Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363805/30480/42] Posted by bradshaw at 22:12, 1st August 2025 |      |
It may have spare units but the extended timings, up to 30 minutes to Yeovil and another 30 to Exeter may mean that there are not the paths available, especially if the new timetable has to be resilient.
The times should be available on Monday
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363804/30480/42] Posted by Timmer at 21:47, 1st August 2025 | |
This is just another in an ever increasing list of problems to hit the Salisbury to Exeter line. It appears to be very fragile in a number of places. How much longer can Network Rail keep throwing money at it to keep it going?
| Re: More than 12,000 back Cornwall as fifth nation In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363801/30521/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:10, 1st August 2025 | |
There were 20,000 of us, back in the day: see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ere9fNgSGe8
| Re: More than 12,000 back Cornwall as fifth nation In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [363800/30521/31] Posted by Clan Line at 20:31, 1st August 2025 | |
.........although the impact of Brexit on them may well have made them wiser in the interim.
True......... shows them that the "blob" will always get its way over those pesky plebian voters !
| Re: Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts In "Across the West" [363797/29177/26] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:15, 1st August 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Storm Floris to bring 'unseasonably disruptive' rain and wind to UK
Storm Floris has been named by the Met Office and will hit the UK on Monday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
It is the sixth named storm this season and the first since January.
Current forecasts show the centre of Floris travelling across the northern half of the UK, with the strongest and most disruptive winds on the southern and western edge of the area of low pressure.
Some forecasts show the potential for wind gusts of between 60 and 70mph in places, particularly for coasts and hills in the north during the day on Monday. Exposed coastal areas of Scotland could see gusts of up to 85mph.
Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph.
Even for areas in the south there could be gusts of 40-45mph.
The area of cloud and rain that may bring some of us the stormier spell was still only a band of heavy showers near the Great Lakes in the US on Thursday morning.
As this heads out into the Atlantic it will get picked up by an active jet stream and will develop into a storm with a huge drop in pressure as it nears our shores.
It is worth noting that Monday is still a number of days away and the exact track of the low pressure system will be crucial to which areas may be worst affected and so it is worth staying across the BBC Weather forecast over the coming days to keep across the latest.
If the winds do reach their forecast strength then they are likely to have an impact on travel.
At this time of year trees are in full leaf and are more likely to be toppled with branches broken off than during the winter when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded.
Many temporary summer structures including tents could be damaged.
Power disruption and some damage could also be possible while heavy rain and flooding could be an additional hazard in places.
(BBC article continues)
Storm Floris has been named by the Met Office and will hit the UK on Monday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
It is the sixth named storm this season and the first since January.
Current forecasts show the centre of Floris travelling across the northern half of the UK, with the strongest and most disruptive winds on the southern and western edge of the area of low pressure.
Some forecasts show the potential for wind gusts of between 60 and 70mph in places, particularly for coasts and hills in the north during the day on Monday. Exposed coastal areas of Scotland could see gusts of up to 85mph.
Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph.
Even for areas in the south there could be gusts of 40-45mph.
The area of cloud and rain that may bring some of us the stormier spell was still only a band of heavy showers near the Great Lakes in the US on Thursday morning.
As this heads out into the Atlantic it will get picked up by an active jet stream and will develop into a storm with a huge drop in pressure as it nears our shores.
It is worth noting that Monday is still a number of days away and the exact track of the low pressure system will be crucial to which areas may be worst affected and so it is worth staying across the BBC Weather forecast over the coming days to keep across the latest.
If the winds do reach their forecast strength then they are likely to have an impact on travel.
At this time of year trees are in full leaf and are more likely to be toppled with branches broken off than during the winter when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded.
Many temporary summer structures including tents could be damaged.
Power disruption and some damage could also be possible while heavy rain and flooding could be an additional hazard in places.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363795/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 19:54, 1st August 2025 | |
Real Time Trains shows the 17:50 running - as 5O09 (empty coaching stock). Are we sure that's a track safety inspection as nothing else seems to be disrupted, or is its really a shortage of train managers?
And it now suggests
This service was cancelled between Gloucester and Westbury due to late arrival of crew from an inbound service (YJ).
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363794/30480/42] Posted by JayMac at 19:11, 1st August 2025 Already liked by PhilWakely, Timmer, trainbuff | |
And this isn't the first time we've had a timetable reduction due to dry weather shrinking the ground. Similar issues back in 2022.
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2022/september/temporary-reduced-timetable-for-west-of-england-line
Not to worry. Rain forecast for next week. So expect Honiton tunnel to flood.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363791/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 18:27, 1st August 2025 | |
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
17:50 Gloucester to Salisbury due 20:06 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.
Or put another way - cancelled throughout with the 18:10 Gloucester to Westbury extended to Salisbury? (EDIT - looking at RTT it does look the 5O09 becomes 2O09 at Westbuty)
Real Time Trains shows the 17:50 running - as 5O09 (empty coaching stock). Are we sure that's a track safety inspection as nothing else seems to be disrupted, or is its really a shortage of train managers?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363790/30480/42] Posted by PhilWakely at 18:26, 1st August 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
I suspect the timetable will be the same or similar to that implemented during Covid. The idea of an Exeter to Axminster shuttle covering the alternative hours was put to SWR, but they are claiming insufficient rolling stock - that is despite having two or three spare units whilst operating a proper full timetable!
So, yet again, the towns west of Yeovil suffer!
| Re: Up to 40,000 homes to be built on disused railway land In "Railway History and related topics" [363788/30512/55] Posted by Marlburian at 17:01, 1st August 2025 | |
A few years ago, there was a proposal for floating-homes not far from Theale Station. It was rejected.
And at Purley between Tilehurst and Pangbourne houses between the Thames and the railway were built with garages forming the ground floor or basement, with stairs leading up to living accommodation above. Not so long ago, a bund was built to inhibit water from the Thames spreading too far. Two or three years ago the water still crept several hundreds of yards inland and there were a lot of cars temporarily parked on rising land, on the same level as the original village.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363785/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 16:03, 1st August 2025 | |
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
| Re: 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury In "TransWilts line" [363784/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 16:01, 1st August 2025 | |
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham and is now expected to be 8 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham and is now expected to be 8 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on a train in front of this one.
Worse than expectations - 20 minutes late on leaving Melksham and failing to make the onward connection which is very popular. Beyond Warminster that's a one hour delay. Never mind - at least it's running - just another (this one relatively minor) hiccough in the system.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363783/30480/42] Posted by grahame at 15:54, 1st August 2025 | |
P.S. - down Queensway in Melksham, we have three buses an hour Monday to Saturday, getting people from "The Forest" are to the doctor's surgeries and hospital (example destinations). Good, yes, but to get back they have to take the bus into the Town Centre and then change onto another back to The Forest.
Up Queensway there ARE buses - 3 service on Monday to Saturday evening, and hourly daytime on Sundays (they run both ways).
And you ask why I question "every 2 hours" ??
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363782/30480/42] Posted by grahame at 15:47, 1st August 2025 Already liked by Chris from Nailsea | |
Sorry Graham - everyone else would read "every 2 hours" as each way....not much use knowing they stop twice every two hours, once in each direction.
Perhaps they don't come from a place where were have an "an hourly service" that's turned out to be in alternate directions. Where we were given "Two trains from Westbury to Swindon" on Sundays from 2006 and without any service the other way. And where we were given "A through train from Melksham to Weymouth on summer weekend Sundays", supposedly for days out, but with no return through train.
We have learned the hard way to ask questions and be very specific as we read the answers to avoid disappointment. But perhaps such things don't happen at Crewkerne now that it's TOC is nationalised?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363781/30480/42] Posted by ChrisB at 15:27, 1st August 2025 | |
Sorry Graham - everyone else would read "every 2 hours" as each way....not much use knowing they stop twice every two hours, once in each direction.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363780/30480/42] Posted by grahame at 14:46, 1st August 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
• One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction - taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
Thanks for that, Bob - and all the Exeter ones in both directions calling at Crewkerne - so twice every two hours rather than the once every two hours stated? Would have been clearer if they had qualified their answer with "in each direction".
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363779/30480/42] Posted by bobm at 14:38, 1st August 2025 | |
• One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction - taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
| Re: Up to 40,000 homes to be built on disused railway land In "Railway History and related topics" [363778/30512/55] Posted by 1st fan at 13:57, 1st August 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
From the BBC:
Up to 5,000 homes are planned on disused land by the River Tyne
The UK government has pledged to build up to 40,000 new homes on disused railway land, including former goods yards, industrial sites and station buildings, over the next ten years.
Up to 5,000 homes are planned on disused land by the River Tyne
The UK government has pledged to build up to 40,000 new homes on disused railway land, including former goods yards, industrial sites and station buildings, over the next ten years.
What a nice looking floodplain there is in that image, will these houses be built on stilts?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 In "South Western services" [363777/30480/42] Posted by grahame at 12:41, 1st August 2025 | |
The good news: from Monday 11th August trains will call at Crewkerne again
The bad news: every 2 hours
Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes
At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.
The bad news: every 2 hours
Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes
At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.
Yes, trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will call at Crewkerne from Monday 11 August, once every two hours.
Does that mean alternate trains towards Exeter and towards London - once every 4 hours each way?
