26/09/2026 1C96 2003 Paddington - Plymouth

[RedPostJunc]

This train arrived at Reading on time at 2026 and left via the Berks and Hants shortly afterwards. Real Time Trains shows it getting as far as Theale at 2035, but it then appears to have returned to Reading, departing at 2126. No intermediate timings are shown until Cogload Junction at 2255. My guess is that after departing Reading the second time it ran via the GWML. Does anyone know what happened?

 

[JamesT]

This train arrived at Reading on time at 2026 and left via the Berks and Hants shortly afterwards. Real Time Trains shows it getting as far as Theale at 2035, but it then appears to have returned to Reading, departing at 2126. No intermediate timings are shown until Cogload Junction at 2255. My guess is that after departing Reading the second time it ran via the GWML. Does anyone know what happened?

Presumably this? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6dx01v0ppj4o

Firefighters have been tackling a fire at a recycling centre overnight involving about 150 tonnes of batteries.

The fire near Colthrop Lane in Thatcham, Berkshire, started at about 19:40 BST on Monday. Firefighters from across Berkshire were joined by crews from Oxfordshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire services.

The fire led to trains between Reading and Newbury being halted on Monday evening and long distances services between London Paddington and the West Country diverted.

 

[Jimini]

Presumably this? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6dx01v0ppj4o

The OP is referring to a service from Saturday night. Linky.

 

[Vexed]

This train arrived at Reading on time at 2026 and left via the Berks and Hants shortly afterwards. Real Time Trains shows it getting as far as Theale at 2035, but it then appears to have returned to Reading, departing at 2126. No intermediate timings are shown until Cogload Junction at 2255. My guess is that after departing Reading the second time it ran via the GWML. Does anyone know what happened?

In Darwin there's a time for Swindon shown (arr 21:49, dep 21:51). So yes it ran via the GWML. Down as a points faliure though!

1C96 London Paddington → Plymouth · 26 Sep 2026 — Darwin Browser

Full operating history of UK National Rail service 1C96 (London Paddington → Plymouth) on 26 Sep 2026, operated by GW. This service was cancelled. Replay every Darwin message, forecast, platform change and delay on an interactive timeline.

darwinbrowser.com

 

[RedButton20]

As already said, points failure at Newbury blocked services in both directions. Set was sent back from Theale into Reading station then diverted via Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[TheWalrus]

As already said, points failure at Newbury blocked services in both directions. Set was sent back from Theale into Reading station then diverted via Bristol Temple Meads.

Why not via Melksham and rejoin at Westbury? As it has missed 4 stations instead of 2.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Why not via Melksham and rejoin at Westbury? As it has missed 4 stations instead of 2.

Not all crew sign Melksham, plus exceptionally rare to divert via there anyway, even with disruption.

 

[irish_rail]

Not all crew sign Melksham, plus exceptionally rare to divert via there anyway, even with disruption.

Melksham is not a rare diversion, far from it. Indeed 1c96 was diverted via Melksham on Monday night due to a fire at Thatcham.

The diversion via Bristol on the other hand is more problematic as Plymouth drivers do not sign Bristol to Taunton anymore (couldn't make it up could you!).

Had the incident in question occurred on a weekday then it would have diverted by Melksham, as 1c96 is a Plymouth crew, however on a Saturday it isn't a Plymouth driver and so this may have resulted in having to go via Bristol and resultant loss of station stops.

In short, diversionary route knowledge on the Western is absolutely paramount.

 

[sh24]

I've done Melksham several times as an unplanned diversion. Mind boggling that Plymouth drivers don't sign Taunton-Bristol....

 

[ValleyLines142]

Melksham is not a rare diversion, far from it. Indeed 1c96 was diverted via Melksham on Monday night due to a fire at Thatcham. The diversion via Bristol on the other hand is more problematic as Plymouth drivers do not sign Bristol to Taunton anymore (couldn't make it up could you!). Had the incident in question occurred on a weekday then it would have diverted by Melksham, as 1c96 is a Plymouth crew, however on a Saturday it isn't a Plymouth driver and so this may have resulted in having to go via Bristol and resultant loss of station stops.
In short, diversionary route knowledge on the Western is absolutely paramount.

Well, also the problem is that it could have been a driver from another depot covering that job, and they may also not sign Melksham.

 

[irish_rail]

Well, also the problem is that it could have been a driver from another depot covering that job, and they may also not sign Melksham.

Which is why diversionary route knowledge at all depots is so important, not to mention Plymouth should re learn Taunton to Bristol!

 

[RedPostJunc]

As already said, points failure at Newbury blocked services in both directions. Set was sent back from Theale into Reading station then diverted via Bristol Temple Meads.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2026 ==

Thank you both

 

[brad465]

As already said, points failure at Newbury blocked services in both directions. Set was sent back from Theale into Reading station then diverted via Bristol Temple Meads.

Did it have to go back into Reading, given it could have used the avoiding line normally used by freight? Unless of course IETs for whatever reason are not cleared/drivers not authorised to do that.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Did it have to go back into Reading, given it could have used the avoiding line normally used by freight? Unless of course IETs for whatever reason are not cleared/drivers not authorised to do that.

1C96 would have been carrying passengers for Newbury, so it probably returned to Reading to drop them off to make alternative travel arrangements which I guess was Jet 1. No idea what happened to the Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary passengers.