Wessex Main Line

[Mark_re]

Hi all,

I normally take the SWML for work (Winchester - Southampton/Waterloo) and, by and large, I'm always impressed with the service. However, I've been travelling across to Bristol quite a bit recently (rte: Salisbury) and it's been pretty shambolic.

Yesterday, the 2-car 158 at about 1640 from Lawrence Hill seemed to be running on only one engine. So by the time we reached Westbury, it was pretty late and taken out of service. No matter
for me, as I was connecting on to the following Portsmouth Harbour service, but this was about 25 down, also owing to an engine failure(!)

Anecdotally, I often see the Portsmouth/Cardiff services 15-20 late at Soton Ctl. Is there a particular problem on this route? (apart from the bad overcrowding) or is it just the 158s showing their age?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[devon_metro]

Never encountered any problems between Bristol and Southampton

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Sorry to be pedantic, but I always thought that the Wessex Main Line was Basingstoke-Exeter via Yeovil?

 

[thefab444]

That's the West of England Line, or WOE.

It really depends on the day; some days everything works well (trains are still heavily loaded and it's made even worse by regular short formations), other days it is a complete shambles. Still, however bad it is, it's miles better than when FGW first took over the route.

 

[yorksrob]

That's the West of England Line, or WOE.

Thats a rather unfortunate acronym - Particularly as I found that journey to be very punctual and pleasant last year !