Great Western Coffee Shop

...............that's really, really bad news on a Summer Sunday afternoon for people trying to head back from the Westcountry after the weekend...............

Cancellations to services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton


Due to a fault with the signalling system between Exeter St Davids and Taunton all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 20:00 02/07.

Looks like the same signalling fault as occured a few days ago (Wednesday 28/06/2017)..... ::)

Advice is now not to travel.....not much use for those who have to work tomorrow...

Just seen it has taken the 13:57 from London Paddington to Plymouth a few minutes short of three hours to get from Taunton to Exeter St Davids.

I wonder if the sleepers will run? Looks pretty chaotic at the moment.

There has been a cycling event around Dartmoor today and many competitors wanting to put their bikes on trains back up to London - could be fun!

Judging by accounts, a complete meltdown with people stranded well into the early hours - no staff to meet them (despite assurances), no communications, no alternatives arranged and inaccurate assurances given about onward transport.

Hilariously, people being asked to email GWR with complaints/requests for compensation.....................I wonder how long they will have to wait for a reply?

Both left late (15 mins from PNZ and 68 mins from PAD) but made up time en route.

Passed the down sleeper in Cornwall (on my way from Hayle to Taunton!).   Was it my imagination, or was there a class 57 in the rear?

Three hours would not be especially fast to cycle from Exeter to Taunton.

Yep, apparently Top'n'tailed last night in case it had to be reversed (to go via Yeovil), so I read

If only there was an alternative, diversionary route between Taunton and Exeter, perhaps running via Tiverton along the Exe Valley. You could even stick a link into Tiverton Jun- err Parkway

One can dream...

Or even an alternative route via Yeovil. One which had adequate capacity to be usable at short notice for diversions (not just pre-planned work), and for which train crew had up to date route knowledge to enable them to use it at the drop of a hat.  That might then be described as a resilient railway.

It was used at short notice for a few services.  However, the main problem is that Exeter St.Davids is one of the main traincrew reversing points for GWR and thus if Down services don't get through from the Taunton direction then there are no train crews available to work Up services back.....