I was on the 1523 Taunton-Paddington service earlier today and the
TM‡ did an excellent job keeping all passengers informed of the problems ahead of us near Newbury. He explained that we may well be diverted after Westbury and went through the train reassuring passengers for Berks & Hants stations that, if it became necessary, alternative onward transport would be arranged for them. As it turned out the Up main through Newbury was reopened prior to our arrival at Westbury so 1J99 was able to stay on its booked route.
One amusing aside. Westbury was a platform down mid afternoon due to a track circuit failure. P3 out of use. Consequently we had to wait outside the station for a platform to become available. I was window hanging watching the signal at Fairwood Junction. Turns out it was one of those Ballast Activated signals. That is, as soon as the driver steps down onto the ballast from his cab the signal changes from danger to a proceed aspect. I heard him curse from two carriages back. I think his,
"You Fornicating Bar Steward" (words to that effect) was loud enough to be heard in Westbury box.