Temporary arrangements - London to South Wales - May 2021

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Journey Check

Owing to the short notice unavailability of carriages which form our High Speed train services there will be NO through service on the London Paddington - Swindon - Bristol Parkway - Newport - Cardiff Central - Swansea route and train services on the route have been withdrawn.
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Special shuttle train services at approximately hourly intervals will operate but only between Newport (South Wales) and Reading calling at Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Didcot Parkway. Any customers travelling from Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway or Cardiff Central should travel to Newport on Transport for Wales services (on which GWR tickets will be valid) and connect into / out of the shuttle train services to / from Reading. At Reading alternative GWR services will be available for travel to / from London Paddington.
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CUSTOMERS SEEKING TO MAKE LONG DISTANCE JOURNEYS ON THIS ROUTE ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO CONSIDER DEFERRING THEIR JOURNEY UNTIL THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED. JOURNEY TIMES WILL BE CONSIDERABLY EXTENDED, CONNECTIONS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE LATE NIGHT JOURNEYS AT ALL AS A RESULT.
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In addition to the revised train service arrangements GWR ticket holders may utilise the following local bus routes should they assist with individual journeys -

Swansea Neath: Routes X5, X7, 34 and 38

Swansea Port Talbot: Routes X1 and 84

Cardiff Bridgend: Route X2

Bridgend Port Talbot: Route X1

Port Talbot Neath: Route 87

Swansea Llanelli: Routes X11, 110 and 111

[jamestheredengine]

The thing that gets me with the buses that they mention is that they've missed off the Swansea-Neath-Merthyr X75 again. Taking a bus to the next line across that's running a normal service is completely reasonable, especially considering that Cardiff Central station is at the extreme south end of Cardiff city centre, and a good chunk of passengers change for the Valley Lines to Queen Street or Cathays anyway – if you're travelling at a time that lines up with the very infrequent X75, it's a practical route. (And, yes, if only we had the Vale of Neath in times like this.)

[ChrisB]

There's an hourly service from Pad to Swansea starting on Friday

[grahame]

There's an hourly service from Pad to Swansea starting on Friday

From JourneyCheck this morning

You are advised not to travel with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). A number of Class 800 series Hitachi trains in use by several train companies, including GWR, were withdrawn from service earlier this week as a precaution.
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After completing rigorous safety checks, we will begin reintroducing train services. Trains on some routes will be less frequent than usual, and your journey might take longer than it normally would. Please check your journey on our online journey planner before you leave.
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We have had to cancel many of our long-distance services and expect disruption to journeys to continue for the next few days.

Friday 14 May
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An hourly service will run between London Paddington and Swansea.

Transport For Wales are conveying passengers between Cheltenham Spa and Swansea via Newport South Wales and Cardiff Central in both directions until further notice.

[eXPassenger]

... if you're travelling at a time that lines up with the very infrequent X75, it's a practical route. (And, yes, if only we had the Vale of Neath in times like this.)

Perhaps the reason it is not listed is the infrequency.

[grahame]

Saturday 15th May 2021

Most GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) long distance services between London Paddington and Swansea via Bristol Parkway & Cardiff Central are expected to operate.