Train cancelled, then, situation recovered

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

The cancellation being the 08:43 to Paddington from Bath Spa. (Train late from depot). It's the first train after the peak (despite which, not many waiting).

Announcements asked people to wait for the 09:13. I got aboard the Portsmouth train and as we waited for a platform to become free at Westbury, thought for a moment that I was going to find out why staff hadn't recommended that people for Reading and Paddington boarded *that* - there was probably sufficient room on board to seat everyone. However, the connection worked, and after a five minute wait I'm now the sole occupant of an entire carriage on a service that started its day carrying (slightly late) fresh air from Frome, the slight delay down to the tail end of the engineering works there.

*Looks up*. Ah, here's Pewsey. A few more people aboard now. Now looking forward to the frankly risible track alignment past Crofton.

Mark

[grahame]

The cancellation being the 08:43 to Paddington from Bath Spa. (Train late from depot). It's the first train after the peak (despite which, not many waiting).

Announcements asked people to wait for the 09:13. I got aboard the Portsmouth train and as we waited for a platform to become free at Westbury, thought for a moment that I was going to find out why staff hadn't recommended that people for Reading and Paddington boarded *that* - there was probably sufficient room on board to seat everyone. However, the connection worked, and after a five minute wait I'm now the sole occupant of an entire carriage on a service that started its day carrying (slightly late) fresh air from Frome, the slight delay down to the tail end of the engineering works there.

*Looks up*. Ah, here's Pewsey. A few more people aboard now. Now looking forward to the frankly risible track alignment past Crofton.

Mark

"Change at Westbury" only gained you 13 minutes (and lots of comfort) on the recommended alternative, and I suspect was AOK for you but other prefer the direct service ...

Scheduled train:
08:43 from Bath 10:06 due Paddington, 10:42 actual - but ran via Badminton

What you did:
08:37 (actual 08:40) into Westbury at 09:06
09:11 (actual 09:14) to Paddington due at 10:29, 10:35 actual

Official alternative:
09:13 (on time) to Paddington due at 10:42, actual 10:48
But as it came up all the way from Penzance, may have been busy

[Mark A]

+1 to all that.

I was heading for Chertsey, so, actually needed Reading and then two changes. As it happened, the Frome train leaving a few minutes late, didn't manage to make that up by Reading so the connection left as I turned the corner onto the terminus platforms. Those being half hourly, all mesh with the half hourly trains on the Chertsey line, so all was good and just half an hour late. At Reading, the Penzance train looked to be busy but it might just have been the light.

The couple of miles to Chertsey crosses both the M3 (stationery) and that striking rail over road cable suspension bridge over the M25  (Traffic flowing but not flowing well).

Train back yesterday afternoon was fine. From Paddington, last one before the full evening peak time restriction, well loaded but many free seats, yesterday afternoon's downpour struck at the little pinch through the hill at Tockenham*, so, down Dauntsey Bank wreathed in rain.

Mark

*At Tockenham, south side of the line and alongside, there's a couple of hundred metres of temporary and hi viz fencing for a work site. Anyone know's what's being done?