Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Weymouth line cancellations In "Heart of Wessex" [378222/32074/19] Posted by Trowres at 23:25, 13th August 2026 |      |
You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on South Western Railway service between Weymouth and Southampton Central, where you can change for services towards Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads. This may extend your journey time by approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
Had you been at Weymouth, waiting for the 17:28 to Bristol, you would have had the fortune to catch the 17:15 to Waterloo, which actually departed at 17:35. This is what would have then happened:
Arrive at Southampton at 19:17 (20 late).
Find you have missed the connecting Cardiff train due to depart at 19:11. Actually, you haven't missed it as it's been cancelled.
You find that the next Cardiff train, the 20:11, has also been cancelled.
There's a 19:37 to Salisbury, so you catch that. It departs 5 late.
Arrival at Salisbury is at 20:22 (7 late).
There was actually a Salisbury-Bristol train running (most were cancelled today as part of service-thinning)...
It left on time at 20:11, so you have missed it. Bad luck!
Next train should be the 20:42 Cardiff... but it's cancelled.
Also cancelled is th 21:42 Cardiff train...
So you catch the 22:11 Salisbury-Bristol train, due into Temple Meads at 23:32. (Instead of 20:12 when the Wey-Bristol was due)
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
I would take "suspended" as meaning complete cessation of trains.
But the 20:14 departure from Weymouth ran, arriving Bristol at 22:45.
Mind, it was a 2-coach class 165, so would have been rather cosy if everyone waited for it.
The final train, the 21:28 Weymouth-Westbury was also cancelled.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378221/32362/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:20, 13th August 2026 | |
| Re: Six-hour train services between London and Stirling running with no toilets In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378220/32334/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:45, 13th August 2026 | |
Thanks for posting, broadgage.
| Re: Six-hour train services between London and Stirling running with no toilets In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378219/32334/51] Posted by broadgage at 21:23, 13th August 2026 | |
I thought that MOST forum members agreed with the official line that IETs are so much better than the HSTs that they replaced, that no one wants a buffet, and even short formations are not really a problem because covid has reduced passenger numbers.
And that only a few members shared my views.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378218/32362/51] Posted by broadgage at 21:15, 13th August 2026 | |
Video taken at the scene by passengers, strongly suggests that buckled track was to blame.
source is BBC news.
| Re: Hot weather - changes for 13th August 2026 In "Across the West" [378217/32358/26] Posted by lbraine at 20:57, 13th August 2026 Already liked by NickB | |
I apologise. Nothing to do with Drivers.
After a 90 minutes wait for anything local down the Thames Valley the Reading announcer says: ‘this is due to more trains that normal needing maintainence due to the hot weather’
I can only presume it must before hotter west of Reading and hence the limited number of trains running need to be protected, and hence the curtailing of trains from London at Reading.
Clearly GWR thinks its passengers are idiots
| Re: Hot weather - changes for 13th August 2026 In "Across the West" [378216/32358/26] Posted by lbraine at 20:43, 13th August 2026 Already liked by NickB | |
Here a question for someone on GWR operations (I hope):
On the day that you cancel trains
On the day that you run less trains
On the day that you terminate trains short
How, for the love of God, do you have the audacity to peddle the excuse that for to a lack of drivers a service is being cancelled.
(And before someone jumps on me and give the tired old ‘wrong driver in wrong place’ excuse I am particularly vexed about local services from Reading where the damn trains are stabled. And yes there are loads of them in the train yard sidings at the moment)
| Re: Weymouth line cancellations In "Heart of Wessex" [378215/32074/19] Posted by John D at 19:43, 13th August 2026 | |
Cancellations due to air conditioning faults
Due to severe weather between Weymouth and Westbury:
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
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We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today.
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What has happened?
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A number of trains that would run between Weymouth and Westbury have developed air conditioning faults owing to the extreme heat.
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What are your options?
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You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on South Western Railway service between Weymouth and Southampton Central, where you can change for services towards Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads. This may extend your journey time by approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
-
We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today.
-
What has happened?
-
A number of trains that would run between Weymouth and Westbury have developed air conditioning faults owing to the extreme heat.
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What are your options?
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You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on South Western Railway service between Weymouth and Southampton Central, where you can change for services towards Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads. This may extend your journey time by approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates
| Re: Cardiff -Portsmouth Engineering work 2026 In "Portsmouth to Cardiff" [378214/31446/20] Posted by John D at 19:38, 13th August 2026 | |
Details of more closures now available affecting Cardiff - Portsmouth
Sat 13 - Sun 14 Sept suspended Southampton- Portsmouth
Sat 3 - Sun 4 Oct suspended Fareham - Portsmouth
Sat 10 Oct suspended Warminster - Romsey
Sun 11 Oct suspended Warminster - Southampton
Sat 17 Oct suspended Salisbury - Southampton
Sun 18 Oct suspended Warminster - Southampton
Sat 24 - Sun 25 Oct diverted Romsey - Fareham via Eastleigh
Mon 26 - Wed 28 Oct suspended Bath Spa - Bristol
So clearly weekends in the Autumn are going to be, take car instead.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378213/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 19:19, 13th August 2026 | |
...and the bus replacement will hopefully be an air-conned coach, and take quite a bit less time than the ventilation-only x34 to get to its destination.
Well... good news and bad news...Bad - there was no coach. Or a bus. That was despite the National Rail app showing it, and the email from Great Western Railway Alerting Service alerting me to it.
The bus had been scheduled to depart at 18:15. When I sauntered over to the station entrance at about 18:05, the helpful member of Chippenham station staff informed me that buses were only organised to handle panned outages eg. engineering work. He wasn't aware of the one promised by GWR. However they were running taxis; each time a train arrived they rounded up people that looked like they wanted to take the TransWilts line and off they went. As I'd just been happily sitting on the platform, I'd missed this. I'd have to wait for the next train arrival and taxi collection.
Good - but fortunately at that point another taxi turned up looking for passengers. So me and one other person (headed for Westbury) were whisked away in a very nice/cool Merc E-class. (And he kindly dropped me at the bottom of Westlands Lane - about the same distance from home as Melksham station but saved about 5 mins journey time and saved him having to detour off the A350.)
So it wasn't too bad in the end - could have been a lot worse.
But I will be complaining to GWR:
- It's ridiculous to say a replacement bus will be running when it won't.
- Why wasn't there any communication between GWR and Chippenham station about the bus?
- It would have been helpful if there had been an announcement at the station about the taxi arrangements.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378212/32362/51] Posted by Mark A at 19:02, 13th August 2026 Already liked by broadgage | |
Given the heatwave conditions, there'll be a lot of people on other trains need looking after too.
Mark
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378211/32362/51] Posted by JayMac at 18:21, 13th August 2026 | |
It is the three rear vehicles that have toppled. Unclear at this point if any of the front 5 also derailed.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378210/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 18:02, 13th August 2026 | |
...and the bus replacement will hopefully be an air-conned coach, and take quite a bit less time than the ventilation-only x34 to get to its destination.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378209/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 17:55, 13th August 2026 Already liked by grahame | |
So might as well take my usual 17:12 Bristol-Oxford (Chippenham 17:42) and hang around for half an hour.
Yep ... that train arrives at Chippenham 7 minutes after the last alternative (not RRB) (x34) bus of the day to Melksham has left.
But never mind - I've got a shady spot on Chippenham platform and it's a good 4G+ signal here so working isn't too unpleasant.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378208/32362/51] Posted by grahame at 17:50, 13th August 2026 Already liked by 1st fan | |
Victoria to / via Eastbourne service. Still from the BBC live / helicopter feed.
Edit to add - reported as 1F34, 14:24 from Victoria comprising units 387172 (GBR Livery) and 387304, site not far north of Lewes. More facts to follow (and others welcome to pass them on / quote them). Please do not speculate. Reports suggest as a minimum some injuries - thoughts with those hurt, their friends and family, and staff and others involved.
| Re: Hot weather - changes for 13th August 2026 In "Across the West" [378207/32358/26] Posted by old original at 17:50, 13th August 2026 | |
Sharing for GWR and Network Rail
Ahead of tomorrow's (Thursday 13 August) anticipated hot weather and the accompanying amber weather warning, our teams are working together to ensure the vast majority of planned services operate as usual. We are advising customers to check before they travel and carry water, and we're very grateful for their patience and understanding during this period.
We are also planning some reductions in service to help minimise further disruption and reduce the stress on rail infrastructure in the extreme heat. This includes:
* In the Thames Valley, we anticipate changes to our stopping services between London and Reading/Didcot Parkway, with trains not calling at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.
* Services between Truro and Falmouth will be reduced to hourly from half-hourly.
* The Okehampton branch will not operate, with replacement buses running instead. Services on the Barnstaple line will run as usual.
* The local stopping service between Bristol and Salisbury will not run. Cardiff/Bristol-Portsmouth services will continue to run as usual
* The shuttle service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood will not run. Tickets will be valid on local bus services.
More information is available on our dedicated webpage at www.gwr.com/weather, and we've also issued a joint media release which you can read here: https://news.gwr.com/news/gwr-and-network-rail-advise-customers-to-check-before-travelling-as-new-amber-weather-warning-issued
Any help you can give to make your networks aware would be much appreciated, and as ever if there's anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
We are also planning some reductions in service to help minimise further disruption and reduce the stress on rail infrastructure in the extreme heat. This includes:
* In the Thames Valley, we anticipate changes to our stopping services between London and Reading/Didcot Parkway, with trains not calling at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.
* Services between Truro and Falmouth will be reduced to hourly from half-hourly.
* The Okehampton branch will not operate, with replacement buses running instead. Services on the Barnstaple line will run as usual.
* The local stopping service between Bristol and Salisbury will not run. Cardiff/Bristol-Portsmouth services will continue to run as usual
* The shuttle service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood will not run. Tickets will be valid on local bus services.
More information is available on our dedicated webpage at www.gwr.com/weather, and we've also issued a joint media release which you can read here: https://news.gwr.com/news/gwr-and-network-rail-advise-customers-to-check-before-travelling-as-new-amber-weather-warning-issued
Any help you can give to make your networks aware would be much appreciated, and as ever if there's anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
According to the Met Office the temperature in Truro is currently 24 degrees, expected to reach a maximum of 25 degrees today.
Does this really constitute "extreme heat"?
I suspect the reduction in service on the Falmouth branch is not directly heat related as there was a half hourly service yesterday until 23.30 and it was just as warm during the day, it was probably because they needed to use one of the 150s on the main line in place of a 175.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378206/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 17:39, 13th August 2026 Already liked by JohnM | |
So might as well take my usual 17:12 Bristol-Oxford (Chippenham 17:42) and hang around for half an hour.
Yep ... that train arrives at Chippenham 7 minutes after the last alternative (not RRB) (x34) bus of the day to Melksham has left. A very early time for a last bus of the day - makes working day commutes from Bristol or Swindon to places like Lacock impractical.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [378205/31163/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 17:29, 13th August 2026 | |
Journeycheck doesn't seem to be awake to this one - from National Rail.............
Route(s) affected
Elizabeth line between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5, and also between between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Maidenhead / Reading
All Great Western Railway routes to / from London Paddington
Heathrow Express between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5
Description
A failure of the electricity supply between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading means all lines are disrupted. As a result, trains will be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.
Major disruption is expected until 15:00.
Route(s) affected
Elizabeth line between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5, and also between between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Maidenhead / Reading
All Great Western Railway routes to / from London Paddington
Heathrow Express between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5
Description
A failure of the electricity supply between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading means all lines are disrupted. As a result, trains will be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.
Major disruption is expected until 15:00.
Now extended until 1900.
Elizabeth Line suspended between Reading - Paddington.
I pity anyone trying to travel today in these conditions with the system failing left, right and centre.
Guess what? "Disruption is expected until the end of the day".
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378204/31359/18] Posted by bobm at 17:13, 13th August 2026 | |
The last TW service to run was operated by 158762 according to Real Time Trains.
It arrived at Westbury at 11:46.
If the same source is to be believed, it was then attached to 158767 and worked the continuation of the 11:30 from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour from Westbury scheduled at 13:03 but left at 13:16.
It is currently, again according to RTT, on its way back from the South Coast and is due to be uncoupled at Bristol Temple Meads at 17:53.
| Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [378203/32362/51] Posted by grahame at 17:09, 13th August 2026 | |
BBC feed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly5252xqdvt
Transport Secretary 'deeply concerned' about derailment
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said on social media that she is "deeply concerned" of reports of the derailment, which took place at about 15:55 BST.
She added: "Grateful to emergency services who are on the scene supporting those impacted. We are working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to assist passengers."
Picure - Laura Arnold / X
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said on social media that she is "deeply concerned" of reports of the derailment, which took place at about 15:55 BST.
She added: "Grateful to emergency services who are on the scene supporting those impacted. We are working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to assist passengers."
Picure - Laura Arnold / X
British Transport Police statement in full
Here's the full statement from the British Transport Police on the train derailment near Lewes:
"Officers are currently on scene close to Lewes railway station following reports of a derailed train at 3.54pm today (13 August).
"We’re responding alongside paramedics and the fire service and will provide more information as soon as we can."
Here's the full statement from the British Transport Police on the train derailment near Lewes:
"Officers are currently on scene close to Lewes railway station following reports of a derailed train at 3.54pm today (13 August).
"We’re responding alongside paramedics and the fire service and will provide more information as soon as we can."
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [378202/31163/26] Posted by NickB at 16:18, 13th August 2026 | |
A genuine question: where does this come back to bite GWR ?
Why should it?
Nothing to do with GWR where any fault can be pinned. It's climate change & network Rail infrastructure. GWR are the affected customer.
Because to the passenger putting their hand in their pocket everyday they are paying GWR and expecting a train service that operates.
The point that I was trying to make was that sometimes it feels like it suits the train operator (in this case GWR) to have a reason to cancel services and not engage with the reason for their existence - ferrying passengers from A to B in the quickest possible time.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378201/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 16:08, 13th August 2026 | |
An additional service will depart Chippenham at 18:15 and arrive at Melksham at 18:31.
EDIT that's a bus
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378200/31359/18] Posted by bobm at 16:05, 13th August 2026 | |
A series of replacement buses in both directions between Chippenham and Westbury via Melksham and Trowbridge have now appeared on Journeycheck.
Leaving Chippenham at 15:41, 18:15 and 20:41
Leaving Westbury at 16:23, 18:37 and 21:16
Plus one from Swindon at 22:31 to Westbury.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378199/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 16:00, 13th August 2026 | |
An additional service will depart Chippenham at 18:15 and arrive at Melksham at 18:31.
EDIT that's a bus
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [378198/28982/26] Posted by eightonedee at 15:49, 13th August 2026 | |
...so does RMT think that class 175s are animate objects that will be shamed into behaving properly and starting to work under the threat of strike action? Unless they know how to fix them and can demonstrate that the powers that be are not taking the required action, what is the point?
| Re: Imber Bus Day - merged topics, ongoing events and discussion here In "Buses and other ways to travel" [378197/17260/5] Posted by bobm at 15:48, 13th August 2026 | |
As my mother used to say, even on the hottest days, "Haven't you packed a jumper/raincoat just in case." There was never a suggestion of carrying water in those days. How did we survive?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line - Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Salisbury" [378196/31359/18] Posted by JohnM at 15:45, 13th August 2026 | |
Looking at Bristol-Melksham options on the National Rail journey planner it's still offering the 18:30, which includes the 19:00 Chippenham-Melksham train (not bus replacement)
I was thinking about taking that as it's the first option not showing as cancelled; I'd normally take the 17:12 Bristol-Oxford service to Chippenham. Plan B is usually just get to Bath then hop on the Melksham bus, but I did that yesterday (to get home in time for the eclipse) and it was pretty unpleasant without air con. And I like the hot weather.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [378195/31371/14] Posted by charles_uk at 15:32, 13th August 2026 | |
Cancellations to services between Hereford and Oxford
Due to a broken down train between Hereford and Oxford some lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 120 minutes. Disruption is expected until 16:30 13/08.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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A train has broken down between Kingham and Charlbury.
Last Updated:13/08/2026 15:27
Due to a broken down train between Hereford and Oxford some lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 120 minutes. Disruption is expected until 16:30 13/08.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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A train has broken down between Kingham and Charlbury.
Last Updated:13/08/2026 15:27
Looking at Realtime Trains, it seems 6Q58 1338½ Honeybourne Sidings to Swindon Transfer might have been the cause. Went through Ascott-under-Wychwood on time at 14:27 and then Charlbury 146 minutes late. The following 1P28 1318 Hereford to London Paddington service was held at Evesham departing 137 minutes late.
And later:
15:18 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 17:25 was started from Worcester Shrub Hill and will be diverted between Worcester Shrub Hill and Reading.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street, Worcestershire Parkway Hl, Evesham, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
This is due to severe weather.
15:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29 has been cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham due 18:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
It will no longer call at Worcester Foregate Street, Worcestershire Parkway Hl, Evesham, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury, Hanborough, Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
This is due to severe weather.
15:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:29 has been cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham due 18:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026 In "Across the West" [378194/31163/26] Posted by Mark A at 15:11, 13th August 2026 | |
And: this sort of thing.
https://bsky.app/profile/gwr.com/post/3msxo4xjtzy23
-⚠ Travel Update - 13/08 ⚠
Due to a fault on this train between Swindon and Westbury the line is closed.
Train services running through these stations have been cancelled.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day
That's a message that 'As is' has immediately caused everyone travelling on the GWML to burst into tears, but I've no idea if travellers between, say, Reading and Bristol, need to feel despondent about this. Would the traveller know the train to which 'This train' refers.
(Also, if a train sits down on the single line south of Thingley Junction and another train's already left Swindon and needs the line to Westbury, what's the contingency plan to avoid disruption for services to Bristol?)
Mark
| Re: Imber Bus Day - merged topics, ongoing events and discussion here In "Buses and other ways to travel" [378193/17260/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:11, 13th August 2026 | |
I agree with all of that, grahame.
I still intend to attend - with a rucksack containing substantial volumes of mineral water, Ordnance Survey maps - and a towel for mopping my heated brow.
Looking forward to it!
CfN.
