Great Western Coffee Shop

I've noticed recently a large number of trains from Paddington to Cheltenham and the return workings being cancelled on a Sunday due to traincrew issues.     It strikes me that these services are the first ones to take a hit when crew shortages.

Weekend commuters have been faced with long delays this morning, after a train engine caught fire at Swindon railway station.

Firefighters were called at 9:31 this morning after reports of a fire in a railway train engine. Three crews from Swindon and Strattor fire stations rushed to the scene, where they were joined by a Railway Incident Officer.

A firefighter at the scene said there had been no casualties.

The three fire engines left the station at around 11:15 this morning. But those attempting to travel continue to face long delays to their journeys.

Daryl Hearn, 25, was due to travel to Bristol for his stag do. The Swindon man, surrounded by six pals all dressed in monkey costumes, said: "We're going to get a taxi now."

Mohammed Innamulaha, 35, was waiting in line with his five-year-old daughter for a train to Bristol. "She has a birthday party." he said. "I think we should be able to make it."

Another man, Phil, who only wished to give his first name, still hoped to make it to London for a matinée performance of musical Bat Out of Hell - the tickets for which had been booked months ago.

Asked if he thought he'd reach the theatre in time Phil, 68, said: "I don't know. I've got a reserved seat, but I don't know how they're going to the run the trains."

Wroughton woman Rachel Radley-Leach had been queing for ten minutes when she told us: "I'm meeting my friend from Hereford. She's in Cardiff and I'm stuck here."

Standing beside her was new friend Kristie Lloyd. The pair had just met in a pub across from the station. Kristie said: "I'm supposed to be seeing my father in Carmarthen."

Disruption continues to some services, although the timetable appears to be largely back to normal.

A spokesman for Great Western Railway, which operates the station, said: "There was a small fire on the rear locomotive, away from passenger areas, of a London bound train which was reported by a member of the public. The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Brigade attended to the fire at Swindon station and the customers on-board changed to the next available service."

Firefighters were called at 9:31 this morning following reports of a fire in the exhaust system of a Great Western Railway passenger train.

Dorset fire brigade?.....or has it combined with the Wilts brigade? (Doubtful, personally)

Yes, they have combined.- https://www.dwfire.org.uk

The recently merged Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have also been making the news elsewhere - on the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-41012135).  ::)

The recently merged Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have also been making the news elsewhere - on the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-41012135).  ::)

I've noticed recently a large number of trains from Paddington to Cheltenham and the return workings being cancelled on a Sunday due to traincrew issues.     It strikes me that these services are the first ones to take a hit when crew shortages.

Something to do with a weight limit on the particular section of track perhaps? The shuttles are, at most, 3-car DMUs whereas the London Paddington services are HSTs - significant difference in tare weight.

Me thinks this reason is a smokescreen following earlier posts on this topic regarding cancelled services on a Sunday and no, South Wales services aren't being diverted via Gloucester today either.

This service was cancelled throughout due to a planned cancellation by the train operator (PG).

Sunday 27 August 2017

Due to issues including late notice engineering work, there will be disruption to a small number of our services on Sunday and we will be running a reduced service on some routes.

The following services have been cancelled:

London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads

14:00, 15:27, 17:27, 18:27, 19:27

London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa*

08:27, 10:27, 12:28, 14:27, 15:27, 16:27, 18:22

Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington

08:15, 10:30, 11:30, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00

Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington*

11:18, 13:33, 15:33, 17:33, 19:32

*Scheduled shuttle trains will continue to run between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon.

Great Western may tell you one thing, but other sources give alternate reasons:


The below is from GWR website

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C26253/2017/08/27/advanced

Up service showing on DOWN main at Challow.   Single line operation somewhere between Didcot and Swindon, and that thinning out is logical.   2 trains an hour each way between Swindon and Didcot, one to Bristol and one to Swansea. Remove the extra Cheltenhams and Bristol 2nd hourly train.

If, as suggested, the urgent repairs to the track was between Swindon and Didcot, the Cheltenham to Paddingtons could have still run and connected into the Paddington bound services at Swindon with the crews having their breaks at Cheltenham, after return trip to/from Swindon, rather than at Paddington.

The Cancelled Bristols could have run via the B & H for the day.

The only possessions I could see earlier today on OTT was on the main line at Slough where main line services were crossed to the slow lines at Dolphin Junction.

Reminds me of a product of pig meat being sold here, would be nice to have one now with my beer.

All GWR would say when asked about the location of the Works was that they were in the London area

I do not regard Challow as being in the London area

I do not regard Challow as being in the London area

Even in the days of the original GWR, their London Division only went as far west as Milton.  Challow is around another 10 miles further on.

There were several pages of possessions early on Sunday in the EAS, from Paddington out past Reading. All platforms at Reading were closed until 08:10, then during the day P12-15 and the Reliefs elsewhere too. I guess one of those look-and-grease operations might have spotted something serious enough to need fixing that day (or even caused it, of course).

Remember me, I met you and your partner in the Knights Templar at Temple Meads after the SPM Open Day last year.

I too remember seeing a sign by the trackside whilst travelling back home for weekends or at holiday times whilst I was at College in Slough. It had  "  <-- Bristol Division | London Division -->  "  on it but cannot for the life of me remember between which stations it was because at that time all the stations between Didcot and Swindon were still open.

There were several pages of possessions early on Sunday in the EAS, from Paddington out past Reading. All platforms at Reading were closed until 08:10, then during the day P12-15 and the Reliefs elsewhere too. I guess one of those look-and-grease operations might have spotted something serious enough to need fixing that day (or even caused it, of course).

One other thing I have wondered - but not being a Gloucestershire person this may be silly - could the train headed up the Stroud Valley call at Gloucester just once - i.e. Stonehouse, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Stonehouse one hour and Stonehouse, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Stonehouse the next?  Are there enough other trains between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa for this to work?  

Is there a crossover south of Cheltenham Spa station that would allow it?