Great Western chaos

[Squaddie]

All trains into and out Paddington delayed significantly this morning, with further delays en route.

I'm on the 0935 from Paddington to Swansea which, due to the inevitable engineering works, is timetabled to take 4hrs and 15mins. It departed 15 minutes behind schedule and is now running 30 minutes late, with an anticipated arrival in Swansea 40 minutes behind schedule - five hours after leaving London. (Average speed: 40mph).

At least it gives me longer to get my entire ticket's (£29) worth of free coffee, water and snacks - and if we can lose another 20 minutes en route (which must be quite likely on FGW) I'll get a full refund too.

 

[shinkansen1966]

Oh dear. On Monday morning, I have to get from Paddingon to Bristol Parkway. I'd could do without any delays.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/ldbdetails/0Gy921mknAPF+4QA#+#Y1g==

Looks like there is also a problem between Bristol Parkway and Swindon too: the 0808 ex-Swansea is 45 late, it was on time until Swindon.

Some stuff around Reading has 5-45 minute dealy thpough, as do the some departures from Paddington.

 

[chuckles1066]

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/ldbdetails/0Gy921mknAPF+4QA#+#Y1g==

Looks like there is also a problem between Bristol Parkway and Swindon too: the 0808 ex-Swansea is 45 late, it was on time until Swindon.

Some stuff around Reading has 5-45 minute dealy thpough, as do the some departures from Paddington.

The 06.28 Cardiff - Portsmouth Harbour service yesterday just didn't materialise. Nothing. No announcement, diddly-squat.

We all stood around at Patchway in sub-zero temperatures with the recorded message telling us the service was on time A guy wandered over from the nearby housing estate to catch it and said he'd checked online and it was showing as on time!

However, I'm philosophical about it all, the weather's appalling and when I hear stories of people having to sleep overnight in trains I count my blessings.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The 06.28 Cardiff - Portsmouth Harbour service yesterday just didn't materialise. Nothing. No announcement, diddly-squat.

We all stood around at Patchway in sub-zero temperatures with the recorded message telling us the service was on time A guy wandered over from the nearby housing estate to catch it and said he'd checked online and it was showing as on time!

However, I'm philosophical about it all, the weather's appalling and when I hear stories of people having to sleep overnight in trains I count my blessings.

Next time you get stuck in snow on Patchway station, just text PWY to 84950, it'll tell you what exactly has happened to your train (it costs 25p though!)

 

[Greenback]

However, I'm philosophical about it all, the weather's appalling and when I hear stories of people having to sleep overnight in trains I count my blessings.

That is the best way to look at it! Rightly or wrongly, snow and ice bring disruptione very year, as do heatwaves, autumn leaf fall and high winds. Engineering works are the icing on the cake!

I did consider going up to London today to do some Christams shopping - fortunately I haven't bothered, as the engineering alterations and extended journey times put me off!

 

[Squaddie]

Well, we arrived in Swansea 57 minutes late - so no automatic entitlement to a refund (although I'll still be putting in a claim). Five hours and 15 minutes to travel from London to Swansea is nothing short of a disgrace.

 

[Greenback]

Good luck with the complaint!

It will be the same at Christmas as well travelling via Banbury won't it?

 

[Squaddie]

Thankfully, that's the last journey I have to make on Great Western (or any rail company) for a while. I'll be travelling back to London this afternoon with National Express, which takes pretty much the same time as the train this weekend and only cost 50p.

 

[TEW]

I'm sure you'd be moaning even more if FGW didn't divert services around the engineering work and made everybody catch a bus instead.

 

[Squaddie]

I'm sure you'd be moaning even more if FGW didn't divert services around the engineering work and made everybody catch a bus instead.

Dismissing any criticism of the rail network as a "moan" is unhelpful.

I was aware when I booked my ticket that due to engineering works the journey was scheduled to take four hours. I was not expecting a further hour's delay for apparently no reason other than sheer ineptitude.

 

[TEW]

It was actually due to a broken down train near Westbury.

 

[Greenback]

I think that whatever mode of transport is chosen there can be delays of one sort or another. I have been heavily delayed by coach and air previously. but I have not given up on them completely!

For anyone who is interested, the worst coach delay was Heathrow - Swansea when an accident caused the closure of the M4 near Swindon. The coach travelled via Gloucester to get to Chepstow, then at Newport the driver bailed out as they had run out of hours. We sat in the bus station for 55 minutes whilst a replacement was found, and arrived n Swansea about four hours late. No refrshements wer eavialable or provided, and no compensation given!

I wish I had been on the train on that occasion!