Why would you do that when no one travels by train?

That is not his concern as Network Rail; TfL^» (Transport for London - about) are responsible for the (lack of) response and facilities.


Whereas this is within his scope.

I dunno, I have a feeling that using a single loco to rescue multiple trains one at a time might have taken longer to complete than the 3 hours before evacuation took place.

That's right, nearest SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) crew depot is Yeovil.

On journeys priced by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) within the GWR operating area the following easements are available for the Christmas period:

Until and including Thursday 21 December: normal restrictions apply
Friday 22 December:  Off peak valid all day; super off peak restrictions apply
Saturday 23 December - Monday 1 January* inclusive: no restrictions (ie super/off peak valid all day); weekend first available
Tuesday 2 January onwards: normal restrictions apply

Journeys not priced by GWR for travel to Wales, between Cheltenham and Gloucester and to outside of GWR operating area subject to relevant TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s Christmas travel restrictions.

*no service Monday 25 & Tuesday 26 December.

Original failed train (1C55) is finally on the move.

Failed train from last night (given headcode 5H17 - work it out!) is still at Newton Abbot.

Rescue train 1 has been rescued.  Original failure still waiting for rescue train 3.

First down train from Exeter just gone through.

Block put on any service travelling south of Bristol or Westbury as no room kept to accept any more trains.

3rd rescue to be attempted.

Rescue train 1Z99 failed blocking line in front of failed 1C55 at TGM.  Dawlish reversible working no longer possible.

1A77 (0835 Plymouth - Paddingtion) has failed at Exeter St Davids due to being hit by a wave.

Paignton - Exmouth services cut to 1 train per hour.

1C55 has nowhere to go due to failed IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) at Newton Abbot blocking 1 platform, so will remain at Teignmouth UFN^‡(resolve).

1C55 (0600 London Paddington - Plymouth) has sat down at Teignmouth due to being struck by a wave.

14 October 2023 Update.

It appears GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have had a change of heart (slap on the wrist?) with Groupsave.  The new instructions:

Groupsave discounts are generally valid on off-peak tickets [...].  If there is no off-peak ticket type offered for the journey then travel on a Groupsave discounted ticket is permitted after 09.30 Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).  Restrictions to groupsave tickets do not apply at weekends or on bank holidays.

Therefore Groupsave tickets will now be available once off-peak tickets become valid except where there is no off-peak ticket for the journey, whereby GS becomes valid after 09.30.
GS tickets are not valid on: the Night Riviera in either direction and departing Paddington at 1404/1504/1604/1704/1804 except for travel to/beyond Exeter St Davids (Fridays Only)
GS tickets are not valid any time on EMR^» (East Midlands Railway, also known as EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) (East Midlands Trains) - about)» (East Midlands Trains) - about)» (East Midlands Trains) - about), GCR^» (Gloucester - next trains)» » , LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about)» » , Hull Trains, Merseyrail, Northern, Scotrail, TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express)▸ ▸ , Avanti West Coast, Crosscountry, TfW, London Underground, Lumo, Caledonian Sleeper or Night Riviera

This brings GWR back in to alignment with the National T&Cs for Groupsave.

And what should be the maximum fare for a national journey if you're advocating being able to tap in at Penzance and out at Thurso?

"Modernising maintenance" is basically returning to reactive maintenance rather than proactive.

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) strikes announced as Saturdays 26 August and 2 September.