Try this

http://web.archive.org/web/20041127011510/www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travelinfo_2004/timetables.php

Was on the 9.48 Padd to Cheltenham Spa today which was held up at Swindon awaiting a relief driver.  As a result the train was terminated at Gloucester.  I thought it might be a possibility as we were 18 minutes late and looked at the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website where, at 11.30, it duly announced that indeed it would terminate at Gloucester.   However there were no on-board announcements so as we left Stonehouse I mentioned it to the first class host who knew nothing about it.  He went off to find the TM^‡(resolve) who got confirmation just as we pulled into Gloucester - leading to a bit of a scramble for some people as they finished their coffees and grabbed their belongings.  In the event there was no danger of anyone being left on the train as it sat in the platform before returning to Paddington 45 mins later but still the cause of some anxiety for those not in the know.

As an aside, there's a 30 minute turn round at Cheltenham Spa on that service so with us being 18 minutes late I wonder how borderline the decision was to terminate at Gloucester.

The new screens are now working at Crowthorne but they do seem to have a drawback.  I arrived at 9.30 this morning to catch the 9.45 to Reading and noticed on the opposite platform that the display was showing the "please stand clear the approaching train is not scheduled to call" notice.  It showed this for the whole 15 minutes until my train left and I assume it was for the 9.34 ex Reading which passes through about 9.50.   That's an awfully long time to show the warning and in the meantime there is no information about trains which actually will call at the station.

When I got back tonight it was the same story on the other platform and I noticed the message remains for a good five minutes after the train has passed.

I also didn't hear a verbal warning announcement - although on both occasions I wasnt on the platform when the train actually passed through.

Seems a bit of attention is needed to the system.

Live departure boards are saying 13 late at Swindon and on time by Reading.

Thats the problem with using iPhones in the cold and your fingers freeze.  You either get the wrong letters or predictive text turns it into nonsense. 

Looks like the signalman at Chard is out of luck today!

Perhaps I'm old fashioned but I always preferred the booklets FGW^▸ (First Great Western) did for engineering work rather than the reliance on the on-line planner.  Somehow it was more definite and substantial than an on-line guide which you can't take around with you.  Think they won special praise for their booklets at one point.  I know economics comes into it - but even so.

Shame the live departures board can't cope with it!

11:37 London Paddington No report
12:05 Reading No report
13:32 Castle Cary No report
13:34 Yeovil Junction On time
14:38 Axminster 13:58 40 mins early  
14:52 Honiton On time
15:08 Exeter Central On time
15:21 Exeter St David's On time
15:42 Newton Abbot On time
16:29 Plymouth On time
16:54 Liskeard On time
17:08 Bodmin Parkway On time
17:20 Par On time
17:27 St Austell On time
17:45 Truro On time
17:58 Redruth On time
18:06 Camborne On time
18:17 St Erth On time
18:27 Penzance 23:48 321 mins late

In this age of desktop publishing the eight pages of foolscap probably cost more to produce than the 20 page glossy version of today by the time it had been bashed out on a typewriter and then typset by the printers.

I always use the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site for tickets - they don't charge extra for anything.

I think the problem is SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have a number of trains which come in from Waterloo and then run out of service back to Staines for stabling.  As a result platforms 4A and 4B become a bit crowded so it is easier just to send the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) unit on a little jaunt to get it out of the way for a while.

Thanks - should have registered ages ago!

I must admit I havent seen them.  I regularly can travel from Reading to Cheltenham Spa for ^15 first class single.  I'd just like to go to Worcester or Hereford sometimes!

Excellent reaction from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) following the early finish at Newbury Races on Saturday following the death of the horses in the parade ring.   Extra calls made by services from the WoE and a shuttle service to Reading up and running very quickly.

Which leads on to my second point - are the services really all close to capacity?  I travel a lot for leisure using First Class Advance but never go on the Coltswold line because there are no bargain tickets.