2022 - TransWilts cancellations and amendments log

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Now looks like it is going to call at Melksham albeit at least 15 minutes late.

[grahame]

Now looks like it is going to call at Melksham albeit at least 15 minutes late.

Indeed.  Too late - already on the bus ...

Promised call back from National Rail Enquiries never came ... (still hasn't on my mobile) and I had to leave home / catch the bus otherwise I could well have failed to reach Westbury in time for the 10:03 onward via Salisbury.

I wonder what GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will say if I ask them to refund my bus fare; temped to document the experience and ask on principle.

[bradshaw]

Tracksy shows routed via Melksham, following the problematic freight

[bobm]

Freight was in difficulty getting back from overnight engineering work to Westbury.  Could only proceed at 20mph.  Between Swindon and Chippenham other trains could overtake it with clever use of the reversible line.  Obviously not possible on the single line.

[bobm]

I wonder what GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will say if I ask them to refund my bus fare; temped to document the experience and ask on principle.

Don’t see why not.  With the industry as a whole struggling to get road replacement buses, particularly at short notice, the focus is moving to have ticket acceptance in place with local bus operators including Faresaver’s X34. 

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham

Due to a person hit by a train between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 06:45 25/05.
Train services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

06:11 Swindon to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a person hit by a train.

[PhilWakely]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham

Due to a person hit by a train between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 06:45 25/05.
Train services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

06:11 Swindon to Southampton Central due 08:07 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a person hit by a train.

My thoughts to all those directly affected by the incident.

I know journeycheck is deliberately vague on locations, but if all lines are blocked twixt Swindon and Bristol TM^‡(resolve), why is it that only the Trans Wilts is affected?

[Timmer]

I know journeycheck is deliberately vague on locations, but if all lines are blocked twixt Swindon and Bristol TM^‡(resolve), why is it that only the Trans Wilts is affected?

JourneyCheck now mentioning services between Swindon and Bristol are also affected along with listing trains between London and Bristol now being diverted between Swindon and Bristol not calling at Chippenham and Bath:

Cancellations to services between Bath Spa and Swindon
Due to a person hit by a train between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 09:00 25/05.
Train services between Bath Spa and Swindon may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

[grahame]

06:35 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03
06:35 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03 will be diverted between Trowbridge and Gloucester.
It will no longer call at Melksham, Chippenham, Swindon, Kemble, Stroud and Stonehouse but will call additionally at Bristol Temple Meads.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 3 minutes late.
This is due to a person hit by a train.

My reading is that the incident is between Thingley Junction and Royal Wootton Bassett.

[bobm]

Incident was between Chippenham and Wootton Bassett Junction involving the 05:17 Westbury to Swindon. 

Line has just re-opened. 

[grahame]

Anyone from Swindon, Chippenham or Melksham headed for a day out in Weymouth - lovely day ...

The 09:14 from Swindon left very late.  It called at Melksham at 10:13 (33 minutes late) and got to Westbury at 10:29 - which was a bit unfortunate because the Weymouth train had left five minutes earlier, and there isn't another one until 12:28 - so instead of arriving in Weymouth before lunch, day trippers won't be there until two in the afternoon.

Before planning the marketing of Saturday and Sunday trips this summer, I asked GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) if they anticipated 90% of day trips to be good ones - all trains running, and passengers arriving in both directions within half an hour of timetable.  Looks like a failure on the very first Sunday train - root cause looks like "overrunning engineering works" at Warminster so that's OK for GWR - they can attribute to Network Rail.

Surely the Weymouth train could have been held to ensure a connection if GWR were serious about "A grand day out"!

I met a well informed (expert) friend who was travelling on the Weymouth train that left Westbury on time just before the official connection from Swindon arrived.  I understand that the train was on time, far from overcrowded, and that the stations stops were leisurely.  Crossed another train at Maiden Newton by which time it would have made up time.   Hindsight suggests, one again, that the connection should have been held at Westbury.

[grahame]

14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58


15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a person hit by a train earlier.
Additional Information
Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury.

Passengers from Swindon for Melksham should travel to Chippenham on the next available service and then liaise with station staff for onwards road transport to Melksham.

Passengers from Melksham are advised to please use the Customer Help Point or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers in your party and your intended destination. Passengers are advised that sourcing road transport is problematic due to operators being taken up with school runs.

[grahame]

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to a fault on this train.

[grahame]

06:35 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03

06:35 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Semi-Transwilts ... this is the through train that runs from Salisbury via Melksham and Swindon.

[grahame]

13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56

13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Melksham.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late.
This is due to congestion.

Further Information

If you hold a valid single, return, or weekly ticket, you will be able to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:27/05/2022 13:20

No alternative travel plans offered.  Next Swindon to Westbury train not scheduled to call at Melksham until 15:39