Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Interrail, Summer 2025 - my catering thread In "Introductions and chat" [361537/30275/1] Posted by grahame at 12:24, 16th May 2025 Already liked by Mark A |      |
Melksham to Cheltenham Spa (GWR) ... no catering
Cheltenham Spa to Newcastle Central (XC) ...
Newcastle Central to Royal Quay (Go-ahead North East) ... no catering
Royal Quay to Amsetdam (DFDS) ...
| Bridge Bash on Paignton Branch 16/05/2025 In "London to the West" [361536/30274/12] Posted by Witham Bobby at 11:50, 16th May 2025 | |
Cancellations to services between Newton Abbot and Paignton
Due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge at Paignton the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 13:30 16/05.
Train services between Newton Abbot and Paignton may be cancelled or delayed.
Customer Advice
We have been informed that a road vehichle has struck a railway bridge near Paignton.
In order to run trains safely, engineers from Network Rail will need to assess the structure. Teams are heading to site, and if no significant damage is noted, then we will be able to resume our train service.
In the meantime, customers can use their tickets at no extra cost on the local bus service, which serves all stations along the GWR route. Further details below:
Stagecoach route 12: Newton Abbot (Station), Torre (Station), Torquay (Grand Hotel), Paignton (Bus Station) are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Further Information
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, tweet us @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950
Last Updated:16/05/2025 11:41
Due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge at Paignton the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 13:30 16/05.
Train services between Newton Abbot and Paignton may be cancelled or delayed.
Customer Advice
We have been informed that a road vehichle has struck a railway bridge near Paignton.
In order to run trains safely, engineers from Network Rail will need to assess the structure. Teams are heading to site, and if no significant damage is noted, then we will be able to resume our train service.
In the meantime, customers can use their tickets at no extra cost on the local bus service, which serves all stations along the GWR route. Further details below:
Stagecoach route 12: Newton Abbot (Station), Torre (Station), Torquay (Grand Hotel), Paignton (Bus Station) are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Further Information
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, tweet us @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950
Last Updated:16/05/2025 11:41
| Re: May Timetable Change In "Across the West" [361534/30225/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 08:41, 16th May 2025 Already liked by Mark A, TaplowGreen, Witham Bobby | |
Today's Railways UK has a good summary. The "highlight" in the South West seems to be no through London Newquay weekday trains. Lack of Penzance-Cardiff trains and dodgy connections throughout.
| Re: May Timetable Change In "Across the West" [361533/30225/26] Posted by Timmer at 07:08, 16th May 2025 | |
The summer weekday extension of a London-Plymouth to Newquay and return isn’t running this year.
| Re: Where was Finn today, 15th May 2025? In "The Lighter Side" [361532/30273/30] Posted by JayMac at 00:24, 16th May 2025 | |
For myself, I haven’t got a Scooby. But my son Robin thinks it’s in Cornwall…
Too far west...
| Re: May Timetable Change In "Across the West" [361531/30225/26] Posted by trainbuff at 22:48, 15th May 2025 Already liked by Mark A, TaplowGreen, Witham Bobby | |
Crosscountry may have made changes to their timetable but there are no double sets booked before 12.27 from Plymouth. I suspect with passengers being put onto XC services at Plymouth that these trains, particularly in the Summer will be full and standing at varying points between Plymouth and Bristol. I do believe that the GWR changes are a backwards step therefore
| Re: Where was Finn today, 15th May 2025? In "The Lighter Side" [361530/30273/30] Posted by johnneyw at 22:37, 15th May 2025 Already liked by JayMac, GBM, Mark A | |
Typical! , This one doesn't appear to be in my copy of "I-Spy Railway Foot Crossings".
| Re: Where was Finn today, 15th May 2025? In "The Lighter Side" [361529/30273/30] Posted by Red Squirrel at 22:33, 15th May 2025 Already liked by JayMac | |
For myself, I haven’t got a Scooby. But my son Robin thinks it’s in Cornwall…
| Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [361528/30032/40] Posted by Oxonhutch at 21:21, 15th May 2025 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | |
Mighty Cholsey station with its five platforms! As many as Didcot Parkway - and more than either Swindon or Oxford
And with six tracks, it pips Twyford, Maidenhead, West Drayton and West Ealing.
| Re: Two plus Three seating in class 150? In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361527/30255/25] Posted by grahame at 16:45, 15th May 2025 | |
I remember 2+3 in the Wales & West 150/2s, these were converted to 2+2 when they were refurbished by Wessex Trains in 2002/3.
I have looked back at my pictures, and I suspect the carriage with 2 + 3 was part on 150202. Did it miss the refurb? Was it a later arrival?
Saw its older sister 150201 earlier today. Dressed differently, but looked like 2+3 as well.
| Re: May Timetable Change In "Across the West" [361525/30225/26] Posted by grahame at 15:54, 15th May 2025 Already liked by Timmer, trainbuff | |
From GWR ...
Just a quick reminder that train timetables will be changing this Sunday, 18 May as part of the twice-yearly changes to timetables nationwide.
All amendments are now in journey planners and online systems, including www.gwr.com and National Rail Enquiries. We’re asking customers to double-check their journey before travelling as there may be some minor changes in timings affect their travel plans.
As well as our usual Summer Saturday services to Pembroke Dock, this change sees more connections to and from Gatwick Airport, helping to provide more rail options for customers travelling to and from the airport.
We’re also changing times on the Looe Valley line to provide quicker connections and a later train on the branch line, helping to increase opportunities both for leisure and business travel.
Looking ahead we are also adding some additional calls at Saltash to help with customers switching to rail from road during work on the Saltash road tunnels planned for later this year.
And finally, with a significant remodelling of CrossCountry train’s timetable, there will also be some changes to our services between Cardiff and Penzance. GWR will operate Penzance to Exeter direct, and Exeter to Cardiff (Taunton to Cardiff on Sundays), with cross-platform changes available at Newton Abbot/Taunton.
We have shared a news release here with more details of the changes - https://news.gwr.com/news/gwr-urges-customers-to-check-their-journey-as-timetable-changes-this-sunday - and as always if you have any questions please do not hesitate to let me know.
All amendments are now in journey planners and online systems, including www.gwr.com and National Rail Enquiries. We’re asking customers to double-check their journey before travelling as there may be some minor changes in timings affect their travel plans.
As well as our usual Summer Saturday services to Pembroke Dock, this change sees more connections to and from Gatwick Airport, helping to provide more rail options for customers travelling to and from the airport.
We’re also changing times on the Looe Valley line to provide quicker connections and a later train on the branch line, helping to increase opportunities both for leisure and business travel.
Looking ahead we are also adding some additional calls at Saltash to help with customers switching to rail from road during work on the Saltash road tunnels planned for later this year.
And finally, with a significant remodelling of CrossCountry train’s timetable, there will also be some changes to our services between Cardiff and Penzance. GWR will operate Penzance to Exeter direct, and Exeter to Cardiff (Taunton to Cardiff on Sundays), with cross-platform changes available at Newton Abbot/Taunton.
We have shared a news release here with more details of the changes - https://news.gwr.com/news/gwr-urges-customers-to-check-their-journey-as-timetable-changes-this-sunday - and as always if you have any questions please do not hesitate to let me know.
I kinda-associated the break of the Cardiff - Penzance service at Exeter with the introduction of 175s on the western leg of those service. Some see this split as a degradation, and it's interesting to associate it with the Cross Country changes
| Where was Finn today, 15th May 2025? In "The Lighter Side" [361524/30273/30] Posted by JayMac at 15:32, 15th May 2025 | |
Finn stopped and looked. He didn't listen though, what with being Mutt n' Jeff.
Bonus point for the exact name of the crossing.
| Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [361523/30032/40] Posted by bobm at 12:51, 15th May 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Oxonhutch, GBM | |
Cholsey certainly did have GWR branding on the Up Relief platform in May 2019.
| Re: Great British Railways In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [361522/30032/40] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 12:04, 15th May 2025 | |
I’m currently on a journey from Charlbury to Basingstoke. Lots of the stations appear no longer to have GWR green branding on the signs. Most have FGW purple and Cholsey appeared to have nothing at all.
I swear that at least some of these (eg Oxford platform 3) were fully GWR-ed up until recently. Is this a deliberate debranding in anticipation of Great British Railways? Or am I imagining things and these were never GWR green at all?
| Re: Two plus Three seating in class 150? In "Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall" [361518/30255/25] Posted by Hafren at 22:21, 14th May 2025 | |
There were some of the 150s that don't have gangways (150/0?) transferred from West Mids to GWR in the 2010s IIRC. As they arrived well after the 2+2 refurbs were done they retained 3+2 seating. Not great when they turned up on the CDF-PMH journeys! I think most/all have left GWR since. Not sure if the remaining one was from that transfer or another one. I think some/all of the West Mids ones came in 3 car formation with /0 vehicles outside and a /1 vehicle in the middle i.e. middle car had gangways at both ends but outer cars didn't.
A couple of Northern 3+2 /1 units were with TfW temporarily in the last 1-2 years. Unlike the likes of Turbos where only the bays are 3+2, the 150s had 3+2 on the face-to-back seats as well, so two people have to move (or be climbed over) if the person in the window seat needs to get up. Comfort is also affected by the 3+2 seats being more bench-like, without armrests (or indeed space for them) and being low-backed - I find these affect the sense of personal space and make it harder to doze. Also the narrower gangways mean less space to stand or move around.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [361517/29711/14] Posted by charles_uk at 22:09, 14th May 2025 | |
Not showing on JourneyCheck but tonight's 1953 Paddington to Hereford and 2251 Paddington to Worcestershire Parkway are both five car short-formations which, presumably, will mean short-forms on the first two up services tomorrow morning.
| Re: English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) - now BRTA In "Who's who on Western railways" [361516/22385/2] Posted by Red Squirrel at 22:03, 14th May 2025 | |
I was there. All very interesting, and a good day out.
| Re: Bid to reduce single-use plastic at railway station - Bristol Temple Meads, 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [361515/30270/51] Posted by Timmer at 19:14, 14th May 2025 Already liked by Red Squirrel, johnneyw | |
South Western Railways contribution to this is to replace its water point at Southampton Central with a pot plant! And then have repeated announcements to remind people to have enough water!!
Hope someone’s watering it. I’ll get my coat.| Re: Putting a number on the effect on passengers of cancellations In "Smoke and Mirrors" [361514/30257/3] Posted by John D at 17:47, 14th May 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
Cancellations seem to still be a big thing on GWR
Latest figures show overall 3.68% cancelled
Reliability isn't great either, only 66.03% on time
0.31% are short formed (below the DfT agreed minimum)
https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/our-performance/GWR-Periodic-Web-Report-P2513.pdf
So anyone with return journeys, each with change of train (4 trains in total) has high chance of not arriving on time (if train actually runs)
| Re: Bid to reduce single-use plastic at railway station - Bristol Temple Meads, 2025 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [361513/30270/51] Posted by CyclingSid at 15:44, 14th May 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
South Western Railways contribution to this is to replace its water point at Southampton Central with a pot plant! And then have repeated announcements to remind people to have enough water!!
| Re: English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) - now BRTA In "Who's who on Western railways" [361512/22385/2] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 14:56, 14th May 2025 | |
Yes but it's nice to go to the pub and chat with a couple of like minded souls occasionally.
| Re: English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) - now BRTA In "Who's who on Western railways" [361511/22385/2] Posted by ChrisB at 14:04, 14th May 2025 | |
Without money & members, it's a very small talking shop with a very high wishlist.
| Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff In "London to South Wales" [361510/30239/11] Posted by rogerw at 13:41, 14th May 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby, Chris from Nailsea, Western Pathfinder, Timmer, Mark A, Kempis, eightonedee | |
I was caught up in this on Sunday 4th. i had to travel up to London and I arrived at Bristol Parkway to find it full of people going nowhere fast. As I am currently having problems with my legs I had booked passenger assist but my booked 1555 departure was cancelled. I contacted a member of staff who advised me to stay in the waiting room and the supervisor would contact me when he had finished trying to sort out taxis. When he found me he said he would collect me nearer departure time once the platform for the 1655 (starting from BPW) had been confirmed. in the meantime regular announcements were being made about travel to south Wales explaining that there were difficulties sourcing replacement bus services because of the amount of engineering work in the area needing a significant number of replacement buses. the general mood among passengers was one of acceptance as they were being kept informed. anyway, about 20 minutes before my departure I was helped to my train and upgraded to first. The journey to Paddington went well and I was met and taken to the taxi rank by buggy. I thought that the staff at Parkway did a magnificent job despite their small number.
Incidentally I received my delay repayment in my bank account on Monday.
| Re: incident at Oldfield Park In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [361509/30271/10] Posted by Timmer at 13:36, 14th May 2025 | |
Cancellations to services between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 14:00 14/05.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
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All passengers wishing to travel to Bath Spa should change at Bristol Temple Meads for road transport.
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All passengers wishing to travel to Chippenham should change at Swindon for Wesbury services.
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Road transport is in place for passengers travelling between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa.
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Road transport is in place for passengers travelling between Chippenham and Bath Spa.
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You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on the following First Bristol, Bath & the West bus routes:
19 - Bristol Parkway (Station) - Filton (Filton Road), Bath (Bus Station)
39/X39 - Bath (Bus Station), Keynsham (Church), Bristol (Temple Meads)
349 - Bristol (Temple Meads), Keynsham (St Johns Church)
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 14:00 14/05.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
-
All passengers wishing to travel to Bath Spa should change at Bristol Temple Meads for road transport.
-
All passengers wishing to travel to Chippenham should change at Swindon for Wesbury services.
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Road transport is in place for passengers travelling between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa.
-
Road transport is in place for passengers travelling between Chippenham and Bath Spa.
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You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on the following First Bristol, Bath & the West bus routes:
19 - Bristol Parkway (Station) - Filton (Filton Road), Bath (Bus Station)
39/X39 - Bath (Bus Station), Keynsham (Church), Bristol (Temple Meads)
349 - Bristol (Temple Meads), Keynsham (St Johns Church)
| incident at Oldfield Park In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [361508/30271/10] Posted by infoman at 12:48, 14th May 2025 | |
reported at approx 11:45am Wednesday 14th May 2025
This is effecting trains through Chippenham and Bath and Bristol in both directions.
