Great Western Coffee Shop

Today (Friday) the 1106 Paddington to Plymouth HST was terminated short at Newbury due to severe wheel flats.As a result there was no HST set for the return 1500 Plymouth to Paddington,always a busy train from Plymouth so 1x143 was laid on in the 1106 HSTs path from Exeter(dep 1333 to Plymouth) in order to provide a backworking from Plymouth to Exeter to connect into the 1218 Paddington to Taunton set which was extended to Exeter to form the return 1602 departure from Exeter.Not surprisingly on arrival at Exeter the returning 1500 Plymouth to Exeter 143 was the most overcrowded train I have ever seen.It was so tightly packed on arrival at Exeter that as the doors opened no one could alight right away due to the crush jamming people and luggage together so tightly.It must have been a  journey from hell for those on board.

And importantly from FGW's point of view, no cancellation statistic for the 1500 or charter compensation to the poor unfortunates (excepting any 1st Class ticket holder getting the difference in fare for the leg on the Pacer) shoe-horned onto the 143.

Well yes not ideal, but better than having to wait an hour?

The set is still sitting in a siding at Newbury this morning. How will they deal with it ???

Whichever powercar or carriage is affected will be removed by road

Just read something on WNXX stating that a hst set is to be taken via Melksham to be turned tonight if it hasnt run already.

No idea of timings sorry.

I'd rather have waited an hour

Yeah and you obviously could have, but the point is, people had the option of busy small train to Exeter and change on to HST or wait for HST hour later.

(cough) :-[

Just as an aside: when Ollie and I were presented with a one hour wait, due to our missed connection at Par ... we simply went up to the local pub, as recommended by the excellent local FGW staff!

Some didn't have an Hour to Wait, like EVERYBODY with the cheap seats. >:(

Valid that day and THAT train ONLY. ::)

Wouldn't Have run IF the Passengers got on Before the Driver :D

Very interesting point. What would be the position of passenger with advance tickets be in these circumstances? I think FGW would have had to let them travel later. The bad publicity caused by trying to surcharge on them later train would be too much.

If they cant get on the train then surely FGW would have to let them on the next service.

Define not being able to get on?

Oh I am sure you would be OK getting the next train.  I think the train being crowded and passenger deciding that they would not be willing to get on would be OK by FGW. Announcements at the station would be a nice touch to reassure people though. 

I usually cram on in situations like this rather than wait.  Partly because I am never sure if I should trust that the next train will turn up on time and be less crowded. 

I've been on a crowded 142 from exmouth before, it was horrible, i had a bike in my face at one point and there was barely enough room for the conductor to board the train, I was an hour late into Paington ^ and then had to come back early to ensure I met a connection back to exmouth

A coach was dumped on it's own at Newbury Racecourse this morning. I'll see if it's there in the morning when I trundle past on 1A76.

not feeling the love for my donkey friends here !