People said that train drivers should leave and do something else if they aren’t happy with their pay and conditions.

So they are.

Journeycheck currently shows 20 cancellations and 27 part cancellations, the vast majority are due to ‘industrial action’.

If they aren’t careful they’ll have it open before Portway

As a quarter of all drivers are 55 and over, quite a few. And that rubs off on others too.

Whilst that may be true, it isn’t much comfort to the staff involved.

When you see staff members that are still ostracised 41 years on after coming in during the 1982 dispute, that’s not entirely true.

This news article implies a number of extra services will be running, but I’ve not looked closely to see what they are:

https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/wales-v-england-six-nations-extra-40-000-gwr-train-seats-for-fans/

I believe that is Chipping Sodbury on the Hullavington route. The tunnel in the distance is the giveaway.

In previous years when ‘big’ dates such as New Year’s Day have fallen on a Sunday, an enhanced rate of pay was offered. I imagine the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) put a stop to that this year, and as many traincrew have the option to not work it, they have decided not to bother this time.

I’ve noticed a blue light has been installed at the east end of the down main platform at Tilehurst. No idea if it’s related though.

Manchester Utd certainly used to take the train to London for matches. I saw them travelling regularly from Wilmslow.

Could be quite a depressing future if service levels are to be cut so drastically. Especially with how busy trains currently are. COP was a waste of time.

There was definitely at least one extra - I think it departed Paddington at 09.18. I nearly jumped on it to go to Bristol Parkway before I noticed it was advertised as calling at Cardiff, Bridgend and Port Talbot Parkway only. It was a 9 car.

A quick check on realtimetrains shows there was another extra at 10.18. I don’t know what time kickoff was but I would guess GWR expected most passengers to travel earlier so short forming the 12.48 was the least worst option.

Incredible to me that Stonehouse looks likely to get a second station before Gloucester.

Most ‘spotters’ at Reading hang around on the benches at the east end of Platform 10/11. Have a good view of everything there, with the exception of the west facing bays for Basingstoke and Newbury trains.