Talking of 3 X 153 working the Weymouth additional this Summer, I recall in the Wales and West Days (late nineties to Millenium) a 09 05 Sats Cardiff to Paignton and return in the Summer worked by 3 x 153 and during High Summer was 4 X 153.

A new one was recently started at Bristol Temple Meads:-  I cannit remember the actual words but starts something like " Due to recent world events" and goes on to a beware of terrorists theme

No such luck with the lightning strike striking cable thieves, I suppose !!!

The 16 49 Great Malvern to Southampton, the one seemingly mostly affected,  only started back from December last.   Previously this was a 17 02 from Foregate St.
Another problem could perhaps be one of congestion due to the 2 tracks through Worcester Foregate St not being double track but 2 Single lines.

Referring to previous threads included in this topic, I hope nobody feels offended if I was to ask if there was a wall of silence re 2 Coach 158 Diagrams.   This has in the past cropped up on other Forums also without any definite answers.   Hope I'm not being too cheeky !!!

I posted the thread on this Board as it refers to an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) service travelling from Bristol via Gloucester direction rather than on the Cotswold Board which I thought would be more for trains from Oxford direction.

I have noticed that many Great Malvern services do not reach there, turning round at Worcester.  The most common reason due to signalling problems.  I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts why there appears to be a hoodoo on this route.

Formed 143

Are you sure that it is not worked by a 143 off 06 00 from Exeter, returning 09 37 taunton to Bristol Parkway and then into Bristol Parkway Weston super Mare workings for rest of day ?

Calling Insider.  Are you yet able to enlighten me  re 2 Coach 158 Diagrams, please ?  Or is it just that there are not any during the transitional period until forming further 3 Coach Sets from them.   Thinking perhaps they are covering 150 diagrams.   Thanks in anticipation.

Oh, I forgot to say the high cost of engaging Consultants for every little thing when people with sufficient knowledge are already in the Industry  or who have recently retired and may like a little extra pocket money, a practice which has been used in the past.

The cost of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is probably rising at the present time due to the cost of taking on the NIMBYs, but overall is HS2 really necessary and expensive especially in the present financial climate.   Seems to be a pet of the Transport Minister.
Going back to McNulty, the actual subject of the topic,  I remember when 2 or 3 experienced railway staff who understood all the ins and outs would be seconded to a project to investigate the remit as to why the cost of running the Railways is so high.   Any railway person with a bit of "savvy" knows that fragmentation is the root cause as appreciated by Mc Nulty.     But because this was caused by privatisation, tje Government will not want to know because of it's political dogma, in fact McNulty may possibly have been briefed not to use the word privatisation for that reason, despite it being the prime cause of the high costs.
Had the experienced railway people I mentioned  worked on this, a report might have been ready within a week or two rather than months and also avoiding the costly use of Consultants as the answer is so blatantly obvious.

Morning Chester to Maesteg is 158 and northbound balance is 20 17 Cardiff to Manchester.
after working Maesteg to Cheltenhams over three day period.   Chester Crewe locals are 158 (SX) 150 (Sat), the latter going up Attached Friday night on 21 50
Hafren, I have already explained how the 150s change over.  Swanline booked Pacer Sats when not so many Units on Valleys, some 2 cars instead of 4.

Shrewsbury Crewe Local 150 Wunter 153 Summer
Blaenau Ffestiniog 153 Winter 150 Summer.     They change over seasonally to provide more carriages to Blaenau Ffestiniog
150 works 21 50 Shrewsbury to Crewe to work North (Bidstons also)  and 23 08 Shrewsbury Cardiff in opposite direction.

Set 1 attaches Carmarthen  to 21 09 ex Pembroke Dock, stays coupled to Fishguard and then 05 50 Swansea to Pembroke Dock. There could be ecs ex Canton for 05.50 High Summer when services strengthened.      The 2 Sets ex Hereford work 00.30 Cardiff to Hereford and the 09 23 arrival Swansea ex Pembroke Dock is a through service to Manchester (sits at Swansea until 09.55) and 175 worked.