Lots of signalling problems - a new pattern, or bad luck?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Is it my imagination, or are Network Rail having huge problems keeping the system running this week?
  
On Wednesday afternoon, two trains from Bradford-on-Avon to Bristol were cancelled in the early afternoon (I was travelling up north) and the third one - when it did turn up - dawdled along

On Thursday (yesterday) it looks as if the Severn Beach line was suspended and very little running between Temple Meads and Parkway

On Friday (this morning), we've got delays of up to 45 minutes between Swindon and Kemble.

Line problem: between Gloucester and Kemble. Owing to signalling problems between Gloucester and Kemble trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 40 mins or revised at short notice. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

And not just delayed but short running too ...

Co-incidence, or a pattern?

[bobm]

The suspension of the Severn Beach service was due to emergency track repairs rather than signalling problems.  An 5mph speed restriction has been put in at Lawrence Hill prior to the work being carried out and I assume it was deemed serious enough to carry the work out during the day rather than wait until at least after the rush hour.   Trains could use the other line thanks to single line working but obviously the capacity was seriously reduced.

That said for those trying to reach Avonmouth or Bristol Parkway whether it was a rail defect or signal problems will have made little difference.

[bobm]

Apparently today's signal problems on the Kemble line were caused by cable theft.