Unexpected reports of heavy snow and impassable road conditions

[whole diary]

[grahame]

17:39 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central due 20:48 This train has been delayed by up to 66 minutes and is expected to run as shown below.
This train will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
This train will no longer call at Melksham.
This is due to snow.
Additional Information:
Due to road conditions caused by snow, replacement road transport will not be provided to/from Melksham.

Odd that:
* There has been far less snow on the Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge corridor than almost anywhere else in Wiltshire.
* Local radio was congratulating the local council on keeping the roads open (with some exceptions away from the road in question).
* Due to the absence of a train service, I gave a lift to a wannabe passenger this evening, and the drive was straightforward

[eightf48544]

What is the position of a potential pasenger turning up at Melksham to catch this train. How would they find out it's diverted and there was no replacement bus and you weren't around to give a lift, could they call a Taxi to Trowbridge and claim from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?

Perhaps you should claim off FGW.

[grahame]

Rather curious ... don't they normally show places that trains should have called but have skipped as "cancelled" ... someone been massaging the changes to hide the 24 hour gap in services.   Any other services had such long gaps because of this snow?

[grahame]

What is the position of a potential pasenger turning up at Melksham to catch this train. How would they find out it's diverted and there was no replacement bus and you weren't around to give a lift, could they call a Taxi to Trowbridge and claim from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?

Perhaps you should claim off FGW.

There's a help point ... and it gets you through to someone who can usually help (although you're normally asked to spell "Melksham"  ).   Most traffic off this train is incoming from Swindon (and connections) and Chippenham (and connections).  I expect the taxi drivers at Chippenham did a roaring trade.