Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363194/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 20:32, 13th July 2025 |      |
Rail replacement transport will operate from Chippenham calling at; Melksham; Trowbridge and Westbury.
Rail replacement transport from Westbury will be request stops. Please speak to station staff.
Rail replacement transport from Westbury will be request stops. Please speak to station staff.
Nothing about what people should do from Melksham or Trowbridge - but we did do what GWR asked of us from Melksham which is put out a "don't use GWR" message. What an extraordinary thing for a company to do ...
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363193/18719/26] Posted by bobm at 20:30, 13th July 2025 | |
Here’s one of note: 10:03 and 10:36 London to WoE services cancelled. Yeah it happens, but what’s concerning is the 11:03 Newquay train (making extra stops at Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary to cover the cancelled 10:36) is down as a 5 coach IET! Crazy!
Swaps happen at quite short notice sometimes. 800304, a 9-car, is working this train.
Started running late from Pewsey onwards and was eventually 50 minutes late into Newquay. Still well in time for the return trip.
Return trip now delayed 69 minutes due to a lineside fire in east Cornwall. Running non stop Plymouth to London Paddington.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363192/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 20:02, 13th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Some "is there a Dr here" announcements. Hopefully soemone found! Train was a bit of a sun trap but outside is fairly breezy so hopefully this helped! Someone appeared to be recording as i left the platform.
Is AC that hard to get right in 2025?
I’m really saddened to hear this. It shouldn’t be happening and to think it’s going to be years before the aged and dated rolling in the GWR regional fleet will be replaced should be concerning for all if we continue to see hotter summers going forward.Is AC that hard to get right in 2025?
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363190/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:50, 13th July 2025 | |
This weekend's chaos made the National BBC News site......
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vrlel299wo
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363189/18719/26] Posted by Hafren at 19:46, 13th July 2025 | |
Some "is there a Dr here" announcements. Hopefully soemone found! Train was a bit of a sun trap but outside is fairly breezy so hopefully this helped! Someone appeared to be recording as i left the platform.
Is AC that hard to get right in 2025?
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363188/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 19:39, 13th July 2025 | |
On the 1810 PMH-CDF which was down to go to BRI after a few journeys so camcelled they were of no use. Air con either failed or just not ebough for the conditions. At SOU guard announces the cab is at 40C and he's seeing double so not going further. Next he's collapsed on platform.
Oh my! I hope he’s alright and gets the medical attention he needs.| Re: Seagulls, particularly in Cornwall - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363187/29073/31] Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:37, 13th July 2025 Already liked by johnneyw | |
Flying ants can be a big problem in large numbers and in the wrong place. I had them emerge each year from a nest right next to the house, then one year they broke into the kitchen and emerged and flew about there. It was a very professional job: the crack at the edge of the floor screed was too narrow for the big flying ones, so they enlarged it in places - removing the sand and cement grain by grain and piling it in a big heap beside their new sally port. I was unable to try using a seagull to dispose of them, not having one in the cupboard.
For future reference-ask Broadgage to send his neighbours cat over
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363186/18719/26] Posted by Hafren at 19:30, 13th July 2025 | |
On the 1810 PMH-CDF which was down to go to BRI after a few journeys so camcelled they were of no use. Air con either failed or just not ebough for the conditions. At SOU guard announces the cab is at 40C and he's seeing double so not going further. Next he's collapsed on platform.
AC hasn't been great at all this weekend. And now not even safe for crew on one of the few running trains!
Not been a good weekend for long distance travel. Attempting via RDG now despite tickets split via SAL.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363185/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 18:57, 13th July 2025 | |
The line south of Westbury in the northbound direction has been suspended for the rest of the evening sadly:
Cancellations to services between Portsmouth Harbour and Cardiff Central
Due to a shortage of train crew between Portsmouth Harbour and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Cardiff Central.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
What has happened?
Due to train crew shortages, we unfortunately have had to cancel the remaining services for the day from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central via Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads.
What are we doing about it?
We have agreed ticketing arrangements with the other train companies and we have limited rail replacement vehicles running. This will be detailed below.
What are my options?
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the Live Departure Boards or speak to a member of our station team.
Option 2: Your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, with the following operators, in both directions on these routes:
South Western Railway services between Portsmouth Harbour and Guildford. From Guildford you can catch GWR services to Reading.
South Western Railway services between Portsmouth & Southsea and Southampton Central.
CrossCountry services between Southampton Central and Reading
Option 3: Replacement transport provided by us in the form of a limited amount of taxis, will be operating between Portsmouth Harbour and Bristol Temple Meads.
These will be departing Portsmouth Harbour at 20:10 and 22:10. The taxis will call at all calling points the train service would but with a delayed running time due to the increased journey time via road.
Option 4: Travel at a later time. You might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
Due to a shortage of train crew between Portsmouth Harbour and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Cardiff Central.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
What has happened?
Due to train crew shortages, we unfortunately have had to cancel the remaining services for the day from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central via Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads.
What are we doing about it?
We have agreed ticketing arrangements with the other train companies and we have limited rail replacement vehicles running. This will be detailed below.
What are my options?
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the Live Departure Boards or speak to a member of our station team.
Option 2: Your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, with the following operators, in both directions on these routes:
South Western Railway services between Portsmouth Harbour and Guildford. From Guildford you can catch GWR services to Reading.
South Western Railway services between Portsmouth & Southsea and Southampton Central.
CrossCountry services between Southampton Central and Reading
Option 3: Replacement transport provided by us in the form of a limited amount of taxis, will be operating between Portsmouth Harbour and Bristol Temple Meads.
These will be departing Portsmouth Harbour at 20:10 and 22:10. The taxis will call at all calling points the train service would but with a delayed running time due to the increased journey time via road.
Option 4: Travel at a later time. You might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
Great news if you are a taxi company in Portsmouth and probably Southampton and Salisbury this evening.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [363184/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 18:01, 13th July 2025 | |
A curious pair:
16:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:26 will be terminated at Worcester Foregate Street.
It will no longer call at Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway Hl, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford, Radley, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 16:56
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 17:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 19:26.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 16:56
It will no longer call at Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway Hl, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford, Radley, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 16:56
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 17:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 19:26.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 16:56
| Re: Seagulls, particularly in Cornwall - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363183/29073/31] Posted by stuving at 17:27, 13th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Chris from Nailsea, eightonedee, TaplowGreen, PrestburyRoad, johnneyw | |
Flying ants can be a big problem in large numbers and in the wrong place. I had them emerge each year from a nest right next to the house, then one year they broke into the kitchen and emerged and flew about there. It was a very professional job: the crack at the edge of the floor screed was too narrow for the big flying ones, so they enlarged it in places - removing the sand and cement grain by grain and piling it in a big heap beside their new sally port. I was unable to try using a seagull to dispose of them, not having one in the cupboard.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363182/18719/26] Posted by bobm at 16:52, 13th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Timmer | |
Here’s one of note: 10:03 and 10:36 London to WoE services cancelled. Yeah it happens, but what’s concerning is the 11:03 Newquay train (making extra stops at Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary to cover the cancelled 10:36) is down as a 5 coach IET! Crazy!
Swaps happen at quite short notice sometimes. 800304, a 9-car, is working this train.
Started running late from Pewsey onwards and was eventually 50 minutes late into Newquay. Still well in time for the return trip.
| Re: Seagulls, particularly in Cornwall - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363181/29073/31] Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:27, 13th July 2025 | |
Numerous dead gulls have been seen locally. Reported as being due to gorging on flying ants. Some claim that these insects are toxic if eaten in large numbers, others claim that the birds overeat to such an extent that they become too heavy to fly, and expire of heat stress.
Note to self: go easy on flying ant consumption, particularly if intending to fly.
I avoid flying and also never knowingly eat flying ants. The neighbor's cat has eaten several flying ants without ill effect.
Thanks for the update - glad the cat remains healthy.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363180/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:52, 13th July 2025 | |
...............yesterday on this route the trains weren't working, today there's no crew.
Exactly the sort of route that GWR should be strengthening and exploiting the revenue opportunities on a hot, summer weekend.
Utterly shambolic - customers? Well they're on their own.
Cancellations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a shortage of train crew between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
The Liskeard to Looe service has been suspended until the end of the day due to no crew being available.
Few alternatives are currently available; we are currently arranging road transport to run between the stations, but so far is quite limited. Customers are also able to use their ticket on the local bus network if it suits, however, it is a fairly infrequent service on a Sunday and does not operate along the route.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363179/18719/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:49, 13th July 2025 | |
Late substitution / strengthening of a train where the previous one (or two) has (have) been cancelled is to be commended,
Given the number of cancellations today, I'd imagine there is no shortage of available stock to add to those trains that are running, or to substitute 9/10 for 5.................although if there are 3 trains worth of customers filling them up due to earlier cancellations, it's still not going to be a pleasant experience, particularly in the current heat.
| Re: Seagulls, particularly in Cornwall - ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363178/29073/31] Posted by broadgage at 14:27, 13th July 2025 | |
Numerous dead gulls have been seen locally. Reported as being due to gorging on flying ants. Some claim that these insects are toxic if eaten in large numbers, others claim that the birds overeat to such an extent that they become too heavy to fly, and expire of heat stress.
Note to self: go easy on flying ant consumption, particularly if intending to fly.
I avoid flying and also never knowingly eat flying ants. The neighbor's cat has eaten several flying ants without ill effect.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363177/18719/26] Posted by grahame at 13:14, 13th July 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
Late substitution / strengthening of a train where the previous one (or two) has (have) been cancelled is to be commended,
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363176/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 13:02, 13th July 2025 Already liked by grahame, IndustryInsider, PrestburyRoad | |
Swaps happen at quite short notice sometimes. 800304, a 9-car, is working this train.
That’s good news for those booked on this train and those who held back from the previous two trains. Some may have been advised to travel via Bristol of course.| Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363175/5138/51] Posted by ellendune at 12:20, 13th July 2025 Already liked by Mark A, eightonedee | |
Please remember, the London to Scotland routes are of a length where speed does make a difference, though whether that should have been 175 mph or 225mph I don't know. Cutting HS2 off at Birmingham is what makes it a nonsense, though it time I believe it will be built.
There are benefits though for those towns on the existing WCML as taking the fast non-stop (e.g. first stop Crewe or Warrington) off the lower section of the WCML will create huge extra capacity for more freight and local trains. Though it might be limited by capacity between Birmingham and Crewe at the moment.
It will bring the same benefits to the ECML and the MML if the eastern leg is built. For those who think we should just improve existing lines ask the people of Bedford for their views as improvements to make way for the EW Rail means demolition of houses built on former railway in order to widen the MML to 4 tracks for a short distance.
We should use the pause caused by the last government's decision to cancel north of Lichfield, in order to do what Mark Wild says should have been done in the first place. So there is a shovel ready scheme in place when the chaos that will come in Staffordshire when HS2 opens comes to pass.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363174/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 12:14, 13th July 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
Or are you saying GWR have accepted a contract that can only be performed if volunteers choose to help up, and GWR cannot incentivise the staff to volunteer. Illogical (but if DfT are involved, plausible)
The railway, nationally, has always run on volunteers working additional shifts.
Indeed - and it makes sense. For it to work well, it needs staff (volunteers) who have reason to want to work extra - to earn extra money, because they enjoy the work and the folks they work with, to support the team/organisation they work for, to provide mental stimulation, or to get out of the house away from the screaming kids / in-laws ...
Once it becomes "expected" of them and less enjoyable and they feel "obliged", a system which is good for both employee and employer ceases to work well. A story was told to me about a bus company who employed a bus-washer six days a week (Saturday overtime) ... so good was his work that he was given a pay rise - a big "thank you" from him and he cease Saturday work because he didn't need the extra money. I wonder sometimes about just how much staff enjoy working on a variety of routes, and I wonder if restricting route knowdledge also restricts volunteering ... I wonder if so much chopping and changing between trains along the way rather than driving the whole way is a de-motivator.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363173/29726/18] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:59, 13th July 2025 | |
Or are you saying GWR have accepted a contract that can only be performed if volunteers choose to help up, and GWR cannot incentivise the staff to volunteer. Illogical (but if DfT are involved, plausible)
The railway, nationally, has always run on volunteers working additional shifts.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363172/18719/26] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:22, 13th July 2025 Already liked by Timmer, Mark A | |
Here’s one of note: 10:03 and 10:36 London to WoE services cancelled. Yeah it happens, but what’s concerning is the 11:03 Newquay train (making extra stops at Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary to cover the cancelled 10:36) is down as a 5 coach IET! Crazy!
Swaps happen at quite short notice sometimes. 800304, a 9-car, is working this train.
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363171/18719/26] Posted by grahame at 10:46, 13th July 2025 | |
Wow, they weren’t joking when they said that fewer trains would run between Westbury and Bristol. Almost a three hour gap between the 8.39 and the next train at 11.36 with this train down as a 2 car 165! 
For the record - at 09:00 this morning
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363170/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 10:10, 13th July 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
As of 10:10 83 cancellations and 58 amended services, so it’s not just the three lines out of Westbury that are affected.
Here’s one of note: 10:03 and 10:36 London to WoE services cancelled. Yeah it happens, but what’s concerning is the 11:03 Newquay train (making extra stops at Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary to cover the cancelled 10:36) is down as a 5 coach IET! Crazy!
| Re: HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [363169/5138/51] Posted by grahame at 09:29, 13th July 2025 | |
Picking up - if I dare - on the "Codswallop" I posted a couple of days ago. Saving 15 minutes on a journey from London to Birmingham by having a huge build cost increase does not to me feel like common sense. Saving several hours on a journey like we made yesterday - Strasbourg to Rennes = 840 kms (525 miles) does make sense; almost exactly 5 hours city centre to city centre, top speed 315kms/hr does make sense.
The project has moved from being a whole Great Britain one to a regional one across just the lower part of the Heart of England. Project drift and at this point and with hindsight, some of the what is there now is over specification ... it may come back into its own should high speed go further north; the Scottish Lowlands would seem to have been logical. We can argue all year as to how much should be invested for such a future ...
Personally, and it's not so much HS2 as HS1.75, I would have liked to see HS2 linked across to HS1. The Frankfurt (Main) Hbf model is an interesting one where some long distance trains across the country and beyond reverse in the Hbf (Hauptbahnhof - Main Station) and others call as stations around such as the airport and others terminate there. Too late for such a model; I am very much aware that the UK decided it no longer wanted to be part of the EU, and it's not (never has been) part of Schengen (or Euro) - that different paths would have had some challenges but many of the issues we as individuals and as a country faced today would have been less or eliminated.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [363168/29711/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 09:15, 13th July 2025 | |
Saturday July 12
...was a good day.
Sunday July 13
08:15 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 10:26 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:09
11:50 London Paddington to Hereford due 15:04 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:12
12:47 Oxford to Hereford due 15:04
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 12:47 Oxford to Hereford due 15:04.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:12
15:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:15 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 15:35
17:30 Hereford to London Paddington due 20:24 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. There are no reservations on this service.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 06:25
18:57 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 15:35
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:09
11:50 London Paddington to Hereford due 15:04 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:12
12:47 Oxford to Hereford due 15:04
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 12:47 Oxford to Hereford due 15:04.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 07:12
15:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 18:15 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 15:35
17:30 Hereford to London Paddington due 20:24 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Will be formed of 5 coaches instead of 9. There are no reservations on this service.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 06:25
18:57 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 21:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:13/07/2025 15:35
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363167/29726/18] Posted by John D at 09:12, 13th July 2025 | |
Given that these franchises are now management contracts that are micromanaged by DfT, how many of these things are actually in GWR's power to change?
But surely the management contract specifies a minimum level of service, and thus that implies a certain number of staff contractually employed to work it.
Or are you saying GWR have accepted a contract that can only be performed if volunteers choose to help up, and GWR cannot incentivise the staff to volunteer. Illogical (but if DfT are involved, plausible)
| Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion In "Across the West" [363166/18719/26] Posted by Timmer at 08:49, 13th July 2025 | |
Wow, they weren’t joking when they said that fewer trains would run between Westbury and Bristol. Almost a three hour gap between the 8.39 and the next train at 11.36 with this train down as a 2 car 165!
