Great Western Coffee Shop

From the FGW website :

Line problem in the Severn Tunnel Junction area.

Train services between Newport South Wales and Patchway are being disrupted due to a broken down train in the Severn Tunnel Junction area.Short notice alterations and delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

A number of services have been revised as a result of the above.

I was travelling back from Bristol Temple Meads to Neath (South Wales) this afternoon, was planning to catch the 15.55 from BTM to CDF and connect onto the 16.48 at Cardiff Central arriving at Neath at approx 17.30.  Turned out this service (the 13.22 from Portsmouth Harbour) was being diverted to/terminating at Bristol Parkway due to a broken down train in the Severn Tunnel Junction Area. Passengers were advised to catch the 16.12 from Bristol Parkway to continue their journey to Newport and Cardiff Central.

The 16.12 waited for us, by the time everyone got over the bridge to the platform and got on it was well past 16.15, There was then an announcement that there was a broken down train in the tunnel, I assume this was another broken down train different to the one that caused the Pompay train to divert to Parkway.  (The driver said he could see the lights of the train in the tunnel). We were informed that a train would be sent from Newport to take away the broken down train and we would soon get going.

This had a knock on effect for many passengers who were connecting to other services - at Newport the 17.04 service to Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Manchester - luckily this was late leaving Cardiff due to another delay.  The train manager also looked up connection times to the various valley line services at Cardiff and gave a full run down of the next available trains for passengers.  Passengers connecting to services beyond Carmarthen or to the Heart of Wales line were not so lucky and the train manager explained that it would be a long wait for the next train (20.05 to stations beyond Carmarthen) and that road transport would be arranged for those travelling further than Carmarthen or on the Heart of Wales line.

Have to say though the train manager was excellent and kept us informed periodically and reassured passengers that road transport would be arranged for them if they missed their connections.  And the train manager was very entertaining too.  ;D  So id say despite the 45 minutes delay FGW did all they could to help the situation.

Can I suggest writing a comment card to FGW telling them of this?

No need even to go to the trouble of obtaining a card and writing on it: it can all be done online!  See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/ContactUs.aspx  ;) :D ;D

I will do.

Thanks