Great Western Coffee Shop

Just an ordinary quick visit to a relative today gave me a little insight into the management 'on the ground' of trains when things go wrong. An uneventful trip from Yatton (YAT) to Weston-super-Mare (WSM) was a good start.  However, the return on the 12:09 from WSM to Filton Abbey Wood was not a perfect end.  It was running 15mins late and shown as having three coaches and looked like it had as it pulled in, but because of a fault with the doors on one of the outer coaches (at the Northern end) it had one locked out.

After the fitters had tried and failed to fix the problem at Temple Meads (BRI) the resulting delay meant that it was looped at Yatton to allow the XC service to pass resulting in it arriving at almost the same time as the following stopper to Taunton.

Further knock-ons meant the train terminated at BRI and the 13:01 from WSM to Paddington started from BRI.  No doubt the effects were felt for the rest of the day.  However, I was pleased to have a train (with working aircon) as the next stopper was also 30 mins late and the Yatton stop cancelled.

A team worked hard to get us to where we wanted to be: the elderly and infirm, mums and young children, people going about a variety of daily business.  The train staff were there to answer the question I heard put: 'Why can't your company run their trains on time?'  It was then we received the full explanation I have given and that explanation made the lateness, and awkwardness more bearable. 

There was frustration all round with staff and passengers but I felt that each part of the railway involved was trying hard to manage a situation: the fitters, the signallers and the train crew.  However, if I had turned up for the Paddington train 10 minutes later, I may not have been so sanguine and I might be asking the strategic questions other threads here tackle.

On just one of those strategic issues it seems essential for easier recovery that the loop through WSM is re-doubled asap.

Sounds like the railway equivalent of the Archers. Do we get an omnibus edition on a Sunday ? All change for Barwick Green !
Tum ti Tum ti Tum ti tum,  tum ti Tum ti Tum tum

We need a bit more false jeopardy if we're going to make a soap, or even a good reality TV show, of this:

"Tony has been asked to fix the doors on the 13.01 from Weston-super-Mud. He needs a 13mm spanner, but he only has a 12. Can he tighten the nut?" [Cut to commercials]