Frome - Clink Road Junction Points Problem 10/10

[whole diary]

[WSW Frome]

Yesterday we joined the 16.29 FRO^» (Frome - next trains)-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) at Frome on time. The train then stopped almost immediately at Frome North Junction. We were advised that there was a points problem at Clink Road and that the train would now reverse - all the way to East Somerset Goods Loop (at Witham Friary). This was done efficiently and we then set off for WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) directly arriving about 20 mins down. The train then proceeded fast to Bath arriving about 10 mins down. So all this was quite an efficient recovery. Passengers for Trowbridge and Bradford were catered for by the immediate following train. Avoncliff and Freshford passengers "may" not have fared so well.

Such a lengthy reversal always seems a bit bizarre but no doubt necessary to make a "permitted" signalled movement. Points failures on the Frome loop are not uncommon so why cannot the problem be "properly" fixed?? The immediate problem was fixed for later in the evening. Although this was a minor event it just adds to the raft of signalling problems occurring every day now.