Early train - 05:58 - Leuven to Brussels Midi (started from hotel beside station at about 05:40). Train arrive Brussels at 06:25. Coffee and Belgian waffle for breakfast - entered Eurostar /
UK▸ checkin area at 06:45. Ticket check, security check, leaving Schengen Check, entering UK check, passing through duty free area - in waiting lounge at about 07:10. Yes there were queues / lines but they moved reasonably fast. Boarding from 07:30 - seated in train by 07:40. Left on time at 07:57, into UK (exit Eurotunnel) now UK time 08:30. Crossed the Medway at 08:43. WiFi on train "terrible ..." according to the young lady beside me, and I had to agree.
Due it at 08:57 ... but signal stop outside and we rolled in at 09:08. Walked the maze at St Pancras International, and straight onto Hammersmith and City tube that arrived at the platform at the same time I did. Pulled out at 09:16. Paddington at 09:27 - in good time to catch the 09:48.
09:48 - (final destination Carmarthen) left on time bus is now going slow signal-to-signal at Langley. 10:05 - "Would the train manager please contact the driver" and then train manager announces a "fault with the signalling system" ... and another long distance train overtakes us via the relief lines. 10:30 - just crept though Twyford - branch train platform crammed with posh people. Wrong automated announcements. "This train is for Carmarthen and London Paddington". "We will be calling at London Paddington only". "This train will divide at Swansea and the front five carriages will continue to to Carmarthen - you are in the front 5 carriages". Followed by a lilting Welsh voice from the train manager, apologising for the automated announcement system, confirming Swansea and telling us that it's the rear five beyond Swansea.Just left Reading at 10:38 - some reservations confusions. I noticed as I joined the train that it started at "A" and when I got to front set it started again at "A".
Connection at Swindon - where I should have had 25 minutes - looks touch and go. I suspect I WILL make it because this Carmarthen express has to use the same line as our more local train after Swindon. No staff around to ask - coffee from he trolley but that passed very early - before we got held up - never to be seen again? I suspect that the train manager is in the rear carriages and this is a train which does not provide a corridor between the sections.
At 11:02 we pulled into Swindon (22 minutes late). I noticed an announcement telling us to go to platform 2 for Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury. Cheerful train manager asked if I was coming off "that one" as I walked briskly up and we left on time at 11:05. 28 passengers from Chippenham, 4 off and 5 on at Melksham, on time there.
