Great Western Coffee Shop

Looks like the failure of two 165's today has caused a rash of cancellations on the Banbury-Oxford-Didcot-Reading shuttles tonight.

As at 16:19 the 16:37 OXF-DID, 17:35 OXF - Did and 18:10 OXF- RDG have all been cancelled that leaves only the 2-car 17:06 running in tonight's rush hour. And the 17:06 is usually standing room only.

I see that GWR have made the 1631 OXF - PAD stop additionally at Didcot; lets hope they do the same with the 17:00, 17:31 and 18:06.

Could be interesting getting home tonight especially to those travelling to Radley, Culham or Appleford or those with a bike.

Another reason why GWR needs to think about some flexibility in their bike policy. I know not everyone is a fan of Cross Country, but three cycle spaces; two booked, one take you chance is preferable to the current GWR inflexibility.

As an update the 17:31 and 18:06 did stop additionally at Didcot Parkway.
I noted that at least 1 cyclist was left at Oxford and 6 cyclists (!) at Culham on the 17:06 OXF - DID.

Evening services don't appear to have been impacted so either GWR sourced 165's from somewhere else or the broken down sets had been repaired.

in my opionion GWR don't enforce their cycle policy, certainly not on the local stopping services in and out of Oxford and Didcot, probably because there are no staff onboard the train other than the driver. Although even when we see ticket inspectors they don't make any comments to cyclists about any bikes obstructing vestibules or seats.

It’d be a brave person who tackles the many cyclists that use Culham of an evening!  A blind eye is turned to any official policy given the short distances involved, though if there was some kind of incident that might change.

If a cyclist plans to use a train timetabled as allowing unbooked cycles, finds that the train that arrives has compulsory cycle booking can they claim under Delay Repay when/if refused boarding?