Disruption in Bath area (13/06/26)

[Westerndiesels]

Waiting in Bath to get back to Yeovil, signal problems, no trains have gone through Bath last couple of hours

 

[Snow1964]

Apparently unable to source replacement road transport either, which rather suggests running one train slowly with hand signalling would be better alternative than no trains and no road alternative

 

[Parallel]

Apparently unable to source replacement road transport either, which rather suggests running one train slowly with hand signalling would be better alternative than no trains and no road alternative

They have managed to run the 20:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington train through Bath, though it is currently running 39 minutes late and reported as crush loaded.

Some of the Portsmouth and Weymouth services are also running now but with a diversion via Melksham and heavy delays, which is causing problems as some of the West of England services this weekend have also been diverting via Melksham due to engineering works. With the frequency this diversion is used, there should be a serious case for getting the line re-doubled between Bradford Junction and Thingley Junction. It seems like there's a major issue near Bath every other week as of late. Hope the hundreds (if not thousands) of people at Bath and Bristol stations eventually make it home. Just saying "do not travel" after everyone's already travelled for their day out and is trying to get home really isn't good enough from a customer perspective.

 

[Westerndiesels]

im still waiting at Bath station with no idea if getting home. I am awaiting heart surgery so trying to avoid stress

 

[skyhigh]

im still waiting at Bath station with no idea if getting home. I am awaiting heart surgery so trying to avoid stress

Have you spoken to staff at the station?

 

[JonnyB]

The last train to Yeovil is cancelled so make sure that the station staff are aware of your situation. Don't be fobbed off by being sent on a train to Westbury for the onward transport as this is often difficult to provide from Westbury. The staff will be under a lot of pressure but in my experience Bath station staff are good at sorting out taxis. I'm in a similar situation from Bath but lucky enough to have a scheduled bus to my destination. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[ox_chap]

Some real time trains are showing 300 minutes between Trowbridge and Bath eg 15:30 from Weymouth. If trains were stranded between stations for that long, conditions must have been truly awful with no catering etc.

 

[Westerndiesels]

Just got home, i did explain my situation. The two staff worked very hard to get us a taxi, as many taxi drivers did not want to go so far. Once I told them of my issue, they got me sat under a heater in the station and came and got me when they finally sorted one.

I would like to thank the two guys both, I like to think they know who they are.

 

[Benjwri]

Very bad day for that to happen too. Rugby, horse racing and a uni open day. Bath was having as it was.

 

[LCC106]

Just got home, i did explain my situation. The two staff worked very hard to get us a taxi, as many taxi drivers did not want to go so far. Once I told them of my issue, they got me sat under a heater in the station and came and got me when they finally sorted one.

I would like to thank the two guys both, I like to think they know who they are.

Great outcome for you. Worth posting on the company’s social media or a quick email to their customer services.

 

[Snow1964]

Very bad day for that to happen too. Rugby, horse racing and a uni open day. Bath was having as it was.

Which should have been obvious to any staff in Bath area, and when Control tried to source road transport and found couldn't hardly get anything (buses or taxis) because lots of other things were clearly on, they didn't realise no body able to move shouldn't be an option either.

Having discovered road transport wasn't an alternative, there is big question mark over why limited trains at walking pace with hand signalling, rather than nothing goes for 2-4 hours was option chosen.

Lack of contingency training and staff competence will probably be the excuse.

 

[Parallel]

Very bad day for that to happen too. Rugby, horse racing and a uni open day. Bath was having as it was.

The disruption extended beyond just Bath too. Cardiff Pride was on too. A very bad weekend for things to go this wrong.

 

[Vexed]

Having discovered road transport wasn't an alternative, there is big question mark over why limited trains at walking pace with hand signalling, rather than nothing goes for 2-4 hours was option chosen.

Hand signaling is going out of fashion due to the number of staff required. However, ESW (Emergency Special Working) has been introduced as an alternative. I would hope there were good reasons why this wasn't put in place as it doesn't require any staff trackside.

If the signalling faliure included a loss of detection of pointwork this would complicate ESW and hand signalling with extra staff needed for both.

 

[sir_gummerz]

Link to a Facebook post showing overcrowding at bath yesterday:

966K views · 1.5K reactions | Horrendous scenes at Bath Spa railway station — where hundreds of people are stranded due to delays and cancellations. It’s due to a fault with the signalling system between Chippenham and Bristol Temple Meads. As a res

Horrendous scenes at Bath Spa railway station — where hundreds of people are stranded due to delays and cancellations. It’s due to a fault with the signalling system between Chippenham and Bristol...

www.facebook.com

Horrendous scenes at Bath Spa railway station — where hundreds of people are stranded due to delays and cancellations.
It’s due to a fault with the signalling system between Chippenham and Bristol Temple Meads. As a result, all lines blocked.
In a statement, a GWR spokesperson said: “The signals outside of Bath Spa station have failed. This is severely affecting our ability to run trains in the Bath Spa area.
“Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington are diverting, running non-stop to Swindon. Services between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury are subject to delay or alteration. There are currently very few services running through Bath Spa.
“We are expecting some road transport to operate from Bath Spa station. However, the first of these is not expected until about 19:30.
“Limited options are available for customers at Chippenham. It has not been possible to source and meaningful road transport for customers going West. Local buses are available for Swindon, from where customers can take train services to Bristol Temple Meads.”

 

[Towers]

Hand signaling is going out of fashion due to the number of staff required. However, ESW (Emergency Special Working) has been introduced as an alternative. I would hope there were good reasons why this wasn't put in place as it doesn't require any staff trackside.

If the signalling faliure included a loss of detection of pointwork this would complicate ESW and hand signalling with extra staff needed for both.

ESW no longer exists, I believe!

Extended Block these days, no?

 

[Vexed]

ESW no longer exists, I believe!

Extended Block these days, no?

Yes, I wasn't aware it had been replaced with extended block a few months ago.

 

[Snow1964]

Major problems again, with a points failure near Bradford on Avon.

Real time trains showing everything at BoA cancelled from 09:20 to 12:24 when a Portsmouth-Cardiff train (just a 2car 158 to sweep up 3 hours worth of passengers) is next train currently

Discovered no trains when I got to station, so checked realtimetrains, then walked back home and took car instead.