Great Western Coffee Shop

If I want a white knuckle ride with a real fear of injury I could go to Alton Towers or even Disney. But there the fear is mostly imagined (until things go wrong anyway). But I never expected to be in fear of my life on a GWR train. A few weeks ago I caught an HST service to Swindon from Reading. All went smoothly. But then I had to return later that day. At Swindon one of those sleek new Hitachi GWR electrics turned up. I was really looking forwards to the ride back. I managed to get a seat at one end of a carriage - mistake. I wanted to use my laptop - second mistake. The ride to Reading was dreadful. The bogies were bouncing up and down and 'hunting' like demented demons - the track was obviously 'rippled' to enhance the bouncing - the sprung mounted carriages bounced at the same frequency. It was impossible to stand up and not be thrown down. Without seat belts I feared I'd be thrown out of my seat. I had the arm rests down - no help. My laptop nearly ended up on the floor. I had to put it away. I really feared for my life. A train manager went by holding on for dear life. I complained to him about the rough ride. The GWR culture of complete arrogance meant that he totally ignored me. He had no explanation. He uttered not a word. But he walked away. I told him not to be so bl**dy ignorant. I wouldn't be surprised if one of these Hitachi Japanese crap trains don't jump the track sometime soon. An experience never to be repeated.

Possibly deflated suspension bags on that bogie?  Did you try another carriage?  A train can proceed as such perfectly safely at line speed though the ride feels extremely rough.  The IET ride quality under normal circumstances compares with a HST in my experience.

Ouch.    That sounds very much like the exception; I'm a passenger and don't know the technical stuff but I have made dozens of part-route trips London - Chippenham - Bristol and London - Cardiff - Swansea services and also a North Cotswold journey and the ride has been good in each case.


Thank you for that re-assurance ... interesting to hear if others have had rough journeys?

You should try travelling between Reading and Taunton then (the Berks and Hants).  Worse ride in the whole country I reckon (and I've being doing it for over 35 years now, so think I can speak with some authority!).  Its all those heavy stone trains and associated weak embankments.

I agree.  Though it's currently rivalled by the North Cotswold Line.