleeper - fare, berth fees, ...

 
Melksham (station) to collect the gent who's house sitting, Bus to Bath, train to Temple Meads, train to Newport, train to Chester.  All on time.   We made a connection that wasn't at Temple Meads - arrived at 15, left 6 minutes later from 3 and with a mobility aid that meant lifts not stairs too.   Arrived at 1 into Newport (not common?) and headed up north from 3.   Loved the 197 on what was classified as "Standard Plus".

Love the whole atmosphere / friendliness of public transport travel - both the Bath to Bristol local and and Marches line service too ... oh, and the bus.  Bit of a randomness about that; personally helped by being a frequent traveller in our very local area and so knowing a lot of people.

Tickets - Melksham to Severn Tunnel Junction then on to an Explore Wales 4 or 8, which wasn't easily found by the ticket clerk, and we nearly ended up with an Explore SOUTH Wales.  Relatively expensive for what we are doing but it gives us the flexibility.  "On the Buses" today.

 
21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:07

13/02/26 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:07 is being delayed at Taunton and is now expected to be 200 minutes late.

This is due to a fault on this train.

 
Proactive rather than reactive maintenance it would seem. Bravo.

 
It's a very sorry sight indeed.  I've been down the Slapton Line many times over the last half century, whether by foot, car, bus or coach.
The local MP Caroline Voaden made an appeal in parliament to the PM pointing out how the local community had twice served the nation to their cost last century.  Firstly with the offshore dredging to help build the Plymouth breakwater for the Royal Navy which resulted in the eventual destruction of Hallsands (and arguably contributed to this year's damage at Torcross).  Secondly with the wartime evacuation of the communities to facilitate D-Day training in The Second Word War. 
The Slapton Line repair could, in this context, be seen as a much delayed and meaningful act of gratitude and recognition.

 

Just to tidy up, and correct my mistakes:
-  REVUpminster's webcam of 175011picture was on 5Z33, 1100 Plymouth-Par, coming off the bridge at 11:13.
- so that answers my question about how it got to Par
- it was also seen in the Saltash webcam on 5Z13 at 12:51, on the way back to Plymouth (arr. 1259).

Which leaves outstanding the question of when it first got back from its enforced holiday at Liskeard to Plymouth. If I had to guess (which I don't, obviously) I'd say it was coupled to 175007, but not mentioned in despatches.

 


Yep, they both are.    There are only so many places we were at today!

 

Ah yes, so it seems.  It was still quite fresh in my memory despite the unfamiliar view from that hotel.  I liked Chester and found a decent hotel by the canal near the town centre.

 
Good to hear. Never stayed there, mind, but their lawn and its outlook could hardly be better.

Mark

 
A police dog took exception to me there and had a little bit of a go at me. Its handler was less than impressed and communicated this to the dog in surprisingly forthright terms. To be honest, I wouldn't like to repeat the experience either.

Mark

 
Yes you can buy for May, the ticket office clerk will probably remind you that all need senior railcards valid at date of travel.

One of your party might have a railcard that expires before travel date, so showing it now doesn't prove they will have renewed it, or will remember it on the day. 

It's also a bit daft if you get refused at a ticket office, but can then go online and buy it anyway.  If this happened it's sort of indirectly recommending no reason to keep ticket offices open.

 
You can book seat reservations via a GWR account on their website.  It asks what type of tickets you have but doesn’t actually need the proof.

Incidentally you can reserve a seat on any reservable service with any TOC from the GWR website.

 

Looking at this again, yes, I think so too.


1. has been guessed correctly as Chester

 

And I think that 4 is Newport, too!

 
I'm pretty sure that I know the first one because I think that I was there a couple of months back but I shall hold fire as I've had a guess at No2 already.

 
I'm thinking that 2 might be Newport.

 

Yes, and no. 3 is Melksham.   Nos. 2 and 4 are neither Cardiff nor Waterloo though.

 
Can you can buy the tickets online, collect at station and get reservations from the chap or chapess in the ticket office.