Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360740/30169/3] Posted by grahame at 05:41, 21st April 2025 |      |
35 and 49 mins I believe are in excess of the rules set up for reasonable connections,
Colloquially, yes, over half an hour starts to become unreasonable - but that does not stop the GWR timetable and booking engine routinely offering them. Here is an example of an 81 minutes wait at Trowbridge this morning, which I would not attempt to market.
Rather oddly, the 06:32 off Melksham DOES officially connect into the first Weymouth train this morning at Westbury as it's varied to leave 3 minutes later than normal ... and that's enough of a change time now. In practise, I made this change (06:48 to 06:50) on Friday from one 3 car 166 to another 3 car 166 ... and it has me wondering if the norm should be a through service to Weymouth with a connection (with a 7 minute connection) on to Salisbury and Southampton.
| GWR services to Cardiff - slashed for the day / urgent bridge repairs In "Shorter journeys in South and West Wales" [360739/30173/23] Posted by grahame at 05:22, 21st April 2025 | |
75 trains running short routes today (Monday 21st April 2025) - problems between Newport and Cardiff. West Country trains terminating at Newport, Portsmouth trains terminating at Bristol, looks like London trains still running. Due to the fragmented nature of our systems, I'll need to look elsewhere to find out about Cardiff trains from Nottingham, from Shrewsbury and beyond, and more locally from Cheltenham Spa and from Ebbw Vale.
Where GWR say "alterations" they do of course avoid using the more specific wording like "cancellations" and "reductions" - don't you love doublespeak!
Alterations to services between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Centra
Due to urgent repairs to a bridge between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Urgent repairs are required to a bridge in the Cardiff area.
As a result of this fewer train services will be able to operate through that area and owing to the reduction in the operational flexiblility there, those services which do operate may be subject to further delay and revision.
Train services that would normally operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions.
The general pattern of service will be for those services which originate from / are destined for west country locations (Penzance / Plymouth / Exeter / Taunton / Weston-superMare) will operate though to / from South Wales but will terminate and start back from Newport. A change of train will be required to travel to / from Cardiff Central. Those services which originate from / are destined for Westbury / Salisbury / Southampton / Portsmouth will not operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central.
GWR ticket holders may use Transport for Wales services in the area at no extra cost but do note that their services will also be affected by this incident.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause to your journey today.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:21/04/2025 04:01
Due to urgent repairs to a bridge between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Urgent repairs are required to a bridge in the Cardiff area.
As a result of this fewer train services will be able to operate through that area and owing to the reduction in the operational flexiblility there, those services which do operate may be subject to further delay and revision.
Train services that would normally operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions.
The general pattern of service will be for those services which originate from / are destined for west country locations (Penzance / Plymouth / Exeter / Taunton / Weston-superMare) will operate though to / from South Wales but will terminate and start back from Newport. A change of train will be required to travel to / from Cardiff Central. Those services which originate from / are destined for Westbury / Salisbury / Southampton / Portsmouth will not operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central.
GWR ticket holders may use Transport for Wales services in the area at no extra cost but do note that their services will also be affected by this incident.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause to your journey today.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:21/04/2025 04:01
| Re: Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360738/30168/51] Posted by Trowres at 23:12, 20th April 2025 | |
Free eyesight tests for the elderly (actually over 60's) are now only at two-yearly intervals, unless one of several reasons are met.
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360737/30169/3] Posted by LiskeardRich at 22:03, 20th April 2025 | |
Yes, understood. Why I raise this ...
a) The 14:00 Cardiff - Penzance, change into the Portsmouth train at Temple Meads, change into the Swindon train at Trowbridge WERE all running. And with in excess of the minimum connection time. Why did the App not offer this?
a) The 14:00 Cardiff - Penzance, change into the Portsmouth train at Temple Meads, change into the Swindon train at Trowbridge WERE all running. And with in excess of the minimum connection time. Why did the App not offer this?
14:00 from Cardiff, 14:51 into Temple Meads
choice of
15:03 train towards Frome, 15:40 at Trowbridge or
15:23 train towards Portsmouth Harbour, 15:54 at Trowbridge
16:29 from Trowbridge to Melksham, arrives 16:38
Bristol temple meads has a minimum connection time of 10 mins according to national rail website.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Yes - but there was either 12 or 32 minutes available at Bristol Temple Meads, and the 49 or 35 minutes available at Trowbridge, so ...
There's your answer right there.....
No Chris, that is not my answer as to why there was nothing offered from Cardiff between 13:30 and 16:23. All four trains listed above are in the timetable, all four ran at least the part of the route I needed, and the connections offered were way in excess of minimum time.
35 and 49 mins I believe are in excess of the rules set up for reasonable connections,
| Re: Passengers stranded after being let off train for fresh air: Swindon, April 2025 In "London to South Wales" [360736/30159/11] Posted by froome at 21:31, 20th April 2025 | |
I have had a very similar experience to this incident as well (which I think I have related here before). We were on a very crowded train from Newport to Temple Meads, which had its first stop at Severn Tunnel Junction. The guard was also standing where we were, and when I asked, he said the front carriage was much less crowded, and agreed that we should get out at the first stop and walk down the platform to get back on that carriage. We did that with our luggage, and just before we got to the door in that carriage, it closed, and the train started moving off. He could obviously see what we were doing, so I can only assume that he had forgotten what he had said to us. We had to wait half an hour for the next service.
| Re: Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360735/30168/51] Posted by froome at 21:21, 20th April 2025 | |
I've always said anyone over 70 must have an annual eye test, and that result must be available for the DVLA to see.
Possibly a simple re-test every two years for driving ability as well.
Professional wagon and bus drivers need an annual eye test and medical over 70 years of age, so car drivers should have similar.
Possibly a simple re-test every two years for driving ability as well.
Professional wagon and bus drivers need an annual eye test and medical over 70 years of age, so car drivers should have similar.
Agree 100% with eye test and re-test for driving.
Being in a car with my late Father driving when he was in his early 80s was often an experience where all concerned found themselves praying to whatever God they held dear!
I had similar experiences with my last remaining aunt. It is several years since I went as a passenger in her car, but every time I have, it has been terrifying, as she drives right alongside parked cars at speeds that must be well over the speed limit. Her sons have made many attempts to get her to stop, and she finally has, but only at the age of 98(!) when she had an accident that shook her up (fortunately nothing worse), which has coincided with her health deteriorating.
| Re: Passengers stranded after being let off train for fresh air: Swindon, April 2025 In "London to South Wales" [360734/30159/11] Posted by onthecushions at 21:08, 20th April 2025 | |
?train despatch
?guard + whistle?
OTC
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360733/30169/3] Posted by Surrey 455 at 20:08, 20th April 2025 | |
* When a train is cancelled, the App should offer alternative which are still running and fits within the normal interchange criteria
Have you tried the National Rail App? When a journey is known to be disrupted on one or more legs, the NR app has offered alternatives routes / times to me.
| Re: Could the next Weca mayor take over running buses? In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [360732/30172/21] Posted by grahame at 19:02, 20th April 2025 | |
So what does the position of the arms in the publicity picture tell me?
Two gave hands crossed over their crotch (what are they protecting?)
Two have their hands behind there backs (what are they hiding?)
One has hands by her side (is she doing anything?)
And one has his hands crossed oveR his chest (does he look fed up?)
| Could the next Weca mayor take over running buses? In "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" [360731/30172/21] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:28, 20th April 2025 | |
From the BBC:
The six West of England Combined Authority mayoral candidates (from left): Arron Banks, Steve Smith, Helen Godwin, Mary Page, Oli Henman and Ian Scott
Most of the candidates standing in the election to run the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) are calling for the franchising of buses.
That would mean turning the clock back on 40 years of private control.
If it happens, the new mayor would decide on routes, fares and timetables. But there are warnings that it could mean an increase to council tax bills.
It was 1986 when buses around Bristol and Bath were put into private hands. Over the following decades passenger numbers declined, and dropped sharply amid the Covid lockdowns.
The main operator, First Bus, says since then there has been progress. Passenger numbers have risen in the past two years, though are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Partly funded by Weca, it now runs more services on the most popular routes. But a shortage of council funding led to many subsidised services being cut.
May's election could herald big changes. Five of the six vying to be mayor favour franchising. That would see control of routes, fares and timetables taken out of the hands of private operators, and given to Weca.
Recent changes in the law have made it easier for mayors to do this. Manchester finished its move to franchising in January 2025. Liverpool, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire are also aiming to make the change. But it all comes with a warning: it will cost taxpayers.
Bus campaigner David Redgewell said the scheme could either be financed through taxes or higher fares
The transition would come with a price tag; there would also be yearly running costs.
"It's the right way to go, but we've got to have the finance to do it," cautions bus campaigner David Redgewell. "There are only two ways to pay for it. One is through the taxpayer, and your local taxes and government grants, and the other way is through fares."
However, it is not just down to who wins on 1 May. Any such change would take time – several years in Manchester's case. And with set-up costs of tens of millions of pounds, it might be difficult at a time of such stretched budgets.
| Re: Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360730/30168/51] Posted by Marlburian at 16:31, 20th April 2025 | |
Driving re-tests every two years would place further burdens on the DVLA, which is having trouble coping with the number of learner drivers wanting their first tests, and with the Government eager to cut Civil Service numbers ...
I'm nudging 80 and haven't needed to use a motorway for decades and don't drive at night. Didn't the last tweaks to the test include parking on the other side of the road and then driving away? Something I might find challenging but have never needed to do. So I would twitch at the thought of a test that took these into account.
Certainly eyesight is an issue, and elderly people can have free annual tests. The roadside check is a bit hit & miss; this morning I walked along several streets in bright sunshine and could read number plates from further away than on a dull day.
When Dad was around 84, staff at Mother's nursing home were alarmed when they saw him drive up to visit her, such was his own state of health.
| Re: Salisbury Station, 2025 edition In "South Western services" [360729/30171/42] Posted by bobm at 13:37, 20th April 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Meanwhile out the front.
https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/upcoming-resurfacing-work-at-salisbury-railway-station-forecourt-marks-next-milestone-in-this-key-project-for-salisbury
As the final phase of enhancements at Salisbury Railway Station progresses, a key milestone is coming up with plans to resurface the station forecourt area.
Works will be taking place overnight on the 22 -24 April 2025 (inclusive) to install additional drainage gullies immediately outside of the station building entrance. These works need to be completed prior to the proposed resurfacing works.
From 8pm on Friday 25 April to 4am Tuesday 29 April (24 hour working including both day and night working), the station forecourt will be closed to vehicular traffic from South Western Road. Pedestrian access to and from the railway station, South Western Road and the lower car park will remain available for the duration of the closure.
Drop off and pick up points will temporarily be located in the lower car park and visitors seeking to access the Stonehenge Tour buses should follow the signed route to their temporary location. Accessible parking bays will be available in the lower car park and be positioned as close as possible to the main station entrance. Access to / egress from the lower car park will be available for the duration of the closure via Churchfields Road only. Taxis will temporarily be relocated to South Western Road.
The station's cycle hub will remain accessible from Churchfields Road and Mill Road.
Railway customers will be able to use the new Fisherton Car Park located at the former East Goods Yard site. The car park will open to coincide with the road closure period for resurfacing works and will remain open for the foreseeable future.
To ensure smooth operations, four traffic marshals will be on duty from Friday 25 April until Tuesday 29 April. Three marshals will be stationed in the forecourt area and one will be positioned in Churchfields Road to manage pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place, said: We apologise in advance for any inconvenience and disturbance caused by these works. This is anticipated to be the last time we will need to undertake 24 hour working during this project.
We would like to thank in particular the residents of Churchfields Road for their patience and continued co-operation in delivering this important scheme for Salisbury.
Once the Station Forecourt scheme is complete it will provide a more attractive, and welcoming environment for visitors and residents alike.
The Station Forecourt project forms part of the £9 million investment from the Future High Streets Fund.
Works will be taking place overnight on the 22 -24 April 2025 (inclusive) to install additional drainage gullies immediately outside of the station building entrance. These works need to be completed prior to the proposed resurfacing works.
From 8pm on Friday 25 April to 4am Tuesday 29 April (24 hour working including both day and night working), the station forecourt will be closed to vehicular traffic from South Western Road. Pedestrian access to and from the railway station, South Western Road and the lower car park will remain available for the duration of the closure.
Drop off and pick up points will temporarily be located in the lower car park and visitors seeking to access the Stonehenge Tour buses should follow the signed route to their temporary location. Accessible parking bays will be available in the lower car park and be positioned as close as possible to the main station entrance. Access to / egress from the lower car park will be available for the duration of the closure via Churchfields Road only. Taxis will temporarily be relocated to South Western Road.
The station's cycle hub will remain accessible from Churchfields Road and Mill Road.
Railway customers will be able to use the new Fisherton Car Park located at the former East Goods Yard site. The car park will open to coincide with the road closure period for resurfacing works and will remain open for the foreseeable future.
To ensure smooth operations, four traffic marshals will be on duty from Friday 25 April until Tuesday 29 April. Three marshals will be stationed in the forecourt area and one will be positioned in Churchfields Road to manage pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place, said: We apologise in advance for any inconvenience and disturbance caused by these works. This is anticipated to be the last time we will need to undertake 24 hour working during this project.
We would like to thank in particular the residents of Churchfields Road for their patience and continued co-operation in delivering this important scheme for Salisbury.
Once the Station Forecourt scheme is complete it will provide a more attractive, and welcoming environment for visitors and residents alike.
The Station Forecourt project forms part of the £9 million investment from the Future High Streets Fund.
| Re: 10 Reasons that rail investment should continue In "Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years" [360728/24275/40] Posted by Noggin at 12:20, 20th April 2025 | |
By providing fast, reliable transport there is (still) enormous potential for frequent, reliable and affordable rail services to provide people with the education, career and cultural opportunities in the centres of major cities (and the leisure opportunities in the countryside for that matter). This is particularly the case for those who can't drive for age/affordability/medical reasons, but also those with families who often have narrow windows of time during which they can work, making long commutes unfeasible.
The classic example has long been the Welsh Valleys, but there are plenty of even urban places like Lockleaze in Bristol where a railway line runs through but getting into the city centre by bus can take up to 40 minutes in rush hour.
If we took the Bristol example further, an extra pair of tracks between Chipping Sodbury and Bristol Parkway would enable an RER-style service to serve the south of Yate, Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath, not to mention enabling considerable amounts of housing to be built south of the line (whether that is desirable is another question).
And for the true believers, it seems ludicrous that Bristol has a more or less serviceable rail right of way right through some of the most deprived areas in the north east of the city which would be quite feasible to return to rail use (albeit needing some creativity at the southern end).
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360727/30169/3] Posted by ChrisB at 12:18, 20th April 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
That was bad enough that it needed editing - thank you!
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360726/30169/3] Posted by Red Squirrel at 12:14, 20th April 2025 | |
It's that 9 minute connection you ackonwledged
Phew. For a moment I thought you were accusing our esteemed colleague of ackonWEGGLING, in which case I would have had to arrange for my seconds to call on you…
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360725/30169/3] Posted by ChrisB at 12:08, 20th April 2025 | |
... I caught the 14:00 Penzance train, changed (9 minutes) at Bristol Temple Meads, changed Chippenham (5 minute) and arrived Melksham 15:39
I thought you were asking why *this* connection wasn't offered. It's that 9 minute connection you acknowledged
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360724/30169/3] Posted by grahame at 11:29, 20th April 2025 | |
Yes, understood. Why I raise this ...
a) The 14:00 Cardiff - Penzance, change into the Portsmouth train at Temple Meads, change into the Swindon train at Trowbridge WERE all running. And with in excess of the minimum connection time. Why did the App not offer this?
a) The 14:00 Cardiff - Penzance, change into the Portsmouth train at Temple Meads, change into the Swindon train at Trowbridge WERE all running. And with in excess of the minimum connection time. Why did the App not offer this?
14:00 from Cardiff, 14:51 into Temple Meads
choice of
15:03 train towards Frome, 15:40 at Trowbridge or
15:23 train towards Portsmouth Harbour, 15:54 at Trowbridge
16:29 from Trowbridge to Melksham, arrives 16:38
Bristol temple meads has a minimum connection time of 10 mins according to national rail website.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Yes - but there was either 12 or 32 minutes available at Bristol Temple Meads, and the 49 or 35 minutes available at Trowbridge, so ...
There's your answer right there.....
No Chris, that is not my answer as to why there was nothing offered from Cardiff between 13:30 and 16:23. All four trains listed above are in the timetable, all four ran at least the part of the route I needed, and the connections offered were way in excess of minimum time.
| Salisbury Station, 2025 edition In "South Western services" [360723/30171/42] Posted by Mark A at 11:26, 20th April 2025 | |
Changing trains there yesterday for the second time in a week, and towards both ends of the day. In the morning, the 06:04 from Bath has a ten minute pause at Westbury built into the timetable, and arrived into Salisbury with a cross-platform change into the 05:10 from Exeter, which has a similar ten minutes call in the timetable, so this felt relaxed in a good way. At the other end of the day, about a dozen people on to the 21:42 to Cardiff not many of which had come in on the connection from Waterloo. Not many on the Portsmouth train as it made its onward journey.
Salisbury platform 4 now having a waiting room, and it being open in the evenings, is a big improvement for travellers. The small scale but pervasive seasonal decoration of the booking office must have been a welcome sight for the people travelling with children earlier in the week.
The other day, ok, holidays, I don't think this was subjective, the number of groups travelling with children on the SW main line made the passenger mix visibly distinct from the impressions often given by the GW main line.
The photo shows the 19:50 sunset service out of a busy Waterloo Station for Salisbury, five minutes before the off. The platform isdeserted because the passengers were all boarded at this point, filling the 3 carriages to a cheerful 100% capacity, the service feeling capacity constrained (and missing an extension to a string of additional destinations).
Mark
| Re: Firstgroup's rail division trading 'ahead of expectations' In "Across the West" [360722/30153/26] Posted by ChrisB at 11:22, 20th April 2025 | |
The DfT do seem to be picking on the better run operations first for transfers. If they keep that up next year, I suspect GWR will be one of those selected, personally speaking
| Re: Firstgroup's rail division trading 'ahead of expectations' In "Across the West" [360721/30153/26] Posted by Noggin at 11:14, 20th April 2025 | |
Remember that First have a *long* experience of quietly playing politicians and civil servants and it's arguable that the GWR franchise is one of the better ones as a result of them plugging away at it for over 20 years, making the best of the IET, coping with electrification, aging rolling stock, lack of long-term investment etc.
I've always suspected that one of First's strategies was to be "The Devil you know" i.e. with GWR, they delivered the goods at an affordable subsidy level and didn't cause politicians or civil servants too many headaches - but they were no-one's poodle and would operate sharply where necessary.
So I suspect the statements around open access and their existing franchises might be a throw of the dice to get a couple more years on their existing franchises - "let us discreetly take care of things for a couple more years whilst you sort out GBR, no-one but the trainspotters will ever notice".
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360720/30169/3] Posted by Mark A at 11:04, 20th April 2025 | |
* My 9 minutes from Platform 4 to Platform 13 at Bristol Temple Meads
There's your answer right there.....
An issue with Bristol Temple Meads is the often thin service combined with the station being worked in a way that often makes no attempt to minimise the distances that people have to walk to make connections.
Walking's good but not when it's designed-in as an additional feature of a transport system. At that point it becomes an accessibility issue.
Mark
| Re: FOSS and FOSW validity - some quirks In "Fare's Fair" [360719/30127/4] Posted by ChrisB at 10:38, 20th April 2025 | |
Incorrect programming in those gates?
| Re: Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360718/30168/51] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:37, 20th April 2025 Already liked by froome | |
I've always said anyone over 70 must have an annual eye test, and that result must be available for the DVLA to see.
Possibly a simple re-test every two years for driving ability as well.
Professional wagon and bus drivers need an annual eye test and medical over 70 years of age, so car drivers should have similar.
Possibly a simple re-test every two years for driving ability as well.
Professional wagon and bus drivers need an annual eye test and medical over 70 years of age, so car drivers should have similar.
Agree 100% with eye test and re-test for driving.
Being in a car with my late Father driving when he was in his early 80s was often an experience where all concerned found themselves praying to whatever God they held dear!
| Re: Fortuitous connections ... and an App which fails to offer the best journey In "Smoke and Mirrors" [360717/30169/3] Posted by ChrisB at 10:37, 20th April 2025 | |
* My 9 minutes from Platform 4 to Platform 13 at Bristol Temple Meads
There's your answer right there.....
Bristol temple meads has a minimum connection time of 10 mins according to national rail website.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Booking systems can not sell an itinerary less than this.
Yes, understood.
| Re: Eyesight rules for motorists unsafe, says coroner In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [360716/30168/51] Posted by GBM at 10:33, 20th April 2025 Already liked by TaplowGreen | |
I've always said anyone over 70 must have an annual eye test, and that result must be available for the DVLA to see.
Possibly a simple re-test every two years for driving ability as well.
Professional wagon and bus drivers need an annual eye test and medical over 70 years of age, so car drivers should have similar.
| Re: Firstgroup's rail division trading 'ahead of expectations' In "Across the West" [360715/30153/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:11, 20th April 2025 | |
I wonder how much of this "better than expected" financial performance for FirstGroup will be reflected in additional investment into GWR services?
Will customers see any improvements as a result?
Will customers see any improvements as a result?
No private company will invest when there’s no chance of recouping their investment.
And that won’t change when it goes back under public ownership.
Fair point - good news for the shareholders, not so good for the taxpayers!
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [360714/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 09:54, 20th April 2025 | |
Over running engineering works have also done for the first service from Swindon to London Paddington (starts Didcot Parkway) and first westbound service to Bristol and Exeter St Davids (starts Bristol Temple Meads).
Oh dear ... From Swindon to London, there's an 08:00 bus (change Reading) and an 09:40 train ... first train to Westbury now 2 hours after that. Passenger volumes are of course very different, but it's also a reminder of just how serious cancelling even one train on an infrequent service is.
Nearly 4 hours to wait for public transport home to Melksham now if you miss the 17:44 (and on a Sunday, the evening buses from Bath don't run so even those of us in "the know" would struggle)
| Urgent bridge repairs in Cardiff area In "London to South Wales" [360713/30170/11] Posted by bradshaw at 09:47, 20th April 2025 | |
Just appeared on GWR Journey Check
Cancellations to services between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central
Due to urgent repairs to a bridge between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Urgent repairs are required to a bridge in the Cardiff area.
As a result of this fewer train services will be able to operate through that area and owing to the reduction in the operational flexiblility there those services which do operate may be subject to further delay and revision. Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central may terminate and start back from Newport where a change of train will be required to travel to / from Cardiff Central. Additionally, some trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central may not run at all.
GWR ticket holders may use Transport for Wales services in the area at no extra cost but do note that their services will also be severely affected by this incident.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause to your journey today.
Due to urgent repairs to a bridge between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Urgent repairs are required to a bridge in the Cardiff area.
As a result of this fewer train services will be able to operate through that area and owing to the reduction in the operational flexiblility there those services which do operate may be subject to further delay and revision. Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central may terminate and start back from Newport where a change of train will be required to travel to / from Cardiff Central. Additionally, some trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central may not run at all.
GWR ticket holders may use Transport for Wales services in the area at no extra cost but do note that their services will also be severely affected by this incident.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause to your journey today.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [360712/29726/18] Posted by bobm at 09:24, 20th April 2025 | |
Over running engineering works have also done for the first service from Swindon to London Paddington (starts Didcot Parkway) and first westbound service to Bristol and Exeter St Davids (starts Bristol Temple Meads).
