DfT cost saving.

 
Latest ORR quarterly data is now published

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/2hto1os3/passenger-rail-usage-oct-dec-2025.pdf

For GWR
Passenger numbers up 6% on 2024 to 23.8m
Passenger km up 5% on 2024
so on average journeys are 0.5% shorter

Train km up 3% to 11.6m km
Vehicle km up 2% to 68.2m km
so trains have on average got bit shorter

Clearly if passenger km increase is 3% more than train carriage km increase, then on average every journey is now 3% busier (so crowding is more likely).

Anyone care to explain logic of why if passengers are growing, GWR shorten the average number of carriages per train please

 
What has happened?

Some axle counters, part of the signalling system, have stopped working in the Swindon area that is affecting the services to Gloucester and to Melksham. Axle counters tell the signalling system if a section of track has a train on it. If an axle counter stops working, trains need to stop at the affected signal so that the driver can speak to the signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.

We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running the normal timetable as soon as possible.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/kemble-20260319/

 
One can only hope that their record with trains is better than that with ferries.

 
Cancellations to services between Swindon and Melksham

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Swindon and Melksham the line is blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 13:00 19/03.

 
A sad event today, 19 March. 

A person was hit by a train, between Moreton in Marsh (as far as I can tell) and Evesham.  No news released at present


The 0851 Paddington to Great Malvern departed Moreton in Marsh on time, but there's no report on RTT of it arriving at Honeybourne

1053 Paddington to Wortcester Shrub Hill cancelled throughout, as is the 1151 Paddington to Hereford.  The return working of both have also been cancelled

My thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this horrible business

 
From National Rail;

Description

Lines have reopened following an earlier fault with the signalling system at Slough. Trains between London Paddington and Reading are returning to normal but may still be delayed by up to 25 minutes.

Disruption is expected until 12:00.

 

Like most of these comparisons, it's related to the "West Lothian question". The Union government and Parliament do not hand over a defined English budget to a devolved English administration - not even one that's the same people as the Union ones wearing hats with one less colour. So if borrowing is too high, but more money is needed for defence (very mush a Union matter), the Treasury will tour departments jangling their thumbscrews and demanding their cut from domestic English spending.

Of course on top of that DfT might be worse at making timely decisions then ... pretty well anyone, really.

 

 
Another update, from the BBC:

 

He only added that to wind me up. CfN.

 
Looks like competition might be happening year or two before Virgin.

Trenitalia have signed a 35 year deal for a maintenance depot near Paris, which when fully open will be able to handle 25 trains, including those for its proposed service to London


https://railmarket.com/news/infrastructure/53186-trenitalia-france-signs-35-year-lease-for-eur-80m-paris-depot

 
There is a path for another class delivery from Wolverton tomorrow (Friday), 4 weeks after last one.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K63327/2026-03-20/detailed

I think 6 units are still stored at Ely, and haven't even got to Wolverton yet, and Wolverton often seems to have them about 4 months

 

Yes, obviously put quality in much higher priority

But I suppose it is reflection of different countries approaches, Scotland goes in for rolling electrification programme, no difference between peak and off peak fares, and high quality train interiors.

But here in England we are in second tier on quality (could argue bottom tier, with make do approach, when it comes to fixing something like IET seats).

 

Presumably because the Scottish Assembly is prepared to pay for it?

 
Scotrail has agreed deal to get 22 trains (ex east Midlands)

Will be introduced 2027 - December 2028 replacing the HSTs. 

10 year maintenance contract, with possible extension to March 2042

Giving the refurbishment with things that can only be dreamed of in GWR land eg maximising alignment with windows, new reservation systems (if Scotrail can have new systems for 9-14 years, why do we still have empty reservation seat back card slots on 166s with no replacement, that could have been used 15-20 years  during which have mere counted place reservations)


https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/scotrail-announces-plans-to-replace-high-speed-trains?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQof6xjbGNrBCh_nWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHljda9jhXBbg2vEG9f5zIs2tDSgk885XFmQZvjqihMEauYT_a8Wv5eA9NvYK_aem_f1j2hFpIo50bsv88Cit0qQ

https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2026/3/alstom-secures-long-term-train-services-and-refurbishment-contracts-ps330-million1-eu380-million-scotrail-and-beacon-uk

 

I arrived at Melksham Station at 15:30 for the 15:40 yesterday afternoon - to find a report of "delayed" and the service was a complete and utter mess thereafter.   



Occasionally, "these things happen".   But what was shocking was the lack of correct customer support and practical information from automated systems and from help point staff - some of which was clearly in error (making impossible assertions) even during the ongoing issues. 

Until 17:30, I saw no GWR staff; I went out of my way to speak with one at 17:40.  Returning to Trowbridge station at 21:18 for the 21:22 to Melksham, the same experience.  The report shows the train as cancelled, yes, but whilst it was pretty obvious it was in trouble if we looked at public online technical systems, the station board showed it expected at 21:26.

Getting home?  I caught the 21:52 to Bath Spa, from there the 23:15 bus ... home at midnight. Staff for the 21:52 - excellent / helpful for multiple customers and GWR should be proud of them.  But the system's a mess. I did decline the offer of a taxi from Bath - well made, and advise to Chippenham and Swindon passengers also well given.

Lessons / comments - to be written up.   I found myself talking with fellow passengers at both Melksham and Trowbridge, trying to explain what we were being told and put it into a context at what was likely, and telling them what the options they might wish to consider were, but doing so purely as a volunteer who has read the runes and seen many things before.   And evaluating the help that was lacking for people and how a regular present Information at the Station might address the issues.

My apologies to GWR for sending their customers away.   By the time the 15:40 arrived - at 17:30 - it was long gone off the automated screens and so were the passengers, making use of other modes of transport to actually get them towards where they needed - London, and Bath Spa, and Trowbridge, and Fratton and Brighton.  And to have re-assured them that their tickets would be accepted on the later connecting trains.

I find myself noting the suggestions made to fellow passengers, and how they might help form an FAQ to help address the failures of the system, especially when factored in for delivery by someone with a little more knowledge of the systems that the customers have.  And I concluded that some 95% of people can be helped in these circumstances, and also can be reassured that they are in the unknown.

Industry standard systems that most passengers use do provide the right information 98% of the time.  The problem is that the other 2% - when they should be the most useful - that are crassly incorrect.

 
In public to Heritage Railways Permanent Way and Civil Engineering Facebook Group


Philip Pratt

John Hassall

 

 
A couple of G&Ts helps, or on the Caledonian Sleeper a whisky with ginger ale and ice.

 

The 15:15 Swindon to Westbury left Swindon 101.75 minutes late (at 16:57) and was 107 minutes late into Westbury ... by which time the next two trains to Dilton Marsh had left ...

Lots of learning this afternoon - to be written up over the next 48 hours.   Information and alternatives misleading and scant.

 
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

 
BBC advising that Planning consent for Stonehenge tunnel has been formally revoked

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7959v897n9o

DfT documents which says signed by Heidi Alexander, apparently to save money (and with no obvious alternative improvement by rail or road to/from south west).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposed-revocation-of-the-a303-amesbury-to-berwick-down-development-consent-order-2023

 
Fast forward to March 18th and this from a Glasgow Times blog on the progress with demolition. The blog features photos of the demolition crew carefully approaching a now free-standing masonry element above the surviving facade. Then, this:

"The Glasgow Times understands that today will be the last day of demolition work on the building at the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street."

Perhaps given the costs of the ongoing disruption to the station and streets, it's now calculated to be more cost effective to quickly secure the facade, returning the station, streets and businesses to operation and the facade can then be worked on at less risk.

Mark

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25945759.live-updates-union-street-building-demolition-continues/

 
Maybe tfw should look at purchasing the ncp car park  by queen street station/Newport road in Cardiff and demolish it would make it easier to widen the. Newport road bridge to accommodate 4 tracks instead of 2

 
Via Prof Ian Walker on Bluesky: his words:

"This could ve big: DfT have a new tool showing how well-connected every 100x100m cell in England and Wales is to work, shops, leisure, health etc, broken down by mode."

Mark

https://connectivity-tool-lite.dft.gov.uk/

 

RT's are for the connoisseur. They are almost as good as KSW's... I went on the 'Farewell to the RT's' tour (and, for that matter, the 'Farewell to the KSW's').

I note that the last few Routemasters were recently auctioned off by TfL, and got silly money. https://www.wilsonsauctions.com/news-and-insights/news/legendary-1960s-london-routemaster-buses-go-under-the-hammer

 
ITV news last night was reporting that the car-on-track closed the line and inconvenienced thousands of commuters getting to work.    At first I thought the number was a bit over the top - but perhaps we are approaching 1000 journeys a day now on the trains that pass thought Melksham.   Say 250 journeys at Melksham, twice that number passing through, and a significant number making Swindon <-> Chippenham and Trowbridge <-> Westbury journeys.

With the "local plan" for Wiltshire thrown out, we are likely to see a building environment in which the NPPF and the Neighbourhood Plan provide the guidance framework for planning once the core plan expires, and it's predicted that this will bring a great deal more housing even than was outlined in the local plan.  Taken forward with a reliable, all day every day train services in conjunction with buses that connect with trains in addition to meeting other transport needs that don't involve a rail "leg", we may well be up to those thousands by the end of this decade, and then grow beyond.

 
18/03/2026  (It's been a while since this thread carried news.  Something of a record in terms of recent performance)