I'm trying to recall if it was the summer of 2014 or 2015 that I offered Dad a day trip to Weymouth on a Sunday - a nice and more gentle trip out for him as he slowed down, a chance to see the countryside from the train as we passed through, and to look up haunts we knew in Weymouth itself.
Alas, we got as far as Yeovil Pen Mill and there we came to a halt - overnight engineering works hadn't been completed on time to hand the line back for the train to go through, and a busy summer sunday service full of people was turfed out onto the station forecourt, so stand there (seating - you must be joking) in an unmarshalled mass to wait for buses that were promised and took an age to materialise - when the first one did, it then being filled on the basis of "fittest and pushiest first". We aborted that trip - which (as it's turned out) would have been Dad's final trip to Weymouth.
Looking back at our decision to abort over the following days, our decision was a wise one. It turned out that the predicted return of the line for train operation within a few hours didn't happen and we would have had two bus journeys rather than the one, goodness only knows with what timing and connections, and the chance of the further connection onwards to Melksham being slim.
One of the really useful things that can come from a failure such as this to provide is the real case to look back at and say "how can we avoid this in the future" / "how can we do better next time". Sadly, looks as if this follow up analysis didn't happen, or if it did the outcomes of the analysis haven't been effectively implemented.
When I awoke this morning:
08:23 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth due 10:42
08:23 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth due 10:42 will be terminated at Yeovil Pen Mill.
It will no longer call at Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole, Maiden Newton, Dorchester West, Upwey and Weymouth.
This is due to engineering works not being finished on time.
Additional Information
We are currently attempting to resource road transport to cover this service.
No comments about other services - looked like an overrun. But now (midday) I read:
Cancellations to services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth
Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
We have requested road transport to cover the part cancellation of the trains however are currently awaiting confirmation of availability.
Customers are advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Oh dear, oh dear ... looks like someone's taken something apart and not been able to put it together again ...
again!Looks like there's no contingency plans in place for replacement road transport on this line ...
again!Looks like there's an false expectation that the thing can re-open quite quickly rather than being realistic about what's gone wrong ...
again!
Yesterday, I actually took the day trip from Melksham to Weymouth - looking at loadings and metrics to help understand Saturday flows through Wiltshire and where they were headed (and also some time at the seaside). The Weymouth Wizard was 79 minutes late into Weymouth ... which (compare to today) was a good trip ...
Gypsy and thought much of Dad as we walked along the front and around the harbour, paddled in the sea, saw Mr Punch and shared an ice cream before it was time to return. The 16:08 last train from Weymouth with a Melksham connection on Saturday was fine for us, as Gypsy and I are slowing down too. There were families with very young children too for whom this return was suitable, but how I wish the 19:32 Westbury to Swindon ran 7 days a week (not Sunday to Friday only) to have allowed us to come back on the 17:28 Wizard.
