Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm delighted to be able to report that - for just about the first time this year - First Great Western have run over 99% of scheduled services the complete length of their route for the last 48 hours.

http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/running.php

I am all too painfully aware that engineering works this weekend lead to a considerable number of services being removed from the schedule ahead of time, thus setting a lower target at leading to overcrowding in the Thames Valley, and passengers to the Railway Conference I attended yesterday being bussed from Reading (an amusing story from Christian Wolmar - though it probably did not amuse him at the time - on that) or having to drive up from Chippenham and beyond due to 50% less services being scheduled than normal, even though the line to Swindon from the West was available.

Congratulations, FGW ... and I will be even more impressed (and be able to cut out that proviso) if the figure is still as good by Tuesday evening.