Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370462/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 17:20, 2nd January 2026 |      |
So... the rail disruption now announced as two separate incidents, points failure at Sutton Bridge and a wider issue with the signalling system. The disruption has been pushed out to 17:30. All thought of meeting friends went out of the window. The train I was on was terminated at Newtown, together I think with a couple of subseqent ones too and road transport being sourced. Previous to that, I'd headed for the... 16:06 T4 bus to Merthyr Tydfil.
Catchiing one of those from Newtown turns out to be interesting, as the stop's a few minutes canter from the station and there's absolutely nothing on the road to say it's a bus stop. However, the T4 turned up, left with me on it, took a curious 'off route' route via Llangurig and Rhayader and has currently just threaded a slightly snowy Llandrindod Wells. The pavements in Newtown were evil, and there's a bit of snow on the ground here but I'm sure this will work out. I think. The bus started off with three passengers and now has about 15.
For some reason the sky has an impressive afterglow and the nearly full moon, once again in the sky, is doing a good job of making maximum play with that too.
Mark
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370461/31359/18] Posted by Timmer at 17:15, 2nd January 2026 | |
I suspect the 16.23 to Swindon, a 2 car 158, was rather cozy as it would have had passengers off 13.55 Paignton to London. This train terminated at Westbury because of the track issue between Westbury and Pewsey. See:
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=31378.msg370461#new
Transwilts to the rescue!
| Re: Defective track near Pewsey - 2/1/26 In "London to the West" [370460/31378/12] Posted by Timmer at 17:07, 2nd January 2026 | |
From Journeycheck for the record:
Cancellations to services between Westbury and Reading
Due to a safety inspection of the track between Westbury and Reading the line towards Reading bound high speed is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:00 02/01.
Customer Advice
What has happened?
We have had a report of a defect between Westbury and Pewsey. Trains cannot run over the affected line until it has been inspected.
Owing to planned engineering work and services being diverted this is affecting the following routes:
> South Wales to London Paddington.
> Bristol to London Paddington.
> West of England to London Paddington.
What are we doing about it?
Network Rail have staff making their way to site to inspect the line.
What are your options?
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible.
The only route available between South Wales and the West of England towards London Paddington is via Swindon. From Swindon to Didcot Parkway and Reading planned rail replacement is in operation. Given the increased number of customers that will now be travelling this way, you may have an extended wait to be able to board a coach at Swindon. We are trying to source additional coaches.
You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on CrossCountry services between Plymouth and Bristol Parkway, there services are not affected by this problem.
Consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
Due to a safety inspection of the track between Westbury and Reading the line towards Reading bound high speed is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:00 02/01.
Customer Advice
What has happened?
We have had a report of a defect between Westbury and Pewsey. Trains cannot run over the affected line until it has been inspected.
Owing to planned engineering work and services being diverted this is affecting the following routes:
> South Wales to London Paddington.
> Bristol to London Paddington.
> West of England to London Paddington.
What are we doing about it?
Network Rail have staff making their way to site to inspect the line.
What are your options?
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible.
The only route available between South Wales and the West of England towards London Paddington is via Swindon. From Swindon to Didcot Parkway and Reading planned rail replacement is in operation. Given the increased number of customers that will now be travelling this way, you may have an extended wait to be able to board a coach at Swindon. We are trying to source additional coaches.
You may use your ticket, at no extra cost, on CrossCountry services between Plymouth and Bristol Parkway, there services are not affected by this problem.
Consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370459/31377/1] Posted by TonyN at 17:05, 2nd January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
Now on the T1 bus from Carmarthen, which as it turns out is electric.
The Old Diesel buses have been transfered to First Worcestershire. After a couple of years they have removed the screens inside that said this is a Traws Cymru T1 but not which way it was going or what the next stop is.
| Re: Defective track near Pewsey - 2/1/26 In "London to the West" [370458/31378/12] Posted by Timmer at 17:02, 2nd January 2026 | |
Because of engineering work between Swindon and Didcot, everything from Bristol, South Wales and the WoE is going via the Berks and Hants today.
Whilst I was out for my afternoon walk that overlooks Westbury, I saw the 1500 Bristol to London come to a stop at Heywood Road Junction. Looking at RTT I could see that it wasn’t waiting for the another train so thought it was either train or line issue.
Looks like the wheels have well and truly come off with cancellations and trains terminating well short of London mounting. GWR are encouraging everyone to travel via Swindon to get a bus to either Didcot or Reading. Hope they can source some additional road transport.
| Re: Defective track near Pewsey - 2/1/26 In "London to the West" [370457/31378/12] Posted by bobm at 17:00, 2nd January 2026 | |
With the line closed between Swindon and Didcot Parkway for engineering work there is no diversionary route.
| Defective track near Pewsey - 2/1/26 In "London to the West" [370456/31378/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:55, 2nd January 2026 | |
.........all cancelled as a result - not going to be much fun for those travelling to the South West tonight....
16:59 London Paddington to Taunton due 20:17
17:23 London Paddington to Plymouth due 21:25
17:52 London Paddington to Penzance due 23:00
18:23 London Paddington to Plymouth due 22:10
18:52 London Paddington to Penzance due 00:36
18:59 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 21:45
| Re: New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion In "Oxford, Didcot and Reading from the West" [370455/28355/22] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 16:19, 2nd January 2026 Already liked by ChrisB | |
A rather peevish response from the Bedwyn folks to the Oxford–Bristol plans:
https://www.railmagazine.com/news/passenger-group-concern-over-gwr-oxford-bristol-plans
As Rail points out, the Government expressly asked GWR for a Bristol–Oxford plan in 2023 (following up many years' lobbying by Oxfordshire County Council and others), so the assertion that "The Oxford-Bristol plan is seen as an attempt to offset a potential threat from SLC Rail’s proposed Nottingham-Bristol via Oxford open access service" doesn't really hold water IMO.
| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [370454/31371/14] Posted by Worcester_Passenger at 15:51, 2nd January 2026 | |
Friday January 2
1W13 06:48 London Paddington to Great Malvern (09:29) : departed +13, Oxford +23, held Wolvercote, arrived Worcester Shrub Hill +27 and cancelled thereafter.
1W02 1148 London Paddington to Hereford (14:44) : held Oxford (+12), arrived Great Malvern +19 and cancelled thereafter.
1P20 09:56 Great Malvern to London Paddington (12:36) : started from Shrub Hill.
15:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:36 will be started from Great Malvern.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:02/01/2026 13:39
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:02/01/2026 13:39
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370453/31359/18] Posted by ChrisB at 15:46, 2nd January 2026 | |
I guess that drivers are able to volunteer to do that - as long as their mileage claim to the TOC isn't fraudulent - but the way you posed the question Mark A - it read as though you thought there was a duty on the driver if you so asked? There definitely isn't.
| Re: Point to point passenger numbers since the pandemic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370452/31376/51] Posted by ChrisB at 15:23, 2nd January 2026 | |
People travelling in on Elizabeth Line & going to central/East London, rather than exiting @ Paddington & accessing buses/tubes
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370451/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 15:21, 2nd January 2026 | |
Today we learn that this site's representation of train postions isn't particularly useful: it shows trains moving when they are not.
https://www.map.signalbox.io/[/url]
This one's fine though:
https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/cambrian
Mark
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370450/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 14:47, 2nd January 2026 | |
Ah, the train manager's just been on with news of the points failure at Sutton Bridge: we're at Newtown at the current back of the queue for the exit from the line... TM was making it sound as though we're here for the next couple of days.
Mark
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370449/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 14:30, 2nd January 2026 | |
And the first sighting of a buffet trolley: on the lovely class 158 as it left Aberystwyth, with me aboard, by the skin of my teeth. There's a squeaky five minute connection between the bus from the south and the train for Birmingham, and the bus stops across the road. While there's a crossing, to get to that the traveller needs to cross the 'T' of Terrace Road (leading from the station to the front) and like everywhere else, Aber is car sick these days and people on foot need to be assertive to cross in less than a few minutes.
This 158 is now powering up the gradient from Cemmaes Road - reminding me that BR laid on a loco and coaches at peak times from Aber, these would grind up this same slope and would be down to what felt like 10mph at times to the general alarm and despondency of what lineside residents there were.
Just passd Talerddig where the cutting is these days trimmed, netted and nailed back and if there's a loop there I had the impression that there was something that wasn't a passenger train in it. Perhaps this, perhaps not.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H20736/2026-01-02/detailed
Mark
| Re: Point to point passenger numbers since the pandemic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370448/31376/51] Posted by TaplowGreen at 14:16, 2nd January 2026 | |
Very interesting
Taplow to Paddington shows a 54.2% drop and (perhaps a better representation!) Maidenhead to Paddington a 36.6% drop - I think that'd almost certainly be due to increased WFH in the Thames Valley.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370447/31359/18] Posted by Mark A at 14:09, 2nd January 2026 | |
Yes, near-midnight Yorkshire taxi person on a railway contract working on a dirty night took me to the door rather than to the... awkwardly situated station some distance from the village.
Mark
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370446/31359/18] Posted by matth1j at 13:59, 2nd January 2026 Already liked by Mark A, grahame | |
Is that a taxi dropping its sole occupant down at the station rather than at their preferred destination?
They are averse to letting you off early| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370444/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 13:28, 2nd January 2026 | |
Is that a taxi dropping its sole occupant down at the station rather than at their preferred destination?
Errr......your ticket is to the *station* - not your 'preferred destination'. Taxi drivers are usually required to meter to the station & won't be paid any additional mileage incurred - so don't be surprised if your taxi will only go to the station. This is definitely the case when carrying more than 1 passenger - each passenger can not insist that they are dropped at their 'preferred destination' - but at the station concerned.
I would agree with that. And in this case he had to do a drop off and perhaps a pick up too. They are averse to letting you off early - "you're driving past the end of my street - can I get off here?" either - but then so are buses, and have you ever asked a train not due to call at Dilton Marsh to make a stop there, even if the local train that should call is cancelled?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [370443/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 13:25, 2nd January 2026 | |
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:16 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
| Re: Travelling to see an old train - why not travel there on a current train? In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [370442/31125/47] Posted by rogerw at 12:47, 2nd January 2026 | |
Competition between Birmingham and Exeter so that there's a fares setter alternative to Crosscountry?
Mark
Mark
Split ticket at Cheltenham can save a significant sum
| Re: Travelling to see an old train - why not travel there on a current train? In "Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions" [370440/31125/47] Posted by broadgage at 12:25, 2nd January 2026 | |
Because the train service is provided by IETs.
Often shorter, and no reservations when short formed.
No buffet. Uncomfortable seating.
| Re: Point to point passenger numbers since the pandemic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370439/31376/51] Posted by ChrisB at 11:59, 2nd January 2026 | |
Indeed, me too - and it's one ticket 'type' yet to be offered within other ticket apps/planners that have split ticket functionality.
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370438/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 11:48, 2nd January 2026 | |
I thought rovers/rangers with multi-day validity - when printed on 'ordinary' stock - come with a second coupon that had 31 day boxes printed on it, and you completed each day by filling in the box? the mag strip didn't function in the barriers & you had to produce both coupons to staff in order to proceed?
I suspect you're right. But every member of staff I've encountered so far has seemed somewhat unfamiliar with the ticket. As this is the day of it's issue its validity is explicit, but I'll follow this up for the ensuing days.
Mark
| Re: New Years honours - 2026 - "railway" people In "Who's who on Western railways" [370437/31350/2] Posted by ChrisB at 11:45, 2nd January 2026 | |
He was given the CBE two years ago - and there's apparently an unwritten rule that no one can get more than one or 'promoted' within three years - so he is again eligible in a year's time. He'll get a knighthood then, I'm sure.
| Re: New Years honours - 2026 - "railway" people In "Who's who on Western railways" [370436/31350/2] Posted by TaplowGreen at 11:42, 2nd January 2026 | |
The omission of Kevin Sinfield comes to mind......
| Re: Out with a Wales Explorer ticket 2/1/26 In "Introductions and chat" [370435/31377/1] Posted by Mark A at 11:42, 2nd January 2026 | |
Now on the T1 bus from Carmarthen, which as it turns out is electric.
I'm attempting to journal all this on this Bluesky thread. (A few photos there include blue sky too...)
Mark
https://bsky.app/profile/markannand.bsky.social/post/3mbgdkul46k25
| Re: Point to point passenger numbers since the pandemic In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [370433/31376/51] Posted by grahame at 11:32, 2nd January 2026 Already liked by PhilWakely | |
I wonder to what extent point-to-point journey figures are distorted by split save? Certainly it feels like it's a long time since I did a journey on XC which wasn't split.
Significantly! As is station footfall sadly! Whilst my local community (can't call it a village any more) of Pinhoe has grown significantly with development over the recent past, the station is a popular split for long distance tickets. The increase in station usage shown in various statistics cannot be just folk genuinely starting and ending their journeys there.
It is - always - worth a quick thought on splitting when analysing figures - and indeed over / under runs too. Historically, a lot of people bought "Melksham Specials" with no intent of travelling to, from or through Melksham and I know a host of examples where it's better to buy a longer distance ticket.
