See you in a few ...

 
All passengers from everywhere now on the 9:57 stopper from Bristol, at the platform and wanting to depart.

Seem to be three people heading to TWSW just in this (rammed) carriage.

Mark

 

Now cancelled from Bristol, where it has just terminated.

Mark

 
Looked to be 1S37 1S37 0525 Plymouth to Edinburgh
Just left Taunton and stopped at signal 191 on Opentimetrains.
West Country to London turning around at Taunton.
A few Pnz to Paddington being diverted via Yeovil.
1S37 making it's way Northward but lines behind it are still blocked.

 

Cancellations to services between Taunton and Reading via Castle Cary (also causing Cancellations to services between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads via Weston-Super-Mare)

Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 09:00 24/10.
Train services between Taunton and Reading via Castle Cary and Westbury may be cancelled or delayed.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
A person has been struck by a train. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.

 
Seems to be an "Emergency Services dealing with an Incident" between Tiverton & Taunton?

 
The 0845 CrossCountry from Bristol to Taunton is running. Just departed Derby on time.

Finn and I have got our butts in gear.

 
Thanks for the warning.

Will Finn be joining us?

 

I may see you on that train. If I can get my butt in gear I'm planning on heading up to Yatton and having breakfast at the Strawberry Line Cafe before returning to Taunton on the same service as you Chris.

 

Yup - that's the only service at would get me there before 11. I suspect I won't be making it

 
My own itinerary is rather simpler: 09:06 from Nailsea & Backwell to Taunton, arriving at 09:55, for £12.05 return with my senior railcard.  

 
Just remember the Off Peak Day Return from Bristol - Taunton isn't valid until 0844.

 

I'll probably go with those fares but start on the bus ... 271 into Bath rather than x34 to Chippenham as it goes - literally along our road and stops outside.

 
0721 Melksham - Chippenham 0730
(0734)0809 Chippenham - Bristol TM (0803)0836
(0845)0856 Bristol TM - Taunton (0915)0955

Bracketed times predicated on making an unofficial 4 minute connection at Chippenham and the 0845 CrossCountry from Bristol TM running. You could of course take the X34 Faresaver bus to Chippenham station for an 0722 arrival. That negates the tight rail connection but you'll still be reliant on CrossCountry.

Melksham - Bristol TM. Anytime Day Return £10.25
Bristol TM - Taunton. Off Peak Day Return £12.05

Return would have to be via Bristol too but there are no evening time restrictions.

Total (with Railcard) £22.30

 
And it's on days like this - planning an outbound trip towards the South West tomorrow - that I would love to see those four extra trains a day that have been [specified/pathed/described] as part of the Goop / Open Access proposals.  Looking at the current passenger schedules, and ensuring no clashes on the single line, I dream of extra trains calling at Melksham at:

Northbound - 06:10
Northbound - 08:50
Northbound - 15:20
Northbound - 17:40

Southbound - 07:40
Southbound - 10:30
Southbound - 16:55
Southbound - 20:00

They would fill - well - so many gaps across the busiest outbound and inbound travel times of day.  To complicate matters, I might well suggest some modest retiming in the evening of existing trains. And, rather sadly, I feel the need to remind readers and anyone who says "what a great idea" (it is!) of the need to have enough staff of the right type, in the right place, with the right training to run them and the other trains too.


MarkA - tomorrow from Bath, it's change at Bristol for Taunton and I see that GWR are flagging up that the Cross Country train it connects into is potentially disrupted by Industial Action.

 
Still missing that sole "A bit before 9am" train through to Penzance from Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, with its easement allowing off peak travel. There's now a service at a bit before 7:30 am from Bath and with no easement. Was the  pre-2018ish service into Taunton by 9:40 and Exeter a bit after 10?

Mark

 
I live in Melksham - here's GWR's offering for tomorrow (24th October 2025) to Taunton



from Trowbridge



and from Westbury



If I chose to go from Chippenham



or from Bath Spa




Best option?  Likely (time wise) to be the 07:21 from Melksham, change at Chippenham and arrive into Taunton at 09:17 ... or at 09:55 if the 07:21's running late. Not offered to me, and goodness knows what price.    Now - did I mention the bus ...