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XC via Castle Cary

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sonic2009

sonic2009

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The line is shut between Bridgewater & Taunton due to flooding, so XC are running every 2 hours Bristol - Exeter St Davids via Westbury.

FGW are running to Bridgewater with buses onwards to Taunton.
 
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47802

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Wow XC actually being arsed to run a diversion, amazing.
 
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VisualAcid

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Seeing some unusual trains through Oldfield Park today...there seems to be a Swindon to Gloucester service via Bath and Severn Tunnel junction? Weird.
 
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1e10

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PHILIPE said:
Don't want to sound cheeky but where have you been the last few days. Plenty of Forum posts on the topic.
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I don't come here much anymore. Was wondering why I haven't heard any Voyagers going past my home in the past week.
 
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Rich McLean

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For the record, there won't be any trains between Taunton - Bridgwater direct for a few more months, if the latest weather and news reports are correct.

So the 1tp2hr XC trains via Castle Cary may become the norm for quite a while
 
sonic2009

sonic2009

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VisualAcid:1712900 said:
Seeing some unusual trains through Oldfield Park today...there seems to be a Swindon to Gloucester service via Bath and Severn Tunnel junction? Weird.
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Around what time was this?

AFAIK there is no service via Severn Tunnel, but there is a Gloucester - Swindon service via Bristol Parkway & Bath.
 
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Goatboy

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Rich McLean said:
For the record, there won't be any trains between Taunton - Bridgwater direct for a few more months, if the latest weather and news reports are correct.
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Wow, is it really going to be as bad as that? Seems to be getting far less press than the Dawlish issue which from the sounds of it might even be fixed first.

Looks like its back to the car for the forseeable future, paying XC's ridiculous walkon fares (They have opted out of FGW's generous 25% off discount) is just about tolerable when it gets you on the train but for a 3 hour each way bus ride to Bristol, no thanks :(
 
DaveHarries

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VisualAcid said:
It's going through Bath around now, reversing at Seven Tunnel jnc according to

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P71856/2014/02/18/advanced

Not one passenger however :D
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Well that is a very interesting way round from Swindon to Gloucester! A quote from part of FGW's website:

"Monday to Thursday - The 2336 Swindon to Gloucester service will depart earlier than advertised and will be diverted and will not call at Kemble, Stroud or Stonehouse. Rail replacement buses will run from Swindon at 2336 calling Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse Post Office, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa."
(taken from http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/...4 until Friday 21 February 2014_Layout 1.ashx)

Also, on the same page, it says that journey times between Swindon and Bristol Parkway are extended for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week (w/c 17-Feb-2014) but it does not say why. But why they couldn't send this train to Bristol Parkway, then up via. Yate is what I would be interested to know.

Dave
 
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IanXC

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47802 said:
Wow XC actually being arsed to run a diversion, amazing.
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I think that's unfair, I've been via all kinds of places with them over the years. Take today as an example...!
 
bb21

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Absolutely. XC are probably one of the most proactive TOCs (if not the most proactive) in terms of running their services on diversionary routes.
 
High Dyke

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bb21 said:
Absolutely. XC are probably one of the most proactive TOCs (if not the most proactive) in terms of running their services on diversionary routes.
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I'll agree with that. They've allowed me to gain some rare track over the years. Take yesterday...had a nice sojourn along the Sutton Park line. :)
 
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STANDISH

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Try the 06:08 XC off Bristol to Plymouth every Saturday which takes the route to Westbury and on to Taunton for route knowledge. Clearly it is paying off at the moment. Alert passengers might be confused by this route in the light summer days !
 
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PHILIPE

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bb21 said:
Absolutely. XC are probably one of the most proactive TOCs (if not the most proactive) in terms of running their services on diversionary routes.
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Unlike Virgin who I always thought were a good passenger friendly Company.
Story is that they are not going to divert via S&C in the future and instead subjecting passengers to long bus journeys without catering and in many cases, without toilets. Passengers would prefer an 80 minute longer journey on a train without being disturbed. After all, they wanted to travel by train in the first place otherwise they would have gone by National Express.
It is alleged that to divert is too costly especially hiring "drag" Diesel locos but surely, if the will was there, Class 221 (Voyager) diagrams could be adjusted to achieve this. Not necessary to divert every trains, perhaps. They have done it over the Chiltern route.
I hope that if this post creates a lot of interest a separate thread could be opened as this deviates off the original topic.
 
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Muzer

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Indeed. CrossCountry can afford to have lots of diversionary routes, and (IMHO) are correct to do so. Around my way, I've frequently seen them diverted along a multitude of routes. They do appear to be very flexible.

(Unfortunately, when diverted via Laverstock, they always seem to be stuck right behind the stopper on the West of England - bad timing, sadly, it'd be nice to have a non-stop run along that line from Basingstoke to Laverstock North Jn)
 
yorksrob

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PHILIPE said:
Unlike Virgin who I always thought were a good passenger friendly Company.
Story is that they are not going to divert via S&C in the future and instead subjecting passengers to long bus journeys without catering and in many cases, without toilets. Passengers would prefer an 80 minute longer journey on a train without being disturbed. After all, they wanted to travel by train in the first place otherwise they would have gone by National Express.
It is alleged that to divert is too costly especially hiring "drag" Diesel locos but surely, if the will was there, Class 221 (Voyager) diagrams could be adjusted to achieve this. Not necessary to divert every trains, perhaps. They have done it over the Chiltern route.
I hope that if this post creates a lot of interest a separate thread could be opened as this deviates off the original topic.
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I would agree entirely, and one would hope that the next round of WCML franchising will stipulate better use of diversions. Unfortunately London seems to be far more interested in placating corporate interests than enshrining this sort of improvement in the service.
 
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Martin_1981

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According to the FGW website, the line between Bridgwater and Taunton is closed until 7March. Some local FGW trains from the Bristol direction are running as far as Bridgwater, with buses from there to Taunton. As mentioned, XC are running a few direct services down to Exeter to and from the north east which are diverted via Bath and Westbury.
 
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Martin_1981

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Martin_1981 said:
According to the FGW website, the line between Bridgwater and Taunton is closed until 7March. Some local FGW trains from the Bristol direction are running as far as Bridgwater, with buses from there to Taunton. As mentioned, XC are running a few direct services down to Exeter to and from the north east which are diverted via Bath and Westbury.
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Apparently, the Bridgwater-Taunton line section will now be closed until the end of March. Although the flood water has receded, there is a significant amount of work needed to get the line operational again. Therefore the XC's to and from Exeter will continue to run this way until then.
 
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1e10

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Seen a XC Voyager passing Parson Street yesterday at 1600-ish and just seen a XC HST passing Parson Street at around 1450.

Parson Street is on the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton.
 
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STANDISH

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The direct route to Taunton reopened on 10th March , but not with a full service.
 
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louis97

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Temple Meads said:
The journey from Taunton to Bristol is taking about twice as long as usual atm.
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Indeed, 30mph from 154 miles 36 chains to 156 miles 20 chains. In addition to this there is Temporary Block Working in the up direction, and being talked past one signal in the down direction.
 
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1e10

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louis97 said:
Indeed, 30mph from 154 miles 36 chains to 156 miles 20 chains. In addition to this there is Temporary Block Working in the up direction, and being talked past one signal in the down direction.
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What is the reason for this?
 
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