it's change at Bristol for Taunton and I see that GWR are flagging up that the Cross Country train it connects into is potentially disrupted by Industial Action.

And the station in the picture is? Not Didcot. I think this has been identified before on the forum.

When did the weather suddenly become end of days events?
Who would have thought we get wind and rain in October - watching GMB you would think the world was coming to an end

(Certainly the service between Waterloo and Bristol hasn't improved...)

How very different things could have been, if there'd been another ten grand or so floating around back in the 1970s. 

The WSR was rescued so it could be returned to its proper purpose.  We're not very far away from the 50th anniversary of the line being acquired by Somerset County Council and leased to the West Somerset Railway Company Ltd (as it then was), back in November 1975, and restoration work starting in earnest.

From the BBC:

However, in light of the railbus’ return to Cirencester, the Old Station Experience event at Cirencester Town Station in Sheep Street will also now be open for an extra day on Sunday, October 26."

When did the weather suddenly become end of days events?
Who would have thought we get wind and rain in October - watching GMB you would think the world was coming to an end

https://cirencesterhistoryfestival.org/event/the-old-station-experience/

Facebook quoted above says Saturday and Sunday; web site says just Saturday.  Anyone know? 

0721 Melksham - Chippenham 0730

[snip]

Total (with Railcard) £22.30

Yes ... some very interesting patterns at present; research ongoing.

Still missing that sole "A bit before 9am" train through to Penzance from Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, with its easement allowing off peak travel. There's now a service at a bit before 7:30 am from Bath and with no easement. Was the  pre-2018ish service into Taunton by 9:40 and Exeter a bit after 10?

Mark

Great news.  A special train is just about to go onto the branch now. I remember another special ran 11 years ago to demonstrate the potential of the line, and that potential looks like it might be close to being realised.

Oxford Clarion is an excellent site.

Train travellers are facing delays and cancellations while repairs are carried out on the track at Didcot Parkway.

A fault with a rail means trains are being diverted on to a different line through the area.

It means trains between Oxford and Reading/London Paddington will not stop at Didcot Parkway, in either direction and fewer trains will run between Oxford and Didcot in both directions.

Tickets can be used via Reading for those travelling between Didcot Parkway and Oxford. They will also be accepted on CrossCountry services between Oxford and Reading in both directions. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Transport for London (TfL) has apologised after severe delays on the Northern line have entered a fifth day.

A signalling equipment failure at Stockwell station in south London has meant that since Sunday, service controllers have had to "manually talk trains through this part of the network".

The BBC understands that TfL has not yet identified the cause of the failure but letters have been sent to councils, businesses and other groups which TfL works with.

Nick Dent, TfL's director of customer operations, said: "Our engineers are working hard to identify and fix the fault, including deploying advanced test equipment, and we will do all we can to restore a good service as soon as possible."

He added: "We apologise to customers affected by delays on the Northern line since Sunday.

"We have identified a fault with the signalling equipment around the Stockwell area that means our service controllers need to manually talk trains through this part of the network.

"We are advising customers to allow extra time for their journeys, and to check before they travel using TfL journey planner or the TfL Go app."

Heritage railway helps dogs make vets appointment



An oil spill which closed a busy route has forced two dogs and their owner to find an alternative route to their vets appointment.

The A39 in Washford, Somerset, was closed on Tuesday after a van and lorry collided and emergency services worked to contain a fuel leak.

Instead of battling the busy, narrow, twisting back roads on the outskirts of Exmoor to visit the vets in Minehead, Christopher Wade decided to hop on the heritage steam railway to complete their journey from Watchet.

Mr Wade said golden retrievers Henry and Daisy "loved" their trip on the West Somerset Railway, and he felt "smug" to be able to avoid the road closures and make their appointment.



The West Somerset Railway is the longest operating heritage train line in the country, and runs between Minehead and Bishop's Lydeard.

Mr Wade said he has an annual pass for the line, due to his sister-in-law's passion for railways.

"It was late - because of the road closure, and the station was heaving."



He said the area is lucky to have the service - despite it only being a tourist attraction.

"We don't have motorways and when the roads get moored up, there's no easy way around just to get to Minehead you've got to go up and over Dunster - no thanks."

Mr Wade said while the dogs were only collecting their medicines, they also got a walk around the station at Minehead - and travelled home in style.